Cool Sites and Summer Readings

Students!  If you would like to do a little summer reading to keep mind working I would like to recommend the following Authors:
Howard Zinn, Daniel Quinn, Wendell Berry, Eduardo Galeano, Gore Vidal, Kurt Vonnegut, Naomi Klein.
Please contact me if you would like specific reccomendations.
Also I the photo from a very cool infographic site here.
A few great resources to keep your mind sharp can be found:
Kahn Accademy
Annenberg
It was great having you in class this year and I look forward to your return next year!
-Mr. Ellsberg

Final Notebook Check

Middle school math students should drop by the Accademy, or scan and send in the final chapters of notes.  You can come drop by during my office hours, or have your mentor check those notes.  Please contact me ASAP if you have any question.
Extra Resources:
Students looking for some extra help with tough concepts should try out the Kahn Academy.  This is a great resource students can use for free for extra math help.

Deadlines and Summer Class Opportunities.

All students should be completed with work up to week 12, Friday the 29th in all classes with Mr. Ellsberg as a teacher. As per beginning of the semester:
Deadlines will be implemented in all of my classes after every 6 week interval. So all work has to be completed up to that date to get credit. Students who have not completed work will receive a "0" for those assignments. If there is a conflicting issue please get in contact with me ASAP. ellsberg@gbwebacademy.org
This does not mean that your final grade for this assignment is a 0, in fact you can still submit that assignment, quiz or test.  The rub is that you have to contact me after you completed ALL post-deadline assignments to remove the 0 for those assignments.  Until that time the grade will stay as is in your grade book.
Summer School
Students who are eligible for High School Credit Recovery Classes can take them through the Web Academy.  You can access that Application Form Here. Remember All courses will cost 100$ per course (which you have to pay within a week of sign up, no exceptions), and you have to supply your own computer and internet access.  The seating is limited to 47 students for the entire program so sign up early!

Middle School Math Test Prep

If you are a middle school student and you missed last Thursday's test prep you can come drop by this week to take a pre-test.  You can drop by any time at the Web Academy, just check with me before hand to see if I have that time available to work with you.
If you cannot make it in before the test you can upload the practice tests HERE. Remember you can use a calculator and a sheet of formulas, but you have to ask for it before the test starts.
Thank you,
Mr. Ellsberg

New Phone

I have a new phone number!  You can reach me at (503) 893-5788 schooldays from 9am-4pm.

Nuclear Threat

As the Crisis worsens at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in Japan may are reflecting on our own use of Nuclear Power and the viability of future reliance on this power source.  I found this very interesting infographic which looks at the cost of human life and energy sources worldwide.
Something to ponder over the break.

Spring Break!

Our Spring Break will start tomorrow at 4pm, SWEET!  For many of you this means a break from studies, for others a time to catch up, others still a time to get ahead.  I will be available sparringly as I will be "conquering the usless" from here to Canada and back again.  Please refer to the previous posts for information about classes and assignments.  Big things on the horizon at the Web Academy:

State Testing

High School Essential Skills Work Samples

7th grade Community Service Project (Social Studies)

Admissions and Campus Tours at some of our Finest State Universities.

Please get in contact with me if you have any time sensitive questions that the website cannot answer!
Have a wonderful week!
Mr. Ellsberg

Grades and Reports

Your progress reports were sent out last night.  Hopefully you noticed that all due assignments were allotted a 0 in "My Grades" if they were not submitted before Monday. Unless you contacted me with your individual education plan that you set up with your mentor.   
This does not mean that your final grade for this assignment is a 0, in fact you can still submit that assignment, quiz or test.  The rub is that you have to contact me after you completed ALL post-deadline assignments to remove the 0 for those assignments.  Until that time the grade will stay as is in your grade book.

Two noticeable worrisome trends that I saw were:
-Students waiting until the deadline (Friday) to contact me.
-Students and Parents failing to check their email (or class announcements) on a daily basis, or using their email at all.

A few ways to prevent falling victim to these are:
Parents and Students; Get an email that you can use only for school then send us that address Click Here For Survey.  Then check that every school day, and contact each teacher once a week to check in.
Check your announcements on a daily basis.
Send your teachers a message if you have a question about any query that you may have.
Finally, but most importantly!
Finish your work when it is due in the schedule and if you can't do that let us know.

This may be confusing for some of you, but lets be happy you get another change and that it did not occur at the end of the semester ~ 6/11.
Some more good advice.

Upcoming Deadlines

All students should be completed with work up to week 6, Friday the 11th in all classes with Mr. Ellsberg as a teacher. As per beginning of the semester:
Deadlines will be implemented in all of my classes after every 6 week interval. So all work has to be completed up to that date to get credit. Students who have not completed work will receive a "0" for those assignments. If there is a conflicting issue please get in contact with me ASAP. ellsberg@gbwebacademy.org

6 week deadline.

Your 6 week deadline will be March 11th at 4pm.   This means that you have to complete all assignments up to that date in your syllabus.  If you have a reason(s) that you will not be able to meet this deadline you have to meet with me at the Academy or send an email with your explanation(s).

The following is a list of chapters you have to be completed with in the corresponding class:

American Government: Chapter 3 (Principles)

American History B: Chapter 2 (From the age of Extremes to a World Power)

Economics: Unit 4, Section 2 quiz

Geography B: Eastern Asia, Physical Characteristics and Systems of Eastern Asia

6th Grade

-Math: Classify and Measure Angles

-Social Studies: Ancient Rome: Christianity

7th Grade

-Math: Quadrilaterals and Other Polygons

-Social Studies: World War II

8th Grade

-Math: Polygons

-Social Studies: Reconstruction

Attn: Students

I will not be available by phone tomorrow.  If you are having trouble with my class send me a message and I will try to respond by Saturday or Sunday.  Remember this will be a 3 day weekend as Monday is a State Federal Holiday honoring past Presidents.  Here is a great site of Presidential Quotes.  There are some great treasures in here like:

"If it were not for the reporters, I would tell you the truth."

Chester Arthur

"What is right and what is practicable are two different things."

James Buchanan

"No man ever listened himself out of a job."

Calvin Coolidge

Government after all is a very simple thing."

Warren Harding

Welcome Back! Changes and Rearranges

I hope that this message finds you refreshed and ready to take on the new semester.  Or excited to develop a new study pattern that doesn't leave you rushing to complete all work!  A few things of note as we start the new semester:

• Deadlines will be implemented in all of my classes after every 6 week interval.  So all work has to be completed up to that date to get credit.  Students who have not completed work will receive a "0" for those assignments.
• Schedules and Syllabi will be located under a tab located on the left of each class page.  This will show up to date changes and students will be held accountable to check this document once a week (along with messages).
• High School students will be required to submit 2 work samples per core class.  High School students will need to complete this samples to qualify for graduation.
• Middle School Math classes now require keeping a notebook with all practice problems.  Please label your notes by section so I can recognize which chapters to give you credit.
• If you are enrolled in a Credit Recovery Course this semester the content is available under the Course Information/Orientation then Table of Contents.  To get to the quizzes and exams you have to check the "Mark as Reviewed" box next to the Section.  You also get 5 attempts at completing all assignments and exams, but many of the exams need passwords (so contact your instructor when you are ready).
• American History, Economics, and American Government Finals will continue to be held at the Web Academy and all work needs to be completed before you can set up an appointment to attempt the final.

Finally students are still required to sign in on a daily basis.  Check in with teachers once a week, and meet with your mentors once a month.  If you have not completed this required survey please to now: Click Here For Survey  If you have any questions please email me at: ellsberg@gbwebacademy.org

Big Dollar Holler....(er)...ers

Advertising is big business, how big?  Check out how much these companies are willing to pay for a moment of your time. Click Here For Full Image

State Testing - 7th Grade Writing - Office Limitations

Via Ms. Calhoun AKA: State Testing Champion Del Mundo,
State testing begins next week, January 18th, and will go through April.  We will begin with the 7th grade writing test.  By Oregon State law, these tests must be administered, and all students are required to take them.  It is also important to note that all high school students MUST take these tests to graduate.   Letters were sent home this week, indicating which tests each students needs to take, and the time and date that each test is scheduled for. Please mark these dates on your calendars.  Students must be present for these tests as scheduled.

- Please click here for the 2011 State Testing Schedule, available on our website.
-The tests will be administered at the Gresham Barlow Web Academy in the main classroom.
-During testing times, the main classroom will be closed to drop in visits and meetings.  However, our back classroom will be available, and students are welcome to come by as usual.  Please note that the back classroom is not stocked with desktop computers.  If students wish to work on site, they will need to bring in a laptop.

Please contact the school with questions:    503-258-4790.   

Clubs and Labs

Math is not linear on Prezi

Students who are interested in either Documentary Club or Math Lab will have to wait until next quarter to attend those extra opportunities! I am also taking student parent feedback for both classes. Math lab had a very low turn out for middle school students so we might just schedule extra help by appointment only. Please let me know what you think!
Mr. Ellsberg