| Tuesday, July 8, 2008
¡Hola Amigos!
I hope that everyone is having a really fun summer. I've been busy with home
improvements and getting ready for my daughter's September wedding.
For those of you who enjoyed the "Digging for the Truth" epidsodes with Josh
Bernstein, I just came across the following announcement. I am really
excited to see what he does with this new series for the Discovery Channel.
SAVE THE DATE! SPREAD THE WORD!
You're invited to
See the World One Adventure At a Time
Jump in and hang on as Josh Bernstein explores a world of ancient
gladiators, killer elephants, and a lost city of gold. An all-new
series in which anything can happen and nothing's off limits.
INTO THE UNKNOWN WITH JOSH BERNSTEIN
MONDAYS AT 10PM E/P
Premieres August 18th on
The Discovery Channel
SAVE THE DATE! SPREAD THE WORD!
I'll keep you posted on items for the new school year as I get the
information. Have fun!
Sra. Robinson
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Thursday, June 19th, 2008
¡Hola! ¿Cómo están todos?
I just thought that I would write and give you an update on your Spanish II
summer assignments. They are posted and you may do them at any time.
Go to the CISD website at www.southlakecarroll.edu and then to the CHS
webpage. Your assignments are posted below "Welcome to Carroll High School"
and above "News from the Principal." "Summer Assignments" is printed in
green. Information on both Spanish II and Spanish II (Pre-AP) is posted.
You may want to work both for practice.
I'm having a wonderful summer preparing for my daughter's Sept. wedding and
doing some volunteering at the Grapevine Historical Society museum. As I am
a substitute for folks on vacation I don't have a regular day. If I know
more than a day in advance when I will next be there, I will post the time on
this page. I love to have museum visitors!!
Summer school for our district Life Skills students starts next week and I
will be assisting there as a teacher and aide for four weeks. It is always a
really enjoyable time! Let me know if you are interested in doing some of
your community service hours helping with our Special Olympians this next
school year.
Unless the district server is having difficulties or the teacher e-mail
system is shut down for maintenance, I check my e-mail a couple of times
daily. E-mail me if you need anything.
We have 10 happy, adventurous travelers planning on going to Peru in June of
2009. We still have room for four. Through a bit of negotiating and the
fact that CMS is using NETC for the first time, we have lost only the $100
early enrollment scholarship. We will all be able to keep the $200 "Welcome
Scholarship" and our original fees will not increase. Go to NETC at
www.educationaltravel.com. Our user name is: robinsok and the password is:
Peru2009. You will see up-to-date information listed there. I'm not having
much luck trying to post a message on that page. I'll keep posting trip
information here until I get that worked out.
I miss y'all! This past school year was wonderful! I wish that I could have
kept all of you for another couple of years.
¡Espero que tengan un buen verano!
Sra. Robinson
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Monday, June 2, 2008
¡Hola!
Summer assignments are scheduled to be posted on the CHS website on
Wednesday of this week. Students will be able to look there and get the
instructions for completing practice assignments for Spanish II and Spanish
II Pre-AP. I will probably be able to give you more details once that work
is posted.
If you are interested in the June 2009 trip to Peru, you might want to come
and visit with me this Wednesday morning at 8:00. I have all the
information and registration materials necessary to enroll. It looks like
we have four openings remaining for this fantastic Machu Picchu adventure.
Keep checking this "Anuncios" page for Spanish Dept. updates.
"¡Buena suerte!" on all of your semester exams.
Sra. Robinson
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Memorial Day - May 26th, 2008
Queridos Estudiantes,
This is probably the last news letter of the year.
The first two days of this week will be spent on the vocabulary and grammar
of Capítulo 7A - clothing, demonstrative adjectives and stem-changing verbs.
We will do a comprehensive grammar review of the entire book on Thursday and
Friday.
If you have not already done as I have suggested for the past several weeks,
you will want to be reviewing the vocabulary from the red & blue Guided
Practice Workbooks.
Any students who are interested in completing the Spanish I course may do so
with the blue workbooks and the on-line practices, as suggested in the blue
workbooks. I have not yet received information from the H.S. about the on-
line practice review and quizzes in August for those who are going on to
Spanish II programs. I will post that information on this web site as soon
as I have it.
I would like to have any and all registrations for Peru complete before
school is out - for me, that would be June 5th. Once again, prices will
increase considerably after June 15th!!! Please e-mail me for more
information or if you desire the registration materials for the Peru trip.
(You may certainly go on-line and visit the NETC website at : www.netc-
leap.com).
It appears that we now have 10 people going. I will probably limit the
number to 14 unless there is a tremendous interest and I need to add a third
teacher/host.
Once again, here is the official semester exam schedule:
Monday, June 2nd
1st Pd. Exam 8:40-9:50
5th Pd. Exam 9:55-11:05
7th Pd. Exam 11:10-12:20
Tuesday, June 3rd
8th Pd. Exam 8:40-9:50
4th Pd. Exam 9:55-11:05
Wednesday, June 4th
2nd Pd. Exam 8:40-9:50
3rd Pd. Exam 9:55-11:05
Please visit this website for information about 2008-2009 tutorials for my
former (H.S.) students. I normally reserve Wednesday afternoons, from 3:45 -
4:15 for my former students. Students e-mail me to reserve the time.
This has been a wonderful school year and I will really miss this great
bunch of kids!! Every hour of every day has been delightful!! I will look
forward to seeing everyone at football games and other H.S. activities.
Please e-mail me to inform me of any special events and activities that you
would like me to attend.
¡Ojalá que todos tengan un verano magnífico!
Sra. Robinson
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Friday, May 16, 2008
¡Hola Amigos!
We're getting toward the end. We have one more major test. That will be on
Thursday over Capítulo 6B. The students will also have two or three more
homework grades and probably one more quiz grade.
We will finish new material on Wednesday, May 28th and will have two days of
review, on May 29th and 30th, for our semester exams.
Here is the official semester exam schedule:
Monday, June 2nd
1st Pd. Exam 8:40-9:50
5th Pd. Exam 9:55-11:05
7th Pd. Exam 11:10-12:20
Tuesday, June 3rd
8th Pd. Exam 8:40-9:50
4th Pd. Exam 9:55-11:05
Wednesday, June 4th
2nd Pd. Exam 8:40-9:50
3rd Pd. Exam 9:55-11:05
Make sure if you are interested in the Peru trip that you are registered by
June 15th. At that point the fee will increase by at least $300 as we will
lose the scholarship for early enrollment. Jet fuel etc. is increasing and
that, too, will be added to the trip. - Students can get all registration
papers and information from me.
That's it for this week. ¡Tengan un buen fin de semana!
Sra. Robinson
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Friday, May 9, 2008
Queridos Amigos,
Today marks the end of the first 3-weeks of the 6th 6-weeks. It is mid-term
so please expect progress reports this next Friday. As Spanish I is for
H.S. credit and the grade is reflected in the student's GPA, I always send
progress reports for any grade average less than 80%.
Some of my students have had an unusual amount of absences. For the most
part, students have been very responsible about make up work. Please make
sure that if an absence occurs you are checking both the "Deberes" page of
this website and "Family Access" in order to know what has been missed. If
a student has missed Spanish, he/she is probably missing a lesson and a
grade for that day. According to CISD policy if a student is absent one day
he/she has one extra day to get work completed and turned in etc. - Should
a parent call for assignments, I simply print off a copy of my website
page "Deberes" and send that. - With assignments recorded on my website and
in two locations in my classroom, I hold students responsible for writing in
their agendas and/or checking those areas where this information is posted.
At times I accidentally mistype a grade in the computer. Usually it will be
a "10" rather than "100." Please check grades on "Family Access"
carefully. Normally, I try to double-check grades before a grading period
but the grades are very difficult to read on a massive computer gradebook
grid and the students usually have their graded work in their notebooks. I
do make mistakes!!
I have had several inquiries about the Peru trip. If students and possibly
other family members would like to take the trip, you will want to save
money by registering and making the first payment by June 15. The trip
price is scheduled to increase by at least $200 at that time.
Sharing this "Anuncios" page with a parent, and bringing a parent-signed
copy of it (or a note), on Monday, May 12th, will give you the
homework "dump" for this 6-weeks.
¡Gracias! ¡Espero que tengan un fin de semana magnífico! ¡Feliz Día de Madre!
Sra. Robinson
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Friday, May 2, 2008
¡Hola todos!
Yippee! Another year of TAKS testing is behind us. The kids are getting to
be such pros at these tests! They were really great and I'm sure that the
results will be wonderful!
Two major items this week:
1.) Spanish Club meeting - Monday (Cinco de mayo)at 8:00 A.M. E104.
Students may earn 10 pesetas by bringing an appropriate "5 de mayo"
treat. It must be put in something disposible or something that they can
take with them when they leave at 8:30.
2.) First of two major Spanish tests this 6 weeks (Capítulo 6A) on Wed.,
May 7th.
Please e-mail me if interested in the Peru trip for June of 2009.
¡Hasta la semana que viene!
Sra. Robinson
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Saturday, April 26, 2008
Queridos Amigos-
Just in case you haven't read the previous "anuncios" from last Tuesday,
test dates this 6 weeks will be Wednesday, May 7th and Thursday, May 22nd.
Final Exam review will begin the week of May 27th after we review a couple
of concepts from Capítulo 7A.
The 8th graders will have their two remaining TAKS exams on Thursday and
Friday of this week. You will note on the "Deberes" page of this website
how that scheduling is reflected in the planning and activities for Spanish
class on those two days. IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE TO THE ADVANTAGE OF THE
STUDENTS TO BE IN SCHOOL FOR THE ENTIRE DAY ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY -
ESPECIALLY FOR SPANISH CLASSES!!! They have a project due on Monday that is
best accomplished in class.
I very much enjoyed being with the Special Olympians of the CISD this
weekend and am looking forward to our "State Olympics" on Memorial Day
weekend! Come and join us for the Opening Ceremonies on Friday night, May
23rd at 7:00 P.M. at UTA's stadium. It will be a family experience that
your heart will hold for a very long time!
I've negotiated a price for the Peru / Machu Picchu / Amazon trip to be held
at $3,233 until June 15, 2008. You may pick up all the information and
registration sheets in CMS-E104.
¡Ojalá que todos tengan una semana terrífica!
Sra. Robinson
P.S. Showing me your agenda with the two test dates marked is worth 5
pesetas.
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Tuesday, April 22, 2008
¡Hola Estudiantes!
I thought that I'd list the test dates for this 6-weeks for you.
Capítulo 6A test will be on Wednesday, May 7th and Capítulo 6B will be on
Thursday, May 22nd.
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Saturday, April 19, 2008
Queridos Amigos,
Gosh - I just don't know where all the time has gone! This has got to have
been the shortest year of my teaching career! I can't believe we are
already starting the final 6-weeks grading period.
I can't say enough about these wonderful 8th graders that I have had this
year! They have been so much fun to have in the classroom. I am going to
enjoy every last day with them in these final weeks! I will truly hate to
see them go!
The kids will love this - something they know and have been asking about -
colors! Yes, we are finally starting a unit reviewing colors! This chapter
is all about their bedrooms and furniture. In fact, the week of April 28th,
they will be drawing or designing their own bedrooms and labeling them in
Spanish. I can promise that there will be a new "design star" springing
forth with this project. I've seen some extremely unusual bedroom designs
in the past few years.
You will note on the main page of my website, and on the pages for Spanish
Club and calendar, that I have changed the "Cinco de Mayo" festivities to
Monday, the 5th of May. There will be too much confusion, with TAKS exams,
to have it on Friday, May 2nd.
Look for report cards to come out on Friday.
Remember that there is no school for students on Monday, April 21st. Enjoy
a beautiful and long spring weekend!
Sra. Robinson
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Saturday, April 12, 2008
¡Hola Amigos!
This is the last week of the 5th six weeks. We just concluded our Capítulo
5B "learning centers" with a test on Friday. Most TAKS objectives were met
through practice in each of the centers. Mainly, the centers reinforced the
concepts and vocabulary and helped prepare students for the Capítulo 5B test.
As there was a fair amount of writing on the tests, grading will not be
completed and tests will not be returned until Tuesday.
This is the time of year when several classes start taking students on field
trips. Students on field trips are considered "present" and are required to
have work completed for their Spanish classes on that date. Students are
welcome to attend morning tutorials, Extended Day (on Tuesdays, for Spanish
help)or another class period in order to complete the class work for that
day. I say this because, normally, there are only a few students missing
each class period for field trips and our classes will meet and continue the
curriculum and lesson plans for the day.
We will be starting the "¿Eres tú, María?" textbook video "soap opera"
series this week. The ten episodes are taped in Madrid, Spain and are quite
excellent culturally. The kids always love it!
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Final plans are being made for the June 15, 2009 Peru/Machu Picchu/Amazon
adventure trip. Once again, this is an extraordinary opportunity for
students to earn "educational" travel experience with a certificate that
will accompany their H.S. transcripts to college. This is the next best
thing to being an "exchange student" to a foreign country and students are
able to make the trip with kids from the CISD and this part of Texas. -
Please e-mail me or call me before the end of May, if you would like to join
us!!!!!!
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¡Espero que todos tengan una semana magnífica!
¡Hasta luego!
Sra. Robinson
(signed by a parent and returned by Tuesday, this letter is worth 10
pesetas)
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Friday, April 4, 2008
Amigos -
We have a busy week coming up at CMS. Most major, for the 8th graders, is a
TAKS test on Tuesday morning. Please make sure that students have had a
restful night and a good breakfast on Tuesday morning before coming to
school.
In Spanish we will be finishing our "learning centers" on Tuesday. There is
a possibility that, due to TAKS, not all Spanish classes will meet that
day. There are six "learning centers" and the students will have had six
complete class periods (Monday, March 31st - Monday, April 7th) to complete
assignments in each center. The lab has been open from 8:00 A.M. - 4:00
P.M. each day and that will continue that schedule through Monday, should
any student need extra time.
Our 2nd and last major test of this 6-weeks will be on Friday, April 11th
over Chapter 5B.
Please e-mail me at: robinsokcisdmail if you have an questions about the
Peru Trip for summer of 2009 and H.S. educational travel credit.
¡Hasta luego!
Sra. Robinson
(This note -printed and signed by a parent is worth 5 pesetas on Monday.)
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Thursday, March 27, 2008
¡Hola Amigos!
Next week will be a bit different for us. We will be working with small
groups in "learning centers." There will be centers for listening, writing,
reading, math, computer and art/culture. Each center will have a task to be
completed that day. We will work in centers for seven days (March 31st-
April 8th)in order to finish up Capítulo 5B and prepare for our next test.
(Centers will be open for half an hour before school and half an hour after
school each day.)
Our 2nd and last test, for the 5th 6-weeks, will be on Thursday, April 10th.
The next Spanish Club meeting will be on April 4th during Dragon Den. It
will feature a guest speaker, Aaron Heil, and will be dedicated to
educational travel experiences.
¡Gracias!
Sra. Robinson
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Tuesday, March 18, 2008 (7:35 P.M.)
I thought that I would try just one more time before turning off my computer.
It worked. Your test grades are posted!!!
Sra. R
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Tuesday, March 18, 2008 (7:15 P.M.)
¡Lo siento!
I spent this rainy day grading the 5A tests. I came to school tonight to
try and put them on-line. Skyward - the gradebook/Family Access is down,
unfortunately. I do have a way of getting to it from my home computer but
that system wasn't working either. I'll keep checking and as soon as it is
up and running I will post your grades. They are fairly decent. I was
pleased.
I hope that you all are enjoying a fun break - perhaps in a drier location.
Sra. R
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Friday, March 14, 2008
¡Woohoo! ¡Vacaciones!
That is really all that matters right now!
Spanish I students are taking a Capítulo 5A test today. I do so very much
appreciate the excellent attendance by the students on this last day before
vacation! Anyone missing the test today will take it in Extended Day on the
Tuesday or Thursday after we return. (I would highly recommend that they do
it on Tuesday lest they be buried in the other work that we will be doing
after vacation.)
Upon return from vacation we will be starting Capítulo 5B, which will
include an experience in working in "learning centers." After some
preliminary work, we will begin "learning centers" on Friday, March 28th.
The kids usually really enjoy this as it gives them an opportunity to work
at their own pace for seven days.
That's it!! ¡Espero que tengan buenas vacaciones y Felices Pascuas!
Sra. Robinson
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Friday, March 7, 2008
¡Buenos Días!
Wow - What an interesting week we've had! My Spanish students are just the
best! With all the confusion of changing schedules - due to TAKS, weather
and a special speaker - they have managed to stay on task and get things
done. I really appreciate and admire their effort this week!
All but my 8th pd. classes will meet today and we will take the vocabulary
quiz - Prueba 5A-1. We'll hold off on the "tener" quiz until Monday. 8th
period will take both quizzes then.
Students should have received a report card today. The first thing we did
this morning was distribute report cards in Dragon Den.
We just started a new unit in the blue Spanish IB books. Everyone should
now have two new blue workbooks and a blue textbook.
Our first, of two, tests will be next Friday, March 14th. The makeup test,
should anyone be absent that day, will be given in Extended Day on Tuesday,
March 25th.
¡Muchas gracias y espero que todos tengan un buen fin de semana!
Sra. Robinson
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Friday, February 29, 2008
¡Hola! ¿Qué tal?
This is the last day of the 4th six weeks. Students will receive their
report cards next Friday.
The kids seem to be excited about finishing the Spanish IA books and getting
the new Spanish IB books on Monday. They turned in their red books today
and received the new blue workbooks. I've asked them to keep their red
workbooks in their desks at home. As they will no longer have the first
half of the Spanish I book, they will need those workbooks for reviewing.
Please feel free to contact me about registration for Spanish II. Many
students and several parents have visited with me about placement in Spanish
II or Spanish II pre-AP. Generally, if a student's grade average is near 90
and he/she is willing to work, he/she will be successful in the pre-AP class.
We have our first TAKS exams on Wednesday, March 5th. Students should get
plenty of rest this weekend and eat a good breakfast on Wednesday morning.
Thankfully, we're getting toward the end of the mini flu epidemic at CMS so
most students have returned to good health and are back at school.
Have a great weekend!
Sra. Robinson
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Friday, February 22, 2008
¡Buen día!
THE DATE FOR THE $300 DISCOUNT ON THE PERU TRIP WAS LAST FRIDAY!! You may
register to join the group at any time, however. The trip is especially
intended for students having completed 9th or 10th grade and families.
Our tour will begin in Lima, Peru and go to Cuzco, Machu Picchu and finish
with three days in the Amazon Jungle.
It is scheduled for the week of June 15, 2009.
My husband, Dave Robinson, and I will serve as the teachers/group leaders
for the trip. This is a trip that we have been considering for many years
and are thrilled to have found the NETC program! (Because of the numerous
educational benefits, NETC is the program that the CISD foreign language
dept. has chosen for the Spain and France trips for the past several years.)
Through our many travels we have discovered that the trips are especially
fun when we have been able to share them with friends and family. With
students, this will become one of our all time favorite travel adventures!!
I have all the detailed registration and itinerary information. Please e-
mail me at: robinsok@cisdmail.com, if interested.
¡Vengan a viajar con nosotros! (Come and travel with us!)
Los señores Robinson (Mr. & Mrs. Robinson)
Find some unusual information about the Amazon River & jungle, in a book,
and you will earn up to 5 pesetas!! (You may make a copy of the page. You
will earn all 5 pesetas if you have it by Tuesday!!)
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Friday, February 22, 2008
Main news items for this next week:
No classes on Monday - staff development!
2nd and last major test - Capítulo 4B, on Thursday
Collect red books on Friday in order to receive new books on Monday,March 3rd
Have a nice weekend and stay well!!
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Saturday, February 16, 2008
¡Hola! ¿Qué tal?
We have two weeks left in this 4th 6-weeks. Due to much illness, there is a
great deal of make-up work to be accomplished before February 29th. I
normally reserve Monday 8:00-8:40 for testing. Students may also take tests
in Extended Day on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.
On Monday we will celebrate Black History Month with a Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. special activity. The history classes will have a unique
opportunity to hear the Rev. Dr. Jesse Truvillion speak on his association
with MLK,Jr. and we are going to do an activity called "What the world needs
& doesn't need- according to Dr. King." It will focus on Spanish vocabulary
words for peace, love, hatred, equality, education, compassion, prejudice,
justice, respect, poverty etc.
A couple of items for next week: Students do not have classes on Monday,
February 25th as teachers will have a "staff development" day. The second
and last test for this six weeks will be over Capítulo 4B on Thursday,
February 28th.
I have posted lesson plans for the next two weeks to finish out this 6-week
grading period.
Any students who can demonstrate use of "Family Access" at home will receive
5 "pesetas." A "print out" or a parent note would be fine.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Sra. Robinson
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Friday, February 8, 2008
¡Buen día! ¿Cómo están todos?
¡MUY IMPORTANTE! If you are interested in making the trip to Peru with us
in June of 2009 and would like to take advantage of the $300 discount, your
registration (with the first payment)must be turned in no later than Friday,
February 15th. Please see me ASAP if you need information and registration
papers!!!
We are at mid-term for the 4th 6-weeks. Look for students to bring home
their progress reports next week. We took our first of two major tests for
this 6-weeks today. Those grades should be posted for viewing - if the
server is up and we have Internet - no later than Sunday night.
We will start this next week off with a mini culture unit on the Incas of
Peru and will finish the week studying the new vocabulary of Capítulo 4B.
Along with a couple of graded daily assignments, there will be a vocabulary
quiz on Friday.
We had a Spanish Club food fair and Valentine making frenzy this morning. A
fun time was had by all!! Make sure to check the calendar for our next
meeting.
I'm still loving my Spanish students!! This has been a really wonderful
year with such delightful and polite students. I don't know how I'm going
to be able to let them go in June.
A parent signature on assignments written in agenda will earn student
5 "pesetas."
¡Hasta la semana que viene!
Sra. Robinson
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Friday, February 1, 2008 (4:35)
¡Buenas tardes!
¡Buenas noticias! My lesson plans are already posted for next week!!!!
I enjoyed meeting with a big group of students yesterday after school to
discuss the Peru trip for June of 2009. Next Thursday, at 4:00 P.M., will
be our last trip introduction and orientation meeting. Anyone is welcome to
register for the trip as late as next September. We are, however, going to
have some regular "bonding" meetings studying Peruvian culture, trying some
Peruvian food and making trip plans starting this April.
The two main events this week will be:
A Valentine Spanish Club meeting on Friday morning, February 8th. Several
students are earning homework "dump" grades by preparing recipes from the
textbook. We will also be making Valentines for our "sweeties."
Most important - we have a Capítulo 4A Test on Friday. Tutorials will be at
7:30 A.M., before Spanish Club.
¡Hasta la semana que viene!
Sra. Robinson
(Having a note signed by a parent saying that you have read this letter will
earn you 3 pesetas.)
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Saturday, January 26, 2008 (1:15 P.M.)
¡Hola Amigos!
Once again there are problems with the server and the Internet at CMS. I
was unable to post lesson plans for next week and the past week's grades.
Next week's lesson plans are on Microsoft Word on my school computer. I
will post them on Monday morning - unless the Internet happens to be back up
when I am at school tomorrow afternoon. So sorry!!
I do want y'all to know that we will be continuing with the new vocabulary
from Capítulo 4A on Monday and that, after much practice, we will be taking
a quiz at the end of the period on Monday.
Mark your calendar for our first major test (Capítulo 4A)to be on Friday,
February, 8th.
Other calendar items -
We will have two more orientation meetings for the June 15, 2009 Peru trip
on Thursday, January 31st and Thursday, February 7th. This orientation and
culture tour of Peru will earn any student participants a homework "dump"
for this six weeks.
Friday, February 8th is our next Spanish Club meeting. We will be
celebrating Valentine's Day by making Spanish Valentines and also enjoying a
Hispanic recipe exchange. Recipes for the event are available in class.
Sra. Ordoñez sent me a wonderful link for some fun practice with our Spanish
book. The activities were developed by teachers are students who are also
using the "Realidades" series.
Go to: www.southlakecarroll.edu/CHS/twebs/czekaj/Spanishtutor.html
That's it for this week. "Pesetas" for this newsletter will be earned in
class on Monday!!
¡Hasta luego!
Sra. Robinson
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¡¡Atención!! ¡¡Atención!!
You are all invited to an orientation meeting for the June 2009 Peruvian
Adventure trip! There will be three orientation meeting times offered. All
are Thursday afternoons at 4:00 P.M. - January 24th, 31st and February 7th
in room E104 at CMS.
The trip is coordinated through NETC, the company that has been facilitating
CSHS's Spain trips for the past four years.
Come and check out why this is the most popular Latin American trip that
NETC has to offer!! Lima, Cuzco, Machu Picchu and the Amazon Eco-Park Lodge
and Resort are just some of the highlights of this amazing trip.
Although parents, family, teachers and friends are invited - this trip is
designed and planned for students having completed 9th or 10th grade by June
of 2009. Two travelers are already committed and registered. We are looking
to have a group of 12 registered by February 15th. (We are not limited to
12, however, and you may certainly register after that date.)
You will have an opportunity to receive the full planned itinerary as well
as passport and price information. You will also enjoy viewing a video made
by a former participant of his experience. It is quite wonderful!!
Hope to see all of you at one of the meetings!
Sra. Robinson - CMS Spanish teacher
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Tuesday, January 22, 2008
¡Buenos Días!
Congratulations to all my students on their wonderful success with the 1st
semester exams! All grades combined and averaged, we had a 92% average on
the H.S. Spanish I exam. Normally, a semester exam has an average of about
85%. ¡Felicitaciones a todos!
As the first semester has concluded, I removed all lesson plans from the
last 6 weeks from the "Deberes" page. You will see plans beginning with
January 23rd.
The classroom has been rearranged for a fresh start to a new semester and
students will be assigned new seats tomorrow. They will also receive new
passes, new assignment sheets and new "Diarios."
We just completed two marvelous food units. I will be giving the kids some
recipe options from those lessons and they may bring one of the prepared
dishes to Spanish Club on February 8th to recieve a homework "dump" for this
six weeks. (The state has some rules against food in the classroom -
especially for classes before, during or after the lunch period.)
Students may also earn their 6-weeks homework "dump" by attending one of the
orientation sessions for the June 2009 Peru adventure, on January 24th, 31st
or February 7th.
That's about it!! I'm looking forward to another tremendous semester with
this fabulous bunch of kids!!
Showing me your agenda, with assignments for this week posted, will earn you
3 "pesetas."
¡Adiós!
Sra. Robinson
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Friday, January 11, 2008
Attention!!!
Students may come for extra review help and to practice on the listening lab
tomorrow morning, Sat., January 12th, from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. I will
meet everyone at the front door of the school at 8:00 A.M.
Tutorials sessions and listening lab will be available on Monday and Tuesday
mornings before school as well.
Exams are as follows:
Wednesday, January 16th
1st, 5th and 7th hours
Thursday, January 17th
4th and 8th hours
Friday, January 18th
2nd and 3rd hours
¡Muchas gracias!
Sra. Robinson
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Saturday, January 5, 2008
¡Feliz Año Nuevo! and ¡Feliz Día de los Reyes Magos! (for those who
celebrate Epiphany, the last day of Christmas, on January 6th)
First of all, the server for the CISD is down. My lesson plans are posted
on
my computer at school and will be posted on-line as soon as the server is
back up - probably Monday morning. Basically, we are finishing Capítulo 3B
this week. The students will receive a 1st Semester Exam review packet on
Thursday and we will begin work on that on Friday. Next Monday and Tuesday,
January 14th and 15th, will be days of review.
The students have worked very hard this 1st semester and I am feeling very
confident that they will have great success on the semester exam!
Watch for information on the new Machu Picchu student trip plans for June of
2009. This trip ends with three days at the very popular resort Amazon Eco-
Park Jungle Lodge located one hour from Manaus International Airport. This
is the most requested trip for young H.S. students that NETC offers. At
this point it looks as though we will have information and registration
meetings on Thursday, January 31st and Friday, February 1st in room E104 at
4:00 P.M.
Sorry for the inconvenience of being unable to post lesson plans at this
time!
¡Hasta luego!
Sra. Robinson
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Thursday, December 20, 2007
¡Buenas noches!
Well, at long last, winter vacation has arrived!! I think that we were all
about ready for it. The kids were great today, however. They all "kept
their cool" long enough to do very well on a major test. Grades are posted
so you may check them on "Family Access." Students should make sure that,
if they have been absent, all make up work has been turned in.
Lesson plans are posted for the short week after we return and the kids have
been given instructions on what to do if they wanted to start reviewing for
semester exams.
That's about all until the new year!!
¡Espero que todos tengan muy buenas vacaciones!
¡Hasta el año nuevo!
Sra. Robinson
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Saturday, December 15, 2007
¡Saludos!
As most of you probably know by now, we are without computers and e-mail
communication from CMS. Our network went down before lunch last Thursday
and
they don't know when the problem will be found and corrected. I am able to
read and respond to e-mails in the evening at home. Unfortunately, it may
be
after 9:00 or 10:00 P.M. before I read those e-mails.
Progress reports are scheduled to go out on Tuesday. That may or may not
happen - again due to our little network problem. I was entering grades, as
I do most days, during my prep period when the system went down. I'm not
sure what the procedure will be for completing mid-term grades and progress
reports if our network is not back up by early Tuesday morning. I may try
to
access my gradebook from a computer on another campus to update my grades on
Monday after school.
Our second and last major test this 6-weeks will be on Thursday. Should a
student be absent that day, he/she will be able to take it in Extended Day
on
Thursday,January 3rd.
Exciting news to come in January about a 9th and 10th grade trip being
planned for June of 2009 to South America. That trip will be designed with
this year's 8th and 9th graders in mind. Watch for notice of a
parent/student meeting early in the 2nd semester!!
I continue to enjoy my 8th grade Spanish students. This first half of this
school year has been wonderful!! I'm pleased with the enthusiasm and the
effort that the students show every day!! Those who complete this Middle
School Spanish I course will, no doubt, be strong and responsible H.S.
students.
That's it for this year!! :-)
¡Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo!
Sra. Robinson
(This letter printed and signed by a parent is worth 10 pesetas!!!)
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Friday, December 7, 2007
¡Buenas Tardes!
We are entering the 3rd week of the 3rd six weeks and we're pushing and
working toward 1st semester exams. We had a test on "Capítulo" 2B today and
will have another major test on "Capítulo" 3A Thursday, December 20th. We
will have both of our major tests out of the way before the holiday break.
We'll come back from break to finish "Capítulo" 3B and begin a review.
Today's test may not be returned until class time on Tuesday, as there is a
good deal of written work to process. Look for grades to be available
on "Family Access" on Tuesday evening.
Anyone leaving early for winter break will need to take the test
for "Capítulo" 3A in Extended Day on Thursday, January 3rd so as not to get
behind with our other work.
A fun time was had by all in Spanish Club this morning. We enjoyed
listening to José Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad" while eating Christmas cookies
and cutting snowflakes. With all the "in and out" traffic from tutorials
that was about all we could manage for a program today.
That is about all I have for this week. If I need to make any other
announcements this next week I will update "Anuncios."
Thanks, as always, for reading!!
Showing me that this week's assignments have been written in your agenda
will earn you 2 "pesetas."
¡Ciao!
Sra. Robinson
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Friday, November 30, 2007
¡Buenos Días!
Congratulations to Ms. Bunn and the cast and crew of "Our Town!" ¡Qué
presentación magnífica! I hope that y'all were able to see this fantastic
CMS theater production this last week. Several of our Spanish students were
featured.
The 8th graders were treated to a dress rehearsal of the first half
of the Carroll Senior High's musical "Phantom of the Opera" on Wednesday
morning. Absolutely amazing!! Get your tickets!! You'll love it!!
We will have a Spanish Club meeting on Friday, December 7th, at 8:00 A.M.
in room E104. This month's focus is "una fiesta para La Navidad."
It will be hosted by the 1st hour Spanish class.
We worked on the grammar portions of Capítulo 2B this week and we'll be
finishing the chapter with the grammar portions this next week. The chapter
test will be on Friday, December 7th. After all the work, practice and
review in class and at home students should be well prepared. Those who
would like some more tutorial help, however, are invited to come before the
Spanish Club meeting at 7:30.
If there is anybody who might still be interested in taking the Machu Picchu
trip (June 16-23rd), please see me about information and registration before
December 15th, our deadline to keep the $300 discount. I am really, really
looking forward to this great adventure!!!! Come and join us for this
tremendous language and cultural experience!!
Es todo para esta semana. A signed (parent and student) copy of this
newsletter is worth 5 "pesetas."
Sra. Robinson
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Monday, November 26, 2007
Two important announcements:
1.) I love "Family Access" and I am glad to see that so many of you are
using it!!!! I put most grades in on the day that an assignment is handed
in. Tests may take two days and projects up to two weeks.
An "*" means that the student has chosen, having completed an extra
assignment, to "dump" that low grade. A "0" means just that - a missed
assignment that, due to Foreign Language Dept. policy, cannot be made up
unless the student was absent. (The CISD absence policy will then apply.)
2.) I will be one of the two teachers assisting in Extended Day on Tuesdays
until the end of the school year.
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Sunday, November 25, 2007
¡Hola Amigos!
I'm sorry that this is so late. The CISD server was down until last night
and I was unable to post this letter until this afternoon.
I hope that y'all had a restful and wonderful "Turkey Day" with friends and
relatives!!
We are still planning the Machu Picchu adventure for June 16-23rd, 2008. As
it appears that our group will probably not be any bigger than 12 students,
I would be happy to consider taking 8th graders. I do need to have all
names and everyone registered by December 15th, however, in order to get the
$300 discount. Please e-mail me or give me a call if you would like to
discuss sending your child.
We are starting the 3rd 6-weeks, which gets cut up because of our Winter
Holidays break. To deal with this, keep pace with the H.S. curriculum, and
be prepared for final exams in January - I have decided that we will have
our two major tests before the holiday break. The test for Capítulo 2B will
be on Friday, December 7th and Capítulo 3A will be on Thursday, December
20th. That will allow us time to finish and quiz on Capítulo 3B by January
10th so that we can begin to review for exams on Friday, January 11th. You
may want to mark those two test dates on your calendars.
We'll be finishing our mini Argentina unit tomorrow and will begin work on
the vocabulary sections of Capítulo 2A. A quiz is scheduled for Thursday
over the vocabulary work.
I have not yet received the class schedule for this coming Wednesday but I
understand that I will be missing three of my classes that day. The classes
that do meet are going to decorate the classroom for the holidays.
Therefore, the kids can all go and enjoy the musical presentation and no one
will need to worry about missing any class work that day.
That's about it. Anyone showing me that his/her agenda has been marked for
the two upcoming test dates will receive two "pesetas" on Monday, November
26th.
¡Hasta luego!
Sra. Robinson
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Saturday, November 10, 2007
¡Saludos!
First of all I would like to remember our Veterans and thank them for their
service to our precious and free country. We welcome all who have served
and their family members to our Veterans' Day Assembly at CMS at 10:15 on
Monday, November 12th.
This is the last week of the 2nd six weeks and we will have our second and
final major test on Tuesday. We spent Wednesday and Thursday of this past
week in review of vocabulary and grammar and doing listening activities.
Corrections were made on quizzes and homework in order to be able to use
them for review. I'm certain that the students were appreciative of the
work time given them for extra grammar practice and culture review on
Friday. Monday will be the last day for review of vocabulary, and grammar
concepts.
I hope that you will be able to join us for Fine Arts Night on Tuesday
evening. Look for the Spanish Club basket as an auction item.
I do expect to see all of my students on Friday. Any who miss will have
makeup work on Monday, November 26th. All work assignments this Friday will
go on the 3rd 6-weeks grade.
Thank you so much for reading!! A printed copy of this week's letter with a
parent and student signature will be worth "2 pesetas" on Monday, November
12th.
¡Hasta luego!
Sra. Robinson
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Thursday, November 8, 2007
Machu Picchu Travelers!!!
I need your registration forms by Thursday, November 15th in order to get
our $300 discount price!!! If you need forms or information please e-mail
me ASAP at robinsok@cisdmail.com or call me at 817-949-5456.
¡Muchísimas gracias!
Sra. R
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Friday, November 2, 2007
¡Buenos Días! ¿Cómo están todos?
If you have not already done so, please register with our front office
for "Family Access." Students and parents are able to check grades daily
using this system. Most of my students have found this service to be very
helpful!
¡Qué semana magnífica! We've had another great week in Spanish. I told the
kids that Wednesday and Thursday were the "beginning of the rest of their
career in Spanish class" and that those two days would be the most important
days of class this year. We started verb conjugations!!! ¡Mis estudiantes
son superiores! So far, we've had great success! After more practice and
review in class on Monday we'll take a quiz, on Tuesday, to see how we're
really doing on the concept.
Today is the 2nd of two "Días de los Muertos" and we celebrated with a
Spanish Club meeting this morning. During class today they are seeing a
video on the subject that was developed by the Institute of Texan Cultures.
While watching the video, they are taking a "matching" quiz over terms
related to this special Hispanic holiday. That quiz is this 6-
week's "replacement quiz" - replacing their lowest quiz grade.
Our second and last major test for this six weeks will be on Tuesday,
November 13, 2007. It will be over our current chapter of study, Capítulo
2A.
If anyone is interested in the Machu Picchu trip for June 16th - 23rd, 2008
I need to have all registration forms in by December 1st in order to start
better planning and preparing our group for this fabulous adventure!!!
¡Espero que todos tengan un buen fin de semana!
Sra. Robinson
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Friday, October 26, 2007
¡Buenas Noches!
I just returned from another exciting Friday night at Dragon Stadium!! A
fun
time was had by all - at least by the Dragon fans anyway.
Some major news items this week include progress reports being distributed
on
Tuesday during Dragon Den and our "Día de los Muertos" Spanish Club
celebration on Friday morning.
My Spanish students are just the best!! They did an incredible job on the
fall cumulative exam. The average grade came in at 92%! Wow! Apparently
the Dragon tradition is alive and well in my Spanish classroom as well!!
We've conquered noun adjective agreement and we're off to tackle verb
conjugations in this new chapter - small stuff for this bunch!! After some
TAKS reading practice on Monday, we'll finish our chapter vocabulary study
with a quiz on Tuesday.
Es todo para esta semana. ¡Hasta el fin de semana que viene!
Sra. Robinson
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Saturday, October 20, 2007
¡Buenos Días!
First of all I'd like to remind you of the two travel/study program meetings
this week.
The "Costa Rica Study Abroad" program is meeting this morning at 11:00
at Cristina's Mexican Restaurant in Trophy Club.
The Machu Picchu - June of 2008 trip - Information and registration
meeting is Monday at 4:00 P.M. in the Spanish room (E104) of CMS.
This is the 3rd week of the 2nd 6-weeks. To mark this half-way point of the
semester, we are having a cumulative exam on Tuesday of this week.
Progress reports for mid-term will go out on Tuesday, October 30th.
Reminder to my high school, former students, I am here for you on Wednesday
afternoons should you need tutorial help. ¡Vengan!
Spanish Club will meet for a celebration of "Día de los Muertos" on Friday,
November 2nd at 8:00 A.M. in room E104. Death in Latin America comes much
more frequently at a young age and often happens at home. In order for
people to bear the grief they set aside two days each year -All Saints' Day
and All Souls' Day (Nov.1st & 2nd)- to remember and celebrate the lives and
memories of deceased loved ones. On another level they also poke fun at
death, which brings a party atmosphere to the occasion. If you have an
opportunity, come by and see the compositions the students wrote remembering
people who were very special to them.
The students are continuing to do well in their Spanish study. The work is
getting a bit more demanding and is requiring more attention. They are
realizing that, like math, every skill they learn must be practiced and
retained for the next lesson.
That's it for this week! Printing and having this weekly letter signed is
worth 5 pesetas.
¡Hasta la semana que viene!
Sra. Robinson
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Sunday, October 14, 2007
¡Perdón! ¡Lo siento muchísmimo! I didn't mean to be rude and exclusive.
CISD/CMS families are also invited to go to Machu Picchu. We would love to
have 8th graders, accompanied by parents or guardians, join us!!
I've already started discussing a trip for June of 2009 for them, however.
Suggestions they have had, so far, are Puerto Rico & Costa Rica. I offered
Iguasu Falls and Buenos Aires to extend their list. - I'd like to have that
trip planned and participants listed by April of 2008. E-mail me any
thoughts and ideas that y'all might have.
¡Hasta luego!
Sra. R
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Friday, October 12, 2007
¡Hola Amigos!
In an effort to increase practical experience with the Spanish language,
several teachers in the district have begun hosting foreign travel
opportunities.
Before I continue let me say - student travel is not required nor is it a
CISD sponsored activity.
Here are some of the travel and study programs being offered:
Two-three weeks of study abroad in Costa Rica. June 16-29th (ages 13-18)
Information meeting on Sat., October 20th at Cristina's Restaurant in Trophy
Club at 11:00 A.M. (Teachers from several districts in this area lead and
facilitate this program, including Estella Smith CSHS.) - See Friday,
October 5th "Anuncios" for details.
One week Machu Picchu Study Adventure (National Education Travel Council).
June 16-23rd, 2008 (This trip is designed especially for students having
completed 9th grade in spring of 2008. - CISD families, teachers and other
adults are welcome to join us, as well.)
Information meeting on Monday, October 22, 2007 in room E104 at CMS.
The Robinson family (Señor, Señora and Señorita Robinson) will host and lead
this trip. Call or e-mail me for further information.
robinsok@cisdmail.com / 817-949-5456
Sra. Afsahi (CSHS), Sra. Truebenbach and Sra. Benitez (CHS) are hosting 2008
spring break trips to Spain for grades 10-12. Both of those trips are also
through NETC. I believe that parents and other interested adults are also
invited to participate.
Students will be receiving their report cards, for the first six-week
grading period, during Dragon Den today.
We will be finishing our study of Capítulo 1B this next week. On Tuesday,
October 23rd we will be taking a mid-semester comprehensive exam over "Para
Empezar" as well as Capítulos 1A & 1B. That test will be the first of two
test grades for this 6-weeks.
That's about it for this week. If I think of anything else, I'll add it on
top of this weekly letter.
¡Ojalá que todos tengan un fin de semana muy bueno!
Sra. Robinson
Any student who shows me his/her agenda, with this week's assignments, will
receive 2 "pesetas."
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Monday, October 8, 2007
Big News!!!! Trip to Peru's Machu Picchu for students who will be
completing 9th grade this year. June 16-23rd, 2008. Informational meeting
in room E104-CMS on Monday, October 22nd. The trip fee will be lowered by
$300.00 if we have 5 students enrolled by November 1st. "Digging for the
Truth" fans - the trip has been designed with the travels of Josh Bernstein
in mind. ¡¡Vengan!! Come and hear all the details and get registration
brochures.
I'm so excited !!!! I can't wait to see y'all!!
Sra. Robinson
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Friday, October 5, 2007
¡Buenos Días!
This morning Mr. Heil brought me all the information, concerning the Costa
Rica Student Study Abroad Program for 2008. This is a very excellent
program that is totally age and language ability appropriate for our middle
school students. I am "copying" the information sheet below for you. The
information is quite comprehensive. Mr. and Mrs. Teel, the contact people,
are Mr. Heil's parents and this is their 4th year of involvement with the
program. Please feel free to call them with any questions.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Costa Rica 2008 - LenguaPro’s 5th Consecutive
Student Study Abroad Program
June 15 – June 29, 2008
Day 01 – Sun.
June 15, 2008
Depart D/FW American Airlines flight # 2167 at 5:43pm
Arrive in San José, Costa Rica 8:38 pm.
Transfer from the Intl Airport to Host families. Settle in to new
environment and get to know families.
All students will be in the same neighborhood just down the street from one
another.
Day 02 – Mon. BLD
June 16, 2008
Breakfast at host family.
Depart at 8:30am for the Poas Volcano Reserve. Visit this semi-active
volcano, together with a visit to the La PazWaterfalls Garden.
http://www.waterfallgardens.com/lapaz-hummingbirds.htm Tour the butterfly,
hummingbird, aviary and reptile exhibits. Lunch is included at the Garden
and then, into the rainforest to the various waterfalls. You’ll need a
slicker for this moist trek. Spanish classes begin at 2:00pm. Dinner with
host family.
Day 03 – Tue. BD
June 17, 2008
Breakfast at host family.
Dance (Salsa and Merengue) classes from 9 – 10:30. Visit the bank, Internet
cafe and grocery store.
Lunch is on your own at the food court at the mall. Spanish classes start
after lunch. After school,
dinner will be with your family.
Day 04 – Wed. BD
June 18, 2008
Breakfast at host family. Depart 8:30 for San José City tour. Visit the
National Theater,
National museum and artisan market. Lunch will be on your own at the San
Pedro Mall. Spanish
classes after lunch and dinner with your family.
Day 05 – Thu. BLD
June 19, 2008
Breakfast at home and depart at 8:30 for community service at one of the
local orphanages. After we
deliver our supplies and goodies we’ll play with the kids until lunch.
Lunch is included on this day at
the Princesa Marina. Great seafood. After lunch it’s back to Spanish class
and dinner will be with your
family.
Day 06 – Fri.. BLD
June 20, 2008
Breakfast at host family then off to the Aviary zoo. This is an awesome
park and you’ll see every kind
of tropical animal. Lunch is included at a typical restaurant. Good beans,
rice, squash, plantains and
your choice of meat. Spanish classes will resume after lunch. After school
you may return to your host
family for dinner and
study.
Page 02
Student Program 2008
Day 07 – Sat. BLD
June 21, 2008
Breakfast at host family. Depart at 8:30 for Jaco Beach Resort. There will
be a snack stop along the way. Lunch is included upon arrival at the Punta
Leona Beach Resort Hotel. Zip line through the jungle on the Canopy tour
right after lunch. Then relax on the beach or by the pool until dinner.
Students will share hotel rooms and will be chaperoned by a number of
LenguaPro Teachers and local tour guides.
Day 08 – Sun. BLD
June 22, 2008
Breakfast at the hotel and then we’re off to hike in the Rain Forest. Then
back to the beach and/or pool.
In the afternoon, we enjoy lunch at the hotel and then return to San José.
Dinner with host family.
Day 09-Mon. BD
June 23, 2008
Breakfast at home with the family and then back to the dance floor for more
advanced lessons. When you are finished dancing we’ll go to the Paseo de
las Flores Mall for some window shopping and lunch on your own at the food
court. We recommend pizza at the Fabbrica restaurant. It is awesome.
Day 10-Tues. BLD
June 24, 2008
Breakfast at home and then at 8:30 we’ll visit the Britt Coffee Plantation
and processing plant. You’ll learn all about the origins of coffee, its
influence in Costa Rica and how to judge the beverage like a pro. The tour
is the longest running performance of any theatrical event in Costa Rica.
Professional actors put it on and it is fun. Lunch is included at the Britt
restaurant. Coffee is free to drink, but you may want to buy your folks
back home their coffee at the outlet store. After lunch, which is included,
we’re back in class, then home for dinner.
Day 11-Wed. BLD
June 25, 2008
Breakfast at home and then around 10:00 we’ll gather at a local home for a
cooking clinic on Costa Rican cuisine. Pay good attention to the
instructions because you will eat your creation for lunch. After lunch,
school and back home for dinner.
Day 12-Thu. BLD
June 26, 2008
Breakfast at home and then depart for the INBIO Park for an ecological
wonderland. Explore Mother Earth, the rain forest and all the exhibits.
We’ll stop on the way back to school for a nice lunch.
http://www.inbio.ac.cr/inbioparque/es/index.html
After lunch, back to school and dinner with host family.
Page 3 – Student Program 2008
Day 13-Fri. BLD
June 27, 2008
Breakfast is at home and then today Spanish classes will be held in the
morning. We’ll hold a nice
graduation ceremony and then we’ll board the bus for Arenal, the live
volcano. We’ll eat lunch along
the way. You’ll enjoy the Spa Hotel and Hot Springs at the base of the live
Arenal volcano. Check-in
at the Lagos and Senderos Hotel, then we’re off to the Tabacon 5-Star Hot
Springs Resort & Spa.
http://www.tabacon.com You’ll want to spend the afternoon in these thermal
waters, nestled in the
Rain forest. Dinner will be at the Tabacon restaurant buffet. Be sure to
visit the pasta chef. He’s
awesome. Students will share hotel rooms at the Lagos and Senderos Lodge.
Watch the volcano lava
at night. It’s a spectacular event.
Day 14-Sat. BLD
June 28, 2008
Eat breakfast at your leisure and then enjoy the water park at the hotel.
Check out the alligators! We’ll check out at noon and then go into the town
of Fortuna for lunch at an open-air restaurant that you’ll thoroughly
enjoy. Then, we’ll head back to San José and you’ll have your last dinner
with your family.
Day 15 – Sun. B
June 29, 2008
After breakfast we’ll depart for the airport with lots of tears as we say
our good-byes and board the bus.
Depart San José 9:04 am on American Airlines flight #2166 Arrive D/FW
2:14.
Price: Total cost including
airfare: $2,500/person
If you provide your own airfare, you may deduct $575
Total if you have your own airfare: $1,925
Payments: $500 by 10/27/07 $500 by 12/15/07
$500 by 02/15/08 $500 by 04/15/07 $500 by
05/15/07
Make checks payable to LenguaPro, Inc.
Page 4 – Student Program 2008
Credit card payments are accepted in full or installments.
Costa Rica has the same electric outlet plugs and current as the U.S., so
your curling irons, hair dryers, etc. plug in without the need for
additional adapters and work just fine.
You’ll need a Passport. Get the application in early. The new law
requiring a passport to go to Canada and Mexcio has created a lot of
delays. No visa is required.
All transportation in Costa Rica will be on an air-conditioned luxury motor
coach bus.
Bring your cameras, binoculars, umbrella and/or slicker.
ATM’s are readily available. Dollars are widely accepted although the local
currency, the “Colon”, brings around 515 colones to $1. Lots of bargains.
Don’t bring $100 bills. Use debit cards, credit cards or traveler’s
checks. Latin America has been inundated with counter-fit $100 bills. The
banks are more likely to confiscate them for inspection. Smaller bills are
more advisable.
Communications:
ATT&T Cingular cell service works. Verizon does not. Phone cards are cheap
and prove to be the best way to make long distance calls. Internet service
will be available at the local Internet cafes.
Insurance and health concerns:
Advise your insurance company that you are going to Costa Rica and that you
want to be covered in case of an emergency. Make sure that you have an
emergency medical air flight service addendum that will care-flight you back
to the U.S. in the event of an emergency. Bring your insurance cards.
There are good clinics and hospitals there. Over 30,000 Americans live
there.
You may want to purchase traveler’s health insurance that can be used in
Costa Rica. LenguaPro will provide you with a couple of names of companies
that work in Costa Rica.
Contact Information for Costa Rica trip:
Randy Teel (817) 929-3207
Mary Teel (817) 929-3505
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Thursday, October 4, 2007
Amigos -
Tomorrow marks the end of our first 6-week grading period. Congratulations
to my students for success of their hard work!!
The past couple of days we have been working on a physical map of Spain. It
is due on Friday. I have already seen some absolutely superb maps!! We
have some serious cartographers among us!!
Today was our first day of work on our "Día de los Muertos" project.
Students have chosen a deceased relative or a famous person about whom they
will write a composition. As part of the grade they need to find a picture
of this person. Please do not let them bring a valuable or rare picture.
Most home printers are capable of making a copy of a photo (regular paper is
fine). - This composition project is due on Tuesday, October 9th.
Spanish Club is having its first organizational meeting tomorrow during
Dragon Den. Any students interested in learning more about Hispanic culture
are invited to join. Our first meeting will be registering as a member and
hearing a bit about the Costa Rican summer study program.
If you have not yet registered for "Family Access" to student grades, please
stop by the school office to do so.
Please look for students to bring home report cards next Friday.
¡Hasta la semana que viene!
Sra. Robinson
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Friday, September 28, 2007
¡Saludos!
I hope that everyone has had a productive and good week.
We are about to enter the final week of this 1st 6-week grading period. The
highlight of this academic week will be our 2nd and last major test of the
grading period. That test will be Tuesday. We have already begun the
review and will finish the review with our unit's audio activities on Monday.
At the end of the week we will begin a project for "Día de los Muertos." We
will spend Thursday and Friday working on it in class and it will be due on
Tuesday, October 9th, becoming the first quiz grade of the 2nd 6-weeks.
The following letter has been issued by our principal's office regarding the
new "Family Access" to our computer grading system. Mr. Miller had asked us
to share it with the parents on our web sites.
Carroll Middle School
1101 East Dove Road ~ Southlake, Texas 76092 ~ 817-949-5400 ~ Fax 817-949-
5454
Matt Miller
Principal
Stephanie Mangels
Assistant Principal
9/27/07
To CMS parents,
Our online grading system (Family Access) is a wonderful tool that we feel
will play an important role in increasing communication to our parents. We
ask that you, as parents, be flexible and reasonable as we work through this
first year using this system. We have developed some guidelines to help you
understand the expectations on grades being entered into the system. Please
keep these guidelines in mind as we work together to help your child be
successful at CMS. Thank you.
Grades will be entered according to the following guidelines.
1) All Daily, Homework, Quiz, and Tests: Entered within 5 – 7
Instructional Days from the due date.
2) All Major Essays, Major Writing Assignments, Major Projects:
Entered within 10 – 14 Instructional Days from the due date.
While we believe these established guidelines are appropriate for the
posting of student grades, we do recognize the need for flexibility. Grades
will be posted in a reasonable timeframe allowing for extenuating
circumstances.
Matt Miller
Principal
Carroll Middle School
Thanks for reading this week's "Anuncios" letter!!
¡Hasta luego!
Sra. Robinson
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Saturday, September 22, 2007
9th grade (former students)
¡Hola! ¿Cómo están todos?
I've heard from several of you recently. Two things that I'd like to share:
1.) Please feel free to come to see me for tutorials on Wednesday
afternoons
from 3:45 - 4:15. (I need to be at Special Olympics bowling, in Watauga, by
4:30 until mid November. After Thanksgiving I'll be available until 5:00.)
E-mail me to let me know that you are coming. robinsok@cisdmail.com
2.) Let me know if you are still interested in a trip to Machu Picchu. If
so, would you prefer to go during spring break or mid June of 2008? I'm
currently doing some more investigating on student travel and tours to see
what might be the best deal.
Stay tuned!! ¡Nos vemos!
Sra. Robinson
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Saturday, September 22, 2007
"Digging for the Truth" Fans,
From what I've discovered on the History Channel website, it looks as though
the last viewing of "Kings of the Stone Age" will be tomorrow at noon
Central
Time.
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Friday, September 21, 2007
¡¡Buenas tardes!!
First of all let me thank all the many parents who came to Curriculum Night
this past Wednesday. It was great to see all of you!
The students will have another couple of opportunities to view "Digging for
the Truth - Kings of the Stone Age" this weekend. Their worksheet is due on
Monday.
Progress reports went out on Thursday and, once again, today we discussed
how important the Spanish grade is - that it will take their best effort to
earn the grade they desire.
We've just entered the beginning of the real world of language study -
verbs!! It is imperative that they be here every day and in a focused
condition. Before a major test, every concept has been experienced at least
seven times and in many learning styles. (Just in case "focus" isn't there
every day and every minute.)
The second and last major test of this 6-weeks will be on Tuesday, October
2nd over Capítulo 1A - p. 26-53, in the textbook.
That's about it for this week. I'm going to try and finish my lesson plans
so that I can get to the volleyball games.
¡Ojalá que todos tengan un buen fin de semana!
Sra. Robinson
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Saturday, September 15, 2007
¡Buenos Días!
First of all I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to
Curriculum Night this coming Wednesday from 6:00-7:30 P.M. I am very much
looking forward to meeting the parents of my wonderful Spanish students!
I have another meeting on Wednesday night that begins at 7:30 and I will
apologize, in advance, for rushing out the door. Hopefully, I will be able
to meet each of you as you run through your child's daily class schedule.
Students will have an opportunity to watch another episode of "Digging for
the Truth" this week on the History Channel. This episode is
entitled "Kings of the Stone Age" and it explores the Olmec civilization of
Central America. Viewing times are: Monday, Sept. 17th at 8:00 P.M.&
midnight; Wednesday, Sept. 19th at 10:00 P.M.; and Sunday, Sept. 23rd at
noon. I took these dates off of the History Channel's website. You may
want to check local listings otherwise. - Students will receive a worksheet
to complete while they view the program. This worksheet may be turned in
to "dump" their lowest daily grade in this 6-week grading period.
We tend to be a bit delayed in the first grading period, due to computer and
server set-ups, in getting progress reports out. I believe that they will
be sent on Thursday of this week.
We've completed the first three weeks of school and we had our first
official test on Friday. Of the tests I've graded, the students have done
very well.
I've got to run and get my lesson plans posted so that I can get to that
Dragon game this afternoon.
¡Hasta la semana que viene!
¡Goooooo Dragons!
Sra. Robinson
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Thursday, September 6, 2007
¡Hola! ¿Cómo están todos?
We are finishing another great week in Spanish at CMS. The kids are working
very hard and doing their best. Attendance has been wonderful!! That helps
language students tremendously!! Please check the calendar on this website
to make sure that you are not scheduling vacation during school days or
appointments during Spanish. It is very difficult to make up for missed
classroom time. The kids will be happy to share how much we get covered in
an average classroom period.
My lesson plans and activities for next week are posted under "Deberes." The
"main event" is a short unit test on Friday. Friday will be the end of the
first three weeks and students will receive progress reports the following
week. Spanish grades tend to be a bit high in the 1st six weeks and go down
very quickly if students aren't staying on top of their studies.
Again, this is an exceptional group of 8th graders and I am having a
wonderful time working with them. Thanks for sending them to Spanish class!
¡Hasta la semana que viene!
Sra. Robinson
Any student who shows me the assignments for next week written in their
agenda will receive 2 "pesetas."
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Labor Day - September 3, 2007
Attention "Digging for the Truth" fans!!!
The History Channel website lists two different programs for the season
opener. One page shows that "Mummies in the Clouds" - about the pyramid in
South America - airs at 8:00 P.M. Central time. Another page
lists "Neanderthal" for 8:00 P.M. The Star Telegram says that the program
is
at 7:00 P.M. and it doesn't say which episode is airing. - I'm going to see
if I can watch it. From the information I've gathered it seems that it will
be the "Neanderthal" at 7:00 P.M. It will be interesting but it doesn't
help
us with the study of Latin American culture.
¡Lo siento muchísimo! So sorry!!
Sra. R
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el 2 de septiembre de 2007
¡Buenas noches todos!
I hope that everyone is enjoying a restful and fun Labor Day weekend!
Normally I post lesson plans ("Deberes" page) on Saturday but I, too, am
having a lazy weekend. You will note that the lesson plans from the 1st
week of school remain. I will keep adding on until the end of this 6 weeks.
We had an absolutely fabulous first week of school!! My 8th grade students
are delightful!! - and extremely polite. I don't remember when I've
enjoyed a first week of school more.
We're going to start to get down to real business this week. On Tuesday, I
will do a notebook check - for a quiz grade. (It is that important!!) The
kids have been instructed to go to the FAQ page of this website and set up
their notebook in the manner prescribed under "Notebook? Do I really need a
notebook?" I will also be checking to see that their textbooks are covered
and have their names written in the front cover.
Often times the students will have a choice of homework assignments. Some
are a bit more challenging or some may make use of the computer. Note that
there are two days this week of homework that is labeled "DI" for
differentiated instruction.
Also, in looking over lesson plans (Deberes section) you will discover a
couple of quizzes this week. One is a "mini-prueba" for a daily grade. The
other will be for an actual quiz grade. If one is reviewing my lesson
plans, there will be no such thing as a "pop quiz" in this class.
Looking forward to another wonderful week !! -
¡Hasta luego!
Sra. Robinson
P.S. This letter printed and parent signed is worth 2 "pesetas" on Tuesday,
September 4th.
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22 de agosto de 2007
¡¡Atención 9th grade former Spanish students!!
As in years past, I have reserved Wednesday afternoons for you. If you
would
like to come for tutorial help, please e-mail me at "robinsok@cisdmail.com".
I will be happy to be of help and glad to see you!!
¡¡Vengan!!
Sra. R
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August 9, 2007
Dear Students and Parents,
Welcome to a brand new year at CMS and a brand new Spanish program! I am
really looking forward to meeting my new Spanish I students. Each and every
one of the students is the reason I love teaching Spanish! Introducing
another language to bright, young minds is an amazingly fulfilling
opportunity in education.
Foreign language is a very rigorous and challenging study. In order for
students to have a rewarding and valuable experience, the high school
Spanish department has certain policies to which it adheres in the
classrooms. These policies, adapted in the CISD Middle School Spanish
classes beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, are followed in every
H.S.credited foreign language class in the district. The department
believes that these policies will give our students the best education in
language and in life.
The Foreign Language Policies are as follows:
Grading Procedure:
25% Quizzes
25% Homework
50% Tests
No late work will be accepted.
No retakes will be given.
No curving will be permitted.
Academic dishonesty will result in an automatic “0” and a “U” in conduct, in
accordance with the CISD Code of Conduct.
IPods, PSPs, Walkmans, cell phones, etc. have no place in the academic
arena. They will not be tolerated in the classroom. Personal electronic
equipment that is in use during class will be collected and turned over to
the front office. The offending student will need to speak with an
administrator in order to retrieve his/her personal items.
Other classroom rules will be followed and conduct notices and detentions
given accordingly.
It is hoped that these policies will help instill responsibility and that
they will prepare students for their own education as they move on to higher
levels.
I have addressed most questions (about tutorials, conference times,
materials, classroom rules, grading etc.) in the “FAQ” section of my
website. Please carefully read over all the information on my website as
well as the student handbook. Classroom rules and regulations will be
explained in class and will also be posted on the wall as a reminder. What
I require, above all other rules, is that you be respectful and considerate
of everyone in the classroom. Please feel free to e-mail me with any
unanswered questions at : robinsok@cisdmail.com
Your first major homework assignment will be to take care of
some “housekeeping” tasks. As you and your parents accomplish these items,
please initial each and sign the “check off” list at the bottom.
This is going to be un año maravilloso!! ¡¡Buena suerte to all!!
Sincerely,
Señora Robinson
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