Have a wonderful summer!

Last post, now that the US History RSVP deadline has passed.

I wish all of you a happy, healthly, & fun summer break.  Remember to come to school on September 9th with supplies in hand - at least paper & pens - because most of us will start teaching right away.

One last thing...don't forget to READ!  If nothing else, it allows your mind to take a vacation, even if you stay at home.

Enjoy!
~ Mrs. Ramo

PS Monica & Diana - I will see you Saturday at 5 PM at the diner.  Any questions, just email me.  I won't be checking in here for comments! 

10 minutes to post or lose out on dinner!

It is 12:20 PM on Friday, 6/28.  As promised, I am calling for a reservation in 10 MINUTES.  So far it's me, Mr. Ramo, Monica, & Diana.

Unless anyone else from the 90+ group posts before I call, it's just us.

I will make one final post after time is up & I've called.  It will be shortly.

Diner for Dinner - Read me!

No RSVP by deadline, no dinner.  You will not be able to just show up & eat, sorry.  RSVP by 1 pm FRIDAY, June 28th, or you lose out on dinner.  If you show up without RSVP'ing, you will not be sitting with us, not will I be paying for you.  No kidding.  Mr. Ramo won't fall for it either.

90+:
Steven Gomez
Brandon Hill
Blanca Nolasco
Gordon Olekanma
Monica Ortiz - RSVP'd
Diana Pena - RSVP'd
Alexis Pineda

The diner seems to be our best bet.  I need to make a reservation by Friday afternoon...if they let me make one.  The diner is quick & easy to get to despite how far it looks on the map. 

Please post HERE, with your name, so I know if you will be joining us.  You will need a ride there & home.  You do not need any money.  School district insurance & policy prevents me from transporting you in my car.

Here is a link to the diner so you can get directions that are best for you:
http://www.paradisedinerli.com/Directions.html

Again, please post HERE with your name and let me know if you will be joining us.  I need to call the diner by early afternoon Friday, so please post by 1 PM Friday.  Be sure you have a ride there & back before you post.  I listed the names so you can arrange car pools with each other.

90+ Update - US Regents

UPDATE:

The diner I was planning on going to closed, go figure.  We're either going to Bertucci's on Motor parkway OR the diner at the corner of the Vets Hwy & Rte 347 split, also In Hauppauge (take Route 111 down to Vets Hwy, turn left, it's about a block down.)  In all likelihood, it will be the diner (gives everyone a lot of variety.)

What IS set is this:

• This Saturday, June 29th
• 5 PM - you need to be on time since I have to make a reservation.
• You need a ride there & a ride back.  Try to carpool so you don't aggravate your parents more than necessary.

I will post tomorrow which place, if it matters.  What I need to know is who can make it because I need to see about reservations.

If you didn't email me by the deadline, you should have your report card by now and know if you got a 90.  I don't have the names handy, but I will post those by tomorrow afternoon as well.

US "Regents 90+ Club"

Stayed tuned for a date, and I will post the names here in the next few days in case you didn't email me & you earned that score.  It looks like next Saturday night is the only time Mr. Ramo can guarantee he'll be on time to take you to dinner, but he did say if you prefer to do lunch at the end of next week he'd send me without him.  You can post a comment to weigh in on the decision.

Global Regents results

The Global results came in midday yesterday, with only enough time to enter them into the computer system, figure out final course averages, and run around to do the end of the year check outs teachers must do.  Plus, I'm on the Senior breakfast committee, so that meant staying late yesterday.  There was no time to post anything on here when I got home, and no way for you to reach me to know your grades.  Bad timing, blame the people who told us to grade US first.

You will see your results on your report card.  5 of you failed (4 in 2nd period, 1 in 6th), and I believe each of you also failed the course.  8 of you didn't bother to show up and, as a result, failed the course as well.  You will see a "0" as a final exam grade in accordance with school policy.  Unless you pay for & attend summer school in another district AND pass the August Regents, you should expect to be put back in Global II again next year.  If you DO pass the course & Regents over the summer, be sure to bring your transcript to Guidance AS SOON AS YOU GET IT so they can fix your schedule before school starts.

Some of you worked really hard all year, and I'm very proud of you.  trust me, US History is a breeze compared to Global.  You still have a lot of work to do and still have a Regents Exam, but next year there's a little curve and it's based on 1 year.  You need more detail on that exam, but if you work just as hard next year I know you'll be great at it!

Enjoy your summer!!!  See you in 10 weeks!

US History Regents results are in!

I will not post scores online.  If you would like to know your Regents score, you must email me at:
msramo@aol.com

You must put your first & last name in the subject.  If you do not, your email will automatically be considered spam.  If it does, any future emails will automatically go into the spam folder and will not be seen or read. 

If you don't follow these instructions, you'll have to wait for your grade until your report card.

I will only email people back through Thursday evening.  If your email is not received by 2 PM Thursday, I will not respond to it, even if you follow all of the instructions.

I am not able to check school email during the day because of all of the Global Regents grading, and I can no longer access it at home.  If you send me an email to the school address it will not be read.


7 of you got 90 or better - if you are one of them, check back here in a few days for details on our dinner date.

Global II: Last Extra Credit...what did you write about?

I'm curious - what 2 revolutions did you pick to write about?  Did you notice that the theme was CHANGE and not Conflict?  If you didn't write about "before" & "after" the revolution you did not satisfy the theme.  I warned you about the theme of change - not doing before & after means you did not show a change.  You had to write about ANY REVOLUTION for your change.

Here's an example:  if you used the Iranian Revolution, you would have had to talk about life in Iran before (dictator or being westernized or women having rights) and after (fundamentalism or women lose all rights or theocracy.)

So while I'm here doing you're averages, post the following for a little extra credit:

• Which 2 revolutions to you write about
• Which 2 topics in the DBQ did you choose? (the Mongols & stirrups & bows, the Spanish & caravels, or India & railroads were your choices, and you had to pick two of them)

Don't lie, because I'll deduct points from your average when I find out after seeing your tests Friday.

Post a comment telling me about both bullets above with your fist & last name.  You know, if you want some extra credit.  If you don't, ignore this.

US History EXTRA CREDIT...what did you write about?

I'm curious - what 2 foreign policies did you pick to write about?  The Monroe Doctrine or Roosevelt Corollary weren't there (word-for-word), but you were allowed to pick ANY policy, even if not listed.

So while I'm here doing you're averages, post the following for a little extra credit:

• Which 2 foreign policies to you write about
• Which 2 topics in the DBQ did you choose? (Dred Scott, Plessy, & Brown were your choices, and you had to pick two of them)

Don't lie, because I'll deduct points form your average when I find out after seeing your tests Friday.

Post a comment telling me about both bullets above with your fist & last name.  You know, if you want some extra credit.  If you don't, ignore this.

Global II: Final Chance

REMINDER!!!!!!

"Historical Circumstance" means "Causes!!!"

• The Global Regents is TOMORROW, Thursday, June 13th.
• Go to bed no later than 9 pm. 
• Stop studying by 7:30 PM. 
• Eat breakfast tomorrow.
• Dress for rain, and dress for a hot, humid, smelly gym.  That's what it was today and it was beautiful out, and tomorrow it isn't supposed to be so beautiful.
• Test starts at 8 AM.  If you're late, you lose that time.
• Bring your ID.
• Bring at least 2 identical pens, black is preferred.
• Do NOT being electronics of ANY kind.
• It's a 3 hour test, and you will be there the entire 3 hours.
• Quizlet will shut down after 7:30 tonight to prevent "over-studying."
• Look over your essay review sheets & how to box out both thematic & DBQ essays.

We caught a kid in the gym today with a phone out during a Regents.  He wasted his time by doing that, and maybe everyone else's.  We caught another kid with a phone in his pocket because he didn't want to turn it in.  Don't let this be you tomorrow (or any other testing day!)

US History Regents Results are in!!!!

No, they're not, I just wanted you to read this.  Consider it payback for some of the stuff you did to me this year. :)

While I never have a "favorite" class - they're all great & terrible in their own ways - I truly must say that you guys were the most fun I have had with a class (overall) in a really long time.  Maybe because you're Juniors & I don't teach Juniors as a rule, maybe you were (mostly) just a good group that "meshed" well together over time, maybe it was because we had to figure out this course together since I didn't find out about it until the end of last July.

95% of you were fun most days, made me laugh most days, and made me look forward to ending my teaching day with you. 

I couldn't be more proud of you today - you all showed up, you were prepared, and you wrote more and longer than a lot of the kids in that gym who had teachers that have taught this course their entire career.  Those other kids didn't have it any easier than you today from what I saw - and you got through the test with much more ease than they did.

I hope you have a fantastic summer and wish you the best of luck in your Senior year. 

And, and those Regents grades...we won't know them before Tuesday if it goes the same way it did last year.  When I have them back from BOCES I will post here with info on how you can find out your grade.  I can no longer access school email at home so don't email me at work.  I'm grading all day as of Friday so won't be checking my email anyway.

Check back here every afternoon starting Monday for updates on grades &, as necessary, dinner plans. :)

All students are to report to school tomorrow!!

Periods 2, 3, 5, & 6 meet for Final Exams (or Regents Review) on Monday, June 10th. 

Come to school on time, prepared for your classes & finals, and understand that this is the very last time you will have a chance to review for your exams...or take a final that determines whether or not you are getting "left back" in the class.

Attendance is mandatory for all students, per district policy.

Review Attendees, June 7th

The following students attended review from 2-7 PM today:

Global II:
Carlos V., Alyssa E., Patrick H., Lachana T., Emmanuel M., Juan P., Blanca S., Darrell D., Dara L., Kevin R., karran S., Vanessa C., Shayan M., & David C.
SIGNED UP BUT CUT: Ilsia B., Destiny S.

US History:
Gordon O., Brandon H., Katherine R., Diana P., & Kenia T.
SIGNED UP BUT CUT: Cristian C., Omarlyn R.

Walkers & Review Tomrorow:

Tomorrow's weather is supposed to be terrible.  If you are attending review and supposed to walk home, please try to make alternate arrangements.  I'm not keeping anyone who has to walk through a tropical storm to get home, it's just too dangerous, and the last thing you need is to be sick for the Regents Exam.  Please see me before the start of the day if this applies to you so we can try to figure something out before crossing you off the list.

All students signed up should be in the room no later than 2:00.  Prepared.

All students are required to report as follows:

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE:

 

PERIOD 4, Global I:
Final Exam is Friday, June 7th, from 9:13-10:38. 
This is the "second session" on Friday.  Your final exam must be completed within this time period.  No additional time will be permitted.  Per district policy, anyone absent will receive a score of zero on the exam.  As I am proctoring & grading Regents Exams the following week a make up test will be impossible, even if school requirements for one are met.  Anyone late will not receive extra time.  You must have a #2 pencil and a standard blue or black pen to take the exam.  None will be given out.

PERIOD 7, US History & Government:
Final Exam Period is Friday, June 7th, from 10:50-12:15. 
This is the "third session" on Friday.  Be prepared to take a practice exam & have it count toward your 4th Quarter average.  Anyone absent or unprepared will receive a score of zero on the exam.  Anyone late (within 10 minutes of the period starting) will lose 50 points for it, and anyone later than 10 minutes will receive a zero.  You have 12 minutes to get to class, so there is no such thing as "a minute pass" on final exam days. Be here, be prepared, be on time.  Regents seating assignments will be given out at this meeting.  Have your pens, highlighter, your notebook, tracker, and a few spare index cards.
 
PERIOD 2, Global II:
Final Exam Period is Monday, June 10th, from 7:36-9:01. 
This is the "first session" on Monday.  Be prepared to take a practice exam & have it count toward your 4th Quarter average.  Anyone absent or unprepared will receive a score of zero on the exam.  Anyone late (within 10 minutes of the period starting) will lose 50 points for it, and anyone later than 10 minutes will receive a zero.  You have 12 minutes to get to class, so there is no such thing as "a minute pass" on final exam days. Be here, be prepared, be on time.  Regents seating assignments will be given out at this meeting.  Have your pens, highlighter, your notebook, tracker, and a few spare index cards.
  
PERIOD 3, Global I:
Final Exam is Monday, June 10th, from 9:13-10:38. 
This is the "second session" on Friday.  Your final exam must be completed within this time period.  No additional time will be permitted.  Per district policy, anyone absent will receive a score of zero on the exam.  As I am proctoring & grading Regents Exams the following week a make up test will be impossible, even if school requirements for one are met.  Anyone late will not receive extra time.  You must have a #2 pencil and a standard blue or black pen to take the exam.  None will be given out.


PERIOD 6, Global II:
Final Exam Period is Monday, June 10th, from 12:27-1:52. 
This is the "fourth session" on Monday.  Be prepared to take a practice exam & have it count toward your 4th Quarter average.  Anyone absent or unprepared will receive a score of zero on the exam.  Anyone late (within 10 minutes of the period starting) will lose 50 points for it, and anyone later than 10 minutes will receive a zero.  You have 12 minutes to get to class, so there is no such thing as "a minute pass" on final exam days. Be here, be prepared, be on time.  Regents seating assignments will be given out at this meeting.  Have your pens, highlighter, your notebook, tracker, and a few spare index cards.   

Tomorrow is review deadline!

Tomorrow is the last day to sign up for the June 11th review.  Please see the post from earlier in the week for details on arriving, getting through the building during testing, and pick up times.

A bunch of Quizlets updated & added

I added 3 more sets in Global II the last few days, plus updated 2 sets that were previously added.

I added a couple for US as well, plus added to 1 or 2 that were previously created.

Use them to study - on your computer, on your phone, on your electronics that I don't know the names of...any of it. 

In case you haven't noticed, YOU ARE OUT OF TIME.  Slacking now = getting left back in your course next year (unless your parents are willing to pay for summer school, and if I were them there's no way I'd give up my hard earned money because you decided to be lazy.)

US History: Challenge Reminder!

Remember chickadees...those of you who get a 90 or better on the Regents get to go to dinner with Mr. Ramo.  I have just been informed that I have also been invited.  How nice, since I'll end up paying for it one way or another.  I have also been told that he has some secrets to share.  I'm not liking this one bit.

If you cut classes during review or have had discipline problems...you're out, even if you get a 90.  You were warned when review began.

I hope we go to a diner.  I love diner french fries...

Final Review is June 11th - sign up required by Thursday, June 6th

The final Regents Review is Tuesday, June 11th from

2:10 PM - 8 PM. 

Regents Exams will be going on at the same time as review, but we have received special permission from Mr. Murphy to have this last review time together.  However, having an active Regents exam does pose problems that will cause some unique circumstances for students attending.  Please read the following list carefully since it is different from anything else you have done this year.

1. All students who sign up for this review will receive a required pass during their mandatory final exam meeting.  If you are late for or miss that session, you cannot attend review on June 11th.  Period.
2. If you have an afternoon exam on June 11th, you may attend review as soon as you are released from (or finish) your test. 
1. If you turned in an electronic device, bring the pass you received in class duing the final exam period to the front lobby of your building, show it to the people at the tables, retrieve your stuff, LEAVE IT TURNED OFF, and come fdirfectly to 2534. 
2. If you are taking an exam in the ROSS BUILDING, you must get your stuff form there and walk to Sonderling OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.  You will NOT be permitted to walk through the buildings.  Once in Sonderling, show your pass to the people at the tables.  Again, ALL ELECTRONICS MUST BE TURNED OFF.
3. If you do NOT have an afternoon test on June 11th, you have 2 options: 
1. You can come in on the 11-something bus for afternoon tests and wait in the cafeteria until 2:10, then follow the list above.  You will have to turn in your electronics when you enter even if you are not taking a test.  Bring your flash cards and study, study, study while you wait for me to be "off the clock" so we can start review.  At 2 pm get your electronics back, show your pass, LEAVE THEM OFF, and come directly to 2534.
2. Have someone drop you off BEFORE 2:10.  I have a list of those taking the afternoon exam.  If you're not on it & you're late to review..."buh-bye."  Get it?  TURN OFF ALL ELECTRONIC DEVICES, show your pass to the people at the table, and come directly to 2534.

Once in our room, you will be required to turn in your devices to me until all testing in the building has ended.  This means you cannot call to text your friends, parents, or anyone else.  If you do, you jeopardize every single exam in the building at that time and get yourself thrown out of the building.  You may have your stuff back after all tests have been collected or you leave at 8 PM, which ever comes first.

 
Please ALSO be reminded of the following:

• There are no "walk-ins."  If you are not signed up by the end of your class Thursday you have missed the cut-off and cannot attend.
• Space is limited to 24 students.
• If you are not in the room by 2:10 ON THE ROOM CLOCK you will not be admitted.  For the record, I don't care what time your phone says.  Be early & you won't have a problem.  This applies only to those not taking an afternoon Regents on June 11th.
• You should have a pen & highlighter at review.
• Bring a drink.  You can't wander through the building to the drink machine.  Once in the room, you must remain there.
• MOST IMPORTANTLY - PARENTS & GUARDIANS: Please be ON TIME to pick up your student.  Arriving between 7:30 & 8 PM is fine, but please make arrangements to have your student picked up NO LATER THAN 8 PM! 

As always, I will not entertain any form of behavioral issue.  This is my free time as well as the free time of those students who attend - our common goal is success on the Regents.  Anyone who cannot abide by basic rules of etiquette & politeness will be told to leave the room & building.  There will be no second chances & students will not be permitted to attend further review.

US & Global Review: Friday, June 7th

Review is this Friday from 2:10 PM - 7 PM.  Please be reminded of the following:

• There are no "walk-ins."  If you are not signed up by the end of your class tomorrow you have missed the cut-off and cannot attend.
• Space is limited to 24 students.
• If you are not in the room by 2:10 ON THE ROOM CLOCK you will not be admitted.  For the record, I don't care what time your phone says  Be early & you won't have a problem. 
• Lockers are strung up Thursday night, so there is no locker access after Thursday.  This means "I was at my locker" is not an excuse.
• If you half a half period class 8th period, you are to report to the cafeteria in your home building to wait until the end of the day.  I suggest having your flash cards with you to study instead of wasting time.
• If you do not have an 8th period class, you are to report to the cafeteria in your home building to wait for the end of the day.  I suggest having your flash cards with you to study instead of wasting time.
• You should have a pen & highlighter at review.
• Bring a drink.  You can't wander through the building to the drink machine.
• MOST IMPORTANTLY - PARENTS & GUARDIANS: Please be ON TIME to pick up your student.  Arriving between 6:30 & 7 PM is fine, but please make arrangements to have your student picked up NO LATER THAN 7 PM! 

Homework has ended for Global II; tomorrow is a the last due date for US History homework.  As of that time, students who sign up for review must be in class, on time, & fully prepared with all required supplies in order to sign up for review. 

As always, I will not entertain any form of behavioral issue.  This is my free time as well as the free time of those students who attend - our common goal is success on the Regents.  Anyone who cannot abide by basic rules of etiquette & politeness will be told to leave the room & building.  There will be no second chances & students will not be permitted to attend further review.

No Homework? No Review. No Kidding.

No homework this week, as directed (including outlines and labeled work), no Friday review, no kidding.

Same for the June 11th review I was able to arrange.

This goes for Global II & US classes.

Quizlet closed to new "members" for remainder of year...

This is about decisions, consequences, and learning from them both - whether your decisions were good ones or bad ones.

If you are failing and didn't bother to sign up for Quizlet - I can't help you because you clearly have no desire to help yourself. 

If you are failing, signed up, but don't use Quizlet as a study guide...see above.

If you signed up & are using the practice sets I typed in for you - keep up the studying & good work.  There is no such thing as "too much practice" for a Regents Exam.  Studying, yes.  Practice, no. 

For the record, only ONE person signed up for Quizlet out of FIVE CLASSES after I reopened the membership.  ONE.  Like I said, if you don't care, I can't care.  You are seriously mistaken if you think you can walk into the Regents with no practice and pass it.  You can't.  Ask the 37% of last year's 10th graders who did just that and are right back in the course this year - with their graduation delayed a year (students are almost never lazy in just one class.)