Winter 2013, Volume XXVI, No. 3 Published by Peterson Middle School PTSA • Santa Clara Unified Council • Sixth District • California PTA Susan E. Harris, Principal • Ruchita Shah, PTSA President • Margit Look Henry, Editor http://pms-scusd-ca.schoolloop.com/ every child. one voice . Principal’s Corner Dear Family and Friends of Peterson Middle School, I always love this time of year…it feels like everyone (students, staff, parents, athletes, club members, administration) has found their own rhythm and we are groovin' to the music. Literally…our PE students in 7th and 8th grade are in full swing with the dance unit and I love seeing kids dancing at lunchtime or showing their friends something they learned. Life around campus has been fairly smooth! Construction crews have been working hard on this final phase of construction, working on the Multipurpose Wing! We are looking forward to having a full-performance kitchen and seating in the cafeteria, a new stage (new audio and lighting equipment), the updated Music room, and staff lounge (finish date is in early April). The new digital marquee (8' by 11') is scheduled for delivery in April/ May, when construction is wrapping up the multipurpose wing. Pending DSA approval, the canopy on the back of the multipurpose building will be done this summer. Currently, we are in the process of installing security cameras around our entire campus (thanks to Measure H)! You can see the new wiring throughout the classroom buildings, quad area, gyms, nature center, pool area, parking lots, bike racks, and the perimeter around our campus. Cameras will be used to investigate any criminal activity that occurs on our campus, and to promote safety and security during school and non-school hours. This summer, we will be moving the portable buildings out of the staff parking lot, updating the gyms with seismic upgrades, new acoustics, new roofing, and new doors. We will also move our equipment back into the weight room that is currently in storage. A lot of electrical work will be done as we've been having a lot of problems with blown fuses in our locker rooms, gyms, etc. We also will be building a new concrete ramp from the quad to the gym areas, to make it ADA compliant, over the summer. The solar panels have been working great, and we recently learned that our "meter is running backward," in that Peterson is producing more energy than we are currently using! That's great news for our school district! Take Note: No More Furlough Days for 2012-2013 At the board meeting on January 23rd the Board of Education agreed to reinstate the two furlough days scheduled on March 15th and March 18th. These two days will be instructional days with our students in attendance. These days, with the already reinstated June 7th date, eliminates all the remaining furlough days for the 2012-2013 school year! Mrs. Harris
Transcript
Winter 2013, Volume XXVI, No. 3Published by Peterson Middle School PTSA • Santa Clara Unified Council • Sixth District •
California PTASusan E. Harris, Principal • Ruchita Shah, PTSA President • Margit Look Henry, Editor
Principal’s CornerDear Family and Friends of Peterson Middle School,
I always love this time of year…it feels like everyone (students, staff, parents, athletes, club members, administration) has found their own rhythm and we are groovin' to the music. Literally…our PE students in 7th and 8th grade are in full swing with the dance unit and I love seeing kids dancing at lunchtime or showing their friends something they learned. Life around campus has been fairly smooth! Construction crews have been working hard on this final phase of construction, working on the Multipurpose Wing! We are looking forward to having a full-performance kitchen and seating in the cafeteria, a new stage (new audio and lighting equipment), the updated Music room, and staff lounge (finish date is in early April). The new digital marquee (8' by 11') is scheduled for delivery in April/May, when construction is wrapping up the multipurpose wing. Pending DSA approval, the canopy on the back of the multipurpose building will be done this summer. Currently, we are in the process of installing security cameras around our entire campus (thanks to Measure H)! You can see the new wiring throughout the classroom buildings, quad area, gyms, nature center, pool area, parking lots, bike racks, and the perimeter around our campus. Cameras will be used to investigate any criminal activity that occurs on our campus, and to promote safety and security during school and non-school hours. This summer, we will be moving the portable buildings out of the staff parking lot, updating the gyms with seismic upgrades, new acoustics, new roofing, and new doors. We will also move our equipment back into the weight room that is currently in storage. A lot of electrical work will be done as we've been having a lot of problems with blown fuses in our locker rooms, gyms, etc. We also will be building a new concrete ramp from the quad to the gym areas, to make it ADA compliant, over the summer. The solar panels have been working great, and we recently learned that our "meter is running backward," in that Peterson is producing more energy than we are currently using! That's great news for our school district!
Take Note:
No More Furlough Days for 2012-2013
At the board meeting on January 23rd the Board of Education agreed to reinstate the two furlough days scheduled on March 15th and March 18th. These two days will be instructional days with our students in attendance. These days, with the already reinstated June 7th date, eliminates all the remaining furlough days for the 2012-2013 school year!
To our 8th Graders and Families, there are a few important events coming up and I look forward to seeing you a lot over the next few months! Getting our 8th graders ready for high school is an important part of this second semester, and being a graduate of Santa Clara High School myself, this is an exciting time of the year because this is when the high school staff come to visit us at the middle school. An integral part of preparing our 8th graders for high school (and beyond) is 4-Year Planning, and both Wilcox and Santa Clara high schools have great pathways for obtaining both educational and personal success. Mark your calendars and we’ll see you soon!
High School Orientation*March 7th
for Wilcox Students in Wilcox Libraryfor SCHS students in A-3 at Santa Clara High
*See Counselors’ Corner for more information
As usual…this newsletter is full of exciting events and programs going on here at school! Thank you to our awesome PTSA for their continued support, their thoughtful events for our staff and parent community, and generous time. When everyone works together, our students are the ones who benefit. I look forward to seeing you soon! Take care,Mrs. Harris
Good news!! Peterson recently received 20 new HP computers, 19 monitors, 100 calculators, and 100 scientific calculators as part of the HP Employee Matching Donation program, organized by Johanna Kwan. These new computers have been set up in our library to support student research, ALEKS, and online learning. Thank you Hewlett Packard and Peterson parents who work there!
In addition, Santa Clara Schools Foundation recently donated $500 to our 6th graders, so that the San Jose Opera was able to come and perform at our school in January. They also donated $1500 earlier in the school year to purchase a license to access United Streaming, which is a program used to support content standards in Social Studies classes! Thank you SCSF!!!
NEW STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT IS COMING IN 2014-2015
With the new Common Core Standards making their way into our classrooms, we will soon be transitioning with standardized testing (currently known as STAR Testing or CST testing). The new testing program is called Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) and will be implemented statewide during the 2014–2015 school year. In the meantime, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson, has recommended a process for transitioning to the future assessment by suspending some CST tests and End-of-Course (EOC) assessments beforehand. The only impact this will have on middle school is that he is
recommending to suspend the 8th Grade History/Social Science CST for the 2013–2014 school year. Most of the other EOC assessments that are being suspended are for math and science at the high school level (i.e., Algebra, Geometry, Biology, Chemistry). A final decision will be made at the end of March. For more information see the education website at: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/smarterbalanced.aspwebsite.
CURRICULUM STANDARDS ARE CHANGING FOR ENGLISH-LANGUAGE ARTS, MATH, HISTORY,
SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY!
Forty-five states, including California, have adopted the new Common Core Standards for their state standards. This will allow us Californians to have a better analysis of how we compare to other states in our student achievement. Most states will now be using the same standards! For more information on the Common Core Standards, visit the website http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/cc/tl/whatareccss.asp.
CALIFORNIA HEALTHY KIDS SURVEY RESULTS (FROM 2011-2012)
The California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) is the largest statewide survey of resiliency, protective factors, and risk behaviors in the nation. Across California, the CHKS has led to a better understanding of the relationship between students' health behaviors and academic performance, and is frequently cited by state policymakers and the media as a critical component of school improvement efforts to help guide the development of more effective health, prevention, and youth development programs. Peterson recently received data from last year's CHKS survey (done with last year's 7th grade class). This district's report is available for review by SCUSD families at http://chks.wested.org/reports/search. If you'd like to see Peterson's report, please contact Mrs. Harris. It's 60 pages long!Some of the things we noticed on this survey about Peterson and our students' perception about their learning experiences, safety, etc. include the following:
I. School Connectedness Questions:
Peterson Strengths:88% of our students believes their teachers want them to do their best!83% of our students are Happy at School!80% of our students believe we have high expectations for their performance!
Peterson Areas for Growth:Only 33% of our students feel they have input on making rules/activities.
Only 39% of our students feel they are making a difference at school.
II. Use of Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco Questions:
Peterson Strengths:98% of our students have never tried marijuana.90% of our students have never tried alcohol.96% of our students have never smoked tobacco.
Peterson Areas for Growth:Nothing significant was noted in this area as a need for growth
III. School Violence Questions:
Peterson Strengths:100% of our students responded they have never been involved in a gang.98% of our students have respect for school property.82% of our students feel safe (or have a safe perception of their school)!
Peterson Areas for Growth:36% of our students responded they have been made fun of for their looks/way of talking/sexual jokes/rumors.16% of our students have experienced harassment as a result of their race/ethnic background.32% of our students who felt harassed or were the victim of a hate crime were White/Caucasian.
SCUSD College and Career Planning
Peterson Middle School and Beyond
“Pleasure in your job puts perfection in your work” ~Aristotle
We are continuing to work with your 8th grader using our college and career research tool, Navigator. Over the next few weeks we will be reviewing each student’s career cluster information and their goals for high school. This information will set the stage for a successful registration process once the high school counselors come to campus and share the requirements and options for students and actually register them for their courses. If you have any questions along the way, please contact your child’s counselor.
On March 7th, 2013 at 6:00pm to 7:00pm we will be holding our incoming high school parent night. High school staff will be on campus to address high school classes, college requirements, and other general information. Please plan to be at this important meeting. High school counselors will also be on campus that week to present the same information to our 8th graders as well to create their 9th grade schedule.
The Central County Occupational Center (CCOC) field trip was held on February 13th. CCOC offers courses within thirteen industry sectors where junior and senior high school students can explore and develop technical skills that will lead them to higher education or into the workplace.The district does provide transportation to and from the San Jose center, and the students would still take three classes at the high school. Middle school students use this opportunity to attend the CCOC field trip to further their career exploration process and to plan their high school courses.
Technology Career Exploration Camp will be the week of June 10th to June 14th at CCOC. Further details on how to complete the online registration will be available at Open House on May 2nd at 7:00pm.
Heidi Runolfson
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Health News
ALL students entering 7th grade MUST have Tdap (Whooping Cough/Pertussis)
Booster.
Bring Proof of Tdap Immunization to the school Health Office
Before June 7th, 2013.
Make your appointment today!
News from the Vice Principal
FEBRUARY Developmental Asset
of the Month: Youth as Resources
People of all ages want to feel that that they make a contribution and play a meaningful role in their community,
whether at home, at school, or in the neighborhood. Research shows that youth who feel valued and useful have higher self-esteem, a greater sense of personal control, reduced delinquency, greater social and personal responsibility, reduced substance abuse, and better social skills. Most youth in Silicon Valley don’t feel that they have opportunities to contribute to their community. In Project Cornerstone’s 2011survey, only 53% of 4th–6th graders and 35% of 7th–12th graders reported that they are given useful roles. To help address this problem, February is Youth as Resources month in Silicon Valley. This asset focuses on including youth in decisions that affect them and creating participation and leadership opportunities where their contribution makes a difference.The following discussions can help youth recognize opportunities to serve as resources.
What would you like to share with adults about your experiences in your home, school, neighborhood or faith community?Who are some adults that you could talk to about making positive changes?• How will you know when these changes happen?• How would you like to be recognized for your
contribution?• Keep in mind that serving as a resource doesn’t
have to be a large effort. Adults can help youth serve as resources simply by asking them to share their opinions, skills, or knowledge, such as how to play a game or use technology such as text messaging.
Remember, it’s important that young people’s efforts be recognized and celebrated! Be sure to create opportunities to show that you value each individual’s unique contributions.This article was provided courtesy of Project Cornerstone’s Asset-a-Month program. For more information, visit www.projectcornerstone.org.
Activities for Families
• Hold family meetings. For example, one meeting can focus on discussing which kinds of tasks each household member is best at and enjoys the most. Then, review everyone’s current chores and make changes based on each other’s skills and interests.
• Involve children in planning events such as holiday celebrations or trips. For family events, young people can help plan menus and cook, or plan games and activities for younger children; for vacations, they can research destinations and activities.
• Ask children what they do or don’t like about their daily routines, and find ways to improve them.
Leadership
The new and improved Leadership class has hit the ground running in 2013! We are working hard to make Peterson the best school it can be. On January 4th, we had our staff luncheon to welcome back the staff. Supported by Mr. Fedalizo and his culinary arts class, we gave the teachers a wonderful lunch with fantastic desserts and beverages supplied by
Leadership. This past month, Leadership has been working hard to prepare for Teen Read Week. Leadership will be giving presentations to classes about books they have enjoyed and will promote healthy reading for students. Valentine Grams were sold in honor of Valentine's Day. Leadership sold teddy bears with pencils, mini balloons, and assorted candy. Students customized their own Valentine Gram and paid only for what they wanted to buy. On March 1st, we will be kicking off our Pennies for Patients Drive to support patients with leukemia. We ask for your support as we strive together as a community in this drive. Leadership will continue to strive and push our community forward into making this school a great environment to learn.
Thank you,Joe Choe ASB President
Tamara Pantic, ASB Member at LargeAditya Sriram, ASB Vice President Mrs. McCole, Leadership TeacherStephanie Chee, ASB Secretary Ms. Tito, ASB AdvisorShalin Shah, ASB Treasurer
• When riding on the road, always ride on the right hand side (same direction as traffic).
• Obey the same traffic laws as drivers of cars, including all the traffic signs and signals.
• Ride predictably; ride in a straight line. Don’t weave in and out of traffic.
• If riding on a sidewalk, show respect for the people walking on the sidewalks. Ring your bell to let them know you are coming and always pass them on the left.
• Look for debris on your route that could cause you to fall off your bicycle, like trash, rocks, etc.
• Don’t forget to wear your helmet.• If you have questions or need more information,
please contact Alice Kawaguchi, Health Education Specialist, with Traffic Safe Communities Network in the Santa Clara County Public Health Department at (408) 793-2733 or [email protected]
Counseling Corner Navigator Meetings: Navigator meetings between the 8th graders and counselors will be happening as soon! Right now we are waiting for the district to distribute the uniform document that the high schools will use when the students transfer from 8th grade to high school. The new form will include their complete transcript and more specifics than last year’s making it a more detailed snapshot for the high school counselors when they meet with your student.
Wildlife Program: Our group of Wildlife students have been showing great strides in teamwork, personal growth, and communication. In Half Moon Bay, they continue to work on Science curriculum and rescued animals and building their end of the year presentations. Mrs. Fries and Mr. Varga chaperone the trips and have become mentors to these students. Look for pictures in upcoming newsletters!
Tech Literacy Test Out Exam for 8th Graders (who did not take Tech Literacy) will be held on February 14th.
AVID Recruitment for High School: Wilcox HS and Santa Clara HS will be at Peterson recruiting 8th graders for High School AVID. AVID High School Applications will be due to Mrs. Tavernakis or Mrs. Twomey on February 15th, 2013. Let’s Celebrate! Students who increased their GPA by .5 or more between Quarter 1 and Quarter 2, will have a Brunch Celebration recognizing their academic improvements. The brunch will took place on February 11th. Keep up the great work! We are proud of you!
Honor Roll: Students who made Honor Roll for both Quarter 1 and Quarter 2, will be recognized the week after February break. We look forward to celebrating!
H.S. Parent Night: Wilcox High School and Santa Clara High School counselors will be presenting at Peterson Middle School on Thursday, March 7th at 6:00pm. Wilcox HS will be in the library and Santa Clara High School will be in Room A-3. Counselors will discuss the following: Transitioning from Middle School to High School, Placement in High School Classes, High School Curriculum, and High School Graduation requirements.
We have been meeting with students to make sure they are on track for second semester. Please remember to check Pinnacle frequently, make sure your students are filling in their agendas, and call the counseling department if you have any questions.
Students of the MonthJanuary 2013
6th Grade: Christian Chiong, Jay Feng, Surrendra Ghentiyala, Jeremy Guevara Belzner, Abby Pacheco 7th Grade: Melina Amezcua Gonzalez, William Cao, Cadence Fiaui, Katie Leong, Nick Young8th Grade: Silvino Barboza, Poojita Dasika, Sean French, Debbie Lam, Andrey Pluzhnik
Respectfully submitted on Feb 1st, 2013, by Susan Harris, Jolene Soares, Kristin Farnham, Tracy Gries, Leslie Kloes, Renate Harrison (Nominating Committee). We are always looking for a diverse group of parents to support the needs of our school. Please contact Mrs. Harris, principal, at [email protected] or 408-423-2801 for more information. We look forward to hearing from you.
PTSA Escrip
Give without hurting your wallet. Sign up for eScripat www.eScrip.com. Enter the Peterson Middle School group id: 6628503Register your grocery store card (like your Safeway card)Register other credit cards (like Visa, MasterCard, AMEX)and start using them.There are also very attractive offers using your cards at the eScrip online store. Go check it out.Thank you for continuing to use your Jamba Juice and/or Target Red Card.
PTSA President’s Message
Dear Peterson Community, We are blessed to have a ray of
hope with the passing of Proposition 30. We will not have any more furlough days this year. On February 7th, Peterson PTSA hosted a well attended Parent Workshop with Christopher Glover, Santa Clara USD School Psychologist.
The second Parent Education night is taking place on February 25th, 6:00–7:30pm at Cabrillo Middle School. The following topics will be discussed: Common Core Standards, College and Career Readiness, Technology Usage and Goals for Students.
Our district has arranged four district wide Parent Ed nights. For the highlights of the budget update, data report and district goals discussed at the first one, visit :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRhz4-ZN5dE&list=UUa4nbuL1RdxOx9jf7V7O4_A&index=5 Since Dr. Plough has announced her retirement at the end of the school year, the Board of Education is beginning its search for a new superintendent. Parent input sessions will take place on February 25th/26th. Please contact Cathy Vanpernis at 408-423-2006 to be part of this process. Stay tuned for Peterson PTSA General Association Meeting coming up in March. This is the election night for next year's Executive board. Time and date TBD. It takes a village! As Peterson/SCUSD parents, we should work together; sharing our success and failures will help us bridge the gap and make us strong parents. Please take up any opportunity to volunteer, or attend a parent education meeting. Get involved and stay informed for our children’s future. Go Pirates!Best Regards,Ruchita Shah
Peterson PTA was chartered on January 25th, 1966.Thank you to our members, leaders and volunteers who have made our organization strong for 47 years!
In January, our 6th graders had the opportunity to see a live opera, performed right here at Peterson! Opera San Jose came and performed The Three Billy-Goats Gruff, showing off their talent for singing and comedy. The majority of our students had never been to the opera before so this was a great opportunity for them. After the show, performers stayed to
answer questions from the audience, making this an even more rewarding experience. This amazing opportunity was made available by the Santa Clara Schools Foundation’s Grant.
Seventh Grade
7th Grade students are gearing up for the STAR Writing test in March! All seventh grade students will be evaluated on their writing skills during a "timed test." The genre for the writing changes each year, but below is a sample that was used a few years back.
STAR Writing - Sample Persuasive Writing TaskRead the following writing task. You must write a persuasive letter about this topic. Your school district is thinking about lengthening the school year by starting two weeks earlier. Do you think adding extra days to the school year will improve education? Write a letter to the editor of your school newspaper that will persuade others to accept your viewpoint. Be sure to address opposing viewpoints in your letter. When you write your letter, remember
• to state your position on the topic• to describe the points in support of your position,
including examples and other evidence• to address possible arguments against your position• to use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and
capitalization. You may include a salutation and closing, but the format of the letter will not count as part of your score.
Eighth Grade
Service Learning Project: The eighth grade team is dedicated to helping our students develop leadership skills in their school and local community. Empowering students with the skills necessary and the passion to help others will help children succeed not only as students, but as members of their community, fostering a spirit of generosity. With that being said, the eighth grade team is moving ahead with a service learning project that will include eight grade students in various roles. Eighth grade students will coordinate and execute a Senior Day hosted at Peterson Middle school, on May 22nd. Student volunteers will host their guests with a special lunch and provide entertainment, all the while experience the joy of serving our local community’s most valuable residents. Sign up sheets for a variety of positions will be offered in student’s History classes. Please encourage your student to participate. Important 8th Grade Dates: The annual Central County Occupational Center field trip is coming up! CCOC provides an alternative program to traditional high school. On February 13th, eighth grade students will tour the educational facility and learn about the exciting vocational programs that CCOC offers. During the tour students will learn about the automotive shop, law enforcement, medical programs, even the culinary arts program! The Tech Literacy test-out date for eighth grade students is schedule for February 14th with a make-up date scheduled for February 15th. Only students who are not currently enrolled in Tech Literacy will be eligible to take this test. Testing will occur during student’s elective class. Contact Mrs. Tavernakis for more details. Honors for High School: Attention 8th Grade students interested in applying for 9th Grade Honors English at Wilcox or Santa Clara High: Applications for 9th Grade English Honors are available from your English teacher. Completed applications and a completed Honors portfolio (Book list, literary analysis or other writing sample that shows revision, and a short essay describing yourself as a reader, writer, and thinker) will be due on February 26th. If you have questions, please see Mrs. Johnson in Room B-9 or Ms. Kier in Room B-8.
Core Subjects:
English Department
Expository Writing: In the 8th grade, we are focusing on expository text and finishing up historical fiction literature circles. Students will be researching topics of interest to them from the time period and location of
Department News
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by Aaron Wang
their novels and use publishing software to create a newsletter for their time period, containing articles they write, along with additional news feature pieces including: an obituary, a wedding announcement, a sales advertisement, a job posting, and an announcement of community events. As an entire department, we are looking at the vertical strands in the Common Core Standards and how each grade level addresses these standards. In addition, we are working with our Core material to focus on both California State standards and the obvious crossovers in Common Core.
Wordmasters News: Congratulations to Mrs. Johnson and Ms. Kier’s 8th Graders for placing 9th in the country (out of 132 teams) and 8,000 individuals in the first Wordmasters Analogy Challenge!
The Math department is a happening place this time of year. Teachers are still attending professional development, working on technology as well as implementing the Common Core Standards. In February, students will participate in the California Math League’s annual math contest. Also, placement testing for the 2013–2014 is just around the corner.
Science
Our sixth graders just completed a unit on heat. They had the opportunity to do multiple labs and hands on activities relating to heat transfer. They were excited to discover that convection currents occur in many places. Now they are studying the inside of the Earth.
Mr. Asekomeh's seventh graders are studying genetics and heredity and Ms. Fohner's seventh graders are learning about evolution and practicing for the PBA.
Our eighth graders are wrapping up the Chemistry portion of the curriculum. They gained a deeper understanding of elements, molecules, compounds, and macromolecules and how this relates to them. They enjoyed many activities and lab experiments, especially the ones involving chemical reactions! Their next topic of study is Physics where they'll begin by learning about motion.
The Beginning Basic/EL Science class is learning about cells and looking at a variety of specimens under the microscope. They have become experts on using and caring for a microscope. They visit the farm every week and conduct meaningful and relevant experiments. Currently, they are growing various bulbs in water to observe how roots grow and what nutrients are needed for their survival.
As for our Science teachers, the San Francisco Bay-Integrated Middle School Science Project (IMSS) funded by the National Science Foundation provides middle school science teachers with professional development opportunities to improve science lessons. To meet this goal, middle school science teachers in our district come together by grade level to plan and implement science lessons that encourage all students to participate fully in science learning. With the support of IMSS coaches and facilitators, we are developing lessons that are more inquiry based and encourage students to form productive questions that lead to hypothesizing, experimenting and reasoning. Once a lesson is developed one teacher teaches the lesson while the others observe and collect data on students learning. The data is analyzed, discussed and the lesson gets revised. A different teacher teaches the revised lesson and the others collect new
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by Maya Freeman
data. The process spirals back to improving the lesson again. With the support of IMSS and our school district, we are able to improve science lessons much faster by sharing ideas, working together and learning together. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other schools and experience different classroom settings and student populations.
Social Studies
“The Yaghan were a nomadic tribe indigenous to Tierra del Fuego, an island group that is divided between Argentina and what other country?”
Not sure? Try this one:
“What large US city is located at the confluence of the Delaware and the
Schuylkill Rivers?”
No? How about:
“Located on the Hudson Bay, the city of Churchill is found in which Canadian province?”
Well, if you found these questions more than a little geographically challenging, you would have been very impressed with Peterson’s students at the Geo Bee the evening of January 15th.
It was Peterson’s third year to participate in this nationwide contest sponsored by National Geographic. This year the competition was held in the library as our cafeteria is still under renovation. But it made for a cozy, intimate evening. In the preliminary rounds, we had twenty-one students bravely answering a number of questions similar to the three you might have stumbled over at the beginning of this article.
Then ten students went on to participate as finalists:
After this “two strikes and you’re out” round we were down to the final two.This was Avinash’s third time to compete in the championship round, having come in 1st place as a 6th grader then 2nd place as a 7th grader. This time he was joined by William Cao who ultimately delivered the final correct answer becoming this year’s champion. William has now submitted a qualifying test to the National Geographic Society to see if he’s invited to proceed to the state level Bee on April 5th.
It was so wonderful to have so many of the eliminated contestants and their families join the audience in cheering on those who were left. Thanks to Mr. Penning and Ms Topliff for being moderators at the Bee (reading those place names was a test in itself), and to returning champion Heramb Tamhankar for opening this year’s Bee with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Oh, and the answers: Chile, Philadelphia, and Manitoba.
Good luck William!Mrs. Martin, Social Studies Department Chair
Physical Education Department
PE Students and Staff Make Learning Fun!
The PE department is excited to announce that we had another successful dance unit this year! For three weeks our students took a trip through time to visit different eras of dance. The first week we visited the the 50's with the Hand Jive (from Grease), the 70's with theHustle, and Napoleon Dynamite from the 90's. We also performed dances like the Jai Ho, practically all the 80's dance moves you can think of, and some of the more recent and popular dances from today's generation like the Jerk, Dougie, and Gangnam Style! For the last week of the unit, students grouped themselves into dance crews and became creators of choreographed movement. Most dance crews practiced very hard for their big performance and it showed! Every year the dances seem to get better and better, and this year was no different. Some memorable dance crew moments of 2013 were: the Jason Experience, Kragen Parlan's amazing athletic and
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Ms. Topliff and Geo Bee Winner William Cao
backflip abilities, Ms. Yee's "sunflower", the boys group called "Shalin-Brandon-Scotty-Tali-Sean-Nick Group", Kat and Joe's duo dance, and the near flawless synchronization of many crews like Cre-8, Standing Ovation, Star Dusk, the Little Bo Peeps...There were so many more incredible moments that we would like to mention, but we don't have enough room! Every day was filled with laughter, enjoyment, and of course some embarrassment. Overall, this dance unit is the highlight of our curriculum. This is the PE departments most beloved unit, and all credit is due to the students who bought in to the idea of the Japanese proverb that says, "We are fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance." The PE department would like to thank the students for their hard work and courage, and the great memories we shared on the dance floor. Thanks, also, to the teachers who brought their classes down to cheer on their classmates, and thanks to all staff members and Administration who attended. Peterson Pirates rock!!!
We love to see these students step outside their comfort zone and produce some awesome dance moves as a group in front of a live audience! Also, Fitness Gram testing is coming up in March. Parents, we would love to have your support in getting our kids healthy and in shape, not only for testing, but for life! Commit 2 Be Fit!Gooooooo Pirates!!Mr. Gillmore, PE Department Chair
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Electives:
Art
Clay Arts: Peterson’s first Clay Arts class was a creative success! Students finished the semester with a portfolio of 3-d work demonstrating hand-building skill, improved craftsmanship and creative genius. Clay art sculptures have been exhibited in the main office and library all semester long, with praise from the office staff of how the work beautified the office! Well done students. Peterson will offer Clay Arts again in the fall of 2013, and hopes to expand the program so that Clay Arts can be offered in the spring as well. Encourage your young artist to sign up!Spring Art Shows: It’s that time again, where Peterson students will have the opportunity to showcase their art to the community by participating two spring art shows. The first art show is District Days at the Triton Museum of Art on March 2nd. Please come and support Peterson students by visiting the museum and bring your family! The museum offers fun art projects for kids, and you’ll be able to see artwork from students k-12!This year will mark the second year that Peterson will participate in the Saratoga Art Rotary Show, held at West Valley College. This event is an incredible opportunity for your budding artist to exhibit work in a professional artist community! There are fun activities for kids, and artwork for sale by local professional artists. Your student does not need to be enrolled in art to participate! See Mrs. Branch in E2 for details.Mrs. Branch, Electives Department Chair
Art Exhibitions on Campus!
5th and 6th Period Calacas
Clay Arts Mimbre Bowls
Music
The Music Department has had a successful year so far. This past December, we played our annual Winter Concert which featured the 6th Grade Band, Advanced Band, Orchestra, and Jazz Group. We played Christmas songs and a variety of classics. Coming up in the department is the 5th grade orientation, which will take place on February 15th. This orientation shows the incoming 6th graders that even though there is no longer music in elementary school, we encourage them to join our music department. Also, on April 5th we will attend CMEA which is an annual school music competition held at Wilcox High School. Our last concert of the year, the Spring Concert, is on May 16th and we are already preparing for it. We look forward to performing, attending events, and enjoying the rest of the year in Music.Janet Medlin (Clarinet) and Ashley Wang (Flute)
Tech Literacy
In Tech Literacy the second semester and new students are off to a great start. Most students have mastered some crucial computer procedures, such as uploading files to their School Loop Locker and turning in projects to an assignment drop box. While perfecting their keyboarding skills they learned how to use Excel, a spreadsheet program. They use the spreadsheet to keep track of data and at the same time become comfortable using the program and formatting information. Our next project is called “My Life, Past, Present, Future…” Students will create a presentation that shares information about their family and school life, interests and future goals. Each student will present these projects to their classmates. It is a great way for us to learn a bit of personal information about each other and builds closer relationships in each class.Ms. Chapman
Spanish 1
Focus on Families and Salsa: The 8th grade Spanish class is currently working on a family album project. The students have the option to bring in photos of their
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families and describe their family members to the class, or turn in a family album with pictures and written descriptions. This semester we plan on learning the basic steps of Salsa (the dance), reading our first short novel in Spanish titled, Pobre Ana, and cooking authentic dishes from Spanish speaking countries to share with the class.Ms. Palasky
Woods
Students enrolled for the second semester are off to a good start! The safety test is done and they are now designing their first project. Mr. Jolliff is trying something new, where many of his students are building catapults! Some have decided they want to make the cars, but Mr. Jolliff has been itching to start new wood projects and this just seemed like the right time. With the new shop, it is taking awhile to get it all set up (it is such a huge space) yet students and staff are finding inspiration in the process of organizing; Mr. Jolliff hopes to restart the Woods II program, now that we have the room. Our Opportunity students have also been building away, and they are currently working on Adirondack chairs! They are super comfortable!Please be sure to come and check out the new projects at OPEN HOUSE in May!Mr. Jolliff
Adirondack Chair by Peterson Students
Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts Prepares for Regionals!
The FHA-HERO Regional Competition is taking place on February 23rd at Mt. Diablo High School in Concord. Our five competitors have been training every week to perfect and refine their skills in each event. Angie Villanueva, Faith Chua, and Vaheeshta Mehrshahi are competing in Salad Preparation, Junior Division. Yatziri Arias and Megan Penlandare competing in Menu Planning/Table Display, Junior Division.
After competition, we are headed straight to the annual Santa Clara Firefighter Crab Feed in Santa Clara to assist in front-of-the-house operations. This will be our third year helping with this event! Good luck FHA HEROes!Mr. Fedalizo
The Nature Area
Baby Hummingbirds Join Peterson Campus!
To most people, January in the northern hemisphere is considered to be in the dead of winter. The daylight period is very short and the temperatures are approaching the coldest of the winter season. However, an event usually associated with spring was taking place in the Nature Area. Just after New Years, the quiet in the Peterson nature Area was broken by periodic whooping sounds of male Anna’s Hummingbirds diving in front of passively perched female hummingbirds. The male was climbing 30 to 60 feet above the females and then vertically diving and pulling up just in front of the females. As the male pulled up out of the dive the tail feathers violently vibrated creating a whooping sound. At the same instant he reflected the bright sunlight off his red metallic throat feathers. The display was repeated over and over until the female moved off or the male lost interest due to the energy spent courting the female.The male repeated his dive dance as many as eight to ten times.
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The male dive dances are an indication that the females are beginning to build their delicate one and a half inch nests. In the Peterson Nature Area, the nests are constructed mostly out of spider webs and cattail fluff. Once the major construction is finished, the female hummingbird will camouflage the sides of the nest with bits of leaves and lichen. On the 2nd of January of this New Year, I found a nest that was just being completed. I spent the following day recording the last of the construction.
If you go to the Nature Area web server at <http://www.peterson.scusd.net/hummingbirdnestcon.mov>and you will be able to view a four-minute video clip of that last day of construction. Be sure to visit the Nature Area website http://pms-scusd-ca.schoolloop.com/naturearea and look at the updated photos of the growing family.We are broadcasting from the nest site, rain or shine from 8:00am to 2:35pm. Mrs. Fohner sets up the IP camera at the crack of dawn and I pack up the camera at the end of school. Sometime during Sunday, January the 27th, both eggs successfully hatched. The IP camera broadcasts the live nesting activities, such as brood feeding and brood warming to all the classrooms in the in the school district over our updated LAN network.
At this time, only computers located inside the district firewall will be allowed to view the nest activities. If all goes well for the nesting female, we will run the camera until the young hummingbirds fledge the nest. But remember, most nests DO NOT successfully fledge young. Predators eat 50 to 60 percent of the eggs and young. Here in the Nature Area, tree squirrels and jays eat most of the eggs and young.
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However, in the Peterson Nature Area those hummingbirds that nest during the winter months have the highest nesting success rates. Most of the predatory tree squirrels are still in their winter hibernation. The low recruitment rate for the Anna’s Hummingbird population, as with most other native wildlife, is part of the lesson to be learned. Very few of the young survive the trial of life. There is no legislation for NO HUMMINGBIRD left behind.Bryan Osborne and Mrs. Fohner, Nature Center Curators
Student Writing Feature
Ask KGL:
Where does plastic come from? Out of 600 students, 547 guessed the wrong answer. Some of the answers included cows, pigs, Konami, and sand. The correct answer is petroleum.
The 53 of you that guessed it right, good job! For the 547 people that guessed wrong, it's O.K. Many adults guessed wrong too.
To find out how plastic is made from petroleum you'll have to wait until the next installment of .....Ask KGL.
The Second Annual Pirates Fantasy Football Club has come to an exciting end. This year, the club was so popular that we were able to create three student leagues! Some of the staff members even joined in on the fun and played with their students. Coach Gillmore and Ms. Breasher would like to thank
all of those students and staff members for a great season. We were very proud of your use of appropriate persuasive reasoning, statistical analysis and bargaining skills. Congratulations to all who participated and especially to our first place winners!
Student League B winner: JonahStudent League G winner: Johann
Student/Staff League BG winner: Ms. ChapmanStaff League winner: Ms. KierMs. Breasher
Japan Club
Students in Japan Club are gearing up for the arrival of our Japanese exchange students, who will arrive on March 2nd and stay until March 14th. We will go on a sightseeing trip to San Francisco, spend an afternoon ice skating, and have a potluck dinner, in addition to individual host family
plans. Additionally, we are learning a song in Japanese to sing to our guests at the potluck, and planning a fun presentation to give to our host families when we go to Japan in April. Fifteen students will be representing Peterson when we visit Japan.
There will be a parent meeting for those students either hosting or going to Japan, on Tuesday, February 26th at 6:30 in Room D4. For those going to Japan, please bring a check for $800 payable to Wish International as your second payment installment for the trip.
If you have questions, please contact: Lisa Johnson at [email protected] or (408) 423-2927
Math Club
The MATHCOUNTS school competition was held on February 2nd at the Peterson School Library. A total of thirty-eight mathletes, eleven from 6th grade, six from 7th grade and eleven from 8th grade, participated in this event.
The competition had 4 rounds: Sprint Round with thirty problems to be solved in forty minutes; Target Round with eight problems to be solved in twenty-four minutes; Team Round with tne problems to be solved by team of four mathletes and Countdown Round with rapid fire quiz style problems.
As per MATHCOUNTS rules, individual scores are calculated by adding the number of correct answers in Sprint Round to double of number of correct answers in the Target Round. So the maximum possible score is 30+2*8=46.
Here are the top scorers who advanced to the chapter competition as a team and will be representing our school: Nikhil Gupta (Gr: 8, Score: 39) Shivali Baveja (Gr: 8, Score: 39) Patrick Zhong (Gr: 7, Score: 38) William Cao (Gr: 7, Score: 36)
These four will be going to the chapter competition as individual participants: Neel Gore (Gr: 6, Score: 35)Poojita Dasika (Gr: 8, Score: 35)Shyam Kumar (Gr: 7, Score: 34)Yash Vanvari (Gr: 8, Score: 32)
The three champions of the Countdown Round were: Ryuto Nakatani (Gr: 6)Michael Chen (Gr: 8)Patrick Zhong (Gr: 7)
It must be kept in mind that although Peterson Math Club organizes many contests over its term, the emphasis is to foster curiosity, grit and problem solving muscles that mathletes develop through this program, not specific scores in a single event.
The Science Club is currently trying to solve the energy crisis a few micro-horsepower at a time by building windmills. (This might take an awful lot of windmills; fortunately we have an awful lots of kids.) The kids are building small windmills and
testing them in front of fans. The objective is to generate the most amount of power given limited resources. They can change the size and shape of the blades, the angle of the blades, the number and position of the blades, which way the blades rotate, and the load. So do you generate the most power when you lift the heaviest load? What about if you lift the load the quickest? Neither one of those generate the most power, it is something in between. Power is proportional to weight divided by time (if the distance lifted is fixed), so the kids have a little bit of division to do here. Will they get it? Maybe, the power aspect of this project is always one of the hard things to get across. We plan on holding our competition on February 15th. Stay tuned for the results.Ross LaFetra, Science Club Advisor and Volunteer
Sports Corner
Yesterday the 6th/7th grade boys basketball team had a whopper of a game, beating Crittenden 23-22 in the last seconds! Without their starters Jonah Advincula and Captain Dylan Dutcher, the Pirates were in for a real battle. Crittenden took the lead early and just wouldn't give it up until the final 30 seconds of the game. After missing a open 3 with one minute left, Anthony Jones did the unthinkable...he threw up ANOTHER 3!!! AND BANKED IT IN to take the lead with 26 seconds! After a couple more close calls and Crittenden's best player missing two free throws, the Pirates were able to hold the lead and advance to the championships! Coach Gillmore is proud of his team for hanging in there for the
entire game. We battled the elements and proved that with hard work and respect for the game of basketball, the basketball gods just might be on your side. Peterson will host Cabrillo for a chance at back-to-back 6th/7th grade championships. The Championship game will be Thursday February 14th at 4pm. GOOOOOO PIRATES!!
Last newsletter, we told you that Coach Narcisso’s 8th grade 49-game win streak was snapped in the Girls Basketball championship game. Well, the Boys Basketball team has started another little streak. They currently have a record of 4-0, and look to be on their way to the championship game vs. Crittenden. The 8th grade Boys Basketball program has been on a roll the past seven years with a current record of 55-3 in that span. They will be trying to capture their 6th championship in those seven years. Tali Fine leads the team averaging 16 points, and 11 rebounds a game. Captain point guard Joe Choe is averaging 9 points a game while leading the team in assists and steals. Jason Singh is averaging 11 points and 9 boards. Nick Tran and Aditya Sriram currently round out the starting five. The team is averaging 52 points a game, while giving up 36 a game.
Even though the boys played a great season, they lost to Don Callejon in the playoff game on February 12th. It has been another great season for Peterson Athletics. It starts with integrity, and passion, and usually ends with a championship. That is the way we like it. Coach Narcisso and Coach Gillmore
8th Grade Boys’ Basketball Team
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by Aaron Wang
6th/7th Grade Boys’ Basketball Team
Yoga Club
Focus Factor
Have you ever had brain freeze? Apart from feeling an intense ache, your mind goes blank for a few seconds. The brain can be vulnerable to different kinds of stresses and it pauses for a few moments during a performance or trying to quickly come up with
the right answer in class.
Have you ever noticed that sometimes it helps to just stop and take a deep breath to clear your mind? Conscious breathing can help calm your body, and relax your mind. Relaxing your mind removes stresses and helps you improve your focus.
These days, your mind is constantly getting pulled into multiple directions. Family, friends, phone calls, texting, social networks, internet chats are in a constant state of contact. This taxes your brain immensely without you realizing it.
Yoga teaches awareness of the union of body and mind, but at the same time, it teaches you that everything in the world is inter-dependent. It is a wonderful gift that has been handed down through the ages and has taken so many new forms around the world today.
Yoga class meets every Monday from 2:45 to 3:45pm. Come and join us to learn breathing techniques, stretching and relaxation. This is a fun and enjoyable time for even your friends and parents. You will have a unique experience through Yoga. Teaching yoga to adults and children is my passion. There is a wealth of knowledge we can offer our children with this practice.
Namaste!Lata AnandPeterson Yoga Instructor
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Siddharth Patil
Intramural Co-Ed Basketball will begin February 27th, and Soccer Try-Outs will begin February 25th. Our Tennis program will begin March 18th. Track and Field starts April 17th.
Tali Fine
Jay Singh
Meet Amanda McKenzie
Social Studies Teacher
Birth Month: NovemberWhere you were born? Lansing, MIHow many years have you worked at Peterson? Eight yearsWhat do you like best about Peterson? The students! They are amazing, kind and driven.
Favorite Color: OrangeFavorite Subject in School: HistoryFavorite Book Genre: True CrimeFavorite Food? Mexican Who makes it best? Fiesta del MarWhere did you attend college? Michigan StateYour favorite place and why: Lake Michigan. I love to visit family and see amazing sunsets.Your favorite school memory: Acting in plays
Meet Gina Corsello
Opportunity Teacher
Birth Month: AprilWhere you were born? San Jose, CAHow many years have you worked at Peterson? Three years.What do you like best about Peterson? The environment. Favorite Color: RedFavorite Subject in School: Math
Favorite Book Genre: Historical fictionFavorite Food? ItalianWho makes it best? MeWhere did you attend college? Chico StateYour favorite place and why: Home; I love to be with my daughter either snuggled up watching a Barbie movie or playing out front. Your favorite school memory: Summer camp at Camp HammerPets? A black lab named Olive Oyl
Meet Nicole Cota Registrar
Birth Month: MarchWhere you were born? Merced, CAHow many years have you worked at Peterson? This is my first year.What do you like best about Peterson? Everyone is nice and friendly. Favorite Color: Red. Favorite Subject in
School: ArtFavorite Book Genre: FantasyFavorite Food? ItalianWho makes it best? Macaroni GrillWhere did you attend college? Western Career, San JoseYour favorite place and why: Anywhere along the coast; it’s so peaceful.Your favorite school memory: Having fun with friends.Pets? One cat.
Peterson Staff Profiles
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Meet Anthony Herrera
Security/Supervisor
Birth Month: AugustWhere you were born? San JoseHow many years have you worked at Peterson? OneWhat do you like best about Peterson? The kindness presented by the students and the staff.Favorite Color: GreenFavorite Subject in School: English
Favorite Book Genre: Non-fictionFavorite Food? MexicanWho makes it best? My grandmaWhere did you attend college? De AnzaYour favorite place and why: Home because that’s the only place I see my family. Your favorite school memory: Going to school early to play football.Pets? Two dogsAnything else to share? Go Niners!!
Honorary Service Awards Nominations Form
Do you know of a person or organization that deserves to be recognized for their service and dedication to Peterson Middle School? This is your chance to nominate them for an Honorary Service Award.
It’s time again to acknowledge and celebrate some of our fabulous, hard-working volunteers or organizations whose contributions add immeasurable value to the middle school experience our children enjoy! PTA gives us the Honorary Service Program to recognize these individuals or organizations for their service and dedication to children and youth. It is up to us, members of the Peterson community, to nominate deserving individuals or an organization to be recognized. If you know someone who goes above and beyond for our kids and you feel deserves such an honor, please complete the form below and return it to the school office, or send the information in an email to [email protected].
Nominations must be submitted no later than Friday, March 15th, 2013 to be considered. Honorees receive a certificate and pin and a donation is made in their name to the California State PTA Scholarship Fund. Recipients of an HSA award are announced and awards presented during Open House Night in May.
Thank you for your consideration of our wonderful volunteers.
2013 Peterson PTSA Honorary Service Nomination Form
Name of Nominee: ________________________________________________________________________
Reason why the nominee should be honored: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Your name, phone, e-mail (so we may contact you): ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ You may submit more than one nomination.
Please ask your student to turn in this form with payment (cash or check payable to Peterson Middle School) to the bookkeeper in the office. Orders are due by May 17th. Questions? Contact Ms. Teng ([email protected]).
