The Season

Isn't it wonderful to have this month of joy and warmth and good feelings? From Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Year's...we just celebrate, feel good, enjoy...the whole time. And if there are never any gifts? Just fine. Now I truly enjoy giving to others and that feeling is what should drive us on that end of this season, but what is most important is the feeling we get from giving, and what is best is the giving of ourselves. That's where the good feelings come in. Sharing time and laughs with each other - that's what I cherish.

This past Thanksgiving was wonderful for me and my family. Thanksgiving Eve we had some friends over the house, our boys and daughters-in-law arrived with all the grandchildren in tow, and we had a wonderful evening. Laughter, hugs, good food, more laughter, stories, and hugs and lots of love. Thanksgiving Day was more of the same. Dinner was wonderful, the grandchildren were funny, and excited, and kept us all busy. It was a glorious day. Friday we all went to the movies ("Fabulous Mr. Fox") and had a family game night. And then we started decorating inside and out for Christmas. It was a great holiday weekend and really got us all in the spirit of this season.

And now on to Christmas, the joyous time where we celebrate the birth of our Redeemer. It is a bit sad to say "and now on to " when it comes to Christmas, because we all want to feel that spirit all year, and yet we all too quickly become distracted and seem to lose that feeling very easily. So let's all try to stay aware of keeping that spirit going all year, every day, and with and for each other. The Season does not have to be just for this month long time.

Giving Thanks

We find ourselves at Thanksgiving, a wonderful holiday that celebrates all we have to be thankful for in our lives. It is a sign of our overcrowded lifestyle that we set aside one day for this and inadvertently overlook the thankfulness we should be expressing on a regular basis throughout the year. So while you gather around the table and consciously think of what you are thankful for, make a point to commit yourself to being more aware of those things throughout the year. And make a commitment to express your gratitude more consistently. I have to restate that commitment every year for myself, because I do drift away from being consciously thankful. And I do have so much to be thankful for...wonderful family and friends, a vibrant parish that is so fulfilling, a growing relationship with Jesus, a job at a wonderful school, and a great many good 'things' in my life. And here I am just listing in general terms. However, in simple terms, give thanks this week and always. The gifts you have should be shared with others by the way you live, the way you speak to others, how you serve, and how you make others' lives better.

US I: our group presentations begin this week on U.S. Government and the Constitution. Please make sure your group has all parts of the project ready on time. Especially be proactive on your PowerPoint work and try a test run with me to make sure you can run it on the computer in our classroom.

You also have a research assignment individually on a Supreme Court case (and unique research for Betsy O'Brien, Nada Eldenhi, Chelsea Murphy, and Shannon Porter) and you need to have those assignments into me Tuesday as well (everyone but the aforementioned lawyers! they have until Dec. 2).

US II: urbanization and immigration...we will review on Monday, have a test on Tuesday and then right after the break, begin America's entry onto the World Stage. That's Chapter 11 for the US II sections and Chapter 20 for the Honors section. Please have that chapter work done by Dec. 2.

Prayer: we will keep the same prayer leaders for this week. Thank you for your thoughtful and faith filled leadership...Caitlin Doherty, Katie Kropas, Jenna Sinnott, Samantha Curley, and Kate Janis.

Quarter 2 Begins!

Congratulations to the Volleyball Team! Great job during the season and a wonderful run in the tournament. Victories over Bishop Stang and Cardinal Spellman and then a thrilling match against state powerhouse Bourne were all super competitions. Well done ladies.



Research Tasks - everyone always dreads research assignments, but the challenges of the newest research ventures facing both US I & II classes are very exciting (just let yourself think of it in those terms). Most important, get started. That is always the greatest obstacle in any research project.



US I: The Constitution - your group research project is an opportunity to be creative and have some fun, but do not lose sight of the historical study being done here. Your work must be accurate and thorough, as your topic must be mastered by everyone in the class and they are depending on you and your presentation. And while we have a group project, it all still comes down to individual effort. Your grade is part of your own work/research, as the entire group is creating a collective effort on this. You certainly can be creative and original (in fact, it is encouraged) but first and foremost, be thorough and present appropriately analyzed content.



US II and Honors: American Significance - your research paper may seem daunting at first because it always seems any research paper is so, but this is a simple task if you break it down into stages. You must choose your topic by November 16; choose a topic in history that has some connection to an interest of your own. You like music? Select a topic in history connected to that. Sports? History has lots of sports connections. Warfare? How about the impact of the Tet Offensive in Vietnam? Religion?---perhaps the role of JFK's Catholicism in the 1960 election.

Once you have a topic, begin your research but be organized as you work. Some like to use note cards, some set up a notebook with certain pages set aside for each subtopic. However you like to do it, by organizing as you work, the final process is much easier and your outline is practically done once your research is done.

Be very careful about your sources, your citations, and your works cited page. These are extremely important and often given short attention by students. Do not fall into that trap. And do not hesitate to ask questions or see me if you run into any problems.

Prayer for November 16-19:
US I: Sam Curley and Melissa Camillen
US II: Katie Kropas & Jenna Sinnott
US Honors: Caitlin Doherty

It is also the season to give thanks and to think of others. I have noticed in my time here at FBA how thoughtful and polite students are here but let's make sure we carry that with us beyond FBA. I know many of you do, but not enough of us (including me). Let us make a very conscious effort throughout this holiday season to be thankful, thoughtful, and helpful at every opportunity.

And SELL THOSE CALENDARS!

Last Week of Term I

Make sure you have checked all your on-line grades please! If you have any missing work, it must be made up by the end of school November 9. If not, it is a zero. Missing HW may not be made up, but any graded assignment or quiz or test may be made up. (Reminder - assignments that are late are penalized 10 points/day late).

US I: We have an exam this week. It is on events leading up to and creating the conditions of rebellion in the colonies. Text pages are 61-79. After the exam, we will look at events of the War for Independence and the the Consitutional Period.

US II: All sections also have an exam this week. Topic is the Rise of Industry and Labor Movements.

Also, the assignment for The Jungle or The Alienist is due on Friday, Nov. 6. That grade will not likely end up being counted for the 1st quarter, but it is imperative that the assignment be submitted on time.

Our next topic will be on the growth of cities and immigration.

Next week you will also be assigned your first semester research paper!

Prayer:
US I: Jessica Delahunt & Molly McCarthy
US II: Ari Paluzzi & Izzy Salomon
Honors: Liz O'Malley

October 26-30

BOO!

Okay, it's that time of year, time to get silly & scary & crazy kooky. Let's make sure your fun is in the right place and right time, and of course, always in good taste and safe for everyone.

Also, I want to thank everyone for their prayers for Mrs. S and your cooperation while I was out. It has been a very serious process for my wife and myself, and your prayers and thoughts and patience and cooperation have made it much easier for me. I thank you all very sincerely.

Prayer this week:

US I: Cara Murphy, Amy Gaeta

US II: Catherine Flaherty, Nicole Trifone

Honors: Jess McCabe

US I: as we approach the War for Independence, let's develop a growing awareness of the issues: taxation, natural rights, a genuine sense of independence, and the role the Enlightenment played in all this. You also want to draft a personal statement about the causes of the revolution, especially one where you prioritze that causes.

US II: We will focus this week on the labor issues. What were the goals of the labor organizers? What were the objections of the owners to labor organizations? Why did labor unions not gain widespread acceptance in American society?

Honors: same issues as US II and please a "Bill of Rights" for workers of the world.

REMINDER!!!! All US II and US II Honors students Due November 1...

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair or The Alienist by Caleb Carr. You must have the book of your choice read by our first class in November.

Week of October 19-23

This week all classes will be looking to analyze the cause(s) for significant events/developments in our history. When we look at history, it is most important to look at the causes of events more than the event(s) themselves. Many students lose interest in the study of history because they see it as simply a list of dates, events, and names. One needs to see it the study of history as an investigation, as a problem solving exercise, as a mystery to be solved.

And so...

US I: Why did the colonies rebel? Why did the British treat the colonies as they did? Were they justified in that treatment/policy? Were the colonists justified in rebelling? And a very significant question: just what was this 'no taxation without representation' cry all about?

Make sure you understand the terms salutary neglect, virtual representation, Committees of Correspondence, and Continental Congress.

The DBQ you looked at on Thursday will be examined closely this week. And a quiz is very likely sometime soon.

US II and Honors: some issues to ponder...
Robber Barons or Captains of Industry?
Are you a Social Darwinist?
Labor Unions - good or bad?

Be able to construct a list of the benefits of this industrialization of America, and a list of the harmful effects as well.

The Jungle and The Alienist? Are you reading one of these? You must be done by November 1, so you have 2 weeks left. Do not save this until the very last please.

Prayer:
US I --- Katelyn Sullivan and Cara Ciardelli
US II --- Stephanie Ayers and Danielle Quinn
Honors --- Olivia Kajencki

Week of October 5-9

Prayer:
US I -- Lizz Lawrie and Shannon Swift
US II -- Meg Reynolds and Renee Dupre
Honors -- Julie Sullivan

US I: this week we will have our first major exam on Tuesday. Your study/review should focus on the reasons why colonists came to North America, what was their early life like, and what factors shaped their early societies.
After the exam, we will begin looking at the coming American War for Independence. Two key questions to be pondered: (1) What was salutary neglect and why did it end? (2) Why is 1763 a turning point in the relationship between the colonies and England?

Make sure you have pages 61-77 completed by Thursday, Oct. 8.

US II: first, we will be focusing on several "isms" in the week ahead and through next week. Populism. Capitalism. Social Darwinism. Additionally, we will be examining the rise of industry and the resultant rise of labor movements. Key question to consider: were the leaders of the industrial world "Captains of Industry" or "Robber Barons"?

Honors: similar topics for US II sections, but also address the following question: When are monopolies good? - or are they always a negative force? Please comment here.

Make sure you have completed the Chapter 17 assignment by Oct. 8