THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
2015-16
MIDDLE SCHOOL
WEEK 2
My Garvey Memories When I moved to Kansas at the end of 8th grade, I remember being invited to a picnic in Mr. and Mrs. Garvey’s backyard. There, in the vast expanse on land on Douglas, we ran and played on grounds of the Garvey’s home. Lovingly, Mrs. Garvey encouraged us to explore, swim, and enjoy. I felt loved, and I felt welcome. It mattered. Little did I know that those expansive grounds would later become what is now the campus of The Independent School. Flash forward 35 years, and I have been teaching on those same grounds for the last 13 years.
Our Founder: Mrs. Jean Garvey
THIS WEEK’S UPCOMING EVENTS
While the land that was once filled with groves of trees and adventures, it now houses a vast campus complete with classrooms, gyms, a theatre, labs, lunchrooms, and learning. At every turn, the quests for adventure and feelings of being loved and welcome are still alive and nurtured. Every day, I am honored to help continue to Garvey legacy of love and learning.
Mrs. Debra Cole Associate Middle School Head
September 2: Founder’s Day 9:00 am - 10:00 am ALL STUDENTS SHOULD WEAR “35” Blue T-Shirts StuCo Pizza Day September 3: MS Parent Group Meeting - 8:00 am Panther Forum September 7:
No School - Labor Day
Founder’s Day Celebration Students will attend our Founder’s Day celebration this Wednesday in the Upper School gym. Afterwards, the entire campus will take an anniversary photo on the field. All students are asked to wear their “Independent 35” blue t-shirts. Please let admissions know if a student ME never received one.
circa 8th Grade
6th Grade What an exciting week! The 6th grade students are beginning to find their groove and are showing more and more confidence in navigating the Middle School environment! Students had a busy week attending classes, starting Explore electives, logging into Google Classrooms, creating personal timelines, and learning more about how to stay organized with their red homework folder. In science, students took time for a nature walk to observe our resident Monarch caterpillars as they start the process of metamorphosis. At our first Middle School social at The Alley we had an awesome time bowling, eating pizza, and getting to know each other! It was a great way to end a busy week in the Middle School. A big THANK YOU to Mrs. Cole for planning such a fun event! - Mrs. Argetsinger
BOWLING SOCIAL EVENT
7th Grade
We have had an exciting full week. Students have logged on to Google Classroom, and they will start seeing assignments posted there. We encourage parents to have students show them the classroom pages. Bowling was a blast! It was so nice to see so many students enjoying themselves. - Mrs. Brosius
8th Grade
Eighth grade students did a great job completing their first full week. They have been to each Explore class and logged on to Google Classroom. Athletes with large bags have been asked to place these bags in the last row of the bleachers in the gym to prevent pile ups in the bathrooms. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in this, thank you. Students and teachers ended the week with pizza, bowling, and fun. It was great to getting to know everyone outside of the school. -Mrs. Barrett
Thank You Parent Drivers!
Monarch Sightings on Campus!
Special sighting on campus! Outside of the Upper School business office exit, there is a clump of milkweed that our US Environmental Action Club planted by the sidewalk. Students and teachers have found 5 monarch caterpillars! Many of those caterpillars should be in a chrysalis later today. In January 2015, scientists moved to place monarchs on the endangered species list. In fact, the Xerces Society states, "If monarchs were people, that would be like losing every living person in the United States except those in Florida and Ohio." The monarch is very unique, so make sure to stop and take a moment to look at the magical process of metamorphosis! However, tread lightly and remember they are an endangered species!
How Does Our Garden Grow? BEAUTIFULLY! All the work from 7th graders last year and the dedication of Mrs. Patton is now y i e l d i n g beautiful results! Basil, melons, carrots, tomatoes, a n d m o r e c a n b e fo u n d throughout the garden.
Box Tops for Education Please keep your box tops and drop them off at the Middle School Office. This program provides cash to our school for programs and materials that benefit our students.
Members of the Community Service EXPLORE ELECTIVES will have helping out as par t of adventures in the classes. Students interested in helping out in the garden should see Mrs. Patton.
Middle School Daily Schedule
Watermark Youth Preview Readers and Reviewers Independent Middle School readers have been offered a wonderful opportunity through Watermark Books. Last Thursday, avid readers gathered to select copies of youth books to read that have not even hit the shelves at local bookstores. These volunteer readers will read these year proofs and write a n d v i d e o r e v i e w s fo r f u t u r e Watermark costumers.
Arrival
7:30 – 7:50
1st Hour
8:00 – 8:45
2nd Hour
8:50 – 9:35
3rd Hour
9:40 – 10:25
4th Hour
10:30 – 11:15
Lunch
11:20 – 11:50
5th Hour
11:55 – 12:45
6th Hour
12:50 – 1:35
7th Hour
1:40 – 2:25
8th Hour
2:30 – 3:15
Dismissal
3:15 – 3:30
Printed copies of the reviews plus QR codes of the videos will be make available in store as well as our website and newsletters. Additional interested readers should see Mrs. Cole if they want to help out!
6th Grade History Timeline Highlights
This Week’s Writing Highlights
Above: “Silence” by Judah Hansen (6th)
Right: “Runaways” by Johanna Yang (7th)