June 18, 2008

Camp Invention

Camp Invention, a summer science enrichment experience, was held last week at Sunset Elementary School. Students at the camp had a great time exercising their minds and bodies during the one-week day camp.

View photos from Camp Invention

 

 

June 4, 2008

Starbase Experience

(by Jennifer Kelsey)

South Breeze fifth grade students recently completed the Kansas Starbase program at McConnell Air Force Base. Kansas Starbase is a Kansas National Guard Youth Program that focuses on math and science. The students attended five sessions over a five week period. Back in their classrooms at South Breeze, students extended their learning experience by creating digital journals and participating in a blog where they could share their experiences with their peers and interact with their Starbase instructor between sessions.

As Starbase participants, the students performed hands-on experiments demonstrating properties of air and Newton’s Laws of Motion. Students also completed Lego Robotics programming challenges and various problem solving and teamwork activities. Other activities included using a Computer Aided Design program, experiencing a flight simulator and touring a KC-135 Refueling Jet.

In addition to the hands-on work, students were visited by several Kansas Air National Guard members who assisted with the activities and presented lessons that encouraged students to make positive choices, set goals and pursue their dreams. One of the many highlights for the students was building a rocket that they were able to launch as part of their graduation ceremony during their final Starbase session.

photo: South Breeze 5th grader Emily Kuhn attempts a successful flight on the flight simulator, with assistance from a Kansas Air National Guard member.

To see more photos of the Starbase Experience, go to www.newton.k12.ks.us/home/galleries/starbase

June 4, 2008

Teachers Honored at End of Year Breakfast

Several teachers and staff members were honored at the USD 373 end of year all-staff breakfast and meeting on May 23. Retiring staff were recognized for their years of service: 2008 retirees include Delores Banman, Eby Learning Center; Dana Cox, Newton High School; Kaylene Dicken, Northridge Elementary; Marcene Entz, South Breeze Elementary, Lynn Loucks, Santa Fe Middle School; Judy Schrag, Chisholm Middle School; and Nikie Hendry, South Breeze Elementary.

Superintendent John Morton also announced the winners of the Excellence in Teaching Awards and the Educational Endowment Grants. Two teachers were honored for Excellence in Teaching for 2007-08: Mollie Sultenfuss and Adrian Howie. Sultenfuss is a language arts teacher at Santa Fe Middle School and Howie is a fourth grade teacher at South Breeze Elementary. Both teachers received a framed certificate of award and $1,000 for classroom use.

Three teachers were awarded grants from the Educational Endowment. Jerry Epp, Newton High School science teacher, received $1500 for CO2 sensors and BioChambers to collect science data. Jim Brown, Slate Creek P.E. teacher, received $1500 for a laptop and projector to introduce technology into the physical education program. Santa Fe Middle School language arts teacher Mollie Sultenfuss received $1000 for Inspiration 8 software to help students organize and express their thoughts and ideas to facilitate becoming better thinkers, readers and writers.

The meeting and awards ceremony wrapped up an eventful and successful school year. School will resume for 2008-09 on August 14, 2008, the first day for all elementary students and all students who are new to the district or new to their school.

Photo: Mollie Sultenfuss and Adrian Howie were selected as the USD 373 Excellence in Teaching Award winners for the 2007-08 school year.

June 4, 2008

Buller Book named a 2008 Kansas Notable Book

Bev Buller, Chisholm Middle School Media Specialist was recently notified that her book FROM EMPORIA: THE STORY OF WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE was named a 2008 Kansas Notable Book.

The Kansas Notable Books list was created to recognize the "literary richness of our state". It is a project of the Kansas Center for the Book at the State Library of Kansas. The annual selection of fifteen books reflecting Kansas cultural heritage features high quality titles with wide public appeal that are either written by a Kansas resident or about a Kansas-related topic.

As a Notable Book author Buller will be invited to participate in several events, including a reception at the State Library this summer at which the award will be presented by Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

"To me, writing a book has been the ultimate lesson I can teach my students, including those to whom I taught Kansas history and language arts years ago,"  Buller explains. "This honor is just the icing on the cake!"

June 4, 2008

South Breeze Students visit OKC Memorial

Fifth grade students at South Breeze Elementary got a hands on history lesson recently during a visit to the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. The trip was the result of a Target Field Trip grant secured by South Breeze teacher Tori Meyers.

During the trip the students learned about the events surrounding the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995; visited with a park ranger; toured the museum; and explored the outside grounds. While touring the grounds they viewed the 100-plus-year-old Survivor Tree; Reflecting Pool; Survivors’ Wall; Field of Empty Chairs, representing the 168 victims who died in the blast; and the Memorial Fence, where students were able to leave mementos.

In addition to the Target Field Trip grant, the South Breeze PTO contributed additional funds for the trip and several parents met the group at the site to help chaperone the students.

Photos (by Jennifer Kelsey): Top: Lluvia Herrera-Hernandez and Emily Kuhn share a quiet moment by the reflecting pool at the Oklahoma City National Memorial.
Bottom: South Breeze fifth grade students pose for a picture near the Survivor Tree during their recent trip to the Oklahoma City National Memorial.