Grade 8 Humanities: Week of 12/18/2017 Peace.

Dear Families,

Four months ago we began to examine who we are as readers, writers, and citizens. We illustrated public service posters with messages we wanted to share . . .

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We wrote Personal Statement essays for ourselves and for high school applications. We read and discussed William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet and investigated characterization by making masks . . .

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We studied The American Civil War and the ensuing Reconstruction Period. We reviewed the ALL the amendments, not just the first ten ; ) and we embarked on our work into The American Industrial Revolution.

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Why?

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Because reading, writing, and the study of history place us in the stream of human continuity. Because, if we can “walk a mile in someone else’s shoes,” we can not only extend empathy to our neighbors, but we can better understand ourselves.

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I often tell the 8th grade that I’m depending on them to become leaders in a world worth living in; that they need to re-imagine and shape a world worth living in. That’s a lot of pressure! But, It’s also a worthwhile task. And, if we are able to better understand the world, our neighbors, and the very things that inspire us and give us faith, perhaps we will contribute, in some small way, in creating peace.

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Have a wonderful holiday! See you all in 2018!

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Yours,

Ms. Sacilotto

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“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”

 ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.