Are you tired of the snow? This was the view from the ATYP office window before last week's rain. Yes - we're tired of the snow, too. We know that, for many of you, these weeks in March waiting for Spring Break are looonnnggg!

But you can do it! Remember to turn in your homework on time and keep up with your corrections. That way, when Spring Break does get here, you will not have to spend the whole time catching up.

The warmer weather will be here before you know it! Think spring!

Honors English 11/12 has begun working on its war unit - a tricky section of our curriculum. Many students grapple with some of the deeper questions surrounding violence, combat, and pacificism: Is war necessary? Is it moral? Why can't we solve our problems without resorting to violence? What is combat really like? The reality of war can be a tough thing for students to understand, and difficult for more sensitive students to accept. 

Sometimes being able to see these issues is helpful. If your student is struggling with some of these concepts, Ms. Cooper has found a really solid link to the top 50 best war films. Parents should be sure to read the reviews and assist in the viewing selection, as some of these are VERY gritty. We also suggest watching these films with your student, and being there to answer some tough questions. Some films, like "Gone With the Wind," will seem pretty tame by today's standards.

If you are concerned about possible raunchy language, sexual scenes, violence, and mayhem a particular film might yield, then go straight to "Grave of the Fireflies." As an animated feature, it scales that stuff way back, while still managing to be an outstanding film. And remember - anything you watch is optional, none of these films are mandatory in any way.

Total Film: 50 Best War Movies:

http://www.totalfilm.com/features/50-best-war-movies

Students may particularly like the following, mostly because they may know some of the actors.

(This is to say, there may be better films on the list, but if the object is to get them watching in the first place…)

Same caveat as above, though. Some of these are…rough viewing.

"Master and Commander"

"Kingdom of Heaven"

"Empire of the Sun"

"Born of the 4th of July"

"Henry V" (Shakespeare! But they list Olivier's version, here. Kids might prefer Brannagh's. Coop might get struck by lightning for writing that…)

"M*A*S*H"

"Black Hawk Down"

"The Hurt Locker"

"The Pianist"

"Braveheart"

"Hotel Rwanda"

"The Killing Fields" (Coop admires this film greatly. The story behind one of the main actors is sad--Haing S. Ngor, who actually survived all that horror, only to get mugged and killed in America…ugh.)

"Three Kings"

"Platoon"

"Grave of the Fireflies" (Animated film--so good, she bought it.)

"The Deer Hunter"

"Saving Private Ryan"

"Schindler's List"