Middle School

Seward Middle School Principals Report

by Steve Schrad

September 26, 2007

We are off to a positive start this school year. Our new staff members, Laura Goracke, Jon Marroquin, Heather Riley, and Kelly Shaffer, have really bonded well with the rest of the staff. From my observations, I believe they all have bright futures as middle level educators at Seward Middle School.

Enrollment: 5th grade-99, 6th grade-102, 7th grade-100, 8th grade-111. Total- 412. Enrollment is seven more than we started with last year at this time.

6th Grade Outdoor Education was a success. There were various activities that involved hands-on projects, team building, and positive social skills. It is easy to observe that outdoor education is about building positive relationships. Many parents attended the presentation by Dallas Chief Eagle at the Thursday evening session. Rick Weatherholt and the 6th grade teachers did a tremendous job of organizing the event.

The Plum Creek Literacy Festival is scheduled for October 4. All students will attend the middle school program.

Middle School fall activities will begin next week with football versus Crete and volleyball with Centennial on September 18.

Our breakfast program began serving students on August 20. So far, we serve between 25-35 students daily. Those numbers will increase throughout the school year.

In past years we have held the Plum Creek Trail Walk as a way to promote healthy daily living and wellness. This year, we are expanding the walk to a Be Healthy Day on October 5. Mr. Sloup has taken the opportunity to work with Concordia University to provide sessions on stress management, exercise and healthy eating. Also, coaches and student-athletes from Concordia will be conducting mini sports clinics. Finally students will walk to Plum Creek Park, take part the mini clinics and Toptime activities, have lunch, then walk back to the middle school. We hope that this day will provide students much information and activity that meets the districts new Wellness Policy.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for your support.