HOWL
Where the purpose of school is learning & making connections
Connecting with Each Other
What is going well for us?
Sarah: Amelia is 9 months old and scooting around on her butt. We put a gate around the Christmas tree just in case she gets any ideas!
Jacque: Morgan is coming home this weekend and Keegan returns from London on the 22nd. We will all be home for Christmas.
Cary: One of our favorite things to do this time of year is going to the Polar Express at the train museum in Green Bay. It is magical!
Carrie: January brings a new niece and nephew to our family on my husband's side! His sister's 4th and brother's first baby.
Amy: My nephew will be home for Christmas from Vanderbilt where he's studying to become a teacher and my niece turns Sweet 16 on Dec. 29.
Jacques: My daughters and son will all be home at the same time for a couple days during the break. We will probably eat Chinese food and go to a movie.
Renee: I am completing my Master's Degree next week!
Dee: My oldest son recently defended his thesis. It will be receiving his masters from the University of Oklahoma.
Lisa B: My dad finally received some positive news that his new chemo is helping, so if he feels strong enough we will go on a short road trip over the break.
Bob Feller: Whew! A much deserved break is finally here. Relax, enjoy time with family, and recharge those batteries. You are amazing people who are affecting lives in a positive way every day of your lives. Keep fighting the good fight. Best wishes for a safe and happy Holiday season.
Robin: Mark and I will spend Christmas day with our son's family. This is the first time we have been able to do this.
Mark: My oldest son is looking at colleges.
Zach: We are having a ton of fun as a family so far this wrestling season.
Tim: Our family gathers at the family farm in Maribel every Christmas and we have a great time, great food, with great company.
Krista: The Schieldt family Christmas Eve celebration (about 50-60 people) will be happening on December 21 this year. Since we have so many people, it is hard to host in people's homes. My parent's are hosting this year and they are renting the Edgerton Conservation Club. I will be helping my parent's get set up on Saturday and then the festivities begin that night. I don't see this side of the family very often so it's fun to see everyone. Most of my cousins have children so it's always fun to see them open presents. We are playing a fun sock game this year for the adults and we always play Right, Left, Center for cash. Last year I forgot my money at home so I used my dad's money. I have the best dad because I didn't have to pay him back. I will have to see if this happens again this year! I didn't win last year, so I doubt it!
Lance: Brazil is my oldest daughter and she is performing in a children's choir.
Lisa D: My husband has off this year for Christmas which is so exciting.
Jim: My Family is healthy and happy.
Angela: My youngest son just started basketball season. Yesterday he and his team went 2-0 in league play.
Kody: My fiancé just recently graduated and obtained her masters in Business Administration from the College of St. Scholastica!!!
Ben: Spending time together
Tony: Out-of-town family in South Dakota and Arizona is able to make the trek to Manitowoc for the holidays.
Stefanie: My gymnastics team is off to its best start ever!
Megan: I helped convince my dad to see his parents for Christmas Eve.
Carl: My daughter loves middle school and is working hard to compete in various skating competitions.
Marly: My boyfriend Caleb finally learned where he will be sent in February... South Carolina!
CONNECTING WITH OUR LEARNING
What is going well in our classroom?
Sarah: I created a large chart for one of my reading intervention groups to track our reading stamina. We set a goal of 10 minutes of uninterrupted reading on our 1st day and met the goal! Their goal is to read for 20 minutes without stopping before we leave for winter break.
Jacque: I think I have finally figured out what makes my Core 4 "tick".
Cary: I am proud of how engaged our students were during our XELLO lessons.
Carrie: Students are supporting each other and learning to wait. When they enter the room with a problem, they are developing the ability to sit and calm down a bit while waiting for an adult's attention. This was NOT the case the whole first quarter!
Amy: My Spanish 1 students have been enjoying finding pictures for a collage that represents their favorite activities and foods while my Spanish 2 students have been having fun planning a fashion show.
Jacques: Students were helping some other math students when they has some questions on a problem.
Renee: The growth I am seeing in their scientific explanations in science class.
Dee: Danny Oropeza is now swimming and diving (thanks to Marlie). This is HUGE since he refused to swim last year. All because John Pethan said that in his 35 years of teaching, no one had ever jumped in the pool with their clothes on. Danny was told he couldn't do this until he got in the water and proved that he could swim. I am now waiting for Danny to ask me if he can:)
Lisa B: I had some students invite a shy classmate to play a game with them at recess, so he would feel included.
Robin: Almost the entire section of Nonfiction has been heavily weeded, the books are put away in the correct order, I can concentrate on the book room since my helpers have taken care of the collection. Kids are on task and polite.
Zach: Students are exploring density from a math perspective and a science perspective. I’m seeing them put the pieces together on these concepts through hands on discovery.
Tim: I am proud that I can see students growing in their understanding of math when I can work with them individually and see them be proud of themselves when they finally grasp an idea.
Krista: I have made an awesome connection with a student that is dealing with a few tough things in her home life. A students' grandma has a heart issue and she has been telling me weekly updates about her grandma. She is very concerned about her.
Bev: A young man felt I needed more pencils to let other kids use because I have gone through at least 300 pencils since Sept. He went around his house and collected all the pencils he could find and brought them wrapped up to me as a gift. This young man has never even borrowed a pencil!
Lance: Our PPG groups are interacting across grade levels and content areas to work together toward our goal of connectedness
Lisa D: Our teams are working together to support each other and our students. The creativity and excitement that they bring to our school is contagious and so uplifting.
Jim: Students are beginning to follow expectations and routines on their own.
Angela: Last week when I had lost my voice a group of 8th grade boys came into Jacque Bartow's class where I was subbing and assisted me in teaching because I didn't have a voice any longer. This kind of compassion and leadership from unlikely sources was inspirational to me.
Kody: Two of my students came and completed their narrative writing pieces, and so they got their picture taken and displayed on the tv monitors!!!
Ben: Students have been great at independent work time and following discussions
Tony: Willing improvisers in 7th Grade Orchestra!
Stefanie: I have students who hated math other years and I have gotten them to enjoy class and do their work.
Megan: I am proud to have had a nice conversation with a student, who sometimes doesn't make the best choices, about her personal goal to be kind.
Carl: Students showing compassion toward each other
Marly: Student made Christmas cards for his teachers using Word. :) Student took his learning to another level and combined inputs and outputs.
Connecting with Our Future
What are our plans for the holiday break?
Sarah: Lots of relaxation and time with family
Jacque: I will enjoy time with family!
Cary: We will have our families over at our house for Christmas day for brunch and games. We also plan to go sledding.
Carrie: Enjoying our first Christmas in our new/old house! Lots of family time at home, on the sledding hills of St. Nazianz and in the gym for lots of basketball practice.
Amy: Christmas with family in Eau Claire, watch the Packers win, read, play with my one year old pup, binge some TV shows. Mainly just rest and do whatever I feel like doing!
Jacques: RELAX!
Renee: To relax, spend time with family, and start planning for having a baby.
Dee: Spend time with my husband and kids (we like them to visit but it's nice to see them leave)
Lisa B: My friend (since kindergarten) and his wife are coming to visit for part of the break. We are also planning on spending time with family, going on a last-minute road trip with my dad, and hopefully, some time outdoors at Point Beach.
Robin: Relax, read, play with Groot, go to the lake, visit our Rhinelander friends.
Mark: All the siblings (5) and grandkids will be home with Mom on the 1 year anniversary of my fathers passing.
Zach: Visit family
Tim: I plan to visit my parents in Michigan, go to Frankenmuth and eat chicken at Zehnders and shop at Bronner's.
Krista: I will be heading home to Edgerton for a week to celebrate with family. I also plan on doing a few of my favorite hobbies: reading, watching movies and sewing with my mom. I will then be coming back to Manitowoc to relax for a few days before school starts
Lance: Travel to Oregon with Brazil to visit my side of the family
Lisa D: Celebrating with family, painting a table, and a sleep over with my nephews
Jim: My boys and I have a 3 year tradition of going to an away Packer game. We will be in Detroit on the 28.
Angela: Christmas Eve and morning with my boys. I'm traveling to Austin Texas for a few days during break.
Kody: I'm looking forward to seeing my brother and sister-in-law who are coming home for the holidays. I'm also looking forward to seeing all of my friends and family over the holidays!
Ben: R-E-L-A-X
Tony: Eat, drink, and be merry.
Stefanie: Lots of family time, catching up with friends, gymnastics practice, and reading and relaxing!
Megan: I'm taking a trip to Chicago to visit a close friend from high school, and we will see at least one traveling Broadway show.
Carl: Home to the U.P and relax
Marly: Eat, Sleep, and be merry!
Washington Middle School
Email: delsmanl@mpsd.k12.wi.us
Website: https://washington.manitowocpublicschools.org/
Location: 2101 Division Street, Manitowoc, WI, USA
Phone: 920.663.9570
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonMiddleSchool