February 11, 2018

Volleyball

WCS will be offering a short volleyball season again after school this year.  Sign-ups and further information is posted outside the Old Gym and Direction Center.  This is a great opportunity to check out this rapidly growing sport, new to Vermont Varsity sports, in between winter and spring seasons!

Our Work is Worth It

Mr. Hunt wrote a detailed article about the history of personalized learning in Swift House and how it relates to our Vermont state initiatives today.  For a wonderful snapshot of our approach to personalization and how it relates to assessment, reporting and planning, please read his article here.

Marko

Thank you so much for all the volunteer time and food donations.  We raised $1060 with the Marko performance.  Bravo!

 "Homework" Slip

Swift facilitators wrap around student work completion with two main tools: the Greensheet and the "Homework" slip.  Of course the Greensheet goes home each Friday with either signatures to indicate that all work is complete or a circle with an explanation of the missing assignment.

What you may or may not have seen is our "Homework Slip," which we use to communicate with core teachers and students on a daily basis.  Facilitators write a Homework Slip that day if an assignment is late.  They then deliver the Homework Slip to the core teacher to follow up.  When the assignment is completed, the assigning teacher initials the assignment and the homework slip is filed away.

We have made two changes to the Homework Slip.  First, we are now asking students to e-mail home if they receive a homework slip. The e-mail will look something like this: 

Dear (insert guardian's name),

Today I received a homework slip for (insert class). My assignment is (insert assignment). The assignment is (on Google Classroom or a handout) I would like to have this completed by (insert day). Thanks for helping me out! 

Sincerely, 
(Your Name)

Secondly, we added a "Call Back" option to the slip.  Teachers will use this option if they need a student to return to them at core time for support on a specific assignment.  The "Call Back" will override other choice activities at core (not band and chorus).

CVU Freshman Registration

A few reminders from Mr. Ford...

• See CVU Course registration letter here
• Course registration deadline is Friday, February 23rd
• Current Math and World Language teachers will provide you with information regarding which level to register for at CVU.
• 8th graders should select no more that two credits of electives (Note: an alternate elective class can be selected in case you are unable to be enrolled in the class you first requested).
• Available electives for freshman are listed in the 2018 Scheduling Tips for 9th Graders document here.

Social Studies Update

Seventh and eighth are looking at 20th century through lens of human rights.  Fifth and sixth graders are learning about Westward Expansion, Politics, Slavery, early 19th century.  See them develop arguments about Federalism in the videos below.

Science Update

Seventh and eighth graders have begun a unit on genetics by starting with cellular reproduction.    They have practiced identifying stages of mitosis by looking at onion cells with microscopes.

Fifth and sixth graders completed a mini-unit on changes in matter, investigating the changes of mass and properties when substances react.  They will then begin research on living organisms and cellular functions.

Delainey and Mackenzie measure the mass of baking soda and vinegar before they react

Alyssa and Beckham measure the mass after the reaction

Jayden and Delia have captured the CO2 from the reaction in a balloon

Alyssa and Storey investigate polymers first hand by creating "Slime"

Hayden's slime

Emmett tries other variables to create the perfect slime

In case you're interested, after trying many variables, the classes voted on their favorite slime recipes and came up with this:

Swift's "Superb Slime"

Ingredients:

• School Glue
• Food coloring
• Baking Soda- prevents slime from sticking- don't forget this one! 
• Saline Solution (be sure it contains boric acid)- this essential ingredient "locks" the glue molecules together
• Shaving gel (to add volume and scent)

Directions: 

• Add 25 mL of water to the 100 ml of glue in beaker 
• Add food coloring if desired 
• Mix in 0.5 tsp of baking soda 
• Mix in 1 tsp of shaving gel
• Measure 15 mL of saline solution with graduated cylinder 
• Add saline to the glue mixture 
• Stir thoroughly, then knead with hands

Tip: You can readily convert the units into standard making measurements using online conversion calculators.   Store the slime in a tupperware container when done.

Audubon Vermont Winter Vacation Day Camps

·         Winter Wilderness Skills: Tuesday, February 27

·         Over the River and Through the Woods: Thursday, March 1

·         Bird-Friendly Maple Sugaring: Monday, March 5

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Grades: K – 5

Location: Each morning, we will meet in the Education Barn at 255 Sherman Hollow Road
Fee: Members $60/day or $150 for all three days
Non-members $65/day or $165 for all three days

Questions? 434-3068 or darcher@audubon.org

Details and registration: http://vt.audubon.org/programs/vacation-day-camps