Panther Press 2012 3rd

edition

Charles Town Family and Friends, It seems that the cold weather has left us in favor of spring sunshine, and we welcome it! With the new season comes a renewed focus for everyone at CTMS to ensure that our students end the year on a high note. Already into the last marking period, our students and teachers are working hard to ensure the success that we have come to expect from our population. The Writing Assessment is complete, leaving our students to focus on a high marking period grade and winning performance on the WESTEST. Eighth graders are anxiously looking toward new and exciting high school experiences at Washington and the sixth and seventh graders are eager to begin news stations here at CTMS next year. It is important that all students maintain their focus through these last warm weeks and finish the year as strong as they started. With summer just around the corner, it becomes more and more alluring to push schoolwork and academics to the side in favor of vacations and days by the pool. However, we need everyone to resist these temptations and remain focused on academics for the next two months. All Jefferson County students will be taking the WESTEST in May and these scores will define their academic futures for the next school year. Were confident that our teachers have and continue to educate our students to the highest of standards; we just need them to keep doing what they do best! Attendance is crucial at this stage of the game as we dont want our kids to miss any valuable time in the classroom. Please be cognizant of this when scheduling trips and other appointments. We were very proud of our students and their performance on both the Writing Assessment and the Golden Horseshoe. The writing assessment was challenging and the staff and students put a great deal of work into preparing for it. We wont receive the scores for quite some time; however, it was evident from a cursory glance through the lab on testing days that our students took this very seriously and gave it their all. The Writing Assessment is an annual state assessment to measure students abilities when it comes to narrative writing. Students are offered a variety of prompts for their essays. These essays are then measured and scored in key areas such as: organization, spelling and grammar, word usage, etc. The scores on the Writing Assessment comprise 30% of the overall Language Arts WESTEST score. As such, a good grade on the Writing Assessment is imperative to success on that portion of the WESTEST. The Golden Horseshoe is an annual test administered to eighth-graders only. This test measures students knowledge of West Virginias history as well as current events involving the state. Those students that achieve the highest scores are awarded trophies and certificates. A winning score on the Golden Horseshoe test makes a great feather to add to the cap of any college resume! As the year winds down at Charles Town Middle, were looking forward to the success of our athletes, the exciting events arranged and sponsored by our clubs and organizations, and the success of all of our students in the classroom and on the WESTEST. With your help, well be able to finish the year strong and claim our title of The Proud Panthers of 2011-2012! Charles Hampton Principal Bettina Sperry Assistant Principal Ann Workman Assistant Principal Dustin Weaver Leadership Committee

April 3, 5, 17, 19, 24, 26 17 May 1, 10 3 12 15 19 Jazz Band 3-4pm Spring Concert 7pm at Washington High School Bake Sale at Wal-Mart (Jazz Band performs) Music Booster Meeting 7pm CTMS End of the Year Dance (8th Grade Farewell) Sponsored by the Music Boosters Memorial Day Performance 7th and 8th grade band 10:45am at Seminary St. Cemetery 8th Grade Trip to Hershey Park Tentatively May 30th or 31st Summer Band dates coming soon! Jazz Band 3-4pm Music Booster Meeting 7pm CTMS

28

TBA June-August

CUT, SAVE and SEND! THANK YOU!

An Announcement from The guidance Counselors Office

The county has decided to extend the application deadline for Governor's School for Math & Science. We are now able to take applications until April 12th. The application and instructions can be found at: www.wvgovschools.org.

FFA Spring Plant Sale Starts on Saturday, April 28th and will run through Sunday, May 13th.
Charles Town Middle School is proud to announce Royalicious Bagel Bakery and Deli as our newest business partner.
http://royaliciousbagelbakery.c om/

CTMS-PTSOs next meeting: Tuesday April 3th, at 7pm in the Library. Please come! Your support is needed for making Fitness Field Day a success. If you cant make the meeting, but wish to volunteer contact the CTMSPTSO at: ctmsptso@comcast.net

Spring Has Sprung!!!! Our students have completed their Writing Assessment. We feel the students did extremely well. They worked hard. Language Arts is currently working on various forms of poetry and reading various novels. Students should continue to practice their grammar review for the summative test. Social Studies will begin a unit on Ancestry. Students will be asked to bring items about their family history. Science is moving on to the unit of Sound. Pi Day (3.14) in math class was a great learning day. All the students were able to find and describe pi. Of course, we got to eat PIE!!

We are finishing up on Algebra and beginning Geometry!!!

STUDENTS SHOULD BE COMPLETING THEIR WORD PROBLEMS EVERY NIGHT!!!!

21st Century Learning

Students completed the Timeline TechStep in Ms. Diamonds class and will continue to work on Web Powered Research in Mr. Slackers class. Students are reminded to continue reading AR every night for 30 minutes to complete the fourth grading period goals. Students did a fantastic job on their castle creations. A slide show of these amazing projects can be seen on the school website under daily news and announcements. http://boe.jeff.k12.wv.us/education/components/whatsnew/d efault.php?sectiondetailid=678 Thanks to all of the volunteers who chaperoned the Purple Puffin field trip to Medieval Times.

Reminder to parents:
Gum is no longer allowed in classes by purple puffin teachers due to

gum being misplaced on floors and

in the fish tank. Please do not send gum to school with your children. Reminder to check live grades to track the progress of your child. Westest will occur in May. Remind your child to continue giving their best effort to prepare for their end of year testing.

Math Tutoring!!! Math tutoring is after school in Mrs.

Manns room until 4:00 PM on Wednesdays. Students need to sign up by Tuesday. Students need to be picked up by 4:00 PM. All math tests need to be brought back signed by parents.

6th Grade Silver Hawks

April will be busy for our wonderful students! The Writing assessment is behind us. WESTEST 2 is in mid-May. past at Medieval Times as a field trip on March 30. Parents please encourage your child to sell their Pizza Discount cards as soon as possible! We still have about 25 students who have not turned in the money for the cards. We will be

experiencing the age of knights in jousting armor and fair maidens as we step into the

Language Arts:
B1 is beginning a PBL (Project Based Learning) unit next week. They will be engaged in a futuristic dystopian society as seen through a novel called The Giver by Lois Lowry. There will be group activities and projects for class work and Individual parts to be completed at home. B2 Honors has been working on their PBL for two weeks at present. They are tweaking out the requirements for their grades. B3 is reading Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings. After they complete this unit they will begin

their PBL using the novel Wringer by: Jerry Spinelli.

Science:
In science class the students will be observing the phases of the moon and its cycles; catch the waves with tides and their effects on our planet and will check out eclipses and study planets.

Social Studies:
World War II is nearing its end and next we will examine the Cold War.

Math:
Math 1 & Math 2 are movin & grovin their way into geometry, while Math 3are building houses. MATH RULES! Important dates: Immediately- turn in Pizza Discount Card money March 30- Medieval Times Field Trip May- WESTEST 2

7th Grade Golden Dragons

MARCH/APRIL

Striving for excellence, curiosity, and creativity!

Rehbergs Realm (Science)

I hope everyone is enjoying this lovely weather we have been having! Spring fever is definitely in the air! In science, we just finished our biology unit and we are heading into our chemistry unit. All classes will be starting off the last quarter with Tech Steps and then we will be working on some exciting projects before spring break. Honors students will be dissecting fetal pig as an extension to our biology unit. I think the students are pretty excited about this opportunity. The Regional Science Fair was held March 13 at Shepherd University. Our 7th grade students who competed did an awesome job! Students who placed in the fair and who earned medals were as follows: Maddy Landmesser - Honorable Mention in Biochemistry with her project: Enzymes in Action Aleah Shadle - First Place in Energy and Transportation with her project: Does the Species of Wood Affect How Long it takes to Burn? Anna Allen - Third Place in Environmental Sciences with her project: Does Water Type Affect Plant Growth? Emma Locarnini -Third Place in Microbiology with her project: Vinegar, Cheese, and Mold, OH MY! Congratulations to all of the students who competed! You represented Charles Town Middle School well! I am looking forward to a great last quarter of the school year!

Muias Math
The Math classes are working hard as evidenced by the students' thick notebooks. We are also having fun while learning. The classes celebrated Pi Day on March 14 by listening to a Pi Song and embracing a challenge to memorize pi. Our grand prize winner, Dara Insixiengmay, memorized 54 digits and was a guaranteed winner of 2 prizes in the classroom PAWS drawing held the next day. The classroom PAWS drawing has been very successful throughout the year with promoting positive behavior, perfect attendance, and superb questions and answers.

The Hall Way (English)

Job well done to all my students on the writing assessment! My honors class is well on their way in their Alphabiography project. Im enjoying reading the chapters and the interesting things your children are writing. All classes will be doing a short unit on poetry before moving on to research reports. Reading/English combined will be working through a unit on Mythology, which will culminate in a research paper on a mythological character. Students recently enjoyed the GET A LIFE program here at school. If they havent told you about it, ask!

Ms. Adams World

The fourteen-inch-tall daffodils outside our classroom have convinced us to stop thinking about SNOW (almost). We will still enjoy visiting Lapland and the snowy Alps while completing our study of Europe. We have talked about Ancient Greece. Your child knows about the Parthenon and the Elgin Marbles. ASK! Rome is next on our agenda. Students were introduced to Israel during Social Studies day in Skills class. We will spend a week in The Middle East before moving on to Asia.

Dont forget to FLY THE FLAG!

Spring is here! I hope everyone has a great Spring Break! We made it through the WESTEST Writing Assessment! Our students did a great job digging deep and thinking "outside the box" with their writing prompts.
As the bright colors blossom the butterflies will flutter and the bee will be buzzing. It is for sure spring fever will begin to run rampant. Students are already looking forward to spring break. We have completed our unit on South America and our unit on Europe. The students created wonderful collages, timelines and travel brochures of South American Countries. While in Europe, the children created a journal of an imaginary vacation. Each group detailed in pictures, and in writing, the events of their visit to three European Counties. Currently in seventh grade we are studying Africa. We are mapping its countries climates and bodies of water. In West Virginia History we are learning about the Civil War era. The children are given sufficient class time to finish their work. There should be no need for homework over our break. I wish all of you and your families a safe and enjoyable Spring Break.

April will bring about the 7th grade research paper. The students will choose a biography book from our library and write a three page paper defining the contributions to society that their "person" has made.
Please continue to check your child's LiveGrades. If you need your parent password, please contact the guidance office.

If your children have missed work remind them to see me at the beginning of Skills Support. I will provide them with their work and teacher support. Additional help is available online on my website at: http://boe.jeff.k12.wv.us/education/components/sectionlist/default.php?sectiondetailid=679 &category=306 Children can also review and study for their tests with the information provided there. Copy, paste and add to favorites.

Enjoy Spring Break!

Mrs. Colbert's West Virginia History and Civics class is entering a complex and exciting period in history: the Civil War. If your family has anything they would like to share, please pass this information along through your student.

My 8th grade math students have been working very hard on their Geometry Unit. We have been finding area and volume. This is a tough topic for middle school students. Please ask your child what they are working on in math and ensure that they are completing homework daily. If you send me an email: ccoughlin@access.k12.wv.us saying you read this in our newsletter I will give your child two homework points for this 9 week period. Soon we will begin working on solving inequalities, an important topic to prep for Algebra next year. My algebra class continues to impress me with their hard work! We are factoring polynomials, which is a very abstract process for middle school students. Hang in there. In Social Studies we are working on the Civil War era. West Virginia is becoming a state just as the Union is falling apart. I believe we are lucky to live in this area, so rich in history. Much of what we have been reading about has happened right here in the Eastern Panhandle. The Golden Horseshoe Test is coming up in late March. Good Luck Panthers!

Students took the Writing Assessment on March 19th and 20th. Honors students are creating Commonplace Books, accelerated reading students will be finishing the novel The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963, and English 8 students are working on writing a variety of essays. As we move into April we will be focusing on National Poetry Month, and beginning Literature Circles in accelerated reading.

Hi everyone! Owen has finally arrived, born today, March 15th at 3:25 PM 7 lbs. 8 oz. and 19in. Dear Parents, We will be shortly starting the last instructional unit for the remainder of the school year (Physics). Topics covered in this unit include Forces, Newton's Laws of Motion, Simple Machines, Power and Work. If you have any concerns or questions please contact me at rrockey@access.k12.wv.us

We are currently reviewing story structure and literary elements/devices by reading and analyzing Greek mythology via Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Mr. Days 8th Grade Reading Classes: We are currently reviewing story structure, Latin roots, and analyzing a novel. We just finished The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and will soon be jumping into I Am Legend. *Please feel free to contact me via my school email at <jwday@access.k12.wv.us>.

8 Grade Purple Team

Let your hungry mind feast on a book!

th

MR. WEAVERS ENGLISH CORNER

All of my classes are beginning or finishing a unit. We continue to examine and write about literature from not only a plot perspective but with a critical eye, in an attempt to discern the themes and authors message. The general classes are finishing Jon Krakauers Into the Wild. Once we finish, students will work on an essay dealing with the themes of the book and we will compare and contrast the film adaptation with the book. Throughout reading the book, the students completed reading guides examining the authors message and intent. Now that we are almost through with the text, we will examine these themes by way of an essay. Following the Into the Wild unit, we will study either Carol Matas Daniels Story or John Boynes The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. Both are historical young adult novels that deal with the Holocaust and tell a compelling story of children living through this terrible time. Westest is coming up in May so we will also be dedicating some time to the mechanics of reading and writing just as a refresher as the students should be well-versed in this material from their reading class. I am very excited about the fourth marking period and very proud of the progress my students have made so far this year.

The honors class has finished our collection of mini-units, each dealt with a weighty theme commonly present in the best of literature: love, friendship, loss, hope, etc. This week we are beginning what will be our final and most challenging/complex unit: The Promise: Bruce Springsteens American Dream. We will be examining the American Dream and whether or not this uniquely American vision is a real possibility or just what its name indicates: a dream. We will use the prolific writings of Bruce Springsteen as our primary literary window by which to examine this. Along with Springsteen, material from Americas best thinkers will be looked at: Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy, Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, Maya Angelou, etc. The students are working in teams and will be completing a variety of challenging writing-based assignments over the next two months. Throughout this unit, it is my goal that the students will gain a better understanding of the social/political history of our country and what it means to be an American. On a daily basis, I am totally amazed by these students. This is by far, the best class I have ever had in my five years of teaching. What a joy it is to come to work every day and work with your kids. They are a talented groupeach and every one of themand you should be very proud. I know I am!

BOGERTS READING CORNER

Well the year is quickly coming to a close. It certainly has been going fast. All my classes are in the middle of their various novels and awaiting our April 5th Field Trip to see The Hunger Games. Many teachers are looking forward to viewing the film as well. The Top AR Readers for the end of Term #3 are: Meghan Stillwell with 50.2 AR Pts., Allison Jones with 54.8 AR Pts., Gabrielle Lugo with 59 AR Pts., Madeline Foster with 65. 8 AR Pts., Hailey Hawthorne with 67.2 AR Pts., Rashell Rodriguez with 69 AR Pts., Megan Marino with 80.3 AR Pts., and Kaleigh Elms with 92.9 AR Pts. All students who exceeded 75 AR Pts. received a $5.00 gift card from me. Congratulations to all my students who strived to get their AR Pts. this term. Have a great Spring Break!!!

PENNINGTONS SCIENCE CORNER

In Science we are starting the Unit on Newtons Laws and will be busy constructing roller coasters in science class. Parents ask your children to show you their presentation on their groups coasters in a few weeks. You will be impressed!

Nurse Dailys Updates

Jefferson County Schools

2012
MONDAY
2 5

APRIL Menu,
FRIDAY
6
NO SCHOOL - IS DAY

TUESDAY
3
Chicken Biscuit; Fresh Fruit; Milk

WEDNESDAY
4
Taco go eggs; Toast; Fresh Fruit; Milk

THURSDAY
5
Egg patty w/Cheese on English Muffin; Fresh Fruit; Milk Chicken Noodle Soup; Toasted Cheese Sandwich on Whole wheat; Fresh Fruit; Fresh Vegetables w/dip; Milk

Cinnamon Toast; Yogurt; Fresh Fruit; Milk

Spaghetti and Meat Sauce; Tossed Salad/w dressing; Corn; Applesauce; Bread Sticks; Milk

BBQ Ribs; Mashed Potatoes/Gravy; Green Beans; Yellow Cake; Milk

Hot Dog on W/W Bun; Tater Tots; Baked Beans; Fruit Salad; Milk

9 NO School Spring Break 16 - 6

Fruit muffin square; Yogurt; Fresh Fruit; Milk Hamburger on W/W Bun; French Fries; Green Beans; Fresh Fruit; Chocolate Chip Cookie; Milk

10 NO School Spring Break 17

Oatmeal; Toast; Fresh Fruit; Milk

11 NO School Spring Break 18

Cinnamon roll; Yogurt; Fresh Fruit; Milk

12 NO School Spring Break 19

Sausage Gravy/Biscuit; Fresh Fruit; Milk

13 NO School Spring Break 20

French Toast w/syrup; Yogurt; Fresh Fruit; Milk Fish Sticks; Macaroni and Cheese; Peas and Carrots; Fruit Salad; Oatmeal Cookie; Milk

Turkey & Cheese Sub; Lettuce/Tomato; Potato Tots; Fresh Vegetables w/dip; Fresh Fruit; Milk

Chili Con Carne w/Beans; Carrot Sticks w/dip; Cornbread; Fruit Salad; Milk

BBQ Chicken; Mashed Potatoes; Peas; Applesauce; W/W Roll; Milk

23 -

24
Scrambled eggs w/ham; Toast; Fresh Fruit; Milk Chicken and Noodles; Green Beans; Fresh Fruit; Whole Wheat Roll; Milk

25
Bagel w/Jelly; Yogurt; Fresh Fruit; Milk

26
Breakfast Pizza; Fresh Fruit; Milk

27
Cheese Omelet; Toast; Fresh Fruit; Milk

Pancake w/syrup; Yogurt; Fresh Fruit; Milk

Beef-a-Roni; Tossed Salad w/dressing; Frozen Juice Bar; Whole Wheat Roll; Milk

Vegetable Soup; Toasted Cheese Sandwich; Oatmeal Cookie; Fresh Fruit; Milk

Chicken Patty on W/W Bun; Lettuce/Tomato; French Fries; Baked Beans; Carrots w/Dip; Milk

Pizza; Tossed Salad w/Dressing; Fresh Fruit; Brownie; Milk

30 -

Cinnamon Toast; Yogurt; Fresh Fruit; Milk Grilled Chicken/Cheese on W/W Bun; Steamed Broccoli; Baked Potato/Sour Cream; Milk

Visit the new West Virginia Department of Education Child Nutrition website - www.wvsmartfoods.com - for more information about school child nutrition. Free/Reduced Meal Applications are now available online http://wvschoolmeals.net Payments may be made at - http://wv.parentonline.net Please visit the safe and secure way for parents to make online payments and view student meal account activity. Menus are subject to change due to availability of food product. A variety of cold cereals are offered with all Breakfast menus.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint alleging discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call, toll free, (866) 632-9992 (Voice). Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.