EMS News

Counselors' Notes
November is a BIG month for GIVING
In the spirit of giving thanks and being grateful, the Student Council at EMS is sponsoring two big events during the month of November. Our first project to tackle is “Block the Door”. We will be hosting a canned food drive (cans and any nonperishable food product is allowed) in which the students will try to block their homeroom doors at the end of the donation week. If they have enough food to block the whole door, there will be no “class” for that room on the last day before Thanksgiving break. They will be allowed to play games, watch a movie, catch up on make-up work, whatever the team decides. The second project we will be promoting is our Adopt an Angel project. We would like students to bring in a new toy to donate towards the toy drive that will be happening the first week in December. Our students will have the opportunity to load the toys, take them to the donation site, and be recognized on the radio for their donations. Please help our students help our community by donating to both of the projects being hosted this month. The canned food drive will be from November 17th – November 21st and the toy drive will be November 24th – December 5th. Thanks for your involvement.

Motivating your middle schooler
By Mr. Browne, Principal
After reading some middle school articles I found a great one on how to motivate a middle school student. The following article can be found at Guilderland Central School District. I hope you find the article helpful. Motivating your middle schooler So how do you spark an interest in academics when Sponge Bob Square Pants has become your child’s guru, and the lure of Internet chat rooms loom large?

Here are some ideas: Be a positive role model. When talking about your own work, emphasize not only the frustrations, but also the satisfactions that go along with reaching a goal or finishing a job. This is a great way to show your children that achievement has its rewards. Give your children lots of support.

Although the middle years are a time when children crave more independence, they still need your understanding and clear expectations from you. Your positive, patient support can be one of the best motivators there is. Praise your children realistically. Use words like “bright,” “creative,” “imaginative,” “kind,” and “hardworking,” as opposed to “brilliant,” “genius,” “smartest,” and “perfect.” Let them know that struggling with a task is not a bad thing. Stay involved in your children’s learning. This includes asking questions of your children and their teachers, participating in school activities, and checking on homework, test grades, etc.

Tap into your children’s interests. For example, subscribing to a preteen or sports magazine can promote reading; using the Internet along with your children to locate information on their favorite musical groups can promote good research skills. Skills for school success Make sure your children have assignment notebooks. Talk with them about how to use them and why. Suggest they open the notebook at the beginning of each class and leave it on their desk until they have written down the daily homework assignment.

Encourage them to review their assignments before leaving school to make sure they bring home the appropriate books and materials. Have your children use folders or binders to organize paperwork for each subject. Help your children decide on a regular location to do homework. Some kids need a quiet space away from all distractions. Others do fine with a little background noise or in the company of others. By settling on an acceptable location in advance, you’ll minimize daily fights over who sits where and whether or not it’s okay to have the television on.

Have your children keep all of the supplies they will need to complete assignments in one location, and make it their responsibility to let you know if they are running low. Involve your children in developing a study routine. Together agree upon a set time for them to do assignments. Consider a weekly family planning meeting on Sundays to help everyone “regroup” and get organized.

7/8th Grade Band--Mr. Munoz
Congratulations and Good Luck to the following 7th/8th grade
band students. They were selected and will be performing along with approximately 100 other musicians from Augusta, Wellington, Circle, Mulvane and Rosehill, at the Pioneer League Middle School Honor Band. The students will rehearse the entire day, beginning at 9:00am with a program to follow at 3:00pm. The concert date is: Saturday, November 15, 2008 @ 3:00 p.m. at Mulvane Middle School. The concert is free and open to the public.

The musicians participating are: Morgan Limon (flute), Alecia
Lewis (flute), Dakota Cline (clarinet), Nicole Smith (clarinet), Trisha Jacobs (clarinet), Victoria Weaver (clarinet), Leif Hudson (bass clarinet), Collin Just (alto saxophone), Allie McKibban (tenor saxophone), Trenton Schneweis (trombone), Schyler Taylor (trombone), and Ashley Montgomery (trombone). WAY TO GO!!!

Stress excellence; not perfection
As a parent, it can sometimes be difficult to not get caught up in the “performance trap.” As we continue to see an increase in adolescent depression and anxiety disorders, it is of no surprise as we are all forced to function within a performance-based society. As parents, of course we want our children to do their best. That is, however, much different than demanding that they BE the best. Working and trying for excellence is healthy and motivating. Insisting on perfection is unrealistic and stressful. It can also prove to be very harmful in many ways. If either you or your teen is a perfectionist, it’s not too late to relax a little. Try something new together. Above all, try to have a realistic attitude about mistakes. Mistakes don’t mean that we’re a failure; they mean that we are human and that we are trying to learn something. It remains crucial that our kids get the message that they are valued for WHO they are, not for what they do! It is always helpful to remember that the decisions we make now in the parenting process will greatly define the relationship we will have with our own children when they are adults.
Jan Weber, LPC, Impact Direct

Live Tutors @ Homework Kansas
Could you use some live homework help with online tutors? Homework Kansas is a website available from 4-11 PM daily that can help with math, science, social studies and English. It covers grades K-12, College Intro and Adult Learners. Sponsored by the State Library of Kansas and Kansas Public Libraries, the address is www.homeworkkansas.org Check it out!
Mrs. Pippig, EMS Librarian