Text Box: As we approach Spring Break students are preparing for the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). Students have worked all year at learning new skills and mastering previously taught skills. The culmination of learning is not the demonstration of knowledge through the WASL but instead an opportunity to understand where students are in their understanding of key concepts and skills that will be necessary to graduate from high school. Often times, students and parents believe that the WASL is the measuring of learning. It is certainly one measure but not the only measure. Students will be assessed in reading and math using the Measure of Academic Progress. This assessment was given two other times during the year and will provide immediate feedback on student improvement. It will be given during the middle of May. Students also will continue to learn necessary skills and concepts. Teachers will continue to address math needs in all strand areas as well as the thought process for solving problems. An emphasis will be placed on reflection during the learning process. Sustaining knowledge through the summer is essential. Preparation for the transition from school to summer will require some planning. Many students fear the lack of structure and will need a plan to help them sustain structure over the summer. Our Olympic community of learners is looking for volunteers to help us identify program, activities, and resources to help students succeed during the summer. These programs should stimulate academic and social skills. Many of our students can not afford memberships to clubs or learning centers. Parents or community members that have knowledge of scholarship programs are asked to contact school counselors. Lastly, a community forum was held on March 20th to discuss at risk behavior for juveniles. Many youth are fascinated with the gangs and the structure of the gangs. Currently in Auburn, several gangs have shown up and are demonstrating anti-social and criminal behavior. These gangs include Surenos, Northenos, Bloods, Crips, Full Blooded Islanders (F.B.I.). There are sub sects of these gangs to include SUR 13, Playboy Surenos, 21st Cripwood, Native Gangster Bloods, etc. These groups will increase unless parents, community members, and educators recognize gang behavior, signs, etc. and provide adolescents with an alternative to this lifestyle. I encourage parents to review their child’s myspace account. We have seen students in Auburn with fake ages, names, and identities using their accounts to promote gangs, drugs, alcohol, and sex. Know who your child is letting into their friendship circle on myspace. Checking your child’s account regularly will help decrease some of this antisocial behavior. Text Box: From the Principal... Text Box: Olympic middle school Newsletter Text Box: March and april 2008

 

Kiwanis Club          Student of the Month                       Congratulations!!

February                   Fernando Ochoa      Keiko Mizoguchi

March                     Ronald Warren          April Greiner

 

Sixth-grade Happenings!!

Celebrate Us will be held this year on May 22.  Students should have started looking around for pictures or memorabilia of their 11-12 years of life.  All sixth graders are to create a visual presentation of their life and the correlating world/national events.  Although most students prefer to follow the traditional display board project, all students are encouraged to use their creativity and come up with an interesting way to display their information.  Packets explaining the project and scoring guide should be sent home in the next month.

This year Olympic is proud to host a career fair for all three grade levels.  We are currently looking for about 12 responsible adults who would be willing to share their careers with young adults.  All presenters would be given instructions and some questions to consider when presenting their career.  The objective behind career day is to get students interested in where their life COULD go if they apply themselves here at school.  Career Fair will be held on June 5th and will last for half a day.  If you are interested, contact Jennifer Willson.

 

 

 

 

Seventh grade focuses on learning benchmarks

Olympic seventh graders continue to focus on the 7th grade benchmarks that will be assessed on the WASL later this spring! 

 

Eight graders prepare for transition

Students have completed high school schedules for all three schools. Thanks for helping your student. The 8th grade  students enjoyed having a special speaker in February, Brad Henning. He spoke to our students about relationships. We were very thankful to PTA for arranging his visit to Olympic.

 

EAT Breakfast.Kids who eat breakfast have a more positive attitude about their day than kids who skip breakfast.

Teacher-Librarian, Jana Fullerton, has received a second grant of $1,500 from the Muckleshoot Tribe to buy     materials for our Hispanic community.  The money will be used to buy updated Hispanic resources, books by  Hispanic authors, and books that Hispanic students request.  If you have any suggestions for books or resources that you think would fall into this category please contact Jana Fullerton at the Olympic Library.  We would like to thank the  Muckleshoot Tribe for their generous gift in helping to make our school a place that represents our diverse population.

 

FROM THE LIBRARY

Text Box: Tests are easy,” some middle school students say. “It’s the questions that are hard.” But test questions aren’t so difficult if your child understands how to handle them. Help your student tackle tough questions by sharing these strategies. True or False As a general rule, a question should be answered false if any part of the statement is untrue. Suggest that your child look for words like all, none, and always. These may be clues that the answer is false. Example: All the soldiers in the Revolutionary War were American.” At the same time, words like often and may usually signal that a statement is true. Multiple Choice With these questions, it’s very important that your student read every choice before choosing an answer. This allows her to rule out answers she knows are wrong. Using this strategy, your child may have two options to pick from instead of five, which increases her chances of selecting the correct answer. Text Box: WASL TESTING April 14—May 2, 8:30 to 11:30 each day Text Box: Testing Tips

 

Take Your Child to Work Day—April 24

Take your child to work with you and let them experience a day with mom or dad! This is a great way for your child to learn about your occupation and see the work force in action. Please remember, if you take your child to work with you, all absences require parent authorization.

FROM THE HEALTH CORNER

Fruits and Vegetables

The American Medical Association and the American Cancer Society recommend eating 5-9 servings of fruit and vegetables every day.  Research has proven that a diet consisting of fruits and vegetables can PREVENT or reduce the risk of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.  It is also proven that fruits and vegetables boost the immune system and provide very powerful antioxidants!

These foods promote weight loss in many important ways.  For example, the brain only has one means of telling body it needs nutrients—by sending hunger pangs!  Fruits and vegetables are packed with the nutrients your body needs, therefore turning the “I’m hungry” message off in your brain.  In addition, they are rich in fiber, helping you feel “full” or at least “satisfied.”  You need at least 5-9 servings a day! 

 

 

If your family has had even a temporary change in income, you are welcome to complete an application for free or reduced price school breakfasts or lunches at anytime during the school year.  

Applications can be accessed through the Auburn School District website (http://auburn.wednet.edu/childnutrition/Default3.htm) or  from the Olympic  Middle School office or kitchen.  Forms can be returned via US Mail to the Child Nutrition office or can be   returned to the Olympic kitchen for prompt processing.

The food service department and our kitchen staff are working hard to incorporate more fresh, whole, natural foods on our menus.  We hope you have noticed and we hope that your children are encouraged to try new foods—their feedback (and your feedback) is most welcome.  Please consider sending an email with any comments on the school meals program to                       ChildNutrition@auburn.wednet.edu 

 

Kitchen Bites  

 

 

Olympic Middle School Parent Night

Topic: Internet Safety for Children of All Ages

May 1, 2008, 5:30-7:30

Dinner and Childcare Provided

 

The Internet can be a dangerous place, especially for children.  On May 1st, Detective Malinda Wilson of the Seattle Police Dept and the Internet Crimes Against Children task force will be joining us to share ways to recognize the dangers and help protect our children on line.  Join us and empower yourself with more knowledge to help keep our kids safe! 

ATTENTION PARENTS AND STUDENTS

Beginning March 31, Energy Drinks such as Red Bull, Full Throttle, Rush and others ,will no longer be allowed at  Olympic Middle School.  These drinks can actually be the cause of dehydration and other health related issues.  The decision to ban these drinks was based on the health and nutritional needs of our students.  Please support the Olympic administration and staff by not  purchasing these items for your students.  They will be confiscated.

 

Auburn City Spring into Spring

How to Design a Beautiful Yard the Natural Yard Care Way

Free Workshops

April 10  Garden Design and Growing Healthy Soil

April 17    Designing a Natural Lawn and Natural Pest Control

April 24    Smart Watering and Designing with Plants

7-9 pm  Mt. Baker Middle School,  620 37th ST SE, Auburn

 Call 253-931-3047 to register

 

 

Please remember to place an order with Schwan’s for   Olympics’ Booster Club Fundraiser.  Online orders will be taken until April 20th. Use #1004296 to place your order.   This is a no pick up fundraiser so all you do is place your order and it will be delivered to your house, work , daycare...wherever you like so it is convenient for you.  This fundraiser is also good in other states.  Just place your order and wait for it to be delivered. What could be easier!!

 

SPRING SPORTS STARTING SOON

Watch for information to come home for  Boy’s and Girl’s track, Girls’ Volleyball  (all grades) and Boy’s Baseball (7,8 grade) 

 

Call the attendance office when your child is going to miss school or will be arriving late. 

It is a great help to us when you call the day of an absence or tardy.  If, for some reason, you can not call the same day, please send a note with your child when they return to school.  The note must be given to the attendance office.  Please make note of the attendance office telephone number (beneath the graphic above) and keep it in a convenient place.

 

OLYMPIC ATTENDANCE