Middle School Newsletter
Northland Innovation Center
SAGE Center Mission:
As the heart of the gifted community, the mission of the SAGE Center is to ensure all students, as members of a global society, foster their uniqueness, develop their potential, and embrace their true belonging through learning experiences distinguished by:
*Courageous exploration and discovery of passions in a flexible and innovative environment
*Support systems for students, staff, and community
*Ownership and self-regulation in a student-driven culture
Guest Speakers
KC Pet Project
6th and 8th grade students had the opportunity to listen to Miranda Pratt: Special Events, and Education Coordinator for Kansas City Pet Project. She provided insight into the KC Pet Project organization and discussed service learning and event planning. She discussed her experience as a teenager and how the opportunity to participate in service learning helped her to become a more compassionate, responsible, organized, and innovative individual.
Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport
Zoo Educators and Animal Ambassadors
Community Project
- Responsible actions
- Leadership
- Innovative thinking
We are looking for the following items to assist with our project: Water bottles, fabric scissors Used but clean t-shirts and hand towels, fabric scissors
Program Goals
To provide curricula that focuses on more elaborate, complex, and in-depth study of major ideas, key concepts and themes that integrate knowledge within and across disciplines and encourages the use of higher-level thinking skills.
To provide curricula that sets high standards and that demands rigorous expectations for student work and performance demonstration.
To provide instruction that allows for the development and application of productive thinking skills and enables students to re-conceptualize existing knowledge and/or generate new understandings that deal with real-life problems and issues.
- To provide instruction that is flexibly paced and matched to the student’s ability, pre- assessment data, learning style, interest, and motivation.
- To provide opportunities for students to develop leadership and group interaction skills that allows student-centered discussion and Socratic questioning.
To require project based learning of gifted students that represents application, analysis, and synthesis of knowledge.
To encourage an environment that fosters a positive attitude toward creative challenges, investigative activity, and knowledge creation.
What We Are Learning
Drones
Computer Science
Stock Market
The past month has been a wild one for our Stock Market Challenge teams. The lesson of the month has been volatility, and studying the causes and effects of a highly volatile market. Students continue to ask great questions and are making real-world connections to their simulated portfolios.
The 8th graders are faced with their new portfolios in the Capitol Hill Challenge. We have been working on diversification, since there are diversification requirements in the new challenge. We are all learning more about different types of bonds, and which will be the best for their portfolios. The Capitol Hill Challenge began on February 5 and will last through close of the market on May 10.
Broadcasting
Graphic Design
Fab Lab
In the Fab Lab, students are continuing to make progress with their independent projects using the design process. Each week, they set attainable goals, document their progress on our class blog, and record accomplishments for the week. They are learning to be independent in the Fab Lab space with the power tools and other equipment.
Odyssey of the Mind
Students are getting ready for the First Annual Northland Innovation Odyssey Competition in April. Their problems are not ‘practical’. We do not teach students how to solve A Problem, we teach them how to be Problem Solvers! We will have a competition at the Center on April 2nd at 1PM. We will have our Broadcasting students video the showcase and put all videos on a private You Tube Page to share with families. The winners of the challenge will be awarded medals and will be announced within a week of the performances.
We appreciate the support that you have given to your students and we are excited for the opportunity for the students to show off their hard work.
Unlocking the Mysteries of Science
Students are working hard on developing their own science investigations. Many students will be competing in the Greater Kansas City Science and Engineering Fair.
Future City
Taming of the Shrew: A Role Reversal
Script-In-Hand
SAGE 7th grade SAGE Parents
I hope you will consider helping your student to apply for the Jack Kent Cook Young Scholars Program for 7th graders.
The deadline for all materials is March 21, 2008 at noon.
Here is information about the program:http://www.jkcf.org/scholarship-programs/young-scholars/
It is open now and is for 7th graders only.
If selected 50 scholars representing every region will benefit from comprehensive academic and college advising, financial support for school, Cooke-Sponsored summer programs, internships and other learning enrichment opportunities.
How do you know if you qualify to apply?
- Currently in 7th grade.
- Reside and plan to attend high school in the US
- Earn grades of all or mostly A’s with no C’s in core academic subjects in 6th or 7th grade.
- Have a family income between $25,000-$60,000. They will accept family income of less than $95,000 but most scholars are in the 25-60,000 range.
- Be willing to participate in multi-week residential summer programs, including the two required Cooke Scholar programs after 8th and 11th grades.
What do you need to apply?
- Make an account on the Jack Kent Cooke website http://www.jkcf.org/ysp
- Students will provide information including academics, honors, activities and short and long answer essays.
- Parents will complete information about employment and tax returns.
- Two teacher recommenders will complete an online form. One must be English teacher and one must be a math teacher from 6th or 7th grade.
- One personal recommender will complete an online form. This could be anyone such a coach, mentor, camp counselor, church leader, teacher (not the same as above)
The deadline for all materials for the scholarship is March 21, 2018
Seminar
During Seminar, this month we have discussed, Self-advocacy. Self-advocacy helps kids learn by creating solutions for challenges in school. These extra benefits can make a big difference for long-term success. Instead of feeling powerless and dependent on others, kids with self-advocacy skills are prepared to take on life’s challenges.
The benefits of self-advocacy go beyond academics. Kids who can effectively self-advocate can communicate in social situations and even explain to friends why they sometimes need extra help.
Kids who exercise self-advocacy can:
· Find solutions to challenges parents may not be aware of
· Build self-confidence in the ability to learn
· Create a sense of ownership over their learning
· Develop independence and self-empowerment
Middle School S.A.G.E Team
Shon Adamson
Cybersecurity & Drones
816-321-4009
Melissa Duffett
Stock Market & Odyssey of the Mind
melissa.duffett@nkcschools.org
Jennifer Koch
Graphic Design & Augmented Reality
816-321-6710
Cassandra Shaffer
Fab Lab
816-321-5988
cassandra.shaffer@nkcschools.org
Lara Owsley
Broadcasting
816-321-4216
Lara.bradleyowsley@nkcschools.org
Cassie Fogel
Lego Robotics, App Studio, Odyssey of the Mind
816-321-4605
Wendy Rust
Fab Lab
816-321-6558
Melissa Torres
Battle of the Brain & Mysteries of Science
816-321-8719
Northland Innovation Center
Website: http://www.nkcschools.org/page.cfm?p=2774
Location: 6889 North Oak Trafficway, Gladstone, MO, United States
Phone: 816-321-5350
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Northland-Innovation-Center/1063895487035799
Twitter: @NKC_SAGE