March First XI

Top Ten lists are an old saw in American culture, thanks to David Letterman and our love of round numbers. I prefer the soccer tradition of a First XI. (In the sport, it refers to the starting eleven players who take the field for a match.)

Here is a First XI for the busy March that awaits the 7-8s. 

The kids are also reading books, including selected stories from Kurt Vonnegut's 'Welcome to the Monkey House', and writing on them as well as participating in the University of Michigan's Place Out of Time historical simulation--check it out at http://poot.icsmich.org/.

1. March 4: the Music and Art Café at 6:30 pm.
2. March 8: Polis Project I due (group portraits of city-states from classical Greece).
3. March 10: Civic Projects assigned (explaining various city systems in Ann Arbor, such as power, transportation and justice).
4. March 10. Storm Project due (a look at storms from several disciplinary angles).
5. March 11 & 12. The Tempest. 1:00 and 7:00 on Friday; 7:00 on Saturday.
6. March 17. Summers-Knoll Science Fair at 7:00 pm.
7. March 18. Middle School Game Night at 6:00 pm.
8. March 22. Polis Project II due (group portraits of fictional city-states).
9. March 23. Diplomacy Day (on which the Polis II city-states interact).
10. March 25. Student-led family conferences should be completed by this date.
11. March 28-31. Happy Happy Fun Time Lone Star Spirit Happiness Week (comprising Character Day, Pajama Day, Culture Day and a Fun Run).