Email to my students: Thank You All ~ Have a Great Summer = DFTBA!

I just finished reading all of the class survey reflections that you wrote.  I must say that I was quite choked up and shedding some tears at the end.  I will write up some of the things you guys wrote on my website this summer, anonymous of course.  A few of the responses to "words of warning for next year's students" and "book, song or movie title" and "what you'll remember 10 years from now" were priceless! 

Thank you all for a wonderful year.  It was the hardest year of teaching that I have ever had.  But, it was the most fulfilling.  Each of you has grown up, matured, and learned so much this year.  Having the chance to work with each of you on a daily basis and watching you improve helped me in ways I can't explain.  It is that daily inspiration that I am going to miss this summer.  The first couple of weeks of summer are going to be hard for me.  You may not realize how much I care about each of you and how important you are to me.  But, please know that I am always there for you in the future.  If there is ever ANYTHING I can do for you... do not hesitate to ask.  Please come back and visit me next year.  I can't tell you how much that will mean to me.  

Have a wonderful summer.  For those of you who are traveling to really incredible places, please drop me an email, Facebook message or text message and let me know.  I love seeing those cool pictures of fun times during the summer.  I won't be doing as much traveling this summer as I would like (other than being taken to neat places by some incredible books - currently reading "Hunger Games").  So seeing each of you having adventures would be great.

Best of luck in your junior year.  I truly believe that each and every one of you can succeed in APUSH or Dual Credit if you put the work into it.  I believe in you.  But, I know those of you who will take level US History will have an amazing experience as well.  We have great teachers in History at AHS and I am lucky to be a part of such a wonderful group.  You will see what I mean.  I have been bragging about you guys all year and that won't stop in the fall.  You will make me proud.  And I can't wait to hear from those of you who end up with Mrs. Duez your senior year for Economics.  She is the very BEST teacher in this school (and I admit it, better looking than me!).  

Please keep in touch and "Don't Forget To Be Awesome!"  Because each and every one of you are AWESOME.

DD
--
Mr. David Duez
Atascocita High - World History AVID
“Don't Forget To Be Awesome." - DFTBA
3rd Period World History
5th Period World History
6th Period World History


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Tutoring Wednesday at 2:45pm - 3:30pm after school

Thanks to "popular demand" I have decided to have tutoring after school on Wednesday.  If you would like to retake the last test, this is your opportunity.

Wednesday at 2:45pm - 3:30pm after school 

APUSH and Dual Credit Meetings

Meeting update from Mr. Scalia:


[From Mr. Mark Scalia]
Good morning, folks.
 
Yesterday's initial meeting for APUSH went off well; we had a nice turnout.  Please do Matt and I a favor and announce again today thye following:
 
1.  Matt will be meeting with the APUSH kids once again in the Blue LGI at 3:00
 
2.  I will be meeting with the Dual Credit kids in Red II, Room 1207, also at 3:00.
 
3.  I will be meeting with the remaining APUSH kids in the Blue LGI tomorrow at 3:00.

The world did not end... & Mr. Duez got a T-Shirt

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:  "DFTBA - Don't Forget To Be Awesome!"

Well on May 21st, 2011 the world did not come to an end.  Darn, I thought for sure my birthday had something to do with it all.  :(
Nerd Fighter's Unite! 
Anyway, I did get a pretty awesome T-shirt for my birthday.  (How to be a Nerd Fighter)  Hope everyone had a great weekend.  We'll take our final test on Monday.  We'll review and see our year end video on Tuesday.  We take our books back and review on Wed/Thu and then... it's finals time!  Pretty simple.

Targets for the final exam
APUSH and Dual Credit Meetings this week

Agenda: Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Quote of the Day:  “Think like a man of action, and act like a man of thought.”
- Henri L. Bergson

Learning Targets - We will review for the final exam.

Agenda:
1.  Final Exam review.
2.  Video from our end of the year celebration.


Next time we will return books and also review for the final exam.

Agenda: Monday, May 23, 2011

Quote of the Day:  "Give me the money that has been spent in war and I will clothe every man, woman, and child in an attire of which kings and queens will be proud.  I will build a schoolhouse in every valley over the whole earth.  I will crown every hillside with a place of worship consecrated to peace."  - Charles Sumner

TEST!  Chapter 26 and 27 - World War II
After the test, students will pick up the Targets for the Final Exam.

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Meetings for APUSH and Dual Credit for Next School Year

A note from Mr. Scalia & Mr. Webb about 
APUSH - Advanced Placement United States History

Students who are taking APUSH for next year, remember about the three after-school meetings next week.  In addition to that, you can go to this link on the class website:
www.scaliasworld.com. Click on the APUSH 2011-2012 link (its in the top left-hand corner) for info about the summer reading etc.  Mr. Webb and Mr. Scalia will be giving the same assignment.
Meetings for APUSH:
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 3:00 until roughly 4:00 in the Blue LGI.
Discuss the class, expectations, and the summer reading assignment, as well as entertain questions.  These are AP kids only, NOT Dual Credit.  

Mr. Scalia is going to meet with the Dual Credit kids Tuesday afternoon.

If you have further questions, Mr. Scalia be teaching in Red II 1207 2nd and 4th, and in the IC office 1707 the rest of the time.  Please drop by and see him if you have questions.
Mr. Scalia


Spring Final Exam Target Sheet

2010 Spring Final Targets

Agenda: Friday, May 19, 2011

Quote of the Day:  
"I found it more difficult to go back each time we squared away our gear to move forward into the zone of terror… And it wasn’t just dread of death or pain, because most men felt somehow they wouldn’t be killed… Each time we went up, I felt the sickening dread of fear itself and the revulsion at the ghastly scenes of pain and suffering among comrades that a survivor must witness. The increasing dread of going back into action obsessed me. It became the subject of the most tortuous and persistent of all the ghastly war nightmares that have haunted me for many, many years. The dream is always the same, going back up to the lines during the bloody month of May on Okinawa."
SOURCE:  Eugene Sledge: Memoir excerpts selections from "With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa." 
Eugene Sledge and Actor Joe Mazzello (who played Sledge) from HBO's The Pacific
Learning Targets for WWII:
CH. 26:  The German and Japanese occupations of neighboring countries led to a brutal war that took millions of lives. Both countries were defeated, but not before the Nazis had killed millions of people in pursuit of Aryan domination of Europe.



• The war caused 20 million civilian deaths. 
• The United States, which did not fight the war on its own territory, sent its forces to fight and produced much of the military equipment for the Allies.
• After the war, ideological conflict between the West and the Soviet Union resulted in the Cold War.

Agenda:
1.  Hand in the Document Based-Question Essay from Chapter 24/26.  Mr. Duez will be working on these to finish in hopes that by Wed/Thu the grades should be in and finalized.
2.  Discuss the War in the Pacific.  We'll see clips from "The Pacific" an HBO series that captured the essence of the war against the Japanese.
3.  If time we'll review for the test on Monday.

TEST MONDAY!  Last test of the year.  Make it good!  

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Notes - Chapter 26 - The Pacific War

31514287 Chapter24 26 War in Pacific

Agenda: Wed/Thu May 18/19, 2011

Quote of the Day:  "Dec. 7, 1941, a day that shall live in infamy!"  - Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Learning Targets for WWII:
CH. 24:  The peace settlements at the end of World War I combined with severe economic problems to produce widespread discontent across Europe. Democratic rule in many states gave way to fascism, authoritarianism, and the totalitarianism of Stalin and Hitler. 

CH. 26:  The German and Japanese occupations of neighboring countries led to a brutal war that took millions of lives. Both countries were defeated, but not before the Nazis had killed millions of people in pursuit of Aryan domination of Europe.

• In the east, harsh weather and a resolute Soviet Union defeated an invading German army.
• The Japanese conquered the Pacific but miscalculated when they attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor.
• By the end of 1943, the tide had turned against Germany, Italy, and Japan. After the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the Allies liberated Paris and defeated Germany.

Agenda:
1.  We will take a few moments to do some I Am Poetry readings.  And a couple of minutes to discuss DBQ that is due on Friday.
I will be using the standard school grading policy for the DBQ.  100-75-60-15-0  So get it in on time.  
2.  Finish Notes on the War in Europe, Part II.  We'll discuss Stalingrad and see a small portion from the movie "Enemy at the Gates."  Then D-Day and a small portion from "Saving Private Ryan."  We'll discuss the end of the war in Europe.
3.  We will introduce and discuss the war in the Pacific.  On Friday we'll see the making of the HBO Series "The Pacific."  And we will finish Chapters 24 and 26.  Watch videos about The Pacific here.

The DBQ is due on Friday.
The TEST is Monday.

I will be here after school on Thursday for tutoring, if there are any questions.




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DBQ - World War II - The Great Depression or WWII Impact on US

30583750 DBQ Great Depression or WWII Impact US
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DBQ - WWII Chapter 26 - Theaters of World War II

31222749 DBQ Theaters of WWII
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Notes - Chapter 26 - WWII Part I

Chapter24 26 War Europe Part One

Notes Chapter 26 - WWII - War in Europe Part II

Chapter24 26 War Europe Part Two

Agenda: Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Quote of the Day:  "We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets. We shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!" 
Winston S. Churchill, During the Battle of Britain

Learning Targets for WWII:
CH. 24:  The peace settlements at the end of World War I combined with severe economic problems to produce widespread discontent across Europe. Democratic rule in many states gave way to fascism, authoritarianism, and the totalitarianism of Stalin and Hitler. 

CH. 26:  The German and Japanese occupations of neighboring countries led to a brutal war that took millions of lives. Both countries were defeated, but not before the Nazis had killed millions of people in pursuit of Aryan domination of Europe.


• Japanese expansion into Manchuria and northern China brought condemnation from the League of Nations. While still at war with China, Japan launched a surprise attack on U.S. and European colonies in Southeast Asia.
• German forces swept through northern Europe early in the war and set up the Vichy government in France.
• German air attacks on Great Britain resulted in fierce British retaliation.
• In the east, harsh weather and a resolute Soviet Union defeated an invading German army.
• The Japanese conquered the Pacific but miscalculated when they attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor.
• By the end of 1943, the tide had turned against Germany, Italy, and Japan. After the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the Allies liberated Paris and defeated Germany.


Agenda:
1. Collect the "I AM Poems" - assignment was to use the Target Sheet for Chapters 24 and 26 and write an poem with one of the vocab words (person, place, or thing). Students will present these on Wed/Thu and Friday to review for the test.  Test is on Monday.
2.  Notes & Discussion - World War II - The War in Europe.  Hitler takes France and the Battle of Britain begins.  Hitler makes two monumental mistakes.  We'll discuss Pearl Harbor and the entry of the US into the war.
3.  We will watch Mr. Duez's Pearl Harbor Video.
Agenda:
1.  Mr. Duez's Pearl Harbor Video.

My Trip to Pearl from Mr. Duez on Vimeo.

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Notes - Chapter 26 - World War II European Theatre

Chapter 26 - World War II

Agenda: Monday, May 16, 2011

Quote of the Day: "We have achieved peace for our time." - British Prime Minister Chamberlain after meeting with Hitler.

Learning Targets for WWII:
CH. 24:  The peace settlements at the end of World War I combined with severe economic problems to produce widespread discontent across Europe. Democratic rule in many states gave way to fascism, authoritarianism, and the totalitarianism of Stalin and Hitler. 

CH. 26:  The German and Japanese occupations of neighboring countries led to a brutal war that took millions of lives. Both countries were defeated, but not before the Nazis had killed millions of people in pursuit of Aryan domination of Europe.


• Aggressive moves by Germany and Japan set the stage for World War II. Adolf Hitler began a massive military buildup and instituted a draft in violation of the Treaty of Versailles.
• The German annexation of Austria alarmed France but did not shake Great Britain's policy of appeasement. Appeasement of Germany peaked at a conference in Munich where Hitler claimed he sought only one final territory, the Czech Sudetenland. This soon proved false.
• When Hitler signed a nonaggression pact with Stalin and invaded Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany.
• Japanese expansion into Manchuria and northern China brought condemnation from the League of Nations. While still at war with China, Japan launched a surprise attack on U.S. and European colonies in Southeast Asia.
• German forces swept through northern Europe early in the war and set up the Vichy government in France.
• German air attacks on Great Britain resulted in fierce British retaliation.

Agenda:
1. Good News - Discuss the wonderful job by our Choir in their spring Showtime! production this past weekend.
2. Notes & Discussion - World War II begins.  Hitler breaks the Versailles Treaty & Munich Agreement and invades European countries in 1939.

I am poem is due tomorrow in class.

Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Spring 2011

It has been hard to keep up with all the wonderful things that have happened with the MS Awareness Campaign and fund-raising that has gone on this spring at AHS.  I am attempting to keep up through this post and link to all the other stories.  It has been inspirational to me.
Mr. Duez thanks Ms. O'Brien

I can not tell you and fully express how grateful I am to everyone.  So many have given and wished me well, it is overwhelming.  The support has really given me the push I have needed to realize that even if I have been given a bad break, there are so many great people in my life.

There is no doubt that I will be coming back to this post and reading all of this during my very bad days.  It is this kind of support, friendship and spirit of community that is the best possible medicine I can receive.

It's a Great Day to be an Eagle!  DFTBA!


Link to my post about Dive in for Duez & MS Fund Raiser in the Pool

Link to a post where I shared a thank you to the AHS Patriettes and their superior kindness in donating money from their spring show.  Aidan's thank you video.

A very nice article in the Observer about the MS Awareness campaign at our school.  Just amazing to see this all in print.  :)

Link to my post about Operation Bald Eagle - Head Shaving for MS Awareness.

Link to my post sharing my Email to the AHS Faculty with lots of pictures of the events during the MS Awareness campaign.

Link to my AHS Softball Benefit Game Video.

Link to my former student Sara's MS 150 Post - she rode for me last weekend.  :)

Link to the flyers for the Charming Charlie's Fund raiser -and- Appleby's Dinner Fund Raiser

Link to the wonderful pictures from our MS Awareness T-Shirt Day & my AWESOME 7th period AVID III class.  They surprised me with creating and wearing a "Duez Support Shirt."

Link to our pics modeling the MS Awareness T-Shirts.


Dive in for Duez & MS

We had such a great time in the AHS Natatorium last Thursday morning.  Good friends and a lot of fun.  Thanks to everyone who came out to support the cause and enjoy in the hilarity.



This is a video that I put together of all the great pictures and video from the event:

Obi Wan Kenobi is Dead, Vader says

Obi Wan Kenobi is Dead, Vader says

I found this to be brilliant.  A bit of satirical Star Wars combined with current events.

Agenda: Friday, May 13, 2011

Quote of the Day: "I decided to devote my life to telling the story because I felt that having survived I owe something to the dead. and anyone who does not remember betrays them again." - Elie Wiesel
THEN:  Former Buchenwald prisoners - Elie Wiesel's face is visible on the second row, seventh from the left, by the vertical wooden beam.
Elie Wiesel Today
Learning Targets for WWII:
CH. 24:  The peace settlements at the end of World War I combined with severe economic problems to produce widespread discontent across Europe. Democratic rule in many states gave way to fascism, authoritarianism, and the totalitarianism of Stalin and Hitler. 

CH. 26:  The German and Japanese occupations of neighboring countries led to a brutal war that took millions of lives. Both countries were defeated, but not before the Nazis had killed millions of people in pursuit of Aryan domination of Europe.

• Hitler's Nuremberg Laws established official persecution of Jews. A more violent anti-Semitic phase began in 1938 with a destructive rampage against Jews and the deportation of thousands to concentration camps. Increasingly drastic steps barred Jews from attending school, earning a living, or engaging in Nazi society.
• After World War I, radio and film became sources of entertainment as well as propaganda tools. Hitler and the Nazis made wide use of both.
• To further their war effort and Hitler's plans for Aryan expansion, the Nazis forced millions of people to resettle as forced laborers. As part of the Nazis' Final Solution, Jews were locked into cramped, unsanitary ghettos or forced to dig their own mass graves before being killed.
• The Nazis killed between five and six million Jews and nine to ten million non-Jews.


Agenda:
1.  Finish Notes on Hitler's Rise to Power - Chapter 24 "Rise of Dictators"
2.  Discuss The Holocaust.  We will see video clips and discuss the impact of Hitler's Final Solution on our world today.
Why does Genocide continue in our world?  Is this a part of the human condition?  What can be done to stop it in the future?

Notes - Chapter 24 - Rise of Dictators

31115463-Chapter24-26-RiseofDictators

Agenda: Wed/Thu May 11/12, 2011

Quote of the Day:  “The great masses of the people will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one.” - Adolf Hitler

Learning Targets for WWII:
CH. 24:  The peace settlements at the end of World War I combined with severe economic problems to produce widespread discontent across Europe. Democratic rule in many states gave way to fascism, authoritarianism, and the totalitarianism of Stalin and Hitler. 


• Adolf Hitler, a failed student and artist, built up a small racist, anti-Semitic political party in Germany after World War I. Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch failed. In prison, he wrote Mein Kampf—an account of his movement and his views. As democracy broke down, right-wing elites looked to Hitler for leadership.
• In 1933 Hitler became chancellor. Amid constant chaos and conflict, Hitler used terror and repression to gain totalitarian control. Meanwhile, a massive rearmament program put Germans back to work. Mass demonstrations and spectacles rallied Germans around Hitler's policies.
• Hitler's Nuremberg Laws established official persecution of Jews. A more violent anti-Semitic phase began in 1938 with a destructive rampage against Jews and the deportation of thousands to concentration camps. Increasingly drastic steps barred Jews from attending school, earning a living, or engaging in Nazi society.
• After World War I, radio and film became sources of entertainment as well as propaganda tools. Hitler and the Nazis made wide use of both.


Agenda:
1.  Video "Crisis of Credit."  We'll compare the 2008 Great Recession to the 1930s Great Depression.
2.  Pass out the DBQs for World War II.  Students should choose one of the two and it is due next Friday.  (Test will be the following day on Monday)
3.  Notes & Discussion: "Rise of Dictators" Hitler
We'll see a clip from The Triumph of the Will (click to watch) - the incredible Nazi propaganda film created by Hitler's film maker, Leni Reifenstahl.
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Thank You AHS Patriettes

Mr. & Mrs. Duez before the Patriette Banquet
This is a very special thank you to the AHS Patriettes, Ms. Rayburn and Ms. Marches and all those special dancing young ladies that Mr. and Mrs. Duez has had in class throughout the years.  The spirit of your team is so strong and all of you represent AHS with such incredible grace, talent, and class.

Thank you for donating money to our MS Foundation Campaign this spring.  The Patriette Spring Show was inspiring.  Thank you as well for inviting Mrs. Duez and I to the Patriette banquet.  We were grateful for you to allow us to share in that special night with all of you.

As the National MS Society slogan says: "Keep Moving!"



I have been honored to dance at half time during the father-daughter dance as a fill in for two of my very favorite former students.  So I guess I have always jokingly considered myself as an 'honorary' Patriette. :)  After all of your kindness and love this spring, I really feel like one!
After dancing at half time with Rachel Winfrey in 2006.
Coming off the field in 2008 with Valonia Walker.  Wow, I was an awful dancer!  She made me look good.

Crisis of Credit - the 2008 "Great Recession" Explained

The Short and Simple Story of the Credit Crisis. By Jonathan Jarvis. Crisisofcredit.com JonathanJarvis.com
Part I:


Part II:



Sept. 29, 2008: Vlogbrother Hank explains the crisis of credit... using hats.  Hank (and Hank and Hank and Hank and Hank) give an extremely simplified account of how we got into such a terribly gigantic financial mess in America.



Vlogbrother John explains his thoughts on the Stimulus Package and Keynesian economics.

In which John discusses the financial crisis, recessions, and the fiscal stimulus bill just passed by the US Congress and expected to be signed by President Obama. And John Maynard Keynes. Oh, and he brags about his Academic Decathalon bronze medal.

Oh and if you're wondering why I'm not talking about CEO compensation and corporate jets, it's because they aren't EVEN SLIGHTLY relevant to the health of the American economy.

For further reading: Mark Zandi (former McCain economics adviser):http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20090215_Imperfect...

Philosophical overview from the LA Times:
http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2009/02/pelosi-reid-...

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MS Awareness Swim Event on Thu 8am in AHS Pool

Eagles Swimming Rocks!




This Thursday @ 8am there is going to be a very fun event at AHS in the pool. 

Students vs. Teachers in a series of swimming relays. The tickets are on sale this week and they are asking for a donation of at least $3. The money is going to our MS Awareness campaign. 

Thanks to my friends who are competing or organizing. Many of my great friends and former students will be competiting. You are all awesome. Special thanks to Rowan Prothro, John Gillespie, and Sally Wagner for organizing as well.
Aidan won't be there, but this is what it would look like if he was!

8:00 AM Doors Open!
Ticket Collection Begins Sale of Baked Goods by Ticket Collection
8:15 AM Begin Introductions Short intro to MS Society/purpose of event
8:17 AM Introduction of competitors
8:23 AM 1ST RACE- STUDENT(IM) VS. TEACHER(FREE) RELAY
2ND RACE- 50 FREE
3RD RACE- 50 CORKSCREW
4TH RACE- WHO CAN BUTTERFLY BEST?
5TH RACE- 50 (ANY STROKE) WITH CLOTHES ON
MS Awareness
DFTBA!


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Agenda: Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Quote of the Day: "Veritas Liberat" - Juniata College Motto - "The Truth Sets Free."
On May 10th, 1992 Mr. Duez Graduated from Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA
Beside July 4th, 1995 (My wedding) and October 27th, 2004 (Aidan's birth) it was one of my best days as a human.  I hope every one of my students experiences the same feeling of accomplishment that I was able to have that day.

Link to Mr. Duez's Power Point on his college

Learning Targets for WWII:
CH. 24:  The peace settlements at the end of World War I combined with severe economic problems to produce widespread discontent across Europe. Democratic rule in many states gave way to fascism, authoritarianism, and the totalitarianism of Stalin and Hitler.  
• The peace settlement at the end of World War I left many nations unhappy and border disputes simmering throughout Europe. TheLeague of Nations proved a weak institution.
• Economic problems plagued France, Great Britain, and the German Weimar Republic. When Germany declared that it could not continue to pay reparations, France occupied one German region as a source of reparations.  In the US prosperity ended with the economic collapse of 1929 and the Great Depression.
• The new American president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, pursued a policy of active government intervention in the economy that came to be known as the New Deal
• European democracies crumbled and were replaced by socialism, fascism, and communism. 


Agenda:
1.  First 10 minutes from "Seabiscuit" - The Great Depression example.

2.  Finish notes from Chapter 24 - "The Great Depression and Rise of Dictators"
3.  Pass out the "I am poem" for WWII Vocab & People to know.  It is due in class next Tuesday.
4.  (if time) Watch the beginning of the "Crisis of Credit" - the 2008 Great Recession.  How does this crisis compare to the Great Depression?
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