Front Pages - Green Bay Area Public School District

EAGLES
www.gbaps.org/MS/Edison
EDI SO N
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015
PRINCIPAL—JO WIEBEL
ASSOCIATE PRINCIPALS—MATT WELLER & DAN SLOWEY
Edison Families-
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
HEARING/
VISION CLINIC
2
CHESS CLUB
NEWS
3
BATTLE OF THE
BOOKS
4
BACKPACKS &
LOCKERS
5
IMPORTANT
DATES
6
INTRA DISTRICT 7
TRANSFER
WINDOW
CALENDAR
1516
SPECIAL POINTS
OF INTEREST:
Be Friendly—Like Us on
Facebook
We’ve been updating our
Facebook page and would
like you to join us. To see all
the postings and pictures go
to the Edison Middle School
page and hit the like button.
(When you search, make
sure to select the page that
has an Edison Eagle for a
profile picture.)
EAG LE S
As the days of December pass by, many thoughts turn towards the new
calendar year as we anticipate the arrival of 2015. During this time at
Edison, we begin to focus on the upcoming 2015-16 school year. When
we return from winter break, Edison school counselors will meet with
all current 6th and 7th grade students to begin the scheduling process.
We’ll also welcome the Preble counselors as they help prepare our
current 8th grade students for the transition to high school.
Parents and guardians play an important role in helping their child select
the appropriate classes and elective courses for the next year. One
decision for returning Edison students is the choice to add a study hall to
their daily schedule. I encourage you to discuss with your child if a
study hall is necessary. Edison has many wonderful elective classes and
study halls limit the ability for students to explore academic options that
might help determine future pathways. Additional information will be
shared with families regarding student scheduling. Please take the
opportunity to speak with your child’s counselor if you have questions
about electives or the scheduling process.
I hope the winter recess is an enjoyable time for your family. We only
have nine school days remaining during first semester when we resume
classes on Monday, January 5!
Looking forward to 2015!
Jo Wiebel
Edison Principal
EDISON EAGLES
Page 2
PBIS CORNER
The PBIS team hopes that you and your family have a restful and safe winter break. As we gear up to start 2015, there
are a few things to be aware of. First, many teachers will be reviewing and reinforcing classroom expectations. These
include wearing ID badges, using daily planners to keep track of assignments, and being prepared to learn (book, pencil,
and any other necessary supplies). This is a great chance to start fresh in the new year. Please speak with your child
about following classroom expectations so they can get the most out of their educational opportunity here at Edison Middle School. Also, please remind your child to dress appropriately for the cold weather. Hats, boots, and mittens are a
necessity in Wisconsin’s winter, and an extra sweater or sweatshirt can be helpful in the classroom. We want your child
to be as comfortable as possible in their learning environment. A final reminder is that the end of the first semester will
come quickly after we return to school January 5th. The end of the middle school semester is January 15th. Please encourage your child to check with their teachers so they can hand in any missing work and get caught up before final
grades for the semester are due. If you have any questions about how your child is doing academically, you can check
Infinite Campus and/or contact your child’s teacher. By discussing any or all of the above with your child, you help the
staff at Edison ensure that our school environment continues to be safe, friendly, respectful and full of
responsible students!
The hearing/vision clinic will take
place on January 8, 2015 at Edison
Middle School in the
Student Services Office.
If you would like to have your child tested, please contact Pat Thut,
Student Services Secretary, at (920) 391-2452
no later than January 6, 2015.
DID YOU MOVE???
If you moved, we need your new
address! We would be very
disappointed for you to miss out
on exciting news at Edison!
Please stop in to update our records with your new address. In
order for us to update, we need a
DO WE HAVE YOUR E -MAIL ADDRESS??
change of address form filled
out (can be picked up in the
Main Office) and proof of your
new address (something with
your name and new address
on it, i.e. WPS bill, cellphone
bill, etc.). Thank you for your
cooperation!
Edison Middle School sends
out important messages during
the school year and the news-
letter via e-mail. If you
haven’t updated your e-mail
address with us, please let us
know by e-mailing
Marion Olson at
maolson@gbaps.org.
Thank you!
Page 3
EDISON EAGLES
Chess Club News
On Saturday, December 6, at Eisenhower Elementary School, five Edison students participated in a
chess tournament. Dakwaun Buechner, Elliot Gerondale, Lance Cordova, Tyler Riley, and Saysha
Temple all enjoyed playing competition from other schools. Although none of the Edison chess club
participants earned a trophy, all won a medal and had fun.
Chess club continues to meet every Tuesday after school in the cafeteria
from 2:45—3:45. ALL students interested in playing or learning chess or in
competing against students with equal ability is welcome to attend.
18th Annual Green Bay Scholastic Chess Tournament
Save the date! The 18th Annual Green Bay Scholastic Chess Tournament is
quickly approaching. It will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at
Franklin Middle School from 8:45 a.m.—2:00 p.m. The tournament is open
to all students in grades 3-8 and is FREE to GBAPS students. All students
compete in four rounds of competition. Registration forms will be available
in January (in English and Spanish) in Edison’s Main office.
Battle of the Books
This year’s battles will start the week of January 19th. We will have three rounds
at the school level. The three teams scoring the most points will advance to the
district Battle of the Books. Winning team members will be given permission
slips to attend the district battle. Participants in the
district battle are responsible for their transportation to
and from Lombardi Middle School.
District Battle of the Books: February 24th / 6:00 p.m.
Lombardi Middle School Library Media Center.
Athletic Activities
To find out when athletic activities take place, go to Edison’s web site, under
“Quick Links” select “Edison Athletics and Activities”. You will find
practice times, game times, and directions to away games.
Stay in
Touch
How is my child doing in class?
What time does practice end?
What’s happening at Edison Middle School?
Announcements
Announcements are made each day at 7:35 a.m.
Information such as activities/clubs/meetings/times/dates, etc. are announced.
They are posted in the main hallway by the Main Office and posted on our web site daily.
Infinite Campus Parent Portal
Keep in touch with how your child is doing in class
(assignments, grades, attendance plus other important information).
If you’d like access, e-mail maolson@gbaps.org.
Parents, please take a moment over winter break to discuss with your child the importance of using their
locker to secure their valuables.
Lockers in the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms for gym are very small. The lockers
can not accommodate a backpack. Backpacks are then left on the floor with
students’ valuables in them. This situation makes the backpack easily available to
other students. Therefore, items could become stolen.
Backpacks need to fit under the classroom desks. Students are carrying too many
books and/or clothing. Your child needs to put his/her winter coat in their locker
in the morning. They should be going to their locker throughout the day and not
taking more than one half of the day’s materials with them.
The safety of all students and staff are very important. Backpacks need to fit under the
desks so students and staff members do not trip or fall because of them.
Thank you for taking the time to discuss this issue with your child!
Mark Your Calendars
On Monday, January 12, a presentation titled “Rise Together”, a substance
abuse prevention program will be held in the Preble High School
auditorium from 6-8 p.m. We encourage parents of all Green Bay Area
Public School students to attend this dynamic and informative
presentation.
More information will be available soon.
Winter Break
Wednesday, December 24 through
Friday, January 2
Classes resume, Monday, January 5
Edison Middle School
Important Dates 2014-2015
Early Release Dates
(released at 12:35 pm):
January 30, 2015
February 13, 2015
April 10, 2015
May 8, 2015
No School Dates
December 24, 2014 – January 2, 2015
January 16 & 19, 2015
March 13, 2015
March 23 - 27, 2015
April 3, 2015
May 25, 2015
May 26, 2015 – Weather make-up day; if not needed, will be a recess day
Last Day of School:
June 9, 2015
Parent/Teacher Conferences:
Conferences sign-up sheets will be sent home with students for parents to fill out and have their child
bring back to the teachers for conference times.
March 5
Evening
March 13
Afternoon
March 10
Evening
Report Cards:
Report cards are given to the students to bring home. The semester and final report card is mailed home.
Questions?
Main Office – (920) 391-2450 Option 3
Attendance – (920) 391-2453
Student Services (Guidance-Counselors) – (920) 391-2452
INTRA-DISTRICT TRANSFER WINDOW
The application windows for students requesting to attend a different Green Bay Public
School (other than the one in their attendance area) for the 2015-16 school year are as
follows:
Preference Window: January 5 - February 28, 2015
Applications submitted during this window will be considered prior to those submitted
through Open Enrollment.
Additional Window: March 1 - April 30, 2015
Applications submitted during this window will be considered at the same time as
applications that are submitted through Open Enrollment.
Information Letter and Application form:
The information letter and application form can be found on the Green Bay Area Public
School District webpage (www.gbaps.org) by clicking on the Parents tab and then choosing
Forms, or at a district school building starting December 1, 2014.

Applications will not be accepted before January 5, 2015.
Applications should be submitted to the Green Bay Area Public School District, Central
Registration – Room 114, 200 South Broadway, Green Bay, WI 54303.

Students who have previously completed an Intra-District Transfer Application and were
approved are not required to reapply unless the approval was for the current year only.


Questions? Please contact Joann Metzler at 920-448-2001.
You can order this year’s memory book by filling out the envelope
that was given out on Thursday, December 18 and turning it in to the
Main Office with $18 through February. The cost will increase to
$20 in March.
OR
You can order this year’s memory book online at:
www.jostensyearbooks.com. Search for Edison Middle School in
Green Bay, WI. You will need to pay for it with a credit card.
Agriscience Update September 2014- December 2014
*The wildlife classes have graphed natural resources, explored alternative energy,
created a timeline of 10 dates in the history of conservation, and designed and
built their own bird beak to compete in a bird survival challenge. Pictured is the
Rip It! Twist it! Tear it! station from the Bird Survival Challenge. At this station students had to unwrap a tootsie roll with their BEAK and FEET—just like
an Eagle eating a fish using its beak and talons!!
*The animals and plants classes have been just as eventful, studying such topics as domestication, genetics, and comparative anatomy. During the comparative anatomy students
created a model animal skeleton using noodles and created models of animal digestive systems using play-dough. Check out these great student projects!!
*Thirty-six animals and plants students attended the first ever PIZZA PLUNGE!!
The students spent the day traveling around the area to a wheat farm, dairy farm,
NWTC, and UW-Extension and learned what was needed and how long it
would take to grow a cheese pizza from start to finish! They even made their
own pizza sauce and mini pizzas. Thank you Melinda Pollen (UW- Extension)
and Nicole Nohls (WI Dairy Ambassador) for organizing this awesome experience. Mike Austin,
local ag analyst and news/radio broadcaster, tagged along to film the event. We were featured on
channel 5 news!!!
*The FFA, a student leadership organization in the Agriscience department has
also been busy by attending the Sectional Leadership Conference in Mishicot, selling flowers before the musical performances (a big congrats to all
that were part of the WONDERFUL “ANNIE” cast and crew), and selling
beef jerky during Day 2 Friday lunches. We are preparing for competitions
and looking forward to assisting at the Gambler’s Teddy Bear Toss event on Saturday, January 31st.
All the agriscience classes were able to meet Kelly Wilfert, our section 9 state officer. She shared
knowledge about the FFA and working together.
AVID is an elective course at Edison Middle School for 7th and 8th grade
students. The course places students on the college track, requiring them to
enroll in their school’s advanced classes to prepare them for the rigors of
high school and college. To support them in the rigorous coursework, AVID
students learn organizational and study skills, develop critical thinking, learn to ask probing
questions, receive academic help from peers and college tutors, and participate in enrichment
and motivational activities to make their college dreams a reality. Each month AVID will
feature a strategy in the Edison newsletter to support ALL students.
This month’s strategy involves Costa’s Levels of Questioning. To better understand the content being presented in core subject areas, it is essential for students to learn to think critically
and to ask higher levels of questions. By asking higher levels of questions, students deepen
their knowledge and create connections to the material being presented. Students need to be
familiar with Costa’s levels of questioning to assist them in formulating and identifying higher levels of questions.
Orientation and Curriculum/Activities Fair
Thursday, January 8, 2015
5:30-6:30 p.m.
OR
7:00-8:00 p.m.
School counselors will be visiting students beginning in January to schedule for
the 2015-16 school year. You are invited to our Orientation/Curriculum Fair. Discover the opportunities we have for you!
Snacks will be served in the commons, and attendees will receive a free gift.
Our curriculum department teaching staff, athletic coaches, and co-curricular
advisors will feature exhibits and be available for questions. Preble has a place
for every student. A wide variety of athletics, clubs, and activities are offered to
engage students in all their interests. From community service clubs, academic
competitions, and performances on the field and on the stage, all students at
Preble can get involved as a Proud Hornet.
Advanced Placement Classes
Athletic Activities such as football, basketball, soccer, golf, tennis, volleyball,
track and field, cross country and swimming just to mention a few!
Co-curricular activities such as Student Council, FFA, FBLA, Diversity Club,
Dance Team, DECA, Forensics and so much more!
IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU!
HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE
PREBLE HIGH SCHOOL
Edison Parent Network
January, 2015
Dinner and a Movie!
January 23
Mr. Peabody and Sherman
Bring your family back to school for a fun, family
Friday night. We’ll have a meal together and then
head into the auditorium to watch this funny movie.
Date: Friday, January 23
Time: 6:00 meal, 6:30 movie
Cost: $1.50/person, includes a hot dog, chips, dessert and a drink.
Popcorn available for 50¢/bag.
UPCOMING
EVENTS
Want to get involved at Edison but
just not sure how?
Parent Network is the perfect way to make a great connection
between home and school. There are many opportunities to help
throughout the school year and you can pick your level of involvement. The easiest ways to learn about what’s going on or to find out
ways you can help are:
Attend evening Parent Network Meetings. They’re very casual and everyone is
invited.
Put your name on the Parent Network email list. Periodically you’ll receive messages with reminders and requests for help. No pressure…just opportunities.
To be added to the list, please send an email to Jen Metcalf: mmjmet@gmail.com
We are looking for volunteers to help with the Dinner & A
Movie and Teacher Appreciation Breakfast in May.
January 22
Parent Network
Meeting 6 pm
Library
January 23
Dinner & A Movie
February 20
Dinner & A Movie
April 30
Parent Network
Meeting
May 8
Teacher
Appreciation
Breakfast
For more information about Parent Network, including meeting agendas, meeting notes and contact information, check out the Parent
Network pages on Edison’s website : www.gbaps.org/MS/edison
19 Martin Luther 20
King Jr.
Spelling Bee
Day
No
School
26
18
25
27
13
12
11
6
TUE
5
Classes Resume
MON
4
SUN
Dates are subject to change.
28
21
Spelling Bee
Make-up Day
14
7
WED
29
22
Parent Network
Meeting Library
6-7 p.m.
15
8
Hearing Vision
7:45—Noon
1
Happy New Year!
Winter Break
THU
17
10
3
30
Early Release
12:35 p.m.
31
23
24
Dinner & A Movie
Dinner 6:00 p.m.
& Movie 6:30
p.m.
16
No School
9
6th Grade WPS
Presentation
2
Winter Break
FRI
Students should listen to the morning announcements for the latest information or check the website.
www.gbaps.org/Edison
Edison Middle School
January 2015
SAT
Dates are subject to change.
2
9
16
23
1
8
15
22
SUN
MON
24
17
10
3
TUE
25
18
11
4
WED
26
19
12
5
THU
27
8th Grade WPS
Presentation
20
Dinner and A
Movie
6:00 Dinner
6:30 Movie
13
Early Release
12:35 p.m.
6
String Fling @
Preble 7:00 p.m.
FRI
Students should listen to the morning announcements for the latest information or check the website.
www.gbaps.org/Edison
Edison Middle School
February 2015
28
MS Solo
Ensemble
21
14
7
SAT