Middle School Newsletter

September 21, 2018

MS. WRIGHT'S WRITINGS…

The BEST preparation for tomorrow is doing YOUR BEST today.

So often we hear the phrase “do your best”. What does that really mean? I believe that it means giving it your all and trying your hardest. I then realized that there is indeed so much more to that simple phrase. In order to “do your best”, there are different actions and mindsets we must take to ensure we are truly doing our best.

In order to do our best, we must give 100% effort. We must also be reflective and honest with ourselves...are we really giving 100%? This is imperative if we want to be successful in reaching our goals. While trying to reach our goals, we may be faced with failures. We must remind ourselves that our failures are part of the journey to success. Our failures should be looked at as part of the learning process and not as an excuse to give up. We must be optimistic that all of our efforts will EVENTUALLY lead to success. During the times when we are faced with setbacks, we need to remain optimistic, not give up, and continue to do our best. I often find that when I am giving it my all and still not finding success, I need to seek out others help. Through others expertise, experiences, and ideas I am able to build my capacity to reach my goal...in other words “do my best”.

At today’s peace rally, a few 8th graders spoke on this year’s touchstone. Mitchell Craig-Meyer spoke specifically about doing your best. In his own words here is how he summed up doing your best…

“Today I will be speaking about how PCS is a place where people strive to do their best. I think the best analogy is the 8th grade soccer team, a team with only 12 players who tomorrow will be working their best on the field to bring home a victory. But PCS is not just about sports, we also have a student body that off the field works their best on their academics consisting of their homework, and classwork alike. Now doing your best is not the same for everyone, your best is not the same as your classmates, but if you come into class everyday and do your best for that day and you leave feeling good about what you did that day, you will have accomplished a goal, a goal we can all get behind. Do your best.”

Everyday we have the choice to show up and do our best. It may not always be easy, but it will always be worth it. I encourage you to ask your child HOW are they doing their best?

Kindly,

Kim

314.645.9600 (607)~kwright@premiercharterschool.org

UPDATES:

Verizon Innovative Learning for Minority Males...

The Verizon Innovative Learning for Minority Males program is focused on middle school youths in grades 6-8. This FREE program has allowed young minority men to have hands on experience with virtual reality, augmented reality, 3D printing, MakerBot application, app development, personal enrichment, computer programming, coding, video game design, electronics, as well as robotics and STEM in medicine. The program meets once a month (2nd Saturday) on Harris-Stowe State University campus. This program runs from September 2018- May 2019. Transportation and meals are provided. If your child is interested please give Ms. Walsh a call, 645.9600 (412), for an application.

SFE Update…

Special Diets

Is your child eligible to receive special dietary accommodations?

Such special dietary accommodations can be provided for students with celiac disease, diabetes, food allergies, PKU, dysphasia, and other physician prescribed dietary needs.

In order to provide these accommodations we will need documentation which includes:

Special diet form (attached)
Physician’s statement signed by a licensed physician
- The disability
- Explanation of why the disability restricts the child’s diet
- The major life activity affected by the disability
- Foods to be omitted and substituted

We are here to serve your child! Should the need arise for your student to have a special diet we want to help provide those substitutions.

Website…

Our school year calendar is located on our homepage. For your convenience, we will be adding a tab under the monthly calendar, where you can access the school year calendar. Also, as a reminder important dates are listed at the bottom of my newsletter.

Teacher bio pages will completed in two weeks. Once they are active you will be able to directly contact your child’s teacher through their individual page. You will also have easy access to their social media accounts. In the meantime, if you need to contact a teacher please do so via email or give them a call. There is also a “contact us” button on the website if you are not entirely sure who you need to contact with a question, we will pass it on to the right individual. If you would like to go back and read previous newsletters please just click on the month button as we will archive all the newsletters.

IC Update…

This week our Campus Portal has been down several times due to issues our provider Infinite Campus has been experiencing. We apologize for the inconvenience and Infinite Campus is working to address the issues and get us back up and running as soon as possible. If you can not reach the Campus Portal we ask that you try back later as the site has been able to work intermittently.

Marquee…

As yet another form of communication we will continue to update the marquee outside the middle school building. Be sure to check it out for important dates, reminders, and other fun information! This will be updated frequently to continue to give our PCS family communication in an entertaining way. Be on the lookout for fun trivia questions as well as some good humor!

Message from Ms. Walsh…

If you are a 7th grade parent, please be sure to view the attached Middle School Counseling Notes for more information on our High School 7th Grade Parent Prep Night. Joining us that evening will provide you the knowledge needed to begin your journey in finding the right high school for your middle schooler. A representative from the Inspire Program will also be sharing a brief presentation on the specific supports their program has to offer your child if accepted and, of course, their accplication process. Hope you can join us!

Ms. Walsh

DEPARTMENT UPDATES:

Science Department…

6th Grade-This week in 6th-grade science we are in the middle of our first unit of the year, chemistry. Last week we learned about the advantages and disadvantages of synthetic and natural materials. This week we are building the skills need to understand chemical reactions by learning all about atoms/elements. In addition to the content we are covering, the students decided that Hashbrown would be a fantastic name for our classes pet soft-shelled turtle. Next week we will eagerly be waiting for the hatching of the Bobwhite quail that we have been incubating for the past 24 days.

7th Grade-The world is constantly changing! In Science class we are discussing how the earth is changing and what causes these changes. We have researched hurricane Florence to find examples of weathering and erosion in the environment. In the upcoming weeks we will be discussing tectonic plates and convections currents to find out how else our earth is changing. The culmination of our unit will be the students explaining all of the concepts we have learned using the coding program Scratch. The students are also always happy to see our classroom guest on Fridays. Ms. Rhine's pet turtle JJ

8th Grade-This week in 8th grade science we are starting our second unit. This unit will cover the solar system, and then focus back on our home planet, Earth. Since we are starting with the solar system, the students are working on creating a scale model of the distances between planets. This activity allows students a more hands on approach to exploring the solar system, and helps them realize just how far away their favorite planet is from Earth.

Math Department…

Train your brain! Have some fun trying to solve this problem as a family.

Here is the answer to last weeks puzzle.

SPECIALISTS UPDATE:

EXPLORATIONS ACADEMY…

Education can be a passport to success and our explorers are ready to take on the world! This week, explorers finished up their own personal passports. Though they can't be used for official travel, they will be displayed in the classroom. Now that our explorers are ready to travel, we will begin to explore individual talents and abilities.

STEAM…

Last week in STEAM, our 8th graders became app reviewers in order to practice presentation preparation, execution, and how to give and receive quality feedback. They did a great job showcasing professionalism and respect for their peers!

Makerspace...

Middle School Makerspace Update

The 7th graders watched Caine's Arcade this week to inspire their creations for the Cardboard Creature challenge in the Makerspace. Using cardboard and a $20 spending limit at CCS (the Creature Craft Store), students quickly crafted creatures from cardboard and other materials. Many of these creations were functional, such as the candy machine, ATM, and the vending machine created by 7th grade groups this week. Follow the Makerspace @pcsmakerspace on Instagram for pictures and updates.

STUDENT CLUBS:

Let Me Run…

Let Me Run practice begins Monday, September 24. Runners should bring a change of clothes, be sure to wear tennis shoes, and bring a water bottle.

Girls on Fire…

Girls on Fire members are participating in activities focused on self-discovery. They created personal snapshots complete with their values, strengths, and weaknesses. This week they created masks to help them explore who they are inside versus who they show to other people. Girls also completed their girls on fire statements, a positive affirmation that starts, "I am a girl on fire because..." Leadership and team building have also been a focus over the past two weeks. Girls have practiced making a plan, working together to execute the plan, and coming up with ways to improve their ability to work together. Girls on Fire members are igniting their amazing.

ATHLETICS:

Cheerleading…

Cheerleading will be continuing practice on Wednesday and Thursday after school from 3:30 to 5 PM. They are very excited to be participating in upcoming school events, including the Peace Rally!

Soccer…

The 7th and 8th grade soccer teams will have their first game this Saturday the 22nd. The 8th grade team will be playing at 9am and then the 7th grade at 10am. All games will be played at North Kirkwood Middle School. Please make sure your player arrives 30 minutes early with their uniform, shin guards, and plenty of water! If you have any questions reach out to either Ms. Thomas or Ms. Lemmon.

REMINDERS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

BAC Update…

Students are only allowed 5 drop-ins for Before care and 5 drop-ins for Aftercare per year. The Before care drop-in fee is $5 and Aftercare drop-in fee is $15 per student. There will be a $25 Aftercare drop-in fee per child on half days; our next half day is October 25th. Also, families that plan on using the drop-in program need to call ahead or email Mr. Lydon at jlydon@premiercharterschool.org

Middle School Trip…

Middle School Trip: April 29-May 3

Are you registered for the Middle School Trip to Colorado? We still have spots to fill if you are interested! Below is a checklist to make sure you have done everything necessary to sign up:

-Register through AST online using the directions attached.

-Complete the attached Student Traveler Information page and turn in to Ms. Rhine

-Turn in $100 deposit of cash, check, or money order to the front office or to Ms. Rhine

If you are having any issues with registering online please call the toll free number at the top of the page and tell them you are with the Premier Charter School Group. The deadline for all deposits will be Thursday, September 20th. Please reach out to Ms. Rhine if you have any questions.

mrhine@premiercharterschool.org

314-645-9600 ext.426

The 1st Middle School fundraiser ended this week with TJ Pizza for the Middle School Trip to Denver, Colorado. Thank you to everyone who participated. The pick up date for the orders will be on Tuesday, October 9th from 3:30-5:30 in the Elementary Cafeteria. You will be required to check your order and sign stating that you have everything for your order. Please contact Ms. Slattery with any questions at kslattery@premeircharterschool.org. Thank you!

PCG Update…

Mark your calendars!! October 20th is our annual Fall Festival. This event is a family fun event for a fall afternoon. That evening please join us for Trunk or Treat and our First Annual Chili Cook Off!! All events are held at PCS. Please see the attached flyers for more information. If you are able to volunteer for an hour or two we would really appreciate the help. Please email Terry Brogan (tbrogan@lashlybaer.com) to sign up.

If you would like to be on the parent email group, send your email address to Terry Brogan (tbrogan@lashlybaer.com). You will receive updates on upcoming events, etc. Please take a moment to like the parent FB page if you are on FB.

Free/Reduced Meal Status 2018-2019 - Complete ASAP!

Free/Reduced meal forms are available in every buildings' front office. These forms can also be completed and submitted within the Parent Portal.

Please be sure to complete your Free/Reduced meal application as we ask all families to have one on file. Even if you do not believe you will qualify we ask all families to have one on file as this does affect meal pricing, BAC pricing, and has positive funding implications for PCS as a whole.

If you have any questions feel free to contact Ben Huebner at bhuebner@premiercharterschool.org

Fun Around Town…

If it's fun, free, and family friendly, it's listed below. Have a wonderful weekend.

Wed/Thurs/Fri Sept 19, 20, 21 all programs start at 6:30 p.m. and last 1 hour

Ulysses S Grant Historic Site 7400 Grant Road in Affton presents

Civil War to Civil Rights: A Family Friendly Living History Series featuring 3 Historic Interpreters

One hour dramatic portrayal with first person historic interpreters exploring themes of slavery, Reconstruction, and African American efforts to secure Civil Rights. This very special free program is held outdoors under a tent with chairs provided.

Wednesday, September 19 meet Frederick Douglas as portrayed by Charles Pace

Thursday, September 20 meet Martin Luther King, Jr. as portrayed by Stephon Ferguson

Friday, September 21 meet Harriet Tubman as portrayed by Kathryn Harris

https://www.nps.gov/ulsg/planyourvisit/things2do.htm

Fri/Sat/Sun Sept 21, 22, 23 10 a.m.-10 p.m.on Fri & Sat; 11 a.m.-8 p.m.on Sun

Hispanic Festival of St. Louis 7th & Lafayette next to Soulard Market

Celebrate the Art, Music, Dance, and Food of many Hispanic cultures;

Children's Pavillion with Petting Zoo & Pony Rides

https://www.hispanicfestivalstl.com/

Sat Sept 22 all day

Free Entrance Day at the Gateway Arch

Entrance fee is waived all day Saturday; there is still a $10 fee to ride to the top.

https://www.gatewayarch.com/event/nps-fee-free-day/2018-09-

Sat Sept 22 2-5 p.m.

Riverbend Public Art Installation at the Gateway Arch

The Riverbend public art installation opens with party activities for kids & adults featuring the Sappington Creek Bluegrass Band & food trucks. The 100 foot long artwork made of silver mirror like material references the Arch & highlights the Missouri River as the means of Westward Expansion. Artist Margaret Keller won the Critical Mass for the Visual Arts Public Works Project commission for her work

Sat., Sept. 22, 6:30-8 p.m

Animals of the Park Star Gazing Experience at the Gateway Arch Grounds

The recently updated Gateway Arch grounds are more than an oasis from the city.Learn about the surprising variety of wildlife that inhabit the area.

Sat Sept 22 all day during regular museum hours

St. Louis Science Center SCI-FEST-- Rock, Fossil, Quake

Explore the mysteries of the Earth with the help of real geologists, paleontologists, and seismologists. Take a deeper look at what’s below the surface and what we’ve learned about our planet’s past.

Sat Sept 22

Archaeology Month at Mastodon State Park--every weekend in September. This weekend's activities include:

9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Admission to the museum will be free today. The Three Rivers Chapter of the Missouri Archaeology Society will be presenting crafts, artifact identification and archaeological displays. There will also be demonstrations on tanning and other fur bearing animal exhibits.
2 p.m. An informational meeting regarding Mastodon, Sandy Creek Covered Bridge and Governor Daniel Dunklin’s state historic sites will be held in the museum auditorium.

Sat Sept 22 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Live Like a Pioneer at Sappington House 1015 Sappington Road

Throw a tomahawk, fire a musket, weave a basket, feed the goats, tour the museum and learn about the life of an American Pioneers

http://events.stltoday.com/event/live-like-a-pioneer--z7s9wrdnyq

Sat Sept 22 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Join the Circus with Circus Harmony Dellwood Rec Center 10266 W. Florissant Avenue

This show features local youth from St. Louis Arches & Peace Through Pyraminds performing acrobatic, aerial, juggling & balancing feats of skill & daring. A circus workshop for all ages will follow the show so you can join the circus too!

https://circusflora.org/event/circus-harmony-in-the-parks/

Sat Sept 22 Noon-4:30 p.m.

Korean Festival at McGrath Elementary 2350 St. Clair in Brentwood

• Learn the Korean alphabet and how to write your name in Korean

• Make a Korean Kite at our arts and crafts table

• Participate in our Korean Calligraphy demonstrations

• Play traditional Korean games like Yut-Nori, Jegi-Chagi and Gong-Gi

• Eat DELICIOUS Korean food!

• Try on traditional Korean clothing and take a picture at our photo wall

• Listen to KPOP music and enter our drawing for a chance to win awesome Kpop goodies!

• Watch some amazing dance, drum and martial arts performances!

• Take our Discover Korea social media challenge for a chance to win prizes!

http://www.gateway-korea.org/events/

Sat Sept 22 Various Events throughout the day

Book Fest St. Louis

Schlafly Branch Library 225 N. Euclid in the Central West End

Meet local and internationally renowned authors of children's and adult literature reading from their works.

Special Children's Events at 10:30 for Yougest readers; Noon for Middle Grade Readers and 2 p.m. for Young Adult Readers

http://bookfeststl.com/schedule/

Sun Sept 23 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

St. Louis Art Museum celebrates the International Day of Peace

Join in a family mindfulness session, hear stories of peace from different cultures, and share your message of peace on a peace flag or add it to our collaborative peace chain.

Thirty Minute Free Family Tour begins at 2:30 p.m.

Sun Sept 23 5-7 p.m.

Musical Nights in Oak Knoll Park at BIg Bend & Oak Knoll Drive (just north of Clayton Road & Big Bend)

Bring chairs, blankets, snacks or dinner and enjoy the sounds of the Midnight Piano Band

Important Upcoming Dates

9.22.19-7th & 8th Soccer Games

9.24.18-Soccer Practice 3:45-4:45

9.24.18 & 9.26.18-Let Me Run practice 3:45-5:00

9.25.18-Family Night at JJ Twigs

9.26.18 & 9.27.18-Cheerleading Practice 3:30-5:00

10.9.18-TJ Pizza Pick Up 3:30-5:30

10.10.18-7th Grade High School Prep Night 5:30