Week 15

We had a fun field trip to the capitol last week, and I hope you all learned a little something you didn't know before. I wish we could have stayed longer and done the 3-hour tour (when I was a kid, the school tour included getting to climb the narrow staircase into the rotunda!) but since we couldn't, I encourage you all to go back with your families, do the full tour, and maybe even attend a legislative session so you can see governance at work. You'll appreciate the legislative process more after we study the Constitution this semester!

Okay, let's talk parent night! It's crunch time, so please be sure you are COMPLETELY prepared for Thursday night. That means speaking parts (practice at home to make sure it's about 1-minute long), your costume, and any props you are using. At the end of our "Heroes of the Revolution" presentation, I would like all of us to recite in unison the following excerpt from the Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness...And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor.

We will be rehearsing this during class this week, so please get this memorized for Thursday...it should be SUPER easy after all the memorization you've already done!

Other Items of Note:

• We'll be discussing Freedom Factor on Thursday, so make sure you have it completed! I'm excited to hear what you all think of this book! Taylor has been assigned to lead our discussion, but everyone needs to come prepared with one or two questions and/or comments to share. (Our next book will be Fifty-Five Fathers by Selma R. Williams which we will discuss on February 23rd.)

• If you've completed your Heritage Award requirements, please bring your completed project to discuss with me or Mrs. Brennan on Thursday.

• If you have a dictionary at home, please bring it to class, as we will be beginning our Constitution study this semester. Also, make sure you bring a notebook and a writing implement every week! Exclusively for scholars who complete their Constitution journals, there will be a special reward field trip at the end of the semester!

• Last but definitely not least: we will be having an air-soft gun battle against the Sword of Freedom class in the spring. You'll want to acquire an air-soft (not bb) gun and eye protection to use for this super-fun, annual event. There will be more details to come, so stay posted! 

That's all folks!  -Mrs. H.