High School News

TCS High School News

January 2007

Students to showcase work at Project Fair

The Trillium community is looking forward to our annual Project Fair. Students from all grade levels, K-12, will be displaying their favorite pieces from both in-class work and independent projects. In the high school, we can look forward to musical performances, film, a demonstration from the tai chi class, and much more. The event is Thursday evening, February 1^st. Students are strongly encouraged to present their work and are eligible for elective credit for doing so. Parents interested in providing snacks or otherwise helping with set-up should contact their student’s advisor.

Commencement will be here sooner than your student thinks

Senior graduation services are scheduled for Saturday, June 9^th. Trillium has ordered caps, gowns, and tassels already. The cost will be $20 per student. Graduation announcement orders are due February 16^th. Announcement cost $1 each. Questions about graduation may be directed to Ken at Gadbow@gmail.com. Please also be sure to check in with your graduating student about the status of his/her Senior Project.

Student group to take control of Friday HS meetings

Every Friday before workshops, students meet to discuss events of the week, share upcoming events and generate proposals for things they would like to change. At our last high school meeting we discussed the expectations during the meeting. We agreed that the respectful participation required of Fridays includes not playing video games or listening to music. The high school community also voted to form a student meeting committee that will set the agenda and facilitate future meetings. Students wishing to be involved in this should contact their advisor. Attendance for the meeting and workshops continues to be optional, while students are encouraged to participate to receive credit. If a student is present in the school on Friday, they are expected to participate fully and respectfully in the activities, otherwise they will be asked to go home.

Friday workshops embrace new theme for February

Our workshop theme for the month of February is "Media, Pop Culture and You." We are still looking for volunteers and community members to lead workshops, or co-lead with a staff member. Fridays are also a great day for parents and guardians to come in to see the school and attend our high school meeting. If you have any ideas for workshops, field trips or wish to volunteer please contact one of the high school advisers.

Upcoming dates to keep in mind

• Friday, January 26^th – All night gaming night at Trillium.
• Wednesday, January 31^st – Students register for Quarter 2 classes.
• Thursday, February 1^st – End of Quarter 2.
• Thursday, February 1^st – All School Project Fair

Upcoming Sexual Harassment Workshop

January 22, 2007

Dear students, parents, and guardians:

As part of Trillium’s commitment to providing a healthy, safe, and supportive environment for all of its members, all high school students and staff will take part in a mandatory training this week about sexual harassment. We are canceling regularly scheduled classes during B3 and ILP period, 12:30-3:15, on Thursday, January 25^th in order to make this happen.

Unfortunately, this is a real and relevant problem for young people today. According to a study by the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation, 80% of 8^th – 11^th grade boys and girls have experienced sexual harassment.[1] The upcoming workshop will give students strategies for recognizing and dealing with sexual harassment by helping them become aware of what it is, how it affects people, and what they can do about it. The workshop is required for all high school students. Students may receive Health credit for completing the session in the same manner as they can for the High School Fridays.

We are fortunate to be a part of a small, intimate community at Trillium. We have the invaluable ability to know each of our students well, and are able to quickly recognize their needs and address them efficiently and respectfully. We look forward to the upcoming workshop as a way of further understanding and supporting our students.

High school advisors would be happy to answer any questions you may have about this. Please direct your queries to them.

Regards,

High School Staff

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[1] Hostile Hallways: Bullying, Teasing, and Sexual Harassment in School (2001)

MID QUARTER UPDATE

Hello All,

It's the middle of Second Quarter already and that means that Progress Reports will be going out this Monday, January 8th. Your student will receive a paper copy of notification for any class that he or she is in danger of getting a "D", "F", or in any way not meeting the expectations of the class. Reports are also being mailed home to parents and guardians.

The end of the quarter is Thursday, February 1st and with it comes the All School Project Fair Night. Students from every grade level will be exhibiting work they have done either in classes or on their own through Independent Learning Projects. We expect a pretty good turn-out and are gearing up for the event. Any parent wishing to help set-up and/or bring food to the event should contact me at gadbow@gmail.com.

Our Friday workshops continue to offer students a variety of engaging options. This month we have continued the Health and Wellness theme in order to allow some of our students to earn additional health credit.

I am looking for more area rugs as well as curtains for the windows and doors of the classroom (in orded to see the screen better during Powerpoint or film presentations). Anyone with an extra rug, or curtain making skills would be rewarded with genuine gratitude and endless praise. Contact me for specifics.

Here’s wishing you all a happy and healthy new year,

Ken

World History - Rome Assignment

Roman Exhibition Assignment

World History

Due: Thursday, January 11^th.

Now that you have created a fantastic rendition of your historical figure in beautiful felt, it is time to sing his or her praises.

Your assignment is to write a song or poem, do a play or drawings, create a puppet show that incorporates ALL of the facts we have presented about the person, including dates, locations, and accomplishments. You will be graded on:

· Historical accuracy

· Completeness of information

· Creativity

You will present your performance to class on Thursday.

Comparative Politics Assignment

You’re Elected

House of Commons Assignment, Part I

Comparative Politics

January 2, 2007

You were just elected the British House of Commons. You are an able politician and hoping to not only serve your constituents, but to lead your party, and hopefully the government. In order to put yourself in a position of power, however, you must state to your fellow party members why you are the right person for the job.

• What personal qualities do you have that will make you a good leader of your party?
• What is your vision for your party?
• What is your vision for the United Kingdom?

Freewrite for 9 minutes on this. Then spend 9 more minutes reorganizing your writing in order to present it to your fellow party members. Once presented there will be secret ballot for party leader. Then, together with the party leader, you will help create a party platform. Once finished, you will present your platform to the class and introduce the new leader. Others should pay attention in order to prepare for Prime Minister’s Question Time on Thursday.

Civil War Project Development

Project Development

Civil War Class

December 11, 2006

This independent class is project based. By Wednesday, all students should have reviewed each of the characters, events, and places from our Civil War topics list. Students may choose any item from that list, or any other topic approved by Ken, on which to do their final project. Once the student has selected a topic or topics, he/she should decide how to learn more about the item and then how to demonstrate what has been learned.

Choosing how to present your information should be a fun and engaging part of the project. What you choose to do is limited only by your own imagination. If you cannot decide on just one topic, you may choose to do multiple mini-projects instead of one large one. The following list provides a few examples of how students have chosen to display their learning:

· Write and create a play that teaches about your subject.

· Write a collection of poetry that teaches about your subject.

· Create a fake, but believable, newspaper that teaches about your subject.

· Write and perform songs that teach about your subject.

· Write and perform a newscast as if you were reporting on your subject during the Civil War.

· Write a historically accurate diary or personal story that teaches about your subject.

Remember that your final project should represent 6 weeks of dedicated work in this class. Projects thrown together at the last minute have little hope of receiving a passing grade. Get started now. The steps are:

1. Choose a topic that is interesting to you.

2. List what you already know about the subject on the back of this form.

3. List what you would like to know more about.

4. List how you are going to learn more about it – what resources you will use.

5. Decide how you are going to present your information (play, poetry, newspaper, etc.).

6. Have fun with this. Make it interesting. Make it creative. Do your best and be proud of your work.

Students are encouraged to display their learning at the evening Project Fair at the end of the term.

Civil War Final Project Name ______________________

Project Topic
Things I already know about this topic.
Things I want to learn more about.
Resources I will use to learn more.
How I will demonstrate what I have learned. (Play, poems, songs, etc.)
Important due dates for my project.	· Progress check-in dates: January 10, January 17, January 24 · Final presentations begin Monday, January 29th.

Civil War Mid term exam study guide

Midterm Exam Review Sheet

Civil War Class

January 3, 2007

Exam Date: Monday, January 8, 2007

Section One – Identify and explain

Of the following people, places, and events from the Civil War, 10 will appear on your exam. You will be asked to choose 6 to identify and explain how the event is important to the war.

1. Dred Scott
2. The Kansas-Nebraska Act
3. Bleeding Kansas
4. New York City Draft Riots
5. Emancipation Proclamation
6. Robert E. Lee
7. Ulysses S. Grant
8. Abraham Lincoln
9. Jefferson Davis
10. The Union
11. The Confederacy
12. Blockades and blockade runners
13. Ironclads
14. Fort Sumter
15. The Underground Railroad
16. John Brown
17. Sojourner Truth
18. Harriet Tubman
19. William Lloyd Garrison
20. The Missouri Compromise
21. The Sumner-Brooks incident
22. Harriet Beecher Stowe
23. Secession

Section Two – Short Essay

Of the following three questions, one will appear on your exam. You will be asked to answer the question in essay format with well developed introduction, supporting paragraphs, and conclusion.

1. How did the Emancipation Proclamation changed the focus of the war?
2. How was the Kansas-Nebraska Act related to the firing on Fort Sumter?
3. How did the southern states justify forming their own country?

MID QUARTER UPDATE

Hello All,

It's the middle of Second Quarter already and that means that Progress Reports will be going out this Monday, January 8th. Your student will receive a paper copy of notification for any class that he or she is in danger of getting a "D", "F", or in any way not meeting the expectations of the class. Reports are also being mailed home to parents and guardians.

The end of the quarter is Thursday, February 1st and with it comes the All School Project Fair Night. Students from every grade level will be exhibiting work they have done either in classes or on their own through Independent Learning Projects. We expect a pretty good turn-out and are gearing up for the event. Any parent wishing to help set-up and/or bring food to the event should contact me at gadbow@gmail.com.

Our Friday workshops continue to offer students a variety of engaging options. This month we have continued the Health and Wellness theme in order to allow some of our students to earn additional health credit.

I am looking for more area rugs as well as curtains for the windows and doors of the classroom (in orded to see the screen better during Powerpoint or film presentations). Anyone with an extra rug, or curtain making skills would be rewarded with genuine gratitude and endless praise. Contact me for specifics.

Here’s wishing you all a happy and healthy new year,

Ken

Friday Workshops January 5

Friday Workshop Sign-up

For January 5, 2007

This month’s theme: Health and Wellness

Below is a list of workshop offerings for this coming Friday. Put your name under the workshop heading you wish to attend on the attached sheet. Please remember that you are committing to this workshop by signing up – sign up, show up, and enjoy! Friday credit will be given on a Pass/No Pass basis. All workshops this month are eligible for Health credit.

Offering 1- Youth Connecting With Health Resources

Workshop leader: Elizabeth

Location: Elizabeth’s room

Maximum Number: 15

Description: Where do you go when you have questions about birth control or alcohol and drugs? How do you access low or no cost health care? Where can you get help with depression or a friend who has talked about suicide? What supports are out there for survivors of sexual violence? What about street youth? In this workshop we will begin by brainstorming what health questions and concerns teens have and then we will explore what’s out there in the community and online. After reviewing teen health websites and checking out community resources, participants in this group will create a Teen Health Resource Guide for use in High School Advising Groups at Trillium.

Offering 2 – The Education of Shelby

Workshop leader: Jess

Location: Jess’ Room

Maximum Number: 15

Description: A self-described "good Southern Baptist girl," 15-year-old Shelby Knox of Lubbock, Texas has pledged abstinence until marriage. But she becomes an unlikely advocate for comprehensive sex ed when she finds that Lubbock, where high schools teach abstinence as the only safe sex, has some of the highest rates of teen pregnancy and STDs in the state.

We will be watching the movie, discussing and learning about the abstinence only sex education.

Offering 3 – What are you eating?

Workshop leader: Dr. Jennifer Brusewitz

Staff Coordinator: Ken

Location: Ken’s room

Maximum number: 15

Description: Naturopathic physician Jennifer Brusewitz will lead discussions about different ideas of diet and common misconceptions of what is good for our bodies and what is not so good.