Tomorrow's Event

Don' Forget …

To bring all required paraphernalia for our South African Heritage program

Valentine's Day Post

Valentine's Day

Saint Valentine (in Latin, Valentinus) is a widely recognized third-century Roman saint commemorated on February 14 and associated since the High Middle Ageswith a tradition of courtly love. Nothing is reliably known of St. Valentine except his name and the fact that he died on February 14 on Via Flaminia in the north of Rome. It is uncertain whether St. Valentine is to be identified as one saint or two saints of the same name. Several differing martyrologies have been added to later hagiographies that are unreliable. For these reasons this liturgical commemoration was not kept in the Catholic calendar of saints for universal liturgical veneration as revised in 1969.^[2] But the "Martyr Valentinus who died on the 14th of February on the Via Flaminia close to the Milvian bridge in Rome" still remains in the list of officially recognized saints for local veneration.^[3] Saint Valentine's Church in Rome, built in 1960 for the needs of the Olympic Village, continues as a modern, well-visited parish church.

Today, Saint Valentine's Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Valentine, is an official feast day in the Anglican Communion,^[4] as well as in the Lutheran Church.^[5]In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Saint Valentine the Presbyter is celebrated on July 6^[6] and Hieromartyr Saint Valentine (Bishop of Interamna, Terni in Italy) is celebrated on July 30.^[7] Notwithstanding, because of the relative obscurity of this western saint in the East, members of the Greek Orthodox Church named Valentinos (male) or Valentina (female) may celebrate their name day on the Western ecclesiastical calendar date of February 14.^[8]

"Saint Valentine." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Feb. 2014. Web. 13 Feb. 2014.

Don't Forget

Don't Forget... 

Bring in $6 (before Friday) so you can participate in our St. Valentines Day Party

A.S.A.P

Who was the First President United States of America?

John Hanson vs John Hanson

John Hanson (d. c. 1860) was an African American associated with the American Colonization Society, which sought to relocate black Americans in Liberia. In Liberia, he served as a senator from Grand Bassa County.

Senator Hanson has recently been confused with an earlier John Hanson, a caucasian politician from Maryland who served as President of the Continental Congressduring the American Revolution. According to this urban myth, John Hanson of Maryland was actually black, and also the first President of the United States. Internet sites promoting the hoax use the photograph of Senator John Hanson of Liberia to support the claim, even though photography had not yet been invented when the earlier John Hanson was living.^[2][3]

John Hanson (April 14 [O.S. April 3] 1721 – November 15, 1783) was a merchant and public official from Maryland during the era of the American Revolution. After serving in a variety of roles for the Patriot cause in Maryland, in 1779 Hanson was elected as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He signed the Articles of Confederation in 1781 after Maryland finally joined the other states in ratifying them.

In November 1781, he was elected President of the Continental Congress, and became the first president to serve a one-year term under the provisions of the Articles of Confederation. While George Washington is universally recognized by historians as the first President of the United States formed under the United States Constitution, some biographies of Hanson have made the unconventional argument that Hanson was the first holder of the office.^[1][2]

"John Hanson." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 Oct. 2014. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.

"John Hanson (Liberia)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 02 July 2014. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.

Facts

 Black History Month Facts

• Phillis Wheatley is known as the first published African American poet

• Andrew J. Beard invented the rotary engine on July 5, 1892

• Guion S. Bluford, Jr. was the first African American in space.

• Bernard A. Harris, Jr. was the first African American to walk in space.

• Garrett Augustus Morgan invented the automatic traffic signal, as well as, the gas mask used by soldiers in World War I and by firemen in the early 1900's.

• Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress.

• Sojourner Truth was a true force in the abolitionist movement, as well as, a preacher. She added the women's rights movement to her cause in 1859.

• Jan Ernst Matzeliger invented a machine to make shoes that lasted in 1883.

• Crispus Attucks is remembered as one of the first men to lose his life for the cause of American independence at the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770.

• Henry T. Sampson was the black man who invented the cellphone

      http://www.powertolearn.com/spotlights/black_history_month_2004/funfacts.html

Homework + Test Taking Tips

Tonight's Assignments

Study Reading  There will be exams on the Blackface and the Letter of Birmingham articles

Study  Vocabulary

Study Poetry  Recitation of the Black Mammy

Study Science  There is also an assignment on the "Snow Does Not Melt" video and write why 

their conclusion was false

Study Spelling  Spelling Test

Study History  Complete Critic Crusher ONLY

Also your Anne Frank Research Presentations start on Monday
POSTPONED 

Tips For Test Taking

• Study your concepts thoroughly.
• Ask a parent or friend to help you study.
• Recite your poem in the mirror. Practicing your facial expressions, tones, and hand gestures. Also practice in front of family members.
• Get a good night's sleep before the test. Wake up early if necessary. Freshen-up on difficult topics.
• Eat a healthy and nutritious breakfast.
• Pray before and after you take the test. That will definitely help!

Biography of Nelson Mandela

                                                      Nelson Mandela

We are pretty sure that some of our readers are wondering why the Mandela picture is there. This is Black History Month and we would like to acknowledge one of the great leaders in the apartheid struggle. Nelson Mandela died recently and he was a great leader. This is his story...


     Rolihlahla Mandela was born into the Madiba tribe in Mevzo, Transkei on July 18,1918. He attended primary school when his teacher gave him the name “Nelson” as all students were required to have christian names. Nelson grew up and went to college and got a degree. Then he joined the African National Congress. After joining the ANC he noticed the oppression of his people.This oppression was in the form of apartheid. The europeans considered themselves true africans and the native africans were not. The real africans were called kaffers,and the europeans afrikaners. That is what the government system was based on. He used non violent protest and committees and conventions but nothing seemed to work. He studied law and started his first law firm Mandela and Tambo. He tried to fight against apartheid as a lawyer but nothing worked. He fought for claims against police brutality and other things for aggrieved blacks but his firm was banned.

After years of peaceful protest the ANC had to turn to something else. Nelson asked a colleague for some weaponry so they could fight. Mandela had married a woman named Evelyn Mase they had two children. Their marriage fell apart and Mandela married the famous Winnie Mandela. On December 5, 1956 Mandela along with others was arrested for high treason against the state but Mandela was granted bail. He traveled across the state doing work for the ANC and was disguised as a chauffeur. He started a militant group called Spear of the Nation. This branch of the ANC sabotaged government equipment and government bases. Mandela was caught and placed on trial. The trial called the Rivonia Trial convicted Mandela and others guilty of four charges including sabotage and guerrilla warfare against the government.

Mandela was arrested and sent to an alcatraz like prison called Robben Island Mandela was treated harshly by white prison wardens and was considered the lowest class of prisoner. His eyesight was permanently damaged because of the glare of the lime he worked with.In 1967 conditions were raised blacks were given trousers and games were permitted. Now Mandela was able to write letters and get visitors he corresponded with other leaders and activists. In 1980 the slogan free Mandela was born. But despite all the protest Mandela remained in Prison.

In 1982 Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town. Violence in the country escalated with many fearing a civil war. In 1988 Mandela was recovering from tuberculosis and was moved to Victor Verster Prison. On February 2,1990 Mandela was released because apartheid had ended. He walked out of prison holding Winnie’s hand ready for a new beginning. He met with other leaders due to his release and was glad what they fought for was finally done.But it was not many white supremacists started riots. Mandela made many speeches to calm the rioting. The ANC made a reconstruction program to get blacks housing and into political office. Mandela ran against Frederik de klerk for presidential office. Though de klerk was the better speaker Mandela had the better reputation. Mandela was elected president. After learning about Winnie’s affair Mandela divorced her.

During Mandela’s presidency he started many new programs and out of state alliances. He increased welfare spending and was a great president. He retired in June 1999 and started charities and philanthropy. In 2004 he retired from doing that he met with George Bush , the Clintons and Obama. His ninetieth birthday was celebrated world wide. With a festival in Africa and a concert in Hyde Park, London.

Mandela was said to have a respiratory infection. He had not opened his eyes in days and was unresponsive he was in a vegetable state and life support was needed. After months Mandela started to respond to the treatment. He was sent home September 1,2013. He died on December 5, 2013.

Mandela was just a man he was not a god or a superhero but a man. He did not like the way he was treated or the way his people were treated so he did something about it. He left an impact on the world. He will always be remembered. This is the ending to the Mandela story. Maybe you will start the next chapter.