8th Grade Adventure Days -- Jamaica Bay Wildllife Refuge

Friday's trip was to the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.  It can be hard to believe that such a wild area can be so close to the hustle and bustle of New York City. 

Graduate students observe the diamondback Terrapin turtles when they dig their nests and then put wire traps over the nests so raccoons and other predators don't dig up the eggs and eat them. These babies had hatched out the night before.

Don Riepe, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Guardian, talking to us about the diamondback Terrapins.

Don Riepe showing us the bat house and talking about the importance of bats. He said that if you have a bat circling around your head it's because they are feeding on mosquitoes or other pesky bugs.  Bats are beneficial!

Student Council Elections

Last Friday, at the middle school assembly, twelve eighth graders stood in front – or among, for some of them – their fellow students and delivered speeches in favor of their candidacy for middle school Student Council. The speeches marked the culmination of ten days of campaign posters, flyers and other paraphernalia and resulted in the election of three new eighth grade officers, Alex, Sang Uk, and Soyoung, and the President of the class of 2012, Carter.

It is not uncommon for almost half the eighth grade class to run for President. Faculty and students have become accustomed to listening to more than a dozen speeches, which often take the assembly period beyond its normal end time. It is a mark of the community that this many students wish to serve their school and its student body, not to mention to be willing to give up their recess once a week (Student Council meets Fridays during lunch/recess time).

Candidates promised to communicate with and listen to their constituents and to work collaboratively with teachers and administrators. They also presented ideas and raised issues aimed at making student life richer. Among the ideas were a middle school buddy program, activity nights, a regular visiting ice cream cart, more casual dress days and, as always, tastier snacks. It is clear that Carter and his team have a lot on the agenda.

-- Aaron Cooper

The Quintessential American Campfire at Camp Bernie

With songs and s'mores . . .

Rub-a-Dub-Dub

Three girls in a tub!

Just Back from Hiking

Exhausted!

And the Winning Shelter is . . .

A Shelter Takes Shape

Slowly but surely a one-person-shelter takes shape.

What is "Wilderness?"

The instructor leads a discussion about what happens in areas that are far from civilization. He asked, "Who has ever been lost?" Almost all hands went up, including Dr. Lowry's.

Team Building

As they built a shelter, they built a team.

Observing a Coniferous Forest

We learned that fires are a major dispersing agent of their seeds.

Life Sticks

In this simulation, each student gets 3 life sticks. The instructor declares a danger, such as "flood," and the students need to react in a way that would save an animal's life.

Leaf Study at Camp Bernie

One of the activities involves the study and identification of forest leaves.

And a Good Time was had by All!

Last Saturday served up perfect weather for the New Family Picnic and the Family Field Day.  What a wonderful time to catch up on summer happenings and enjoy the community of EMS and welcome new families.

Special thanks to the Parents Association for the New Family Picnic and the the Agresta and Hunter Families for organizing the Field Day.  Our thanks go to all the volunteers who made this day so special.

  The Agresta Family

 

  The Hunter Family

A Good Time Everywhere!

The Games Have Begun for the 7th Grade at Camp Bernie

When the students arrive home, take a moment and ask them what they were doing during these activities.

 

Ipad photos by Rebecca Gove.

Adventure Week Trips Have Begun

This morning the 7th graders left for Camp Bernie in Port Murray, NJ.  Excitement filled the bus.

By 10:15 a.m. they had arrived and were settling in (not down).

Ladybug, Ladybug, Fly Away Home!

The kindergarten students were so excited to have been given the responsibility of caring for their very own ladybugs from Mrs. Milne in science class! These ladybugs inspired activities such as learning facts about ladybugs, and looking closely at these insects with a magnifying glass in order to observe the way they look and what they do.

After reading "The Very Grouchy Ladybug" by Eric Carle, the children each created their own "Very Friendly Ladybug" using a variety of art materials. During this activity they explored the mathematical concept of symmetry as they glued an equal number of spots on each side of their ladybugs back. We enjoyed caring for the ladybugs very much, but we celebrated their release back into nature!

Using the Magnifying Glass

Making our own ladybug

The Release, Freedom Calls!

Cooking Club's first lunch of the year

The Morrow House Cooking Club prepared their first lunch of the year last Wednesday. The group of 7th grade cooks made pasta with pesto, fresh mozzarella and tomato salad, and crusty Italian bread.  The students picked the basil from the plant growing in the Apple Tree Courtyard. The club members also enjoyed balsamic strawberries over angel food cake for a refreshing dessert to end a wonderful meal which they enjoyed while dining alfresco in the courtyard.  Photos by: C. Fiocchi

Alum wins Baseball Research Award

Adam Kirsch, EMS '07, graduate of Bergen Tech and now a freshman at Cornell, won the "Jack Kavanagh Memorial Youth Baseball Research Award" (given by the Society for American Baseball Research). This is the second year in a row that he has won the award. His article about the economic roster strategies of small-market teams can be read here (.pdf).

Third Grade Tulip Study

"Today we launched our Third Grade Red Emperor Tulip Science-Math-Technology Initiative. We will be participating in an international plant study with the Journey North organization!!" ~Ms. Milne

Informal Measurement

"In first grade, we begin math with informal measurement.  The first graders were busy at their desks measuring their new school supplies with an informal measuring tool (in this case, teddy bears).  Students went on to measure other items in the classroom such as books, blocks, and even their desktop!"  ~Mrs. Galas (Cozza)

Seen on the Walls of Chilton House