Paola Middle School Newsletter

January 9th- School Resumes

January 16th- BBB- 8th @ Home; 7th @ Tonganoxie

January 17th- Spelling Bee @ 1:00- Auditorium

January 20th- NO SCHOOL- MLK Day

January 21st- BBB- 8th @ Home; 7th @ Ottawa

January 23rd - BBB- 7th @ Home; 8th @ Louisburg

January 24th - JP Sousa Honor Band @ KU

January 27th- BBB- 8th @ Home ; 7th @ Forest Spring

January 29th- 8th Grade Preview Day of Paola High School

January 29th - Dental Clinic

January 31st- BBB- 7th @ Home; 8th @ Spring Hill

http://calendar.usd368.org/

Kaden Ball

Elicia Blackmore

Brett Brummer

Reid Burchett

Layla Canales

Christina Caster

Emma Chrisjohn

Syrus Colbert

Peyton Daniels

Alexandra Doherty

Kayleigh Dudley

Remington Durland

Joseph Feugate

Jentzin Gerken

Robert Goode

Averly Green

Hank Hamel

Jade Hasselquist

Kylie Hill

Joseph Howard

Conor Keegan

Bennett Lyons

Annistyn McMahon

Hadley Morgan

Kaylor Null

Savannah Ruggels

Charlie Schrotberger

NonaJane Schwatken

Hazel Snouffer

Avery Sullivan

Layla Walker

Graham Ward

Kase Ball

Chaseton Brown

Zable Bruner

Marta Dubon

Morgan Foster

Zane Gonzalez

Trinity Greene

Jacob Hardwick

Shelby Howell

Kennedy Jenkins

Charlotte Johnson

Taryn Jones

June Kemplay

Naomi Marez

Mackenzie McMahon

Steele Meade

Lillilakota Mejia

Josephine Miller

Tynlee Needham

Achilles Perkins

Georgiana Pertner

Mary Pfefferkorn

Clara Ramsey

Kinley Shay

Livvy Smith

Harper Stein

Olivia Sullivan

Avree Troxel

Emmaline Valent

Allie Wiegert

Addison Wolfe

Olivia Worden

Jenaya Yinger

Aryah Baldridge

Halli Ball

Declan Bean

Haleigh Jae Blake

Adalyn Brummer

Cole Burchett

Anna Caster

Massimo DiMartino

Creighton Doherty

Nora Draper

Luna Fleming

Finley Heinrich

Madalyn Hertel

Charlotte Hobart

Helena Hughes

Jensen Hunt

Barrett Kemplay

Kailynn Kirk

Elizabeth Manthei

Berkley Meinig

Molly Morris

Darla Noel

Ava Poetter

Ryan Ragsdale

Henry Schrotberger

Allison Shay

Khloe Smith-Pride

Faith Sparks

Isabella Thompson

Gentry Ward

Sophia Ward

Wyatt Wittekind

Fallon Bain

Tyce Ball

Emersyn Chapman

Cooper Conner-Bassett

Carson Cook

Alaina Denton

Maizy Draper

Isla Henness

Cade Hensley

Madelyn Hudson

Olivia Johnson

Maybeline Kerfes

Kaiden Lindholt

Paisley Medlen

Jaxen Moore

Wyatt Nelson

Oliver Newton

Hadley Oakley

Clayton Richter

Briar Scherman

Jacob Slattery

Tyson Smail

Harper Sterk

Mason Thoden

Hannah Waugh

Hunter West

Jamie Widener

Kenneth Wilkinson

Jenna Brown

Mallory Corbin

Abby Crawford

Brooks Doherty

Dawson Elliott

Rylan Elmore

Rorey Emery-Peters

Colin Farley

Carson Gerken

Leah Glenn

Arthur Hahn

Ella Jones

William Laughlin

GraceLynn McKinney

Kearsten Palmer

Heidi Patterson

Shelby Peterson

Scarlett Quiroz

Levi Scherman

Zoey Secrest

Liam Smith

Hallie Snyder

Alieza Thompson

Carter Ufford

Maverick Weis

Cameryn Wood

Maverick Wright

Aniston Yates

Nolan Younger

Ashlyn Barber

Mason Conyers

Addalyn Doherty

Jace Ferrio

James Foster

Greyson Griffith-Hizey

Quinn Griffith-Hizey

Jody Hines

Wesley Horn

Jude Mateos

Mckynlee Morris

Zion Ova

Dallas Pasini

Hendrix Puckett

Stella Scheffer

Flint Scherman

Eliana Simental

Jerrit Still

Christopher Thomas

Tate Trachsel

Molly Ward

Brooklyn West

Bristol Wicker

Anntonette Davis

Matthew Dickson

Aubree Ellis

Amelia Fay

Leland Ford

Oaklyn Goodwin

Briggs Harrison

Simon Hicks

O'Mari Hinton

Blake Johnson

Morgan Johnson

Adam Kane

Jackson Lester

Devin Loving-Stephens

Brayden Mots

Liam Pierson

Maximino Ramirez

Abigail Ramsey

Shane Roth

Malia Scott

Penelope Secrest

Hudson Shinkle

Charles Silvis

Clydez Smith

Grayson Smith

Mason Sparks

Immanuel Swisher

Klarity Thompson

Verity West

Kobe Wheeler

Paisley Whitney

Stacy Yeager

Mali Young

Gabrielle Achey

Daxin Allen

Elijah Allen

Grady Bachelor

Serenity Bateman

Braedyn Bauer

Adam Blair

Hudson Carter

Gabriel Collins

Jeffrey Conner

Lane Cook

Papo Costalez-Diaz

Ally Crawford

Alana Davidson

Austyn DeGrande

Layton Dinkel

Zoey Dowd

Laura Downum

Madison Fields

Morgan Fields

Alexis Fish

Paisley Fuller

Perla Garcia

Hope Gerken

Ashlie Glauser

Ava Goodwin

Emma Grass

Archer Hoffine

Konlee Johnson

Temprance Johnson

Preslei Kelly

Roric Kreusch

Aaron Lakey

Andrew Lento

Alex Luce

Duncan McMahon

Gunnar Miller

Emry Mock

Bryce Nabus

Gracelyn Nighswonger

Khiayala Ontiveros

Maddilyn Pearce

Armani Penrice

Dat Phung-Duong

Miglexsys Pineda-Sanchez

Tristen Rhodes

Colton Ricley

Alayna Robinson

William Rocole

Athena Sandefur

Tirzah-Rose Sears

Bear Smail

Cecelia Smith

Alexis Stallbaumer

Quincy Stull

Jedidiah Stuteville

Caysen Taylor

Colton Taylor

Carson Walter

Trey Aldrich

Melody Bain

Ava Behrendt

Lexis Beppler

Cole Blackie

Gideon Brown

Caleb Bryant

Hayden Buck

Jayde Carroll

Kylie Connell

Leeland Connell

Seth Courtney

Austyn Davis

Chloe Davis

Paul Drinkard

Kaden Ferrio

Dusty Frankenberg

Vivian Garrison

Macyn Goode

Eric Hartley

Kayden Hendrickson

Ethan Horn

Bella Jackson

Ethan Lakey

Destiny Leigh

Mauricio Leon

Tripp Leonard

Abigail Linsky

Karolynn Lohaus-Fast

HarleyQuinn Maupin

Avery McDiffett

Caleb McHenry

Jillian Morris

Kayden Nicometo

Hunter Oakley

Skylar O'Connor

Bryce Peckman

Travis Peckman

Dalton Perina

Amara Purl

Emma Ramirez

Clarabelle Scherman

Boyd Shafer

Makadyn Sollis

Addison Spurgeon

Adriana Taylor

Molly Thompson

Jess Troutman

Carlos Vera De La Torre

Avyn Wade

Xava West

Kayleigh White

Jade Willard

Elijah Wolf

Paytin Wright

As we kick off a new semester, it’s the perfect time to set the stage for success. Each new semester is an opportunity to learn, grow, and achieve your goals. Here’s a guide to help you navigate the upcoming months with confidence and enthusiasm.

Top Tips for a Successful Semester

1. Set Clear Goals

   Begin by setting academic and personal goals. Whether it’s improving your grades or joining a new club, having clear objectives can help you stay focused and motivated.

2. Stay Organized

   Use a planner or digital calendar to keep track of assignments, tests, and activities. Being organized will help you manage your time effectively and reduce last-minute stress.

3. Participate Actively

   Engage in class discussions, ask questions, and be involved in group activities. Active participation not only helps you understand the material better but also makes learning more fun.

4. Develop Good Study Habits

   Find a quiet place to study and set aside regular time each day for homework and review. Breaking study sessions into manageable chunks can improve retention and understanding.

5. Build Positive Relationships

   Form connections with your teachers and classmates. Having a support system in school can provide encouragement and assistance when you need it.

6. Embrace Challenges

   Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Trying new things, like joining a club or starting a new hobby, can lead to personal growth and new friendships.

7. Take Care of Yourself

   Make sure to get enough sleep, eat healthy meals, and take breaks when needed. Staying healthy is crucial for maintaining energy and concentration throughout the day.

8. Seek Help When Needed

   If you're struggling with a subject, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Teachers, counselors, and peers are there to support you and can offer valuable assistance.

9. Reflect Regularly

   Take time to reflect on your progress and adjust your goals as needed. Regular reflection helps you recognize your achievements and areas for improvement.

10. Stay Positive

    Keep a positive attitude and believe in your ability to succeed. Challenges will arise, but with perseverance and a positive mindset, you can overcome them.

Remember, every day is a new opportunity to learn something new and to become a better version of yourself. Let's make this semester at Paola Middle School a fantastic one!

Paola Middle School allows all of our middle school students in to our PMS athletics and activities free of charge. We want our students involved and supporting one another! In doing so we have established guidelines for students attending our athletics/activities without a parent.

Be Safe

Sit in the student section.

Be Prepared

Concessions/Restroom are visited before or after games, and during halftime. While game is playing you are cheering/watching.

Be Respectful

Cheer Positively! Encouragement and positive support for all involved.

Be Responsible

Clean up all trash and pickup your area before leaving. Ensure your ride is there when the game is over- text or call your ride BEFORE the game is over.

Attending after school activities is a privilage we extend to all of our PMS students, and we ask for help in ensuring this is a positive experience for all.

Parents if you do not attend the activity, a good guide for pickup is usually around 5:45- 6:00. All basketball games are usually over before or around 6:00 p.m.. PLEASE make sure you have secured a ride for your student, as the building closes after the event concludes.

League Champions! Big Congrats to the boys wrestling team earning the top spot finish in the Frontier League MS Wrestling Tournament! The girls earned a 4th place finish. Paola earned a combined team finishing of 2nd!

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS:

Aiden Scheffer

Bryce Nabus

Kayden Hendrickson

Olivia Worden

Adaylyn Brummer

Jade Willard

2nd Place Medal Winners:

Dax Allen

Trejen Jackson

3rd Place Medal Winners:

Steel Meade

Bear Smail

Flint Scherman

Jerrit Still

Dalton Perina

Temperance Johnson

Congrats to the entire team and coaches for an awesome season!

8th Grade Girls finished the season with wins over Eudora and finished the season with 3rd place in the league. 7th Grade fought hard against Bonner Springs, but lost a tough one to finish the season in 8th. Congrats on great seasons full of learning to all of the athletes and coaches!

Congratuations are in order for the following students that were chosen to be published in the Celebrating Art Contest book this semester! Khloe Smith-Pride, Trinity Greene, and Zane Gonzalez. Very proud of our awesome Fine Arts students!

This week in social studies, we are diving into the fascinating world of Ancient India! Students will explore the geography of the Indus and Ganges Rivers and how these vital waterways shaped early civilizations. They will learn about the origins and influence of Hinduism and Buddhism, two major world religions, and examine the remarkable achievements of the Indus Valley, including the cities of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa with their innovative urban planning. Activities this week include analyzing “artifacts” that represent Ancient Indian achievements, learning about historical figures like Siddhartha Gautama, and participating in a simulation game where they will manage resources as settlers in the Indus Valley. Did you know that Ancient Indians invented the concept of zero? It’s just one of the many ways this incredible civilization has shaped the world. Stay tuned as we continue our journey into history!

Over the next 3 weeks, in 6th grade Communications, we are embarking on an exciting journey through a variety of poetry styles! Students will explore creative expression by crafting several types of poems, each with its own unique approach to language and meaning. We'll start with list poems, where ideas are expressed through vivid, creative lists, and extended cinquains, which expand on the five-line format to create deeper imagery. Students will also write haikus, focusing on the beauty of simplicity through a 5-7-5 syllable structure.

In addition, they will explore simile poems, using comparisons to enhance their descriptions, and remember poems, reflecting on personal memories to evoke emotion. Five senses poems will guide students in using sensory details to paint vivid pictures, while personification poems will breathe life into inanimate objects by giving them human qualities.

We'll add rhyme poems for students to experiment with rhythm and sound, and concrete poems where the poem's shape visually represents its theme. Finally, students will dive into the boundless creativity of free verse poetry, where structure is flexible, and the focus is on authentic self-expression. By the end of the unit, students will have a rich collection of original works showcasing their poetic skills. Poetry is not just about words—it’s about expressing ideas, emotions, and stories in powerful and unique ways!

There are 105 Kansas Counties. Each of Mr. Doolittle's 7th grade students chose one of them to research to learn and know about, and ultimately lead the rest of us on a virtual tour around the state. 77 counties were represented this year, and we all learned that not all counties are created, or established equal, certainly not the official websites. We also realize that to actually learn about our chosen county so we know enough to actually conduct an effective and entertaining tour for the rest of us, we must conduct a thorough search! Those who did that showed us some really cool things about our counties. Some findings: In many schools in the smaller counties, boys and girls are playing basketball together and their seasons are in full swing now. They also found some unique school mascots, most having local wildlife and historical significance. Some examples: the Fowler Goldbugs, The Pratt Greenbacks (frogs), the Hill City Ringnecks, the Weskan Coyotes, and the Abiline Cowgirls/Cowboys. Students were also expected to make a phone call to a county department office and actually talk to someone! For some, this was most horrifying, but most enjoyed the experience and, using the available script, were able to effectively gather some additional info and personal perspective about their counties. One student even learned from the county sheriff she interviewed, that he had done a very similar project when he was in school! One student, researching Johnson County, made her call in the classroom and surprised Mr. Doolittle when a personal friend of his picked up--he is an Olathe councilman! Some of the other highlights: visiting parks via the little Google Maps guy, from street view, viewing all styles of county courthouses and city and county parks. Did you know, for example, that George Washburn designed 13 KS county courthouses in the 1890s, including our own right here in MiCo, as well as neighboring Johnson and Franklin counties? All sorts of interesting history tidbits were shared as well, as we identified the significance of why and how our counties were named, some, interestingly enough, after hardened bushwhacking pro-slavery Missourians--the thought! Hopefully, one day, they might even be able to take a road trip and do an actual tour of their county--but if some of the directions given in class on how to get there are actually followed, they may NEVER arrive, lol! Oh well, Kansas is a fun state in which to get lost!

So, that's just a snippet of what students have learned and know, and presented about their chosen county. Feel free to ask them about theirs!