January 2001
    The Marauder
    Williamson Middle School
    SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:
     
    Mr. Skeet’s Opening Letter
     
    Classroom News
     
    Club News
     
    Building News
     
    Pictures from Around the School
     
    Merit, Honor, High Honor Roll
     
    Student of the Month for December
     
    Building Calendar to Post
     
    Learning Fair Registration Form
     
     
    Williamson Recreation Indoor Soccer Form
    INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
     
    Classroom News
    2
     
    7th Grade Research Project
    3
    Musical News
    3
    Club News
    4­5
    Pictures Around the School
    6
    Merit, Honor and High Honor
    Roll
    7
     
    Student of the Month
     
    8
    Building Calendar
    9
     
    Dear Parents and Students:
     
    Happy Holidays to all. Holiday concerts, snow storms, festive
    decorations and excited students are
    all positive signs that the
    holidays are here. Working with students has many benefits but for
    sure being with them at holiday time certainly keeps you young.
     
    As you know by now we had to cancel the 5/6 Holiday Concert
    because of the closing of all after­school activities on December 12
    th
    .
    This concert has been rescheduled for
    7:00pm on January 3, 2001
    .
    This is all part of the joy of living in a snow area.
     
    We are very happy to announce that Carol McMahon was awarded a
    $1,000 grant for a Civil War Strategy Unit. Carol will be using the
    funds to hire reenactment actors, buying supplies, and to support the
    teaching unit this spring. Congratulations to Carol!
     
    MIDDLE SCHOOL MARAUDER
    Page 2
    Mrs. Bierer’s
    Classroom
     
    Three girls take honors for reading over 1,000
    minutes each for the Book­It! Program in
    November. Allison Carnwath, Kirsten
    Goranowski, and Hayley Hannon love reading!
     
    With the colonies all established now in history,
    there begins to be stirrings of discomfort with the
    issues of independence in governing themselves.
    Those feisty colonists will soon be em
    broiled in
    battles that are almost “more than they can chew”.
    We’re keeping close tabs on them!
     
    Change is happening in Science, too – of a
    chemical and physical nature. Experiments keep us
    wondering what will happen if……..
     
     
    Ms. Luke’s Class
     
    We have had many people in our class take
    advantage of enrichment activities offered in our
    school.
     
    There was a brown­bag enrichment course on dogs,
    during our lunchtime. The following people
    participated: Abe Peters, Colby Guiliano, Colby
    Anthony, Colby Geraci, Brittany Bergen, Nicole
    DeMarree, Danielle Ottenschot, Max Barber, Joey
    Davis, Rachel Gnage, Alex S
    chuhart, Amanda
    Whitmore, Christian Cook.
     
    Also we have had many people read at least 260
    minutes at home, enabling them to reach the goal
    for “Book­It” (they receive a coupon from Pizza
    Hut and also extra class privileges). The following
    reached the Book­It goal for November: Jacob
    Gage, Amber Foehner, Brittany Bergen, Danielle
    Ottenschot, Alex Schuhart, Ashley Haskins, Rachel
    Gnage, Joey Davis, Colby Geraci.
     
    There is also a poetry club and a reading club
    available for fifth graders, tenth period. Anyone
    that attends either one of these will receive extra
    credit in Reading or ELA. Reading Club is on
    Thursday (10
    th
    period) (twice a month) and Poetry
    Club is on Fridays. A note from you, stating you
    are aware they will be taking the late bus home,
    because of attending these clubs, is necessary.
    Mr. Skeet’s letter cont.
     
    Wayne County Sheriff, Richard Piscotti, visited our
    school on December 6
    th
    to receive a $700 check for
    a new, trained bomb­sniffing dog. The current dog
    has an injury and has to be put out of service.
    During our Red Ribbon Week activities the DARE
    Sheriff told the students about the bomb dog injury
    and that produced a ground swell of interest from
    our students to help raise money for a new dog.
    The Sheriff was so impressed he wanted to come
    out to the school to thank the students. There was a
    nice Democrat and Chronicle article about this
    project. Congratulations go out to Diane Osborn
    and Carol McMaho n for their work in coordinating
    the activities.
     
    In closing, everyone at our Middle School wishes
    you a Happy Holiday time with
    your family and
    friends.
     
     
     
    Douglas G. Skeet
    Interim Principal
    MIDDLE SCHOOL MARAUDER
    Page 3
    7
    th
    Grade
    Research
    Project
    By Mr. TenEyck
     
    After Christmas, seventh graders
    will research infectious diseases
    and prepare a project for English
    and Science credit. This project
    coincides with the science unit on
    microbiology and fulfills a unit on
    research skills for English class.
     
    The research is fully outlined in a
    letter to parents, which was
    attached to the five­week English
    report. Many of these written
    projects will be displayed at the
    Learning Fair in March.
     
    Mr. Ebert and Mr. TenEyck are
    structur ing and assessing this
    work.
    8th Grade Math
    By Mrs. Bayley
     
    It was such a pleasure meeting and speaking to you
    during parent conferences. So many of you
    brought your young people with you. This
    improves communication all around. We are
    finishing integers. We have had to work hard.
    Many students have experienced spectacular
    success and some need more re­teaching. 10
    th
     
    period is the time for me to work with students who
    need one­on­one coaching.
     
    It is so important for students to be in school every
    day. Plenty of vitamin C and sleep will help keep
    school attendance and school success a positive
    quantity. Thanks for your support.
    From the
    Music
    Department
    By Mr. Amend
     
    In case you haven’t heard by
    now, Williamson Middle
    School will be presenting George M.
    Cohan’s
    “Forty­Five Minutes From Broadway” on Friday
    and Saturday April 6
    th
    and 7
    th
    , 2001.
     
    And now for a little history of George M. Cohan.
    You’ve all heard the name before. Long before the
    annual Grammy awards (which honor today’s pop
    music artists),
    M
    r. Cohan was awarded a
    Congressional Medal of Honor in 1940 for the song
    “Over There” which he wrote as a patriotic tribute
    to the U.S. when we entered World War I. Besides
    “Over There”, you may have heard such songs as
    “I’m A Yankee Doodle Dandy”, “You’re A Grand
    Old Flag” and “Give My Regards To Broadway”
    all of which will be featured in our spring show.
     
    George M. Cohan has often been called the Father
    of Musical Comedy, a term loosely referring to our
    present day musicals. Born in 1878, he got an early
    start singing and performing with his parents and
    sister in a vaudeville act called “The Four Cohans!”
    As a young man he wasted no time in writing and
    performing in his own songs, skits, and eventually
    shows. His first successful musical shows were
    “Little Johnny Jones” (1904) and “45 Minutes
    From Broadway” (1906).
     
    His life story was the subject of the movie,
    “Yankee Doodle Dandy” (with James Cagney
    –
    1942) and the Broadway musical “George
    M!” (1968). Strange as it may seem, I’ve found
    that most middle school age children have never
    heard of this famous American artist or any of his
    work. Music! What a great way to teach history!
    MIDDLE SCHOOL MARAUDER
    Page 4
    Physical
    Education
    News
    By Mrs. Freischlag and Mr.
    Gregg
     
    In Physical Education we have
    completed the Presidential
    Physical fitn
    ess tests. The top performer in each
    grade has his/her name on the gym wall. We have
    started a basketball unit. Students will be working
    on basketball skills, rules, and participating in
    basketball games. We will finish the unit with a
    Foul Shooting/Ho t Shot contest.
     
    Please save “Boxtops for Education” and return to
    Mrs. Freischlag in the P.E. Office!
    Intramurals
    By Mrs. Freischlag and Mr. Gregg
     
    Intramurals started on December 5
    th
    .
    Grade 5 intramurals for boys and girls will
    be
    Tuesday after school and Grade 6 intramurals for
    boys and girls will be on Thursdays. This is a great
    opportunity for studen
    ts to get an extra physical
    activity!
    International
    Club
    By Mrs. Osborn
     
    International Club will meet Friday, January 12 at
    2:15 in Room 13.
    Reader’s Club
    By Mr. TenEyck
     
    Reader’s Club made it’s annual trip to
    GEVA Theatre on November 30
    th
    to enjoy
    A
    Christmas Carol
    by Charles Dickens. After
    meeting tenth periods to learn about Dickens,
    Victorian London, and the story, twenty 7
    th
    and 8
    th
     
    graders joined Mr. TenEyck and Mrs. Murnane for
    this festive occasion. GEVA and our students were
    decked out in holiday finery! The evening was a
    great success……no “humbug” about it!
     
    Currently Mr. TenEyck is arranging a Reader’s
    Club trip to GEVA for The Secret Garden
    , which
    will be performed in June.
    Ski Club
    By Mrs. Wilkinson and Mrs. Osborn
     
    Ski Club will go to Brantling
    January 5, 12, and 19. If any trips
    are cancelled an
    other one will be scheduled for
    January 26. Remember to pick up the skiers at
    9:30PM at the HIGH SCHOOL.
     
    7/8 Student Association
    By Mrs. Osborn
     
    The 7
    th
    and 8
    th
    Grade Student Association will meet
    Tuesday, January 2 at 2:15 in Room
    1
    3. The
    members would like to remind people to bring in
    their Campbell soup labels. Our group is now
    helping with this project.
    Travel Club
    By Mrs. Osborn
     
    Travel Club will have its last
    meeting before the February 2,
    3, and 4 trip to Ottawa on
    Thursday, J
    anuary 25 at 2:15 in Room 13. Last
    minute instructions will be given. It is important
    that all members attend.
    MIDDLE SCHOOL MARAUDER
    Page 5
    Y
    orkers
    By Mrs. Bierer
     
    This month will
    have found us
    travelling to the
    Winter Workshops
    in Cooperstown at
    the Farmers’
    Museum.
    Experiences will have been in groups of five or ten
    in The American Paper Staining Manufactory
    (chaperoned by Mrs. Fox), A Stit ch in Time
    (chaperoned by Mrs. Verbridge), At the Tavern
    (chaperoned by Mrs. Ast), The Blacksmith’s
    Apprentice (chaperoned by Mr. Webber), and Life
    on the Farm (chaperoned by Mrs. Hannon). A
    Student report will be in the February newsletter.
    Appointments
    During The
    School Day
    By Mrs. Starr
     
    Parents are asked to send written notes to school
    when their child needs to leave school early for a
    medical or dental appointment. The note should
    state the child’s name, the type of appointment, the
    time the child needs to leave and the name of the
    person who will be picking them up at the Health
    Office. Students are asked to drop their notes off at
    the Health Office before homeroom. They are then
    given a pre­signed pass to report to the Health
    Office at the designated time. This system helps us
    to minimize classroom interruptions. Thank you
    for your cooperation.
    Enrichment News
    By Carol McMahon
    The
    6
    th
    Grade Coffeehouse
    will be held on
    Thursday,
    January 18
    th
    at 7:00PM
    featuring poet Todd Beers,
    “Plum” and our
    6
    th
    grade
    students! Mark your
    calendars for a lively
    evening “beatnik” style!
     
    An informational meeting
    about the upcoming
    Storytelling Festival
    will be held on
    Saturday,
    January 6
    th
    at 10:00AM
    . Letters have been sent
    home with students through English classes. Any
    questions can be answered by Mrs. McMahon or
    Mrs. Verstraete at the Middle School, 589­9665.
     
    An assembly in honor of the
    Martin Luther King
    Jr.
    holiday will be held on
    Tuesday,
     
    January 16
    th
     
    for all grade levels.
    Valarie Holmes
    from
    Williamsburg, Virginia will be here to dramatically
    portray the life of a slave in the southern colonies.
     
    $1000.00 Grant Awarded
    from the
    Teacher Resource Center to
    Grade 7
     
    for the implementation of a
    Civil
    War
    project which will encompass
    Social Studies, English and Physical
    Education through a unit utilizing
    literature, historical battle strategy, map use and
    orienteering skills. The unit will culminate with a
    Civil War re­enactment in the spring.
    Slight Schedule Change
    Starting after the Holidays, on 1/2/01, we will be
    opening the school at 7:30am instead of 7:35am.
    With
    this change and other internal schedule
    changes we will gain 12 instructional minutes per
    day.
     
     
    Some buses may have to pick up the students 5­10
    minutes earlier to avoid the high school traffic jam.
    Please have your child ready in case the bus will be
    a little earlier at your stop.
     
     
    Thank you for your cooperation
     
    MIDDLE SCHOOL MARAUDER
    Page 6
    MIDDLE SCHOOL MARAUDER
    Page 7
    1st Quarter
    —High Honor Roll
    6
    th
    Grade
     
    Ashley McCaslin, Allison Shultes, Chad Burlee,
    Alyssa Hermenet, Danielle Davey, Jamie Deline,
    Jamie Bruce, Kelsey Gelina, Clayton DeFisher,
    Briana Madison, Vanessa Haskins, Cari Dickinson,
    Erin Akins, Brittany Flanders, Heather Albert,
    Hallie Ankrom, Elizabeth Cormier, Melissa
    Guilfoil
     
    7
    th
    Grade
    Leah Cox, Ryan Noble, Mason Verbridge,
    Elizabeth Pope­Collins
     
    8
    th
    Grade
    Jamie Allman, Audrey Wackerman, Lucia Adams,
    Rachael Reiber, Tiffany Skerrett, Courtney
    Yaskow, Jacob Ameele, Stephanie Gowan, Jordan
    Bean, Alexandra Allman
     
    1st Quarter
    —Honor Roll
    6
    th
    Grade
    Ashley Champagne, Kelly K
    olyer, John Bonke,
    Amanda Schuhart, Sarah Dildine, Ryan Dixon,
    Luke Ameele, Emily Bixby, Katelyn Verbridge,
    Tyler Webber, Eric Scheffinger, Kristi Russell, Eric
    LaVare, Abram Moll, Mallory Rynders, Bailea
    Scheib, Steven Shay, Zachary Musclow, Nicolas
    Markham, Alicia Schaeffer, Lauren Cantwell,
    Paige Johns, Christopher Cuvelier, Andrea Funk,
    Elora Supersad, Elisabeth Malchoff, Casey
    Marino,
    Kristen Jones, Zachary Scheib, Stephanie Wright,
    Morgan Gardinier, Rachel Peck
     
    7
    th
    Grade
    Kendall Shultes, Ami Kush, La uren Forget,
    Stephanie Crichton, Kyle O’Dell, Mackenzie
    Tuchrelo, Allison Smith, Adam Fiegl, Kearston
    Lancy, Justin Cuvelier, Michelle Ginett, Jennifer
    Hoffman, Leela Shields, Anthony Hollebrandt,
    Christopher Koudelka, Colby Stohrs, Samantha
    Knataitis, Jessica East, Scott Hackett, Cody
    Stevens, Joshua Ganskop, Derek Wood, Emily
    Gimbel, Marie Montondo, Heather Wackerman,
    Geoffrey Haywood, Joseph Slater, Jessica Hepler,
    Kaitlyn DeRue, Megan Shay, Alexandra Maroselli,
    Renee Ast, Tyler Palmer, Rachel Pilato
     
    8
    th
    Grade
     
    Matthew Lehman, Kara Kerschner, Mark Tobin,
    Caitlynne Cook, Cale Flora, Mary Guilfoil, Erika
    Young, Michael Hyman, Emily Covington, Kevin
    Kieper, Michelle Malchoff, Joshua Monsees,
    Allicia Gerken, Daniel Schilling, Heather Grube,
    Dustin Dalke,
    J
    oshua Scheuer, Casey Diver,
    Christopher Markham, Matthew Bixby, Jess
    Dennie, Erin Grzybek, Christina Hannon, John
    Allen, Lindsey Peck, Kyle Furnari, Rebecca Perry
     
    1st Quarter
    —Merit Roll
    6
    th
    Grade
     
    Amy Avery, Heidi Hoffman, Samantha Sforza,
    Cassandra Haak,
    Harrison Ronan, Nicholas
    Basamania, Ashley Scott, Amanda Knopp, Caitlin
    Gordinier, Anthony Tuchrelo, Brenden Cole,
    Daniel Volpe, John Scahill, Gabriel Hawthorne,
    Taryn Schonleber, Erich Stritzel, Danielle DiSalvo,
    Marissa Ange, Corbin Beck, Jacob DeMarree,
    Brittani Conger, Kandus Christman, Kevin Jones,
    Zachary Eckert
     
    7
    th
    Grade
     
    Kaylyn Allen, Ryan Dobson, Santino Calabresi,
    David P
    ike, Shondale Jackson, Jeanine Follette,
    David Wood, Mark Miller, Edward Coomber,
    Curtis Turner, Ashley Frank, Zachary Poole,
    Melissa DeVille, Jari Winter, Danielle Grace,
    Amanda Gage, Bryan Hadley, Tracy Bilger, Mary
    Miller, Timoty Dostman, Emily Gentile, Kyle
    Griffin
     
    8
    th
    Grade
    Alicia Scahill, DiMonique George, Stephanie Zona,
    Honor Eaton, Jesse Jopson, Jennifer Silmser, Allie
    Dorn, Aubrey Odle, Hillary Delhagen, Christopher
    L’Hommedieu, Cory Majchrzak, Nicholas Foos,
    Megan Sackett, Ariana Barbato, Ashley
    Michaelsen, Jacob Palmer, Nicole Miller, Jarred
    Savory, William Henderson, Jacob Hotchkiss,
    Andrew Malchoff, Jacob Williams, Patrick White,
    Alan Champagne
     
    MIDDLE SCHOOL MARAUDER
    Page 8
    Student
    Grade
    Teacher
    Reason
    Ameele, Hannah
    5
    Mrs. Bierer
    Kindness to Others
    Bergen, Brittany
    5
    Ms. Luke
    Outstanding Effort and Work
    Burnap, Calvin
    5
    Mr. Marshall
    Exceptional Effort
    Carnwath, Allison
    5
    Mrs. Bierer
    Outstanding Kindness
    Gnage, Rachel
    5
    Ms. Luke
    Consistently Doing Her Very Best
    Massiak, Jessica
    5
    Mrs. Bianchi
    Responsible, Creative Writing, Exceptional Effort
    Paschke, Leah
    5
    Mr. Marshall
    Exceptional Effort
    Peters, Abe
    5
    Miss Brownell
    Exceptional Effort
    Verno, Anthony
    5
    Mrs. Bianchi
    Excellent Attitude, Cooperative, Class Participation
    Volpe, Stephanie
    5
    Miss Brownell
    Excellent Class Participation
    Wenzel, Bobby
    5
    Mrs. Pagano,
    Mrs. Greco,
    Miss Bechtold
    Class Participation, Effort
    White, Katelyn
    5
    Mrs. Bianchi
    Cooperative, Good Relationship With Others
    Whitmore,
    Amanda
    5
    Ms. Luke
    Improved Effort and Improved Work
    Haak, Cassie
    6
    Miss Nellany
    Helpful and Conscientious
    Intini, Dylan
    6
    Miss Nellany
    Good Role Model
    Jones, Kristen
    6
    Mrs. Pagano,
    Mrs. Greco,
    Miss Bechtold
    Class Participation, Peer Relationships
    Calabresi, Santino
    7
    Mrs. Perez
    Class Participation
    Calabresi, Santino
    7
    7th Grade Team
    Effort, Attitude
    Davis, Tabitha
    7
    7th Grade Team
    Effort, Behavior
    DeCann, Amanda
    7
    Mr. Plyter
    Exceptional Effort
    Sprague, Caitlyn
    7
    Mrs. Osborn
    Excellent Effort, Conscientious
    Stohr, Colby
    7
    7th Grade Team
    Effort, Attitude
    Wood, Derek
    7
    7th Grade Team
    Interest, Motivation
    Bean, Jordan
    8
    Mrs. Osborn
    Well Prepared, Positive Attitude
    Budd, Kristine
    8
    Mr. Brown
    Good Role Model
    Gowan, Stephanie
    8
    Mrs. Perez
    Constructive Attitude, Class Participation
    Perry, Rebecca
    8
    Mr. Plyter
    Exceptional Effort
    Sexton, Keri
    8
    Mr. Brown
    Excellent Classroom Effort
    Student of the Month for December

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