December 20, 2017 Dear Jones Students, I got a head-start on my winter break book, which is also the next junior book club title. It's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. I just began reading, so I don't know exactly where it's going and wouldn't dream of revealing any substantial content to potential readers. The author referred to a 1976 Rolling Stone article about this nonfiction account. I thought to myself, "I could find that article and get to the main points of this book in about 15 minutes." It's a digital world we are living in today. I know you get the vast majority of your information from online sources, and that you want that information fast. I understand, because both of those are true for me. But there is no way that I am going to trade in reading this book for just the article. I want to ride this unique and fascinating book all the way to the end. Many of you became great students and great analytical thinkers because you read a lot in elementary and middle school. It's probably what put many of you on the path to JCP. I understand that the Jones curriculum is demanding. I know that many of you regret not having the kind of time you had in earlier years when you could read all you want when you finished your school work early or read in whatever spare time you had. I am aware of the tension between your desire to meet your academic goals and your desire to just read what you want when you want. The book has been and continues to be a phenomenally successful way to exchange ideas. I believe that there is something unique about a book that transcends the convenience and speed of the Internet. A nice chunky book requires that you spend substantial time focusing your mind on a topic or a story that demands and/or deserves your sustained attention to be truly understood and appreciated. In today's world it can be easy to gather information in the form of bits and pieces from here, there, and everywhere in the quest to understand the world around us. That technique can be effective. In fact it's exactly what I strive to teach you as researchers and truth seekers. But if the capacity to read a book is not exercised now and then, your personal art of reading may suffer and decline. I urge you to continue to cultivate the capacity and the will to to read books. I fear that fewer and fewer people have the patience and commitment for it. I firmly believe the world is better off with as many readers of BOOKS as possible. Please stay enrolled in the COSMIC BOOK CLUB. Please consider checking out and reading a book this winter break. I invite you. I dare you. I beseech you. I implore you. Happy Just Take a Book Week! And happy holidays to all of you! Mr. Feeley December 15, 2017 Dear Jones Students, JUST TAKE A BOOK WEEK! Jones School Library is once again hosting JUST TAKE A BOOK WEEK, December 18-22. Winter break is rapidly approaching, the best time of the year to hunker down with a great book! All books checked out between now and winter break won’t be due until January 31. Come to the library, find a great book, and CHECK IT OUT. Come before school, after school, during lunch periods, or during ac lab and JUST TAKE A BOOK! Click to see the flyer. LIBRARY SCAN-IN Students began SCANNING IN to the library during regular class hours (8:00 AM-3:15 PM) this week. Thank you! It’s going well! Students ARE NOT required to scan in when coming for a visit with a whole class.
BOOKS, BOOKS, AND MORE BOOKS! Having a hard time choosing books for winter break? Click below to explore great lists! New JCP LibraryBooks from October-November 2017 Click HERE to explore newly arrived works of fiction. Click HERE to explore newly arrived works of nonfiction. New JCP Library Books from May 2017 Click HERE to explore newly arrived works of fiction. Click HERE to explore newly arrived works of nonfiction. 50 Best Young Adult Novels (1960’s-2015) selected by Booklist ATTENTION BOOK CLUB MEMBERS, be sure to grab a copy of your next book club titles before the winter break. INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT NEXT WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20 at 7:00 PM Mr. Menzies will showcase the fine work of all the Jones instrumental music classes! Let the spirit of music get you into the holiday spirit! FALL DANCE CONCERT Congratulations to all the dance concert performers who gave two spectacular performances on December 7. You make me feel like dancing! CHOIR HOLIDAY CONCERT
Congratulations to new Choir Director Ms. Colby and all the Jones vocalists for a fine holiday performance last night! Thank you! Mr. Feeley KEEPING UP WITH THE JONES LIBRARY December 7, 2017 Dear Jones Students, New Library SCAN IN Procedures! Starting this Monday, December 11, Jones students will be required to SCAN their ID’s instead of signing in when entering the library for drop-in visits from 8:00 AM to 3:15 PM. This includes all lunch periods and ac lab periods. Students will continue to SIGN IN using the black binder before school (7-8 AM) and after school (3:15 PM-closing). This new system will be faster and easier for everybody and will allow teachers to confirm that individual students sent to the library have arrived to the library. Jones College Prep is hosting an exciting lineup of events in honor of Hour of Code, a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries and part of Computer Science Education Week, December 4-10, 2017. Ms. Lilagan is heading up this initiative with the support of many teachers and student groups. Learn more about Hour of Code HERE. Remaining events include the following: Thursday, December 7, 3:30 PM - Astronomy Hour of Code with the Astronomy Club (Room 3011) Friday, December 8, 3:30 PM - Minecraft Hour of Code (Room 3011) ALL EVENTS are open to ALL JCP STUDENTS AND STAFF! The Jones Fall Dance Concert TONIGHT! The Jones Fall Dance Concert takes place TONIGHT, Thursday, December 7, at 7:00 PM in the Robin Bennett Theater. It will be amazing! Be there. Chamber Choir Cabaret a HIT! Jones Winter Choir Concert on December 14! Congratulations to the Chamber Choir and Ms. Colby for two very successful concerts in the library on November 29. Singers performed a wonderful range of songs - solos, small group, and large group numbers. Mark your calendars for the JONES CHOIR WINTER CONCERT on Thursday, December 14 at 7:00 PM in the Robin Bennett Theater. Human Rights Day, December 10 This Sunday, December 10, is International Human Rights Day. On December 10, 1948, the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a set of human rights that apply to all of us. It’s a magnificent document that cries out for more discussion, reflection, and application in our world today. Please consider reading it and/or integrating it into your coursework and projects. FACULTY FAVES Featuring faves of Mr. Brady Gunnink, English Department Books (recent faves, not all-time): Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harrari, Justice by Michael Sandel, Lincoln at the Bardo by George Saunders, Holy the Firm by Annie Dillard, Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward Podcasts: The Moth Radio Hour, This American Life, Have You Heard?, Radiolab Presents: More Perfect, The Ed Couple Journalism: The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Washington Post Television: The Leftovers, The Wire, Breaking Bad, Stranger Things, Game of Thrones, Handmaid's Tale Movies: Spotlight, Inside Out, Boyhood, There Will Be Blood, Inside Llewyn Davis,The Shawshank Redemption, Star Wars Music: Arcade Fire, Radiohead, Wilco, Beck, Andrew Bird, Regina Spektor, The Beatles, Miles Davis Thank you! Mr. Feeley |
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