Middle School

From the Counselor

by Rick Weatherholt

April 09, 2008

March is now history and at Seward Middle School we are ready for a great finish to the 2007-2008 school year. We have accomplished many things this year and will continue to look at ways to help students achieve while they are here and experience success when they leave and go to high school.

Here are some things that we have accomplished in March and are looking forward to doing as our school year approaches the last month.

Achievement Testing

We have completed another year of TerraNova achievement testing. The testing was done the week of March 10. Students who were absent the week of testing were able to get caught up and all of the tests were sent in by the end of March. We expect to have the results soon and plan to send them in the mail with report cards at the end of the year.

Student Exchange with Norris

On March 19 we took members from our Student Council to Norris Middle School to visit their school as part of a student exchange. Our students were paired up with a Norris student in the same grade and went through a normal day with them. Our students were excited to experience what it is like to go to school at Norris Middle School for a day. At Norris they have a very nice school that is only two years old. Our students were very impressed with the facility.

In return, on March 26 our Student Council hosted the students from Norris. This time they came to our school and experienced a day at Seward Middle School. Again the students who came to our school were matched with some of our student council members and they shadowed them and attended class with them.

This is the first time since I have been at Seward Middle School that we have been involved with anything like this. Overall, the experience was a very positive one for our students as well as for the Norris students. It is always interesting and exciting for students to see how other schools operate and what it is like to spend a day at another school in the area. It is also nice to meet students from a rival school and form a friendship that could continue as they to see each other at future school activities.

Anti-Bully Presentations

Our group of students who refer to themselves as the BURT (bully resistance team) team finished a very important month of March. They conducted anti-bullying presentations to all of the Toptimes at the middle school. Their presentations included a skit that showed the different types of bullying and information on what to do if they either experience bullying or observe someone getting bullied

The team is made up of six members of the 7th grade class. The members are: Sarah Moody, Trey Barnes, Austin Fehlhafer, Erin Miller, Abbey Rumery, and Johnny Kamprath. All students at Seward Middle School know that they cannot only go to a teacher, but also to one of these six BURT team members for help if they are having a problem with bullying.

Eighth Grade Registration and Orientation

There are a couple of things that are planned to help the 8th graders with a smooth transition to high school. On April 8, Mrs. Schwahn and Mr. Greathouse, the high school counselors and Mr. Denker, the high school principal came down to the middle school and talked to the 8th graders about class offerings and some different things involving the high school experience. On Thursday, April 10 there is a parent meeting planned at the high school at 7:00 P.M. Also, on April 18 the 8th graders will be going to the computer lab and registering for classes.

We are sorry that this group of students will be leaving our building, but at the same time we are excited for them as they begin the last chapter in their experience at Seward Public Schools. Good Luck 8th graders!

Fifth Grade Orientation

We will be doing some things to help with the transition of the current 4th grade students to 5th grade. As I am writing this the date for 5th grade orientation has not been set, but it will be on the district website when that decision is made. The parent meeting will be on May 1 at Seward Middle School. This will also be on the website so specifics regarding time and location will be available to you.

On the day that we have the actual orientation for the students, the 4th graders will come down to our building and they will get acclimated to our environment. They will meet their homeroom teachers and they will also get a tour of the building. We are looking forward to seeing the new faces who will be entering our building next year.