Mr. James McDermott

Email: Mr. McDermott

 

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Dear Holy Name Families,

We are briskly moving through math and science material, reviewing content from last year, and learning new concepts.  I am so pleased with the effort students are putting forth thus far.  I was also moved with gratitude to see the students volunteering for the Omaha Corporate Cup and the Omaha Marathon.  I was fortunate to grab a cup of water from them as I ran by!

Vocation Awareness Day Field Trip (6^th grade)

When:  Friday, October 21, 2011, all day
Where:  Skutt Catholic High School, Omaha
Cost:  FREE
Lunch:  will be provided for FREE at Skutt

Students received a permission slip on Tues. Oct. 11.  Please sign and return the slip by Wed. Oct. 19.

ALL 6^th GRADE STUDENTS are required to attend this field trip mandated by the Archdiocese of Omaha.  Students will have the opportunity to explore a religious vocation and spend time with current priests, deacons, sisters, brothers, and seminarians of the Archdiocese.  I have personally appreciated this day as a time for everyone to reflect on their relationship with God and explore what God is calling them to do with their life.

 

Below are topics we are currently studying in all of my classes:

Science

6^th – Light waves, sound waves

7^th – Circulatory System, skeletal structures, muscles

8^th – Ocean Currents, electricity, electrical currents, magnetism, circuits

Math

6^th – Operations with whole numbers, rounding, estimating, mathematical properties, order of operations

7^th – Factors, divisibility, place value, word problems, reciprocals, operations with fractions

8^th – Word problems, prime & composite numbers, multiplying & dividing by powers of 10, operations with fractions

In addition, Mrs. Smolinski and I have started a new “allowance project” with the math classes.  Mrs. Smolinski will coordinate the technology component by teaching the students how to save checkbook data in an Excel spreadsheet.  This project will serve as a method for students to keep track of a check register based on preparation for class.  Please read the attached document below for more information.  We hope the students find this as another way to learn organization and responsibility.

Upcoming Dates

Tues. Oct. 18 – Mix It Up Day

Wed. Oct. 19 – School Picture Day
          *Students brought home an order form on Fri. Oct. 7^th.  Please return the form with payment to school if you   would like pictures.

Fri. Oct. 21 – End of the 1^st quarter, Vocation Awareness Day Field Trip

Thurs. Oct. 27 – Parent / teacher conferences, NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

Fri. Oct. 28 – NO SCHOOL

Chess Club

Regularly meets in the health room on Thursdays from 3:30 – 4:30 pm.  This club is open to any Holy Name 5^th – 8^th grader who wants to learn more about chess and compete against other students.  We are hoping to set up a few competitions with other Catholic schools in the Archdiocese this year.  Students are welcome to attend any week, even if they missed the previous week.

Contact Information

As usual, please contact me with any questions or concerns.  I look forward to any communication from you.

E-mail: jmcdermott@novia.net
Phone: 402-451-5403 ex. 130