March 10, 2016

Swift House Sponsors... Marco the Magician

Please help spread the work and sell tickets for our third major fundraiser for the NYC field trip in June.  Encourage others to attend, purchase tickets for your own family, etc.  A packed house will mean a successful fundraiser. Share the information and ticket order form below with anyone who may be interested!

Marko Master Magician & Hypnotist

Friday, March 18 6:30 PM WCS Auditorium

Please join us for a fun filled family evening of Magic and Hypnosis with Marko the Magician sponsored by Swift House. General Admission tickets are $8 each. Click here for ticket order form.

Yamato Drummers of Japan

All Swift House students attended a performance of Yamato: Drummers of Japan on Friday.  They gave us a passionate, interactive performance of taiko drumming.  We were so close we could feel the drumming and see the intense energy these performers put into their work.

This performance was paid for by parent contributions to the Wiliston Schools Annual Funds.  Thank you for helping us getting students to this amazing theater and performance!

Social Studies Debates

In Social Studies the 7/8 graders have been investigating the idea of citizenship both global and local. In our investigation students examined many ethical dilemmas citizens face around our world. These dilemmas include: the Death Penalty, Football and Concussions, North Korea and Nuclear Threat, Extreme Sports and the safety, Gun Control, and Donald Trump and his proposed policies regarding Muslims. Students have engaged in Political Cartoon Analysis, reading of primary and secondary sources to develop opinions, LEAF paragraph writing, and finally a formal debate where students worked in groups to prepare.

 Next, students will begin to explore the issues of Child Labor and where infractions are occurring around our world, even here in the United States. We will do this through a Model UN activity which will unfold as we proceed through Trimester Three.

Examples of students debates, with Ella and Beckett:

Changing Perspectives Literature Unit

Dear Parents,

 Over the course of the next six weeks your child will be participating in a Disability Awareness Program. We are fortunate to be working with Changing Perspectives, a Vermont based educational non profit organization to make this program available to our students. The mission of Changing Perspectives is to engage students in open dialogue and real world experiences in an effort to promote disability awareness and foster inclusive communities.

 The Changing Perspectives curriculum aims to reduce bullying and social isolation in schools by teaching about differences and supporting teacher’s work to build an inclusive community within the classroom. The program’s goal is to help each child recognize his or her uniqueness and challenges and in doing so promote a deeper understanding, respect and acceptance of all people. Throughout the program we will be engaging students in safe and respectful conversations about disabilities.

 The focus of the Changing Perspectives program is to engage students in hands on learning to build greater awareness of differences and inspire empathy. The curriculum consists of three parts.

 1. LEARN (Preliminary dialogue) – provides students with activities which will expose them to a variety of disabilities
2. EXPERIENCE (Real world experience) – engages students to help them understand what it is like to live with a disability
3. REFLECT (Personal reflection) – Allows students to reflect on their experiences, make connections, and show evidence of their growth in understanding.

 If you have any questions or concerns about the program please contact us!

Osmosis

Swift House 5th and 6th graders have been studying osmosis with "naked eggs." We soaked them in vinegar for over two days until their shells dissolved, then soaked them in various liquid to see osmosis in action. Some eggs got larger while others deflated, depending on the concentration of the liquid around them.  The 5th and 6th graders are working on an explanation of how and why this happened after learning about permeable membranes and concentration.  The water wants to be at the same concentration level both inside and outside of the egg, so water passes through the egg's membrane to try to reach that equilibrium.

"Naked" egg soaked in green water, gained 10 grams

"Naked" egg soaked in corn syrup, lost 35 grams 

Olivia and "Billy the Egg"- soaked in colored water, gained 10 grams

Leo, Grace, Poppy and Aria determining the mass of their original eggs (without shells)

Rosie's Girls- STEM Leadership Camp

Any 8th grade girls interested in STEM should check out the "Rosie's Girls" camp opportunity provided by Vermont Technical College.  Click here for more details.