West Frederick Middle SchoolWest Frederick Middle School

 

http://schools.fcps.org/wfms          

Phone 240-236-4000               FAX 240-236-4050     March 7, 2008                                    Issue 2007-7

 

Calendar:

 

March

Monday             3/10 – Spring picture taking

Tuesday            3/11 – Hoops for Heart

Wednesday        3/12 - Hoops for Heart

Wednesday        3/12 – ELL Info. Meeting 6 – 8 pm Cafe

Wed – Tue        3/19 – 3/25 Spring Break

Friday               3/28 – Last day of 3rd Term

 

April

Tues & Wed      4/1, 4/2 Math MSA Testing

Fri & Mon          4/4, 4/7 Reading MSA Testing    

Friday               4/11 Student Council Dance GYM 6 – 8

 

ELL Information Night

An information session for parents of international students will be held in the cafeteria on Wednesday, March 12th in the Cafeteria and some classrooms from 6 until 8 p.m.   The upcoming MSA exams (Maryland State Assessments) will be explained.  Interpreters of Burmese, Chinese, Bengali, Vietnamese and Spanish will be available.

 

Blood Drive Cancelled

The Blood Drive has been cancelled, once again, due to low enrollment.  We thank the Student Council Association for all their efforts in attempting this life-saving community service!  Melanie Laffer

 

 MSA PRACTICE READING TEST

 

On Wednesday, March 5th all WFMS students took a one hour, MSA Practice Reading Test. A complete review of the MSA Practice Reading Test was completed in regular Language Arts classes on Friday, March 7th.  Please make it a point to ask your student how he or she performed on the practice test.

 

You can further help your child prepare for the MSA Reading Test by visiting www.mdk12.org / Assessments / MD School Assessments / What does MSA look like? / Reading Sample Items / 6, 7, 8.

Ms. Hines, Math Specialist

 

MSA PRACTICE MATH TEST

 

On Tuesday, March 4th all WFMS students took a one hour, MSA Practice Math Test. The MSA Practice Math Test covered many, but not all, of the grade-level math concepts that students will be responsible for on the actual MSA Math Test. A complete review of the MSA Practice Math Test was completed in regular math classes on Thursday, March 6th. Your child was asked to bring home their MSA Practice Math Test for review by you and a parent signature and date. The cover sheet should then be returned to your child’s math teacher.

 

You can further help your child prepare for the MSA Math Test by visiting www.mdk12.org / Assessments / MD School Assessments / What does MSA look like? / Mathematics Sample Items / 6, 7, 8.

Mrs. Roney, Math Specialist

 

Renzulli Update!

 

The Renzulli program had several guest speakers this past month to celebrate Black History Month: 

  • Mr. Stephen Vayda, an engineer from Bechtel spoke to a group of eighth graders,
  • Ms. Jamie Cannon, a lawyer, and Maria Smarelli, a paralegal, both from FCPS, spoke to a groups of seventh graders about 1st amendment rights as they relate to student newspapers,
  • MS Shelly Garner, a teacher here at WFMS spoke to interested students about the Tuskegee Airmen (her uncle was one),
  • Maria Whittemore from FCPS's office of minority achievement, and Mr. Cornelius Turner, father of a WFMS teacher and former FCPS teacher himself, spoke to students about their personal experiences integrating Frederick schools in the late 1950s.

Our WFMS debate team is participating in the county-wide debate today!

 

 

Renzulli Update cont’d:

 

Renzulli staff is providing a women's history PowerPoint presentation, as well as an interactive

"e-quilt" to all teachers who may want to use these tools to enrich their curriculum during Women's History Month.  Kaye Stefanick, Renzulli School Enrichment Teacher

 

Women’s History Month

Throughout American Studies I, we will have several opportunities to focus on Women’s History. For example we will be learning about the many ways women served during the Civil War, such as working as nurses, soldiers, and eventually starting organizations like the American Red Cross. We’ll also be learning about women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, and their fight for women’s rights during the mid-1800’s. Mrs. Creter and Mr. Cross classes in American Studies 1.

 

8th grade Language Arts

Ms. Griffith’s class will be covering Women's Rights in Ancient Egypt and the United States.

 

8th Grade Life Skills

Students are completing their 2nd major sewing project this week. You will see some creative and comfy pillows coming home! The students have done a wonderful job of using the sewing skills they learned at the beginning of the year and completing this difficult project.

 

Next week, 8th grade students will return to their favorite place, the cooking lab. Ask them to share their new skills and recipes with your family!

 

This month we will also explore the changing role of women in our society and the effects it has had on families.   Life Skills team.

 

Our 7th grade Math team

Will add to our black history board, women mathematicians and their successes in the field of math.

 

Our 7th grade Language Arts team

In celebration of Women's History Month the seventh grade language arts classes will be honoring women in history on March 18th.  We will be completing interactive web quests designed to celebrate the accomplishments of remarkable women in history.

Yearbook

Yearbooks will again go on sale, from March 26th through April 16th.  Cost will be $27; personalization is NOT available; books will be first come, first serve.  IF there are any yearbooks left-over, they will be sold on the day of distribution for $30.  So don't wait, get your order in NOW!!!!!   Pat ZiglerWachter

Special Education Teacher

 

Student’s Corner

Isaiah Rowe was selected to participate in the Army Family Action Plan Conference at Fort Detrick the week of February 25 – 29.  This is quite an honor and we are excited for Isaiah to have had this opportunity. 

 

SummerServe and SummerServe Express

These programs are Volunteer Frederick’s premier youth programs. SummerServe (SS) is a five week program where youth 11-17 serve at different agencies (Tranquility Equestrian, Frederick Rescue Mission, and over 13 others) throughout the county. Youth who participate in this program usually serve over 75 hours. They participate in service in the mornings and recreation activities in the afternoons (Baker Park pool, movies, Cunningham Falls, etc).

SummerServe Express (SSE) is a shorter version of SS and lasts for 2 weeks. We hold three different sessions of SSE. The first session of SSE will focus on environmental issues where youth will complete a watershed restoration project, plant trees, roadside clean-ups, etc. SSE2 will focus on the care of animals where youth will work with rescued horses, build blue-bird boxes, etc. SSE3 focuses on Human Services where youth will work with adults with developmental disabilities on a farm, etc. In the afternoons youth will participate in recreation activities and field trips related to the theme of their session.

Volunteer Frederick offers financial assistance for both of these programs and hope that you will encourage your youth to consider participating. We have received a large grant this year that will allow us to assist several low-income families’ fees for the programs.

If you would like more information, please contact Melanie.Laffer@fcps.org.  If you'd like to register for either of these programs, please contact Ms. Stacey A. White, Youth Service Director of Volunteer Frederick, at 301.663.5214 ext. 2#.

 

 

 

Easy Way to Help WFMS --- Donate !!!

 

The EcoPhones Recycling Fundraiser pays up to $300 per item. There's nothing to buy and nothing to sell. Simply ask parents, neighbors, co-workers and local businesses to donate and recycle their used consumer electronics:

  • Cell Phones
  • Ink Jet Printer Cartridges
  • DVD Movies & Videogames
  • Portable DVD Players
  • Laptop Computers
  • MP3 Players
  • X-Boxes, Sony Playstations, Wii
  • Digital Cameras & Digital Video Cameras (DVRs)
  • Digital Picture Frames
  • Portable Navigation & GPS Devices (Garmin, Magellan, Tom-Tom)

WFMS earns cash for every item guaranteed! We even benefit from damaged, non-working and non-listed models. Have some of this stuff collecting dust in your house? Bring it in to me and I’ll ship it off. We are hoping to afford a new broad cast camera for the morning announcements, and a new digital camera to take ID pictures.   Robert A Dacey 240-236-4013