News and information for staff members and the Madison community
Vol. II No. 7 - May 3, 2007
JUMP AROUND... On March 15th the Madison Wizards finished a successful season with a spectacular performance for the Marquette students and staff. The Wizards are a jump rope team with students from both Marquette and O'Keeffe schools. The team is sponsored by the American Heart Association and for the past three months they have preformed at different schools around South Central Wisconsin, to kick-off each school's "Jump Rope for Heart" event. Students have been practicing hard since last October, and have learned an amazing array of jump rope tricks. Congratulations to this year's jump team, whose members include: (4th gr.) Julian Halsey-Milhaupt, (5th gr.) Maya Banks, Desirae Fisher, Adrianne Schuster, Nora Haugen Wente, Mary Ottelien, (6th gr.) Charlotte Hudech, Brittany Dillard, Molly Bertolacini, (7th gr.) Dashiell Potter, Sonja Burnson, Patricia Wilton, Michalla Moss, Amanda Zuberbier, Sydney Johnson (8th gr.), Ariana Silva, and coordinators Barb Thomas and Mary Milhaupt.
Three Deaf and Hard of Hearing La Follette High School Students participated in a public speaking contest: "Communication Contest for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing" sponsored by the Optimist Club. Briana Bader (9th), Anthony Ohlson (10th) and Jay Liu (12th) (pictured l-r) presented 4-5 minute speeches about their "Biggest Challenge" at both the regional and state-wide level. Each student identified their biggest challenge and outlined what they did to overcome that challenge.
Probability Carnival at Cherokee Middle:
After completing the Connected Mathematics Project book "What Do You Expect?", which deals with probability and expected value concepts, students were given an opportunity to apply the concepts they have been working with in a "real-world" context.
Students worked in groups to design, create, and test carnival games to be used in a Probability Carnival. After deciding on the design of their game, they were required to calculate the theoretical probability of someone winning their game. Students needed to decide how much they should charge for people to play their game and how much they should pay out for prizes in order to make a profit. They were also required to calculate the expected payout and profit for 100 players and the long term average payout per one player.
After all of this theoretical calculation, students conducted small scale experimental trials (about 100 trials) within their group to find out how their games might actually work at a real carnival. They determined their own data collection methods, calculated experimental probability, and then compared their experimental data to their theoretical data and addressed any differences between the two.
Groups then submitted a report to the Carnival Committee (math teacher) with all the above information.
The culmination of the project was an actual Probability Carnival at which the games were put into action. Groups were given a fixed amount of money (play money emblazoned with their teacher's faces) to run their game at the carnival. After running their game, they then determined what, if any, profit was made.
Sennett Middle School celebrated Mascot Day! Deb Hosking, nursing assistant, organized the event thought up by Sennett's Student Council as part of our monthly spirit days. During lunches students were greeted by UW-Madison's Bucky Badger, Liberty Mutual Insurance's Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty, and the Madison Mallard's Maynord G. Mallard. Two staff members stepped up to the plate donning costumes. Learning Coordinator, Lori Hillyer, was the Red Cross Blood Drop and SEA, Nikki Gutierrez, was the LaFollette Lancer. Students had a blast interacting with our mascots.
MSCR Spring Dance Recital
MSCR held the Spring Dance Recital on March 30 at LaFollette High School. More than 900 people packed the auditorium to enjoy the show. Youth ages three - fifth grade wowed the crowd performing 31 numbers featuring tap, jazz/hip hop and ballet.
Staff and volunteers sold donated baked goods and flowers. MMSD Media Production staff filmed the recital and dvds were available for purchase. The fundraising brought in $1000 which will be used to support MSCR dance programs. More than 500 youth participate in youth dance annually.
The show is currently running on MMSD TV.
MSCR Drop-In Basketball with Community Partners
Madison School & Community Recreation (MSCR) offered a new men's drop-in basketball program in cooperation with the Madison Police Department, City of Madison Mayor's Office, and the Boys & Girls Club in the Allied Neighborhood. The program was held at the Boys & Girls Club, on Thursday evenings, 9 pm to 11 pm. The program began in November and ended April 12.
The City of Madison Mayor's office and the Police Department co-sponsored the program through a Weed & Seed grant which helped pay for supplies, staff and off-duty officers. The officers assisted in the supervision. It was free of charge, and open to men, ages 18-30, who were residents of the Allied Drive neighborhood, and their friends. On average, about 30 men attended each night with one night serving 52 individuals.
The program was the idea of the neighborhood police officer, Jason Ostrenga. It provided an opportunity for neighborhood residents to meet police officers in an informal setting, allowed residents a chance to build relationships, and provided a positive indoor recreational opportunity.
Black Hawk Middle School held their seventh annual Math Carnival in March. This evening of fun was for Black Hawk families and friends. The evening started with families having dinner together in the cafeteria. Then everyone went to the gym where the games were run by students and teachers. After paying the $1.00 admission, each person was given $20.00 in play money. This play money was used to play each math game. As they played and won, they earned additional play money. At the end of the evening, the play money was used to buy prizes of their choice. Hundreds of gifts were available for prizes which were generously donated by the community. There was an incredible turnout (approximately 250 parents and students) and fun was had by all!
On April 27th, Black Hawk Middle School had their second annual 6th Grade Essay Contest Awards Program. Melanie. Kirner's 6th grade students wrote an essay on their favorite older person (usually grandparents) for the North/Eastside Senior Coalition. Eleven essays were chosen to send into the Senior Coalition. The seniors then read all the essays and voted on the best. They chose the best boy's essay and the best girl's essay. At the awards program, all eleven students read their essays to the 6th grade classes and to their parents. Then Nicole Murphy, a coordinator from the Senior Coalition, announced the two winners. The two winners, Alexander McMiller and Sierra Servi-Sereno, (pictured with Melanie Kirner) will personally read their essays to the senior group and to the mayor. They will receive a $25 gift certificate to a book store and their essays will be sent to the state level.
The MMSD's Science Materials Center (SMC) is located at La Follette High School. The center provides consumable and live materials to all K-8 classroom science teachers. The SMC plays a pivotal role by supporting teachers as they teach the science standards and the district science scope and sequence.
Over the past year, Professor Emeritus John Glaeser, has been working with the SMC technician and Teaching and Learning staff to design and implement a live well tank for elodea plants. Through this volunteer partnership, Mr. Glaeser has generously donated his time, expertise and personal financial support to build an elodea tank. The elodea is a rich source of food for several live organisms used in classrooms district wide.
This elodea tank is no ordinary tank but an elaborate environment that continuously supports the growth of the fresh water plants. The substrate or bottom layer of the tank is a special combination of gravel, silt and soil with added nutrients. The water is monitored weekly for pH, nutrient and CO2 levels using special tools donated by Mr. Glaeser. The tank is fitted with a timed light source for optimum plant growth.
Without Mr. Glaeser contributions, classroom teachers would have to rely on store bought food and battle poor aquarium water conditions. The elodea helps keep the water oxygenated and provides varied food for the organisms. Granted, the SMC could purchase elodea but the expense and volume needed prohibits this. Next time you are in a third or sixth grade classroom, ask a student what they know about crayfish. Ask a kindergartner what a guppy or water snail needs to survive. Chances are they will talk about the elodea thanks to John Glaeser's work!
Last Updated: Thu May 24 15:36:24 2007
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