Last year, in their first experience with our STEAM program (science - technology - engineering - art - math), our 8th graders learned basic robot-building and programming skills using Lego Mindscapes kits.  

This time around, they were charged with designing and building an animal robot - it had to move around and also have a working part of its body (e.g. a flapping tail). After much trial and error, the robots then 'starred' in a brief video created by each pair of builders. See them all, below. 

The 8th graders presented their robots and videos at a demonstration on Wednesday, enjoyed by many. After the program, the robots were dismantled, ready for the next young STEAM participants. Click on the photo for more images.

STEAM Zoo 2014

MathCounts 

A long-standing Swain tradition is that of participating in the regional MathCounts competition, with other middle schools.

Last weekend we had two teams representing our school, and they placed 14th among the 36 area schools participating. The "A" team (pictured above) included eighth graders Sophia Fabiano, Tyler Schellenberg and Alec Lawless and seventh grader Harry Rakos. Seventh graders Michael Schellenberg, Djamal Diakite, Alex Becker, Bayley Ahdieh, Tomas Augello and sixth grader Shyam Patel made up the "B" team.

Congratulations to our "math-letes"!

"When" will we have our 100th day of school?

Another popular Swain tradition is for our Kindergarten students to count the days of school, from 1 to 100. In addition to practicing their counting skills, the children learn to count by 5's and 10's and do other related projects. "However" the magic 100th day of school continues to elude us - we won't make any predictions as to when it will be, quite yet, since Punxsatawny Phil predicted six more weeks of winter!

Each Kindergarten student also creates a project of 100 "somethings". They are a marvel of creativity, including 100 stickers, candies, Q-tips, Legos, flowers, lights - you name it and someone has crafted it!

Click on the photo for a sampling of Miss Zepp's and Miss Knerr's students' projects - and check out the Small Dining Room stage for more.  

And more math fun...

Bigger and better than ever! We are expanding our annual Family Math Night to include the families of Kindergarten - 8th grade students. Come to school on Thursday night from 6:00-7:00 p.m. to enjoy an assortment of math games, puzzles, and activities - everyone can join in to test their math skills! Click the photo to see more pictures from last year's event.

  

What does one do with all those math and science skills?

  

Health care professionals are known to need strong science and math skills - along with a great 'people skills'! Mrs. Akers and Mrs. Johnson have set up "The Little Swain Medical Clinic" in their Prekindergarten classroom for their students to practice all of those skills.

This dramatic play area supports their newest themes related to healthy bodies and healthy teeth. They are having fun finding their personalized medical badges, putting on medical clothes, filling out medical forms (!!), and caring for sick pets, people, and baby dolls. Check out the wonderful bedside manners of our PK health care workers, as they treat both people and pets. Click on the photo for more images.