Pershing Middle School Newsletter

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Mar 19 - End of 3rd Quarter

Mar 22-26 SPRING BREAK

Mar 29 - Welcome Mr. Kroll - Assistant Principal

Mar 29 - First track practice (3 - 4:30)

April 2 - Teens in Philanthropy meeting - 3:00 (Ms Ryan's room - 208)

April 5 - 13 - MAP testing (each grade has different dates within this time period)

April 14 - Track Meet @ Kickapoo HS - 3:15

April 19 - Track Meet @ Kickapoo HS - 3:15

Enjoy Spring Break!!

MAP testing schedule:

6th grade: April 8, 9, 12, 13

7th grade: April 5-9, 12

8th grade: April 6-8

Greetings!

Thank you to everyone who attended our March PTSA meeting last Friday. Congratulations to the new PTSA officers who were elected at that meeting: Shannon Nagy-president, Holly Lambert-1^st vice president/president-elect, Natalie Cauldwell-2^nd vice president, Heather Trinca-treasurer, and Gwen Thomas-secretary. I cannot imagine a better, more dynamic board to lead our PTSA in 2010-2011! If you are interested in serving in a committee position for next year, there are still positions available-we would love to have your help!

The PRIDE team enjoyed their hard-earned Andy's Custard a few weeks ago. PRIDE collected over 500 pairs of jeans for the PTA Clothing Bank contributing to Pershing's total of over 1,200 pairs! When I recently visited the Clothing Bank, I was told that they have actually run out of hangers trying to hang up all of the clothes we donated. J Special thanks to Andy's for donating 130 cups of custard!!!!!

Thanks also to all of you who have offered to provide snacks for MAP testing in early April. This is a new project that Dr. Cauldwell has asked us to help with, and I think it is a wonderful use of our PTSA volunteers. Special thanks to the grade level coordinators, Holly Lambert (6^th), Denise Overton (7^th), and Shannon Nagy (8^th). If you haven't signed up to donate healthy snacks, it's not too late! You can e-mail me at crisem@otc.edu to put your name on the list. We need many snacks so that every student has something healthy to eat and drink during every day of MAP testing. PTSA wants to do our part to help the testing go as well as possible for our kids and teachers.

Congratulations to Heather Robbins, parent, for the awesome turn-out at the first meeting of the club she is organizing at Pershing, Teens in Philanthropy. Over 40 kids attended the meeting! Mrs. Ryan is the faculty advisor to this new club which will give Pershing students the chance to volunteer and learn more about the needs in our community. If your child missed the first meeting, he or she can still get involved. The next meeting will be Friday, April 2^nd, at 3:00 pm in Mrs. Ryan's room. You can contact Heather for more information at heather@robbinsstudio.com.

Thanks to Carla Wallace for helping organize the Southeast Schools book fair at Barnes & Noble on Saturday, March 13, and thanks to everyone who shopped that day, too! Our librarian, Suzanne Kautz , took the time right before our meeting on Friday to thank us for the books and funds she has received through our December book fair at Barnes & Noble. She told us that the money raised made a big impact on the library. She specifically mentioned that she was able to purchase more books on the Holocaust to support the eighth graders' project on that historical event.

I want to mention a couple of upcoming events...our next PTSA meeting will be Friday, April 9, at noon in the library; please join us! Our final meeting of the year will be a luncheon on Friday, May 7, at 11:30 am at Twin Oaks Country Club. Spring Fling, a fun all-school event, is scheduled for Friday, May 14...look for more details soon!

Have a wonderful and safe spring break!

Sincerely,

Martha Crise, PTSA President

Volunteers needed to donate healthy snack items during MAP testing.

Suggested items:
Rice Krispie treats, Bugles, Cheez It crackers, Chex Mix, fruit snacks
(all small individual packs)

Please send items with your child, or drop them off at the office, March 29 - April 2.

Thanks to those who are able to help all of our kids have a healthy snack during testing.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Pershing Families,

Hasn't the sunshine been wonderful? It is making a BIG difference in the mood of our student body. I think we were all tired of being cooped up due to the cold temperatures. As you know, third quarter ends on March 19 and students will not be in school March 22 - 26 for spring break. Students will return to school on March 29. We will begin MAP testing shortly after students come back. The following schedule will be observed for testing and all testing will start during first block:

6^th grade- April 8, 9, 12, 13,

7^th grade- April 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12

8^th grade- April 6, 7, 8

We need our students to be well rested and on time each day of testing. A healthy breakfast is highly recommended. We want our students performing at their best.

A Pershing E-Blast newsletter went out several days ago announcing that a new assistant principal has been named at Pershing. Mr. Robert Kroll will begin his AP duties on March 29. He is very excited to begin his duties and has submitted an introduction letter for this newsletter. Please join me in welcoming him to our school community.

Thank you for all you do to support your Pershing student and the Pershing school community!

Regards,

Dr. Natalie Cauldwell

A Note from Mr. Kroll

Hello Pershing!

I cannot begin to express how thrilled I am to have the opportunity to serve the Pershing community. Pershing has earned a reputation for holding to a high standard of academic achievement that is well known throughout the district. I consider it a privilege to join this dedicated team of educators.

A little about my family and me...I have been teaching for seven years at a place very near-and-dear to my heart; Reed Middle School. During my time at Reed I taught Science, Social Studies, Social Skills, Communication, and Reading. Not only am I a teacher, but I am also a husband and a father. My beautiful wife Tal and I have been married for nine years this August. She is a CPA who left the private sector to become an Accounting instructor at Ozarks Technical Community College. We have a precious little girl named Ella who is now 17 months old. We love spending time together with friends and are actively involved in our church.

Again, I cannot wait to get started at Pershing on March 29th. My goal is to serve the students, parents, and staff of Pershing with all I have! If you ever have any questions or would like to meet me, my door is always open. You can also reach me by email at rkroll@spsmail.org or by phone at 523-2400. I look forward to working with you!

Sincerely,

Rob Kroll
Assistant Principal

Congratulations to the Star Generals for March!

The following students were chosen as Students of the Month for their outstanding work and attitude in the classroom.

Travelers Team-   Ryan Gustaveson
Voyagers Team-   Hayden Fulk

E-Corps Team-   Brian Rogers
PRIDE Team-     Mason Floyd

Green Team-   Chris Wong
Screaming Eagles Team-   Grayson Lambert

Counselor's Corner

Reports Made Easy

Writing reports gives your middle
grader a chance to explore a subject and
develop a clear way to present what
she's learned. Share these steps for preparing an organized, well-written paper. Read more:

March Middle Years Newsletter

R.E.A.D.

R.E.A.D. classes have been continuing to work on reading and writing! Please make sure your students are completing their five entries and book club assignments for reading weeks, and their papers for writing weeks.

In preparation for the MAP test, students are beginning a short review unit to help them remember what we have studied all year. During this unit, students will not be meeting for reading or writing conferences. Conferences will resume on April 12, which will be a reading week.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call or e-mail me.

Christina Burt

523-2604

cjburt@spsmail.org

TEAM WEBSITE LINKS

Team News articles are published quarterly. Additional articles will be communicated as submitted.

Link to the Pershing Middle School Team websites here:

Travelers
Voyagers
E-Corps
Pride
Green Team
Screaming Eagles

TRAVELERS NEWS

Third quarter is ending this week; it's surprising to think that three quarters of the school year is over already! Third quarter is usually when kids start feeling a mix of cabin fever and spring fever, which results in what we call the Third Quarter Slump. This seems to get better after Spring Break, but please bear it in mind when looking at your child's grade card for this quarter. Third Quarter Slump, combined with subject matters becoming more complex, can really take a toll on even the best student's grades.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the MAP is upon us. By the time students enter sixth grade, most of their parents are MAP veterans, but we would like to remind you how vital it is that your child is here every day to complete this round of testing. Please also remember that a well-rested, well-breakfasted student has a much easier time completing the MAP. We appreciate you making sure to work appointments and elective absences around our testing dates!

To help you keep track of what is going on with the Travelers team, including the MAP dates on our calendar, be sure to visit our website at:

Travelers Team

Voyagers

This month we are busy preparing our brilliant young minds for the MAP test. Here are some things to remember during this very important time of the year:

· Now would be a great time to replenish school supplies. Our pencil supply is dwindling! Add pencils, colored pencils, and folders to your shopping list!

· The window for MAP testing this year opens just as we are returning from Spring Break. 6^th Grade students are tested in Communication Arts and Math, and will be testing April 8^th- 13^th. Please avoid scheduling appointments during this time.

· You can help prepare your children for the MAP test by encouraging them to read for at least thirty minutes every day. This really strengthens and reinforces the skills that we teach them in all areas. Also, it never hurts to brush up on those math facts! A quick review of multiplication facts during dinner or during the ride home can make a big difference!

· Something as simple as following directions can really impact test performance. Parents can help monitor this by taking a look at any worksheets that your children are working on. Those directions must be followed exactly as they are written!

· Attendance continues to be extremely important. Thank you for sending us your children well-nourished and well-rested!

E-CORPS

Check out what's going on with the E-Corps Team here:

E-Corps Team

PRIDE TEAM

Check out what's going on with the Pride Team here:

Pride Team

GREEN TEAM

We wish all the Washington, D.C. travelers a safe and enjoyable trip. Mr. Baker always provides a wonderful experience for those students during our Spring Break.

The MAP Test exams for 8^th graders will be given during the week of April 5^th. Students should have a nutritious breakfast and get plenty of sleep before the MAP exams.

Ms. Adams' classes are studying the Mexican War and Gold Rush and will begin exploring the events leading to the Civil War after Spring Break. Ms. Adams has cheerleaders selected for next year and is working on Student Council officer elections which will be held after Spring Break.

With only a short time until MAP testing, the eighth grade math classes are working diligently to help ensure that all students have the skills necessary to score well on the MAP test. Math 8 students are working out of the geometry sections of the book, and Algebra students are working on quadratic equations.

The Algebra End of Course Exam is May 12^th. Finally, as we wind down this school year, students are reminded of the importance of keeping up on their homework so that they can maintain good grades.

Mrs. Oelschlaeger's classes will be starting a major unit on Mark Twain and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Students will have reading, vocabulary, and study questions assignments throughout the unit as homework.

Mrs. Walker's science classes will be continuing their studies of weather and climate. Students will be doing chapters on the atmosphere, weather, and climate. Preparations are underway for our model rocket project. Parents should be looking for a permission slip and $4.00 fee for parts to participate in this project.

All 8^th graders will be going to Wilson's Creek Battlefield on Friday, April 16th. Students need to bring their own lunch, money for souvenirs, and be aware of the weather conditions so they may dress appropriately.

We hope everyone has a nice week away from Pershing this Spring Break and will return to school ready to perform well the last quarter of the year.

Screaming Eagles Team News

Eighth grade students will be taking the MAP Test in Communication Arts, Mathematics, and Science on April 6, 7, and 8. Parents, we request that students get plenty of sleep and eat a good breakfast. We would also request that any appointments, which would take the student out of school in the morning of these days, be rescheduled. We appreciate your assistance and support of our students in this and all endeavors.

History

Mr. Baker's Screaming Eagles are studying the Antebellum Period. Within that time frame they will work hard on understanding the causes for the American Civil War. They will also be preparing for their visit to Wilson's Creek National Battlefield on Friday, April 16.

Science

Students in Mr. Davis's science classes will be completing a chapter on weather and then move into a space unit to complete the year. We'll be building and launching model rockets, a project that students traditionally enjoy astronomically!!

Mathematics

Mrs. Dorris's math students will be preparing for MAP testing immediately after Spring Break by reviewing various topics related to Grade Level Expectations established by the state. Students will then study another geometry unit involving area, perimeter and volume. This will be followed by an algebra unit on graphing equations.

Algebra students will begin fourth quarter with a unit on quadratic functions, followed by factoring polynomials. Algebra students scheduled for Geometry next year will be taking the Missouri End-of-Course Test on May 12, which will account for 10% of their grade.

Communication Arts

After Spring Break, Mrs. Brown's Communication Arts classes will be preparing for and working on end of year testing. Before, during, and after completing the MAP and Performance Series Computer tests, we will work on our author study of Mark Twain. My students will be reading and completing activities related to his famous book, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

Strategic Reading

Fourth quarter in Strategic Reading will be spent looking at strategies needed to improve the reading of fiction and nonfiction text. We will then apply the strategies that we have learned to a novel that will be read as a class.

All my students seem to have made reading become more of a habit. I have seen great strides in their ability to read a book from beginning to end, and at the same time they appear to be enjoying their reading. This is quite an improvement. Many of my students told me that they did not enjoy reading and had not completed a book in several years! Hopefully a life-long habit has been formed! Please encourage them to also read at home!

Music Departments

Band
Orchestra
Music/Choir

Art News

Congratulations to Hayley Hayes and Kristen Kraeger who have pieces in the All School Art Show at the Springfield Art Museum. Be sure to check it out between March 12 and April 18.

Check out their artwork here:
Mrs. Menchetti's page

checkmark
SAVE THE DATE

SPRING FLING will be held on Friday, May 14, during the late afternoon/early evening. Many parent volunteers will be needed to make this fun event happen for our kids. If you can help, please contact Sally Payne at jspspayne@aol.com.

REFLECTIONS - Theme "Beauty Is...!"

Congratulations to 7th grade student, Cynthia Crise, for her state winning literature entry "The Ugly Truth". Cynthia's piece is about advice that one of her bus drivers gave her - "ugly isn't the way you look, it's the way you act".

Cynthia will be honored with an award at the MO PTA Leadership Conference, in Kansas City, April 24. Her entry has now advanced to the national level. Congratulations and good luck!

Thank you to all students who participated this year, to the teachers who helped promote the program and to volunteer Denise Overton for her hard work.

HELP WANTED

help

Salary: Um....nothing monetary, but the experience....Priceless

PTSA is currently seeking two volunteers to serve as Membership Chairs for 2010-2011. This job will involve attending Pershing Orientation right before school starts (or finding volunteers to do this) to sign up PTSA members for the year. Memberships are also sold at Open House and the first 1-2 PTSA meetings. There is some paperwork to complete along with these memberships, but Missouri PTA provides you with everything you need. If you are interested in a PTSA job that's basically over by October (with a few follow-ups through the year), please contact Martha Crise at crisem@otc.edu.

Staff Appreciation Committee would like to extend a Huge Thank You to the following people for bringing food for our Chili Lunch in February for our Teachers and Staff: Jennifer Chadwell, Catherine Gilchrist, Lisa Hallam, Melanie Marsh, Sayla Sherard, Claire Spence, Kristen Womack, Terri McNeill, Peg LePage, Meredith Sargent, Cortni Stratton, Terri Sewell, Tania Gore and Kathy Steinberg.

We would also like to Thank the following people for bringing candy bars in for our Teachers and Staff Birthdays: Valerie Baker, Traci Ellis, Angela Ewy, Suzie Gates, Christine Johnson, Katie Knetzer, Christy Moss, Susan Nutter, Kathy Ownby, Gay Ross, Marcia Turner, Heather Trinca, Amy Viguet, Angie George, and Rose Green!!

Thanks a Million!!

APRIL CAFETERIA MONITOR SCHEDULE

Check out Pershing Middle School's website:

Pershing Middle School Website

Next PTSA Meeting - Friday, April 9 - 12:00 pm - Library

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