Spartan HeraldSpartan Herald

Dear Milwee Family,

Happy New Year! I hope all of you had the opportunity to spend the holidays with family and friends. I enjoyed my time with my family and have recharged my batteries for the start of second semester. It is hard to believe that in a few short months, we will be saying good-bye to our 8th graders as they begin their journey in high school. Now is a good time to closely monitor grades and check backpacks for loose papers, missing assignments and test/

quiz results. Your involvement in your child’s education is critical to their success. Together, we will assist students in reaching their full potential.

In years past, our major concern was to make sure students were completing assignments on time and “playing nice” in the sandbox. Sadly, recent

events in Connecticut have affected the way we think about school and the safety of our children. I received numerous calls and emails

asking what measures we are taking to ensure the safety of Milwee students. The responsibility to protect our students has

never weighed more heavily on me and my staff. Our school Sheriff Deputy, our coordinator of school safety and school

counseling community reviewed our current security practices and procedures. There is an increased

visible presence of staff and law enforcement on school campus and we are taking extra

measures to keep classrooms locked and limit entry on campus during the school day to

the North parking lot. I welcome any additional security suggestions you may

have; please feel free to contact me via e-mail at m_walsh@scps.k12.

fl.us or phone at 407-746-3805 with suggestions, questions or

concerns.

A Message FromThe Principal

1341 Ronald Reagan Blvd South,

Longwood, FL 32750

Office: 407-746-3850

www.milwee.scps.k12.fl.us/

Milwee Middle School

Home Of The Spartans

SCPS Pre-IB and Pre-Engineering Magnet

January 2013Volume 5

Issue 2

Administration

Principal-Dr. Michelle Walsh

Asst. Principal - Kellie Cashion Asst. Principal - Ken Viola

Deans - Luis Alvarado (A-L) Susan Sharpe (M-Z) Brandon Hanshaw (7th grade administrator)

Guidance Couselors - April McManus (A-L) Debra Wolfrum (M-Z)

Continued on page 2...

Principal’s MessageContinues...

I truly believe Milwee Middle School is one of the best kept secrets in the district. Our teachers and staff truly care about your child’s well-being. I know I am a little biased but if there is anything we can do to assist the students and family’s we serve, please let me know and we will do our best to make it happen.

Best wishes for a healthy and happy 2013!

Kind regards,Michelle Walsh

To download a PDF version of this newsletter, go to

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John Halligan Comes to Milwee On December 12, 2012, Milwee Middle School 7th graders had the opportunity to attend a presentation by John Halligan whose son committed suicide following years of being bullied. This powerful and encouraging presentation gave the students insight into the effects of bullying on the victim and those around them. After the presentation, many students expressed how the presentation encouraged them to stand up to bullying. In January, Mr. Mitchell Bloomer from the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida will be visiting Milwee Middle School 7th grade classrooms as part of the UpStanders initiative. We look forward to his visit and furthering our efforts to make Milwee Middle School a safe and wonderful place to learn!

PBS News We have had a successful year in recognizing the positive efforts of our students at Milwee. Teachers and staff keep an eye out for students who go above and beyond our school expectations of demonstrating safety, responsibility and respect. These students are recognized with a positive behavior referral. Each month our Behavior Specialist and Discipline Deans choose 3 students among these to represent their grades as a Milwee Student of the Month. Those chosen as a Student of the Month get to attend a special pizza luncheon with Dr. Walsh to celebrate their wonderful achievements. Each quarter, all students receiving a positive referral are invited to attend a party to honor their achievements with good food, good fun and prizes. The students have really enjoyed these activities and have encouraged their peers to work hard and get recognized! The number of students receiving positive referrals continues to rise each month. Parents, ask your child if he or she has received a positive referral and encourage them to work hard and get recognized. They (and you) will love the results!

Incentives for 2013 We will continue rewarding students for their good choices and display of the Spartan code of Safety, Respect and Responsibility. In addition, we are planning to reward students with good attendance. Regular attendance in school not only helps students learn by being present in the classroom, it further helps develop responsibility – a necessary trait for success in life. We will be having contests among various grade levels which will end in a celebration for the students and grade having the best monthly attendance!

Up Standers News The Milwee Middle School UpStanders have had an amazing year so far! The student representatives attended the UpStanders summit day in October. They learned a lot about bullying and participated in a variety of exercises which helped them to understand why its important to stand up to bullying and helped them develop the skills necessary to encourage their peers to be UpStanders not bystanders. Since the summit, our student UpStanders have been giving anti-bullying presentations in classrooms. Through these presentations they have not only educated their peers on the negative effects of bullying, they have also encouraged others to stand up to bullies to make Milwee a safe place for everyone. As a result, two additional students have requested to join the Milwee team. We are excited to welcome Ridge Bonnick and Salma Mohamed El Negro! As one student wrote after experiencing this classroom presentation, “A lot of kids are getting bullied because of race, religion or maybe weight. An UpStander isn’t the bully or the victim; they stand “up” for the victim. The presentation I was shown showed me how people get treated different because of their background. The kids get honest when they realize they’re not the only ones that have been bullied or have bullied. I don’t believe that people should get treated different

or made fun of. I want to become an UpStander to help others. I would enjoy helping kids get their emotions out. I don’t want kids to get their self-esteem to be low before they

have grown”. This amazing and powerful insight from one of our own students demonstrates the effect these presentations are having on creating a

caring and positive school culture.

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Upcoming EventsJanuary 21

Martin Luther King holiday-No SchoolJanuary 25

Mardi Gras Dance - 6:00January 29

Course selection sheets dueCurrent 6th graders immunization

deadlineFebruary 12

Curriculum Night - 6:30February 16

MathCountsSECME Competition

February 18No School

February 19-22E-Week

February 21Engineering Expo - 6:30

February 26FCAT Writes

February 27Girl’s Engineering Breakfast Club - 8:30

March 22Teacher Work DayMarch 25-29

Spring BreakApril 15-26

FCAT Reading, Math and Science

Guidance Department6th and 7th Parents and Students The course selection sheets for next year will go home January 25 through the Social Studies classes. Selection sheets and any required application for an elective course are due January 29, 20138th Grade Parents and Students The high school registration process will begin at the end of January through history classes. Students will be receiving the required information from their current zoned high schools. Lyman will begin distributing information January 28th. Winter Springs High School will visit Milwee February 1st. Students attending other high schools in the county should receive information during the month of February. All 8th grade students will complete a 4 year high school plan in history class. Students will be asked to get a parent signature on the high school registration card and 4 year plan. We encourage students to start visiting the websites of their zoned high schools so they can start gathering information about the school, classes, activities, etc.Pupil Progression Policy Students must meet the following requirements to earn a promotion to the next grade level in Seminole County:• Earn an overall 2.0 GPA for the year.• Pass all core academic subjects for the year. After school tutoring forms may be picked up in the guidance department. Parent teacher conferences may be scheduled by calling Ms. Perez in the front office. Parents can get information on the computer monitoring system by contacting Maureen Michaels in the front office. All students are encouraged to use a daily planner for organization and deadlines of assignments. Students in need of school supplies may stop by the guidance department during lunch or with a pass from a teacher. Attendance Attendance is an important part of a student’s success in school. Students are required to furnish an excuse note within 2 days of returning to school from an absence. Students may turn the note in to their 1st period teacher for the front office records. Once a student reaches 5 unexcused absences within a 30 day period they are subject to truancy procedures. The guidance secretary, Dorothy Blake, can request homework if a student is ill for several days. Teachers are required to be given 24 hours notice to assemble the work. Please email or call your child’s teachers when there is an extended absence.Holiday Collection Thank you for all of the support with our new toy and canned food drives! The items collected at Milwee were donated to an event supporting our families in transition here in Seminole County. Family Assistance Please contact your child’s guidance counselor if your family has a need for our food pantry. We also have a licensed mental health counselor on campus several days each week. His name is Ken Lieberman and you may contact him here at Milwee (746-3817) to obtain counseling support for your child. Guidance counselors may also make referrals to the school social worker to connect families to outside resources. Students are encouraged to eat breakfast daily here at school. This meal is free to all students on campus.FCAT All 8th grade students will take the Florida Writes Test at the end of February. Reading and math tests will be taken in April by all students. Eighth grade students will also take the science portion of the FCAT in April. Please remember these test results have an impact on your child’s schedule next year.

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2013-2014 Student Transfer Options New student transfer options for the 2013-2014 school year are available for middle school and high school on the Seminole County Public Schools Choices web site at www.seminoleschoolchoices.com. Detailed information and required forms are posted on the site. The School Board of Seminole County has delayed the identification of the 2013-2014 Elementary Student Transfer Options due to elementary school rezoning. Elementary transfer options and an elementary transfer timeline will be determined after school zones are finalized in April 2013.

News from Reading! Thank you to our PTSA, SAC, business partners and community for supporting the recent “FCAT Games”. “The Hobbit” was a great success with over two hundred students attending the movie on December 15th. The “FCAT Games” project was developed as a reading incentive that translates into improved FCAT scores for Milwee students! The “FCAT Games” will continue beginning in late January, 2013. The “Games” will run for 10 consecutive weeks prior to the 2013, FCAT. The theme will be “Oz, The Great and Powerful” with FCAT like questions being posed to all Milwee students during homeroom on Wednesday. The students will individually answer the question, and those who have answered correctly will have an opportunity to win a “Wizard of Oz” book and ticket to the movie. PTSA, SAC, business partners and benefactors from our community will continue their support by providing a movie theater where Milwee student winners can attend “Oz, The Great and Powerful”, the prequel to “The Wizard of Oz.”

Science DepartmentHappy New Year! It is going to be an exciting rest of the year for the science Department! Read on about what is coming up in the coming weeks!6th Grade We will continue our study of the Earth by investigating the water cycle and climate. We will be in the heart of our weather engineering project. In this project, each student will design and make his own weather station. In the following weeks, the students will use their weather station to monitor the weather and create a weather report that predicts the weather. We will also be studying Space during the next semester and learning about the universe and the planets.7th grade In 7th grade students will be investigating the fascinating world of genetics. They will be studying how genes are passed down from parent to offspring and how genes affect generations over time. 7th grade will be continuing their environmental project in which they will be creating a model of a sustainable city.8th grade We will be mixing it up in the incredible world of chemistry exploring how matter interacts to make new substances the lab process and inquiry. Remember Science FCAT is around the corner so help out your student by encouraging them to do FCAT Explorer for Science. We encourage you to do your best and enjoy all that science has to offer!

Math Department The 6th Grade Standard Math classes have worked hard and accomplished a lot this first semester. We have completed the first two units in our text (Number Concepts and Operations with Numbers) and have started the 3rd quarter with the third unit in our text (Linear Patterns). The Advanced/Pre-IB students have been busily working through rate and ratios, fractions, percents, and decimals. At the beginning of the third quarter, we will start solving equations. We are beginning to see why showing our work is so important! The 6th Grade GEM students ended 2012 with linear equations, similarity and proportions, measures of central tendency, and linear functions. In January, we will be starting with percents and follow with inequalities, functions and monomials. GEM students should also be working through the third Virtual Bridge on Statistics and Probability. Students should spend at least half an hour a week maneuvering through the online textbook, watching videos, and taking quizzes to check for understanding. Please remember to stay on top of current assignments and turn in all of your work. Before the break, we all took a cumulative mid-term. It is challenging when all of the math skills are mixed together into one assessment! The sixth grade teachers are very proud of the efforts made by all of our students. We’re looking forward to continued student success in 2013.

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Dairy Council Winner!

Congratulations to Marc G. who was awarded a brand new iPad from the Dairy Council of Florida. A drawing for selecting healthy choices at lunch was held and he was the middle school county winner! Here he is, pictured with his parents and Dr. Walsh.

Language Arts Department The eighth grade English Language Arts students have been preparing diligently for FCAT Writes coming up in March. We’ve been working on expository and persuasive essays. The students have learned to use the FCAT rubric as a guideline for their writing. They’ve been individually writing essays, as well as peer editing each other’s work. Outside of class, the eighth graders are reading novels independently. Pre-Engineering Project: Students will understand the Role of an Engineer. The seventh grade Language Arts students have been focusing on the following:• Reading Strategies, specifically tone, main idea, and author’s purpose• The Writing Process (both persuasive and expository)• Public speaking strategies • Speech development and delivery• Poetry/poetic devices unit (alliteration, onomatopoeia)• Langston Hughes/Harlem • Renaissance• Figurative Language Pre-Engineering Project: Students will understand package engineering and materials engineering by assembling four different shaped boxes then predict which one holds the most beans.. The sixth grade Language Arts students completed the 4-H Tropicana Public Speaking Program. They generated ideas, organized information, and then wrote their 2-3 minute speeches. Students participated in the school-wide completion in December. First place went to Kevin Jarvis, 2nd place went to Srajan Dube, and 3rd place Bridget O’Brian. Kevin will represent Milwee in the county competition in May. Pre-Engineering Project: Students will think, design, and create a travel brochure that incorporates technical writing needed for informational text. All Language Arts students participated in the Classroom Spelling Bee Competition in this month. Round One began on January 15th and Round Two was held January 18th. Finally, encourage your children to join the Milwee Book Club! Go to milweebookclub.weebly.com

Ten Reasons to Read 5 To understand the past 5 To explore your world 5 To plan for the future 5 To visit new places 5 To create great things 5 To make good decisions 5 To have fun 5 To exercise the mind 5 Just because you can!

Tropicana Speech Contest

Congratulations to ALL students and teachers who participated in the Tropicana Speech Competition1 Kevin Jarvis2 Srajan Dube3 Bridget O’Brien Kevin will advance to the County competition in May! Good luck!

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Immunization Information

for Current 6th Graders!

We are currently in the process of setting due dates for registration forms for the 2013-2014 school year. Every 6th grade student is required to get a booster dose of the tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine, also known as Tdap, prior to the start of his/her 7th grade school year. In an effort to meet legal requirements and expedite the 2013-2014 registration process, we are asking parents/guardians of all 6th grade students to schedule immunizations as soon as possible and return the completed Florida Certificate of Immunization (DH680) form to your child’s Social Studies teacher or the guidance office by January 29, 2013. Students have until January 29, 2013 to hand in a copy of the certificate of immunization. After that date, registration will be held and course selections for the 2013-2014 school year will be made based upon availability. Students that have a completed certificate of immunization handed in by January 29, 2013 will be given two Spartan bucks as a reward. Please call Mrs. Dorothy Blake,

Guidance Secretary at 407-746-3854 if you have

questions.

Lego League Milwee Robotics Club teams attended a tournament at Jackson Middle School, where The Rolling Potatoes won a Judges’ Award and a bid to the Regional tournament. The Club hosted a very successful tournament at Milwee, attended by 16 Central Florida teams (including Milwee class teams), where the Split Screens won the Project Award, and the NXT Warriors were the alternate team for a regional bid. We really appreciate the help of the judges from the Naval Air Systems Command and the US Army, and the donation from Home Depot, as well as the wonderful support of the School Board. Both Club and Class teams will attend qualifying tournaments during January.

SECME Secme students participated in the Florida Water Festival Competition at Crane’s Roost Park in November. Pictured below are: Jacob Siudak, and Brett Hartman who placed first in the middle school division, Max Ihns who placed second in the middle school division, and the winning team from the elementary division. Congratulations to this year’s Florida Water Festival Student Poster Contest winners: 2nd place Melissa Gonzalez and Honorable Mention Yenly Burgos.

Engineering Week ActivitiesFebruary 19-22, 2013

Milwee Middle Celebrates Engineering Week in February, plan to dress up for the following Spirit Days. Students will also be able to participate in an Invention Contest, this year’s challenge is to design an item that will keep you or your pet cool. Any student at Milwee can participate! Plan to attend the Engineering Expo Thursday, February 21 from 6:30 -7:30 to see all of the great inventions and wax museum participants.

Tuesday, February 19 Dress Like Your Favorite Engineer

Wednesday, February 20 Green Energy Day

Thursday, February 21 Dress For Success

Friday, February 22 Engineering Dictionary Day

USF Engineering Expo The University of South Florida is hosting the 41st Annual Engineering Expo February 22-23 from 9:00-4:00. Please visit http://expo.eng.usf.edu for more information!

Geography Bee Before Winter Break, Milwee held their annual Geography Bee. 25 students representing 6th, 7th and 8th grade participated. In the end, it came down to a heated battle between Jared Diaz and Nico Rodriguez for the title, with Nico edging Jared out on their 6th sudden death question! Nico will now take the Geography Bee finalist exam to see if he will qualify to represent Milwee in the state Geography Bee. Congratulations to Nico and to all those who participated.

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BETA Club Milwee students attended the Beta Club Convention in Orlando. Congratulations to Jordan Franks, Nikky Cuevas, Kylie Duane and Vaishnav Swaminathan for placing first in Quiz Bowl. Jordan Franks also placed first in the science competition and Vaishnav Swaminathan placed 1st in the Social Studies competition. The students have been given invitations to compete at the Beta National Convention in June against the other top teams from around the country.

Finals Days to Order Yearbooks Time is running out to pre-order your 2013 SPARTAN yearbook. Last year, many students/parents were caught unawares when the yearbook came out that where only a very limited amount of yearbooks available. That’s because yearbook adviser Mr. Sherwood has to turn in the final count of the number of books to be made by the publishing plant in early March. The yearbooks MUST BE PRE-ORDERED if you want to be guaranteed you’ll get yearbook when they come out in mid-May! Yearbooks cost $35.00.Currently you can Pre-Order Yearbooks in two ways. 1. You can go to the link labeled “Click Here to buy your yearbook” on the Milwee

Middle School homepage and pre-order your book straight from Jostens Publishing Company. Don’t wait - Online Yearbook ordering will be closed in mid-February if you want to PRE-ORDER online!

2. You can order your SPARTAN from Mr. Sherwood in building 10, room 17.

Will You Recognize Your Child In the Yearbook This Year…

You’ll recognize them if you buy a Recognition Ad in the Advertisement section of the SPARTAN yearbook! It’s time to order your recognition ads for the 2013 Spartan Yearbook. Ads come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit your needs. Prices vary from: 1/8 page (business card) = $20.00; ¼ page = $50.00; ½ page = $100.00; or a Full page = $150.00. If you are interested in buying a recognition ad, please contact the Yearbook Adviser Mr. Mark Sherwood. He will be able to tell you: sizes/shapes of your ad; how to submit photos; how to submit the message for the ad, etc. Different size ads will reflect how many photos to be used. Deadline for Recognition Ads is Friday, February 8th! Contact: Mr. Sherwood at: mark_sherwood@scps.k12.fl.us.

Girl’s Engineering Breakfast Club

Mrs. Unterreiner will begin the girl’s engineering breakfast club in February. The first meeting will be February 27 at 8:30 a.m. in Mrs. Unterreiner’s room. Please sign up in the media center.

Students Awarded The Foundation’s Grants for Great Ideas

Congratulations to John Kallin and Carol Unterreiner for being awarded The Foundation’s Grants for Great Ideas on their proposal for “Solar Energy-Ride the Wave” The committee was impressed with the grant and believes this creative project will enhance the learning experience for students.

Spartan HeraldSpartan Herald

Milwee Middle School Home Of The Spartans

Milwee Middle School Home Of The Spartans

Milwee Middle SchoolPre-Engineering Magnet1341 S. Ronald Regan Blvd.Longwood, FL 32750

Non - ProfitOrganization

U.S. Postage PaidOrlando, FL

Permit No. 2346

School Calendar 2012-2013 Date of Board Adoption: September 27, 2011

January 2-4 ......... Schools Closed

January 7 ............ Schools Closed for Students/Teacher Workday, Student Make-up Day #2, If Needed

January 8 ............ Schools Closed for Students/Teacher Workday, Student Make-up Day #1, If Needed

January 9 ............ Classes Resume, Start of Third Quarter/2nd Semester

January 21 .......... School System Closed

February 18 ......... School System Closed

March 21 ............. End of 3rd Quarter

March 22 ............. Schools Closed for Students/Teacher Workday, Student Make-up Day #4, If Needed

March 25-29 ........ Schools Closed

April 1 ................... Classes Resume - Start of 4th Quarter

May 24, 28-29 ...... Early Dismissal for Students (Last three days of second semester)

May 27 ................. School System Closed

May 29 ................. Last Day of Student Attendance – End of 4th Quarter

May 30-31 ............ Teacher Workday