Celebrating Student Success
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One of the joys of working with middle school-aged children is the opportunity to see a wide variety of personal growth in all students. We see children achieving in academics, athletics, music, art, social skills, and much more! Just this past month, we had students win writing contests, win spelling bees, join professional singers on the stage, try a sport for the first time and even make honor roll for the first time. Every quarter we announce our honor roll, consisting of honors (3.0 - 3.74 GPA) and high honors (3.75 - 4.0 GPA). Congratulations to all of our students for the growth they have made these past nine weeks!
~ Casey Campbell, Principal
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Eighth Graders Complete Intarsia Projects
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Intarsia is an elaborate form of inlaid work made from small pieces of variously colored wood. For much of 1st semester, the 8th grade technology education students have been energetically creating their amazing intarsia projects after choosing from more than 60 different patterns.
The projects could range in number of pieces from 20 to over 100. The students have a paper pattern of their project which gives the students suggestions for wood color/species and grain direction. After selecting a board, the students use a planer to get the board to the correct thickness. Once the piece is traced onto the board, the students use scroll saws to cut out the intarsia piece. During the process, students will also use a variety of sanders, a band saw, a panel saw and a radial arm saw. After all of the pieces have been cut, and the project glued to a plywood backing, the students make a frame to fit the project where they use such machines as table routers, a miter saw, orbital sanders and a brad nailer.
The last step in the process involves applying a spray finish to protect the wood and really make all the different wood colors come alive. If you would like to see some of these phenomenal projects in person, they will be on display at Webb Middle School starting the last week of January. All of the lumber for these projects was generously donated by
Reedsburg Hardwoods,
which makes this project possible.
~ Mr. Dregney, Technology Education
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For kids and teens, social media is an essential part of their lives. About 90% of teens have used some form of social media, 75% have a profile on a social networking site, and more than half of teens visit social networking sites at least once a day. These numbers have risen from just a few years ago and will continue to rise in the future.
There are plenty of good things about social media, but also plenty of potential dangers and things that you want your kids and teens to avoid. They don’t always make the smartest choices when they post either text or pictures to these sites, and this can lead to problems, so it is important for parents to teach their children how to use social media wisely.
Social media can help kids:
- Stay connected with friends and family
- Volunteer or get involved with events
- Enhance their creativity through sharing of ideas
- Meet and interact with others who share similar interests
The flip side is that social media can also create problems such as cyberbullying and questionable activities. Without meaning to, kids can easily share more than they should.
One study showed that 9 out of 10 teens post photos of themselves online or use their real names on their profiles; 8 out of 10 reveal their birthdates and interests; and 7 out of 10 post their school name and town where they live. Actions like this can make kids easy targets for online predators and others who might want to cause them harm.
~ Mrs. Filter, Information Technology
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Seventh Graders Gain Access to a Secret
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After a brief wandering through history, which included the bombing of Pearl Harbor, a walk (via an article) through a Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., and much background information about the Frank family and their emigration from Germany to Holland, students have almost completed
The Diary of Anne Frank
(told from Anne’s father’s perspective and in the format of a dramatic play). While reading, we have also participated in enrichment activities including: character analysis, an online tour of the Secret Annex (
http://www.annefrank.org/en/Subsites/Home/
), and third hour students have even constructed a replica of the Annex from a model kit! As the play draws to a close, I have no doubt many students will find it to be one of their favorite units of study, as they can relate (even now, so many years later) to Anne and much of what she confides to us, her readers, about the trials and triumphs of growing up. Also, it reminds us all what intolerance and hatred can do to a certain population and the nation as a whole.
Additionally, students continue to complete Articles of the Week biweekly, and work to read and create book projects during alternating weeks. Our next book report, the fourth of six, is due on February 27th. Details can be found on my website, as well as weekly plans and homework for seventh grade language arts with Ms. Chambas (
https://sites.google.com/rsd.k12.wi.us/tchambas/
).
Out next major unit of study will be the five paragraph essay in the form of personal writing. Here students will explore “what makes them tick” around various people, during different times, or during various activities. Here too we will learn more about and practice the writing process of prewriting, organizing, drafting and revising to compose truly great pieces of writing. Please ask your student to see his/her draft on Google!
As always, feel free to email me at:
tchambas@rsd.k12.wi.us
with any questions, concerns, or needed clarifications.
Thank you for sharing your child with me!
~ Ms. Chambas, 7th Grade English
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As we enter the month of February, we are encouraged to stop and reflect on the relationships in our lives. As parents, it is a great time to think about where we are with our children. When is the last time you hugged your child? What was the tone of the last conversation you had with your son? How do you engage with your daughter to stay in touch with who she is becoming?
Many times we get caught up in the business of life, and slowly, simple day-to-day interactions with our children change. We are reduced to commonplace questions and accept answers like, “I don’t know,” stifling conversations that could have deepened our relationships with our kids.
An image circulating on Facebook helps to give us some simple reminders of ways we can strengthen and maintain our connections to our kids. While the background and research behind the ideas of this image are unknown, the suggested actions are worth thinking about. Often these suggested activities are natural to parents of young children, but as our kids grow, sometimes it becomes more difficult to find ways to meaningfully engage our children.
We challenge you to take some time this month to work to find new ways to communicate with your child. Ask open ended questions about their day; carve out some time to share an experience together, even if it is simply 30 minutes to watch a TV show; read the same book they are reading; retell a favorite memory of them when they were little or share a story about when you were their age.
This week our 8th graders are filling out course selection sheets for high school, and before we know it they will be preparing for graduation. Time goes by fast - be sure to make the most of it with your children, and build a relationship with them that will last and carry into adulthood.
Your school counselors,
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Cathy Mindham
(608) 768-8930 ext. 2105
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Tracy Anderson
(608) 768-8930 ext. 2158
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Bucks and Wendy's - Attendance Matters!
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The Milwaukee Bucks and Wendy's are looking for students with perfect attendance for the month of February!
Whether in the classroom, on the court, or in any other activity, attendance matters! This program will enable any student who achieves perfect classroom attendance during the month of February the opportunity to receive a special complimentary ticket offer. In addition, student-attendees will receive a free kids meal at Wendy's and the opportunity to shoot a post-game free throw on the Bucks' court!
Attached is a calendar to chart your progress. If you achieve this goal, and are interested in your free ticket, contact Mr. Delkamp for attendance verification and an order form.
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~ Matt Delkamp, Associate Principal
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Breakfast and lunch menus may be accessed by clicking the button below. Payments may be made online or in person. For more information on payments, please
visit our website.
It's not too late to apply for free and reduced priced meals. If at any time your family’s income is reduced, free and reduced forms are available from Food Service, the school office, or by clicking
here. All forms are kept confidential and may be completed any time throughout the year.
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School District of Reedsburg
Webb Middle School
(608) 768-8930
707 North Webb Avenue
Reedsburg, WI 53959
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District Mission Statement
Our mission is to prepare our students for the future, instill a sense of respect and a passion for learning.
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