Bear Creek - The Bear Creek School

Current
June 5, 2008
by Conner Morgan
Staff Writer
You have gone on the eighth grade trip and gotten through Middle
School. You are coming back to Bear Creek next year, and you have no idea
what you are in for. Are the rumors really true? Is High school at Bear Creek
really harder than the two years you have just struggled to get through?
I have been at Bear Creek all my life. I have never been to any other
school, except this one.
When I came to into High School I already had had a brother and two
cousins that had gone through the high school program here at Bear Creek.
The rumors I had heard before were false: the teachers were actually more lax
than in Middle School. They were more lenient on the uniforms for the most
part, and late policies were easier on the students. They gave out extensions to
those who need them and also gave help to those who were struggling.
Missed a test? Every day except Monday, there is a 30 minute period
called office hours in which you can make can make a test or quiz, get a jump
on homework, talk to friends or teachers, or if it’s a nice day outside and you
have nothing to do, take a break in the rare sunshine.
Now that I have no doubt bored you with the overall description of the
teachers I will now jump into the classes that I have taken this last year.
First off is English. Freshman will take honors World Literature,
reading ancient mythology the first semester, and medieval/modern literature
in the second semester. The material consists of the stories of Gilgamesh,
Antigone, Hector, Achilles and Odysseus. You will be enlightened by the
writing of William Shakespeare and Alan Paton. One thing to watch out for
are the lit terms quizzes as they come almost every week. There a list of eight
words, which must be spelled and defined, except for two were you will need
to cite an example of. History goes hand in hand with the Bear Creek English
curriculum.
Mr. Sorensen’s history class will be one of the best and funniest history
classes you have ever taken. You will be required almost every night to read at
least one chapter in the text book History of the Ancient World by Susan Wise
Bauer. Mr. Sorensen asks questions about the daily reading and discusses the
main topics. Every semester, there are three thesis paper questions to answer
in a term paper. The cool thing here is that you can turn the in paper as many
times as you wish in order to get a better grade than last time. A good grade on
his tests is achievable if you pay attention during class and study. By the way
paying attention means taking notes. Mr. Sorensen will occasionally go off
topic and may tell a story or two. He makes corny jokes but funny comments
and he might even dress-up in cool costumes or jump onto desks.
Although the ‘Picture This!’ was a fun note taking device, in Upper
School the teachers are take it up a notch. In Spiritual Formations, the first
semester ninth grade Christian studies class involves taking notes from a
Power Point onto a blank piece of notebook paper. There are three tests, each
one cumulative of the previous ones. On test three, any questions may have
also been on tests one or two. Assignments in Spiritual Formations are turned
in as assignment packet with the list of assignments stapled on top. There are
almost no papers or projects in this class, and in dead week you will play a
review game, Spiritual Formations baseball.
Second semester, Logic is the Christian studies class. More notes and
assignments, and Faris gives five quizzes to go along with three tests. You
will watch the movie “Contact” and logically analyze it in class. Finally
Logic concludes with writing a four to five page response essay to “Bertrand
Russell’s why I am not a Christian” lecture.
FeAture
freshman year at bear Creek
a survivor's tale
Mrs. Graham brings energy and wit to the subject of Conceptual
Physics. She also makes the subject as hands-on as possible so that it is easier
to grasp the more abstract concepts. Students are encouraged to make study
guides for test, and if you turn them into her on the test day, you will get
five percent extra credit on your tests. Labs will be done formally in a lab
notebook, like in seventh grade science. The labs are interesting and fun, and
really help learn the new material.
Not covered were math or languages because many students are in
different places as far as math goes and you can choose Spanish, French or
Latin as your language. Beware however that there is a five day language
assessment at the end of every quarter. Testing covers the basic skills of
reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar and the vocabulary that was
covered that quarter. Also, for the second and fourth quarters the exam is
during dead week. Reviewing for language will start the week before.
Well that is the ninth grade in a nutshell. You can now go to the dances,
the prep-assemblies, and Homecoming as well. There is a new hallway, a new
lunch hour and new uniforms. Grades also begin to count for college starting
Freshmen year, so do your best to keep them up.
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Complimentary Orthodontic Examination
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For more information, please call our office.
425-885-7100 or 425-885-SMILE
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of the education offered at The Bear Creek School.
We look forward to meeting you and serving you!
Dr. Warner R. Young and the Young Smiles Team
8299 161st Ave. N.E. #201 • Redmond, WA 98052 • (425) 885-7100
www.YoungSmiles.com info@YoungSmiles.com