IT'S TIME FOR FINALS!

The key to life is contribution. What do you do to make the world a better place? What do you do to make sure your voice, and the voices of those close to you, are heard by the rest of the world? What makes you stand apart from the crowd? What is your contribution?

Each of the tasks below gives you an opportunity to contribute. For each, a reward will be given. You may win a writing contest, you may be published, your voice most certainly will be heard.

I hope that you will take each assignment seriously and contribute your most insightful and inspirational thoughts. I look forward to reading what you write.

You may do these assignments in any order. You may work on them at home. They are due by Friday, May 29, 2009.

Part 1: 100 points

• Please write an essay which answers the question: “How Can Parents Partner With My School?” You may type or write your essay. Length is 350 words (roughly a page and a half typed or two pages written). Font size 12-14 point in Times New Roman, double-spaced even if you choose to handwrite rather than type.
• You must include your name, current school, grade, mailing address or e-mail address, and home phone number.
• By writing this essay, you will have the chance to win and iPod or a laptop. Who couldn't use one of those?
• You should email your essay to me at ms.kingsbury@verizon.net if you type it.
  

Part 2: 100 points

• Please contribute a piece of writing on the Panther Pride Page of the National Gallery of Writing. Click here to reach the Gallery. You may submit anything you like - perhaps you want to go through your weekly papers and submit one of those. You will need to create a profile first. Submit your best work, as this will be available for the entire world to see!

Part 3: 100 points
Please choose a topic from the list below and write a short response (300 words). Email your answer to ms.kingsbury@verizon.net. You may do more than one for extra points.

• What nonfiction text that English teachers might not think of would you like to read in English class?
• What positive lessons have you learned from English class about working with other people?
• How has logical thinking helped you out of a difficult situation?

Monday, May 18, 2009

Warm-Up: Please answer the following questions by posting your response in the COMMENTS section below: When you think about your senior year, what has been the most stressful part? What part of senior year has been the easiest? Describe the perfect senior year - what activities would it include? What would not be a part of your perfect senior year?

Today's Activities:
Today you will create a plan of your dream life. Let's escape from reality for a short while (graduation will throw you into the real world soon enough). Please create a DREAM LIFE SLIDESHOW using Google Docs or PowerPoint. You should include the following information:

1. Where do you live?
2. What does your house look like?
3. What do you do to make your money?
4. Who do you live with?
5. What do you wear?
6. What do you drive?
7. What do you eat?
8. Where do you take vacations?
9. Who do you donate $$ to? How do you give back to your community?
10. How do you help the environment?
11. What will your gravestone say?

Please include a title slide with your name and photo. Each question above should have its own slide. For each question, write a full answer and include photos (search Google Images).

It's the final week of classes, so let's have a great time! You will be able to present your DREAM LIFE SLIDESHOW FOR EXTRA CREDIT at the end of the week.

100 points!

Loads of Internships For Your Viewing Pleasure!

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!

Philadelphia Young Playwrights!

National Electronics Museum!

Voice of America!

The White House!

The United Nations!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Warm-Up: Please post your answer to the following questions in the COMMENTS section below: Prom - looking forward to it or big waste of time and $$? What are your thoughts on this year's prom? Who are you going with? What are you wearing? Is it worth all the $$ that you need to put out? Is the prom a privilege or a right?

Today's Classwork:

Below are the assignments for which you will receive a grade this marking period. Please go through each assignment and make sure that you have completed it. If you didn't complete an assignment, please do it TODAY!

1. PowerPoint Presentation Notes: You should still have the notes from your classmates' presentations. Please turn these in. 100 points.

2. Your PowerPoint Presentation: Did you do it? If so, then great. If not, then show me your slideshow, and make sure it is ready to present to Ms. Plappert. YOU CANNOT GRADUATE WITHOUT PRESENTING YOUR POWERPOINT PRESENTATION TO HER! Your in-class presentation is worth 500 points.

3. Warm-ups: Since we got back from Spring Break, we have completed 8 warm-ups on the class website. Have you done all 8? Go back and check. 80 points (10 points for each one).

4. Yearbook Page: We created a on-line yearbook profile page. Did you finish yours? Is it perfect? Go check your page at http://healthyearbookproject.pbwiki.com. 100 points.

5. Teacher Love Letters: Did you write your favorite teachers a letter of gratitude and appreciation? If not, you can post your letters on-line at http://ohsteacherlove.wikispaces.com, or you can handwrite your letters, and seal them in an envelope. 50 points for each - 1 required - do up to 3 letters.

6. Comic Book: Did you create your Senior Year Comic Book? If not, do so through COMIC LIFE, and email your page to ms.kingsbury@verizon.net. 100 points.

7. Kingsbury Technology Survey: Did you complete our on-line tech survey? If not, please go to http://kingbsurytechsurvey.wikispaces.com. 100 points.

8. Letter to the Class of 2013: Did you write your Letter to the Class of 2013? If not, please do so and post it to http://ohs09to13.wikispaces.com. 100 points.

9. Senior Year Timeline: Did you complete and email to ms.kingsbury@verizon.net your Senior Year Timeline created using Inspiration? If not, go to https://sites.google.com/site/english4homepage/ and click on the attachment at the bottom of the page labeled Timeline. 100 points.

10. Extra Credit: Not that you need it, but if you do, there are many extra credit opportunities posted on this website below. Take advantage!

Our last grade will be our final exam, which will consist of essays that you will type and post onto one final website as yet to be determined. Period 2 will take its final on Wednesday, May 27, and Period 3 will take its final on Thursday, May 28. Be prepared to type!

QUESTIONS? ASK!!

Friday, May 8, 2009

Today you will write letters of thanks and appreciation to your favorite teachers (or other grown-up) at OHS.

You can do this in one of two ways:
1. You can write a letter on paper and put it in an envelope which I will then deliver.
2. You can post it on this website: http://ohsteacherlove.wikispaces.com

You will receive 50 points for each letter. You can do up to 3! Make them detailed and substantial.

Ideas to include:
1. Why you are writing this letter.
2. Why this teacher is your favorite.
3. What you learned from this teacher.
4. Your most vivid memory from this teacher's class.
5. One wish you have for this teacher.

Be creative and generous! Teachers need love too!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Warm-Up: Please post your response to this question in the COMMENTS section - How has being a student in the Health Academy impacted your high school career? How did you become a Health Academy student? Would you recommend this Academy to other students? How could the Health Academy be improved? Aim for 5 sentences to answer these questions.

Today's Classwork: Today you will have some FUN and create a comic book story page about your senior year at OHS. Please click on the COMIC LIFE icon on your desktop. You will open up a new COMIC BOOK page. Choose a page template and begin to insert pictures of yourself from the PhotoBooth pictures you took. You do this by clicking on the FINDER box and locating your pictures from the previous weeks. If you do not like any of your pictures, take some more!

Drag the bubbles to create a story/dialogue/monologue. Save the page. Email it to ms.kingsbury@verizon.net as an attachment. Ms. Kingsbury will print these out for you to put in your yearbook. HAVE FUN! BE CREATIVE! KEEP IT DECENT - NO CUSS WORDS!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Warm-Up: Please complete the Philadelphia Academies Inc Exit Survey. This is a required part of your graduation requirements (per Ms. Plappert). You will receive 50 points for your work.

Today's Classwork: Your task today is to visit 5 of your classmates' tech survey pages and make a comment. 5 comments = 50 points. More comments = 10 points for each one. Your comment should be one of the following types:

1. I agree with you, because.....
2. I disagree with you, because.....
3. Why do you think that.....
4. What if.....

Click here to go to the Tech Survey page and make your comments in the DISCUSSION section! Click on the pages of your classmates listed on the lefthand side of the page. Read their survey answers, and then add your comment in the DISCUSSION section. Your subject line should be the name of the person you are commenting on, and the message should contain your name (so you can get credit). As this is a public forum, be aware to use complete sentences, proper grammar, and diplomatic language. Please avoid the use of OMG and IDK and all other types of textspeak.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Students will continue to work on their previously assigned projects.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Agenda:
1. Warm-Up: Please post your answer to this question in the COMMENTS section below: Will college be a reality for you in the fall? If so, where? Why have you chosen to go to this school? If not, why not? Will you be working after high school? Will you be taking some time off before you go to school? Aim for a 5 sentence answer to these questions.

2. Technology Survey/Interview: Please click here to complete a technology survey to assist Ms. Kingsbury with her Master's class. This is a wiki just like the ones we have done over the last three weeks with the advice letter and the yearbook page. This assignment is worth 50 points.

3. If you have not already done so, please complete all assignments posted on Monday, April 27, 2009. In total, these assignments are worth 300 points!!

4. PowerPoints - let me know if you need help. At this time, if you have not presented in front of the class, you should go ahead and present to Ms. Plappert. I will give you partial credit once she says that your PowerPoint meets her standards.

3 weeks to go! Hang in there!

Friday, May 1, 2009

Warm-up: There are only 25 days left until finals begin!!! Are you ready to graduate? Have you completed all your senior project requirements? What remains to be done? Are you passing all of your classes? Only a few short weeks remain of your high school career - HOW DO YOU FEEL?

Please post the answer to your warm-up in the COMMENTS section below. Aim for a 5 sentence reply - more is better!

Today's Activities: Please complete ALL projects that we started on Monday, April 27, 2009. Please complete the extra credit opportunities below.

Students will have Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of next week to do PowerPoint Presentations in front of the class if needed. Please let Ms. Kingsbury know via email at ms.kingsbury@verizon.net if you will be presenting next week!

Extra Credit Opportunity: Self Esteem In Teenagers?

Click here to read about self esteem in teenagers. What do you think. Post a well thought-out opinion of 5 sentences in the comments section below for 20 points EC.

Extra Credit Opportunity: Special Education Controversy!

Click here to read about the latest controversies in special education. What do you think? Post your well thought-out opinion of 5 sentences in the COMMENTS section below for 20 points EC!

Extra Credit Opportunity: Senior Projects!

Click here to read about senior projects across the country. What do you think? Post a well thought-out opinion of 5 sentences on this topic in the COMMENTS section below.

Extra Credit Opportunity: School Should NOT Be Free!

Click here to read an editorial about the rationale for making parents and students pay for their education. What do you think? Post a well thought-out opinion of five sentences on this topic in the COMMENTS section below for 20 points EC.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Objectives:
After this class, students will be able to:
1. use metacognition and reflection to analyze computer literacy skills.
2. manage their time to complete multiple projects.
3. utilize a wiki to create an advice column and a profile.

Agenda:
1. Warm-Up: Please post your answer to this question in the COMMENTS section below: Describe your experience so far using laptops in class. Do you love it, hate, it, feel indifferent, or something else? What do you want to learn how to do on the computer before you leave OHS next month?

2. For the next two or three days (depends on your speed at completing these assignments), we will complete, and submit for a grade, the three technology projects that we began last week.

a. Complete the timeline assignment we began on Friday. If you have not started this assignment, click here, and then click on the timeline attachment at the bottom of the page. When your timeline is complete, please email it to me at ms.kingsbury@verizon.net as an attachment. You will receive 100 points for this assignment. Make sure to include at least one event for each month as well as images which enhance your commentary.

b. Post your "Letter to the Class of 2013" on this site here. This is another wiki site which you will need to join, then create your own page where you will post your letter. Be sure that the letter is grammatically correct, proper spelling and punctuation, and contains vivid details and images. You will receive 100 points for this assignments also. OR! If you wrote a letter to OHS as if it were a person, email that assignment to me at ms.kingsbury@verizon.net.

c. Complete your online yearbook page which you started here. Your page should contain two images of yourself, who you hang with, your activities, your memories, your OHS top 10, and your class commentary. You will receive 100 points for this assignment as well. Make sure your name is NOT on your profile; this is for legal reasons. I will know it's your page by your picture.

DO NOT DO ANYTHING BUT WHAT IS ASSIGNED ABOVE. IF YOU ARE SEEN STRAYING ONTO UNAPPROVED SITES, THAT WILL BE THE END OF YOUR COMPUTER USE TODAY.

Tons of Scholarship $$ from Tylenol!

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Building a better future

As a company dedicated to helping people feel better, we’re proud to support the future of healthcare with our annual TYLENOL® Scholarship program. Now in its 17th year, the program helps students who are pursuing careers in the healthcare, life sciences, or related fields manage the rising costs of education.

This year, we’ll be awarding $250,000 in scholarships based on leadership qualities and academic performance, including ten $10,000 and thirty $5,000 grants.

Additional scholarship details:

• Scholarships awarded to students pursuing healthcare-related education at an accredited institution.
• Ten students will be awarded $10,000 scholarships.
• Thirty students will receive $5,000 grants.
• Applications must be received by May 15, 2009. Winners will be selected by July 15, 2009. Funds delivered by August 2009.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Warm Up:

If you are a boy, how do you feel about not being included in the prom accessory show? Given the option, would you want to go, or would you prefer to stay in class, and why? (If you are a girl, why did you choose not to attend the accessory show?) What do you think this says about the treatment of boys and girls? 3 sentences

Post your answer in the COMMENTS section below, and sign your post using the NAME/URL option.

Today:

Go to http://healthyearbookproject.pbwiki.com/ to make your online yearbook profile.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Warm Up:

• Post your answer in the COMMENTS section below, and sign your post using the NAME/URL option.
• 20 years from now, how do you want people from high school to remember you? 3 sentences

Class Activity:

Create your own yearbook profile online!

Go to http://healthyearbookproject.pbwiki.com/ to get started!

Tuesday April 14, 2009

Objectives:
After this class, students will be able to:
1. brainstorm ideas for the contents of an online yearbook.
2. follow procedure for laptop usage.
3. use new software to generate media.

Agenda:
1. Warm-Up: Please post your answer to this question in the COMMENTS section below. Picture in your mind your ideal OHS yearbook. What does it contain? Think pictures, commentary, sports, clubs, gossip etc.

2. Today students will receive an orientation to their Macbooks. Students must sign a usage contract and submit their ID before being issued a laptop to use in class.

Daily Laptop Distribution Procedure:
Students will be allowed to use the CFF laptops under the following procedural conditions:
1. Student must submit his/her ID to Ms. Kingsbury in order to receive a laptop.
2. Student must keep laptop on his/her desk AT ALL TIMES.
3. If a student leaves the room during class for any reason, he/she must return his/her laptop to Ms. Kingsbury.
4. Students are not dismissed from class until ALL laptops are returned to Ms. Kingsbury and accounted for in the laptop cart.
5. Should even ONE LAPTOP go missing, the CFF Program will end immediately.

Students will learn how to turn on the computer, sign in, and take pictures of themselves using Photobooth.

Homework: Tomorrow students will begin to work on their Yearbook Project. Got a picture you'd like to include? Be sure to email it to yourself tonight or put it onto a flash drive to upload tomorrow.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Welcome back from Spring Break. I hope that it was relaxing and enjoyable for you all. We will use today to debrief about our experiences over vacation and plan out the rest of our school year. Only SEVEN weeks to go!