Important Dates
March 15 8th grade vs. Faculty basketball game
March 21 6th Grade Science Fair (check this out to prep for next year!)
March 22 Reading Games competition
March 29 Old Creamery Theatre
April 7 NICC STEM Fest (more info below)
8th grade vs Faculty Basketball Game
This game is a fundraiser- all money goes toward a scholarship for the 8th grade DC trip.
When: Tuesday, March 15th- after school until about 4:30
Where: DMS gym
Cost: $2 admittance
Additional info: half-time half court shots- $1
Come cheer on the teachers, as they attempt to continue their winning streak!
Middle School Parents Still Make a Difference
The Parent Institute (Education’s #1 Source for Parent Involvement Information) provides a free resource for parents of middle school aged students. The monthly publication provides articles relevant to issues middle schoolers (and their parents) face. Check it out out here.
Safe School Reporting Form
Just a reminder- you can find a confidential online form to report bullying on the Decorah Middle School web site! Locate it here.
Winter Wear
As it gets warmer, students are tempted to not wear coats- remember- we do go outside for recess- please encourage your child to watch the weather forecast and to dress for the weather.
Northeast Iowa Family STEM Festival
Families are invited to attend the Northeast Iowa Family STEM Festival on Thursday, April 7 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Wilder Business Center, Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar. The festival is free and open to the public.
The goals of the festival are to promote, inspire and engage youth in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) activities and to introduce children and parents to STEM careers in their local communities.
More than 30 exhibits will feature hands-on, interactive STEM activities especially for 3rd-8th grade students and their families but all ages are welcome to attend. Attendees can travel a solar system in the digital planetarium, drive a robot, conduct amazing science experiments, explore the nursing field and much more!
The Northeast Iowa Family STEM Festival is a community-wide partnership led by Northeast Iowa Region Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at University of Northern Iowa, Northeast Iowa Business Network (in part, by the Iowa Economic Development Authority), Northeast Iowa Community College, Keystone AEA, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, IowaWORKS, and Upper Exploreland Regional Planning Commission.
CODING CONTEST (through NASA)
“Imagine Cup Earth” is open to ages 6-18 with two categories. There are two dates available to enter: March 31 and June 15. Tutorials and information are included when you visit the web site for more information and to register. https://www.imaginecup.com/earth?__af3b91cc=_af3b91cc Cash prizes are available. For more information contact Kathy Hay at [email protected].
NEWS FLASH!!
From Mr. Peterson: In science, we are creating videos to send to the fictitious owner of the Eco Toy Company, Evets Nosretep. (The kids think that he is actually me...hmmm…!) In reading, we are reading some poetry and learning about figurative language. In writing, we are working on our persuasive writing.
From Mrs. Nowack:
Science: Nowack and Suhr homerooms have decided to do a cell phone collection drive (where old phones will be sent in to recycle the parts) and Halweg’s homeroom decided to pick up trash around Decorah- more info to come on both projects!
Our new unit about Forces and Motion. This week we learned about magnetism, gravitation, and friction.
Reading: This week, we started reading a new novel, Great Turkey Walk. The book takes place 150 years ago and is full of adventure!
Language: This week’s writing lessons continued with informational writing, how to write good research questions, and how to take notes. Our grammar lesson focused on regular and irregular verbs.
VIP: week of Feb. 29- Madison
Book Orders: due March 3rd (either enter orders online or fill out the form and return to school with a checks- made out to Scholastic)
From Mrs. Suhr:
Social Studies - We will test on Chapter 11 on Wed. We are moving closer and closer to the American Revolution!
Language - In language class, we will continue working on writing and proofreading skills. We will create some Idiom projects, learn about indefinite pronouns and the use of aspostrophes.
From Mrs. Halweg: This week in math we wrapped up our unit on multiplying and dividing fractions and mixed numbers with our Unit 7 assessment. Your student will be bringing this home today to show you and get signed to return on Monday. Next week we’ll be starting a new unit on interpreting, writing, and solving algebraic expressions.
March 15 8th grade vs. Faculty basketball game
March 21 6th Grade Science Fair (check this out to prep for next year!)
March 22 Reading Games competition
March 29 Old Creamery Theatre
April 7 NICC STEM Fest (more info below)
8th grade vs Faculty Basketball Game
This game is a fundraiser- all money goes toward a scholarship for the 8th grade DC trip.
When: Tuesday, March 15th- after school until about 4:30
Where: DMS gym
Cost: $2 admittance
Additional info: half-time half court shots- $1
Come cheer on the teachers, as they attempt to continue their winning streak!
Middle School Parents Still Make a Difference
The Parent Institute (Education’s #1 Source for Parent Involvement Information) provides a free resource for parents of middle school aged students. The monthly publication provides articles relevant to issues middle schoolers (and their parents) face. Check it out out here.
Safe School Reporting Form
Just a reminder- you can find a confidential online form to report bullying on the Decorah Middle School web site! Locate it here.
Winter Wear
As it gets warmer, students are tempted to not wear coats- remember- we do go outside for recess- please encourage your child to watch the weather forecast and to dress for the weather.
Northeast Iowa Family STEM Festival
Families are invited to attend the Northeast Iowa Family STEM Festival on Thursday, April 7 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Wilder Business Center, Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar. The festival is free and open to the public.
The goals of the festival are to promote, inspire and engage youth in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) activities and to introduce children and parents to STEM careers in their local communities.
More than 30 exhibits will feature hands-on, interactive STEM activities especially for 3rd-8th grade students and their families but all ages are welcome to attend. Attendees can travel a solar system in the digital planetarium, drive a robot, conduct amazing science experiments, explore the nursing field and much more!
The Northeast Iowa Family STEM Festival is a community-wide partnership led by Northeast Iowa Region Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at University of Northern Iowa, Northeast Iowa Business Network (in part, by the Iowa Economic Development Authority), Northeast Iowa Community College, Keystone AEA, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, IowaWORKS, and Upper Exploreland Regional Planning Commission.
CODING CONTEST (through NASA)
“Imagine Cup Earth” is open to ages 6-18 with two categories. There are two dates available to enter: March 31 and June 15. Tutorials and information are included when you visit the web site for more information and to register. https://www.imaginecup.com/earth?__af3b91cc=_af3b91cc Cash prizes are available. For more information contact Kathy Hay at [email protected].
NEWS FLASH!!
From Mr. Peterson: In science, we are creating videos to send to the fictitious owner of the Eco Toy Company, Evets Nosretep. (The kids think that he is actually me...hmmm…!) In reading, we are reading some poetry and learning about figurative language. In writing, we are working on our persuasive writing.
From Mrs. Nowack:
Science: Nowack and Suhr homerooms have decided to do a cell phone collection drive (where old phones will be sent in to recycle the parts) and Halweg’s homeroom decided to pick up trash around Decorah- more info to come on both projects!
Our new unit about Forces and Motion. This week we learned about magnetism, gravitation, and friction.
Reading: This week, we started reading a new novel, Great Turkey Walk. The book takes place 150 years ago and is full of adventure!
Language: This week’s writing lessons continued with informational writing, how to write good research questions, and how to take notes. Our grammar lesson focused on regular and irregular verbs.
VIP: week of Feb. 29- Madison
Book Orders: due March 3rd (either enter orders online or fill out the form and return to school with a checks- made out to Scholastic)
From Mrs. Suhr:
Social Studies - We will test on Chapter 11 on Wed. We are moving closer and closer to the American Revolution!
Language - In language class, we will continue working on writing and proofreading skills. We will create some Idiom projects, learn about indefinite pronouns and the use of aspostrophes.
From Mrs. Halweg: This week in math we wrapped up our unit on multiplying and dividing fractions and mixed numbers with our Unit 7 assessment. Your student will be bringing this home today to show you and get signed to return on Monday. Next week we’ll be starting a new unit on interpreting, writing, and solving algebraic expressions.