Spartan Herald - Academy Publishing, Inc.

January 2013
Volume 5
Issue 2
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Princ
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Dear Milwee Family,
Happy New Year! I hope all of you had the opportunity to spend the
holidays with family and friends. I enjoyed my time with my family and have
recharged my batteries for the start of second semester. It is hard to believe
that in a few short months, we will be saying good-bye to our 8th graders as
they begin their journey in high school. Now is a good time to closely monitor
grades and check backpacks for loose papers, missing assignments and test/
quiz results. Your involvement in your child’s education is critical to their success.
Together, we will assist students in reaching their full potential.
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In years past, our major concern was to make sure students were completing
assignments on time and “playing nice” in the sandbox. Sadly, recent
events in Connecticut have affected the way we think about school
and the safety of our children. I received numerous calls and emails
asking what measures we are taking to ensure the safety of
Milwee students. The responsibility to protect our students has
never weighed more heavily on me and my staff. Our school
Sheriff Deputy, our coordinator of school safety and school
counseling community reviewed our current security
practices and procedures. There is an increased
visible presence of staff and law enforcement
on school campus and we are taking extra
measures to keep classrooms locked and limit
entry on campus during the school day to
the North parking lot. I welcome any
additional security suggestions you may
have; please feel free to contact me
via e-mail at m_walsh@scps.k12.
fl.us or phone at 407-746-3805
with suggestions, questions or
concerns.
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Spartan Herald
Principal’s Message
Continues...
I truly believe Milwee
Middle School is one of
the best kept secrets in
the district. Our teachers
and staff truly care about
your child’s well-being. I
know I am a little biased
but if there is anything
we can do to assist the
students and family’s
we serve, please let me
know and we will do our
best to make it happen.
Best wishes for a healthy
and happy 2013!
Kind regards,
Michelle Walsh
John Halligan Comes to Milwee
On December 12, 2012, Milwee Middle School 7th graders had the opportunity to
attend a presentation by John Halligan whose son committed suicide following years of
being bullied. This powerful and encouraging presentation gave the students insight into
the effects of bullying on the victim and those around them. After the presentation, many
students expressed how the presentation encouraged them to stand up to bullying.
In January, Mr. Mitchell Bloomer from the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education
Center of Central Florida will be visiting Milwee Middle School 7th grade classrooms as part
of the UpStanders initiative. We look forward to his visit and furthering our efforts to make
Milwee Middle School a safe and wonderful place to learn!
PBS News
We have had a successful year in recognizing the positive efforts of our students at
Milwee. Teachers and staff keep an eye out for students who go above and beyond our
school expectations of demonstrating safety, responsibility and respect. These students
are recognized with a positive behavior referral. Each month our Behavior Specialist and
Discipline Deans choose 3 students among these to represent their grades as a Milwee
Student of the Month. Those chosen as a Student of the Month get to attend a special
pizza luncheon with Dr. Walsh to celebrate their wonderful achievements. Each quarter, all
students receiving a positive referral are invited to attend a party to honor their achievements
with good food, good fun and prizes. The students have really enjoyed these activities and
have encouraged their peers to work hard and get recognized! The number of students
receiving positive referrals continues to rise each month. Parents, ask your child if he or she
has received a positive referral and encourage them to work hard and get recognized.
They (and you) will love the results!
Incentives for 2013
We will continue rewarding students for their good choices and display of the Spartan
code of Safety, Respect and Responsibility. In addition, we are planning to reward students
with good attendance. Regular attendance in school not only helps students learn by
being present in the classroom, it further helps develop responsibility – a necessary trait for
success in life. We will be having contests among various grade levels which will end in a
celebration for the students and grade having the best monthly attendance!
Up Standers News
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The Milwee Middle School UpStanders have had an amazing year so far! The student
representatives attended the UpStanders summit day in October. They learned a lot about
bullying and participated in a variety of exercises which helped them to understand why its
important to stand up to bullying and helped them develop the skills necessary to encourage
their peers to be UpStanders not bystanders. Since the summit, our student UpStanders
have been giving anti-bullying presentations in classrooms. Through these presentations
they have not only educated their peers on the negative effects of bullying, they have also
encouraged others to stand up to bullies to make Milwee a safe place for everyone. As
a result, two additional students have requested to join the Milwee team. We are excited
to welcome Ridge Bonnick and Salma Mohamed El Negro! As one student wrote after
experiencing this classroom presentation, “A lot of kids are getting bullied because of race,
religion or maybe weight. An UpStander isn’t the bully or the victim; they stand “up” for the
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Guidance Department
Upcoming Events
The course selection sheets for next year will go home January 25 through the
Social Studies classes. Selection sheets and any required application for an elective
course are due January 29, 2013
Martin Luther King holiday-No School
6th and 7th Parents and Students
8th Grade Parents and Students
The high school registration process will begin at the end of January through
history classes. Students will be receiving the required information from their
current zoned high schools. Lyman will begin distributing information January
28th. Winter Springs High School will visit Milwee February 1st. Students attending
other high schools in the county should receive information during the month
of February. All 8th grade students will complete a 4 year high school plan in
history class. Students will be asked to get a parent signature on the high school
registration card and 4 year plan. We encourage students to start visiting the
websites of their zoned high schools so they can start gathering information about
the school, classes, activities, etc.
Pupil Progression Policy
Students must meet the following requirements to earn a promotion to the next
grade level in Seminole County:
• Earn an overall 2.0 GPA for the year.
• Pass all core academic subjects for the year.
After school tutoring forms may be picked up in the guidance department.
Parent teacher conferences may be scheduled by calling Ms. Perez in the front
office. Parents can get information on the computer monitoring system by
contacting Maureen Michaels in the front office. All students are encouraged
to use a daily planner for organization and deadlines of assignments. Students in
need of school supplies may stop by the guidance department during lunch or with
a pass from a teacher.
January 21
January 25
Mardi Gras Dance - 6:00
January 29
Course selection sheets due
Current 6th graders immunization
deadline
February 12
Curriculum Night - 6:30
February 16
MathCounts
SECME Competition
February 18
No School
February 19-22
E-Week
February 21
Engineering Expo - 6:30
February 26
FCAT Writes
February 27
Girl’s Engineering Breakfast Club - 8:30
March 22
Teacher Work Day
March 25-29
Spring Break
Attendance
Attendance is an important part of a student’s success in school. Students
are required to furnish an excuse note within 2 days of returning to school from an
absence. Students may turn the note in to their 1st period teacher for the front office
records. Once a student reaches 5 unexcused absences within a 30 day period
they are subject to truancy procedures. The guidance secretary, Dorothy Blake,
can request homework if a student is ill for several days. Teachers are required to
be given 24 hours notice to assemble the work. Please email or call your child’s
teachers when there is an extended absence.
Holiday Collection
Thank you for all of the support with our new toy and canned food drives! The
items collected at Milwee were donated to an event supporting our families in
transition here in Seminole County.
Family Assistance
Please contact your child’s guidance counselor if your family has a need for our
food pantry. We also have a licensed mental health counselor on campus several
days each week. His name is Ken Lieberman and you may contact him here at
Milwee (746-3817) to obtain counseling support for your child. Guidance counselors
may also make referrals to the school social worker to connect families to outside
resources. Students are encouraged to eat breakfast daily here at school. This
meal is free to all students on campus.
FCAT
All 8th grade students will take the Florida Writes Test at the end of February.
Reading and math tests will be taken in April by all students. Eighth grade
students will also take the science portion of the FCAT in April. Please
remember these test results have an impact on your child’s schedule
next year.
April 15-26
FCAT Reading, Math and Science
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2013-2014 Student Transfer Options
New student transfer options for the 2013-2014 school year are available for middle school and high school on
the Seminole County Public Schools Choices web site at www.seminoleschoolchoices.com. Detailed information and
required forms are posted on the site.
The School Board of Seminole County has delayed the identification of the 2013-2014 Elementary Student Transfer
Options due to elementary school rezoning. Elementary transfer options and an elementary transfer timeline will be
determined after school zones are finalized in April 2013.
News from Reading!
Thank you to our PTSA, SAC, business partners and community for supporting
the recent “FCAT Games”. “The Hobbit” was a great success with over two hundred
students attending the movie on December 15th. The “FCAT Games” project was
developed as a reading incentive that translates into improved FCAT scores for
Milwee students!
The “FCAT Games” will continue beginning in late January, 2013. The “Games”
will run for 10 consecutive weeks prior to the 2013, FCAT. The theme will be “Oz, The
Great and Powerful” with FCAT like questions being posed to all Milwee students
during homeroom on Wednesday. The students will individually answer the question,
and those who have answered correctly will have an opportunity to win a “Wizard
of Oz” book and ticket to the movie. PTSA, SAC, business partners and benefactors
from our community will continue their support by providing a movie theater where
Milwee student winners can attend “Oz, The Great and Powerful”, the prequel to
“The Wizard of Oz.”
Math Department
The 6th Grade Standard Math classes have worked hard and accomplished
a lot this first semester. We have completed the first two units in our text (Number
Concepts and Operations with Numbers) and have started the 3rd quarter with the
third unit in our text (Linear Patterns).
The Advanced/Pre-IB students have been busily working through rate and
ratios, fractions, percents, and decimals. At the beginning of the third quarter, we
will start solving equations. We are beginning to see why showing our work is so
important!
The 6th Grade GEM students ended 2012 with linear equations, similarity and
proportions, measures of central tendency, and linear functions. In January, we will
be starting with percents and follow with inequalities, functions and monomials.
GEM students should also be working through the third Virtual Bridge on Statistics
and Probability. Students should spend at least half an hour a week maneuvering
through the online textbook, watching videos, and taking quizzes to check for
understanding. Please remember to stay on top of current assignments and turn in
all of your work.
Before the break, we all took a cumulative mid-term. It is challenging when all
of the math skills are mixed together into one assessment! The sixth grade teachers
are very proud of the efforts made by all of our students. We’re looking forward to
continued student success in 2013.
Science Department
Happy New Year!
It is going to be an exciting rest of
the year for the science Department!
Read on about what is coming up in
the coming weeks!
6th Grade
We will continue our study of the
Earth by investigating the water cycle
and climate. We will be in the heart
of our weather engineering project. In
this project, each student will design
and make his own weather station. In
the following weeks, the students will
use their weather station to monitor
the weather and create a weather
report that predicts the weather. We
will also be studying Space during the
next semester and learning about the
universe and the planets.
7th grade
In 7th grade students will be
investigating the fascinating world of
genetics. They will be studying how
genes are passed down from parent
to offspring and how genes affect
generations over time. 7th grade will
be continuing their environmental
project in which they will be creating a
model of a sustainable city.
8th grade
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We will be mixing it up in the
incredible world of chemistry exploring
how matter interacts to make new
substances the lab process and inquiry.
Remember Science FCAT is around
the corner so help out your student by
encouraging them to do FCAT Explorer
for Science.
We encourage you to do your best
and enjoy all that science has to offer!
Language Arts Department
The eighth grade English Language Arts students have been preparing diligently for FCAT Writes coming up in March.
We’ve been working on expository and persuasive essays. The students have learned to use the FCAT rubric as a guideline
for their writing. They’ve been individually writing essays, as well as peer editing each other’s work. Outside of class, the eighth
graders are reading novels independently.
Pre-Engineering Project: Students will understand the Role of an Engineer.
The seventh grade Language Arts students have been focusing on the following:
• Reading Strategies, specifically tone, main idea, and author’s purpose
• The Writing Process (both persuasive and expository)
• Public speaking strategies
• Speech development and delivery
• Poetry/poetic devices unit (alliteration, onomatopoeia)
• Langston Hughes/Harlem
• Renaissance
• Figurative Language
Pre-Engineering Project: Students will understand package engineering and materials engineering by assembling four
different shaped boxes then predict which one holds the most beans..
The sixth grade Language Arts students completed the 4-H Tropicana Public Speaking Program. They generated ideas,
organized information, and then wrote their 2-3 minute speeches. Students participated in the school-wide completion in
December. First place went to Kevin Jarvis, 2nd place went to Srajan Dube, and 3rd place Bridget O’Brian. Kevin will represent
Milwee in the county competition in May.
Pre-Engineering Project: Students will think, design, and create a travel brochure that incorporates technical writing needed
for informational text.
All Language Arts students participated in the Classroom Spelling Bee Competition in this month. Round One began on
January 15th and Round Two was held January 18th.
Finally, encourage your children to join the Milwee Book Club! Go to milweebookclub.weebly.com
Ten Reasons to Read
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To understand the past
To explore your world
To plan for the future
To visit new places
To create great things
To make good decisions
To have fun
To exercise the mind
Just because you can!
Dairy Council
Winner!
Congratulations to Marc
G. who was awarded a
brand new iPad from the
Dairy Council of Florida. A
drawing for selecting healthy
choices at lunch was held
and he was the middle
school county winner! Here
he is, pictured with his parents
and Dr. Walsh.
Tropicana Speech
Contest
Congratulations to ALL students
and teachers who participated in the
Tropicana Speech Competition
1 Kevin Jarvis
2 Srajan Dube
3 Bridget O’Brien
Kevin will advance to the County
competition in May! Good luck!
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Engineering Week Activities
February 19-22, 2013
Milwee Middle Celebrates Engineering Week in February, plan to dress up for
the following Spirit Days. Students will also be able to participate in an Invention
Contest, this year’s challenge is to design an item that will keep you or your pet
cool. Any student at Milwee can participate! Plan to attend the Engineering Expo
Thursday, February 21 from 6:30 -7:30 to see all of the great inventions and wax
museum participants.
Dress Like Your Favorite Engineer
Green Energy Day
Dress For Success
Engineering Dictionary Day
USF Engineering Expo
The University of South Florida is hosting the 41st Annual Engineering Expo February
22-23 from 9:00-4:00. Please visit http://expo.eng.usf.edu for more information!
Geography Bee
Before Winter Break, Milwee held their annual Geography Bee. 25 students
representing 6th, 7th and 8th grade participated. In the end, it came down to a
heated battle between Jared Diaz and Nico Rodriguez for the title, with Nico edging
Jared out on their 6th sudden death question! Nico will now take the Geography
Bee finalist exam to see if he will qualify to represent Milwee in the state Geography
Bee. Congratulations to Nico and to all those who participated.
Lego League
Milwee Robotics Club teams attended a tournament at Jackson Middle
School, where The Rolling Potatoes won a Judges’ Award and a bid to the Regional
tournament. The Club hosted a very successful tournament at Milwee, attended by
16 Central Florida teams (including Milwee class teams), where the Split Screens won
the Project Award, and the NXT Warriors were the alternate team for a regional bid.
We really appreciate the help of the judges from the Naval Air Systems Command
and the US Army, and the donation from Home Depot, as well as the wonderful
support of the School Board. Both Club and Class teams will attend qualifying
tournaments during January.
SECME
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Secme students participated in
the Florida Water Festival Competition
at Crane’s Roost Park in November.
Pictured below are:
Jacob Siudak,
and Brett Hartman who placed first in
the middle school division, Max Ihns
who placed second in the middle
school division, and the winning team
from the elementary division.
Congratulations to this year’s Florida
Water Festival Student Poster Contest
winners: 2nd place Melissa Gonzalez
and Honorable Mention Yenly Burgos.
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We are currently in the process
of setting due dates for registration
forms for the 2013-2014 school
year. Every 6th grade student is
required to get a booster dose of
the
tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis
vaccine, also known as Tdap, prior
to the start of his/her 7th grade
school year.
In an effort to meet legal
requirements and expedite the
2013-2014 registration process, we
are asking parents/guardians of
all 6th grade students to schedule
immunizations as soon as possible
and return the completed Florida
Certificate
of
Immunization
(DH680) form to your child’s Social
Studies teacher or the guidance
office by January 29, 2013.
Students have until January
29, 2013 to hand in a copy of the
certificate of immunization. After
that date, registration will be held
and course selections for the 20132014 school year will be made
based upon availability. Students
that have a completed certificate
of immunization handed in by
January 29, 2013 will be given two
Spartan bucks as a reward.
Please call Mrs. Dorothy Blake,
Guidance Secretary at 407746-3854 if you have
questions.
Tuesday, February 19
Wednesday, February 20
Thursday, February 21
Friday, February 22
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Immunization
Information
for Current 6th
Graders!
Finals Days to Order Yearbooks
Time is running out to pre-order your 2013 SPARTAN yearbook. Last year, many
students/parents were caught unawares when the yearbook came out that where
only a very limited amount of yearbooks available. That’s because yearbook
adviser Mr. Sherwood has to turn in the final count of the number of books to be
made by the publishing plant in early March. The yearbooks MUST BE PRE-ORDERED
if you want to be guaranteed you’ll get yearbook when they come out in mid-May!
Yearbooks cost $35.00.
Currently you can Pre-Order Yearbooks in two ways.
1. You can go to the link labeled “Click Here to buy your yearbook” on the Milwee
Middle School homepage and pre-order your book straight from Jostens
Publishing Company. Don’t wait - Online Yearbook ordering will be closed in
mid-February if you want to PRE-ORDER online!
2. You can order your SPARTAN from Mr. Sherwood in building 10, room 17.
Will You Recognize Your Child In the
Yearbook This Year…
You’ll recognize them if you buy a Recognition Ad in the Advertisement section
of the SPARTAN yearbook! It’s time to order your recognition ads for the 2013 Spartan
Yearbook. Ads come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit your needs. Prices vary
from: 1/8 page (business card) = $20.00; ¼ page = $50.00; ½ page = $100.00; or a
Full page = $150.00.
If you are interested in buying a recognition ad, please contact the Yearbook
Adviser Mr. Mark Sherwood. He will be able to tell you: sizes/shapes of your ad; how
to submit photos; how to submit the message for the ad, etc. Different size ads
will reflect how many photos to be used. Deadline for Recognition Ads is Friday,
February 8th! Contact: Mr. Sherwood at: mark_sherwood@scps.k12.fl.us.
Students Awarded The Foundation’s
Grants for Great Ideas
Congratulations to John Kallin and Carol Unterreiner for being awarded The
Foundation’s Grants for Great Ideas on their proposal for “Solar Energy-Ride the
Wave” The committee was impressed with the grant and believes this creative
project will enhance the learning experience for students.
BETA Club
Milwee students attended the
Beta Club Convention in Orlando.
Congratulations to Jordan Franks, Nikky
Cuevas, Kylie Duane and Vaishnav
Swaminathan for placing first in Quiz
Bowl. Jordan Franks also placed first in
the science competition and Vaishnav
Swaminathan placed 1st in the Social
Studies competition. The students have
been given invitations to compete
at the Beta National Convention in
June against the other top teams from
around the country.
Girl’s Engineering
Breakfast Club
Mrs. Unterreiner will begin the girl’s
engineering breakfast club in February.
The first meeting will be February 27 at
8:30 a.m. in Mrs. Unterreiner’s room.
Please sign up in the media center.
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Milwee Middle School
Home Of The Spartans
Spartan Herald
Milwee Middle School
Pre-Engineering Magnet
1341 S. Ronald Regan Blvd.
Longwood, FL 32750
School Calendar 2012-2013
Date of Board Adoption: September 27, 2011
January 2-4��������� Schools Closed
January 7������������ Schools Closed for Students/Teacher Workday, Student Make-up
Day #2, If Needed
January 8������������ Schools Closed for Students/Teacher Workday, Student Make-up
Day #1, If Needed
January 9������������ Classes Resume, Start of Third Quarter/2nd Semester
January 21���������� School System Closed
February 18��������� School System Closed
March 21������������� End of 3rd Quarter
March 22������������� Schools Closed for Students/Teacher Workday, Student Make-up
Day #4, If Needed
March 25-29�������� Schools Closed
April 1������������������� Classes Resume - Start of 4th Quarter
May 24, 28-29������ Early Dismissal for Students (Last three days of second semester)
May 27����������������� School System Closed
May 29����������������� Last Day of Student Attendance – End of 4th Quarter
May 30-31������������ Teacher Workday
Non - Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Orlando, FL
Permit No. 2346