COUNCIL ROCK NEWTOWN MIDDLE SCHOOL RESOURCE ACTIVITY BOOKLET 2011-2012
STUDY SKILLS PROGRAM Instructors: Mrs. Doheny, Miss Gillin, Mr. Hunter,,Mr. Lebofsky, Mr. Martoccio, Mrs. Orsini, Mr. Versace, Ms. Zelenka, Mr. Schilk The study skills program is offered to Inclusion students during R/A period. This program, supervised by the learning support teachers is designed to provide learning support students with academic and organizational help in their Inclusion Classes. Instructor: Ms. Graeber BUDDY CLUB (New Club) Meets every Friday during R/A. A club that gives students with severe disabilities an opportunity to participate in a variety of developmentally appropriate games that incorporate reciprocal play with their peers. The club also gives students with disabilities the opportunity to build social skills and encourages interaction with their peers in school.
The S.A.D.D membership drive will be held throughout the month of September. To join S.A.D.D., students must obtain a fact sheet, sign it in homeroom with their teacher as a witness The student s membership is valid for one school year provided the terms of the contract are not broken. S.A.D.D. s position is to support all state and federal laws regarding drugs and alcohol. Members of S.A.D.D. are encouraged to work towards influencing their peers to follow a healthy lifestyle and to comply with the laws of their state regarding drugs and alcohol use. STUDENT COUNCIL Advisor: Mr. Lebofsky and Mrs. Crognale Students in all grades are eligible to serve as representatives for their homeroom on Student Council. Each homeroom will elect a Rep early in September to serve for the school year. Officers are elected via a school-wide campaign in May for the following year. Student Council meets on Wednesday. during R/A period with the advisor. Members plan schoolwide activities such as dances, assemblies, rollerskating parties, spirit week, magazine drive, etc In addition, a school store is operated next to room 101 during Resource/Activity Period on Thursday, and Friday mornings T h e f o l l o w i n g p a g e s c o n t a i n descriptions and general information regarding activities offered to Newtown Middle School students. Many of these activities take place during Resource/Activity (RA) period (8:15 a.m. 8:45 a.m.) Other activities are offered after the i n s t r u c t i o n a l d a y, w i t h b u s transportation being provided at the conclusion of the activity. Most of the activities are open to all grade levels. Activities are designed to involve students of different ages in areas of similar interest. All students are encouraged to become involved, since co-curricular activities can provide some of the fondest memories of the middle school years.
ADAPTIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION Instructor: Mrs. Noseworthy Students who cannot participate safely or successfully in a regular physical education program due to short or long term disabilities will have the opportunity to fulfill their physical education requirement on an individually prescribed basis. Students will need a doctor s note stating their needs and/or limitations. Also, a note will be required from their physical education instructor. Adaptive Physical Education is held on Fridays only. ART CLUB Instructor: Mrs. Sekula Art Club is open Wednesday and Thursday during R/A period to grade 8 students with an ability and interest in art. Group projects chosen by the Art Club will be completed and displayed to enhance the building. Students may work At the culmination of the evening, each participating student will receive a ribbon based on his/her team s score. Newtown Middle School has had only blue ribbon (the highest ribbon) teams in the years of participation in this event. Students can check out the library web page for more information. SADD Advisor: Mrs. Ely and Mrs. McKeown S.A.D.D. (Students Against Destructive Decisions) is a group of Newtown Middle School Students who are committed to living a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle. Formed in the Fall of 1993, it is sponsored by C.R. Cares and is open to all students. The group meets under the guidance of Mrs. Mrs. Ely and Mrs. McKeown and serves Newtown Middle School by supporting and promoting the alcohol and drug-free lifestyle. Group members and their parents, teachers, or guardians must sign a one year contract stating that their position will be to support and encourage the drug-free lifestyle and that the student will remain drug-free for the duration of their membership in S.A.D.D. The group provides peer models for other students and spreads the word to others that life can be great and that they can have fun without using drugs or alcohol.
MUSIC YOUNG MEN S VOCAL ENSEMBLE Instructor: Mr. Dolan The Young Men s Vocal Ensemble is made up of 7th and 8th grade boys and is a terrific way to make new friends and learn how to use your developing voice. Young Men s Vocal Ensemble meets on Wednesdays and performs both in and out of school. READING OLYMPICS Advisor: Mrs. Sanders and Ms. Ashton The Newtown Middle School Reading Olympics Team meets on Wednesdays during Resource /Activity Period from September through April. All students are welcome to join. If students have other responsibilities on Wednesdays, they can still participate by reading books from the list and periodically checking in with the advisors at clinic. Each team is responsible for reading a total of forty books. During the county-wide competition in April, each team participates in three rounds of questioning with teams from three other schools. COMPUTER CLUB Instructor: Mr. McNulty Any student wishing to use a computer during R/A period must sign-up for a computer and get a pass before 8:05 am. Passes are issued on a first come, first serve basis to students who need a computer for a school related project. Computer assistance will be available for any student who needs it. Students who are not using the computers for a school related project or fail to act appropriately may be removed from the lab.
DRAMA Advisors, Mr. Dolan, Mrs. Demskis, and Mrs. Ambs. Craft players is the organization dedicated to the production of musical theatre. The goal is to provide students at NMS the opportunity to participate in staging a musical. On stage, students will learn how to sing, dance, and act. Other activities involving students will include fund raising, promotion, set design and construction, costumes and make-up. Participation in Craft Players requires a substantial commitment of time and energy. Students who wish to join should discuss membership with their parents...auditions are held Saturday December 3rd from 9:00 to 1:00 and Rehearsals begin in December. Show dates are 3/9/12 and 3/10/12. MUSIC-ORCHESTRA AND STRING ENSEMBLE Instructor: Mrs. Bennet Two ensembles are offered to string players. String ensemble, which rehearses on Monday and Friday, is offered to all string players. Orchestra, which meets on Thursday, is available to string players who audition and achieve an acceptable level of proficiency. Winds, brass and percussion players will be invited to join this group following band auditions. BOWMAN 8 A double string quartet, open by special invitation. Practices will be determined by the needs of the group. MUSIC WIND ENSEMBLE Instructor: Mr. Rudat This ensemble is designed for students with more advanced performance abilities. Participation is by audition only. The Wind Ensemble performs at the Winter and Spring concerts. The Wind Ensemble rehearses on Wednesday and Friday during Resource/Activity period. Auditions for Wind Ensemble/Drumline will be held the week of October 3-11. Auditions include a warm-up piece, a prepared solo, scales and sight-reading.
MUSIC JAZZ BAND Instructor: Mr. Rudat Students who play trumpet, trombone, saxophone, baritone, or drums in Jazz Band must be a member of Wind Ensemble. These individuals will be selected for the Jazz Band based on the scores from the first Wind Ensemble audition, which will be held in early October. Auditions for Rhythm Section will be October 3-11. Students who play piano, guitar, or bass guitar (electric or acoustic) do not have to be in Wind Ensemble in order to participate in Jazz Band. Auditions for the rhythm section will include the preparation of a solo piece, scales and sight-reading. The Jazz Band competes several times each year. Jazz Band meets on Tuesday mornings from 7:30 a.m. until 8:45 a.m. MUSIC MIDDLEMASTERS Instructor: Mr. Dolan The Middlemasters is a small, select choir of boys and girls who must successfully pass an audition. The audition requirements include solo singing and ear training exercises. Students must be in good academic standing, demonstrate superior rehearsal attendance, and must perform in all concerts in order to remain a part of the group. This group meets on Tuesday and Friday. Auditions held September 14 and 15th after school. ECOLOGY CLUB Advisors: Mrs. Mayo Ecology Club meets monthly throughout the year to define and undertake school projects that reflect an awareness of our ecological needs and what we can do to assist the environment. The group takes part in the classroom feeder-watch and is currently overseeing plans to create an outdoor wildlife sanctuary in the inner courtyard classroom. FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE Instructor: Mrs. Evans Any eighth grade student with an interest or ability in sewing is invited to join the Creative Sewing Club, which will meet with Mrs. Evans in room 141 Wednesday and Thursday mornings during R/A period. Students will work on group projects for the community or individual skill enhancement. During Resource/Activity period on Monday,Tuesday and Thursday, Mrs. Evans will be available in room 141 to assist students of all grade levels with projects or written assignments
INTRAMURALS Team Based Program Offered during the following days & times All homerooms are provided with a list of rules of play and activity schedules. Homeroom teachers select volunteers who wish to participate in coeducational intramural activities. Teams participate on the following days: 7A-Fusion-Monday & Wednesday 7B-Phoenix Monday & Wednesday 7C-Synergy-Monday & Wednesday 8A-Quest-Tuesday & Thursday 8B Super Nova Tuesday & Thursday 8C-Infinity-Tuesday & Thursday MEMORY BOOK Advisors: Mrs. Swallow Our Memory Book club prepares and designs the Newtown Middle School version of a Yearbook. Getting photos of staff, students, activities and writing captions are some of the opportunities for club members. The club usually meets after school on Thursday with the advisor and will meet Tuesday during RA period. MUSIC NEWTOWN CHORALIERS Instructor: Mr. Dolan The Newtown Choraliers is made up of 7th and 8th grade girls. The Newtown Choraliers sing from September through June. The group meets Mondays and Thursdays MUSIC CONCERT BAND Instructor: Mr. Rudat The Concert Band performs at the Winter and Spring concerts and is open to any student that likes to play their instrument. Students do not have to audition for the Concert Band. The Concert Band rehearses on Monday and Thursday during the Resource/Activity period.
LITERARY MAGAZINE Advisor: Mrs. Bovino Students will meet during RA period to write, read and review poetry. See Mrs. Bovino in the Library for further information. In the spring, students will publish the Newtown Middle School Literary Magazine. MATHCOUNTS Advisor: Mr. Gibson MATHCOUNTS is a national coaching and competition program designed to stimulate 7th and 8th grade students interest and achievement in mathematics. The program is a challenge for the best students, taking them to the next level mathematically. Practice sessions will be held after school beginning in November and will continue into February. In addition to the after school sessions, students may work on the MATHCOUNTS packets during A period. The NMS MATHCOUNTS teams have been quite successful over the years, having won the county championship five of the last eight years. See Mr. Gibson in room 15 for further information about the MATHCOUNTS program. Students report directly to homeroom when dismissed from the cafeteria at 7:55 a.m. At 8:12 students report to the gym for intramurals. Players are required to wear sneakers (no uniform required). They are expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship and having fun first, followed by competition. Each activity will run for approximately five weeks. Among the activities offered are: Badminton, Basketball, Floor Hockey, Golf, Pickle ball, Tennis (must have own racket) and Volleyball.
LIBRARY / RESEARCH Instructor: Mrs. Bovino Students are welcome to use the library during Resource/Activity period Monday through Friday. Mrs. Bovino will be happy to help you locate information, select a good book, or work with multi-media projects. Students must get a library pass from Mrs. Bovino prior to 8:05 a.m. Students will be considered late if they have not returned to the library by 8:15 a.m. The library computers are not available during L-Tag (Library Teen Advisory Group)meetings which are held on Tuesdays during R/A period. L-TAG (LIBRARY TEEN ADVISORY GROUP) Seventh and eighth grade students who wish to promote reading and the NMS Library are welcome to join L-Tag, Library Teen Advisory Group. L-Tag members assist Mrs. Bovino with many activities including: the fall Book Fair, Author Visits, American Title@ Your Library, Read Across America Week and the spring Book Swap. L-Tag meets Tuesday mornings during RA. Instructor: TBD L.I.N.C.S. Learning in Neighborhood Community Service (L.I.N.C.S.) is a Service Learning Program that links young people and the community, placing them in new situations, expanding their world, and giving them insights into the needs of society. Significant community projects and individual student initiatives. Students will be eligible for voluntary participation in a formalized servicelearning program. Students who complete 60 hours of community service between the end of eighth grade and the end of twelfth grade will receive formal recognition through documentation which will appear on official school records. This year 8th graders will be permitted to earn 4 hours of community service.