Week of 11/18 - 11/22

My apologies for last week's absences. After a visit to the doctor Wednesday after school, I was advised to rest my voice. Combined with 4th period's inability to control themselves and needing a reprimand from me WITHOUT a voice on Wednesday, the best way to ensure I rested my voice would not be in front of the class. My voice is better, and even after my full regiment of anti-biotics, my voice is still not what it should be and I am still congested. So I continue to ask you to bear with me as I recuperate.

This week we will begin test corrections on the Unit 3 test that was returned to students Wednesday last week. While the results were better than the previous test (for all classes) the opportunity for test corrections remains. Unfortunately I have meetings after school EVERYDAY this week. I will be available during Pride Period everyday however, and test corrections will continue through the remainder of the semester. Below you will find my availability for test corrections and extra help:

Mr. C's Availability This Week
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Pride Period	Pride Period	Pride Period	Pride Period	Pride Period

"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning."

- Catherine Aird

Week of 10/28 - 11/1

I hope you enjoyed last weeks normal schedule because this week is back to the shenanigans! With a workday on Monday, the PLAN on Wednesday, and a "make-up" bell schedule on Thursday, this week will be yet another adventure. The good news, Tuesday and Friday are normal. Take a look at the bell schedule for Wednesday and Thursday below:

	Wednesday	Thursday
	PLAN Testing
Period 1	None	7:25 - 9:34 (No Pride Period)
Period 2	7:25 - 11:00	9:40 - 10:40
Period 3	11:06 - 1:09	10:46 - 12:49
"A" Lunch	11:00 - 11:41	10:40 - 11:21
"B" Lunch	11:48 - 12:23	11:28 – 12:03
"C" Lunch	12:29 - 1:09	12:14 – 12:49
Period 4	1:15 - 2:18	12:55 – 2:18

Wednesday is the PLAN (which is the ACT version of the PSAT). All 10th graders will be taking this test. Although you did not receive a booklet prior to this test as you did for the PSAT, please remember to bring a calculator for the exam; a calculator will not be provided to you. Although Thursday's schedule is out of the ordinary, there are no special events planned for that day. The change in the time so to make up for the time lost on Wednesday for the PLAN. As good an idea as this may be for freshmen, juniors, and seniors, it does nothing for us who will be without the time altogether since you all will be taking the exam.

I seemed to have found an adequate RSS feed embed for the main page so "This Day in History" above and "The Mycenaean" school newspaper below are up and running again.

Mr. C's Availability This Week
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
	Pride Period After School		After School	Pride Period After School

"I choose not to project my past onto my future.“

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Week of 10/21 - 10/25

Can it be true? Is this week really a "normal" week? No alternate bell schedules? Five full days? Yes, a "normal" week. Whew. The last two weeks have been pretty difficult keeping up with the different bell schedules and testing. Picture Retake / Make-Up day is this Thursday, 10/24. If you want an order form for pictures, I have a few copies otherwise they have order forms in the Main Office.

On the other hand, this week marks the end of the first quarter. The last day of the quarter is officially Friday. Therefore, the last day for make-up work will be Thursday by 2:30! I have a meeting Thursday at 2:30, if I do not have your work, IN MY HAND by 2:30 it will not make it onto your grade.

This week, October 18-26, is National Teen Safety Week which includes safe driving. State Farm is sponsoring the "Celebrate My Drive" competition. Once per day go to the Celebrate My Drive website and vote for your school. Leesville could win one of ten $100,000 grants or one of 90 $25,000 grants. If you think we don't have a chance, think again. Last year during a different program, Leesville won $2,500.

Mr. C's Availability This Week
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Pride Period After School	Pride Period After School	Pride Period	Pride Period	Pride Period After School

"It's how you deal with failure that determines how you achieve success.“

- David Feherty

Week of 10/14 - 10/18

I hope everyone enjoyed Spirit Week, culminating in the Pep Rally and Homecoming Game victory by the Pride football team, and the Homecoming Dance Saturday Night. But get ready, this week is even crazier than the last, and unfortunately, not as much fun. Three days this week we have a different bell schedule:

	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
	PSAT Testing		Early Release
Period 1	7:25 - 11:00	7:25 - 8:25 (No Pride Period)	7:25 - 8:26
Period 2	None	8:31 - 10:40	8:32 - 9:34
Period 3	11:06 - 1:09	10:46 - 12:49	9:40 - 10:41
"A" Lunch	11:06 - 11:41	10:46 - 11:21	None
"B" Lunch	11:48 - 12:23	11:28 – 12:03	None
"C" Lunch	12:34 - 1:09	12:14 – 12:49	None
Period 4	1:15 - 2:18	12:55 – 2:18	10:47 - 11:48

Wednesday is the PSAT. All 10th graders will be taking this test. You should have received a booklet about the PSAT, materials to have at the test, and other information regarding score reporting and scholarship information. Thursday does not have any special event planned; the change of schedule is to make up for the lost time to 1st Period on Wednesday. And Friday is a county-wide traditional schedule Early Release Day. While there are no Lunch Periods scheduled that day, there is a "grab-and-go" option for students to buy a carry out lunch to take with them after school before the buses roll.

October 18-26 is National Teen Safety Week which includes safe driving. State Farm is sponsoring the "Celebrate My Drive" competition. Once per day go to the Celebrate My Drive website and vote for your school. Leesville could win one of ten $100,000 grants or one of 90 $25,000 grants. If you think we don't have a chance, think again. Last year during a different program, Leesville won $2,500.

I noticed "This Day in History" and "The Mycenaean" RSS feeds are no longer working, it seems my free subscription has run out. I will be looking for a new, FREE, RSS reader to plug in there and get it going as soon as possible.

Mr. C's Availability This Week
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Pride Period	Pride Period After School

"The true definition of madness is repeating the same action, over and over, hoping for a different result.“

- Albert Einstein

Week of 10/7 - 10/11

We made it back safely today with enough time to recuperate from the miles of walking we did. This week at Leesville is a very busy one mostly because of Spirit Week and Homecoming. We also have a fire drill (Tuesday Afternoon) and a Lockdown Drill (Friday Morning). For the Spirit Week festivities, the classes compete through their first period for spirit wear. This week's schedule is:

Monday: Preppy v. Grunge
Tuesday: Tia and Tamara Twin Day
Wednesday: 90s Character Day
Thursday: Throwback Thursday
Friday: Green Out!

This week also sees Community Night on Wednesday, from 5:30pm - 8:30pm, at LRHS. There will be food tricks, game booths, and a students v. faculty basketball game. $2 is the price of admission with food and games at additional prices. And don't forget about the Homecoming Dance this Saturday, from 7pm - 11pm at LRHS. We will also have a Pep Rally on Friday. For those who are new to Leesville or forgot from years past, festivities begin with a parade the includes the marching band, clubs with homemade parade floats, and sports teams that will lead the students into Marshall Hamilton Stadium. The bell schedule will be different for that day will be altered as follows:

Period 1: 7:25 - 8:40
Period 2: 8:46 - 10:01
Period 3: 10:07 - 12:07
"A Lunch": 10:07 - 10:42
"B Lunch": 10:47 - 11:22
"C Lunch": 11:32 - 12:07
Period 4: 12:13 - 1:24
Pep Rally: 1:24 - 2:18

October 18-26 is National Teen Safety Week which includes safe driving. State Farm is sponsoring the "Celebrate My Drive" competition. Once per day go to the Celebrate My Drive website and vote for your school. Leesville could win one of ten $100,000 grants or one of 90 $25,000 grants. If you think we don't have a chance, think again. Last year during a different program, Leesville won $2,500.

I noticed "This Day in History" and "The Mycenaean" RSS feeds are no longer working, it seems my free subscription has run out. I will be looking for a new, FREE, RSS reader to plug in there and get it going as soon as possible.

Mr. C's Availability This Week
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
	Pride Period After School	Pride Period	Pride Period	After School

"Peer pressure is a scary thing. Be a good leader and others will follow.“

- Anonymous

Week of 9/30 - 10/4

This should be a very interesting week. For starters, I will only be in class Monday and Tuesday. I will be out of town for the rest of the week and next Monday too. The classes will be in good hands with Mr. Johnson, a former Leesville teacher. He knows the ropes and having subbed for me before, knows what to expect. Speaking of expectations, I expect the students will behave appropriately under less than ideal situation. (I know I do not need to mention it, but why not, right?)

Mr. C's Availability This Week
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Pride Period After School	Pride Period

"Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort.“

- John Ruskin

Week of 9/23 - 9/27

Interims will be distributed this week on Wednesday!
Friday is an Early Release Day, be advised of the changed bell schedule:

1st Period: 7:25 - 8:26
2nd Period: 8:32 - 9:34
3rd Period: 9:40 - 10:41
4th Period: 10:47 - 11:48
NO PRIDE PERIOD
NO LUNCHES

Mr. C's Availability This Week
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Pride Period After School	Pride Period	Pride Period After School (Make-Up Only)	Pride Period

“If at first you don't succeed, find out why before you try again.”

- Joe Moore

Week of 9/16 - 9/20

Friday is Picture Day. A chance for immortality in the yearbook (yes, I have a copy of every yearbook since I started at Leesville in 1996), this is how you will be remembered!

Mr. C's Availability This Week
Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Pride Period	Pride Period After School	Pride Period	Pride Period	Pride Period After School

"Success or failure is caused more by mental attitude than by mental capacity."

- Walter Scott

A Good Start

Welcome to the 2013-2014 School Year! I trust you had a restful summer, but here we go, I full school year with plenty to learn and do! I am looking forward to a great first semester teaching American History 1 all day long! This is very exciting for me; this part of American History was my major in college: Antebellum America. It is always a great thrill to be able to use exactly what you learned in college in you everyday work.

The curriculum is new this year, a change from US History, where US History was the entire history of the United States in one semester and American History is now two semesters. In addition, it has been a while since I have specifically taught American / US History (18 to be exact), and I am looking forward to the task!

So sit back and enjoy the ride as we figure out, in part how we got to where we are by learning where we have been.

Please NOTE: The embedded vocabulary from Quizlet does not seem to be working. At this time, I am assuming it is a problem on their part, but will continue to monitor any development thereabouts to make sure it will work.