Science Fair student resources

Prospect students have been working on their Science Fair topic for at least the last three Thursdays. They have brainstormed ideas, researched topic options, written a testable question and identified ways to measure independent (X) and dependent (Y) variables for their project. Most students presented their plans in front of the class and received feedback from me and other students on how to efficiently collect data.

Students are bringing home a letter they have written that outlines their Science Fair project. Everyone should bring back a signed copy of their letter no later than Friday, January 5th. This letter will outline their plan for proving their testable question, days available for working in science class, and after-school options. All students need to find time outside of the school day to work on their topics.

Students may demonstrate their current progress by showing you their Google Drive files we have created in Science class. Students should be able to give you a tour of the following files:

__Science Fair Packet 2017
__Science Fair Time Activity spreadsheet
__Science Fair Letter Home

I look forward to reviewing their documentation and consulting on their progress. Students will use alot of class time to present evidence or data to prove independent and dependent variable relationships.

I am excited for my next year at MMS and appreciate all the efforts it takes to contribute to our school-wide Science Fair.

Sincerely,

Duncan

You may also view other useful resources
Prospect Science at http://tinyurl.com/ProspectSci1718.
Letter from Milton Middle School Science teachers at:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uRDnXR7wRtlWAtwAp2Xg7-1TjYQtXEyIs7dv49vI_6o/edit

Friday Update, December 8th

Here is an update of what students on Team Prospect have been up to in their four core classes:

Science

Students are organizing their Science Fair Packet 2017 in their Google Drive. Background info may be found at http://tinyurl.com/ProspectSci1718.  Other studies include Earth Systems via Rock & Water cycles.

Math

7th Grade is continuing to explore the concept of similarity and exploring the effect of a scale factor on length, area, and volume. They also are learning how to construct scaled drawings of simple shapes. We should be finishing the unit and testing the week before the break.

8th grade has been working on finding slope of a line using graphs and the formal equation for slope. This requires them to be able to accurately identify points on the graph. They also are exploring how this presents itself in a linear equation. Next, they will work with equations in standard form and learn how to convert this into the slope-intercept form of a linear equation. 8th grade will be taking a test on this unit following the winter break.

Social Studies

Students have begun Unit 2: Immigration. We are covering the 4 major waves of immigration into the United States, plus the basic process of how a person from another country immigrates into the USA. Students will learn the basic vocabulary associated with immigration. We have resumed our Wednesday Gameday, and student engagement in their learning for these sessions has been strong! Currently students are reading autobiographical narratives of immigration- one is about a 12-year old girl who came from Russia in 1894. The other is about a boy who traveled from a refugee camp in Sudan to Chicago in the 1980's, eventually graduating from Harvard. Feel free to check our Google Classroom feed for assignments and additional video!

Language Arts

Students have been reading one of two books about the immigrant experience: either Crossing the Wire or The Day of the Pelican. Ask your students if they have reading homework! Those reading Crossing the Wire, about a boy trying to get to the U.S. from Mexico, should be to page 92. Those reading The Day of the Pelican, about a family fleeing Kosovo in the late 1990's, should be to page 56. Today, all students will take a spelling test on the words they've been studying for the past five weeks.

Prospect Student Led Portfolio Conferences SIGN UP

Hi,

Please use the form link below to submit a date/time for our Student-Parent/Guardian Conferences.
https://goo.gl/forms/9JH04EIz61UYkk5t2

"Team Prospect is offering opportunities for students, teachers and parent/guardians to meet about current progress. We will have 30 minute slots available on Monday, Nov 20th from 7:30 am - 12 pm OR Tuesday, Nov 28th from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. Input in best parent/guardian email and phone number. Please select a time below and write down on your calendar. On your chosen date & time, you & your student should arrive at Team Prospect Rm 205-206 or 211-212."

Thanks,
Team Prospect

Reading Expectations

Hello Team Prospect Students and Parents,

I wanted to let you know about the reading expectations for English Language Arts this year. Students are responsible for reading 30 minutes every day, as has been true in past years of middle school. This 30-minute daily requirement may come from in-class reading, the Read Read Read Unified Arts class, and independent reading time at home. The most important thing is that your students are reading, and that they enjoy what they are reading.

Reading Logs will look a little different this year than last. Last year, I was discouraged by the participation rate with reading logs. At the start of last year, roughly 50% of students turned in reading logs. By the end of the year, the participation rate for reading logs was down to about 10%. I came to realize that reading logs were not encouraging enough students to read, and students saw reading logs as a chore, rather than as a tool to help them with independent reading. I want students to know that independent reading should not be a chore, and should be something that they are motivated to do because they enjoy it. In an effort to get more students reading, reading logs will look more like a list of books read, rather than a weekly sheet that includes questions. Students may also be asked, occasionally, to send me an email or write a short paragraph about what they're reading. It can be helpful to encourage a “no screen time” rule for a certain amount of time, to give your students time and space to read.

Please see the attached list "Team Prospect's Favorite Books." All of the books on the list are favorites of at least one student (or teacher) on the team. This year, we will be reading some books as a class. We are currently at the end of reading The Giver by Lois Lowry for our dystopia and government unit. This winter, we may be reading The Day of the Pelican by Katherine Paterson as part of our unit on immigration. During our Holocaust unit this coming spring, students will have a choice in the novel they read. Some Holocaust-themed novels are Night by Elie Wiesel, Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, and Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry.

Please feel free to email me, arehm@mymtsd-vt.org if you have any questions about reading, or anything else relating to Language Arts! Check out the Favorite Books list, and happy reading.

Ms. Rehm

Social Studies and the Declaration of Independence

Well friends, currently in Social Studies we are analyzing elements of the Declaration of Independence.  Next week we will address important battles in the conflict between the American colonies and the British Empire.  Students will present on an important battle, campaign or fort to their classmates!  Tune in next week to see if the Americans will finally win their complete independence from those stinky Redcoats!

Science Activity Scroll

Hi,

Thanks for your patience while I figured out an efficient way to communicate daily science .

You can check out the shared Google doc I use for classroom and student learning opportunities.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lG6YIcP07UGtAzK6zMiV98gvIvh89cu22M9d75xPCho/edit?usp=sharing

Basic scroll setup lists daily classroom activities & resources by the week.

Students have taken two Friday quizzes (9/22 & 9/8) and submitted individual/group tabloid paper notes from three weeks' worth of activities.  I am still entering data into our PowerSchool software.  It has been a good learning curve for all of us.  I enjoy the scientific curiosity & voices throughout the day.  Most of them are not mine!  I look forward to many other voices throughout the year.

Keep me posted if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks,
Duncan

Field Trip to Bombardier Park!

Who: Team Prospect Students!
What: A team building field trip put on by the staff of Northern Lights Rock and Ice
Where: Bombardier Park, Milton, VT
When: Friday, September, 15th, 7:45 AM - 2:25 PM

Your students will be coming home today with a permission slip, as well as a health form and waiver from Northern Lights Rock and Ice. Unfortunately, due to development on their land, Northern Lights no longer has a high ropes course. However, they are able to bring the fun to us, and their staff, along with a climbing wall, will be coming to Bombardier Park next Friday!

Students should dress comfortably and wear good, closed-toed walking shoes; we'll be walking 1.5 mile each way to Bombardier Park!

Cost of the trip is $16. Payment and permission forms are due back to your student's advisor on Monday, September 11th.

Hello Team Prospect!  My name is Leah Genzlinger and I am one of the new Special Educators on the team.  I grew up in South Burlington, went to Boston College for my undergraduate degree, and then went to UVM to get my Special Education certification.  I have lived here in Milton for the past 9 years.  I have two daughters, one in 7th grade and one in 6th.  I enjoy being outside, and spending time with my family.  This is my 19th year teaching, and I am very excited to start this new adventure here at the Milton Middle School.

Science Teacher Duncan Wardwell's 1st Prospect post

I am excited to publish my 1st blog post as Team Prospect.

I am so happy joining our Milton school district.  As a father of 9/7th grade boys in Mount Mansfield/Camel's Hump, I value the personal service every teacher contributes to our learning community.  As a former director of life-long programs at C.V.U. high school, I practice patience as it applies to personal learning.  As a former ski instructor in New England, New York & Colorado, I adapt learning progressions to individuals and conditions.  As a former teacher on 7/8th team in Charlotte, I am ecstatic to be learning along with such wonderful educators.  As a husband of another teacher in our county, I look forward to touring her around the wonderful resources of Milton.  

I want to learn as much from you as you learn from me.  I feel my role is to open many doors of scientific interest in our minds.  As you participate in science activities you will teach me as much about you.  I encourage everyone to help me orchestrate some synergy in our science classroom!

I expect we will have many opportunities to connect over the first few weeks of school.  I apologize if I am slow at remembering names but I will demonstrate some systems I use to help me out.  Our first goal is to figure out how we can inspire some scientific curiosity (I always remember that about you).

Sincerely,
Mr. Wardwell
Science
Team Prospect

Hi Team Prospect and Families!!!

I am Ms. Tabery and I'm a new Special Educator on team Prospect here at Milton Middle School. I am so excited to start this new journey at MMS and to meet you all very soon!
A little bit about myself...
I grew up in a small town right outside of Portland, Maine and I attended college at the University of Vermont. I received my degree in Middle Level Education in Math and Social Studies. I enjoy playing and watching all sports (especially basketball!) and being outdoors as much as possible. I also love to travel and this summer I had the opportunity to go to Greece.

I am looking forward to an awesome school year! Enjoy these last few days of summer!

Hello Milton Middle School!

This is Mr. Lafferty, the new Social Studies teacher for Team Prospect.  I received a degree in history at the University of Michigan, then got my teaching license for Social Studies at Champlain College.
A few things I've done before joining MMS:

• worked at an outdoor education school for middle schoolers on Cape Cod
• managed a deconstruction and salvage operation in Burlington
• served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama
• worked on an archaeology dig in Syria

Last school year I taught Spanish at Colchester Middle School, but I am happy to be a Yellowjacket!  I look forward to helping our students develop a more complete understanding of the world around us, and will draw on some of my past experiences to guide this instruction.

Field Trip to Waterbury State Park – Monday, June 12

We have scheduled a field trip for Monday, June 12, 2017 to Waterbury State Park in Waterbury, VT. We will depart at 8:45AM and return to school at approximately 2:15PM. Be prepared with appropriate clothing/gear for outdoor activities — swimming, boating, walking a nature trail, fishing, sports, and other games.

FORMS ARE DUE ON FRIDAY, JUNE 9

For more information, please see the permission and information packet.

MMS MARKETPLACE JUNE 7th 12:30pm

To the families of the Team Everest Entrepreneurs:

For the past few weeks, your child has been learning about basic economic concepts. To apply this knowledge, s/he performed some market analysis, brainstormed a good or service that meets the wants/needs of our target audience, and wrote a business pitch to convince the audience that this idea should become reality for our marketplace event. You’ve likely heard about this unit from your child or through our weekly emails. We’ve already heard from some of you wondering why your child has been asking you for loans or if they can borrow some appliance for a school project. At this point in the process, students are in teams of four or five students and are one week away from selling their service or good at the Milton Middle School Marketplace on June 7th, 2017:

This is where you may or may not come in. If your child approaches you for money, supplies, donations, labor, etc. in order to help him or her with this project, please keep the following in mind:

• As an investor, you have every right to request more information from your child regarding his/her business plan. Groups have developed their business plans over the past few weeks, and will continue to over the next five days.
  
• If you do choose to support your child in some way, first of all, thank you. Secondly, you have every right to expect to be repaid for your investment. We will ask students to keep track of these investments in order to do so. Thirdly, be aware as you enter this arrangement that you are taking a risk and these businesses may or may not turn a profit.
  
• If you will be supporting your child’s group by lending items, machines, ingredients, supplies, expertise, time, etc., we expect all groups to keep track of those expenses. Even if they are donated and you do not expect to be reimbursed, students should know the worth of those in-kind donations and must account for them in order to get a true sense of their profits/losses. We encourage you to charge your child in order to give them a more realistic business experience.
  
• Of course, if you are asked to help in any way that you are unable or uncomfortable doing, we absolutely understand and encourage you to help your child problems solve, if necessary.
  
• Depending on the nature of the business group, your child may need to be making things at home, getting together with group members, working on weekends, etc. in order to create the goods or services that will be sold at the marketplace event. 

We will follow up next week with details about the event. In the meantime, feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks for your support!

Josh Roof
Anna Rehm
Tami Koester
Caroline Woodward

6th & 7th Grade Trip, Wednesday, May 24th

Hello Everest Families!

Next week, on Wednesday, May 24th, our 6th and 7th graders will be visiting the Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh, VT and taking a hike up Mt. Philo in Charlotte, VT. This will be a full day adventure, 8 AM - 2:20 PM. We will learn about Vermont's participation in the Underground Railroad, and stretch our legs on a geologically significant landmark that will give us a fantastic view of the Champlain Valley! Please ask your 6th and 7th grade students for permission slips, and return them by this Friday, May 19th.

A reminder that ticks are out and students should come with bug repellent, and be ready to check themselves for ticks after spending time outdoors.

Snakes!

Today we had some special guests visit our classroom! Thank you to Ms. Cathy for sharing your expertise with us. These experiences will give us much to talk about as we continue to learn about adaptation and genetics.

To see more photos, visit our private photo album at Cluster.co. Everest students can all access this album by logging in to Cluster.co with their school google accounts.

Exploring Similarity

8th graders will enjoy this website as they continue to explore similarity.

https://tinyurl.com/ofxobbk

Flynn/ECHO Field Trip Success!

We had a great time on our field trip to see The Opulence of Integrity at FlynnSpace, and to explore the butterflies, fish, and other organisms at ECHO Science Museum. Here are a few photos!

Now that's a realistic scientific drawing!	Getting a tour of "behind the scenes."
Gently!	Identifying adaptations of Lake Champlain's native fish.

Jr. Iron Chef

Congratulations to Team Everest's Ashton who represented us as part of the team "The Allspice Girls" at the Vermont Jr. Iron Chef tournament on March 18!

Field Trip to Flynn Theater and ECHO

Dear Everest Families,

On Tuesday, March 28, students were sent home with information about and a permission form for a field trip to Flynn Theater and ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center. The trip will take place on Thursday, April 6 (half team) and Friday, April 7 (half team). Please help us plan a successful trip by returning the permission form by Monday, April 3.

Thanks!

Spring Portfolio Conferences – April 6 and 7

Visit bit.ly/everestconferences2 to schedule your conference.

Dear Team Everest Families,

It is hard to believe that we are beginning the third trimester of the school year. That means it’s time for the second round of Student-Led Portfolio Conferences! We know that you discuss school and learning with your child on a regular basis. We invite you and your child to participate in this opportunity to have a more formal and structured discussion about his or her successes, challenges, and growth during this trimester.

At the student-led conference, your child will present a portfolio of artifacts and written reflections – work from each class that he or she has thoughtfully selected to demonstrate learning and growth. These conferences represent many hours of preparation, and the process helps students build lifelong skills including: organization, self-evaluation, and communication. Most importantly, the portfolio process helps your child take more ownership of his or her learning and be more accountable for his or her academic progress. Thank you for the important role you play in this!

Please visit bit.ly/everestconferences2 to indicate your preferred conference time, or return the form attached to this letter. Any caring adult is welcome - parents, adult siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors. If no adult is able to attend at one of the times offered, we will gladly make arrangements for you to conference with your child at another time. Conferences will take place in the Team Everest classrooms in the middle school on the second floor.

We look forward to seeing you!

The Teachers of Team Everest

Visit bit.ly/everestconferences2 to schedule your conference.

Vermont State STEM Fair – April 1

Congratulations and good luck to the Team Everest students who will represent us at the Vermont State Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Fair at Norwich University on Saturday April 1:

Colby, Daniel, Mariam, Rhys, Rose-Lee, Sami, and William!

The event is open to the public. If you're interested in supporting your classmates, and checking out projects from all over the state of Vermont, visit this website for more information.

Girls Rock Camp!

Do you love music? Check out this great summer camp opportunity for girls ages 8-18!

Girls Rock Vermont

Reading Logs Are Back!

After a Trimester 2 hiatus, reading logs are back for Trimester 3! We will have about 10 more reading logs to finish out the year.
- The expectation is that students read 30 minutes per night at home.
- This week's reading log is focused on point of view (1st, 2nd, and 3rd person) and homophones (it's and its, there, their, and they're, etc.)
- See Reading Log 14 here.
- For a Quizlet on homophones, click here.

Young Writer's Project Summer Camp Opportunities

YWP SUMMER CAMPS 2017

From June 27-July 27
Pick one or all four camps

For rising 7-12 grade students
$200/week; scholarships available

Each week a different theme:

College Prep (June 27-29)

Poetry (July 11-13)

Photography (July 18-20)

Narrative (July 25-27)

  Details & sign up:
 youngwritersproject.org/summercamps17

Science and Engineering Fair on LCATV

We had a film crew from LCATV visit our Science and Engineering Fair, and the footage they captured is airing live on television at the following times:

Sunday February 19, 1:30 AM
Sunday February 19, 2:00 PM

LCATV's Channel 16 is viewable on Comcast Cable. You can also watch the program online by clicking here: http://www.lcatv.org/program/milton-science-fair-2017-02-09

There are several Everest scientists featured in this video. Check it out!

Rosie's Girls STEM Leadership Camp

Check out this excellent summer opportunity for girls in 8th grade (entering 9th grade)!  Rosie's Girls STEM Leadership Camp

Science and Engineering Fair "Dear Future Me" Homework

Today, students worked on a summative reflection of their Science and Engineering Fair project, where they wrote a letter to their future selves about their experiences working on this year's project. Incomplete "Dear Future Me" letters should be completed as homework and are due on Wednesday 2/15. The assignment can be found here on our Google Classroom site.

Freedom and Unity Film Contest

For our filmmakers and video enthusiasts:
Dear Milton Middle School,

I'm writing to make sure you know about the Freedom & Unity TV Youth Film Contest.

Inspired by the Vermont Movie Project, Freedom & Unity is a film contest that invites young Vermonters to create films that explore the life and culture of the Green Mountain State, both past and present. We’re excited to offer over $5000 in cash prizes, lots of cool filmmaking tools and a Youth Media Maker Conference!

Over our first two years, we have drawn nearly 200 entries from high schools, tech centers, colleges, private schools, and home schools across the Green Mountain State. In addition, we have trained teachers to use video in the classroom and mentored students in a variety of settings. If this training would be of interest to your school, please let us know!

The contest is open to middle schoolers this year for the first time. I hope that you will share this message with teachers and students who might find it of interest. Our latest newsletter has additional details below.

Thanks and cheers,

Signe Taylor

Contest Coordinator

For more information, visit the WEBSITE

Young Writer's Project Winter Conference

For all Everest writers. This is a great opportunity for you!

(From the Young Writer's project website)
Sign up for Vermont's highly-irreverent writing conference for middle and high schoolers! Poet Reuben Jackson, storyteller Geoff Gevalt and their SUPER SECRET guest artist associates will lead a day of workshops focused on poetry and prose. It's bring-your-own-lunch with amazing snacks provided (yes, your favorite chocolate granola clusters will be in attendance). Advance sign up is required to secure your spot. $20/person. Scholarships available for those who email in advance.

Date: Saturday, March 11, 2017
Time: 10.00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Place: Vermont College of Fine Arts - College Hall (36 College Street, Montpelier, VT 05601)
Price/person: $20. Scholarships available (email Susan, sreid@youngwritersproject.org).

Link: Young Writer's Project Website

8th Grade High School Course Fair Information

The course fair information night is Tuesday, January 31st at 6pm in the High School library. Parents and students should attend for information and a tour.

Yo! Girls Yoga

Grades 6 – 8

Stressed out about that test? Yoga can help that! Need more energy to make it through the day? Yoga can help that too! Explore breath work, fun yoga poses, mindfulness infusion and relaxation in this intro to yoga offering. The benefits are endless!

Program #: 420115A
Instructor: Shelley Grant-Farrell; retired teacher & practicing Yogini

Dates: Tue, Jan. 24, 31 Feb. 7 & 14
Time: 2:30 – 3:30pm
Location: Milton Middle School cafeteria
Fee: $49/student/four-week session