Year End Paperwork

 

The last day of school will be FRIDAY JUNE 6th, 2008

REPORT cards will be issued on FRIDAY JUNE 13th, 2008 and should be collected by students on that date.

 

SUMMER SCHOOL: students will be advised who 'should' attend summer school during the next 2 weeks. Summer school will be held between MONDAY 9th of June and FRIDAY 20th of June between the hours of 09:00 and 12:00 - Monday - Friday only.

English Creative Writing Assignment:

You have finally been rescued from your island – OR – you died there and someone found your journal (Diary). Since we last discussed this 100 days have passed. You learned to survive but also to face new challenges. Your assignment for today is multi faceted:

1) Give a BRIEF description of how you arrived on the island and the people that are there with you.
2) Describe BRIEFLY the events of those first 14 days.
3) Give us an OVERVIEW of what happened during the 100 days since we last saw you. Explain the main problems and challenges and also how you overcame those new challenges.
4) Describe IN DETAIL the last 5 days before you were discovered or died and the first 5 days of being back in the REAL world. How have you managed to cope with the pressures of life, the media (newspapers / TV etc)
5) You have been offered a contract by a film studio to make a movie about your adventures. As part of the deal you are allowed to pick the actors who will play you and the other lead characters. Tell me who you would pick and why they would be good at playing your part in the movie. You also have to DRAW a detailed MAP of the island to show where things took place.
6) Now that you are back in the ‘real world’ what do you intend to do? Life can never be the same for you. The island has changed you. What now?

Second Semester English Project: Friends - Amanda Y10

Amanda chose to write about her friends and how they influence and make a difference to her and her life. In her report Amanda looked at how friendships are formed, the values and properties of true friends and then what friends do together in Tirana.

Amanda and the other students in the high school are in that transition from child - teenager - adult. Along the way they have many decisions and challenges to face. Having 'good friends' can make the difference in how you formulate your ideas and beliefs and therefore what path you choose to follow.

Friends in teenage years tend to have far more influence on 'the teenager' than their parents, yet they also view their parents as the 'safety net' who can cure everything!

Discover Amanda and her friends in this interesting project:

Well done

Second Semester English - Watching TV - Ledio 9B

Ledio chose to write about watching too much television and the effects of TV on young minds and imaginations. Ledio looked into both the positive and negative aspects of watching TV. He reviewed many different studies and read some research reports to base the content of his report on. In his presentation Ledio shares his ideas regarding the effects of television as well as his personal habits with regard watching TV.

Well researched and compiled.

Second Semester English Project - Arlinda Y 10

Arlinda has chosen to write about those things that keep us awake at night; those thoughts that haunt us in the middle of the night and give us those cold sweats. What worries us - is the tile of her second semester project. It covers a variety of things that every teenager thinks about and loses sleep over.

A creative, well constructed presentation both interesting and intriguing. Discover what is on the mind of your teenager today!

TOEFL Practice Essay 3: Mario 9B

22. In general, people are living longer now. Discuss the causes of this phenomenon.

 

People in the world are now living much longer. For example in Europe and North America, the average life expectancy has risen to 68 years for men and 73 years for women. In India life expectancy has been much lower. But improved health and living conditions has now lifted the average life expectancy there to 56 years.

 

One of the causes that the life expectancy is increasing is the agriculture. Now the agriculture is improved. This means that the people in the world are better fed.

 

Another cause that people now live much longer is the public health. The public health is improved very much nowadays. There are better living conditions so people live longer because they are protected a bit from diseases.

 

The last cause is the medicines. The medicines are now better used. There are new medicines in hospitals. So people now have a cure for almost all the diseases. A lot of new chemicals are now discovered. The technology is improved so there are machines that cure diseases.

 

In conclusion, the people are now living longer for different causes. Some of these causes are: public health, improved agriculture, improved technology, medicines, new chemicals etc. This is a bad thing because there are a lot of natural resources that are being finished and can’t be renewed like coal etc. and the all this because of the population size.

Second Semester English Project: Gera and Kristi D # 2 Y-10

As a back up in case the first did not work out Kristi and Gera made this second project. Actually more a matter that each started one project and they could not agree which to 'drop' in favour of the other. So instead we get two offerings from Kristi D and Gera.

This lists the 'Ten most important things in life' as seen by Gera and Kristi. The relationship these things have in making our quality of life something worth while and something to enjoy. Let us explore their ten most important things..

The PowerPoint slides have a somewhat 1960's feel to them. The psychedelic colours as well as the choice of fonts reminds - those of us old enough to remember - the Golden age of the 1960's

(Project Grade: 4.5)

Second Semester English Project: Kristi D and Gera Y 10

For their project Kristi and Gera looked into the Internet and how it has changed our lives at work as well as in the office. The way the Internet has changed our social patterns and habits and how it is quite common to have more 'friends' whom we have never actually met - scattered across the world, than those in our own neighbourhood. The girls looked at the history and development of the Internet as well as our individual perceptions of it. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly all factor into our relationship with the Information Highway.

Join Kristi and Gera on this revealing journey.

(Project Grade: 4.5)

Second Semester English Project - Rea Y 10

For her project Rea chose to tell us about the city where she lives and we attend school - Tirana, Albania. Tirana is home to more than 1.3 million Albanians, perhaps more than 50% of the countries population live in this growing city which resounds with a plethora of sites and visions and a cacophony of sounds 24 / 7. Come and let Rea being your guide as we explore her world.

(Project Grade: 4.5)

Second Semester English Project: Amarildo Y 11

Amarildo takes us to his home town of Shkoder in Northern Albania. Shkoder has a rich historic past and continues to thrive as one of Albania's largest cities. Located near to the Montenegro Border and sitting on the shores of the Shkoder Lake, Amarildo takes us through the rich history that has left its indelible mark on his birthplace.

Amarildo needs to refine his English considerably, however he has made a solid attempt at creating an interesting multi-media project to share with his class. Amarildo brings to his presentation a passion for his family and history. These are difficult emotions to transfer into a second language, yet Amarildo has managed to share with us his feelings. Well done.

(Project Grade: 4)

Second Semester English Project - Silvester Y 11

Silvester looked at the money market. 'Money makes the world go around' - or at least it makes Silvester's go smoothly! This project is full of colour and life and explains how our world works with different currencies.

Project well done.

Second Semester English Project: Dejvis Y 11

Dejvis undertook to make a public health statement about the adverse affects of smoking. Smoking is the number one pastime in Albania, everyone seems to do it even when sitting under the No Smoking Signs in the cafe's and restaurants.

Summer Reading - MIST Recommendations: Pre Senior (Going into Y 12)

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Directions: Read one of the following books during the summer if you will be in World Literature or Honors World Literature. You will be tested in English class when you return to school. To prepare yourself, take notes on the book. Be sure to take notes on minor and major characters, the setting of the story, and plot events. AP students, see separate list.

World Literature (Choose one)

The Good Earth by Pearl S. BuckStory of Wang Lung's growth from adolescence and poverty to old age and wealth in pre-Communist China.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy TanFascinating vignettes about four Chinese-born women and their American-born daughters; magical tales of women living in two cultures.

Madame Bovary by Gustave FlaubertProject Gutenberg eBookFamous French novel about Emma Bovary, who, dissatisfied with the lack of glamour in her middle class life, searches for romance and excitement and becomes entangled in a web of deceit.

Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala MarkandayaA moving and realistic story of the unbelievable challenges of growing up as a girl/woman in a village of India.

The Merry Wives of Windsor by William ShakespeareProject Gutenberg eBook This romantic comedy entwines wise women, mistaken identities, jealousy and good old fashioned wooing! See the adventures of Falstaff, Mistress Ford and Mistress Page portrayed on stage this summer at the Great Lakes Theater Festival.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale HurstonWonderful story of a black woman's discovery of dignity and love in the prejudiced South of the 1930's.

Honors World Literature

(Choose one book from the list above, and also read the following)

Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton The compassionate story of Zulu pastor Steven Kumalo and his son Absalom.

AP World Literature

Read the following novel and one other work.

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy(Penguin edition only, translated by Pevear & Volokhonsky) Sensual, rebellious Anna renounces a respectable marriage for a passionate and destructive romantic involvement.

Summer Reading - MIST Recommendation: Pre Junior: (Going into Y 11)

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Directions: Read the book listed below during the summer. You will be tested on the book in English class when you return to school. To prepare yourself, take good notes on the book. Be sure to take notes on minor and major characters, the settings of the story, and plot events.

British Literature

Rebecca by Daphne duMaurier

Honors British Literature

David Copperfield by Charles DickensProject Gutenberg eBook

Summer Reading - MIST Recommendation: Pre Sophomore (Going into Pre Y 10)

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Directions: Read one of the following books during the summer. You will be tested on the book in American Literature when you return to school. To prepare yourself, take good notes on the book. Be sure to take notes on minor and major characters, the setting of the story, and the plots.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
A well-known poet, actress and scholar tells poetically of her African-American childhood in Stamps, Arkansas, where searing bigotry tested but did not destroy her.

The Promise by Chaim Potok
This sequel to The Chosen takes the reader into Danny's and Reuven's adulthoods.

Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark TwainProject Gutenberg eBook
At Dawson's Landing in times of slavery, two boys -- one black, one white -- are switched at birth. What happens as a result shows the author's firm conviction that "color is only skin deep."

Witch Child by Celia Rees
In 1659, fourteen year old Mary Newbury keeps a journal of her voyage from England to the New World and her experiences living as a witch in a community of Puritans near Salem, Massachusetts.

Summer Reading - MIST Recommendation: Pre Freshman (Going into Y 9)

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT:

Directions: Read two of the following books during the summer. You will be tested on the books in English class when you begin school. To prepare yourself, take good notes on the books. Be sure to take notes on minor and major characters, the settings of the story, and plot events.

Death Be Not Proud by John Gunther
A father's touching story of his courageous teenage son who dies of a brain tumor at the age of seventeen. Johnny, throughout his illness, and dealing with his death, was being reborn each day.

Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston & John D. Houston
The author remembers her life as a young Japanese girl who is sent to an internment camp with her family during World War II.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
A biographical novel full of suspense and intrigue about the author's attempts to save refugees from the Nazis during World War II.

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer
Sixteen year old Hope runs a diner with her aunt and becomes involved in the mayoral race of the diner's owner, a leukemia victim.

The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Kino, impoverished Indian fisherman in a little village in Mexico, believes his fortune turns to gold when he finds a valuable pearl. This simple novella relays an important parable about moral values and integrity of soul.

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
This is the story of a 40-year-old man, Landon Carter, who looks back on his life at age 17 when he was roped into acting the lead in the town Christmas play.

Words by Heart by Ouida Sebestyen
A story about a girl who comes face to face with violence and must make the hardest choice of her life.

Additional Summer Reading Lists

A LIST OF GREAT LISTS!

Summer Reading List 2007These lists of titles have been compiled by librarians at member schools of the Houston Area Independent Schools Library Network (HAISLN). The lists include both fiction and nonfiction books by some of the best authors for children and young adults. Lists presented for PreK-12.

Summer Reading ListsCharlottesville (Virginia) Catholic School presents these lists or required and suggested reading. Separate lists for each grade K to 8.

Summer Reading for KidsThese books have been selected by Vermont public school librarians and are recommended for summer reading for children and young adults. Published on the Vermont Education Association's Web page, Summer Reading offers separate lists for students in grades K through 4, 5 through 8, and 9 through 12.

Summer Reading ListsThese lists, from the Mountain Brook City Schools in Birmingham, Alabama, recommend books for students in grades 1 through 3, 4, 5, 6, junior high school (grades 7 through 9), and high school.

Summer Reading ListsMiddlesex Middle School in Darien, Connecticut, provides reading lists for social studies and science, as well as English.

Summer Fun Reading ListThese lists include books for students in K through 5. Book lists are divided by grade levels of students entering grades K and 1, 2 and 3, and 4 and 5, as well as into such categories as poetry, picture books, and classic fiction to read aloud to the whole family.

Elementary Summer Reading ListThis list from the Wayland (Massachusetts) Public Schools includes fiction titles for beginning readers, students in grades 2 and 3, and students in grades 4 and 5, as well as lists of books of poetry, books of fairy tales, biographies, books for families to read aloud, and more.

Boulder (Colorado) Public Library Booklists for KidsThis list of lists from the BPL includes summer reading chapter books and summer reading picture books.

Fairfax County Public Library Books for School-Age ChildrenThough not specifically created as summer reading lists, these lengthy lists include great summer reading ideas. Individual lists are offered for students in grades 1 to 6.

Summer Reading ListsThis resource from Fairfax County (Virginia) Public Schools includes four separate lists -- for students going into grades 6, 7 and 8, 9 and 10, and 11 and 12.

Boston Public Schools Summer Reading ListsFour lengthy book lists -- for students in grades K through 3, 4 and 5, 6 through 8, and 9 through 12 -- offer titles sorted by genre. These lists, created in association with the Boston Public Library, include titles in Spanish for students in grade K through 8.

ADDITIONAL SUMMER READING RESOURCES

Summer Reading Tips for ParentsAccording to the LD Online Web site, "Studies show that most students experience a loss of reading skills over the summer months, but children who continue to read actually gain skills." This site offers tips that encourage parents to help children sustain reading skills during the summer. Although directed to parents of children with learning disabilities, any teacher might include these tips in an end-of-year newsletter as a reminder to parents.

Choices BooklistEach year the International Reading Association (IRA) invites 10,000 schoolchildren to read and vote for the best newly published books. This site provides the children's list as well as a list of teachers' picks for the best books.

Publish Your Book ReviewsHave children publish their book reviews on Web sites that offer readers the opportunity to share their opinions about books. This issue of Barbara Feldman's Surfing the Net with Kids newsletter offers links to a handful of such opportunities!

Summer Reading Lists

Every year around the world schools give their recommendations for the books students should read during the summer. These lists are as varied as there are schools. Here are some links to the top recommended reading lists from around the globe. Try reading some of the books on these lists. Later we will post the books we recommend for our MIST students.

One key to children's reading success is making their reading experience entertaining, relaxing, and enjoyable. Allow children to choose their own reading materials and be aware of what their reading interests are. Help them find books that pique their interests. Below are information about and links to many reading lists that identify high-quality titles and serve many different audiences and purposes.

Notable Children's Books An annual list compiled by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of ALA.

Top Ten Lists of "All-Time Classics" ALSC created this list of classics that parents and children can read together for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America for national KidsDay (August 2001). There is one list for preschool to age 8 and one list for ages 8-12.

100 best paperbacks A list created by ALSC for Reading is Fundamental (RIF).

Newbery Award Books. Each year, ALSC chooses the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children from books released in the previous year.

Caldecott Award Books. Each year, ALSC chooses the most distinguished American picture book for children released in the previous year.

Pura Belpré Award Books. Each year, ALSC chooses two works (one for narrative and one for illustration) that best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

Coretta Scott King Award Books Each year, the Coretta Scott King Task Force of the ALA Social Responsibilities Round Table chooses two distinguished books, one by an author of African descent and one from an illustrator of African descent, that promote an understanding and appreciation of the "American Dream."

Robert F. Sibert Award Books. Each year, ALSC chooses the most distinguished informational book published during the preceding year.

Mildred Batchelder Award Books. Each year, ALSC honors an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a foreign language in a foreign country, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States.

Booklist Editor's Choice Lists including "Books for Youth" compiled by editors of ALA's review magazine, Booklist; with grade levels suggested.

The Teen Read Week website includes a list of resources for materials of interest to teens.
An extensive list of all of the high-school-age reading lists compiled by members of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of (ALA).

Outstanding Books for the College Bound
There are also numerous published lists. A recent one is The New Books Kids Like, edited by Sharon Deeds and Catherine Chastain, Prepared for the Association for Library Service to Children (Chicago: ALA, 2001). This organizes frequently requested materials around 44 topics and indicates grade levels within those topics.

Finally, there are numerous web resources available through Great Web Sites for Kids. See entries under "Literature and Language"

Second Semester English Project - Marshela 9A

Here is created a presentation on our psychology - what makes us tick? Who are we really inside? The person the world does not see. In her voyage of discovery Marshela has looked into the inner working of the human mind and tried to determine what makes us individual. A good project, well constructed, compiled. Resources listed clearly and defended well in oral argument.

Marshela has advanced a great deal this year. Her knowledge and use of English has risen above expectation and I am very pleased with the way she is able to manipulate the mechanics of English as well as exhibit her understanding and knowledge of the language. Well done. (Project grade 5)

Second Semester English Project - Senka 9A

Here is Senka's project from 9A. Senka looked into stereotypes and names given to different types and groups of students across the school. Her project examines the demographics of the school in the 'students terms' rather than those more formal. A lively and interesting project. Bibliography well compiled and submitted in .doc format. Oral defence execulted well. Well done!

Senka has worked hard this year in English and will be attending school in the USA next year. She is an excellent student and has excelled in every aspect of her academic and extra curricular work. I have enjoyed teaching Senka as well as being able to share a short part of her life with her. Best wishes for 2008 / 2009 in the USA. (Project grade 5+)

How to add quotes.

Here is a short PowerPoint presentation on how to add quotations to your work.

English Project - Second Semester - Mario and Dario 9B

For their main English project for the second semester. Mario and Dario of class 9B looked into the current state of electronics and technology. Together they have researched what is in the front end of todays 'must have' toys for the 'grown ups'. Mostly based on communications and phones the boys have covered the 'toys for the boys' well.

They used the PowerPoint to support their oral presentation rather than the other way around - well done. The information was well presented and interesting to follow.

But gentlemen... where is my Nokia E90? Surely it should be in with the front runners?

TOEFL Practice Essay - Arber 9A

No. 24 "Teens with jobs" is this the right thing to do for the children of tomorrow or is it beneficial for teenagers and also the world or is it another form of slavery? Do teens really need jobs or can they do fine without one?

Teenagers have to start learning the value of money and that with money comfort can be bought and with comfort comes happiness (most of the times). Some teens are forced to do a job since their family is poor and needs money to survive so all the family has to work to help. Other teens are sent by their parents to work so that they can learn what having a job feels like. Some teens go to work for extra money for their own benefit since their parents won't give them money so they work for money to probably get them that movie or dress they wanted.

Now this seems fine but there are problems with this (like everything else involving money in this world). Some jobs have bad working hours so some teens leave school so that they can work to feed their poor family (this seems to only happen in poor countries). Other jobs are under-paid so teens are abused this way and no one seems to care. Finally some jobs involve a large amount of physical labor this is fine if the job is paid well but most hard work jobs are low paid.

So are teens having jobs a good idea? Well I think yes it's a good idea, teens need to learn to handle money and a job. As long as the job is well paid and not hard to do then why not get a job - a decent job, not one that takes advantage or abuses the teenager. "Money will never make you happy, and happy will never make you money!" The Marx Brothers.

Semester English Project - Beaches of the World Xhoia and Jola Y9B

For their semester English presentation project Xhoia and Jola of 9B chose the 'Worlds Top Ten Beaches' as their topic. This involved a lot of research for the information as well as the photographs. As far as I know neither Xhoia nor Jola have actually managed to visit any of the top ten but they are all on their 'hit list' for the coming years!

Well researched and complied. Oral presentation excellent. (Grade 5)

Macbeth Summary - Erinda Y 10

Here is Erinda's PowerPoint of the 2006 version movie of Macbeth. In her presentation Erinda highlights the main points from the movie and how it interprets the original Shakespearean drama and takes it from Scotland to urban Australia.

A good round up and well put together. (Grade 5)