News & Features

Some Sixth Grade Teachers Name: Padraig Barry Teaches: Science Room number: 25 Worst thing you could do in his class: Drink hydrochloric acid thinking it was water. Origin story: Some friends said I would make a good teacher. Most important thing he does for his students: Make sure they’re having fun learning.   Name: Rebecca Guenther Teaches: Language Arts Room number: 11 Worst thing you could do in her class: Throw up. Origin Story: I like helping people. I was going to be a nurse until I realized I couldn’t stand the blood. Most important thing she does for her students: Treat them with respect and as individuals, and hope they come out of my class with a new appreciation for LA.   Full name: Margaret Somerville a.k.a. “Magistra” Room number: 24 What you teach: Prima Lingua and 7th and 8th grade Latin Worst thing someone could do in your class: Take…

We recently interviewed Mrs. Quinn and Mr. Terrell to get you, the community, more information on the renovation of our shared community space in Shallcross Hall. Mrs. Quinn shared that the newly renovated building will have more glass so that visitors on tours will have an easier way to look into the classrooms without disrupting them. People will be able to look into our community from the outside, and it will be easier for folks to visit. Mrs. Quinn says that this change will “add more light and air” to the dining hall. The cafeteria may have a double height space and the architects are also thinking of making separate food lines so that we do not have to wait as long for the same delicious food!  The cafeteria should also have a cozier feel so that students are not compelled to sit on the art displays currently in the…

Mini-courses are three-day classes of your choice that range in subject from science to art to history. Mini-courses are usually the week before Spring Break. There were ten different options for mini-courses this year: “ART + Chemistry = Alchemy” “Our Fightin’ Phils” “72-Hour Film Festival” (link to short films: “Kids with Superpowers,” “Taken by the Dark,” and “Lost and Found” are by FCS students) “WFCS: Phoenix Radio” (link to station site) “FCS Idol” “Survivor” “Celtic Designs” “The Arctic” “Lincoln’s Assassination” “Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy and Physiology” In this brief review I will outline three of these mini-courses: ART + Chemistry = Alchemy In the alchemy mini-course, students focused on food chemistry and how different foods are made and composed chemically. On the second day, this mini-course took a trip to the Old Rittenhouse Village and made paper and pancakes. (Source: Hugh Braham) Lincoln’s Assassination In this mini-course, students watched videos on the assassination and looked at some of…

Hello, fellow turtle lovers! We have a fascinating fact about turtles this week: Their gender is determined by the temperature of the incubator from when they are little–not by birth! How cool?! Here’s a pic of Terry staying warm during this winter storm:

Hello, fellow turtle lovers! Here’s this week’s turtle fact: According to Mr. Ross, did you know that turtles have been around for over 200,000,000 years? It’s true! That’s WAY longer than modern-day humans have been around. MIND BLOWING! Stay tuned for next week’s fact! And now for our weekly picture of Terry: