J.M.S. NEWS...
MAY 2018
The year is coming to a close but it seems like we are more busy than ever.
Upcoming Events:
Day of Silence- May 4
A group of students approached me to organize participation in the National Day of Silence on Friday, May 4.
The National Day of Silence Is an event that was first organized in 1996, students at the University of Virginia organized the first Day of Silence in response to a class assignment on non-violent protests with over 150 students participating. In 1997, organizers took their effort national and nearly 100 colleges and universities participated. In 2001, GLSEN became the official organizational sponsor for the event. Participating students pledge to remain silent during the entire school day. Students in middle schools, high schools and colleges across the country participate in the Day of Silence.
At the middle school we have broadened the focus of the Day of Silence to include ALL individuals who have been silenced because of their race, religion, political affiliation, ability, appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression,or what they believe in.
Students who participate must attend an orientation session during the lunch periods or after school on Tuesday, May 1. Only students participate, not staff, and participation is purely voluntary.
We’re proud of our students for their activism and their impulse to support those without a voice.
Please contact me with any questions.
Kick-Butts Week - SADD and Health and Wellness Club
The week of May 7th will be Kick Butts Week at the middle school organized by our social worker, Joanne Verdino, and health teacher, Heidi Kamvakis. Kick Butts Week is a national effort to educate students about the dangers of tobacco use. This campaign has become even more important with the growing popularity Vaping among young people today.
This year our “Kick Butts Week” will focus on developing healthy habits for maintaining physical well-being, as well as reducing stress. Students from our SADD (Students Against Destructive Decision) and Health and Wellness Clubs were involved in planning a week full of activities.
Here is the schedule of some events for Kick Butts Week:
Monday – Start walking…
Tuesday – “Breathe Freely” - Tai Chi - Mindfulness – Yoga
Wed – Annual Ping Pong Tournament
Thursday –"Pick up the Pace and Keep Counting Your Steps"
Friday – Watermelon Eating Contest!
Who’s got the most steps? Awards!
Amanda Cioffi from LICADD (Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence) did a workshop for parents at a recent PTSA meeting on the important topic of Vaping. Amanda will return to school to speak with seventh and eighth graders on May 24.
PTSA / Principal’s Coffee Hour: Ask Joanne Verdino - May 10
At our PTSA meeting on May 10 we are going to have a special program called “Ask Joanne Verdino’. Many of you are aware that Joanne is preparing to retire in June. The May 10 meeting will be an informal question answer with this amazing middle level educator who has given so much to our school and who possesses a wealth of experience and knowledge when it comes to understanding and addressing the needs of adolescent development. Join us!
Family Booktalk - May 17
On May 17 we will have our annual Family Book Talk. This year’s booktalk is especially poignant as we are reading the book Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman.
If the reason you have not participated in the book talk in the past is that you feel you do not have time to read a book, I want to encourage you to attend this year. Firstly, this is the shortest book we have ever read. It is a spectacular read it and I think I finished it in a little over an hour, I’m not kidding. Secondly, you actually don’t have to read the book to participate in the booktalk. It’s structured so that everyone has an opportunity to share and connect with each other, even if you didn’t have time to read the book. Incidentally, most people who have come in the past, without reading the book, are motivated by the discussion to read it afterwards. Thirdly, this is an amazing opportunity to join us and interact with your child in the school setting! The kids love it!!
Sign up here: https://goo.gl/forms/VHI1CktAee3TNXgz2
Hope you'll join us!!
A message from our PTSA...
There have been several requests from our community for information about where one could make a donation in memory of Karen Kweit, our former treasurer and an ardent supporter of our school and PTA. Karen's family has informed us that, as someone who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the age of 20, it has always been a goal of Karen's to try and help find a cure for this disease. Therefore, per the family's wishes, anyone wishing to make a contribution in memory of Karen may choose to do so by making a donation to the Lymphoma Research Foundation by:
1) Going to www.lymphoma.org and clicking on “Donate” in the upper right hand corner of the webpage. Then, on the left hand side of the webpage, choose “Honor/Memorial Gift."
OR
2) Mailing a completed donation form (below) to: Lymphoma Research Foundation, Wall Street Plaza, 88 Pine Street, Suite 2400, New York, NY 10005.
Quotes for the Month of May:
April 30-May 4: “Doubt whom you will, but never yourself.” -Christian Nestell Bovee
May 7-11: “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing.” -Pele
May 14-18: “Your success and happiness lie in you.” -Helen Keller,
May 21-25: “Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will.” -Vernon Howard
May 28-June 1: “There is no better exercise for the heart than reaching down and lifting others up.”-John Andrew Holmes
Monthly SEL Theme for the Month of May: Attitudes and Values
Attitudes and Values
Attitude, according to Hal Urban, is the most important choice we’ll ever make because it affects everything we do in life. Research done at Harvard and Stanford state that attitude is far more important than intelligence, education, special talents, or luck. The research studies concluded that 80% of our success in life is due to attitude, while the other 20% is due to ability.
As Viktor Frankl said “The greatest discovery of our generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes.”
Classroom News!
Team 6A:
Students on Team 6A have been busy exploring Roman Civilization from the Rise of the Roman Republic to the Fall of Rome covering a span of more than 1000 years. After hours of research, the students shared their new found knowledge with their classmates. Some used their savvy technology skills to present through the use of Google slide and Kahoot, others used learning stations and performed in plays. What a fun learning experience!!! In math students constructed and deconstructed three dimensional shapes to learn about Surface Area and Volume. In Science we’ve begun our exploration of energy both kinetic and potential. Lastly, we enjoyed out Annual 6th Grade Fishing Trip out of Freeport where we learned more about conserving our seas and how to reel in big fish (skates and sea robinsJ).
Team 6B:
Team 6B had a tremendous amount of fun discovering and working with Newton’s Laws of Motion. We spun eggs (hard boiled and uncooked) to discover inertia. We bowled in the classroom with several balls of different masses to explain Newton’s Second Law. We launched balloon rockets on a string for Newton’s Third Law. Oh wait, we almost forgot racing cars with clay passengers and bringing a chair stacked with books to an unexpected stop. The team favorite, however, had to be bouncing a tennis ball on top of a basketball. Try it at home… OUTSIDE!
Team 6C:
Students on team 6C have been reading various books for Literature Circles. We are currently writing myths and studying the Ancient Roman civilization in Social Studies. We are collecting flat rocks for a day of literacy. If you have any in your garden or are by the beach please send them in. We will be decorating the rocks that will be displayed on the beautiful grounds of JMS.
Team 6D:
Team 6D has proven they are true team players in their latest BREAKOUT challenge! Students worked together to problem solve and restore gravity, force and friction to our universe through a series of inquiry-based puzzles and clues! They were the ultimate scientists working as a team to plan, collect/analyze data, and draw conclusions in order to “break out” and complete the mission. Looking forward to another one soon!
Team 6E:
Team 6F:
Team 6F has been exploring forces, friction, gravity, and Newton’s Laws in science. We took some slo-motion videos to see how air friction affects different objects, and we saved the world with a fun Breakout that tested our knowledge of forces! In Social Studies, we have examined the vibrant culture of ancient Rome, and designed our own Roman-style coins. In ELA, we’ve been honing our argumentative writing techniques, complete with a lively debate about the pros and cons of eating pizza…a hot topic indeed!
Team 7A:
On Thursday, April 19th students from Team 7A visited the National Historic Park in Philadelphia. While in Philadelphia students viewed the Liberty Bell, toured Independence Hall and Congress Hall, saw original copies of the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution, and saw a Franklin printing press in action. The students had a great time seeing the historic locations and learning about our nation’s history!
Team 7B:
During the digestion unit, team 7B students used dialysis tubing to simulate a cell’s membrane. Chemical indicators demonstrated that selectively permeable membranes only allow certain digested materials to move into cells so that they may be utilized by the body.
Team 7B also ventured to Philadelphia to experience firth-hand the seat of our nation's inception. From the Liberty Bell to the Constitution Center to Independence Hall, it was a day focused on learning and creating life-long memories with our team.
Team 7C:
Continuing our love of books, Team 7C students recently completed an independent reading poster project. Students chose high-interest books they wanted to recommend to their peers, created posters for their book, and then had two minutes to "sell" their books to the class. Each student walked away with new titles to add to their to-read lists!
Team 8A:
On team 8A in social studies class students have been working with Google hyperdocs. The student paced lessons allow students to explore topics and get teacher feedback on their work.
Team 8B:
April has been a busy month as the end of the year approaches. Students in Ms. Scalera's ELA classes showed off their comma prowess this quarter. Those who mastered the uses of the comma were crowned comma kings and queens. Congrats to all of the students for their hard work. Additionally students in earth science examined the concept of relative and absolute age by placing objects in a sequence based on context clues.
Team 8C:
Team 8C students recently completed season 3 of "Hey, JMS! What Should I Read Next?" podcast series. Students read an independent reading book of their choice, wrote an engaging script, and were introduced to several apps to record their final podcasts on. Students used an impressive variety of apps to create their book review podcasts on such as GarageBand, Audacity, iMovie, Spreaker, and Final Cut Pro. Click this link to check out season 3: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcvC6J-9LPXkaASfWDyIir7DR0Z-EtEf6. Happy reading!
Dates to Remember...
May 2-Grades 3-8 Math Assessments
May 3-Grades 3-8 Math Assessments
May 4-SEPTA Exec Mtg- District Conference Room- 9:30AM
May 10-MS PTSA Exec Mtg- MS Principal's Conf. Room- 8:30AM
May 10-MS PTSA Mtg &Principals Coffee Hour- MS Library- 9:15AM
May 11-Spirit Day
May 15-MS Spring Chorus/Orchestra Concert-7:00PM-8:00PM- MS/HS Auditorium
May 15-Board of Ed. Meeting- 9:15PM- MS/HS Gymnasium
May 17- MS Family Book Talk-9:00AM- MS Library
May 17-Board of Ed. Meeting 7:15PM
May 18-SEPTA Fundraiser-7:00PM
May 22-MS/HS Evening Guidance Hours 7:00PM-9:00PM
May 25-Schools Closed
May 28-Schools Closed
May 29-Fifth Grade Unity Day
May 30-Gr. 4 & Gr. 8 Science Assessments
May 31-Gr. 4 & Gr. 8 Science Assessments
Tips from the School Nurse
Spring Safety Tips
1-Be smart! Protect yourself from the suns harmful rays!!
· Always apply sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher.
· Remember to reapply sunscreen after swimming or sweating.
· Where a hat and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes.
· The suns rays are strongest between 10am-2pm, so take extra precautions when outdoors during these hours
2-Play safely outdoors !!
· Where a bicycle helmet when riding bikes, skateboards and scooters.
· Protect your knees and elbows by wearing safety pads.
3-Teach your children how to recognize and avoid poison ivy and
poison oak!!
4-Bee stings
· If you are stung by a bee, remove the stinger if it is visible. Wash the area with soap and water and apply a cold compress. If you develop swollen lips, tongue or throat or have difficulty breathing
call 911 immediately.
5-Ticks- When playing in wooded areas:
· Wear light colored clothing
· Tuck your pants into your socks
· Check yourself for ticks especially behind the ears, on the scalp, the back of the neck, underneath the arm, the groin and behind the knees and ankles.
6-Pool safety
· Never let children swim unattended by an adult.
· Review pool safety rules with your children
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Jericho Middle School
Email: dgately@jerichoschools.org
Website: jerichoschools.org
Location: 99 Old Cedar Swamp Road, Jericho, NY, United States
Phone: (516) 203-3600
Twitter: @JerichoMS