Middle School

Fifth Grade 1st Quarter Highlights

by 5th Grade Team

October 23, 2007

On your marks, get set, GO! 5th grade as well as the rest of Seward Middle School participated in a HEALTH AND WELLNESS DAY. Our very own Mr. Sloup put together a jammed pack day full of healthy lifestyle talks and hands on participation with healthy activities. The kids and teachers alike enjoyed a 3 mile walk to Plum Creek full of exercising opportunities. When we reached the park it seemed the fun was just beginning..after some rest and a high energy game of horse tag the kids were ready. Ready for what? More? Yes there was more!!! The kids all enjoyed mini athletic camps with all of the coaches from Concordia. We had volleyball spiking, tennis back handing, basketball dribbling, baseball pitching, track running, softball catching, football routes and soccer juggling. The kids had a blast and received a free pass to a Concordia athletic event. Go Bulldogs! After a day of BLUEJAYS learning from BULLDOGS it was time to head back along the same 3 mile route to school. We even had some drama participation as we finished up our walk. Our kids did a great job of pretending to be really tired. After a quick rest we were up and going again with some lessons on exercising, stress management and healthy eating. Ask your child how they handle stress, or what stresses them out and how much sugar is in a bottle of pop, or what eating a double cheeseburger is really like eating what? Thanks to all who helped put this awesome day on and we look forward to it again next year!!

Concordia's Rock Museum Rocks

On September 13th and 14th Seward Middle School students went to the Bartels Rock Museum. Marv Plamann gave us an awesome tour. A lot of the rocks were from Iowa, but some rocks were from as far away as Brazil. We not only saw rocks but petrified wood, crystals and agates of all shapes and sizes. Some fifth graders were really impressed with the glow-in-the-dark rocks.

Students enjoyed handling rocks as Mr. Plamann reviewed the rock cycle. We are so fortunate to have such an amazing museum so close. Mr. Plamann's expertise amazed our fifth graders.

Safety Demonstration:

On October 19th, fifth graders will be going to a safety demonstration at the City's Electric Department. Students will learn about electricity and how to protect themselves from some of its dangers. Students enjoy handling all of this safety equipment and get to witness certified electricians climbing electrical poles.

Its a great preview for our force and motions unit in science. Students will definitely see science at work in all of the levers and pulleys and other simple machines. A class favorite is, of course, the bucket truck.

Responsibility Counts!!!

Please make sure that your students are doing their homework each night, we have seen an increase in late assignments throughout the semester. Seward Middle School promotes students to be responsible citizens in school and in society, as it is one of the pillars in Character Counts. Being responsible for their own actions, bringing supplies to each class, and getting homework done are all part of being responsible citizens. Thanks for your continued support at home!!!!!

Plum Creek Literacy Festival: Author Visit:

This year our students were privileged to be able to listen to the well-known children's authors Andrew Clements and Peg Kehret.

The fifth graders went to the high school on Thursday, October 4th for the Plum Creek Literacy Festival. They listened to each author speak that afternoon starting at 12:50 and ending at 2:50. In preparation for the visit, students read a book aloud in class by Andrew Clements and read a book together entitled Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret. The stories were exciting to read. Our school library gave each 5th grader an autographed copy of Escaping the Giant Wave thanks to Mrs. Komenda.