Schedule change...

Due to Friday's snow day cancellation, our weekly current events quiz will be postponed until Tuesday. The Cold War mid-unit quiz that you missed on Friday will be administered tomorrow (Monday).

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Just another manic Monday...

Today we took our weekly current events quiz. Please note that if you are absent, I cannot send home any quizzes-- you'll have to see me when you return to make them up.

Also, I should point out (if you were not here today) that I have changed the format of the questions. Rather than having five multiple choice questions, I will now give five short-answer questions. The quizzes will be more challenging; be sure to thoroughly read the articles that I post.

We also read about the Bay of Pigs invasion today (Monday) The article can be found here, and the accompanying questions (worth 5 points) are right here.

All of the information we've covered from the beginning of the year up through the Bay of Pigs will be covered on a 30-point test on Friday, but as of Tuesday we will begin the next section, Chapter 18 Section 1. You can re-read this online, and make sure that you have the key words (in blue) defined in your notebooks.The link for the Power Point presentation is here. I will be out on Wednesday and a film will be shown in class; we will continue with the Power Point presentation and lecture on Thursday.

Friday is the Cold War mid-Unit test. Study!

Full steam ahead...

I'm hoping this week is a sunny, no-delays, no-cancellations kind of week. If we are delayed, we will still have the quiz; if we are canceled (banish the thought!) we will simply have the quiz on the next school day.

That said, here are the links...

• DNA tests have revealed new information about King Tut.

• This man flew a plane into an IRS building to show his frustration with the government.

• The TSA is planning to implement more regulations soon.

• The final costs to the City of Pittsburgh incurred during the G-20 summit have been tallied up.

• "Soldier and Stateman" Alexander Haig dies at the age of 85.
  

Back in the swing of things...

Ok, Hempfield-- let's do this.

• In very sad news, a young man died during a practice run on the opening day of the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

• More than a dozen were injured when a rogue wave struck at a surf competition.

• The National Guard had to step in to help the area with snow removal efforts after a debilitating winter storm last week.

• A former U.S. President found himself in the hospital this week...

• This story fits in nicely with our Cold War unit.

After the current events quiz, we will watch the last 10 minutes or so of "Thirteen Days" and I will be collecting the questions you answered-- they are worth 10 points.

Tuesday's lesson will be about the differences between Traditional, Market, and Command economic systems, (link to classwork can be found here.)

On Wednesday we will complete a chart highlighting the major differences between Capitalism, Socialism, and Communism, (if you miss class, you'll have to see me for a lesson on this worksheet which I will provide in person)

Thursday we will have a reading, short video clip, and discussion about the Bay of Pigs invasion, and I'm still planning what all Friday's lesson will cover.

All of this to say: our 9-day weekend has come to an end, my friends. Time to get back on track, because June will be here before we know it!

Hope you all have a lovely Valentine's Day...
~Ms. S.

Snow update?

Hey, guys. I'm going on the supposition here that a lot of you are unable to even read this due to the power outages in Westmoreland County. I don't feel comfortable planning on having a quiz when a good percentage of you will likely not be prepared, through no fault of your own.

Sooooo... assuming we have school tomorrow, we will still have a five-point current events quiz, but it will be more for discussion purposes than anything else. It won't count in Skyward.

Now, those of you who are reading this, tell me-- what's it like out there? Are the roads cleared? Have you been out of the house? Mr. Cullen and I are essentially trapped, and he's still out there trying to get the car un-stuck from a side street we slid down unintentionally. Send me a comment telling me what things look like closer to Greensburg...

Stay warm!
Ms. S.