THE RIVER      2ND EDITION       3/07

 

UPCOMING EVENTS!

 

*The cast of “Bugsy Malone, Jr.” has kicked into high gear as we prepare for opening night in a few weeks.  Tickets for the show will be available to cast members starting March 12th, and everyone else can buy them in the morning starting March 19th.  There will also be tickets sold at the door, but get there early, because the seats sell out quickly!

Tickets for “Bugsy Malone” are $5 for adults and $3 for students.  The performances will be Friday, March 23rd and Saturday, March 24th starting at 7 pm.  We hope to see you there!

 

*Invention Convention: Thursday, March 22nd in the Media Center

Classes are welcome to view until 2:00 when judging begins

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCIENCE FAIR

 

Congratulations to Chris Anderson and Nabeeel Sharaf – our only two participants at the State Science Fair!! Their project involved testing structures to see what shape holds the most weight.

The Science Fair is at Quinnipiac College March 13th- 15th.

 

 

 

Math League Teams at Two Rivers—Top Scorers—Congratulations!!

8th grade:         1st place -- Eric Johnson

                        2nd place --Jack Molleur

                        3rd place --Briana Bednarz

                        4th place – Patrick Shea and David Rauscher

5th place Elizabeth Moran, Emily McInerney, Caitlyn Holik, Kiana Dahns

 

7th grade:         tied for 1st place—Rebecca Harpin and Sara Wagner

tied for 2nd place -- Paulette Barrus, Devin Kelly , Ivy McHenry, Ashley Wilson

tied for 3rd place Stephen Tuck, Areej Jahangir, Theresa Sullivan

                         4th place —David Thomas

tied for 5th place--- Taylor Sheridan, Taylor Rodrique

 

6th grade:         1st place Robby Tavernier

tied for 2nd place—Jordon Niezelski, Mikey Martin, and Ryan Fagan

tied for  3rd place: Jennifer Kroon, Lauren Baker, Kelsey Boryne, Nate Trojian, and Emily Bramande

tied for 4th place—Mitchell Tilhman and Gianfranco Ramano- Carbone

5th place- Samantha Carr

 

 

 

 

What is Hoops for Heart? Interview with Ms Pandolfo

 

Hoops For Heart is a fundraiser benefiting the American Heart Association in partnership with the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD).  Students obtain donations to play basketball and earn great thank-you gifts.

 

What charities does Hoops for Heart go to?

 

Funds raised through the Hoops For Heart program are used by the American Heart Association for research, community service and education programs.

 

How long have we been participating in this event?

 

This will be our 4th year.

 

How much money did Two Rivers make last year?

 

$5,400!!!  We were top 10 in the state for raising money!!

 

What would you say our school’s money goal is this year?

 

$5,500.  We have been top 10 in the state for raising money the past years, I would like to see if we could do it again!!

 

 

Mathethon

Congratulations Math Colleagues!  Our students collected $5,209.72 for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.  The top collector was Briana Tinsley on Team 6B with $762.50 in pledges.  I am in the process of putting together something for the news to congratulate the kids but wanted to recognize your hard efforts first.

 

Bravo!!

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7th grade Heron News

Remaining units in Language Arts:  Drama and Oral Tradition;  Students should consider submitting a piece of poetry for the Festival of Arts.

In Social Studies, we will focus on the theme of the United States becoming a world power including units on: Imperialism and World War I and II, and the Cold War.

In Spanish, students are developing menus and acting out a restaurant scene.

In Science, our final units of study are energy, work and machines.  Our culmination will be a food-safety unit where we incorporate learning from prior units.

The 3rd Annual Celebration of the Arts is coming! Mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 6, 2007. Enjoy art work on display, musical performances, poetry readings, dance, art activities and a raffle to benefit the arts at Two Rivers. Come celebrate all of our fine art talents here at Two Rivers in June.

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Dear Linus or Lucy,                                     ADVICE Column

These CMTs make me nervous. How can I relax more to do well on them?

Signed,

 Test Jitters

 

Dear Test Jitters,

All you need to do is stay calm. Just take a few deep breaths, so a few stretches and you will do great. Also, eat mints. It has been proven that mints keep you calm. Trust me.

Also, do something in homeroom that calms you such as reading or drawing.

 

Signed, Linus and Lucy

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In Social Studies, the River Wolves are wrapping up their study of ancient India and China by stepping back in time and writing a letter to a fictional “cousin,” Giuseppe. Students are to explain what he would come across while traveling the famous Silk Road.   Students will write about the challenges and opportunities of the geography.  Also addressed were Trade, Belief and Social Class/Hierarchy.  Students will write about how their cousin should behave should he meet someone who has a different philosophy (belief). Goods and other “things” that also traveled the Silk Road will be discussed. We simulated traveling and trading on a fictional Silk Road in our classroom one day.    

                                              

            We are also worked on the dynastic cycle of some ancient India and China dynasties.  Students are examined similarities between dynasties and inquired if there is a predictable pattern to the rise and fall and what are the key factors? 

            Our third and final unit will focus on ancient Western Africa and ancient Latin America. Again, we will be focusing on the geography and how it shaped the progress of civilizations.  Trade/Interdependence will be expanded on with the study of more trade routes in Africa and Latin America.  Students will discover what happens when vastly different cultures collide. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, March 4th, the Community Service group attended the annual Special Olympics at the International Ice Skating Center in Simsbury, Ct.  We sponsored an “Arts and Craft” table for the entire day so that the athletes would have something to do in between their races.  Last year I had 11 students attend and this year there were 20 students from two rivers (as well as 1 from last year) who attended and 2 parents.  The students did an outstanding job and they were commended by the staff from the Special Olympic committee.  In addition, 10 of our students took on the challenge of being an escort of an athlete for the entire day.  We met at the school at 7:30am and didn’t return till 3:30pm.  BRAVO on a fine job well done! ! ! !

                     

 

                     

                                 

 

 

 

 

 

Kingfisher News

Language Arts: As winter leaves us and spring approaches, we are changing in Language Arts as well. Students will be beginning a unit on drama and we are looking forward to new challenges! Not only will students be introduced to all of the devices that accompany this unit, but we will also be reading classic novels as an enrichment activity. Students will be introduced to the Western Canon and will be expected to select a novel that best suits them. We will also continue our investigation of grammar, persuasive writing, vocabulary, and all of the other nuances of the English language. The Kingfishers are busy as usual!!! Ms. Bertolette, Kingfisher Team Leader and Language Arts teacher.

 

 

Kingfisher Spanish: In Spanish class students are learning about foods from Spanish-speaking countries.   We have gone over food vocabulary and are now reading recipes in Spanish.  Students will be writing a Restaurant Menu with foods from a selected Spanish-speaking country and learn how to order food and be a waiter/waitress in the target language.

 

 

Kingfishers 7B

Social Studies

Mr. Kissinger

 

America Becomes a World Power

 

Concluding our unit on the Civil War and keeping with our theme of Conflicts and Battles, we begin the second half of the school year with the unit   Imperialism and U.S. Involvement in WWI.  Although we will continue to discuss U.S. domestic policy, our new units’ primary focus will now be U.S. foreign policy and the effects that it has had on our nation and our world.  Specifically, student objectives will be to understand the reasons and motives behind America expanding beyond its traditional borders and also our participation and engagement in global conflict.  This unit will provide students with a strong base knowledge for subsequent units and also understanding of how America has become the world power that it is today and how this has impacted our economy, politics, and society throughout.

 

The following units are;

 

The Great Depression and WWII

The Cold War

The conflicts in Korea and Vietnam

Globalization, Current Events, and the War on Terror

 

 

 

Kingfisher Science:  CALLING ALL RUBE GOLDBERGS!  Until the April vacation students will explore physical science through an examination of machines and work.  Using measurement skills, students will investigate energy and work, and examine how simple machines affect work.  For a unit project, student teams will design a Goldberg-like machine.   Parents and students are reminded to visit School Notes to view assignments, vocabulary flashcards and helpful websites.

Energy Transfer and Transformations – What is the role of energy in our world?

7.1 - Energy provides the ability to do work and can exist in many forms.

¨      Work is the process of making objects move through the application of force.

¨      Energy can be stored in many forms and can be transformed into the energy of motion.

 

C 1.       Explain the relationship among force, distance and work, and use the relationship (W=F x D) to calculate work done in lifting heavy objects.

C 2.       Explain how simple machines, such as inclined planes, pulleys and levers, are used to create mechanical advantage.

C 3.       Describe how different types of stored (potential) energy can be used to make objects move.

 

Energy Transfer and Transformations – What is the role of energy in our world?

7.1 - Energy provides the ability to do work and can exist in many forms.

¨      Work is the process of making objects move through the application of force.

¨      Energy can be stored in many forms and can be transformed into the energy of motion.

 

C 4.       Explain the relationship among force, distance and work, and use the relationship (W=F x D) to calculate work done in lifting heavy objects.

C 5.       Explain how simple machines, such as inclined planes, pulleys and levers, are used to create mechanical advantage.

C 6.       Describe how different types of stored (potential) energy can be used to make objects move.

 

 

In math, students are studying measurement and geometry.  All Kingfishers have a math packet which reviews the concepts taught this year.  If students need extra assistance with math, they may go to the following websites:

 

www.aaamath.com

www.shodor.org

 

 

 

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What’s New on Sandpiper Survivor Island

A new phenomenon has arrived at a corner of the third floor of Two Rivers. Students have earned a special privilege.  Good work, preparation and cooperation are the hallmarks of an invested student.  Sandpiper teachers periodically reward these success making traits with a visit to Survivor Island.  Students are allowed to listen and share their favorite tunes with classmates. The phenomenon turns out to be that a room full of 8th grades with music and headphones can be a pretty quiet place.

During the first week of CMT testing, each homeroom participated in a poster contest.  Each homeroom designed around an inspirational quote that would foster achievement during testing week.  The efforts of every homeroom class were fantastic and a real spirit of teaming was evident.

Coming soon to the halls and walls of Two Rivers is “Poetry Polooza”. Every student is busy writing a collection of poems.  By March 16th all students are expected to hand in a poetry poster of original poems.  Every poster will be displayed around the school as all of us learn the importance of publication. Be sure to visit the poetry display and let us know what you think.