In addition, middle school wrestling and girls basketball begin right after break, so please encourage your son or daughter to participate if you think they may be interested.
Okoboji Middle School
Bringing Out The Best In Everyone!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
OMS Announcements
Only two weeks until the end of the second quarter and first semester. Please take time to check your child's grades and feel free to email or call any teacher with questions you may have. We also will not be having school on Friday, January 15th and Monday, January 18th for teacher professional development.
Monday, December 21, 2009
OMS Students go "Instrumental Caroling"
On Friday, December 18th, 22 members of the Okoboji Middle School Band went instrumental caroling to Buy Rite Foods, Heritage Landing, and Milford Nursing Home. Thanks to Mrs. Forney for organizing this great service to our community. Please check out the video below for a glimpse into the experience!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Future is Here at Okoboji Middle School
The Future is Here at Okoboji Middle School
If you are a country music fan, you may be familiar with Brad Paisley's recent release entitled “The Future is Here.” In this song he details the technological world around us and his amazement as to how many things he dreamed of as a child, which are now a part of our everyday reality. Well, I can't help but think that the future has arrived at Okoboji Middle School. Below are just a few of the technological tools that students and teachers have access to at OMS, and a synopsis of how we are using these tools to enhance the learning of all students.
Netbooks: Our 7/8 grade students began using netbooks at the beginning of the school year when our district purchased 75 new netbooks. Netbooks are simply laptops at about 80% the size of a traditional laptop. Currently we have about a 2:1 ratio of students to netbooks in 7th and 8th grade, and we are currently in the planning process of having a laptop for every student. “Before the netbooks, we almost had to fight to make sure we could use the laptops when we needed them,” commented Mrs Frerichs, our 7th grade Language Arts instructor. “Now they are much more available and with this availability students aren't just using them on a daily basis, but more on an hourly basis.” With the increase of computer use, comes the need for an understanding of how to use all available technology. Between the outstanding professional development our technology team is providing, and the upcoming “technology boot camp” our grade level teachers will be engaged in during team planning time this year, we will continue to maximize the use of these computers to enhance the learning of each and every student.
52” LCD Television Screen: Karen Tschetter recently became our first teacher to pilot large flat screen televisions in the classroom. We currently have LCD projectors in most of our classrooms which are connected to computers in order to project the contents of the computer to the entire class. After having a couple of bulbs burn out, it was decided to try LCD televisions as a replacement in Mrs. Tschetter's room. We believe they provide a more vibrant viewing surface than an LCD projector and, in the long run, will actually save the district money. “The motivation and engagement students have in the various activities we facilitate through the computer/television has definitely increased. The television is so clear and a great tool to reach visual learners,” states Mrs. Tschetter, “from correcting student work to class-wide research, we have really utilized this tool to enhance student learning.” Who knows, we may soon have LCD screens in every classroom if this pilot project is successful!
Pole Vault Sound System and Clickers: Just down the hall from Mrs. Tschetter, Laura Stevens has been implementing two new technologies. The Pole Vault Sound System is comprised of speakers built into the classroom which can project the sound from computers and microphones teachers and students wear. “The students are so much more likely to hear the instructions and directions we give in class, and we also use the microphones to team teach or have students share their answers with the class.” Mrs. Stevens also is trying out the “clickers” which students use to submit answers on teacher and student created questions. Stevens can “view the answers immediately as a class and students can self-assess their progress. They also can be used for me to help clear up misconceptions students may have. If I see that only half the class understands a question asked, I know we have to do extra instruction in this area.”
Interwrite Pads: Many of you may be familiar with Smartboards, an interactive whiteboard mounted to the side of a classroom. At OMS, we currently have portable “smartboards” called Interwrite Pads. Mr. Bouse (5th grade), Mrs. Thunhorst (6th grade), Mrs. Frerichs (7th grade), and Mrs. Jones (7th/8th grade) are the first group of teachers to begin using the Interwrite Pads in our school. The advantage to our Interwrite Pads over the traditional Smartboard is that the Interwrite Pad is portable and can move throughout the room. “Kids get excited to use the pads to write and share their thoughts in unique and different ways.” said Mrs. Frerichs, “Student engagement and motivation has dramatically increased when we use the Interwrite Pads.” Another advantage is in the cost—Interwrite Pads cost around $300 compared to Smartboards which can cost well over $1000 a piece.
MP3 Players Impact Reading: Over the past two years, Mrs. Hilsabeck and Mrs. Williams have worked to secure funding and purchase MP3 players for use by students in reading. We currently have over 20 MP3 players available to be checked out with preloaded books for students to listen to. “The MP3 players really help to draw in unmotivated and/or non-engaged readers as well as help excellent readers improve their auditory skills,” states Mrs. Hilsabeck, our Media Specialist. “They also have been a big help for our English language learners as they work to develop their English language skills.”
Heart Rate Monitors: A recent study researching the necessary skills employers are looking for in future employees stated that one of the top skills needed will be an ability to stay healthy and fit. At OMS, we are fortunate to have state-of-the-art equipment to rival any middle school across the state. Included in this equipment are new heart rate monitors students wear on their “cardio days” in PE class. The monitors communicate wirelessly with a projector which projects the students heart rate for the student to view and monitor while they exercise. “The monitors allow students to understand what it feels like to have their heart rate in a target range while exercising,” commented Mr. Hunziker when asked what impact technology is having in his classroom. “It is our hope that if students understand what vigorous exercise feels like now, they will be able to carry this into their future and stay fit when the leave our school.”
As you can see, technology is impacting all aspects of our school. In fact, the technology is integrated so vigorously that is has become a part of the solid culture of instruction and learning at Okoboji Middle School. The future truly is here at OMS as we work to prepare students to be productive citizens in a changing world!
Love and Logic Parent Class
Love and Logic Parent class coming in January!! Please see information below!
Provided through Lakes Area Decat/Empowerment and Prevent Child Abuse
Facilitated by Amy Kueper and Susan Ramhorst – Winter 2010
BECOMING A LOVE AND LOGIC PARENT®
A parent training program designed by the Love and Logic® Institute, Inc.
Would you like to feel more confident as a parent? Would you like to have more fun parenting?
Would you like to prepare your children for the real world? Find answers to the following questions:
© “How do I get them out of bed in time to catch the school bus?”
© “How can I stop my children from bickering and fighting?”
© “How do I get my children to help with the chores without an argument?”
© “Is there a way to discipline my toddler in public without creating a scene?”
© “How can I get my teenage daughter to come home at the agreed-upon time?”
© “How do I get him to stop spitting his peas and whining at dinner?”
© And many other day-to-day parenting challenges . . .
This parenting program is designed to give you practical skills that can be used immediately!
For parents, grandparents, foster parents, teachers and family support professionals.
Learn skills that work with children of all ages (infants, school aged, teenagers & beyond).
Note: Each class includes all dates listed at the location you choose – approximately 10 classroom hours.
Sundays—January 17, 24 and 31
5:30-8:30 p.m. (Supper served at 5:00)
Look for more classes to be scheduled in Spring 2010
Total cost for all classes: $8/household* (space limited & fills quickly – register early)
I am interested in Becoming a Love and Logic Parent® Classes!
¨ Please register me for (include #):
¨ I need childcare (include # and ages): Milford AM __________ Milford PM ______________
¨ We plan to join you for the meals (evening only). Kids #___ Adults #___
List Allergies _________________________
¨ Amount Enclosed: ______________
Name(s): _______________________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
City: _________________________________________________ State/Zip: _____________________
Phone: ____________________________ E-mail: ___________________________________________
Please mail registration & check to: Amy Kueper at
*Note: If you are unable to pay the class fee, contact Cyndee Dather at 712-332-2581.
For more information about these classes or future class offerings, contact Amy Kueper at 712-336-1738.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Did You Know?
"DID YOU KNOW?": Over 80% of your child's middle school teachers have been trained in Love and Logic and are having monthly follow-up refresher sessions. Love and Logic® is a philosophy founded by Jim Fay and Foster W. Cline, M.D., and is based on the experience of a combined total of over 75 years working with and raising kids. It provides simple and practical techniques to help teachers and parents have less stress and more fun while raising responsible kids. Love and Logic® offers many useful techniques that teachers and parents can begin experimenting with immediately. Here are some examples:
- Locking–in sadness or empathy before delivering consequences
- Setting limits with enforceable statements
- Sharing control through lots of small choices
- Building relationships with the One Sentence Intervention
- Neutralizing arguing with the Brain Dead technique
- The Anticipatory Consequence
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Checking Grades
Don't forget to check your child's grades at least every couple of weeks. You can go to the Okoboji Middle School Page and then go to JMC access. If you can't remember your password, give Lenae a call at the middle school office (332-5641) and she will help you out.
Character Counts Christmas Present
In order to celebrate the Holidays and our committment to Character Counts, students will be receiving a t-shirt on December 21st. Be looking for the t-shirt on your son or daughter and a picture in the local newspaper over the holidays. Thanks to our student senate for organizing and sponsoring the Character Counts T-shirts.
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