Tiverton Middle School
Fall 2014 Newsletter
TMS receives nearly $100,000 to augment Science Instruction and Build a SMALLab!
It’s official! TMS received nearly $100,000 from the Champlin Foundations.
PROJECT SUMMARY
The SMALLab+ grant supports Tiverton Middle School teachers and students in building science inquiry skills through embodied, mediated learning experiences. Physically, SMALLab (Situated Multimedia Arts Learning Laboratory) is a 15’W x 15’W x 12’H freestanding, interactive space. SMALLab is the type of student-centered learning environment that can improve learning and motivate students by opening new pathways to learning (think Nintendo DS and Wii!).
The goal of SMALLab+ is to raise student engagement and achievement in science. In the last NECAP Science assessment for which we have results (2012/2013 school year), only 39% of Tiverton Middle School students scored in the proficient range. This is below the state average, and many of our teachers believe it is due to the lack of technology to deliver content in innovative ways to engage today’s students.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The funds will be used to purchase a SMALLab and four mobile labs for science instruction (one laptop cart for each grade-level team of science teachers) designed for high- level authoring tools that allow students and teachers to create their own interactive learning scenarios for SMALLab. This kind of kinesthetic interactivity means students see, hear, and physically feel the experience. For instance, in a SMALLab, students can grab a wand, twist and shake it around, and learn things like physics and chemistry in the process.
Needless to say, we are STOKED! Check out this video!
TMS Students Shine at All-State Competition!
We will be proudly represented by nine of these outstanding musicians who were selected for Junior All State Ensembles.
Congratulations to:
Daniel Lopes and Erin Tedesco, both selected for Junior All-State Orchestra.
Kristen Kendera, selected for Junior All-State Mixed Chorus.
Danika Bebe, Alyssa Forget, Jessica Lubas, Madison McKenna, Emma Phillips, and Mary Pyne selected for Junior All-State Treble Chorus.
This is our finest showing in years, and we are very proud of our young musicians.
Joshua C. Davis -- Penguin Trainer at Mystic Aquarium -- visited TMS on 11/20!
On Thursday, November 20th, through JASON Learning’s “Role Model” Scientist Speaker Events program, TMS students got to hear about the exciting life of a Mystic Aquarium Penguin Trainer! There were two presentations, one for grades 5&6 from 8:15am to 9:15am and one for grades 7 &8 from 9:30am to 10:30am. Mr. Davis has been working at the Mystic Aquarium for three years and previously interned at the Mystic Aquarium for one year with the Pacific Northwest and Penguin Departments. As a trainer with Mystic Aquarium’s African penguins, Mr. Davis is responsible for tasks such as: exhibit maintenance, record keeping, enrichment administration, husbandry training, interactive program training, and public relations with the penguins. Mr. Davis is also involved in training and developing volunteers working in the penguin area. He has travelled to South Africa and assisted the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) with the Chick Bolstering Project where he supported the rescue, rehabilitation, and release efforts for African penguin chicks.
He advised TMS students to: “Stay in school. Seek out your teachers’ wisdom. Be yourself!” He regaled the audience with the story of his life as a scientist and how he got there. He loved animals since was a little boy – so, as a child, he told everybody around him about his interests. His family, his school librarian, his teachers all supported and provide resources for him to realize his dream of working with animals.
Mr. Davis graduated from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and Wildlife Conservation. He studied abroad in the Limpopo province in South Africa where he tracked African game such as lions, giraffe, zebra, elephants, and rhinos. He also completed several field courses and is certified by the Field Guides Association of South Africa (FGASA) in Level II Track and Sign as well as wilderness first aid. He is also a member of the International Marine Animal Trainer’s Association. He is headed back to South Africa next week – and will spend Thanksgiving there working with animals. The TMS audience gave him a round of applause for that!
Exciting news from the TMS Library!
Our collection is called Follett Shelf.
These books are just like Nook or Kindle e-books.
I have updated our web page to make it easier for users to access Follett Shelf.
Here is a link to the library's webpage with Follett Shelf as the first option.
http://ricat.net/common/servlet/presenthomeform.do?l2m=Home&tm=Home
From there you can log on using your library usernames and passwords.
Usernames for students are:
tiv and then their lunch account numbers, no spaces. Their password is: tiv
You can also skip the library website altogether and go directly to the shelf:
https://wbb43421.follettshelf.com
Here are the instructions for using Follett Shelf.
http://www.aboutfollettebooks.com/student-help.cfm
There is no reason to download an app as long as you have access to the internet. The books are available directly from the website. However, if you should want to download the app the instructions are on the bottom of the Help page under “Quick Reference Guides”.
A feature that might be useful for some students is the text to speech capability of some of the books in the collection. You have to open the book before you can tell if that is an option.
Enjoy!
Ms. O'Hara
Field Trips Add Value to TMS' Academic Program!
The 6th-grade field trip to Boston’s Freedom Trail was a huge success! Thank you, teachers, for planning and launching this meaningful experience for 150 of our scholars. We all look forward to February’s PATRIOT WAX MUSEUM! Relatedly, the new art work (“Women of the American Revolution") in the cafetorium is both progressive and timely, as we will likely see women on the Presidential ticket before long! TMS is ahead of the curve!
Our 7th graders headed to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center on November 13th. This field trip dovetails with the 7th-grade social studies unit "Native Americans' Struggle to Survive." Thank you to the entire 7th-grade teaching team for planning this enriching experience for our young historians!
October's Students of the Month!
Grade 8: Josh Dore and Max Piscani-Daugherty
Grade 7: Camden Phillips
Grade 6: Mackenzie Kiley and Haley Butz
Grade 5: Christian Polofsky and Tim Moura
Not pictured: Harshil Patel (Grade 7).
September's Students of the Month
Gr. 8 Charline Silva and Kristen Kendera
Gr. 7 Colby Belanger and Madison McKenna
Gr. 6 Olivia Andrade and Mikayla Andrews
Gr. 5 Chloe Viveiros and Ella Hayes
Troglodyte Artwork
Climbing to New Heights!
In late September, grade 5 students went on a field trip to the YMCA in Middletown, RI. This field trip was funded by a grant from CABINS, an active anti-bullying organization in Rhode Island. Rope courses, like that at the YMCA, are an exceptional way for young people to build trust and confidence, overcome fears or challenges, strengthen bonds, and have a fun exciting experience. Our 5th graders grew, learned,and bonded in ways that are not possible in an everyday school setting.
The field trip consisted of two parts. Part One was a classroom experience involving lessons on character building. The students had two classroom experiences, one specifically on bullying and the second on Respect, Responsibility, and Safety -- which are our themes for the middle school.
Part Two was activity-based where students participated in outdoor team challenges. Students learned to work together and help each other to be successful as a team to complete physical tasks. They also worked individually to challenge themselves and face their fears on the rock wall and climbing centipede, with lots of cheering and support from their classmates!
All 138 students experienced a life-changing character-development workshop; along with the support of their teachers. Students had a great time and brought their lessons back with them to enhance their social skills and help shape their futures in a positive way.
TMS ART DEPARTMENT
The Tiverton Middle School Art Department is well under-way learning about and creating fantastic artworks! We started out the school year looking at contemporary artist, Lea Anderson from California. Her work exemplifies the use of pattern to evoke feelings and ideas buried within each of us. In addition to pattern, students studied color, line and shape to start off the school year and each grade level made their art unique to them.
The second round of art lessons included: sketchbook journals, Textured Creatures, Picasso Monsters, Monochromatic Landscapes and Abstract Graphite drawings. Students making the sketchbook journals learned how to make stamps and make prints. The sketchbooks are personal to each student and will serve as an excellent resource for ideas and planning. The fifth graders used textures and wax resist to create creatures out of basic shapes. The creatures then had to be placed into an environment showing the creature’s native habitat. Sixth grade students learned about Pablo Picasso and Cubism. Their monster had to be “seen” from two different viewpoints, mimicking the style of Cubism. Students in grade seven learned how to make monochromatic paint colors by mixing tints and shades. Then they had to design a landscape that exemplified atmospheric perspective. And students in grade 8 learned how to use one graphite pencil to create a wide range of values. Then they had to apply this skill to create an abstract image that included line, shape, rhythm, texture, movement and of course, value.
Our TMS students are doing a great job and never fail to show their personal creativity and passion for art class. Be sure to look around the building for our students’ art hanging up on display for all to see and enjoy. Thank you!
Textured Creature
Picasso Monster
Monochromatic Landscape
Abstract Graphite Drawing
October Decorations
Bearse/Gabriel
Leary
Clarey/Dischert
2014 Tiverton Middle School Cross Country
Tiverton Cross Country just wrapped up a very successful season on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at the Rhode Island Middle School State Championships, Goddard State Park, Warwick, Rhode Island. Tiverton Middle School finished the event placing 12th out of 31 teams for the Varsity girls, 8th out of 23 teams for the JV girls, 14th out of 31 for Varsity boys and 9th of 26 for the JV boys.
For the girls Amber Lattuca lead the way finishing 38th of a field of 218 runners. Rylie Mutton, Mariah Ramos, Taylor Craig, Arianna Helger, Cede Rashleigh-McNally all ran strong races to represent TMS Varsity runners.
Lilly Pacheco was the first to cross the finish line for Tiverton Middle School JV girl runners, finishing 39th of a field of 170 runners. Following Lilly, was Angelin Santerre, Abbigail Poland, Renee Barrett, Jasmine Paiva, Amelia Peterson and Kristen Kendera.
TMS powerhouse Nick Braz finished 17th in a field of 221 Varsity boy runners! Aidan Banal, Raymond Barrett, Daniel Garde, Caiden Ibbotson and Timothy Borden sprinted to the finish-line shortly after Nick to round up the rest of our varsity runners.
Jacob Carlisle, Logan Beattie, Drew Germain, Evan Torio, Adam Amaral, Jared Rogers and Ryan Ennis all stepped up as the TMS boys JV squad. Each runner gave it their all for a great team effort.
A combined 31 boys and girls also ran Saturday as the Futures of the sport of Cross Country.
End of a Season
Time flew by! So much growth as individual athletes and as a team was accomplished in less than a two month season. 85 athletes showed up to practice in early September, unaware of the accomplishments they would achieve in the 2014 season. Tiverton Middle School Cross Country began the season with a short week of practice before they faced off against the 2013 powerhouse teams of Barrington and Kickemuit. The day ended with the boys narrowly losing to both Barrington and Kickemuitt as a team score, but our very own Nick Braz (grade 8) was the first of 104 runners to cross the finish line. (Nick placed first in all four dual meets this season!) 42 male runners from Tiverton ran that day setting the bar high for them by putting up strong times for their first race. (Top five scoring: Nick Braz, Will Brigham, Ray Barrett, Aidan Banal, Jacob Carlisle, Dan Garde)
38 Tiverton Middle School girls filled the starting line that day in Colt State Park as well. The girls lost to Barrington by a small margin but wound up squeaking out a win over Kickemuitt. This would be the last dual meet that either boys or girls team would take a loss in dual meets. (Top five scoring: Rylie Mutton, Taylor Craig, Mariah Ramos, Brenna Nobrega, Maisie McQueen)
Our next meet was at St. George’s High School against Thompson and Riverside. The boys swept the competition coming in the top 5 places against both teams. (Top five scoring: Nick Braz, Will Brigham, Ray Barrett, Aidan Banal, Jake Vaillencourt). The girls also won over Riverside and Thompson in team scoring with Amber Lattuca (grade 7) leading the way. (Top five scoring: Amber Lattuca, Rylie Mutton, Mariah Ramos, Brenna Nobrega, Taylor Craig)
Middletown was our next opponent where the boys once again swept the competition with taking the first SIX finishes. (Top six scoring was Nick Braz, Raymond Barrett, Will Brigham, Aidan Banal, Dan Garde, Jake Vaillencourt). The girls also won the Team score taking places 3 through 7. (Top five scoring were Mariah Ramos, Amber Lattuca, Brenna Nobrega, Rylie Mutton, Tayor Craig)
At the Eastern Divisional Championship Tiverton girls took 3rd out of 9 teams in team scoring while our boys finished 4th of 9 teams. (Girls Varsity scoring: Amber Lattuca, Mariah Ramos, Rylie Mutton, Taylor Craig, Arianna Helger)(Boys Varsity scoring: Nick Braz, Aidan Banal, Will Brigham, Carson Hart, Dan Garde). Two days following the Division meet, TMS traveled to Portsmouth Middle School to make up for a rained out meet that occurred the week before. Both teams ran incredibly hard putting up some of our best times of the season. Our girls almost pulled out a sweep over the Patriot runners finishing, 1-2-3-4 and 12 in scoring. (Top five scoring: Amber Lattuca, Mariah Ramos, Taylor Craig, Brenna Nobrega, Rylie Mutton). While our boys won over Portsmouth placing 1-2-3 and 10-11. (Top five scoring: Nick Braz, Aidan Banal, Ray Barrett, Caiden Ibbotson, Dan Garde)
At the Campopiano Invitation our athletes had an opportunity to run against other runners around Rhode Island. The each race was scored by grade level. Scoring for 6th Grade girls was Mariah Ramos, Angelin Santerre, Renee Barrett, Kaela Carvalho and Amanda Scott. Scoring for 6th grade boys was Shane Ramos, Owen Klusac, Tim Borden, Evan Torio, and Nick Mendoza. 7th grade girls scoring consisted of Maisie McQueen, Jasmine Paiva, Abbigail Poland, Lilly Pacheco, Marissa Cabral and for boys grade 7 was Ray Barrett, Ryan Ennis, Adam Amaral, Luke Nasiff and Robby Whalen. For grade 8 girls, top five finishers for TMS was Rylie Mutton, Taylor Craig, Arianna Helger, Amelia Peterson and Kristen Kendera. Top five finishers for 8th grade boys were Nick Braz, Will Brigham, Carson Hart, Jacob Carlisle and Logan Beattie.
Our last meet of the season finished off at Goddard Park in Warwick Rhode Island for the Middle School Championship. Tiverton Varsity Girls finished 12th out of 31 teams. (Top five scoring was Amber Lattuca, Rylie Mutton, Mariah Ramos, Taylor Craig, Arianna Helger). Tiverton Boys Varsity finished 14th out of 31 teams. (Top five scoring: Nick Braz, Aidan Banal, Ray Barrett, Dan Garde and Shane Ramos). For JV Girls we finished 8th of 23 teams. (Top five scoring: Lilly Pacheco, Angelin Santerre, Abbigail Poland, Renee Barrett and Jasmine Paiva). JV Boys finished 9th of 26 teams. (Top five finishers: Jacob Carlisle, Logan Beattie, Drew Germain, Evan Torio and Adam Amaral). Top five Futures girls was Maisie McQueen, Marissa Cabral, Kaela Carvalho, Amanda Scott and Alex Dejesus. Top five Futures boys was Own Klusak, Frank Silvia, Jacob Levesque, Luke Nasiff and Nate Neville.
With a lot of hard work, determination, teamwork and encouragement Tiverton Middle School Cross Country has made a name for themselves this season. A few of our eighth grade runners will continue with the sport of cross country throughout high school, while others may venture off into other sports or hobbies. Either way they will bring success. For our younger teammates, we have next season to look forward to. See you at the starting line!!!
The team practice schedule was as follows:
Mondays were for building up endurance, not too fast, not too slow, but long. Coach Schreiner had the team circling around the lower practice fields at Tiverton High until the very end of practice with only enough time to stretch out.
Tuesdays were race day, a day to run hard and attempt to better our time.
Wednesday was strength and stamina day. We jog to Ledger Lane, and sprint hills! Ease on down the hill but sprint up it using our arms to power up the steep grade.
Thursday was for Dynamics, a bunch of weird running drills that had the team jumping, bounding, sprinting and hopping in all directions.
Rainy Days: And if it rained, Coach Schreiner had indoor boot camp. The entire team filled the floor of the TMS gymnasium with sweat doing lunges, push- ups, bounding and jumping jacks.
TMS Mission Statement
Email: ldias-mitchell@tivertonschools.org
Website: http://tms.tivertonschools.org/
Location: 10 Quintal Drive, Tiverton, RI, United States
Phone: (401) 624-6668