Oct. 1st- Football @ Home vs. Bonner Springs 7th @ 4:00- 8th to follow

Oct. 2nd - Fall Choir Concert @ 7:00

Oct. 2nd- Candy Bar Sales Begin

Oct. 3rd - Cross Country at Central Heights @ 4:00

Oct. 4th- Band- 0- Rama @ PHS

Oct. 7th- Scholastic Book Fair

Oct. 8th- Football @ Spring Hill @ 4:00 - 8th to follow

Oct. 9th- Girls Basketball Try-outs @ 6:00 a.m.- 7:30 a.m.

Oct. 10th- Girls Basketball Try-outs @ 6:00 a.m.- 7:30 a.m.

Oct. 10th- Cross Country League @ Eudora- 4:00

Oct. 11th- Girls Basketball Try-outs @ 6:00 a.m.- 7:30 a.m.

Oct. 14th- Wrestling Practice Begins @ 3:00 (for non-football)

Oct. 15th - Football @ TBD;

Oct. 16th- Parent Teacher Conferences- 4:00- 8:00

Oct. 16th- Candy Bar Sales END

Oct. 17th- NO School- Teacher Inservice

Oct. 18th- NO School

Oct. 19th- Wrestling @ Spring HIll @ 4:00

Oct. 21st- GBB 7th @ Forest Spring 8 @ Home

Oct. 23rd- League Choir @ Ottawa 2-7:00 p.m.

Oct. 24th- Wrestling @ Louisburg - 4:00

Oct. 25th- Picture re-takes- GBB and Wrestling Pictures

Oct. 28th- Girls Basketball- @ 4:00- 8th Grade @ Home, 7th Grade @ Ottawa

Oct. 27th- Picture Retakes & Fall Sports Pictures (GBB & Wrestling)

Oct. 29th- Wrestling @ Ottawa @ 4:00

Oct. 30th- Girls Basketball- @ 4:00- 8th Grade @ Louisburg; 7th Grade @ Home

Students that are dropped off or picked up by car should be arriving/departing in the front (west) side of the school. Vehicles need to avoid dropping/picking up in the bus lane (east) side of the building. This drive needs to kept clear for buses that are departing or arriving.

Girls Basketball will hold Try-outs Oct. 9th-11th at 6:30 a.m. . Athletes must have a completed and up to date physical on file with the office in order to participate in try-outs. Please email or contact Head Coach Lindsey Plank with questions. Lindsey_Plank@usd368.org

Wrestling practice will begin on Oct. 14th after school. Athletes must have a completed and up to date physical on file with the office in order to participate. Please email or contact Head Coach Tony Brummer with questions. Tony_Brummer@usd368.org

I am thrilled to announce that one of my outstanding students, Alexandra Doherty, has set a new record on our class leaderboard with the highest number of correct answers! She answered 1,164 correct questions! Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to learning have paid off—well done! 🎉 Keep up the fantastic effort, and continue to challenge yourself. Who will be the next to beat this impressive record? The challenge is on!

What is IXL?

IXL is an interactive online learning platform that helps students practice and master math, language arts, science, and social studies skills. It adapts to each student’s level with personalized learning paths, offering questions that challenge and build on their knowledge. As students work through the activities, they receive immediate feedback and explanations to help them understand and improve. IXL aims to make learning engaging and effective, allowing students to build confidence in their skills while having fun. With each question answered correctly, students earn points and move up the leaderboard, motivating them to keep practicing and aiming higher.

This week, our 6th-grade Social Studies class wrapped up their Prehistory unit by stepping back thousands of years and becoming nomads again. Students wandered across vast lands, chasing animals for food, clothing, and tools. Along the way, they had to carefully choose which plants were safe to eat, an essential survival skill for early humans.

As they filled their water cups, students gained an understanding of the time and effort it took to fetch water and carry it for long distances. They also faced the challenge of building shelters and designing canoes large enough to hold their entire tribe, all while avoiding other tribes to ensure their survival.

Through this hands-on activity, students not only learned about the daily struggles of early humans but also the importance of resourcefulness and cooperation. It was a great way to bring history to life and end the unit on an exciting note!

Watch: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15yx3yCXGaRDQJ10HiInHnH6KkifdHlUI/view?usp=sharing

Watch: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iAUjvIVTZl3sMLMFj_XG5a1OELb1Ayic/view?usp=drive_link

Students investigated gas molecules and explored how quick changes in temperature can effect the pressure inside a can.

On September 11 Ms. Nelson’s 8th graders accepted the challenge to participate in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. The students climbed the equivalent of 110 stories, the height of the World Trade Center towers, to honor the 343 firefighters who died on 9/11.

Ms. Nelson’s 8th grade computer applications students have finished typing their personal business letters to their favorite business or brand. 70 letters were mailed on Friday, September 27. Students chose to write to Wingstop, Chipotle, Sephora, Sonic, McDonalds, KU Head football coach, Hershey’s, Dutch Bros, Sony, Bloom, USWNt, Culver’s and so many more. Now we wait and hope for a response.

Ms. Nelson’s 7th grade computer applications students are finishing up their unit on Identity Theft and are creating PSA posters and will present them to the class. Each group will also present their Identity Theft findings to 8th grade teachers classes.

The Choir Star Panthers are:

Hadley Oakley, Max Ramirez, Stacy Yeager - 6th grade

Zoey Dowd, Bear Smail, Emmie Valent - 7th grade

Maddie Hertel, Mcky Morris, Jess Troutman - 8th grade

The Fall Concert will be October 2nd at 7pm in the auditorium.

Immunization compliance is required by Kansas state statute and school board policy. If your student is not up to date for immunizations, you should have received notice by mail of what immunizations are needed. The deadline for compliance at Paola Middle School is Thursday, November 14th.

The first of two important characteristics that distinguish the Office of Sheriff from other law enforcement units is its historical roots. In England, the sheriff came into existence around the 9th century. This makes the sheriff the oldest continuing, non-military, law enforcement entity in history. In early England the land was divided into geographic areas between a few individual kings – these geographic areas were called shires. Within each shire there was an individual called a reeve, which meant guardian. This individual was originally selected by the serfs to be their informal social and governmental leader. The kings observed how influential this individual was within the serf community and soon incorporated that position into the governmental structure. The reeve soon became the Kings appointed representative to protect the King’s interest and act as mediator with people of his particular shire. Through time and usage the words shire and reeve came together to be shire-reeve, guardian of the shire and eventually the word sheriff, as we know it today.

Student Council is teaming up for Red Ribbon Month and will have a spirit week Oct. 21st-25th. Here are the themes for the week:

Monday: Your Future is Bright!- Wear Neon Colors

Tuesday: "Lei" off Drugs- Wear Hawaiian/Tropical Wear)

Wednesday: Education is key so be Drug Free- Wear your favorite College Gear!!

Thursday: Sock it to Drugs!!- Crazy Sock Day

Friday: Paw-stiviely Drug Free!!! Wear Your Panther Gear.