Pella Middle School
March 2023
Important Dates
- 4/6 - Meals from the Heartland Service Learning Day
- 4/7 - No Classes
- 4/10 - School Board Meeting @ 4:30
- 4/12 - 8th grade students to Central for WorkSmart (not all)
- 4/12 - 90 Minute Early Dismissal for PD
- 4/19 - 90 Minute Early Dismissal for PD
- 4/24 - School Board Meeting at 4:30
- 4/26 - 90 Minute Early Dismissal for PD
- 5/4 - 11:15 Dismissal for Tulip Time
- 5/5 - 11:15 Dismissal for Tulip Time
- 5/10 - 90 Minute Early Dismissal for PD
- 5/17 - 90 Minute Early Dismissal for PD
ISASP Week - thank you for helping make it another success!
Leader in Me Parent Survey
Please consider completing this survey, so we can work to improve the quality of educational experience we provide your children. Community Engagement is a big priority for us in the future, so your feedback is greatly appreciated!
Survey Link: https://www.leaderinme.com/s/pella-middle-school/families.
We are seeing positive growth, and the area of needed growth so far is an area we can take steps to improve on. We also knew there would be growth opportunities with our largest number of new staff in the past 12 years. Overall we like what we are seeing.
Current MRA Results - 49/100(goal) Parent Survey Completed
Pella Middle School Staff Culture & Climate Survey Celebrated in March
Delicious Delights from FCS and Food Trucks
The Holy Cow: Dax Putz, Eli Branderhorst, & Carter Haddon
Mix & Match: Olive Picray, Hannah Schurring, Alea Blake, & Claire Holmbeck
The Myster Machine: Zane Redman, Max Ellis, & Brady Hall
Art Club Highlights
Art Club's collaborative hanging sculpture was delivered to the Public Library this month to support Upcycle Challenge Artist Reception to be held the evening of Monday, April 17. The project provided a chance to meet and mingle with fellow artists, family and friends, and the general public. The sculpture will be hanging until after Tulip Time.
The Story Behind the Art
The Pella Middle School Art Club meets once a week with the goal to collaborate and learn from one another. Together we created a hanging sculpture titled, "The Bloemenwinkel." We chose this name because it means “flower chandelier” in Dutch. Students were inspired by the beauty and excitement of Tulip Time and wanted to create a piece that referenced the square by creating little replicas of various buildings made from cardboard and newspaper. Each member of the art club contributed at least three origami tulips made from newspaper. Bria Blazek (8th) assisted in teaching students how to fold tulips and stems as well as create an effective process for hanging our tulips. Every tulip is as unique as the member who made it. The tulips were dipped in a paper mache paste to stiffen and finished with a dusting of glitter. The tulips are hung from a recycled paper ream box lid with fishing line.
Students faced a few challenges along the way. Azalea Blake (7th) was the lead artist and engineer behind the windmill. When asked about the process she noted that “it was a challenge to make the windmill spin correctly because it was a little top heavy at first. We fixed this problem by gluing it to a wedge created out of library cards. That way it was glued to stand up, and tipped forward so it could spin better.” Materials used to create are library cards, toothpicks, a cd case, a cd, a kleenex box, and hot glue. Kayle Huffaker (7th) was the artist in charge of assembling our different elements together. When asked about the challenges she faced she noted that, “while making the tulip chandelier, it was difficult to find the hole to put the fishing wire through. It was also challenging to fill up the spaces and gaps with few tulips left.”
The Groot inspired creature has been renamed, "Group" and was created out of a toilet paper roll, a cd, newspaper and paper mache materials. It was finished with acrylic paints and was made by Sarah DeJong, Gentry Sneller, and Olivia Jorgenson (8th).
The Bloemenwinkel is a wonderful representation of collaboration between the peers at Pella middle school.
Other Artists to be credited:
Addison Pogue (8th), Zoe Drabek (8th), D’lyla Utterback (8th), Jocelyn Steenhoek (8th), Delaney Ferrell (8th), Laurelei Diaz (7th), Khloe Wichhart (7th), River Fujiyama (8th), Claire Holmbeck (7th), Tika Yang (8th), Rowan Hegwood (8th), Tabetha Tangen (8th), Lilly Bare (8th), Victoria Buydos (7th), Adalyn VanDyke (7th), Kate Argueta-Cavieres (8th), & Jonah Baldwin (8th)
Mr. DeKruyff Lending a Hand
Hoops 4 Heart Staff vs. Students Basketball Challenge
Too Cool 4 School
Teamwork makes the Dream Work!
Central Teacher Academy (CTA) and former Pella High grad, Blake Recker, is preparing to be a history teacher with Mrs. Schulz
Mr. Robilliard and 7th grade preparing for Tulip Time
Pella Middle School
Email: msoffice@pellaschools.org
Website: https://www.pellaschools.org/schools/middle-school/
Location: 613 East 13th Street, Pella, IA, USA
Phone: 6416284784
Twitter: @pellamidschool