Whittier Wire
October 13, 2024
Coming Events
- October 18: Progress Report 1 goes home
- Week of October 21: Student Led Conferences
- October 31: Great Pumpkin Mile
- November 8: Middle School Dance 6:30-8:30
- November 10: Tri-Town Family 5K at 10:00am
Grade 7: Teaching and Learning Outside
Grade 7 visited Camp Connor on Thursday and participated in a full day of outdoor learning. The students rotated through their regular schedules in 30-minute blocks of time, and teachers engaged the students in lessons that took advantage of the time outdoors.
We are very grateful to Scott Segal, Poland Recreation, and the town of Poland for providing Camp Connor. It was an excellent venue and a fun day for students and staff.
This coming Wednesday is RSU 16's first Drop Everything and Get Everyone Outside Day. The weather looks promising, but students should plan ahead and bring an extra warm layer. It's a beautiful time of year to put the technology away and enjoy learning outside in Maine.
October Challenge: Mile-a-Day
How's it going at your house? We are closing in on the halfway point for the month. Are there any streakers left out there? Maybe you missed a day. No problem! Start a new Mile-a-Day streak again today. #WhittierMADChallenge
Our 2nd Annual Great Pumpkin Run is on October 31st. The mile starts in the middle school baseball field and ends on the high school track. If you would like to join us to volunteer or cheer the kids on, plan for 1:00 on 10/31. We could use people to help monitor the course, record finishers, and hand out snacks afterward. Send me a quick email (svincent@rsu16.org) if you would like to help or look for me at Student Led Conferences.
Mrs. Patenaude: Grade 7 Science & Math
Science: Students explored the Water Cycle by becoming a "drop of water" and moving through different parts of the water cycle, including clouds, oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater, and understanding the parts that animals, plants, and soil play in the water cycle.
Math: Students increased their number sense by exploring positive and negative numbers on a "life-sized" number line.
Mrs. Yorkey: Grade 8 Wellness
Mrs. Gagnon: Grade 8 Math
In Mrs. Gagnon's math class, students have been learning math through hands-on exploration. They were challenged to find as many relationships as possible between the volumes of cones, spheres, and cylinders by physically filling the relational solids with rice.
The hands-on discovery process will continually remind students of their own findings, so that when they later create the formulas for calculating the volumes of these shapes, the concepts will make much more intuitive sense. Starting with guided exploration before relying on the algorithms helps ensure students develop a deeper, more meaningful understanding of the math concepts.
This hands-on approach, rather than simply handing students the volume formulas from the start, empowers students to construct their own knowledge and make connections. This foundation makes the "math" more impactful and meaningful for the students.
Mrs. Enters: Writing
Nothing in the end
by Isaac Irvin
Be grateful, be happy
For there is nothing in the end
Cherish what you have
Don't take life for granted
Be kind, not selfish
For there is nothing in the end
Pain has four letters
Yet so does love
Enemies has five letters
Yet so does friends
Give to the less fortunate
For there is nothing in the end.
Stitch Club
Come and get your stitch on! The Whittier Stitch Club will resume on October 15, 2024.
Time: End of school until 3:30 (Please make sure you have a prompt ride)
Location: Room C137 (Mrs. Shanning's Room)
Questions: Please reach out to Ms.Carmody with any questions. ccarmody@rsu16.org
Mr. King: Whittier Athletics
Parents – photographs of your Whittier Middle School player for the Fall 2024 teams are ready, and they look awesome!
- Start at https://pefxmaine.gotphoto.com and enter Access Code: BWMS-Players-F24
- Enter your player’s name to find and select your player, then enter your name and email.
- Choose a package you would like to purchase, then select the pose you want for each part of that package. Add To Cart and checkout to pay securely by credit/debit card. Finished photographs will be delivered to the school in a few weeks, to be passed along to your player.
Registration is OPEN for Winter Athletics!!
This week in Whittier Athletics:
Tuesday
MS FH @ Cape Elizabeth 4:00 depart
Wednesday
8th/7th Boys Soccer @ Lake Region MS 3:30/4:45 depart 2:20
8th/7th Girls Soccer vs Lake Region 3:30/4:45
MS CC @ Brunswick depart 1:50
Friday
7th G Soc @ OOB 3:30, depart 2:10
MS FH @ GNG 3:30 depart 2:25
Tri-Town Family 5K - 13th Year!
Whittier Middle School's Tri-Town Family 5K will take place on Sunday, November 10th, 2024 and it is open to everyone. Join us for a fun family morning on the Minot trails and fields.
Registration is open...and it's free! Let's get the word out there and make this the biggest and best event so far. Don't let 3.1 miles scare you! You will finish the course in less than an hour. Visit the website to register or get more information.
Thank you to our Andy Valley Insurance and Retirement, LLC and the Tri-Town Optimist Club for returning as sponsors again this year. We appreciate you!
Bruce M. Whittier Middle School
Email: svincent@rsu16.org
Website: https://www.rsu16.org/bwms
Location: 1457 Maine Street, Poland, ME, USA
Phone: (207) 998-3462