middle school matters - Benjamin Logan Local School District

B ENJAMIN L OGAN M IDDLE S CHOOL
M IDDLE S CHOOL M AT TERS
V OLUME 1, I SSUE 5
T HE
F EBRUARY 2013
TIMES … THEY ARE A CHANGING !
Dear Parents/Guardians,
February Important Dates
Can you believe that it is already February? The year is zooming past at such a quick pace! I
wanted to take just a minute to encourage you to use Progress Book. Having access to your
child’s Progress Book scores can be used as a way to monitor your child’s success in each
content area. In order to have access you will need your parent login and password. If you
do not have a login and password, please contact our school secretaries, Sheryl Spencer and
Shawna Bensman. They will happily provide you with any help you need.
As always, thank you for supporting Benjamin Logan Schools.
Go Raiders!
Sincerely,
Debra Johnson
MS Principal
Live Morning Announcements & The Raider Report
In many schools, the principal or assistant principal leads morning announcements. Some
schools have turned over the announcements -- or even the production of a complete
morning news broadcast -- to students. This year, BLMS has done just that. Monday - Thursday at 8:25 on channel 8, the students are show- cased by being news anchors that deliver the
morning announcements to the entire school body. This not only promotes the technology
in the building, but it also gives students a chance to learn new communication skills.
On Fridays, all 8th graders at Benjamin Logan Middle School have an opportunity to help in
the creation of the Raider Report show through the 8th grade Technology Applications class.
A script is written each week about the activities that take place at the Middle School. The
Raider Report show airs every Friday throughout the Middle School on channel 9. You may
download a Raider Report show by going back to the MS webpage.
News Anchors
ments
Live Morning Announce
8th Grade Reporter:
Raider Report Show
8. 8th Grade Washington, D.C.
Meeting after 8th Grade Lunch
9-10. Ohio State FLL Championship at
the Ervin J. Nutter Center
11. OAA Success Tutoring -Reading
3-4:30PM
12. 8th Grade EXPLORE Parent
Meeting 10:00AM & 6:30PM
in Media Center
After School Detention
OAA Success Tutoring -Math
3-4:30PM
13. OAA Success Tutoring -Reading
3-4:30PM
14. Interim Reports Distributed to
Students
Study Tables
Trout Madness 3-5:15PM at H.S.
15. Teacher In-service -No School
18-March 1:Music Department Fund
Raiser
18. Presidents’ Day -No School
19. Scoliosis Screening
Yearbook Last Chance Sale Starts
8th Grade Ohio Hi Point
Presentation 12:55-1:40PM
After School Detention
OAA Success Tutoring -Math
3-4:30PM
20. OAA Success Tutoring -Math
3-4:30PM
Winter Sports Banquet 7:00PM
21. Study Tables
Academic Booster Meeting 6:30PM in
Media Center
22. Youth Leadership 8:30-10:30AM in
Media Center
25. 1 Hour Delay Schedule -Reading OAA
Half Length Practice Test (Grades 5-8)
OAA Success Tutoring -Reading
3-4:30 PM
Art Club (Group #2) 3-5:00PM
26. Scoliosis Screening (Snow date)
After School Detention
OAA Success Tutoring -Math
3-4:30PM
27. 1 Hour Delay Schedule -Math OAA
Half Length Practice Test (Grades 5-8
OAA Success Tutoring -Reading
3:00-4:30PM
28. Yearbook Last Chance Sale Ends
8th Grade H.S. Scheduling
Study Tables
M IDDLE S CHOOL M ATTERS
P AGE 2
Scholastic Book Fair

Runs from March 4-11, 2013

Open: 8-2pm daily and during Parent Teacher
Conferences

Online Book Fair begins on February 27 and
runs through March 19, 2013

Look for Book Fair flyers to come home SOON!
Summer Enrichment Academy 2013

Offered June 10-14 at Bellefontaine HS

Time: 9:30-11:30am

Students currently in grades 1-7 can sign up soon!

Registration available in early March.
5 TH G RADE C LASSROOM ACTIVTIES
S CIENCE
The focus for fifth grade science has been different types of energy. We have investigated potential,
kinetic, thermal, and electrical energy, but most recently we have been finding out about light and
sound energy. We were able to learn about reflection, refraction, and absorption of light using
mirrors and by looking at items in water so that they appear to be broken or bent.
We have experimented with the creation of sound through vibrations using musical instruments,
jars of water, and even rubber bands. We have found out how to change the pitch of the sounds
made by these objects by making variations in how they are used or played.
Our next area of study will be earth science including studying our solar system and understanding
ways to treat our earth with respect.
M IDDLE S CHOOL M ATTERS
P AGE 3
5 TH G RADE C LASSROOM ACTIVTIES
M ATH
The fifth grade has been working very hard the last few months to prepare for
the Ohio Achievement Assessment. The students learned about angles in different
types of polygons, explored circles, determined which nets will create three
dimensional shapes, and explored perimeter, area, surface area and volume of two and
three-dimensional objects. They have also practiced long division and learned how to
organize data using central tendencies. Negative numbers and coordinate grids were
explored by using number lines and playing “Battle Ship”.
In the third nine weeks, the fifth grade students will be exploring tables and
graphs, fractions, decimals, percentages, and estimation, as well as, patterns and
algebra.
We encourage parents to ask their children nightly about math class each day to
help them prepare for the OAA. Knowing math facts makes fifth grade math much
easier. If at all possible, please review math facts with your child. Also, each student will
be working through review packets that help the students review material from
previous units and prepare for the OAA. The fifth grade teachers appreciate the
support you give your child each day!
S OCIAL S TUDIES
P AGE 4
E CONOMICS U NIT
Why can’t people have everything that they want? The answer lies in the
fifth grade Economics unit. Just ask the students and they will tell you it’s
because there are not enough resources for everyone to have everything they
want. During the Economics unit, the students learned many concepts,
such as what are goods and services? They learned how supply and demand
can effect the price of a good that they may want to buy. The students also
listened to an oral reading of a book titled The Lemonade War. This is a
book about two siblings who make a bet about who can make $100.00
selling lemonade. At the end of the unit, the students were asked to
complete the book buying project. They were given a budget of $100.00
and a Scholastic book order form. Their task was to buy a book for every
student in their class and not spend more than the allotted amount of money. Many students commented that choosing a book for everyone in the
class and not going over their budget was tougher than they thought it would
be!
L ANGUAGE A RTS
The fifth graders have recently started a unit on figurative language.
Students began the unit by identifying similes and metaphors. Mrs.
Krock and Mrs. Matthews’ classes wrote simile poems about a favorite relative. Then everyone wrote a simile and metaphor poem about their
families. Students have discovered that “writing is as easy as pie” when
figurative language is used.
F OLLOWING D IRECTIONS /S EQUENCING
As part of a following directions/sequencing unit, the 5th grade Language
Art classes recently created a moose made out of food! Each student was
given a set of directions to follow and the ingredients needed to create their
own “edible moose.” These ingredients included pretzels antlers, cookies for
the bodies, M&Ms for the noses, and several other yummy items. The
moose parts were all held together with chocolate icing! Students enjoyed
following a sequence of directions to create their moose and also eating
their moose when it was completed!!
A RT : F IREHOUSE P IZZA E XHIBIT
Twenty-six middle school art students have works displayed at Firehouse Pizza. Owner Nathan
Knight welcomed the idea of a special art exhibit in his restaurant. Middle school art teacher,
Mrs. Jennifer Davis, invites all community members to stop by Firehouse Pizza to enjoy some
fantastic food and enjoy the display of incredible artwork created by her students in grades
5 – 8.
Ohio celebrates Youth Art Month in March. Mrs. Davis got a head start celebrating the occasion
by displaying the artwork at Firehouse Pizza in both February and March. The following students
have artwork displayed:
8th-Makayla McGuire, Toby Stettler, Kierstynn Terry, Haley Parmer, Audrey Defibaugh
7th-Nick Wolf, Kayla Null, Ryan Spatz, Micah Anderson, Nathan Coffield, Chenhao Ma, S
ydney Sines, Lauryn LeVan
6th-Gavin Wynn, Peyton Kinney, Melina Oliver, Sam Knight, Macey Centers, Alissa Durfor,
Antonio Morelli
5th-Anna Blake, Hunter Clemons, Madison Keller, Corbin Phillips, Mataya Penhorwood,
Mailiis Simovart
T ECHNOLOGY A PPLICATIONS P ROJECTS
8th Grade: Andy Warhol Pop Art Projects: Microsoft Word
By: Toby Current
By: Britney Godwin
8th Grade: Two-Story Houses Projects: Google Sketch-Up
By: Daniel Elson
T ECHNOLOGY A PPLICATIONS P ROJECTS
7th Grade: Dream Bedroom Project: Google Sketch-Up
By: Avery Braun
6th Grade: Elevator Crowd Project: Microsoft Paint
5th Grade: Self-Portrait Project: Microsoft Paint
By: Mei Carmer
By: Hunter Clemons