J.M.S. News...
By Donald F. Gately, Ed. D - April 2016
Quote for the week of March 28:
Quotes for the Month of April:
Week of April 11-15: "If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results." - Jack Dixon
Week of April 18-22: " Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss
Week of April 25-29: "You don't always get what you wish for, but you get what you work for." - Unknown
Monthly SEL Theme for the Month of April: Hope (Resiliency)
I believe that Joseph Sugarman's quote captures the meaning of and the need to be resilient. In being resilient we learn that hope believes in tomorrow because we have learned to see with our hearts.
The heart decorations in our middle school office symbolize to our school community, that we not only educate the mind, but also the heart. By seeing with your heart, you are able to understand how hope looks, acts, and feels. It is our obligation, as adult mentors, to practice hope, share it, and pass it along by becoming your SEL coaches. If we do so, your hearts will see what is invisible to the eyes.
CLASS MEETINGS!
During the month of March, Jericho Middle School began the implementation of Class Meetings, an important part of our Olweus Bully Prevention Program. Class Meetings are designed to build a sense of community and cohesiveness in the school, enhance rapport among students and staff and, ultimately, reduce bullying. Each student was assigned to a Class Meeting group with approximately twelve students. Jericho Middle School staff members were also assigned to each group to facilitate Class Meeting activities and group discussion. Our first two Class Meetings focused on creating social connections between the group members through “ice-breakers” and thought-provoking activities.
Student and staff feedback pointed to positive reactions to our Class Meetings. Some students said that they appreciated the chance to meet together and chat in a relaxed atmosphere. Others described enjoying the opportunity to learn previously unknown “fun facts” about their peers and Middle School staff. Many asked when our next Class Meeting day would be held. Staff members also described seeing social connections develop and recounted positive hallway interactions with students they had recently met in their Class Meeting groups.
We are looking forward to continued student and staff participation in the three additional Class Meeting days scheduled this year. If you have any questions or would like more information about Class Meetings or the Olweus Bully Prevention Program, please feel free to contact Joanne Verdino, Jericho Middle School Social Worker at jverdino@jerichoschools.org or 203-3600; ext. 3266.
CUPCAKE WAR AWARDS!
Jericho Middle School's fifth annual Cupcake Wars Competition supported Jericho Middle School's participation in the Riverhead Foundation Adoption Challenge. The student members of the Student Leadership groups continued to work toward their goal of adopting an injured seal who is currently receiving medical treatment and being rehabilitated at the Riverhead Foundation on the East End of Long Island.
As in the past, the Cupcake War had a Valentine's Day theme. This year the theme was "We Love the Riverhead Foundation...What Do You Love?" Participants were encouraged to create cupcakes that depicted something they "love"...have a "passion" for - such as a hobby, sport, past-time, favorite food, etc. Cupcakes were judged on creativity, design and taste.
The cupcakes looked amazing and tasted just as good. Over $1,200 was raised for the Riverhead Foundation. The Cupcake War culminated with an awards ceremony held on March 2nd, 2016.
Cupcake War Winners 2016:
Fan Favorites:
8th Grade: "We Love Donuts" - Lucas Blair, Drew Naiburg Smith
7th Grade: "I Love Camping" - Neel Singh
6th Grade: "Rainbow is a symbol of Gay Pride" - Ryan Lam, Dylan Yeh, Chris Jaghab
Teacher Awards:
Third place:
"I Love Cookies and Milk" - Mrs. Varga
"Jericho is a Growing a Community that Helps Save Animals" - Mrs. Pati
Second Place (tie):
"I Love the Ocean" - Mr. Kuehn
"I Love Batman" - Mr. Berry
First Place:
"I Love Books": Mrs. Welsh
Class Awards:
Third Place: We Love the Periodic Table - Mrs. Stile and Mrs. O'Brien's 6th Period Class
Second Place: We Love the Solar System - Mrs. Dziura Period 9 Science Class
First Place: We Love Creativity and Painting - Mrs. Pascarella's Class
6th Grade Awards
Third Place: (tie):
We Love Diversity - Emily Goodkin, Sam Lee, Robin Bank, Daniel Gassenheimer
We Love Pizza - Dyan Stawkowski and Nicholas Chazotte
Second Place (tie):
We Love Cookies - Alex Casper and Blake Mayouian
I Love Pie Cake - Olivia Hou
First Place:
I Love Panda Bears - Kaylee Franz
7th Grade Awards:
Third Place:
We Love Chinese Take-Out - Carina Chan, Sophie Francis and Kaydence He
Second Place:
We Love Valentine Rainbow Ducks – Kathryn Yi, Maggie Liu, Vanessa Gao and Tiffany Bao
First Place:
I Love Salmon Teryiaki - Jacob Schwartz
8th Grade Awards:
Third Place (tie):
"We Love Nachos" - Janet Chan, Nadia Nasim, Sabrina Wang
"We Love Jericho" - Riya Patel, Sanjana Shanmugavel, Rishika Nahata
Second Place: (tie):
"I Love Back to the Future" - Charles Greenfield. Christian Hickey
"I Love The Riverhead Foundation and Beach Rescue" – Andrew Kwan, Reuben An, Jai Shang
First Place:
We Love Science Fiction – Keertti Sinnan and Kelly Mui
I Love M & M's - Isabella Lok, Jennifer Lin, Min Yoon, Amy Shreen
Grand Prize Winner:
"I Love To Sing" - 6th Grader Michelle Rosner
(Fresh Apple Cupcake with a whipped cream frosting and musical design)
Classroom News!
TEAM 6A:
Team 6A turned their school day upside down by introducing the idea of “learning by teaching.” We increased student engagement by creating opportunities for students to explore teaching and learning in a new way by swapping roles. Students were challenged to teach for a period with a partner. Students taught their peers and parents everything they learned about their assigned topics on ancient Rome.
Using textbooks, trade books, Chromebooks, I-PADS’s and Dell computers, students used a variety of resources. The students finished the project by writing a reflection about themselves as learners and their understanding of what it means to teach.
When asked what they learned about teaching, one student replied, "It took us days to research one topic to teach. How do you do it all the time and make it look so easy? You have to create lessons every day and that’s a lot of work!” We agree – but you are all worth it! :)
TEAM 6B:
During Social Studies stations, Team 6B had a great time completing the “If Confucius had Instagram” activity. Students applied what they learned about early Chinese philosophy by creating Instagram accounts for Confucius. Sixth graders drew pictures and created collages of images that Confucius would have posted along with hashtags related to his beliefs and ideas. #Team6BRocks
TEAM 6C:
In our studies of Ancient China students played the dual role of Emperor Shi Huangdi. Students analyzed the different facets of the emperor to determine if he was a bad dude or a good guy.
TEAM 6E:
This month students on team 6E are putting together their writing portfolios using Weebly. Here Dr. Salzman shows the class how to get started!
7TH GRADE TEAMS:
Teams 7A, B and C traveled to Philadelphia for the annual trip to the city of brotherly love. While studying the foundations of our democracy, students enjoyed seeing the birthplace of the US Constitution while eating their cheese steaks! Students visited the sites of Independence Hall, the Constitution Center, the Liberty Bell as well as the US Mint. This is certainly a highlight of 7th grade!
TEAM 8A:
Students from Team 8A researching the Progressive Era, utilizing Noodle Bib, and parenthetical citations for their historical research paper.
TEAM 8B:
Students on team 8B celebrated Pi Day (3/14) by making bracelets that were circular in form and represented the number Pi up to fifteen significant digits. The winners of a Pi competition received an individual “Pie Prize” and were crowned Pi-Queens and Pi-Kings.
TEAM 8C:
The 8th graders of team 7/8C created “explain everything” videos about the 4 different types of fronts they learned about during their Meteorology 2 unit. The students then created QR codes to share their projects with the class.
Dates to Remember...
April 12 - 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Guidance Evening Hours - 7:00PM–9:00PM
Recognizing that other commitments often make it impossible for parents to find time to meet with counselors during the regular school day, we will continue a program of evening meetings this year. If you would like to meet with your child's counselor but are unable to do so during the school day, please call the counselor in order to schedule an evening appointment.
April 19 - Report Cards Posted Online
April 19 - SEPTA Meeting - MS Library - 7:00PM
April 21 - Board of Education Meeting - MS Library - 7:15PM
April 25-29 - SCHOOLS CLOSED - SPRING BREAK
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