8th Grade Teachers
Flavia Rios
Jennifer Browne
Richard Geissler
Ashley Blair
Welcome to Ms. Blair’s 8th ELA class!
Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. ~William Wordsworth
Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. ~Anton Chekhov
The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug. ~Mark Twain
I try to leave out the parts that people skip. ~Elmore Leonard
About Me:
This is my 9th year teaching ELA. Before teaching I worked in hospitality-more notably for the NY Yankees! Sadly, I am a Mets fan 🙂
I went to college in NYC-Fordham University-go Rams! I received my graduate degree from Saint Peter’s University.
I enjoy dancing, listening to music, writing , shopping ( you can find me most days at TJMaxx and Target!), and cuddling with my grey cat Greyson.
I am a huge foodie-my favorite being Italian food.
Coffee, Coffee , Coffee!
Lastly, I love to read-mostly non-fiction ( I love a great true-crime book)
Message to students:
Let us create, not consume. Let us make human connections and learn life skills.
I believe in all of you and I am excited to get to know you!
It is important that you know my classroom is a safe space for everyone. There is no judgment-remember, we are all unique!
Do not be afraid to ask questions-no one knows it all; we are all everyday learners.
Show up-sometimes the hardest part is just showing up.
Don’t be afraid to try new things-take the risks; you will thank yourself later ….
Make good choices-there will be character defining moments most days
Learn what you are good at and make that your ‘thing.” Use it to drive your creativity..
Know your worth and learn how to use your voice-our voice is all we have so you may as well use it!
Find your purpose-you all have a sense of mission-you are the future innovators!
Contact email:
ablair@alkschool.org
Grading Policy
Classwork-30%
Projects/tests-50%
Homework -20%
Thomas Nelson
Hello students and families,
My name is Tom Nelson and I’m excited to welcome you to a brand-new school year in the Guttenberg School District! I’m thrilled to be joining this incredible community as your Science Teacher and I can’t wait to begin our journey of exploration, discovery and learning together.
Science is all about asking questions, investigating how the world works, and finding connections between what we learn and the real world. In our classroom, students will be encouraged to think critically, work together and most importantly stay curious.
Whether you already love science or are just starting to explore it, we are going to have a fun and meaningful year filled with hands on activities, exciting projects, and plenty of opportunities to grow.I look forward to getting to know each of you and building strong connections with both students and families. Here's to a fantastic school year ahead!
Supply List:
* 1 3-ring binder
* 1- notebook (Loose leaf paper, composition or spiral, for class notes)
* 1 Folder with pockets (to hold handouts and homework)
* Pens (blue and black ink)
* Pencils
* Highlighter (any color)
* External storage drive (thumb drive) 1g is ok
* Headphones or earbuds (for digital simulations or videos – to be left at home or used as needed)
* Ziplock bags (2 gallon and 2 sandwich size)
I’m thrilled to be joining the Guttenberg School District as your new 8th Grade Science Teacher! I’ve been teaching science for the past 10 years, and I’m passionate about helping students connect classroom learning to the real world through hands-on experiments, engaging discussions, and creative problem-solving.
In my spare time, I spend time with my family, reading, writing new or improving science lessons, collecting really old toys, and growing my tomatoes!
Christine Camacho
Welcome to 8th Grade Language Arts!
Hello and welcome!
My name is Ms. Christine Camacho-Melendez, and I’m excited to be your 8th Grade Language Arts Teacher this year. I’m looking forward to a wonderful year filled with meaningful learning, creative expression, and academic growth.
In our class, students will strengthen their reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills through engaging texts, thoughtful discussions, and varied writing assignments. My goal is to create a supportive, inclusive, and motivating environment where every student can thrive.
Communication and collaboration with families are important to me, so please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time with questions, concerns, or updates. I can be reached via email at ccamacho@alkschool.org
Let’s work together to make this a successful and memorable year!
Warmly,
Ms. Camacho-Melendez
8th Grade Language Arts
