Special Olympics Students Go Green!

Students who participate in the Special Olympics at Webster City Middle School were recently guests of honor, and their smiles radiated!

Yesterday, the Garden Club of Webster City honored these Middle School students by serving them a breakfast, taking them on a nature walk, and then finally ending with an art activity. The students even planted flowers as well.

Below are some photos from this fun occasion:

And to think the Garden Club does this every year for our students!

Thank you, Garden Club of WC!

Thank You (from WCMS Art)!

7^th and 8^th Grade students at Webster City Middle School have a reason to celebrate this year, thanks to the Webster City School Foundation!

The art department received a grant from the  foundation that allowed the funding for a small digital photography program to begin.

Lisa Jorgensen, the middle school art teacher, wrote the grant last September in hopes of receiving funding for multi-function digital cameras with extra batteries and some tripods.

“I had never written a grant before,” Jorgensen said. “But when the chance to give your students a new experience opens up, you’ve got to take it.”

For the first two years that Jorgensen taught at Webster City Middle School, 7^th and 8^th Grade students participated in graphic design units on the computer. Using images, 7^th Grader students created clever advertisements and 8^th Grader students immersed themselves in Photo Shop, but the issues surrounding copyright weighed heavily in the program.

“Using Google, students can access a wide variety of material,” Jorgensen said. “And they struggle not only finding and crediting the original source but filtering out what is and isn’t already Photo Shopped.”

Having their own digital cameras to work with has allowed students to have full creative rights to their projects. Not only can students spend time discussing the importance of original work but also how copyright can play a role in the work that is created today and in the future.

7^th Grade students start off with a group critique of advertisements we see every day, ranging from magazine ads to Super Bowl commercials. From there, they find something they can snap a picture of and try to sell it in a creative way. Students’ creativity can run away with them as Jorgensen has seen anything from students selling tutoring lessons to security alarm companies and even a few zombies!

7th Grade student Katie G made an advertisement about the Middle School specialist’s book stamps:

“With computers, it seems the possibilities are endless,” computer applications teacher Gary Scholtens said. “I love seeing how technology is being integrated into our art program.”

8^th grade students are given the ‘know-how’ on basic photography skills—like the Rule of Thirds—and then discuss some project options. Jorgensen tries to open the field up, exposing them to common themes in photography like portraiture and alphabet photography, but students have the option to develop and propose their own ideas.  From there, students use Photo Shop to manipulate and add unique details to their project.

8th Grade student Kailey E poses for her “senior pictures” below:

8th Grade student James V used Mr. Stone’s face and combined it with a student’s body, which is called a “mash up.”

Everything is done in a Project-Based Learning environment. Jorgensen facilitates the resources and help students need but she leaves the creative control and project pace up to her students. Students use Edmodo to communicate in class and participate in daily question with instant feedback. Students also submit their projects digitally, creating a paperless environment.

Technology doesn’t come without Plan B’s, however.   When labs are full, cameras are charging or computers are down, Jorgensen has classroom critiques and discussions surrounding copyright.  Many competitions and scholarships disqualify students who fail to use their own work or gain permission to use others’ and Jorgensen wants to be proactive now.

“It was really neat being able to come up with my own project,” 8^th Grade student Tatiana T said.  Tatiana created images in which people look like they are levitating, like in the photo below.  She had to take multiple pictures of areas to get the full effect she wanted.

“I’m glad we get to learn more about photography,” 8^th Grade student Brandon P said. “I’ve seen what my other classmates have done and am excited to create my own project.”

With the help of Webster City School Foundation, the Middle School art department now has the use of fifteen digital cameras, multiple tripods and extra batteries for the cameras. Jorgensen received the cameras in October, which has allowed for every trimester to experience the technology. All students will go through art so all students get a chance to use the cameras.

“I am so thankful that opportunities for extra funding exist,” Jorgensen said. “Our students deserve the best that we can give them.  I can’t thank Webster City School Foundation enough for what the students are able to do with the technology and how it impacts their learning.”

Discussions and learning surrounding copyright, photography, Photo Shop, and advertising will be consuming the art students’ schedule the last two weeks of this year.

It has been a successful program, as seen during the Art Showcase, and it will be great to see the continued creativity students have!

Step-Up Day!

Current 5^th Grade students are stepping-up to help 4^th Grade students at Sunset Heights Elementary!

“What is it going to be like to be a 5^th grade student at Webster City Middle School?” “Will I find my way around the big Middle School?” “How will I remember my locker combination?” “Will have a lot of homework?” “How many teachers will I have in 5^th grade?”

These were some of the many questions on the minds of our current 4^th grade students on Wednesday, May 1, when Webster City Middle School and Sunset Heights Elementary School had 5^th Grade Step-Up Day!

The 4^th grade students and their teachers came to the Middle School around 1:00 p.m. to hear a band concert performed by current 5^th grade students.  Our 5^th grade band students were able to show off their musical skills and get next year’s students interested in being a part of our instrumental program.

After the concert, the 4^th grade students joined a 5^th grade teacher in a classroom to learn about the exciting things that will be happening in 5^th grade next year.  After this presentation, current 5^th grade students partnered up with a 4^th grade student and the tours began.

Below are some photos from this year’s Step-Up Day:

“The excitement was in the air when you just watched our tour guides in action,” Middle School principal Becky Hacker-Kluver said. “It will be an exciting year next year with all of our new 5^th grade students!”

College-Bound before High School

Touring colleges before they’re old enough to drive? You betcha!

At Webster City Middle School, students are exploring their post-secondary education options now.

“In order to help our Middle School students be aware of the expectations of college, careers and citizenship, we have partnered with post-secondary institutions to provide tours and information about what it takes to be successful in college and careers,” Middle School principal Becky Hacker-Kluver said. “And planning must begin now!”

Webster City Middle School is aligning ideas with that of ACHIEVE, Inc., which is a “bipartisan, non-profit organization that helps states raise academic standards, improve assessments, and strengthen accountability to prepare all young people for post-secondary education, work, and citizenship.”

According to their website, all students should graduate from high school fully prepared for college and careers.

“From high-quality early education and strong, foundational standards in elementary school to rigorous career and technical education programs and college completion goals, college and career readiness is the unifying agenda across the P-20 education pipeline,” their website said. “Simply put, ‘college and career readiness’ is the umbrella under which many education and workforce policies, programs and initiatives thrive.”

Below are the post-secondary institutions that our Middle School students visited this school year:

5^th Grade:  Visited and Toured Iowa Central Community College

6^th Grade:  Visited and Toured Iowa Central Community College

7^th Grade:   Visited and Toured Iowa State University

8^th Grade:  Visited and Toured Iowa State University and Des Moines Area Community College

“The students have returned from these visits excited about the possibilities and opportunities that lie before them!” Hacker-Kluver said. “Each of the colleges stressed the importance of doing your best in all of your academic classes, get involved in extra-curricular activities, and enjoy school!”

Below are some photos from these visits:

“We have some students truly interested in coming back to visit and enrolling… even now at the 8^th grade level,” Hacker-Kluver said. “How exciting!”

Making Movie Magic!

Webster City Middle School has some movie producers on their hands!

Recently, the 7^th grade English Language Arts classes were engaged in a project to use their 21^st century skills—creating digital book trailers.

A book trailer is a short visual presentation used to entice someone to read a particular book.

Students had been reading books throughout the year and then chose one they liked especially well. After watching many book trailers, they began the process to create their own.

The first step was to create a story board, which is a step-by-step planning process to sketch pictures and text that will appear in the book trailer. The students used Microsoft Photostory3 to create a “movie” of their book trailer. The program uses still photos, text, recorded voice and music. The students can add transitions and movement to each photo or slide to create the movie. The finished product is saved on the school’s server so that all students and staff can watch them.

Students used writing skills, presentation skills, research skills, and technical skills to create their book trailers. They were very engaged and motivated to work hard and create an effective presentation of their books. Throughout the project, students had a rubric to guide their work, and at the end of the project they rated themselves against the rubric. In this way, they could self-monitor their learning.

Below is one of the book trailers made by a student, sent by Library Media Specialist Sandy Ausenhus:

Teachers Mary Crystal, Craig Signorin, and Jessie Bailey, report that the book trailers turned out very well.

There are some budding movie producers in this group of students!

Ask your student or the 7^th grade English Language Arts staff how to view the trailers from the server.

The Lynx Connection!

Middle School students are getting a friendly, Lynx hand before venturing out to the High School next year.

The Lynx Connection is a mentoring program designed to assist 8^th Grade students in the transition from middle to high school with some help from upperclassmen, called mentors.  Each mentor is paired up and assigned four to six students to work with from Spring through December.

Lindsay Gelder is a guidance counselor at the High School. She has been in charge of The Lynx Connection for six of its eight years.

“It’s a wonderful thing,” Gelder said. “Students respond best to other students.”

This spring, there are approximately 218 students participating!

Just how does a student become a mentor? High School students volunteer and apply of course! Mentors receive community service hours by participating in The Lynx Connection, as well as a certificate.

When mentors apply, they must answer three important questions: what qualities they possess, what they remember from their first year of High School, and how they would help a new student. A team of teachers then looks at applicants’ grades, attendance, and character before selecting between 60 and 75 students to become mentors. Mentors are then paired up and assigned to 8^th Grade students.

Mentors meet with 8^th Grade students in the Spring (while they’re still in 8^th Grade) as well as later that coming Fall (when the students are transitioning into 9^th Grade).

They all meet once a month for various activities that range from scavenger hunts and other fun things to introductions to The Lynx Connection. Mentors have posters they share with their students with the 5 Most Important Things to Know About High School, answer questions students might have, inform them of the extracurricular activities available and the different classes students can take, as well as any other information they would find helpful to the students.

“We really want the mentors to encourage the students to get involved in at least one thing at the High School,” Gelder said. “We want the students to feel comfortable. Through the Connection, students at least know a few people at the High School before they reach 9^th Grade.”

Below are some recent photos from mentors meeting with a few students:

Gelder said so far, the student response is really positive from both the mentors and the students.

“Students always remember who their mentor was,” she said. “Moving to High School is a big deal, and this is a great way to get students more comfortable with the transition. I’m really happy we do this!”

Bloggin’ ‘bout Music!

Some students like pop. Some are into all that jazz. Some students are into classical. Some are mere opera spazzes.

Middle School music teacher Dane Barner is working with his students to teach them about blogging and back channeling by incorporating technology into his classroom.

“It’s pretty cool,” he said.

During the first and second trimester, Barner and fellow music teacher Jon Jensen taught 8^th Grade Music Exploratory students about the different musical styles.

Barner and Jensen then assigned groups and randomly selected a musical style for each group. The students then researched one of the four styles the teachers talked about.

For their research, students utilized the Internet by using Symbaloo as well as the more common online search engines. According to Barner, Symbaloo is a bookmark organizational tool.

“Each color had tiles that opened websites that I had reviewed,” he said. “This is where students started their research.”

While researching, students also used the website, TodaysMeet.com, so they could ask questions and answer others’ questions by means of back channeling.

Once students had all their information, they began their first assignment. This consisted of students preparing for a debate that would involve facts and examples of their music style. Students were to argue why their style was better than the others.

“This did not go well,” Barner said. “So, we changed things around.”

Instead, students are taking their research on their musical style and are presenting their information online by means of blogging. On their class blog, students are also commenting on their peers’ information.

“The main focus was quality research and critical thinking,” Barner said.

What a great way to incorporate technology into the classroom!