**Please use your WPR Rubric and WPR Improvements documents to push your own writing**

What did we do these past two weeks?

Monday (9/19/16):
WPR Share
Nervous and Endocrine Systems reading and Visual Vocabulary.
Tuesday:
Honors: Choose your animal, Finalize your final product idea
Class #2 (Birth Control Methods) with Marcy from Planned Parenthood
Wednesday:
Honors: Final decision on your Human/Animal Anatomy Product (e.g. human
anatomy puzzle)
Ocean Institute Website Exploration
Thursday:
Ocean Institute Overnight (see your reflection sheet for details)
Friday:
Ocean Institute Overnight (see your reflection sheet for details)
Team and POD names
Monday (9/26/16):
Kerri Danil - The Case of the Dead Dolphin: Here.
Respiratory and Circulatory Systems reading and Visual Vocabulary.
Tuesday:
Honors - Final Product Design and Explanation (go get feedback - 8 sets of eyes).
Class #3 (STIs/STDs) with Marcy from Planned Parenthood
Wednesday:
WiLD Wednesday: Silent walk and 10 minute draw what you hear!
Internship preparation: resume graphic organizer and resume draft
Thursday:
Pacific White-Sided Dolphin Necropsy with Kerri Danil and assistants at NOAA!
Friday:
WPR #1 review
Bio/Env Sc WPR #2
 Crisdeana Sivila ~ Minicucci
Due Date: Monday, 10/3/16 (submitted to Google Classroom by the beginning of class)

Weekly Personal Reflection (WPR) #2

1) Experiences (what did you do)? Please choose one (or two) experiences, explain in detail, and
back with evidence (specific examples, scientific vocabulary, related data, scientific articles).
Write in paragraph form, 12 font, and single spaced.

The Ocean Institute, was by far my favorite experience for this past week, on Sept. 21-22. I
was very surprised by the many opportunities we got a chance to do. Such as, trying new
things in the matter of time, of the 25 hours that we were away from school. I was really
excited to see all the new things they had to bring and how many things we got to do with
them. Starting from the exploration, to the boat ride and even sleeping there, was exciting.
Going through my rotations, the first one I started off with was the squid dissection, where I
partnered up with Brina to examine the squid and all the unique things about it. An interesting
thing about squids, they have 3 hearts. How to tell them apart by gender, is based on how it
looks inside after you cut the squid open. The next rotation for the night was the fish
necropsies, knowing I was allergic to fish I was really fascinated to inspect and dissect the fish.
I learned how, after you cut the fish open and check out the insides, you could stick a
chopstick like object into the mouth to find out where the stomach is. From there you could
cut the stomach out and figure out what that fish ate that day. We discovered that our fish ate
another little fish by the different bones and other stuff in the stomach. After that rotation, we
went back into the main commons to talk as a team about the different things we did. We all
went around the circle and shared something new. I shared how my fish ate another fish and
how we learned that from examining the stomach. Then moving onto the next day, my first
rotation was the Cow Eye Dissection where our leader Carlin would cut the eyeball in half and
let us touch and find out the different layers of both sides of the eyes and then compare that to
our eyes. Something I learned was that they have really good night vision because of the
tapetum. After that rotation, we moved onto our last and final one, which was the bone lab,
where we looked at Gracie whom was a year old. I forgot what type of whale Gracie was, but
in this lab we had to construct a way to connect the cow bones based on how Gracie looked.
Something that I learned was that the pelvic lies floating in the whale so when we saw the
structure of Gracie, it was connected by fishing wire floating and not connected to any other
bones. My overall experience was great, I loved how everyone felt so close and like best
friends; unless that was just me, but I wont ever forget this experience. I know that our team
has so many memories and more to come and its barely the first month of school.

Another great memory would have to be the mixed pod for Friday, Sept 30th. Since half of the
team went to the Dolphin Necropsy, the ones who stayed, made my day. I mainly sat around
Carlos, Ika, Brina, Michelle and Jem at a table discussing segregation and equality and all that
good stuff. I say good stuff, because equality is one of my favorite things to talk about. It
sucks being left out or being the odd one out and they had it really bad. Im glad we at least
changed some of those rules. Also, the movie The Hurricane, was really good as we all
talked about it and turned to each other every time something happened. And it was just good
to be around people who related and were so fun to be around during the 4 periods. I usually
like to switch it up and try to talk to everyone, now that Im thinking about it, I only sat with
people from my pod but it was still fun to be around them and enjoy a movie because it was so
interesting and heartwarming.
2) Skills (what can you now do or do better, e.g. observation/field research skills, dissection
skills, computer skills, reading/writing-related skills...)? Please choose one (or two) skills,
explain in detail, and back with evidence (specific examples, scientific vocabulary, related data,
scientific articles). Write in paragraph form, 12 font, and single spaced.

A new skill I learned this week was time management. Taking all honors classes and not
being able to manage my own time constructively is really bad. I felt really pressured to work
and try to do everything to the best of my ability but I often needed to stay focused and be
aware of who Im working with. I have been able to keep up with the assignments for Honors,
inside of class and even going outside of school to get that extra help by using Khan Academy
or College Boards. And also, having study dates with my friends in class, like Andrea and Eli.
We would always hangout after school just to work on visual vocabulary and make sure were
all focused. This weekend on the first day of October I went to a study session with my friend
Isabel to get extra help on math and to even help her as well.
3) Scientific Content (what have you learned - CONCEPTS, VOCABULARY)? Please choose
one (or two) pieces of scientific content, explain in detail, and back with evidence (specific
examples, scientific vocabulary, related data, scientific articles). Write in paragraph form, 12
font, and single spaced.

I believe that I have gained a better understanding of the Cerebrum.

Cerebrum: is a part of the brain that intercepts signals from your body and forms responses
such as hunger, thirst, emotions, motion and pain. There are 2 halves which is the left and right
halves or hemispheres. Each half of the hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body.
For example, the right hemisphere of your brain processes all of the stimuli received by your
left
hand. Similarly, the left side of your brain controls the muscles that kick your right leg. When
the spinal cord brings a signal from the body, the signal crosses over to the opposite
hemisphere in the corpus callosum. The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerves that
connects the two hemispheres.

I think this word really related to me the most since it is something I realize in doing from
just living and everyone has experienced the same exact feeling of hunger, thirst, pain,
emotions and motion. Im so fascinated by the fact how our bodies work and how well we
function based on you being the one to control that, like I learned certain people function
better when they eat breakfast or when they get enough sleep although, its different for
everyone and the answers varies all around we all have an unique way of functioning and Im
glad I get to learn so much about that and actually stay engaged with these topics.
4) By signing this document I (the parent or guardian) acknowledge our conversation about this
weeks biology/environmental science class and my daughter/sons personal reflections on
her/his personal growth.

Parent (typed) signature___S. Sivila-Minicucci_________________ Date _10 /2/16__________

Parent Comments (any language is welcome):

First, I would like to say how I enjoy reading about Crisdeanas experiences. As Crisde
knows, Im an avid National Geographic watcher, and ocean life is my favorite. So, I was
excited to learn that Crisde would have an opportunity to join her class to stay the night at the
Ocean Institute.

Although, I do not prefer nor am I fond of dissection, I do understand the importance of

research and study. The first and last time I looked inside a previously living object, was in
junior high. Utilizing microscopes and several tools to form scientific facts are intriguing.

I am thankful that Crisdeana is learning as much as she can, during these courses.

Thank You,

Scarlet Minicucci
5) Students personal (please no parent input) numerical reflections on their performance during
this week in biology/environmental science class. Please take into account the following six
criteria which will cumulatively add up to a possible 60 points. Please be honest with yourself
this should be a lifelong endeavor!

1. Are you striving to be a positive community member in our class: 10 /10.

- Specific reasoning (with evidence):
I believe I have been a positive community member because I make time for everyone and try
to accommodate as many people as I can. Lately I have been working and sharing the air in all
my groups from honors bio with David, Brina & Ruben I have been asking them questions and
trying to construct our product by incorporating all of their ideas. Also working with my
XONR8 group, Alexis and Michelle I have been a critical thinker and managed to stay on task
even while working with 2 good friends in class.

2. Project work time (were you an active participant during WiLD Wednesdays, the Ocean
Institute (and the dolphin necropsy - if present)): 10 /10.
- Specific reasoning (with evidence):
I really enjoy WiLD wends, but this week was really hot going down the hill since I was ahead
I had no problems with that until I noticed people passing me then I start to get intimidated by
that. I noticed that I started to get tired on the way back going back to school after going up
that big hill where Jose had an incident with the cactus I started to feel light headed and could
feel my head throbbing thanks to Kylie, Alexis, Cami and Reina for asking me if I was okay
and staying with me for a little until I felt ready to walk again, also shoutout to Alexis for
staying with me the way back and giving me water and talking to get my mind off of the pain
and I helped her as well because we were both out there with leg pains and sweating problems.
I was interested in all the topics and rotations we had at the Ocean Institute, I was an active
participant by asking questions or answering Carlins questions. Also at night by helping
people who were struggling setting up their beds, or even in the bathroom or if anyone needed
anything ( not saying specific names)
Since I didnt go to the Dolphin Necropsy I was still having a great day at school. I did learn a
lot yesterday which was Sept 30, they had shown us a slideshow and had a representative at
each table to explain to us about what went on.

3. Attendance (please review your PowerSchool and see if you were Absent or Tardy. If so, what
day(s) and why?): 10 /10.
- Specific reasoning (with evidence):
This past week I havent been tardy to any of my periods. My hope is to not ever be tardy
unless there was a serious issue going on.
4. Assignments (A. Nervous and Endocrine Systems reading and Visual Vocabulary (all 37
highlighted vocabulary words included), AND B. Respiratory and Circulatory Systems reading
and Visual Vocabulary (at least 20 highlighted vocabulary words included)): 10 /10.
- Specific reasoning (with evidence):
These two readings were by far my favorite topics because I love learning how we function
and the aspects of it. Also the way the vocabulary worksheet is constructed really helps me
learn so much about it because Im a visual learner not only that but you could change it in
your own words to show that you understand the definition of the word.
A. I realized that I could only mainly construct a visual representative for the vocabulary word
if I really understood it because for this entry I couldnt construct a visual for somatic nervous
system or tolerance. Overall like I said before learning about the anatomy is one of my
specialties, I continue to learn it moving forward in life as well.
B.The Respiratory and Circulatory System reading really struck me because I love learning
about the cardio, there were so many things that I didnt know like the different heart
chambers and there is a left and right side of that, which is the left/right Atrium and Ventricles.

5. Honors (Human and Animal Anatomy Final Product Design and two sets of eyes):10 /10.
- Specific reasoning (with evidence):

I mentioned this earlier but I have been incorporating all ideas that are put out there on the
table and even asking my group questions to further their thinking or suggestions based on my
opinions and ideas.
I did gather ideas from 2 other people who were not in our team, I talked to Vere about my
idea and something that stood out to me from her feedback was to not add that many layers so
the audience wont get overwhelmed. I also talked to Soli and overall she liked the idea but
had struggled with comprehending what the book would actually look like.

6. Completion of this WPR sheet (including effort put into reflections, spelling, grammar, parent
conversation, and turned in on time): 10 /10.
- Specific reasoning (with evidence):
I strongly think I have filled this document to my best ability, also working hard to strive to be
a positive person and congratulate myself for getting through the week even when I struggled.
Im so honored to be in this team and get the opportunity to go travel and go on amazing
field-trips.

Total:60 /60