October 2001
    The Marauder
    Williamson Middle School
    SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:
     
    Message from the Principal
     
    Classroom News
     
    Club News
     
    October Calendar
    INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
    Classroom News
    2­3
    Club News
    4
    October Calendar
    5
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    A Message from the
    Principal…..
     
    Where did September go! The school year is in full swing, leaves are
    turning and the sweaters are coming back out. It seems like just
    yesterday that we were welcoming students back and already it is
    time for our first interim reports of the year.
    Hopefully your family has by now fallen into the “school year
    rhythm” of a good night’s sleep and a well­balanced breakfast before
    the start of each hectic day. Another essential part of the day is
    homework time. Your child should have a consistent place and time
    away from distractions to complete assigned tasks. This place should
    be well light and comfortable. If your child has no homework for the
    evening encourage recreational reading such as a magazine, book or
    newspaper. Take the time to look through your child’s Student
    Assignment Book and discuss their day with them. Celebrate
    accomplishments and discuss concerns. Even though many children
    during the middle school years have difficulty expressing their
    feelings they truly appreciate and need your support and advice.
     
    Thank you for sharing your children with us. It is a privilege and a
    pleasure.
     
    Respectfully,
     
     
    Russell Kissinger
    Principal

    MIDDLE SCHOOL MARAUDER
    Page 2
    Mrs. Bierer’s
    Classroom
     
    Heavily into map skills, we are embarking upon a
    Rose Compass Contest to see who can create the
    most accurate, most beautiful, most humorous or
    the one with the best use of color. These designs
    are often quite ornate on maps and bear observing
    for their uniqueness as well as helpfulness.
     
    Weather instruments are the project of the time.
    Each student has
    a packet of possibilities
    (anemometers, barometers, weather vanes,
    nephoscope, and the like), and will make a
    selection to turn into a working model. We’ll test
    them! These could become Learning Faire projects
    in March!
     
    In addition to the regular Reading program, we
    have read The Cay. It includes both the Science
    topic of weather, climate and hurricane, plus the
    Social Studies area of location—longitude and
    latitude.
     
    Mrs. McMahon has worked with some students in
    the Great Books Program each day for one week.
    Kayla Anselmo, Stephanie Bowles, Roxanne
    Bowman, Ryan Buskey, Nina Calebresi, Alexandra
    Cappon, Damiene Denner, Colby Furman, Tommy
    Godsey, Carleigh Hotchkiss, Katie Johnson, Terry
    Skerrett, Billy Wenzel have taken advantage of the
    opportunity to learn discussion skills.
    Miss Brownell’s
    Classroom
     
    Our first month of school has been very productive
    and fun. I have really enjoyed getting to know all
    of my students.
     
    Our class has begun our “new” reading series. Unit
    One is titled “Time of My Life”. In addition to
    reading comprehension strategies, our class has
    been developing skills at making inferences,
    problem and solution, and synonyms and
    antonyms.
     
    Math has been very active and hands on! We have
    begun to pilot the math series by Scott Foresman.
    The year began with several math investigations
    from the unit titled “Mathematical Thinking at
    Grade 5”. Investigations in Number, Data, and
    Space. The unit has four major goals:
    *to offer students meaningful mathematical
    problems
    *to emphasize depth in mathematical
    thinking
    *to communicate mathematics content and
    pedagogy to teachers
    *to substantially expand the pool of
    mathematical literate students
     
    We have begun to study scientific method.
    Students have been involved in mini labs and
    hands­on activities.
    Reading Counts!
    By Ms. Prill
     
    Reading Counts!
    Club is coming to the Middle
    School. Open to all grade levels and reading
    abilities. Listen to announcements for the day that
    we are meeting. New members can join at any
    meeting throughout the year.

    MIDDLE SCHOOL MARAUDER
    Page 3
    From Physical
    Education
    By Mrs. Freischlag and Mr.
    Mitchell
     
    Welcome Back! Just a reminder that jewelry
    is not
     
    allowed in physical education class. We are
    following sports, high school and state rules
    regarding jewelry. We want our students to be
    safe—therefore all jewelry has to be removed
    before class.
     
    Intramurals will begin for 5th and 6th graders
    starting in October. Information/Permission sheets
    will be sent home with 5th graders. Dates and
    activities will be announced and posted on the
    bulletin board.
    Word Wise?
    By Ms. Prill
     
    Are you “Word Wise”?
     
    Directions: Place a “T” in front of the name of a
    musical instrument. The word you get should be
    part of a rose bush.
     
    Write or talk to me about your “Word Wise” idea
    and I’ll include it in next months newsl
    etter.
    Thank You for
    Making the
    Clothing Drive a
    Huge Success!!
     
    The France 2001 Group would like to thank
    everyone for making their Clothing Drive a
    success!
    Enrichment
    News
    by Carol McMahon
     
    Welcome to a new school year! Enrichment is just
    getting underway at the Middle School with
    assemblies and programs being previewed and
    evaluated. All our old favorites will be back such
    as
    Grade 6 Medieval Day
    ,
    Grade 7
    Civil War
    Days
    and
    Grade 5 Science Day
    . Of course new
    programs always being developed…this year be
    sure to look for an interdi
    sciplinary
    WW II project
     
    that is being undertaken by the
    Grade 8 team
    .
     
    Things that are already on the
    books include the
    8
    th
    Gra de field
    trip to Rock Ventures
    indoor
    rock­climbing facility for a team
    building experience. Look for
    information to come home soon.
    We’ll also be looking for a good
    number of chaperones so you
    might want to set aside the date
    October 30
    th
    to join us!
     
    The Middle School Newspaper,
    The Prowler
    , is looking
    forward to publishing its first
    edition of the 2001­2002 school
    year. This year’s student editor
    is 8
    th
    grader, Geoff Haywood.
     
    As always, the Enrichment program at the Middle
    School welcomes creativity
    , talent and know­ how
    from all sources whether it comes from artists,
    teachers, students or community members! If you
    have a special talent, ability, or experience that you
    think might be worth sharing with our student
    population please feel free to contact me at the
    Middle School.

    MIDDLE SCHOOL MARAUDER
    Page 4
    5th and 6th Grade
    Association
    By Miss Finkelstein and Mrs. Hoody
     
    The 5/6 Student Association is currently gaining
    membership. Members are being selected by their
    peers based on characteristics of responsibility and
    dedication. A complete list of members will be
    posted on the Student Association bulletin board
    outside Room 9. By the time you receive this we
    hopefully had our first meeting of the year where
    we elected officers, discussing our plans for the
    year, and begin to organize Red Ribbon Week,
    which will take place October 29th through
    November 2nd.
    7th and 8th Grade
    Student Association
    By Mrs. Osborn
     
    7th and 8th Grade Student Association will be busy
    this year. Our first m
    eeting was September 18th.
    Our meetings will normally be held the first
    Tuesday of each month with special meetings
    called for committee work and planning special
    events. Our first event was when several of the
    members served as student guides for Open H
    ouse
    on September 20th. Our next event will be the
    kickoff for the second annual jewelry sale on
    October 23rd. Plan ahead to purchase some very
    nice gift items. October 24th is scheduled for the
    first dance of this school year. The 5th and 6th
    graders will attend from 6:30­8:00 pm and the 7th
    and 8th graders from 8:30­10:00 pm . Tickets will
    be available for pre­sale only in t
    he cafeteria the
    week before the dance.
     
    We are also pleased to announce the arrival of the
    5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade Student Associations’
    gift. It is an eight foot round carpet mat featuring
    our Marauder logo in the center. This carpet is
    located in the main foyer of the middle school.
     
    The Association is investigating some service
    projects.
    International
    Club
    By Mrs. Osborn and Mrs. Perez
     
    International Club will meet
    for their organizational
    meeting on Thursday, October 4th at 2:15pm in
    Room 13. We will be discussing the year’s
    activities.
    Snowboard
    and Ski
    Club
    By Mrs. Osborn
     
    The organizational meeting for the Snowboard and
    Ski Club will be Wednesday, October 17th
    at 7:00
    pm in Room 13 of the Middle School. At this time
    registration materials will be distributed and
    questions answered about our annual Snowboard
    and Ski Club trips to Brantling December 7, 14, 21,
    January 4, 11, 18 (make­up). Costs vary according
    to program selected. If you can not attend this
    meeting the registration materials will be available
    beginning October 18th in the Middle School and
    High School.
    Travel Club
    By Mrs. Osborn
     
    The first meeting was held September 13th to
    explain the application process for the trip to
    Montreal planned for November 30th, December 1,
    2. Applications were due September 18th.
    Accepted applicants would be informed September
    25 and payments will be due October 1st.

    Sun
    Mon
    Tue
    Wed
    Thu
    Fri
    Sat
     
    1
    Travel
    Club—
    Payment Due
    for Montreal
     
          
    A
    2
    7/8 Student
    Association
    Mtg, ­ 10th
    Period, Room
    13
    B
    3
     
    5/6
    Rollerskating
    (2:30­4:00)
     
     
    C
    4
     
    ES Open House
    6:30pm
     
    International
    Club­10th Per
    Rm. 13
          
    D
     
    5
     
     
     
     
    End of 5 wks.
     
    E
    6
    7
    8
     
    No School
    (Columbus Day
    Holiday)
     
     
     
    9
     
     
     
     
     
     
    F
    10
     
     
     
    Board of
    Education Mtg.
    7:30pm
    A
    11
     
     
     
     
     
     
    B
    12
     
     
     
     
     
     
    C
    13
    14
    15
     
     
     
     
     
     
    D
    16
     
     
     
     
     
     
    E
    17
     
    Snowboard
    and Ski Club
    Meeting—
    7:00 pm,
    Room 13
    F
    18
     
     
    7/8 Activity
    Night
    6:30­8:00pm
     
    A
    19
     
     
    5/6 Activity
    Night
    6:30­8:00pm
     
    B
    20
    21
    22
     
     
     
     
     
     
    C
    23
     
    Student
    Assoc.
    Jewelry Sale
     
     
    D
    24
     
    School Dance
    5/6 6:30­8:00pm
    7/8 8:30­10:00
     
    Board of
    Education Mtg.
    7:30pm
    E
    25
     
    No School
    (Superintendent’s
    Conference Day)
    26
     
    No School
    (Superintendent’s
    Conference Day)
    27
    28
    29
     
     
    School Picture
    Retakes
     
     
             
    F
    30
     
     
     
     
     
     
    A
    31
     
    Happy
    Halloween!
     
     
     
    B
     
     
     
    October 2001
    Middle School 589­9665 Elementary School 589­9668 High School 589­9621 Bus Garage 589­6901
    Red Ribbon Week Celebration

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