Spartan Herald - Academy Publishing, Inc.

November 2012
Volume 5
Issue 1
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Dear Milwee Family,
Public education is facing many challenges during a time that high
accountability and student performance is not only encouraged, but
expected. This election year, there are many items on the ballot, and all
of them deserve your careful consideration. One item on the ballot focuses
on Seminole County Public School and will be applied to critical needs such
as: attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers, enhancing career
and vocational education programs to help students get jobs, preserving
outstanding student academic, athletics and arts programs, ensuring student
excel by providing up-to-date technology for computer-based testing and
maintenance and repairing of aging school facilities and buses. If the
community wishes to maintain the same level of programs and services,
action must take place.
Best regards,
Michelle Walsh
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Parents, teachers, staff and students are encouraged to get
involved now, before decisions are made and it is too late to
voice your support or cast your vote. You may be wondering
what a “mill” is as it relates to the referendum. Attend
School Board Meetings or contact your PTSA President,
Heather Bryant, to find out what is happening in
Seminole County Public Schools. Information is
power and the more information you have, the
better off our community. Education is key to
casting an informed vote. Get the facts and
you will see why it is vitally important to
vote, whether absentee, early voting
or on November 6, Election Day.
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Positively Positive
People
Milwee Middle School
recognizes students who make
good choices?
Are you putting forth
good effort?
Are you trying your best?
Do you sometimes go out of
your way to help others?
If these things describe you...be
careful...you might just get a
Referral!
Positive
Milwee Middle School is Committed
to Bully Prevention!
Teachers are on the lookout for
students who are taking the extra step to
make Milwee a positive place to learn.
If you get a Positive Referral your parent
will be notified of the great choices you
are making. Students will also be invited
to a quarterly celebration during which
you can enjoy good food, good fun
and even get a chance to win prizes!
In addition, each month 9 students who
stand out as the best of the best will be
selected to attend a special lunch with
our principal, Dr. Walsh! So be sure to
make good choices so you can be
caught being good and earn a Positive
Referral! Here’s a challenge…….let’s see
which grade can earn the most positive
referrals for a special prize. Come on 6th,
7th and 8th graders….prove to everyone
that your class is the best!
Milwee Middle School join’s the UpStander’s: Stand Up to
Bullying Initiative
Milwee Middle School has joined forces with the Holocaust Memorial
Resource and Education Center of Florida to provide our students with
this unique program. The UpStanders: Stand Up to Bullying initiative is a
multifaceted program that uses the history and lessons of the Holocaust, in
particular the stories of the Rescuers or Righteous Gentiles, to inspire students
to become UpStanders rather than bystanders. Students are taught how and
when to intervene in bullying situations. The goal is to make the community
one in which diversity is celebrated and everyone feels respected and safe.
The initiative features a two-year, five-part curriculum that is delivered
during the 7th and 8th grade years. Beginning in September, our 7th
graders had the opportunity to visit the Holocaust Memorial Resource
and Education Center of Florida to hear the stories of the victims and
heroes of the Holocaust. In December, students will attend a school wide
presentation by John Halligan whose 13 year old son committed suicide as
a result of bullying. After the presentation students will have the opportunity
to ask Mr. Halligan questions about how to help others from being victims
of bullying. In February, students will participate in a class presentation by
Mitch Bloomer, the Holocaust Center’s resource teacher.
Congratulations to Milwee Middle School UpStander
Leadership Team
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Last year the Seminole County Public Schools in partnership with The
Holocaust Center launched a leadership and bullying prevention initiative
for middle school students. District middle school students selected for the
program were invited to participate in Bullying Prevention Summits during
the 2011-2012 school year. This year 9 students will represent Milwee Middle
School at the Bullying Prevention Summit to be held at Winter Springs High
School on October 30. These students will spend the day working with
counselors and other students to learn leadership skills and strategies,
such as tolerance and positive communication, to become UpStanders to
bullying rather than bystanders. They will take these valuable skills back
to Milwee to teach other students how to be UpStanders. Congratulations
to the 2012-2013 Milwee Middle School UpStanders: Briana Torbert, Rave
Saine, LuQuane Bannis, Eric Caballero, Rebecca Gut, Ricardo Valle,
Tyvonte Wright, Thomas Barcza and Roosevelt Sealey.
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Guidance Department
Calendar of Events
All eighth grade students on a standard diploma received a booklet from the
Choices Department the first week in October. This booklet contains information
on the four high school magnet programs in Seminole County. Any student
interested in applying must submit an application by the established deadline
date. The application can be found in the back of the booklet and online at the
county website (www.seminoleschoolchoices.com). The window for applications
is October 1st – December 1st. All applications received during the application
period are given the same priority within the random selection process. Each
program also has an open house. All dates and contact numbers are listed in the
booklet. Students who lose their material will need to go to the website and print
out the information and application. These programs offer our students wonderful
opportunities in specialized areas! Students zoned for Lyman and interested in
applying to the Institute of Engineering must complete an application. All eighth
grade students will attend an information session on campus Friday, October 12th
during their history class.
Fall Dance
Eighth Grade Parents
Attendance
Students are required to provide an excuse note within 2 days of returning from
an absence. Excuse notes should be given to the front office or 1st period teacher.
Students who acquire 5 unexcused absences within a 30 day period will receive an
attendance referral for truancy.
Grades
October 26
Oct. 31- Nov. 6
Scholastic Book Fair
November 1
Magnet Night
November 12-16
American Education Week
November 13
Teach In
November 21-23
No School
December 8
Lego Robotics Competition
December 18
Band Concert-at Lyman
December 19-21
Early Dismissal
The first quarter ends October 18th. Please monitor your child’s grades and
communicate with the teachers if you see there are concerns. Conferences with
teachers may be scheduled by calling the front office (Ms. Perez). Maureen
Michaels, attendance secretary, may assist you with the registration process for the
parent monitoring system, SKYWARD. Students must pass all core academics and
achieve an overall 2.0 grade point average for promotion to the next grade.
Family Assistance
Parents who find their family in transition or experiencing hardship may contact
the guidance department for assistance with a weekly food backpack, resource
list, school supplies, or referral to the school social worker, Nickolas Davis. Mr. Ken
Lieberman, a licensed mental health counselor is also available for assistance. You
may email him or call him at 407-746-3817. Parents may also contact a guidance
counselor to register a student for small counseling groups in social skills or anger
management starting 2nd semester.
All students/last names A-L -April McManus
Wolfrum
All students/last names M-Z- Debra
Free Tutoring
Free Tutoring is available to any student who scored a Level
1 or 2 on FCAT. Please call 407-746-3850 for more information
or pick up an application in the front office. Additional
information is available at http: www.scps.us/title1/home/
sesfreetutoring.aspx
Health
Students finished up on two weeks of teen suicide prevention, mental
and social health and personal health. Coming up we will focus on
nutrition, fitness and eating disorders. Our classes will be taking part in
Fuel up to play 60 challenges as well as Hoops for heart.
7:00
1:50
December 22-January 8
Winter Break
January 9
Classes Resume
January 21
School System Closed
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Immunization Requirement
Current 6th Grade Students
All current 6th grade students are required to update immunization
records before entering 7th grade. State law requires all students to get a
TDAP shot by this deadline. Please call Dorothy Blake, guidance secretary, if
you have questions. Students are not allowed to enter 7th grade without this
state required update.
Language Arts Department
Your child is part of the Pre-Engineering Magnet Program where he/she is
advancing through a Language Arts curriculum that features a creative and
innovative approach to this concept. Keep in mind- Pre-Engineering isn’t just about
math and science. This curriculum is rigorous and emphasizes independent study,
in-depth learning, and accelerated curriculum.
Across 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classes, weekly routines have been well
established. Students are writing across the disciplines, creating academic
vocabulary notebooks, participating in classbuilding/teambuilding activities,
responding to Higher-Level Questions, and producing quality work!
Students are thinking, designing, and creating like engineers. They are slowly
becoming proficient in the following:
• Hands-on real world projects
• Basic design principles and related concepts
• Essential critical thinking skills
• Problem solving skills creativity
Engineering Projects for the 1st Quarter are:
6th Grade: “Team Up”
Students team up to build a structure using their collective creativity, effective
communication skills, and pipe cleaners.
7th Grade: “Your Foot, My Foot”
Students will measure the length of a tape line using their own feet. Do this by
walking heel to toe along the tape and counting the number of “foot” lengths from
end-to-end. Why is it important to use standard units for measuring?
8th Grade:”Mining for Chocolate”
Students will create a process for extracting the valuable resource of chocolate
chips from a cookie while dealing with constraints on time, materials, and
environmental” impact.
Civics
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QR Codes! Digital Story Books! Interactive Timelines! These are just some of
the activities our 7th graders have completed during the first quarter. We learned
about the rights and responsibilities of a citizen, as well as the different forms
of government and now we have moved onto understanding why exactly the
Declaration of Independence was written. We will begin next quarter really
diving into the Constitution and using our world around us to find reallife examples of how the Bill of Rights works for us every day. That
will lead us to take a closer look at the three branches of
government and really investigate that their functions
are while investigating if it would be possible
for our government to continue if one of
the branches was missing. We have
an action packed nine weeks
ahead of us!
Math Department
Our 6th graders are so excited about math and motivated to learn! In our
standard classes we are finishing up Unit 1 in our Spring Board curriculum and will
begin Unit 2 at the close of the first quarter. Our students are tracking their learning
on a large poster in each of our rooms. This is helping to ensure that they understand
what they should know and when it was taught. This method of progress monitoring
is increasing levels of student performance and responsibility.
The Advanced/SCPS Pre-IB classes have studied both decimals and fractions
in depth. We have solved many real-world problems which required our classes
to divide and multiply both forms of the numbers. Before the end of the grading
period, we will be well into data analysis and the measures of central tendency.
The 6th Grade GEM classes have become fully immersed in this exciting year of
preparation for high school math. They have covered integers, algebra properties,
rational numbers, and are currently starting linear equations. GEMS students are
also finishing up the first Virtual Bridge on Rates and Ratios. Students should spend
at least half an hour a week maneuvering through the online textbook, watching
videos, and taking quizzes to check for understanding.
Earlier this quarter, we introduced the county’s new online testing software
Discovery Education when our students took their first of three progress-monitoring
tests. We are utilizing this software for in our classes with a series of teacher created
assessments that will allow students to test on a specific skill after it has been taught
in order to measure their level of understanding. We expect students to improve
their level of mastery of the math skills as we readdress the skills during future lessons.
The 8th Grade Standard Math classes are moving right along throughout the
second investigation of Springboard! Concepts covered thus far have included
Patterns, Exponents, Decimals, Operations with Fractions, Rational and Irrational
Numbers, Writing Expressions and Equations, and Solving Equations! We will be
finishing Investigation 2 with Properties and Formulas, Solving Multi-step Equations,
and Solving and Graphing Inequalities.
In Algebra Standard and Algebra Honors, students will be focusing on linear and
nonlinear equations through writing, solving, and graphing. The Geometry Honors
students will work on relationships within triangles. It is in every student’s best interest
to study and complete all in-class assignments, homework, and online assignments
to be successful in algebra and geometry honors. Through practice, students will
be successful.
In mathematics, students are expected to master each skill so that future
skills can be built upon a solid foundation. A critical part of this process is practice
through problem solving and homework. We appreciate your continued support
by encouraging your child to complete his or her homework in a timely manner. We
would like to thank parents for making your child’s experience at Milwee Middle
School both positive and successful.
ESE
The ESE teachers would like to encourage ESE students to take a more
active approach is keeping themselves organized with assignments and due
dates. Many ESE students keep a special homework notebook, program dates/
assignments into their cell phones, and keep a close eye on teachers’ websites
for upcoming events. Parents can help by logging onto Skyward to view class
work and test grades. Middle school students can now log on in their own
accounts. This is an excellent way for students to take charge of their progress.
Often we find that students are completing work but just are not taking the initiative
to turn it in on time. Though most ESE students receive flexible scheduling (extra
time) it should not mean that the students should take the opportunity to fall behind.
The IEP accommodations are set forth to support the students’ disabilities, not to
encourage a lack of responsibility. Please discuss educational responsibility with
your student. They have the most important role to play in their own education.
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Reading Department
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We have 2 Milwee students who won the SCPS Summer Reading Initiative.
Kaley Kennedy and Hampton Parker both are winners in the Summer Reading
Initiative and received gift cards for Barnes and Noble.
Also Dr. Phillips and Mrs. Geary have started a Milwee Book Club. Currently,
we have 93 members and 74 of them are registered to read a Sunshine State
Book. We encourage you to read along with your students. Please visit our site
at milweebookclub.weeby.com. If you would like to sign up, please make sure
you use the drop box and click on “parent.” I’m sure your children can help
you with this.
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Safety Tid Bit
Did You Know…?
Children think if they see a
moving vehicle, it obviously sees
them. As we all know, this gives
them a false sense of security.
When the crossing guards are
present, they will make sure to
secure the intersection prior to
allowing the students to advance.
Let your child know that it is very
important to wait until all traffic
has stopped and stays stopped
before they cross the street. Have
them look left, right, left prior to
crossing the street. They also need
to point down at the crosswalk to
advise motorist to take note that
they need to use the crosswalk.
This is a simple safety skill that we
all need to teach our kids. Stay
Sharp and Stay Safe!
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Crossing
Guard
Corner
Science
The science Department is off to a good start! This year we will be infusing
engineering throughout the curriculum by doing engineering projects that build
throughout the year. Here are some exciting things to come in science:
6th Grade: We will be continuing our study of the Earth by exploring plate
tectonics and geologic time. On December 3 and 4 we are planning a fieldtrip
to Lake Lotus to visit a program called the science incubator. This field trip is
free of charge but we need parent chaperones. If you are interested, please
contact your child’s science teacher so they can give you the details. We will
also be continuing our Engineering project of designing and building a weather
station. During these nine weeks, students will design and build a model of their
own weather station.
7th grade: We will be delving into the incredible world of ourselves and how
they change constantly. We will be studying the human body and factors that
affect the body. Students will also continue to investigate their biome and how
humans affect that biome in preparation for designing their sustainability city.
8th grade: Science students in 8th grade have been studying force, motion,
acceleration and Newton’s Laws. They will end their study by designing their
own “crash test” cars to see if they could design a car that would keep an egg
from breaking as it ran into a concrete wall.
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Seminole County
Sheriff Office
Engineering News
The students in Automation and Robotics class have been busy! Surprisingly,
these students took off by making robotic arms and hands. They use the design
process and begin to build a knowledge base as we move into computer
programming for the different mechanisms that will be created to solve everyday
problems. Working in groups, teamwork and a sense of unity has developed
among the students. Our motto is, “ENGINEERS CAN DO ANYTHING!”
The 7th grade engineering students have all been concentrating on
learning and using the engineering design process. Students in the Design and
Modeling class have used the process to complete the marshmallow challenge,
design a table or chair and to make their skimmer cars. We will be moving into
sketching and dimensioning, and the students will finish up the semester by
learning to use AutoCAD inventor, and completing several drawings on the
industry program.
The SECME students started off making a children’s book or game that can
be used to teach the engineering design process to elementary students. We
then moved to studying Newton’s Laws of Motion and the students designed
and built “egg” crash safety devices. They also designed and built balloon
cars. In the next couple of months they will be designing and building water
towers for the AAWA water tower competition which is being held at UCF on
November 10. Next we will begin designing and building all of the items they
will take to SECME competition in February. On October 11, ten of the SECME
students went to the Coronado hotel for an engineering night and worked side
by side with engineers to design and build a replica of a Cummins Engine.
Artificial Intelligence and Mobile Robotics students have programmed their
robots to go through a maze, to flash their initials in Morse code and to draw
their initials, using subroutines and loops. They will start using line sensors and
improving program structure. In LEGO Robotics, the students designed and
built robots to stack cups on a target, and will soon learn more programming
skills and to use sensors to find a target.
Yearbook
The 2013 SPARTAN yearbook is
currently on sale for $35.00. This is
the same price that we have had
for the last ten years! How many
products can you say they cost
the same as 10 years ago? You
can order your students yearbook
in 3 ways: 1st - You can go on the
Milwee web site and on the home
page there’s a link button that says,
“Click here to buy your yearbook”.
2nd - You should have received
a mail out from Jostens Publishing
Co. with information to buy your
SPARTAN yearbook. Just follow the
directions on the mail out. 3rd - You
can contact Yearbook Adviser Mr.
Sherwood in building 10, room 017 or
email him at: mark_sherwood@scps.
k12.fl.us to buy one at school.
Mr. Sherwood has to turn in the
final count of yearbook orders to
Jostens by March. Last year students
put off ordering their yearbooks and
when the yearbooks were delivered
in May they sold out immediately
and that meant many a sad student.
So the moral of the story is ORDER
YOUR YEARBOOK TODAY!
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Milwee Middle School
Home Of The Spartans
Spartan Herald
Non - Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Orlando, FL
Permit No. 2346
Milwee Middle School
Pre-Engineering Magnet
1341 S. Ronald Regan Blvd.
Longwood, FL 32750
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Sign up for The Club to support SCPS!
For each sign-up/unique email address, Altamonte Mall will donate .50 cents to Seminole
County Public Schools. This should be new Club sign-ups only. If the person is already a Club
member the sign-up cannot be counted towards the goal. Anyone 13 or older is eligible to
sign up.
An additional incentive of signing up for The Club is each quarter GGP gives out a $5,000
shopping spree to a lucky Club member.
This is an email only Club program, email address must be entered.
Altamonte Mall never gives out or sells the email lists. This is only used for the purpose of
informing loyal shoppers of sales, coupons, and events at the mall. Sometimes we even send
out emails that are good for free gift cards.
Please complete the form and return to the front office. It will be given to Altamonte Mall.
First Lego
League
On September 22nd,
thirteen robotics teams from
Seminole
County
Public
schools gathered at Milwee's
Robotics Fun Day. The
students were challenged to
build and program robots to
race along a dark track using
light sensors, to drop cups on
a target and to overcome
other robots in a Sumobot
competition.
The judging was ably
done by students from Lyman
High School's robotics team.
The teams also took part in
a Teamwork judging event, similar to
what they would
experience in a
formal tournament. The next
event will be
December 8
at Milwee!