Please Scroll to the bottom for most recent postings!
 
Parents and Students:
Welcome back to all!  Hope you had a wonderful Summer.  I am sure that you are ready for another exciting school year.  My name is Mrs. McTiernan.  My philosophy of education is that students should not only gain knowledge, but the desire to be lifelong learners.  William Butler Yeats once said, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."  I will do my best to spark your interest in English and in learning about the world.  PLEASE feel free to contact me at anytime for any reason.  The best method of contact is my e-mail because I check it frequently during the day and also at night, but you can also use my phone extension at HS West. 
Thanks so much and I will speak with you soon!                   
A new optional way to contact me and get to know me!

http://www.myspace.com/kmctiernan

Summer Reading:  I know it's rough to get the students to read over summer vacation, but it helps them exercise their mind and stay connected to school for an easier transition.  The lists for Shenendehowa are on the high school library webpage
 
All Ninth-Grade students will need to purchase a copy of the MLA research manual offered by the Shenendehowa English Dept.  The cost for this year has yet to be determined, as we are researching the least expensive option, so I will update this section as soon as we know what it will be.  This manual must be kept throughout high school, as they will be using it in each English class for their research and writing assignments.  The cost usually rises significantly if the original copy is lost and a student needs to re-order it later on.  This money is tentatively due by October 1, 2007, but students with extenuating circumstances regarding payment should see me as soon as possible.  .
 
Book Orders:  Shenendehowa will provide a copy of each novel we read to the students at no cost, so this is not mandatory, but an option.  We recommend this because it allows students to highlight while they read, and make notations in the margins while we discuss.  This is helpful for discussion and study purposes, this year as well as for 11th grade when they need to study for the Regents exam.  The benefit to ordering it through me is a 20% discount and it’s tax free.  Money is due October 31st. 

       English 9                          English 9H

 
All students will be responsible for signing the Academic Integrity Policy.  Please click on the link to see the district's policy on plagiarism and cheating.
 
Back-to-School Night for High School West is on October 3rd.  Hope to see all of you!

I haven't updated this in quite awhile!!  I apologize.  I will try to get better about posting information here.  This posting is dedicated to the first two extra credit opportunities of the second quarter.  All students can attend the play My Sister Eileen, a student production running 11/15-11-17.  Performances are at 7:30pm and tickets are only $8.  Students can see the play, write up a 1pg. typed, dbl sp review and staple their tickets stub to the review.  The second option is a poetry recitation contest.  Students who memorize two poems from the poetryoutloud.org webpage, then recite them in front of a panel of judges (usually about 5 English teachers) on December 13th (3pm in the HSE Little Theatre), can also receive extra credit.  Winning is not a requirement, but last year's winner was a 9th grader!!  See me for any further information. 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

This page is maintained in accordance with Shenendehowa's web publishing guidelines by Kathryn McTiernan