Global Studies T-Shirt Challenge

Attention! Attention! Global Studies Magnet students, put your design expertise to the test and create a logo for a magnet T-shirt. Bring back the FUBU notion of "For Us By Us," you will be the one's sporting the shirt so make sure you have a say in the design. Our intention is to have "Magnet T-Shirt Friday's" where all the magnet's will wear their shirts. All submissions must be in by next week and be in a JPEG format. You will receive 3 personal participation points for your submission, and add a point to your classes mula count. If your class has the winning submission, you will earn a bonus 5 points. Cannot wait to see the creativity of the program! 

IR Country Competition

Fellow citizens of the International Relations territory,

The time has come to reveal the three new "countries" at Varela. After an arduous drafting, planning, presenting, and voting process, three plans for statehood have been adopted. All founders of the winning groups will receive participation points in class. Though the race was close in some classes, I am ready to present the winners. Drum-roll please...INTRODUCING...

Period 2-Varelix

Period 4-Krypton









Period 6-Mellowmania







Best of luck to the Varelixians, Kryptonites, and Mellowmainians-may the best country win! Mula collection begins this week!

A.P. Web Quest

As promised, the following optional assignment provides a deeper view into the life of Olaudah Equiano. The link below is a Webquest-an online learning experience that gives you tasks to complete regarding a particular topic. Be sure to look at the scoring guides and utilize the links provided in order to accurately complete the tasks at hand. Those who choose to complete this assignment will be allowed to replace a low HW grade or add a maximum of 5 points to the Chapter 2 Test. However, the assignment must be completed properly in order to ensure maximum extra credit potential. Enjoy your quest to find out more about this man who endured slavery, bought his freedom, learning to read and write, and captured his journey in his autobiography.

http://imet.csus.edu/imet1/desler/passages/odyssey/odyssey.htm

Battle of the Bands!

One of our very own Global Studies students, Ryan Bauta, will be performing tomorrow night at the Battle of the Bands event hosted at Varela. His band is called Albany and has been together since January of 2011. It's currently made up of one drummer-Gamal Attey (10th grade), a bassist-Carlos Gurdian, (9th grade), guitarist-Alec Di Lella (10th grade), and Ryan (10th grade) as the lead singer and second guitarist.

 After only three practices, Albany qualified to be one of seven bands to rock out on Thursday, at 6:30 PM in the auditorium, for the bargain price of $7! While the setlist remains a secret, Ryan "assures it will be a great show!" Show your Varela spirit and support for your classmate and musical talent. If you attend this event please comment about your experience.

AP US Book Access

A.P. U.S. Book Access

Historians, please help yourself to this link www.glencoe.com/brinkleyAP14; explore the sample quiz questions, primary sources and chapter notes. I will keep you posted as to when this book becomes fully electronic. Happy reading!

Discover Miami's Culture and Arts

We're all very fortunate to reside in such a vibrant and eclectic city. This weekend Miami is hosting an arts event in Downtown, which offers a plethora of interesting opportunities to get to know your city, view international films, and experience the art scene. Tonight and tomorrow there are many free events being offered;  including free tours of Downtown and the Freedom Tower, picnic opportunities, food trucks, and open galleries. Check it out! 

 http://events.miami.cbslocal.com/miami_fl/events/discover-arts-and-culture-d-/E0-001-049997554-7@2012090700

If you get the chance to attend, comment about your experience! 

Vote! Vote! Vote!

It's not everyday that a teenager gets to exercise their right to vote so take advantage! Your voting will result in a free Taylor Swift concert for Varela! Just go to http://taylorswiftoncampus.com/, we're currently only 23 votes away! Even if your not a fan, remember that it will support the arts program at our school with a potential $10,000 donation,

  

IR Book

I regret to inform you that there is only one class set of books available, which means that your access to the book is limited to class-time opportunities. However, if you would like to access review questions in efforts to prepare for the Ch. 1 test on Tuesday, the link is http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073378992/information_center_view0/ or type in www.mhhe.com/boyer8e. Good luck next week on your first exam!
 

New Book-Jamestown Game

Just a reminder to A.P. U.S. students, your first test on Ch. 1 is on Monday, Sept. 10. If you still have the old book in your possession, please bring it back. If you would like to access your new book, feel free to check out this website www.glencoe.com/brinkleyAP14, and peruse the student center.

In other news, concerning chapter two, remember to read and complete the "starving time" primary source account as well as the first column of the chart based on the southern colonies. For further exploration (get it?) on the topic of Jamestown, I invite you to play this entertaining game http://www.historyglobe.com/jamestown/. On the page press "Start the Adventure," keep in mind that your performance will be judged on the following:
Scoring Factors:

After you make all your decisions, you will receive a report on the state of your colony based on these factors:

• Food: How well can you provide it for your colonists?
• Health: Can you keep your colonists from dying due to disease, starvation, and attacks?
• Wealth: Can you make yourself and your sponsors at the London Company rich from the discovery of gold and silver?
• Morale: Can you keep yourself in power by keeping everyone happy?

Good luck on your adventure and your first test next week!

IR-Country Challenge

Upon discussing a variety of political theories, let us now apply the "realist" perspective to our experience in Ms. Rodriguez's IR class. Considering I teach three sections of IR, it's only natural (according to Darwinian theory), that one class will emerge as the most successful. After our debate yesterday, many of you thought that a nation should take care of it's interest first, and believed in the concept of realpolitik-power politics. Therefore, I will challenge you to apply this same reasoning to your experience as an international relations student.

Each class will transform itself into a country of its own design. As a class, you will select a name, slogan, and create a flag. I wish you luck at applying the liberal concept of cooperation to this part of the process. Once all three classes have agreed on their country's identity, the challenge will begin!

Your class will strive to earn "mula" our classes' form of international currency. As the class amasses "mula" they can purchase items to build up their country-for example, military forces, electricity, non-renewable resources, internet, etc. with the goal of being an advanced nation. At the end of the year, the country who is most "advanced" (earned the most amount of mula, and spent it wisely) will be rewarded accordingly.

So, how can you earn mula for your country? Participate, watch current events and bring your informed mind to class, attendance, succeeding on quizzes and tests, country challenges, etc.

May the odds be ever in your favor and may the best country win!