Middle School News

November/December 2006 Vol. 2 Issue 3

New Service! Parent Link Web Access

Parent Link provides parents with the ability to check on their children's school records from any web enabled computer 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Access is granted through the use of a unique user identification and password for each registered parent. Parents must register each middle school student they wish to see information on. The information is secure and encrypted.

Test drive a demo version at www.sisk12.com/sisparent/parlogon.asp Information we provide will not be live data, but will be 24 hours or less old on any week day.

This feature requires activation by the school to enable you to access your children's information. Activation is done by filling out a request form that must be kept on file in the technology office. You may obtain the form from the middle school office or by following this link. Parent Link Registration form. (You will need acrobat reader to access the form. It may be obtained free at www.adobe.com .) Please print and return the completed form to the Middle School office. Valid email addresses are necessary as you will receive email notification of your ID and password. No one will have access to these identifiers except you, please guard them carefully.

If you do not have a computer with internet access at home, the Southern Boone County branch of the Daniel Boone Library does have public access computers for patron use. If you do not currently have a work or home email address, you may obtain an email account through various internet providers free of charge. Two possibilities are www.hotmail.com or www.yahoo.com . There are many other free email providers and any of them will work for this system.

 If you have questions or would like further information regarding this new service, please call the Middle School office, 657-2146.

New Staff

We would like to welcome Tim Gilmore, a recent CMSU graduate in math education, to the middle school faculty. Tim will be teaching 6^th grade mathematics, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Chris Walls. Tim grew up in Southern Boone and is excited to bring his enthusiasm and math expertise to the middle school. Tim is currently coaching the freshman boy’s basketball team and has taught math courses here in our summer programs in the past. We welcome Tim!

Math News

This year the middle school math department started recognizing its highest achieving students by giving the Archimedes Math Award each month. Students that receive this award have demonstrated mathematical excellence within the classroom. Our partner in education, Boone County Bank, has sponsored this award and has given each award winner a certificate of merit and a calculator. Our winners for the month of September were Jessica Darby and Josh Flowers in the 8th grade, Matt Gilmore and Rachel O'Keefe in the 7th grade, and Brittani Batye and Hayden Salmons in the 6th grade. For October our winners were E.C. Duckworth and Cassy Casteel in the 8th grade, Jacob Himmelberg and Beth Keene in the 7th grade and Kara Pauley and Trevor Darby in the 6th grade. Our math award winners for November are 6th grade: Kalee Zumalt and Dusty Loveall, 7th grade: Julia Robinson and Morgan Green, and 8th grade: Hannah Sapp and Reid Johnson

In addition to the great things Boone County Bank is doing to help us celebrate our math superlatives, Missy Bonderer from Boone County Bank has visited the 8th grade math and algebra classes to share "how to become a millionaire." Students in Mrs. Noe's math and algebra classes had been studying percents and Ms. Bonderer's lesson applied that knowledge to interest rates and compound interest. Students worked through a lesson that helped them better understand how interest works and how compounding interest increases the value of an investment even faster than simple interest. We value community partnerships like this and the positive impact they can have on our students!

Upcoming Dates

Don’t forget, our holiday concert will be Wednesday December 13^th at 7:00 PM. Our holiday break begins December 21^st and classes will resume on Tuesday January 3^rd. There will be no school on January 15^th in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

November Students of the Month

We are proud of our November Students of the Month:

Hayley Linzie: 6^th Grade

Tommy Wilcox: 7^th Grade

E.C. Duckworth: 8^th Grade

Cassy Casteel: Fine Arts

These students were selected as students of the month by their teachers based on attendance, work ethic, social skills, and performance. Good job to our recipients!

Parking

You may have noticed two new “no parking” zones outside of the Middle School main entrance. This was done in cooperation with the City of Ashland to improve visibility for motorists as students cross the street. We appreciate the city’s cooperation and we appreciate each of you as together we watch out for the safety of our students.