Middle School Newsletter- April 24, 2020
Hello Middle School Families,
I hope that everyone is well as we begin to get some spring weather! I would like to give you two updates that pertain to the Middle School.
Popcorn Fundraiser - The popcorn has been delivered to us. Please schedule a time and day to pick up your popcorn with Mrs. Mitchler at [email protected].
Student work and Lockers - I spent this past week cleaning out the middle school lockers. Each locker was bagged and labeled by student, grade, and advisor. A number of lockers were already empty. The teachers will be in the building next week, gathering student work. Once they are complete, I will set up a schedule where parents can come to school and pick up personal belongings. This will happen over several days so you can plan in advance.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. My information is below.
I would also like to thank you for the work being accomplished during remote learning. Please continue to do your best. We know it is not easy.
Be Safe and Stay Healthy,
Sue Schroeter [email protected] Cell# 802.518.0009
https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1914163/Newport- Middle- School/?route=SHOP_YEARBOOK_CUSTOMER_CATALOG&sct=CATALO G_SHOP&REF=A01110239
Don't miss your opportunity to order your middle school yearbook! This is a very unique year that you will want to capture. Please use the link above to purchase this memorable yearbook.
Continue to share photos and activities with us at [email protected]. If you would like them shared on our FaceBook page, please give us permission. It is great to see what everyone is up to.
th 6 Grade News
Mrs. Burroughs- Science: [email protected] Mrs. Robertson- ELA: [email protected] Ms. Greene- Math: [email protected] Mr. Shaughnessy- Social Studies: [email protected] Ms. Reilly- Special Education: [email protected] Mrs. Yusko- Title 1 Math Specialist: [email protected] Mrs. Stapleton- Title 1 Reading Specialist: [email protected]
Sixth grade families were encouraged to celebrate Earth Day this week, which was April 22, 2020. One simple way students and parents can do this is to take learning outside and interact with their environment. Nature walks are a fun and easy way to do this, whether it’s on school grounds, in your backyard, in the town forest, or at a park or another local place of interest. Doing a nature walk is not only about celebrating Earth Day, it’s also an opportunity for learning experiences in a variety of subjects such as science, geography, math, and art. Each nature walk offers something different for students to explore – even if you walk the same trails from one day to the next. The changing seasons can be another great way to observe plants and animals as the weather shifts. Such experiences can make learning educational and fun at the same time.
This week in 6th grade ELA, students began working on one of their last major ELA assignments. They are writing an argumentative essay on whether Bud's Rules (from the book Bud, not Buddy) helped him thrive or survive while living on the streets during the Great Depression. Students will complete this assignment next week and it is due Friday, May 1st. Most students are progressing very well with this essay, and I am very proud of their hard work on this challenging assignment. Keep it up, guys!
Students in 6th Grade Social Studies learned about natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes and explained how they affected humanity. Many were able to fully explain how these natural disasters are dangerous and effectively explained how they change society! Elaria Joseph’s Earth Day pics
th 6 Grade News
Pictures from Mrs. Burroughs’ nature walks:
Observing Bud bursts on Impressive pond of water between trees the Birch trees
Highest body of water in Newport, near summit
th 7 Grade News
Mr. Stanton- Social Studies: [email protected] Mrs. Smith- ELA: [email protected] The 7th grade team will have a professional Mrs. Stefan- Math: [email protected] development day on Wednesday, April 29th and will not be available for office hours. This Mrs. Scherr- Science: [email protected] is a day off for students, no school. Mrs. Phelps- Special Education: [email protected] Mrs. Yusko- Title 1 Math Specialist: [email protected] Mrs. Stapleton- Title 1 Reading Specialist: [email protected]
CYBER STARS
Week of April 13th: Jared Howald, Owen Leavitt, Emily Peckham, Torrence Williams
Week of April 20th: Peyton Blackingon, Alexis Durgin, Maddox Lovely, Maria White
SOCIAL STUDIES
Seventh grade students have started their new unit of study on China and The Silk Road. The final project for this unit is due Friday May 1st.
ELA
Seventh graders are finishing up The Giver this week - it’s such a great book! Next week, we’ll be doing writing and creative projects about the book as a whole
MATH
Now that students have become experts at adding integers, we’ll move on to subtraction. Subtraction is a bit more difficult so put on your thinking caps and let’s go!!
SCIENCE
Not being able to attend live, in-person events hasn’t stopped us from having fun! 7th grade students are on a virtual camping trip, visiting a selection of national parks. Students read journal entries about each day that includes all of their names over the course of the week. The narrative includes links to videos that students are asked to watch. At the end of each narrative there are one or two questions related to the day’s activities, which are submitted as their journal entry.
Some students have opted to make props for their virtual trip. Arianna and Erica show off their toilet paper roll binoculars!
Many students are expressing an interest in the parks and are asking parents to take them on a family excursion! When “the coast is clear” and it’s safe to do so, they may be asking you to take a road trip!
th 8 Grade News
Ms. Porter- English [email protected]
Ms Burke- Science [email protected] Ms. Mitchler- Math [email protected] Ms. Wood- Social Studies [email protected] Page Ms. Patel-Special Education [email protected] Mrs. Yusko- Title 1 Math Specialist: [email protected] Ms. Stapleton- Title 1 Reading Specialist [email protected]
Each week students submit mistakes they find in people's published Grammar Mistakes! It’s called the GUM Challenge (Grammar Usage and Mechanics). Snap a picture of all those mistakes you're finding on websites and on the news. $10 gift card drawings each week.
This week’s GUM Challenge winner is:
Bryce Bahara for knowing that social studies is not capitalized. Sorry, Ms. Wood.
The 2020 - 2021 high school class officer elections will be conducted in September of 2020. Any questions can be directed to Mrs. Helie at [email protected]
In English this week, students have been writing and drawing inferences from the humor in The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian. Students also watched and wrote about
" Some Good News" from John Krasinski. We can all use some good news about now, and
Krasinski (The Office) is a funny guy. Starting to see more and more students use English
rules when submitting work. Time to leave text-speak on the phones and use English in your schoolwork!
"Give me liberty or give me death..." 8th Grade Social Studies Students are working on a mini unit about the Declaration of Independence in order to better understand why they fought the Revolutionary War. Next week we are going to launch into studying more of the battles and heroes of the American Revolution.
Also, be on the lookout for our new digital Ms.Stapelton Day! We will be hosting a Google Meet Production of a Reader's Theater! Go to Google Classroom for more information.
Guidance News
Mrs. Wood: [email protected] Distance learning phone number: 802-359-7110 Distance Learning Hours: Monday- Thursday: 8am- 4pm Friday- Available by appointment
May is mental health awareness month, so please join Erika's Lighthouse on their 31 day challenge to put some good in the world. Take the Positivity Pledge! https://secure.qgiv.com/event/positivitypledge/page/calendar/
Guidance News
Turning Points Network staff are temporarily working remotely to align with recommendations of public health officials and with local school closings.
We will be available during regular working hours to the community and available 24 hours to survivors. Our emergency shelter for survivors will remain open and we will continue to provide crisis and support services throughout this time.
Community members may reach staff by emailing them directly or emailing [email protected].
Survivors may reach us through our 24-hour crisis and support line, 1-800-639- 3130.
Our #College Bear loves this WMUR-TV story
- https://www.wmur.com/…/stuffed-bear-hunt-uniting- g…/31971500 - about "Stuffed Bear Hunting" in #NH! While he is working remotely and can't take part right now, he and his teammates from our Center for College Planning (CCP) would love to recognize #NH K – 8 kids!
If parents would send their student’s name, grade and address to us at [email protected], the College Bear will send the student a little something from our prize closet!
Guidance News
Additional activities/ resource links: 20 Scavenger Hunts for Kids Why should I do schoolwork My 2020 Covid-19 Time Capsule Coping Calendar Parent Resources for School Closure 28 Days of Activities link https://www.drawerings.com/
https://www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china
https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour/current-exhibits
https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams http://www.hockeyhalloffame.com/htmlExhibits/vrtour.shtml
https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams Jellyfish- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eoEZVThVCk
7 Minute Yoga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiKJRoX_2uo&t=108s
Rainbow Breathing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O29e4rRMrV4
Stories, Readings, etc. for ages 0-18
https://kidsforpeaceglobal.org/undercoversmiles/
https://kidsforpeaceglobal.org/somedaysoonjar/
Media News
h As our distance learning continues finding fun and educational things to do is important for our students. One great way to have fun individually or as a family is to play games or trivia. One of the best trivia sites that I have found is funtrivia.com. It is a huge trivia game and quiz website which is easy to access and easy to use.
Check it out at: https://www.funtrivia.com
A great site for students to use for online games and fun is Fun Brain. Created for kids it has been the leader in free educational games for kids since 1997. It offers hundreds of
games, books, comics, and videos that develop skills in math, reading, problem-solving and literacy. But most importantly these difficult days, it is fun. Check it out at:
https://www.funbrain.com/.
Distance learning has been a learning experience for us all. The following websites
would provide homework help for students if needed.
https://www.factmonster.com
https://www.kidskonnect.com
https://www.homeworkspot.com
https://www.webmath.com
Another great site is http://www.coolmath.com with lessons, games and math activities
for kids 12-100.
If I can be of help to any of you, please feel free to email me at: [email protected]
Nurse’s Notes
I hope everyone has had a good week and has been able to get outside. Kerry Rochford Hague from
Turning Points Network sent me this article this week. I found it had some very good information and tips in it. I hope you find it useful.
How can I protect my kid's mental
health during this pandemic?
Our kids have had to be troopers as we find our way
through the pandemic. But as they spend more days in
isolation, take in more bad news, and adjust to distance Caroline Knorr Senior parenting learning, it's clear that life in quarantine is taking its toll. editor, mom of one Depression, anxiety, fear—they're not always easy to detect in tweens. And that's what's agonizing: How do
parents protect kids' mental health during this uncertain
and scary time? Our latest poll uncovers clues to the
answer. But first it reveals some hard truths.
Common Sense and Survey Monkey polled over 800 U.S. teens to find out how
they're coping with having their lives upended by the coronavirus, and what
they do for connection. Not surprisingly, they're stressed out. They also: • Worry about school. Ninety-five percent of 13- to 17-year-olds have had their
classes canceled, 41% have had no school at all, and more than a quarter say
it's hard to find a place to study at home.
• Fret about their families. They not only fear that a loved one will become
infected, they fret about finances, especially Black and Latinx kids.
• Feel lonely and disconnected. About four in 10 teens feel "more lonely than usual" right now, nearly the same number as those who say they feel "about as
lonely as usual." And, even with texting and social media—which they turn to
even more now—they miss close association with friends.
• Follow the news. Compared to pre-pandemic times, more kids are going directly to news organizations for information instead of learning about it from
friends and family.
It makes sense that tweens would have similar stressors; school, family,
friends, and staying informed are also super important for this age group. And those feelings are heightened for kids who are already prone to negative feelings. The few bright spots in the survey offer some ideas for what you can do to support kids' well-being during rough times:
Nurse’s Notes
• Family is more important than ever. Teens say they feel more connected to
their families than usual. You don't have to do anything special. Watch a show, play a game, or take silly photos and decorate them.
• Texting and social media are lifesavers. Teens say these activities are
helping them get by. If your kids aren't texting or using social media yet, you
can let them use your phone to FaceTime with a friend or relative. You can even set up regular times to video-chat with important people in their lives.
Keeping these connections is vital.
• Talking helps. Teens say they're connecting with family or friends by talking on the phone. Whoever thought that would come back into style?
Feeling anxious is a natural reaction to having your whole life upended for an
undetermined period of time. At the same time, we can't underestimate the role
of news and social media on our kids' emotional states. A certain amount of Snapchat and Instagram makes kids feel connected, and being informed
makes them feel knowledgeable about the world. But when their worlds are
reduced to these sources—and it's all corona, all the time—scary feelings can
result.
If your family's been healthy, and lucky enough to avoid some of the collateral
damage the virus has inflicted, then you're in a unique position to help relieve
some of that pressure kids are feeling. You can set the emotional tone, talk to
them about their media, and dig into their feelings. Here are ideas that can help:
Create new routines that provide a sense of stability. Schedule regular
family movie nights, game tournaments, and video chats with family and
friends. Make mealtimes fun to look forward to with themed nights like breakfast for dinner, meals based on puns and songs (the internet has no
shortage of ideas), or food that's all one color. Let kids pick ideas and help plan
them.
Foster a connection to learning. There's no question that schoolwork is
taking a back seat right now. If your kid's classes are continuing, find out
whether the school is offering more resources for learning and connecting. Some teachers are holding "office hours" (video chat sessions kids can log
into). • For quick ideas of stuff kids can do, check out our list of free online events and activities.
• For more online learning options, including tech resources and daily homeschooling lessons, visit our brand-new offering Wide Open School. Acknowledge loss of important milestones. Kids are missing out on many
Nurse’s Notes
• For more online learning options, including tech resources and daily homeschooling lessons, visit our brand-
new offering Wide Open School.
Acknowledge loss of important milestones. Kids are missing out on many occasions they were excited about, from graduation ceremonies to dance recitals to birthday parties. These are the things that define a kid's
life! Reassure them that this will end at some point, and promise you'll celebrate when it does. Put a date on the calendar for something to look forward to in the future.
Tell kids how you feel, and ask how they're doing. Tell your kids when something on the news makes you mad or sad, and connect your emotion to the specific trigger. You can even narrate your reactions. This gives your kid permission to identify and express emotions, plus the vocabulary to do it. Listen actively. It's natural to want to make your kid feel better, but it's important to just hear them. Say, "You feel sad. I understand."
Look for positives. There may not be a silver lining to every cloud, but try to be optimistic. Say, "A lot of people are acting like heroes to fight the coronavirus." Or, "Let's find ways that we can help." Or, "At times like this, I like to think of what I'm grateful for."
Encourage discussion. Kids are going to pick up a lot of information and misinformation (especially if they're getting their news from YouTube and social media). Ask, "Have you heard anything on the news today?," "What did you hear?," and "What do you think about it?" If you think the information is dubious, say, "Let's verify that by checking other sources."
Set an example by taking news breaks. Model self-care by avoiding news for a while. Explain to kids why it's healthy to just say no for a while. It'll all still be there when you get back. When kids take breaks, ask them how it felt.
Revel in warm-and-fuzzy stuff. Celebrities are doing their part by reading bedtime stories on Instagram (@savewithstories), releasing new music (Daniel Glover and Lin-Manuel Miranda), or just sending some positivity into the world (watch Some Good News by John Krasinski on YouTube). Soak up the good vibes.
Just … be. Honestly, all your kids really need from you right now is to be their parent. You don't have to be superhuman. Emotional support goes a really long way toward helping kids feel safe, secure, and loved. School, friends, good news—it'll all come back in time.
Kathleen Matz Helie RN, BSN School Nurse Distance Learning phone number 530 - 377 - 3309
Distance Learning Hours: Monday through Thursday
9am - 11am and 2pm - 4pm
Friday flex day
Available at other times, during the day, by appointment