Using knowledge gained from Color Theory lessons by teacher Janine Kelley, sixth graders create their own Surrealist paintings based on either a dream or nightmare they’ve had.

In order to help the students of SOF connect to the community around them, the staff of This Is Our Youth: Literary Magazine will collect gently used coats and blankets for Covenant House, which serves homeless teens.

The purpose of the holiday drive is to inspire the teens at Covenant House. Rather than talking to them and leaving, we want to leave an impact by giving blankets and coats that will help them prepare for this brutal winter. It would be highly appreciated if the whole school (middle & high school) participated in the drive. Please make sure the items you give are in good shape.

Parents, teachers, faculty members and students are welcome to participate in the drive. We will collect items in the front lobby of the school from December 1st through December 17th and bring them to Covenant House on December 20th.

Our roof garden is a beautiful setting for SOF events and gatherings and the Roof Garden Committee is working hard to make big improvements. Christine Watts, Committee Chair, appreciates everyone who came out to the roof garden clean up on November 8th and looks forward to bringing everything together in the spring. A special thanks to Elizabeth Tallon for writing grant applications. Photos below by Christina Delfico show work in progress.

The 8th graders rocked their shoe project. These artfully crafted shoes are made entirely out of cardboard, paper and glue. The students were no doubt inspired by the Killer Heels exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. Janine Kelly thanks the 8th grade team for making it happen.

Mia

Mark S.

Keo

Rafaella

Allen D.

Amy

Juliana

Emily

Biology:

9th grade Biologists have enjoyed designing investigations with three live specimens (termites, pillbugs & bacteria) and have reported their most recent discoveries in their first Lab Report of the year. We are looking forward to the genetics unit where students will have the opportunity to bioengineer e.coli bacteria as well as debate bioethical issues such as transgenics and GMO foods.

The student-elected bi-weekly biologist awards went to Seim Wolderufael, Haze Booth, John Stets, Jonah Morgulas, Lucia Hassen, Van James Huynh, Xanthe Soter, and Octavia Washington.

History:

9th grade history students have been pondering the question: “What are the makings of an ideal society?” and using evidence from the Greek city states of Athens and Sparta to help them answer this question. Next, we’ll examine the same question through the lens of ancient Rome and think about how US has been shaped by Rome. Over the next two weeks, students will be debating this question and working on their first large argumentative essay. Then, we’ll turn our focus to a Comparative Religions unit.

Also, the first Junior Historian awards for excellence in work habits were given out to Xanthe Soter, Annika Langberg, Jenny Kam & Sophie Correa.

9th grade section B students were audience to a guest lecture on contemporary Native American issues from 11th grader Brittany Rodriguez. Students did a great job connecting the issues facing Native Americans to their studies of Ancient Greece by discussing the role of government in an ideal society.

Algebra 1:

9th grade Algebra 1 students created mini projects about the relationship between vehicle stopping distances and car crashes. Students were able to calculate the speed of vehicles using quadratic equations and determine, in most cases, that the people involved would still be alive had they not been speeding, drinking, texting etc. as all of these delay the stopping distance of a vehicle.