Updated: 11/12/09
Out of Uniform passes need to be used by the end of the trimester! Passes are reset to 0 at the start
of each new trimester. The following students still have passes to use:
Alisandra
Hannah
Jacob
Amanda
Cary
Frankie
We are trying to find more efficient ways to manage the student computers. I thought I would appeal
to the wider community to see if someone would be willing to donate/purchase a copy for "Desktop
Remote" for Macintosh (OS 10.5). This software would make it easier for me to run updates on
student computers and perform other administrative functions. Please e-mail me if you have any
questions or are willing to help us out. Thank you!
Our school is sponsoring needy families during the Thanksgiving holiday. Please click on the "8th
Grade Homeroom" tab on the left for more information about the role that each student has been
assigned to help out.
Upcoming Assessments:
11/16 Science 6-7 Activities 6-10 QUIZ
11/17 Science 8 Activities 6-10 QUIZ
11/19 Religion Ch 4 TEST
11/30 Religion November Prayer QUIZ 2
October 29, 2009
Mr. Fulmer’s Newsletter
It has been a couple of weeks since I've been able to provide you an update, but I am happy to report
that we've settled into a good routine in the middle school. This is one of my favorite times of the
school year because we are now past the distractions associated with the beginning of the year and
are able to really focus on the curriculum.
The next two weeks will be busy ones as we approach the end of our first trimester. Please be sure
to take a look at your student's planner and at the teacher websites to make sure that no impending
projects or assessments sneak up.
Student Computers
Just a reminder that if your student is having problems with their computer, they should first fill out
the form found on my website on the Computer Maintenance page. This helps me keep track of the
various ailing laptops and provides documentation that I need in order to manage the three dozen
computers issued to the students. Thank you in advance for your assistance!
Fall and Winter Weather
Although things have turned cold, rainy, (and even "haily") our students are outside in almost all
kinds of weather. You have probably heard your student remark about being outside in the rain
during recess or P.E. I know that you do not dress them, but please double-check to make sure that
your student has the appropriate clothing for this region of the country. Of course we stay indoors
in the event of a downpour, but short of that, our students are outside for recess and P.E. because
we do not yet have the amenities that we hope to have for our students someday.
Science
The students have been learning about concepts in physics such as friction, potential energy, kinetic
energy, etc. We have had some challenges (normal at this age) learning to work well with others
during the labs and following the procedures used by scientists to maintain accuracy during
experiments.
The students were thrilled by a pop quiz over a lab from the previous week. They can anticipate
more of these pop quizzes because it forces us to organize our thoughts and account for what we've
been doing in class. I read a great article last week in the Scientific American that discusses a study
in which researches concluded that we learn more from failure (or being put in an uncomfortable
position where we might fail) than from experiencing success.
Expect more pop quizzes, kids!
Here's a link to the article: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=getting-it-wrong
Leadership
The 6-7th grade students have been discussing what features make our community unique and the
problems that our community is faced with. They will be interviewing three adults to get an adult
perspective on the identity of our community.
The 8th grade students are working on several projects at once. Three of our students are currently
operating a successful Youth Venture called the Seraph Students Store. This is a little school store
that sell school supplies, stickers, and other items to students before school on Wednesday mornings
twice a month. The students involved in this venture have been brainstorming about ways to
increase revenue and bring more students into the store.
Another group of students have been working on a Youth Venture handbook that will offer advice to
potential venture teams and help them avoid the pitfalls that teams have encountered in the past.
This same group is planning to begin a storyboard and script for a video that will offer the same
content in a more engaging way.
Finally, we have another venture focused on bicycle safety for youth that is trying to get off the
ground (or shed the training wheels). This team spent last week strategizing, revising goals, and
setting a new timeline for themselves.
Religion
Students are finishing up chapter 3 in our book Mystery of God. This chapter focuses on the unique
features of John's Gospel and on the message he had to his particular audience. I've tried teaching
this chapter a little differently than in the past, giving students the study guide and notes before
really digging into the text. They seem to be very positive about the change, but I think they're just
happy not to be taking notes by hand! We'll see if the change results in better scores on next
Tuesday's test.
Social Studies
The 8th grade students are beginning to write articles about the Thirteen Colonies that will be
posted on our class wiki site. Unfortunately, the students are currently writing in Word because they
are not yet able to access the wiki site--still waiting for our student e-mail accounts to be issued.
I'm really eager to see the finished product and I will post a link to our site as soon as it's ready!
Thank you to everyone who has offered time and materials for our classes Halloween party on Friday.
The kids will be playing a trivia game, enjoying snacks, and, their favorite thing: socializing. Thanks
for helping to make this an easy event to host.
Blessings!
Brian Fulmer