December Academic Newsletter

Coding: Students are learning to code games with Python and developing critical problem-solving and computational thinking skills as they bring projects like Snake or Paddleball to life. They are exploring creativity and design while programming interactive elements, such as a colorful Thanksgiving turkey crafted entirely with code. This hands-on approach to coding makes learning engaging and fun, fostering a deeper understanding of programming concepts through real-world applications.

Dual Credit Computer and Information Systems: Students are learning Microsoft PowerPoint and are gaining skills in creating visually appealing presentations by mastering features like slide layouts, animations, and transitions. They explore tools to add multimedia elements such as images, videos, and charts, enhancing their storytelling and communication abilities. Through this process, students build confidence in designing professional presentations tailored to various audiences and purposes.

Personal Finance: Students will be learning the importance of being a smart consumer as part of a healthy financial plan, explaining strategies to manage spending behavior, exposes common consumer scams, and identifies consumer rights. Consumer awareness emphasizes its critical role in empowering consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.

Mass Media: Students sold yearbook advertisements to local businesses and students gained valuable skills in communication, marketing, and sales. They learned how to approach business owners, present persuasive pitches, and explained the benefits of advertising in the yearbook. This experience not only raises funds for their school but also fosters relationships between the school and the local community. Thank you to all of the businesses who supported our school yearbook.

Algebra 1 - We will be solving equations with exponents. Right before break we will discuss how exponents are used in finance and how interest rates on loans, credit cards, and bank accounts work.

Geometry - We will be working to prove triangles congruent and how this helps us with construction, especially with roofs.

Pre/Calc-Trig - We will be working with Sine, Cosine, and Tangent. We will also discuss angular and linear motions and how they are used.

Visual Arts 9th & 10th- Students will work with clay, create a grid drawing with charcoal, and learn about color psychology (how color can affect your mood.) If we have time I would like students to start on their balloon number drawings for New Years.

Art Design- Students are working on their own individual projects. Projects include sanding and painting of cabinets, winter landscape painting, multimedia project for the upcoming Art Show, fashion design, and other drawings.

Psych - senses, sensation, & perception

Creative Writing - reading & writing fictional short stories

Stats - Normal distribution & T-distribution

Comp - autobiographical scrapbook (writing, genealogy, family correspondence)

English Presentation - autobiographical project (family questions, Name poem, collage, & paper)

We are busy as ever in the high school social studies department as we start to close down our first semester. In World History we are discussing the monumentous impacts of the Industrial Revolution. The freshman Government students are wrapping up their discussion of the Constitutional Convention. We are examining the role that economics played in framing our Constitution. Sophomore Leadership just finished up putting on their service project: a volleyball tournament that was held for students and staff on November 26th. Lastly, Current Events continues to examine news topics both at home and around the world.

Ag Science 1 students have learned about multiple Supervised Agricultural Experience Programs and are starting to learn about record keeping and how to put entries into the Missouri FFA Recordbook.

Ag Science 2 has been and will continue to learn about the basic of plant science with an emphasis on macro and micro nutrient needs during plant processes,

Greenhouse class is learning about the many pests and disorders that can occur in the greenhouse and how to control and combat those issues.

Animal Science is currently emphasizing beef operations in both the state of Missouri and nation wide.

Ag Construction is currently learning the basics on how to use the computerized plasma cutter along with completing individual shop projects.

Foods Class:

We are constructing a graham cracker house during class. Students had to design and construct it. Some chose a barn, log cabin, hotel, and others chose a house. The community has donated some candy for the students to use. We will set these up in the mezzanine before the Christmas concert and have a place for visitors to vote on their favorite graham cracker house. We will also be making Christmas cookies and goodies after the graham cracker house project. We will enjoy some of them, and the rest will be donated to businesses in town or classrooms.

8th grade:

The students will learn all about kitchen tools and their uses. They will also learn how to measure different kinds of foods with different measuring tools. We are making Christmas cookies and treats. We will enjoy some of them, and the rest will be donated to businesses in town or classrooms.

Housing:

We are also constructing a graham cracker house in this class. Instead of setting these up in the mezzanine like our foods class, we will be setting these up in the High School hallway. The class will make a google form for the students to vote on their favorite house. The winner will be announced 4th hour on Dec. 19th!

Health:

We are finishing off this semester class with a chapter on mental and emotional health.

Nutrition and Wellness:

We are finishing up on Chapter 7 The Cook’s Tools. They are learning all about the uses of kitchen equipment and tools. We will be making Christmas cookies and treats in this class as well.

Interpersonal Relationships:

In Chapter 7, we will be discussing the communication process. Students will be able to identify different forms of nonverbal communication and verbal communication. They will demonstrate effective speaking and listening skills.

FCCLA:

We adopted a red rock from downtown mainstreet this Christmas. We will have a Christmas party with Mr Dignan and his FFA organization in our building on December 19th. We registered 9 students to participate in the Regional STAR events that will take place next month at NWMSU. We will have a concession stand during the Mound City Tournament to help raise money for our chapter. Two of our STAR Event participants are putting on a holiday party in the multipurpose gym for our Pre k and Kindergarteners. This service will be a part of their event that they will present about in competition. FCCLA members will help supervise and run the party.

Grades 9-11:
We will take the last few weeks of the semester to review our standards from quarters one and two using literature classics as our anchor texts. The students will finish the quarter by writing a synthesis paper of the texts focusing on a common literary device.

Grade 12:

The seniors are wrapping up unit two over Nickel and Dimed. The students will spend the remainder of the quarter finishing their Hannah Project. They will look at various supplemental texts to make comparisons and gather additional information before writing their final report over the Hannah Project.

Elementary P.E. - Jump Rope & Yoga

Middle School - Jump Rope & Yoga

9th Grade P.E. - Bowling Unit

Lifetime Sports - Badminton

Integrated Science 9 (Physical Science) - Physical Science has two main components: Chemistry and Physics. We just learned about Newton's first and second laws of motion, next up the third law! We will wrap up the semester studying forces in fluids. This physics quarter allows us to spend quality time in the lab looking at the real-life application of the laws of motion and forces.

Chemistry - Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes. Students completed a rock candy lab exploring crystallization and supersaturated solutions. The 5th grade rock candy collaboration was a success. Fun was had by all! Before Christmas we will study electrons in atoms and begin to take a peek at the periodic table and its properties.

Biology - Biology, or life science, will provide students with the knowledge of the nature of living things. Now that we know how cells get their energy, we will dive into cell growth and division. This will include the cell cycle, mitosis, and an introduction to genetics.

Anatomy - Human anatomy is the study of the body, its parts and their locations. We are pulling out the microscopes and brushing up on our wet mount skills. Additionally, our class skeleton, King Arthuritis, will be our helpful mascot for the remainder of the quarter as we deep dive into the skeletal system.

Earth Science - Earth Science is the name for the group of sciences that deals with Earth and its neighbors in space. Backtracking slightly, we reviewed Earth's many valuable resources. This sets the stage for us to understand the power of the next few chapters: the forces within. These include earthquakes, volcanoes and mountain building.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Break! As we jump into December we are finishing up 2nd quarter. I highly encourage everyone to be checking on your child's grades through Lumen. It is a very busy time in the building. We are preparing for the Mound City Tournament that starts tonight as all our organizations work concessions stands to help fundraise for their individual events. We are also having HS Basketball, Senior Composite, and Retakes at 12:30 pm on Thursday, December 5th. If you are interested in retakes for your child please contact the HS office @ 660.442.5429. We are starting to get into winter with weather starting to play a factor. Please make sure you are signed up for Textcaster so you can get any communication about possible cancelations or sudden changes due to weather. Our Winter Concert is Tuesday December 10th at 6:30 pm in the Multi purpose gym. We will be streaming this event through our Mound City R-2 Facebook page. We will also be taking finals December 18th (3,5,7th hours), December 19th (4,6,8th hours), and December 20th (1,2nd hours). Remember Finals opt out policy has changed and is strictly based on attendance, behavior, and current grade in classes. Please have your child contact their teachers if they have questions. Panther Families are new to the HS this year. We will be trying to have a Panther Families Christmas dinner on December 20th for all HS students. If you are interested in donating food for this event please contact the HS office as well. With many things going on, communication is key. Please feel free to reach out to me through email (jake.shipman@mndcyt.org) or phone (660.442.5429) with questions. Let's have a great December! Go Panthers!

Email: jake.shipman@mndcty.org

Website: https://www.mndcty.k12.mo.us/