PTC News
Cedar Park Middle School - 2/17/17
731 Chromebooks Unboxed
It was great to see so many hands making an overwhelming number of boxes dwindle to nothing very quickly. A few teachers wandered through and made sure that some things like boxes and packing material that were destined for recycling or trash will be repurposed for some exciting project. Thanks to all who volunteered!
School Social and Family Fun Night
On Wednesday, 2/22 there is an All School Social! For 6th graders the social takes place during school hours in periods 5 and 6. 6th graders leave school at the normal dismissal time. For 7th and 8th graders the social will go from 3:40 to 5. Transportation is not provided for 7th and 8th graders. There will be a DJ, snacks, and fun.
Thursday, March 2nd at 6 Family Fun Night / Science Fair Night / Book Fair
THIS is NOT a fundraiser. Just a FUN community building event!
Come for a GREAT night of family fun at Cedar Park. Teachers will have varied activities in their rooms with everything from henna to trivia to science experiments that go boom to sports. It is a super fun evening at the school. Science fair projects will be displayed. Don't miss this fun and FREE night!
Scholastic Book Fair will also be open and available on Family Fun Night.
Outdoor School - Sleeping Bags still needed
The 6th graders will be headed to Outdoor School in March. Cedar Park is in need of sleeping bags. If you are no longer using your sleeping bags and would like to donate them to the 6th grade Outdoor School program we would appreciate them very much. Contact the front office if you have questions.
March 1st - Next PTC Meeting - Budgeting and Goal Setting
Snap Chat with Nick Hershman
Advanced Math
What does a typical lunch look like for you?
My typical lunch comes in a glass tupperware container, the square prism type -- with a green rubber seal. I tend to eat left-over dinners for lunch. So tomorrow I have pasta salad, spicy lime cilantro chicken thighs, squash and hummus. I like to cook for myself, friends and family and I would highly recommend that students start learning how to make the meals that they like to eat at home.
The other component of my lunch is my signature 128 oz (that's one gallon, folks!) jug of "math water." I may eat at my desk but prefer to get out of the portable during lunch and roam the halls, or get some fresh air.
During my junior year of college Wendy Kopp, the founder of Teach for America came to Washington University in St. Louis to promote her organization and the choice to become a teacher. I remember being inspired by the idea that I could do work that I thought involved my strengths and that would be rewarding and meaningful. I applied for multiple teaching positions with TFA, the DC and NYC Teaching Fellows and ended up becoming a teacher through the New York City Teaching Fellows. I started my teaching career in Brooklyn, NY and taught middle school there for three years. I learned so much -- mostly from my struggles. I found that being a really good teacher was unimaginably more difficult than I had previously believed. I still believe in teaching for pretty much the same reasons that got me into the profession when I was in college, but I think I have changed so much as a result of my teaching.
What is your favorite part / section of your classes to teach?
I am going to twist this question a bit. My favorite moments as a teacher are when a student asks a question they are truly interested in or feels a sense of accomplishment or satisfaction from their work. I think that a lot of the power and beauty of mathematics is something that is hidden from students. Many students assume that the questions and subjects we study in math class are strange, inaccessible, or unrelatable. So when students find questions that interest them, when they do work that they find to be rewarding that's when they are gaining a greater appreciation for math.
Edited to add: This email interview was conducted back in the fall. Mr. Hershman is currently on paternity leave with a new baby!
Thanks to be given!
The Art Literacy program would like to thank all the volunteers and teachers who made the Celtic Illuminations project possible. Take a look at the bulletin board for some great examples of Celtic ribbons, knots, patterns and zoomorphics. The next project, Audubon is scheduled for the first two weeks of April. Thanks again!
Cedar Park PTC
Email: secretary@cedarparkptc.org
Website: http://www.cedarparkptc.org/home.html
Location: Cedar Park Middle School, Southwest Park Way, Portland, OR, United States
Phone: (503) 356-2560
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CPMSPTC