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