Week 1

We made it through our first week with smiles on our faces!  I am very please with the way my students have stepped up into their bigger "7th grade shoes" and are ready for the year ahead.  God has great plans for us!

The first day of school, look at all these beautiful smiling faces!!
"What was your favorite part of this week?"
- Teachers
- Friends
- Reading
- Eating lunch with besties :)
- No homework

Academics:

• Student's gmail and AR accounts are up and running.  Students need to have an AR book at school everyday (first book check will be Monday 8/25).
• Bible Memory work is different this year for 7th graders.  Memory is due Tuesdays and Fridays; one verse chosen by their teacher and one verse personally chosen by the student.  Students will also be spending time meditating on their verses in the form of a devotional composition book.  I am excited to see what verses students choose!!

These 7th graders are excited about serving our school by collecting recycling bins!! 

News & Notes:

• I look forward to seeing parents at Zion's Back to School Night Aug. 28 when I will share more about what to expect in 7th grade.  Sessions will run from 6:30 to 6:50, 7:00 to 7:20 and 7:30 to 7:50.  The first session will include a time for new families to meet in library with Mr. Debrick to review basic procedures.

• Dedication weekend for Zion's new commons & EC wing is September 6-7.  All church services will be celebrating!!  5:00 Saturday, 8 and 10:30 on Sunday services all held in the gym.  Monday service will be regular service in the church.  A ribbon cutting will take place at the end of each service and a small reception will be held in the commons.  All rooms in all buildings will be open after services for viewing.  Please come and celebrate with us as we see God's hands working here at Zion!

• Hot Lunch Program – Food Allergies:  Since Zion participates in the National School Lunch Program, we are reviewed by the state every 3 years.  Last spring we had our Administrative Review with the state, and it was brought to our attention that we need a note from a doctor when a student require substitutions for lunch – milk included.  Please send a note from your doctor or chiropractor to the school office specifying which foods your student can’t have.

I hope you have had many great conversations with your child this week about everything new this year.  Ask them about the lunch commons, the bobcat pit, their teachers, classes, friends, etc.

I hope to see you at Back to School Night and would welcome you to any of Zion's worship services this weekend!

Zion's Church Services:

In Christ,

Welcome to the 2014-2015 School Year at Zion!

Welcome 7th grade students & parents to our class blog!

I am excited to welcome you to your 7th grade year here at Zion.  The teachers have been preparing for weeks and the time is finally here.  This year, like all, will bring new information to learn, new friends, new books, new goals to achieve, new mistakes and forgiveness, and most importantly new growth as a child of God.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to spent time with your child in such a wonderful place.  I pray God blesses our school year and your families.

Our Class Blog:

This is our class blog where I will communicate with you weekly.  I do my best to send out an email with each blog link I post, somewhere between Friday and Sunday.

 

Mrs. Murray and my 7th grade blogs may be different from class blogs you have read in the past. For the most part, we do not include academic information such as due dates, project information, or upcoming tests.  We are attempting to transition 7th grade students into independent students who practice open communication with you at home.  Another example of this is the use of an assignment board in the classroom only during quarters 1-3. By the 4th quarter the board is no longer used and we continue to encourage the use of students' daily planners.

 

So why have a 7th grade blog?  We want YOU to see what is going on in your child's classroom.  You will see pictures, event information, and some school information.  This give you a great way to start the conversation with your sometimes reserved junior high kid :) We will also use email for more time sensitive information.

 

Open House:

It was so great to see you at Zion's Open House last Thursday.  Many of you I had not met before, and I look forward to working together this year to prepare your child for 8th grade and beyond!

 

First Day:

Students will receive a new Zion Lutheran School shirt with our theme verse for the year. They will be able to change into this new t-shirt the first day of school when they arrive.  This shirt is great marketing tool and a way to show off your Bobcat spirit!  We will ask students to wear these shirts on a number of occasions throughout the school year.

Chapel:

Chapel is held every Wednesday at 8:10am in the church sanctuary.  I want to personally invite you to any of these times of worship.  I love hearing the children sing praises to Jesus!!

 

Back to School Night:

Mark your calendars for Thursday, August 28 starting at 6:30. There are three 20 minutes sessions (you only need to attend one) where you will receive a fast orientation to 7th grade from Mrs. Murray and me. We have additional information for you that night (AR, field trips, curriculum information) and after several days of school we are available to answer questions you may have.

 

I can't wait to have another great year at Zion Lutheran!

 

Blessings,

Please email me or any of your child's teachers if you have any questions throughout the year.

Teacher/Admin. Emails:

 

Marc Debrick: mdebrick@zionharvester.org

Brandon Marolf (PE, Athletics): bmarolf@zionharvester.org

 

Kim Cluck: kcluck@zionharvester.org

Jami Murray: jmurray@zionharvester.org

Karen Beaty: kbeaty@zionharvester.org

Micah Braddy: mbraddy@zionharvester.org

 

Carla Rutledge (Spanish): sncrutledge@msn.com

Teresa Thoelke (Band): tthoelke@zionharvester.org

Mark Thoelke (Choir): mthoelke@zionharvester.org

Kathryn Crumrine (Music): kcrumrine@zionharvester.org

Interesting Chart "Two Mindsets" -- What is your mindset?

Last Week of 7th Grade

Final World History Project: Students worked in groups researching and presenting information on Early American Civilizations.  They used a wide range of technology and presentations tools including: google docs & presentation, Prezi, youtube, voicethread, Discovery Education, imovie, etc.  I was very impressed with their group working skills and knowledge of presentation tools.

These students are developing excellent speaking skills.  Through the various project they have completed this year, a Drama unit in Literature, Monologue speeches, and skit writing students are developing understanding of speech speed, tone, and inflection, and overall confidence!

Final Literature Project: The 7th graders read two myths and an epic which they then rewrote in drama form and acted out to the class.  The skits were excellent with funny lines and props added.  I will hopefully get these videos uploaded to youtube soon!

 Icarus & Daedalus 

 Demeter & Persephone

 Perseus

Jr. High Great Skate Event

The 6th-8th grade had a blast at Great Skate!!  Lots of laughter (and falling) had by all :)

 Final Art Project: Pointillism

A Letter to Parents

May 20, 2014

Dear Parents,

Congratulations upon your child’s completion of 7^th grade! We have covered an extraordinary amount of materials and participated, created, and presented many fun and exciting projects. We have continued to develop skills needed for eighth grade, high school, and beyond.

Your child brought much joy and happiness to my classroom. I was fortunate to have such a diverse and talented group of students this year.  They all have touched my life in positive ways including many witnessing moments when their Christian light shines. I look forward to next year when I will see your child in my American History class and can build on the relationships we started during this year.

It has been my pleasure getting to know not only your child, but you as well. Having parental support and open lines of communication is an essential part of any successful school year. Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do on behalf of your child’s academic and spiritual life.

As your child moves on in their educational career, there are some very important things you can do to help them succeed:

• Make worship a priority in your home.  Our faith grows strong when it is fed through the Word of God.
• Engage in meaningful conversations with your child everyday.  Take time to really listen to what they have to say; they are quite insightful and love to discuss and question topics related to faith, culture, and current events (I experienced this first hand every single day).
• Help your child develop a sense of working and solving problems independently. 
• Talk about and practice ways to stay organized.
• Encourage your child to read and write often!! Upper level education requires more writing than ever before; the development of these skills is crucial to success in 21^st century education.

These little things will lead to big successes next year and in your child’s future.


Thank you for a wonderful and memorable year.

Have a fun and relaxing summer enjoying the time together as a family.

In Christ’s Love and Care,

Mrs. Kimberly Cluck

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”
1 John 4:9