June 2015: 6th Edition Newington
Best Wishes to two wonderful MK teachers
Excitement builds in the month of June as both students and teachers look forward to warm summer months. However, it is also a time of year to say good-bye to those who are retiring after long successful teaching careers in Newington. Two fine teachers are leaving us for retirement this year: Mrs. Ellen Page, MK's long-time reading consultant, and Ms. Andrea Yukna, current 6th grade social studies teacher and former family and consumer science teacher. They have both given so much to the students and teachers of Newington over the year. What will MK do with them?
We caught up with Mrs. Page and Ms. Yukna to ask them some very important questions:
We caught up with Mrs. Page and Ms. Yukna to ask them some very important questions:
MRS. ELLEN PAGE
What will you miss most about Martin Kellogg? "I will miss the students and the teachers. It has been rewarding to work with so many talented people."
What is the one thing you are most looking forward to doing when you retire? "I am most looking forward to spending time at our beach cottage in September and October. This will include long walks, lots of reading, and lunches that last longer than 25 minutes." Do you have a favorite memory of teaching that you can share? "I have so many great memories, but I think some of my favorite is about the time I spent with the School Family. We have had fun playing games that let us share tidbits about ourselves or problem-solve together. I have had such a wonderful group of students over the past several years. To the 8th graders who are moving on – Requel, Ryan, Jack, and John – congratulations and best wishes!" |
MS. ANDREA YUKNA
What will you miss most about Martin Kellogg? "I will miss the students and the teachers the most. I like the excitement of the classroom and the excitement on the faces of the students. I cannot imagine not coming into work and sharing what has happened over the weekend with my teachers friends!"
What is the one thing you are most looking forward to doing when you retire?"I look forward to travelling, sitting on the beach, sewing and trying some new hobbies that I have never had time for." Do you have a favorite memory of teaching that you can share? "My favorite memories are when my students prepared and presented a meal they had cooked for their teachers and the pride that they showed on their faces. They shared a feeling of accomplishment and excitement!" |
Photos by Anna Saunders
STEP UP DAYS GIVE STUDENTS A SNEAK PEEK
As we close out one school year, we look ahead to the next. Grades 6-8 hold a step up day, where students get a "sneak peek" at their next year's classes. Presentations/discussions are held in each subject area. This gives students a chance to feel more comfortable moving to the next grade level. It takes away any initial fears or questions students might have. We hope all students have had a wonderful school year! Your teachers, counselors, tutors, secretaries, nurses and principals look forward to seeing you back at Martin Kellogg Middle School after a restful summer!
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Students Create Public Service Announcements
If you haven't taken Instructional Technology in grade 7 chances are you haven't created your own videos yet! In that class, students work with cameras, mics, tripods, green screens, and most importantly video editing software to help them create a variety of informational and entertaining videos. One required project is to make a Public Service Announcement. This means the video must inform or help the community in some way. Students have a lot of fun with this project and get pretty creative. Cycle 7 students really impressed their teacher, Mrs. Baylock, with their final PSAs. Check out some of them below.
Bullying: Don't Be a Bystander
By Krystian Kujawa |
Bullying Hurts
By Emily Lasek |
Stop Child Abuse
By Kayla Flores |
Stop Drunk Driving
By Riley Feldblum |
FIELD DAY EXCITEMENT FOR EVERYONE AT MKMS
On June 10, a perfect weather day, students, teachers, tutors and volunteers hit the fields and courts of Martin Kellogg for a fun-filled day of activities. The day started off with the arrival of the homerooms, flags flying and students cheering. Then an aerial photo was taken from the rooftop as students got into an MKMS formation. From there, the festivities began! Relays, Capture the Ball, Ultimate Football, soccer, kickball, obstacle courses, basketball, Battleball, Capture the Flag, Wii danceoff, and an amazing race kept students moving all day long. Judging from the photo gallery below, it is safe to assume the day was a success. (photos by Mrs. Baylock). The day was put together by a wonderful group of MK teachers Mrs. Siano, Mr. Pilz, Mrs. Hara, Mrs. Davies, Mrs. Adetimirin, and Mrs. Short! We thank them for an outstanding day!
MKMS DRAMA CLUB UPDATE
MK 7th Grader Crowned
Miss Pre-Teen Puerto Rico
of Greater Hartford 2015
Martin Kellogg 7th Grader, Malaysha Rodriquez was recently crowned Miss Pre-Teen Puerto Rico of Greater Hartford 2015. In order to win this title, Malaysha had to compete with other girls her age in the categories of dance, speech, talent and fashion. She did a bomba dance for her talent portion. One of her dresses had to be from the town she represented; Maunabo, Puerto Rico. She had the dress specially made there and shipped home. Her other dress was an evening gown from Pretty Woman in Hartford, Connecticut.
When asked how she got involved, Malaysha told us that her mom had done it when she was younger so she signed her daughter up. "The best part," Malaysha says, "is representing where I am from." Malaysha's advice to others who want to get involved in competitions like this one; "Just stay positive, don't get nervous and don't think about it while it is going on." Being Miss Pre-Teen Puerto Rico of Greater Hartford comes with a lot of responsibility. Malaysha will be heading to different locations throughout the year to represent Puerto Rico. She will be appearing in the Puerto Rican Day Parade in Hartford on June 7 and again in the New York parade on June 14. She will also be giving speeches and participating in community service activities. Recently she helped out with a Park Street Clean Up initiative. Congratulations Malaysha on winning the crown! |
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Featured Faculty: Jason Smith, MK ASsistant Principal
What is your Favorite food? Pizza
Favorite sports team? New York Mets and UCONN basketball
Favorite pass time/hobby? Playing basketball or watching sports
Favorite snack/dessert? Anything with chocolate
How long have your been working in education? I started as a teacher in 2004. But as a child, we used to play school in my basement and I was always the Principal so you could say I have been in education since the 1980's.
Have you been a vice principal the whole time? I was a teacher for 9 years in New Britain at Roosevelt Middle School and have been an Assistant Principal for the past two and a half years. Prior to coming to Martin Kellogg this year, I was an Assistant Principal at East Windsor Middle School for a year and a half.
Now that you’ve worked here for almost a whole year, what do you like most about Martin Kellogg? My favorite thing about Kellogg has to be how warm, friendly, and inviting everyone in this school is (from the students to the staff). Everyone is always excited to see you and greets you with a smile everywhere you go!
Do you have any plans for the summer? Yes, I plan to go to Mexico for a week in the beginning of July with my family. I also plan to spend lots of time with my niece.
Do you have any words of advice for our eighth graders who are moving onto Newington High School? Remember, to start off on a strong foot! Every year in high school is important and you want to put your best foot forward right out the gate. As long as you are trying your best, you will find success!
What was your favorite day this past year at school? My favorite day would have to be the first Pep Rally. It was great to see all the excitement on the faces of the students and the staff. It was also great seeing everyone cheer each on. My other favorite days would have to be on the Washington DC trip, as I was able to get to know our 8th graders much better.
I hope everyone has a great summer and I look forward to seeing everyone next year for the start of school!
Favorite sports team? New York Mets and UCONN basketball
Favorite pass time/hobby? Playing basketball or watching sports
Favorite snack/dessert? Anything with chocolate
How long have your been working in education? I started as a teacher in 2004. But as a child, we used to play school in my basement and I was always the Principal so you could say I have been in education since the 1980's.
Have you been a vice principal the whole time? I was a teacher for 9 years in New Britain at Roosevelt Middle School and have been an Assistant Principal for the past two and a half years. Prior to coming to Martin Kellogg this year, I was an Assistant Principal at East Windsor Middle School for a year and a half.
Now that you’ve worked here for almost a whole year, what do you like most about Martin Kellogg? My favorite thing about Kellogg has to be how warm, friendly, and inviting everyone in this school is (from the students to the staff). Everyone is always excited to see you and greets you with a smile everywhere you go!
Do you have any plans for the summer? Yes, I plan to go to Mexico for a week in the beginning of July with my family. I also plan to spend lots of time with my niece.
Do you have any words of advice for our eighth graders who are moving onto Newington High School? Remember, to start off on a strong foot! Every year in high school is important and you want to put your best foot forward right out the gate. As long as you are trying your best, you will find success!
What was your favorite day this past year at school? My favorite day would have to be the first Pep Rally. It was great to see all the excitement on the faces of the students and the staff. It was also great seeing everyone cheer each on. My other favorite days would have to be on the Washington DC trip, as I was able to get to know our 8th graders much better.
I hope everyone has a great summer and I look forward to seeing everyone next year for the start of school!
Mr. Smith is a great guy who loves to get involved in all school activities. In the photos above, on Field Day, he wasn't afraid to show his jump roping skills! Go Mr. Smith!
IN THE CLASSROOM: OPEN INQUIRIES IN Grade 6 SCIENCE
In Mrs. Tyler's 6th grade science classroom students were learning to come up with their own problem statement, write their own procedures and collect data. This was all part of the Open Scientific Inquiry unit. Please check out the video examples of what went on!!
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The Real Rio: The Story Behind the Famous Blue Bird
By Anna Saunders
You have probably seen the popular movie Rio, by Blue Sky productions. This is a movie about an extremely rare blue spix macaw named Blu, who is supposedly the last of his breed. He is taken to Rio de Janeiro to meet Jewel, possibly the last surviving female blue spix, in hopes of saving his kind. Along the way, he is captured by animal smugglers and lost in the rainforest. Why doesn’t he fly home to Minnesota? He can’t fly. Although this movie was quite popular when it came out in 2011, many people didn’t know that the movie was based on the true story of Presley, the blue spix macaw. Blue spix macaws had become devastatingly rare in the wild. As of 2012, their numbers had reached a faint (but promising) 100. Due to illegal poaching, deforestation, and animal smuggling, the last surviving birds were scattered and isolated. Unfortunately, this is not only a problem for the birds. 99% of all animal species that have ever existed are extinct today. In 1990, when international groups began to try and save the macaws, they could only find 18, most of which were too closely related or their owners refused to participate. In 2000, the last known blue spix in the wild vanished. Bird lovers everywhere knew it was a miracle that Presley was discovered in 2002, when a vet reported having examined a rare blue spix in Colorado. Exact numbers are hard to get, but there was an estimation of 78 of the almost extinct blue spix in existence in 2011. Sadly, in 2014, Presley died at 40. He left no offspring. Fortunately, the numbers have been slowly rising since then, and there may be hope for the blue birds. There are people who keep these birds as pets, and not all of the land in their native habitat has been explored, so there is still hope of small populations hiding in the rainforest, or even the spix macaws making a comeback!
35 Things to do Over the Summer When You're Bored
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WKMS NEWS |
SPECIAL SECTION: Digital Safety
UGH! I forgot my password
Ok, let's face it. We all forget our passwords SOMETIMES. But now more than ever it is so important to have a system for keeping track of passwords! With login accounts, Google accounts, email accounts, free webtool accounts, Weebly accounts, typing accounts, WeVideo accounts, IXL accounts, how CAN you keep it all straight? Well, here are a few tips:
It will be very important that you have all your passwords with you in August when you return. It will make the beginning of the year MUCH smoother!
- Write down your password and usernames AS SOON as you get them.
- Be sure your written passwords are accurate.
- Keep your passwords with you at school (in an agenda, a device, in a pencil pouch, etc.) but also keep a set at home! You can create an index card box for all passwords or a special notebook.
- Transfer all passwords to a safe place for summer keeping! you will need them when you return!
- Don't share your passwords with anyone.
- Try to use the same password for a few accounts so that it is easier to remember!
It will be very important that you have all your passwords with you in August when you return. It will make the beginning of the year MUCH smoother!
Digital Footprints |
Internet Safety |
By Madeline Sirois
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By Nyla Rivera
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Good Luck 8th Graders!
What a great year it has been! From all your friends and teachers at Martin Kellogg Middle School, we wish you much luck and success in high school and beyond. Have a wonderful summer!
Teacher suggestions on what you should do over the summer
Mr. Smith: Go Ape! - Brand new rope zipline course just down the road in New Britain. Just opened a month ago.
Mrs. Baylock: Go bike around Block Island! It is in Rhode Island and you can take a fun ferry ride to get there!
Mrs. Stumpo: You can't go wrong visiting the CT Science Center! A definite fun way to spend a few hours!
Mrs. Siano: Go to Adventure Park at Storrs...exit 68 off 84 east
Mrs. Hara: Try something new. Go ziplining at the new park in New Britain, find a new trail to hike or lake to swim in. Whatever you do, be active and adventurous.
Mrs. Laccone: Take a hike in the woods. Visit a state park, or if you can a national park. Have each member of your family pick an activity to do together, and spend a day doing each as part of your summer vacation. Visit a city - Boston or New York are just 2 and a half hours away.
Mrs. Baylock: Go bike around Block Island! It is in Rhode Island and you can take a fun ferry ride to get there!
Mrs. Stumpo: You can't go wrong visiting the CT Science Center! A definite fun way to spend a few hours!
Mrs. Siano: Go to Adventure Park at Storrs...exit 68 off 84 east
Mrs. Hara: Try something new. Go ziplining at the new park in New Britain, find a new trail to hike or lake to swim in. Whatever you do, be active and adventurous.
Mrs. Laccone: Take a hike in the woods. Visit a state park, or if you can a national park. Have each member of your family pick an activity to do together, and spend a day doing each as part of your summer vacation. Visit a city - Boston or New York are just 2 and a half hours away.