PIONEER NEWS
April 9, 2012
PIONEER NEWS
Measuring Up!
By: Mrs. Theriault & Mrs. Rioux
How far is that, how long is it, how much does it weigh? We use units
of measurement everyday! The
students are not only learning about
existing measurement systems, the
metric and customary systems, but
also got to create their own. They
got to use units that were based on
things they like and had to show
conversions between units. Could
you imagine using Star Wars ships as
units of measurement?
French Competitions
By: Mrs. Cloutier
Students in high school French have been
working real hard on the Annual Concours
Oratoire. Students could easily relate and
write an essay on this year s themes, with two
out of three relating to technology. They did a
real nice job presenting their finished products
to their classmates and local judges.
Congratulations to Alyssa Dumond for placing
2nd in the Debutante category at the regional
contest on April 3rd.
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Table of Contents
Measuring Up!
1
French Competitions
1
FYIs
2
Learning to “Speak”
2
Seeing the World
3
Rube Goldberg
3
For the Love of ...
4
Life Passing By
4
Guidance Update
5
Who Are You??
6
Algebra Hits the Trails
6
Heading Outdoors Soon
6
Easy Breathing
7
Colorful “Friends”
8
Man I Feel Like a Woman
8
Book Fair Success
8
Music, Rocking & Fun
9
Inventa-Animal
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PIONEER NEWS
FYI’S
-­‐Welcome to Charles Michaud who is student teaching with Mrs. Marquis and Ms. Coveney!! -­‐We wish Derek Dubois, this year’s winner of the Principal’s Award, good luck in Bangor on April 7th! -­‐April 11th from 1-­‐1:30 p.m. will be “Stop, Drop, and Read” for the en=re school. -­‐April 16th-­‐20th -­‐ April Vaca=on
-­‐April 24 & 25 -­‐ Forensics Trip to Maine Crime Lab
-­‐April 30th to May 4 -­‐ Teacher Apprecia=on Week!! Two Amazing Women
By: Mrs. Vicki Deschaine
Although there are many out there, I m talking about the amazing Helen Keller and her teacher
Annie Sullivan. Students in 8th grade language arts have
just finished reading The Miracle Worker, the inspiring
story of Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan.
Born a perfectly healthy baby, Helen Keller contracted
scarlet fever at the age of 19 months, which left her
blind, deaf and mute. It wasn t until the age of 6, when
her parents hired Miss Annie Sullivan from the Perkins
Institute for the Blind, did Helen get any discipline,
education, and a chance to live.
The students have read the novel The Miracle Worker,
written as a play, and through various introductory
activities and reading the story itself, got to experience
somewhat, what it is like to be blind and deaf. I truly hope that this story inspires students to work
hard and never give up on the goals they want to accomplish. Annie Sullivan never gave up on Helen,
and she was able to teach her language. Helen had such an appetite to learn that she eventually
was able to speak, read, and write.
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PIONEER NEWS
Seeing the World
By: Mrs. Marquis
During February break Mrs. Marquis and Mr. Textor traveled with 10 students to Costa Rica, the
land of adventure! The group flew into San Jose, Costa Rica, traveled to La Fortuna for a few days
and ended their trip on the Pacific coast, in the Guanacaste region. On their travels they visited a
biological park to experience all the ecosystems of the country, zip lined through the tropical
rainforest canopy, rode horseback down a ravine to a winding river, and enjoyed a hot springs spa.
The group ate foods native of Costa Rica, and enjoyed fruits that grew on the trees above. What an
incredible adventure for both adults and students! They returned with sunburns, a greater
knowledge of such a diverse ecosystem, and a greater appreciation for different cultures.
Rube Goldberg
By: Mr. Textor
Freshman physical science class is up to some wacky
inventions as they begin their Rube Goldberg
competitions. A Rube Goldberg contraption is a
deliberately over-engineered or overdone machine that
performs a very simple task in a very complex fashion,
usually including a chain reaction. Students are to
create a contraption that has 20 steps and at the end
of it all, will inflate a balloon and pop it. Students will
compete against classmates and will perform their
contraptions in front of the student body.
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PIONEER NEWS
For the Love of Shakespeare
By: Ms. Daigle
The freshman class is currently studying Elizabethan English
through the exploration of William Shakespeare s, The Tragedy of
Romeo and Juliet. The study of Elizabethan English is quite difficult,
but we are using a side-by-side text, which helps translate the text
to regular English. The students have also been working with
Sparknotes to help them study outside of class. We are focusing on
the theme of forbidden love and the literary conflict of man vs.
society. The students are having fun taking parts in the play and
reading it orally in class. Even though this play was written in the
1500 s, it is still important for students to study classical
literature and be able to make connections to today s society.
Life Passing By
By: Mr. Rioux
With one quarter left before summer vacation, social studies classes are winding down with
arguably some of the most intriguing topics of the year! In law class, students have been working
tirelessly in preparing several controversial topics for our upcoming debates!
Meanwhile, psychology students have been busy examining the psychology
behind life and death through the creation of personal timelines that help
them examine their own life goals and agendas. World geography
students have been studying the physical features of the United States
and Europe, while gearing up for a projects that will allow them to
create their own country, right down to it s climate, government, and
economic structure. Finally, U.S History and world history students have
been coving topics from World War I to the Holocaust, with stops along the
way to look at the American Age of Invention and the Roaring 20s.
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PIONEER NEWS
Guidance News
By: Miss Saucier
College applications are wrapping up and the Guidance Office has been working with university
admissions throughout the state to proctor placement testing for students accepted into their
programs. Now, we focus on scholarship season. The majority of scholarships coming into the office
have spring deadlines, and this department has been working hard to make sure
that seniors are aware of what is available to them. Feel free to log in as a guest
on Moodle for the most up-to-date scholarship information: http://
169.244.174.21/index.php
Juniors had an opportunity to learn more about their own financial management
at Financial Fitness Fair on March 27 at Loring. As you read this, Juniors will have
wrapped up their MHSA Science Augmentation. They will be taking the SAT s on
May 5. This will be their last state required assessment, which started back when
they were in the fourth grade. Juniors have also been informed of the
opportunity to start signing up for summer courses through NMCC. As the lists
for Fall 2012 come out for NMCC & UMFK, Guidance will be working with Juniors to get them
registered for the fall. The Guidance Counselor also briefly met with the Sophomore Class to review
the Early College options. They will be able to sign up for courses starting with the NMCC Summer
Courses.
Grade 7 students will be participating in the NECAP Online Writing Pilot on April 6. The NECAP
Writing Assessment for Gr. 8 students in the Fall will be administered via their individual laptop. This
pilot, meant to test the technology, will also serve as a practice test for next year s 8th graders.
The Guidance Office has also been working closely with the TRiO College Access Services over the
past few months. They ve had new interest develop in Upward Bound. We have been fortunate
enough to have three new students accepted into the program. TRiO is also introducing a new
service to MSAD 33 entitled Educational Talent Search which has also generated quite a bit of
interest among our students.
Other activities involving the Guidance Office next quarter include: College Fair for Juniors at UMPI in
May, sign up for summer camps, end-of-the-year awards ceremonies, and the Totally Trades
Program, a workshop for girls exploring careers in trades. (Just a note of thanks to Ms. Levasseur
who is taking charge of this program and will be taking the 8th grade girls to NMCC for this event. )
Important Dates for Quarter 4:
May 5: SAT test for all 3rd year students (Juniors)
May 7-18: Testing Window for the MEA Science Test for Gr. 8
May 15: AP US Gov t & Politics Exam
June 9: Senior Graduation
(The Guidance Office site on Moodle has the most up-to-date information on programs and eventsCheck it regularly.)
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PIONEER NEWS
Who Are You?
By: Mrs. Thibeault
In Mrs. Thibeault s Senior English Class, the students are
reaching back into the thresholds of their memories to
compile a Senior Memory Book. Consisting of 17 chapters,
the memoir contains information pertaining to the
students. The chapters include such titles as, Who Am I?
and Suddenly, I Became Me. The seniors are having a
great time digging into their past and coming up with great
essays.
Algebra hits the trails
By: Mr. Ballerstein
Once again, each student in Algebra I is responsible for creating a
family and getting them to California. That s right, it s the gold rush
days, and with so many graphs, equations, and solutions, our students
need to think about many possible outcomes before they decide just
how to help their families make it through the long journey. Right now,
we hit our first resupply stop, and everyone is busy trying to use the
data from past travelers to help make decisions. It is wonderful to
have a context where students are actually asked to use math to help
make real-world sorts of decisions!
Heading Outdoors Soon?!
By: Mr. Sirois
With spring break only a few weeks away the students are having fun playing
pickle ball. It is a great game where students can work on their paddle skills
and hand eye coordination. While the students just wrapped up volleyball they
are looking forward to warm weather to go outside and play softball and have
fun with outdoor activities.
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PIONEER NEWS
Easy Breathing
By: Mrs. Nadeau, RN
As we approach spring (FINALLY!) and everything begins to thaw out, allergy and asthma sufferers may
wonder why there is a dramatic increase in symptoms. Just a simple change in the weather can bring
about an increase in allergens leading to an increase of reactive airway disease or worsening asthma
symptoms. There are actually many different reasons for each individual, as asthma triggers are not the
same for everyone. Some people may have exercise induced asthma; others may be bothered by
environmental elements such as pollen, mold, dust mites, pet dander and second hand smoke to name a
few. So how do you determine if it is asthma or just being out of shape?
Asthma is a chronic long-term
condition that causes inflammation or swelling in the airways. This inflammation is followed by a chain
reaction of constriction of the muscles surrounding the airways and an increase in production of mucus in
the airway itself, reducing the airway size even more. This chain reaction is what is responsible for the
tight, wheezy rattling cough and breathing noises heard by those having an allergy attack. Signs and
symptoms of an allergy attack include:
• Chest Tightening
• Wheezing & Coughing
• Shortness of Breath
• Increased Number of Breaths per Minute
• Difficulty Breathing
These symptoms are brought on by triggers , most of which are present with the change of seasons.
• Allergens: Pollen, Grass, Flowers, Dust, Mold, Pet Dander
• Irritants: Cigarette Smoke, Pollution, Chemicals, Aerosol Sprays
• Respiratory Infections like a common cold
• Physical Activity
Asthma can be controlled with a multi-faceted approach. By reducing as many triggers in your home and
everyday environment, you reduce the risk of triggering an attack. Getting rid of old carpets, staying
away from pets and those who smoke can greatly improve your respiratory health. There are also
medications available by prescription from your primary care provider. Depending on the severity of each
individual, these can include rescue inhalers which act quickly during a flare-up, or a long term control
inhaler taken every day to help decrease inflammation. If your child is attending MSAD #33 and suffers
from asthma, it is important to have the right paperwork on hand. There is an Asthma Action Plan and
Medication Authorization Form that need to be completed by parents, the primary care provider and
myself, the school nurse. In order to keep inhalers on hand in the nurse s office or on the student if they
display proper technique for using the inhaler, this paperwork needs to be completed. Healthy children
are optimal learners! When everyone does their part, this can become a reality. If you have any questions
or concerns, please don t hesitate to call!
Resources:
http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/pdfs/kids_fast_facts.pdf
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asthma/
http://www.epa.gov/asthma/about.html
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PIONEER NEWS
Colorful Friends
By: Mrs. Cerceo
Here is what Is happening in the Art Room! Middle School students just
completed a watercolor unit in which they showed their knowledge of color
relationships. These beautiful paintings can be seen on my art blog, An Art
Teacher s World, theresacerceo.wordpress.com. Studio Art students
are currently working on a collaborative book – making project. High
School Art Foundation Students are wrapping up a stop animation
lesson. These cool short films and much more will be posted on the
blog in a few weeks.
Man I Feel Like a Woman
By: Miss Levasseur
I m not sure if everyone has seen the video of the dance offs during
this year s winter carnival. If you haven t I recommend that you do.
All classes did a wonderful job, however, I may be a little biased, but
the 8th grade class did an amazing job. The students had so much
fun putting it together. They decided that they were going to try a
little role reversal . The boys dressed as the princesses, and the
girls dressed as the super heroes. It started off by an introduction
from the Smurfs, and we even had guest appearances by Barbie and
Ken, and the Incredible Hulk was the finale. The 8th graders pulled it
off wonderfully!
Book Fair Success
By: Mrs. Boucher
The annual book fair was a great success as usual. Thank you to all the
parents and students that supported the library by purchasing
merchandise. The library was able to add about 100 books to the
collection, most of which are Accelerated Reader. The next month or so
will be dedicated to adding these books to the collection. Students are
encouraged to use their Kindles and e-readers. There is a great website
pixelofink.com that offers free Kindle books. For more information on ebooks, feel free to contact Mrs. Boucher.
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PIONEER NEWS
Music, Rocking, and Fun
By: Ms. Coveney
In the midst of prepping for the Spring Concert, raising money from the
Rock-A-Thon, and gaining a student teacher, Mr. Michaud, the band has
had a very busy quarter! We are working on five pieces of music
including two suites, a march, a thrilling piece called Firedance , and
selections from The Chronicles of Narnia . Recently, we also just had a
VERY successful Rock-A-Thon fundraiser where the kids rocked for five
hours and earned over $650!!! Thank you to everyone who donated and
made the fundraiser a HUGE success!! Throughout all of this, Mr.
Michaud has been helping and guiding the band students with new ideas
and routines. He has been a major help and the students are learning a
lot through him! We have been enjoying our third quarter in band and
can t wait to perform our concert in the Spring!!
If there is anything that we wish to change in the child, we should
first examine it and see whether it is not something that could better be
changed in ourselves.
- Carl Jung
Inventa-Animal
By: Mrs. Ouellette
Eighth-grade science students have just completed an
Inventa-animal project where they had to create a new
animal that has six structural adaptations that allow it to
survive and reproduce through the process of natural
selection. To do this, students first had to choose the
environment in which their animal lived in. They created a
project booklet that included both an illustration of their
inventa-animal as well as a biography outlining details of its
reproductive habits, its prey and predators, and a
description of its structural adaptations. Finally, they
created a three-dimensional model of their animal out of
clay. The project booklets and the inventa-animals are
displayed in the middle school hallway. Please feel free to stop by and admire the creativity of these
students!
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