Seventh Grade

Spring is here and the Junior High is thrilled to see the winter rains behind us!  We’ve kept busy these long weeks and have much to report!

Congratulations to our Junior High Science Fair Winners!

        All 5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th graders submitted their entries for the St. Elizabeth School Science Fair in February, and all were fantastic!  Our judges carefully reviewed each board and report to ensure that specific criteria such as Hypothesis, Procedures, Data, Results and Conclusions had been met.  They also evaluated the effort and creativity that went into each project and awarded 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winners according to a points system.

Winners of the St. Elizabeth School Science Fair are as follows:

5^th Grade:

1^st Place: Matthew Da Silva, Audrey Yao, Vanessa Yu

2^nd Place: Jacari Jacobs, Diego Cabrera

3^rd Place: David Dela Cruz

6th Grade

3^rd Place: India Garcia, Michelle Chen, Vivian Huang

7^th Grade

1^st Place: Angelina Digneo, Brianna Domagas

2^nd Place: Bianca Martinez, Alessandro Di Modica, Matthew Masangcay                       

3^rd Place: Justine Alano, Mauricia Marigmen, Alexandra Kim                       

8^th Grade

1^st Place: Katrina Erfe

2^nd Place: Adrian Mercado                                                                       

       1st and 2^nd Place winners from 7^th and 8^th grades went on to compete at the 28^th Annual Randall Museum Science Fair.  Their entries were judged, along with 120 other entries by students from local City schools. 

       We are very happy to report that all of our St. Elizabeth students received Honorable Mention for their entries. 

Congratulations to all for accomplishing your goals,

and

Thank You for representing your school so admirably! 

Congratulations to the “Pi Day” (Pi =3.141592653…) Contest Winners and Participants!

       Eighth graders were challenged to memorize at least 50 of the 1.7 trillion digits of pi– the ratio that expresses the circumference of a circle to its diameter.  In other words, divide the circumference of any circle by its diameter, and the answer is always pi.  

Students gave it the “good ol’ college try”!  Here are the results:

- 1^st Place Winner:  Corey Robinson, reciting 211 digits of pi

- 2^nd Place Winner:  Sally Dear, reciting 123 digits of pi

- 3rd Place Winner:  Chalyna Lazo, reciting 101 digits of pi

- 4th Place Winner:  Katrina Erfe, reciting 84 digits of pi

The winners were treated to multiple, extra-large slices of pumpkin, banana cream, pecan and chocolate silk pie! …burp!

Honorable Mentions:  Adrian Mercado (71), Gillian Andes (63), Angelina Ibay (62), Ben Fossett (61), Maribel Matos, Francisco Martinez, and Harry Yu  (51), Angelo Domagas and Tiffany Calonje (46), Oscar Ta and Elijah Dale (41), Tatianna Calonje (34).

 A 51-year-old psychologist, Akira Haraguchi, of Japan holds the world’s record for reciting pi to 100,000 decimal places!   … Well, we’re almost there!

Lenten Service Projects

       During this season of Lent, the 7^th and 8^th Graders have been busy with their Lenten Service Projects.  Students are working in small groups to raise funds for the charities they have designated for this year’s drive.  Some of the activities they have organized are:  Ice Cream Sundae sales, Face Painting, Beatles Rock Band video games, Friday After-School Movies, Bake Sales, Easter Cookie Decorating, Flea Markets and Popcorn sales. 

       These student-driven fundraisers are a wonderful way for our Junior High to give back to the communities that have supported them and their families – learning that, by helping others, we are doing God’s work.  During this time of contemplation and preparation for the celebration of the Resurrection, students learn that “giving up something for Lent” isn’t about sodas and candy, it’s about giving up our time and devoting ourselves to a worthy cause, focusing on those who need our help, reaching out and making a difference.  That is a sacrifice we can feel good about…

       7th Graders have elected to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House in San Francisco. The RMH of San Francisco works to keep the families of critically ill children in hospitals together, rested, healthy, and strong at a very challenging time in their lives.  Hospital stays for critically ill children are growing longer and specialized treatment tends to be located in centralized and expensive urban areas like San Francisco. RMH provides a safe haven, a home-away-from-home, for critically ill children and their families.

       8^th Graders have chosen to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure®, the global leader of the breast cancer movement. It is the world’s largest network of breast cancer survivors and activists, working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures.  It is the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world having raised nearly $1.5 billion since 1982.  Our 8^th graders recognize the importance of women’s health, many having been touched by breast cancer in their families, and have devoted their efforts to support the Susan G. Komen foundation.

       In previous years, students have collected school supplies for the children in Iraq through Operation Iraqi Children, purchased 130 mosquito nets for Malaria No More, and sent $1300 to the Bay Area chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  This year, our students will continue their good works and support these very worthy organizations.                                                             

Renaissance Artists Rule!

       The 7^th grade has just finished their Renaissance Artists PowerPoint and original fine arts projects.  Students were asked to select a Renaissance painter, sculptor, inventor, or architect to study and present to his/her classmates through both a PowerPoint slide show and through a uniquely interpreted example of the artist’s original work. Both on canvas and in sculpture, the 7^th graders have captured and re-created the essence of Renaissance artistry and the rich history of the fine arts in Europe in the 15^th through 17^th centuries.

            Visit the 7^th grade classroom, wander through the exhibit and you’ll be transported to the Sistine Chapel in Rome, le musée du Louvre in Paris, or la Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence.  See paintings by renown Flemish artist Clara Peeters, Italian masters Sandro Botticelli, Michelangelo Buonarroti and an architectural model of Filippo Brunelleschi’s “Il Duomo”… all interpreted by the very talented artists, sculptors and architects of the 7^th grade – our young Renaissance men and women!

Stations of the Cross

       7^th and 8^th graders will be performing the Stations of the Cross in the school auditorium on Wednesday, March 31^st at 2:00 PM.  Join us in this very personal, intimate, and sacred reminder of the sacrifice and the passion of our Lord Jesus, as we prepare for His Resurrection.

Comments or questions may be sent to Mrs. Natalia Girlich <steliz7@comcast.net>

Winter is in full swing and so is our 3^rd quarter.  There is much happening in Junior High!

On January 15^th, the 7^th Graders benefited from a wonderful and spiritual Confirmation retreat, lead by Father Paul Gawlowski, Pastor of St. Paul of the Shipwreck Church.  Father Paul spent the morning engaging students in a conversation about what it means to be a young adult in the Church.  We then celebrated a “teaching Mass” together, learning about all the symbolism in the traditions of the Mass.  We all enjoyed an abundant potluck lunch followed by more enlightening activities. 

P.S.  Parents… the kids were very moved to read your “Love Letters”.  It was a beautiful (and emotional) sight!

7th Graders and their friends in the CCD after-school program, are excited and looking forward to receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, February 6^th.  They have worked long and hard for this event and should be commended for their efforts.  Congratulations, Confirmandi!

The Junior High Science Fair is underway.  Students in 5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grades are putting the finishing touches on their projects and preparing their boards for competition in the St. Elizabeth School Science Fair.  Six of the top winners will have their projects submitted to the Randall Museum to participate in the San Francisco Science Fair. Over the past 5 years, many of our wonderful students have taken 1^st through 4^th place at the Randall Museum and we are confident that we’ll see our students do it again this year! 

As we approach the season of Lent, the 7^th Grade will begin planning their Lenten Service Project for this school year.  Students are challenged to work in small groups to raise funds for contribution to the charity of their choice.  In previous years, students have collected school supplies for the children in Iraq through Operation Iraqi Children, purchased 130 mosquito nets for Malaria No More, and sent $1300 to the Bay Area chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  This year, students will identify a cause they feel would benefit from their work and fundraising activities.  We’ll keep you posted!

Congratulations to all the 7^th Graders who received 1^st and 2^nd Honors for the Second Quarter.  Keep up the good work! 

Oh Boy!  Are We Busy!

The past few months have zipped by and we have accomplished so many things! 

• We’ve met many High School Admissions Representatives from Mercy, Riordan, SI, SHCP, ICA, and Mercy B. – very exciting and inspiring!
• We’ve learned about the importance of saying “NO” to drugs with the help of our dear friend, SFPD Officer Kim Lewis during Red Ribbon Week,
• We’ve collected many “Coins From Heaven” to help our friends at the Lantern,
• We’ve hosted an Open House on the occasion of the school’s 60^th Anniversary weekend,
• We’ve had a successful Car Wash and raised over $600 to purchase new athletic equipment! (The ice cream sundaes that followed were the best part!)
• We’ve made stunning Dia De Los Muertos Altars to honor our deceased family members and friends, and shared information about our favorite Saints in preparation for Confirmation,
• We’ve sat through very long and grueling IOWA tests — and we all did superbly well!
• We’ve also sat through nerve-wracking Parent/Teacher/Student conferences (you can breath now – they’re over!)
• We’ve been to the California Academy of Sciences, the Pumpkin Patch and Palega Park with our little K-1-2 buddies, and the Cathedral for a play on the life of St. Damien of Moloka’i,
• We’ve planned, prepared and presented a beautiful School Mass honoring St. Damien – Alexandra, Matthew and Joshua: nice job reciting the Lord’s Prayer in Hawaiian!
• We’ve sashayed around school in our fabulous, chocolate-stained, Halloween attire – Flavor Flav meets the Little Mermaid… what a riot!
• We’ve even built our own “Trajan’s Columns” with our friend, Ms. Abbott, from the Museo ItaloAmericano!
• And our Volleyball team is taking the CYO circuit by storm – Go Eagles!
• And, oh yes, we’ve been hitting the books and learning so much, too!

A day in the life of a St. Elizabeth Junior High student is always full of fun, challenges, and opportunities.  And we each rise to the occasion with confidence and grace!  Bravo, 7^th Graders!

There is still more to do as we sail into our 2^nd Quarter.   

•  The 8^th Grade Egg Drop Contest is coming up on Monday, November 16, 2009.   7^th Graders will host the event and lead the school in raucous cheering and good times as these “eggs-travagant” containers drop out of a 2^nd story window — hopefully keeping a raw egg intact,

• Presentation of the Confirmation Candidates Mass is scheduled for Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 11:30 AM in Church.  All Confirmandi are asked to attend this special Mass in their honor, as the St. Elizabeth Church Parishioners will formally welcome them into the community.     

• All students are invited to enjoy a Thanksgiving lunch hosted by your principal, teachers, and parents on Tuesday, November 24^th.  Our hard working Moms and Dads, lead by Mr. Roy Digneo, will be grilling up yummy Turkey Hot Dogs!  We are so fortunate and so thankful to have such wonderful students that we want to share a special Thanksgiving feast with you!  We love our students!

• All 7^th Graders will be preparing their Saint Shield in class to display on the pews for the Sacrament of Confirmation Mass on Saturday, February 6, 2010.

• 7^th and 8^th Grade Science Scrapbooks containing thorough analyses of 10 general science articles are due on November 24^th — use your remaining time wisely!  Be prepared to start work on your Science Fair projects next! (St. Elizabeth Junior High students participate in a school wide Science Fair.  Winners of the S.E. science fair go on to compete in the annual San Francisco Science Fair hosted by the Randall Museum in February 2010.)

• St. Elizabeth School students are proud supporters of the San Francisco Food Bank’s efforts to feed the hungry in our city. Students know that as many as 150,000 people struggle each day to feed themselves and their families in the city of Saint Francis.  Helping our hungry brothers and sisters is another way we can do God’s work and honor the dignity of each of His children.                                                                                                                                                                                    Therefore, in addition to their daily contributions of canned and boxed foods, and a creative campaign to remind their school mates to bring in their daily donations, 7th and 8th Grade students will be spending a morning volunteering their time and services at the San Francisco Food Bank.  On Monday, November 30, 2009, students will be assisting Food Bank staff and other volunteers with sorting through food donations, repacking bulk food items, assembling grocery boxes, stocking pantry shelves and many other active projects in the warehouse. Parent chaperones are still needed to assist our students at the Food Bank.  Please contact Mrs. Girlich if you can help that day!

• The St. Elizabeth School Christmas show, “Oh Come All Ye Faithful: A Joyful Celebration of Christmas” will be presented in Church on Tuesday evening, December 8^th.  All classes are hard at work preparing their songs and roles for this wonderful, annual event.

• On Thursday, December 17^th, 7^th and 8^th Graders, along with their K-1-2 Buddies will be going ice-skating!  Wear your warm mittens and tap into your courage as we hit the ice skating rink for a fun and festive start to our holidays!  On Friday, we’ll be hitting the racetrack for the Santa’s Sleigh Race event in the 7^th Grade classroom!  Be prepared to race your sleighs and enjoy a jolly holiday party!

Looking ahead: 

• 7^th Grade Confirmation is scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2010.
•  Confirmation Retreat and Pot Luck with Father Paul will be on January 15, 2010
• Catholic Schools Week will commence with a School Mass, Book Faire and Open House on Sunday, February 7, 2010.

Look for more details on these upcoming events in my next bog!  Until then, I wish each one a very safe, peaceful and happy Thanksgiving as we prepare to celebrate the Season of Advent and the birthday of Our Lord Jesus!

God bless you!

Any questions, comments or concerns, contact Mrs. Girlich at <steliz7@comcast.net>

WE’RE ON A ROLL!

Okay, 7^th grade, you are off to a running start with many projects and assignments to manage!  Pace yourselves and use your time wisely!

We started the year with the “Antiques Roadshow” – an opportunity to share our family treasures with each other.  From family Bibles to heirloom bracelets to Thanksgiving platters that come out once a year for a very special occasion, we prepared and presented detailed descriptions (with photograph) to our classmates.  Well done, 7^th grade!

In anticipation of our Confirmation, we are preparing a “Saint Report” based upon a Saint whose example we wish to follow and honor.  You must prepare a formal research paper along with an artistic rendering of your chosen Saint.  Each of you will present your project to your classmates so that all may learn and appreciate the selfless deeds of these Saints.  The project syllabus was distributed on September 9^th. The Saint Report and Project is due on Wednesday, October 7^th!

7^th grade is also preparing to host the School Mass on Friday, October 16^th.  We will take the opportunity to honor the Church’s newest Saint – Father Damien (born Jozef de Veuster in Tremeloo, Belgium), also known as Blessed Damien of Molokai.  Father Damien went to fulfill his calling with the disenfranchised people of Hawaii who were suffering from Hansen’s Disease – a disease referred to in the Bible as “leprosy”.  People with the disease were forced to separate from their families and sent into exile on the island of Molokai. It was there, in 1873, that Father Damien arrived to the colony of Kalaupapa and worked tirelessly alongside the many afflicted individuals, sharing his love and faith and leading them closer to God.  Father Damien eventually succumbed to the disease and died after many years of service to the people of Kalaupapa.  Today, we know that many people throughout the world still suffer from Hansen’s Disease yet there are treatments available to slow its progression.  Thus, afflicted people are no longer seen as social outcasts and can lead healthy and normal lives among their families and friends. 

We are all looking forward to Halloween, but more importantly, we are excited to celebrating those family members and friends who have gone before us.  By observing the Latin American tradition of “Dia del los Muertos”, we will take the time to learn and share stories of our honored dead with each other.  7^th graders are each constructing a miniature altar filled with offrendas” (offerings) and collecting favorite trinkets and symbols of their honoree.  These colorful and very special altars will be on display in and around the 7^th grade classroom from October 16^th through mid-November.  Come by to see these wonderful creations!

The Dia de los Muertos altars are due Friday, October 16^th!

A junior high favorite, Ms. Coreen Abbott, a resident artist from the Museo ItaloAmericano will be working with 7^th and 8^th graders in October and November to create a grand art project based upon “The Roman Empire and Emperor Trajan’s Column”.  Can’t wait to see what we create!

7^th and 8^th graders are collecting science-related articles for the “Science Scrapbook” due on November 24^th.  Each week in class you are to have a new article ready to read and analyze, then add to your scrapbook.  Pace yourselves and prepare an article a week according to the schedules you received on September 1^st. Completed Scrapbooks are due on November 24^th!

As we continue to learn about the rise of the Islamic Empire beginning in 630 A.D. in our Social Studies classes, we are taking the opportunity to explore not only the history of this mighty empire but to also delve into the religious and cultural aspects of Islam. This study will lead us to a comparative analysis of the world’s three major faiths: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.  We may discover that we have more in common with each other than we have differences.  After all, we are all people “of the Book” – the Bible, the Torah, and the Qur’an).  Dare we, therefore, dream of peace in the Middle East and improved international relations?  Understanding leads to peace… ignorance to war… 

High School Admissions Representatives have been visiting the 7^th and 8^th graders to inform them of their respective schools and the options available to them.  8^th graders will be preparing their applications while 7^th graders may want to visit the various schools during their Open Houses.  Please take advantage of this opportunity and start researching high school options now!

Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences will be held the first week of November.  Report Cards will be given and discussed along with the IOWA test results (if available) and general student progress.

7^th and 8^th grade students are required to attend the conference with their parents or guardians!

Also in October, we will be on various field trips; 

Parent drivers are still needed. Please help if you can.  Parent Service Hours will be awarded for your participation.

Thank you!

Any questions, comments or concerns, contact Mrs. Girlich at <steliz7@comcast.net>

7^TH GRADE’S “MAKE-A-WISH” PROJECT RAISES $1,500

Congratulations to the 7^th Grade class for accomplishing a very successful Lenten Service Project!  The 7^th Graders decided to raise funds for the Greater Bay Area Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation®.  Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich their precious lives with hope, strength and joy.  Our donation will help to fulfill a child’s dream and create special memories for his/her family.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation® was inspired in 1980 by the love that a family and friends had for a seven-year-old boy named Chris, who had leukemia.  Chris dreamed of becoming a police officer for a day, and his family and friends in the state highway patrol made his wish come true - complete with his own helmet, goggles, badge and a regulation uniform tailored especially for him.  Chris’ mother and those who helped to grant his wish created the Foundation in his memory, enabling his legacy to live on in the more than 144,000 wishes that have been granted since.

The class was divided into 5 groups and challenged to come up with creative and fun ways to raise money.  They were given 4 weeks and a reachable goal of $50 per group.  The groups held bake sales, ice cream sundae and root beer float sales, basketball tournaments, flea markets, video game contests, and Friday-afternoon movies.  When all donations were counted, the class was thrilled to discover that they had raised $1,100!  But that wasn’t enough for them!  They continued their quest to raise additional funds and, combined with a donation from the graduating class of 2009, they raised a total of $1,500!

They are proud to announce that, on behalf of all the students at St. Elizabeth School, the 7^th Graders have donated $1,500 to the Greater Bay Area Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® to honor and assist the terminally ill children in our community.

Most importantly, however, this project provided students with an education well beyond what they have read about in textbooks.  They learned that caring for others may be challenging but it is always worth it!  This project provided the means by which they could channel their love and compassion for others. Their respect for human dignity and the realization that life truly is a gift has inspired them to reach out beyond their comfort zones.  Great lessons were learned that will stay with them forever.

If you would like to donate to the Greater Bay Area Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation®, go to their web site www.makewish.org and find out how you, too, can make a deserving child’s dream come true!

A NOTE TO THE CLASS OF 2009!

As the school year draws to a close, let me congratulate you, our graduates of the Class of 2009.  We celebrate your accomplishments along with your friends, schoolmates and families!  We, your Junior High teachers, Ms. Powelson, Ms. Egbert, and I (Mrs. Girlich) are all very proud of you and wish only the best for you as you move on to do even more great things. Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep, Lowell High School, Riordan, Mercy, Balboa, School of the Arts, etc., are very lucky to have YOU!  You are all wonderful, unique, talented, compassionate and beautiful — and you deserve the best life has to offer!  Keep us posted!  We love you!

THANK YOU TO THE CLASS OF 2010!

Gill’, Tati’, Tiff’, Sally, Angelo, Katrina, Ben, ‘Gelli, ‘Lyna, Tony, Mari-belisima!, Adrian, Robert, Corey, Oscar and Harry!  Thanks for being a wonderful class!  

To the Class of 2011 - looking forward to having you in 7^th Grade!

HAVE A WONDERFUL AND RESTFUL SUMMER! 

READ! READ! READ!

STAY IN TOUCH!

steliz7@comcast.net

See you in August!

ALOHA! LOVE YA!  CHA!

NEVER A DULL MOMENT!

Junior High Students have been extraordinarily busy this New Year!  They were participating in Speech Contests, Science Fairs, Confirmation, etc!  (See the details of each below)

Now, 7^th Graders are preparing for a special Medieval Fair wherein they will recreate a small English Medieval town and become craftsmen, merchants, bakers, physicians, blacksmiths, knights or King.  As visitors come through our small medieval town, they will learn about life in towns, sample the goods, watch craftsmen in action, witness a suit of armor in the making and even have an audience with the king!

7^th Graders are also busy preparing for Multicultural Day, March 18^th, as they will be hosting a special Mass celebration for the school to attend.  Families are, of course, welcome to join us for Mass at 9:30 AM.

Also in progress this month is the 6^th and 7^th Grade Humanities project on the Environment.  Students are writing research papers, developing PowerPoint presentations and creative works of art that reflect environmental issues or concerns they have selected to explore and present to their class.  We’re looking forward to learning from each other.

Students are also planning our special Lenten Service Project - a charitable organization will be identified, students will draft a plan of action, funds will be earned via fundraising efforts, and the remaining weeks of Lent will be used to promote the students’ project.  Last year, the 7^th grade class collected $1300 to purchase 130 nets for malaria-infested villages in Central Africa.  The year before, 7^th graders collected school supplies and assembled 59 packages to send to schoolchildren in war-torn Iraq.  We’ll keep you posted with this year’s project as we go along.

Three St. Elizabeth Students Are Heading to Washington, D.C.!

Every year, the Junior National Young Leaders Conference (JrNYLC) searches for mature, high-achieving junior high school students to offer them an opportunity to participate in a highly prestigious leadership program.

Nominated by their teacher, three St. Elizabeth School 7^th Grade students, Francisco Martinez, Corey Robinson, and Oscar Ta, have been selected to travel to Washington, D.C. on April 5^th to spend a week learning about the traits of effective leadership and how to develop action plans that can affect positive change within their home and community.

Oscar, Corey and Francisco will also be visiting historic sites such as Harpers Ferry - the site of a Civil War Rebellion, The Capitol, the nation’s Memorials such as the Viet Nam Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial, The White House, and the American History Museum. The confidence and leadership skills that these three young men learn will take them through high school and beyond, and we are very proud of them for their achievements!

Congratulations to our Junior High Speech Contest Winners!

All our Speech Club participants did an outstanding job in each of their events!Congratulations and thank you for representing your St. Elizabeth School so honorably!  We are very proud of you!

At Mercy High School Burlingame,
Thursday, January 22, 2009:

1^st Place in Humorous Interpretation:
Carlcia Avenis (8^th Grade)

3^rd Place in Dramatic Interpretation:
Sabrina San Diego (6^th Grade)

Honorable Mention in Dramatic Interpretation:
Shamonie Beasley (6^th Grade),
Tatiana Calonje (7^th Grade),
Tiffany Calonje (7^th Grade),
Ashley Crociani (6^th Grade),
Angelina Digneo (6^th Grade),
Tamirah Gallaread (6^th Grade),
Bianca Martinez (6^th Grade),
Sabrina Quiñonez (8^th Grade)

Honorable Mention in Humorous Interpretation:
Jade Ritterbusch (8^th Grade)

Honorable Mention in Original Orartory:
Katrina Erfe (7^th Grade)

At Mercy High School, San Francisco,
Saturday, February 7, 2009:

5^th Place Trophy in Impromptu:
Corey Robinson

Honorable Mention Ribbon in Humorous Interpretation:
Jade Ritterbusch (8^th Grade)

Participation Awards in Humorous Interpretation:
Francisco Martinez (7^th Grade)
Oscar Ta (7^th Grade)

Participation Award in Dramatic Interpretation:
Sabrina Quiñonez (8^th Grade)

Coaches:  Ms. Linda Egbert
Mrs. Natalia Girlich

Congratulations to our Junior High Science Fair Winners!

All 6^th, 7^th and 8^th graders submitted their entries for the St. Elizabeth School Science Fair and all were fabulous!  Our judges carefully reviewed each board to ensure that specific criteria such as Hypothesis, Procedures, Data, Results and Conclusions had been met.  They also evaluated the effort and creativity that went into each project and awarded 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winners according to a points system.

Winners of the St. Elizabeth School Science Fair are as follows:

1st Place:                 
Sarah Mehrwein (6)         
Francisco Martinez (7)        
Waylon Ng (8)

2nd Place:                 
Angelina Digneo (6)       
Gillian Andes and Adrian Mercado (7)
Carlcia Avenis (8)

3rd Place:  
Kristopher Kuan, Miguel Mercado, Alessandro Di Modica (6)       
Katrina Erfe (7)                
Randy Galimba and Brandon Mai, Sabrina Quiñonez (8)
                                                                             
1st and 2^nd Place winners at St. Elizabeth School went on to compete at the 27^th Annual Randall Museum Science Fair.  Their entries were judged along with 120 other entries by students from local City schools.

We are very happy to report that 6^th Grader Sarah Mehrwein took 3^rd Place and Angelina Digneo took 4^th Place both in the Biological Sciences category for 6^th grade students.  All other St. Elizabeth Students received Honorable Mention for their entries.

Congratulations to all for accomplishing your goals, and thank you for representing your school so admirably!

Welcome to the 7^th Grade page! During the next few weeks, and with the assistance of our Tech Committee, classroom teachers will be building unique classroom pages that will serve to communicate important information, dates and deadlines, classroom assignments and special events. Please check this site regularly to see what’s new in the 7^th Grade!

Currently, the 7^th and 8^th Graders are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Thursday, February 12, 2009. There is still much to do but students are working very hard to complete their studies and their service hours. They are looking forward to celebrating this very special occasion! All are invited to attend the Mass and support our wonderful candidates as they are initiated into the Catholic Church as young adults in our faith community.

6^th, 7^th and 8^th Graders are putting the final touches on their Science Fair Projects! Students have been conducting their experiments, gathering and analyzing their data, and constructing both their final reports and their display boards. St. Elizabeth School 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place winners from each grade will go on to compete against more than one hundred students in the San Francisco Science Fair at the Randall Museum in February. Until then, all the projects will be on display on the top floor of the school outside of the Junior High classrooms. Please visit our OPEN HOUSE on Sunday, January 25^th, to see what wonderful things our young scientists are doing!

Sixteen members of the St. Elizabeth School Junior High Speech Club are getting ready for two major Speech contests within the next four weeks. Thirteen girls are set to compete against 60 students from San Francisco and San Mateo Catholic Schools at the Mercy High School, Burlingame Speech Contest on Thursday, January 22^nd. Members of the group – both boys and girls, are getting ready to participate in the Mercy High School, San Francisco Speech Tournament on Saturday, February 7^th. Here, they will compete against more than one hundred 7^th and 8^th graders from schools through out the Bay Area. This year’s group is fabulous! They are dynamic, confident and enthusiastic! We are all very excited! Look for news of their successes in the Wednesday Communication and right here, on this web page!