Academic Challenges

Academic Challenges

 
May 1 / 9:40am

Middle School Students Earn State History Day Honors

Posted by email 
The Minnesota National History Day Competition was held Sunday, April 29, 2012 on the Campus of the University of Minnesota. This year's contest had a very accommodating theme: Revolution, Reaction,Reform in History. Over 30,000 students partake in this event and our students were competing at state level along with 1,700 other competitors. Students develop research papers, exhibits, documentaries, performances or websites based on a topic they select. The project work is many times above and beyond regular classroom work and is very extensive in that each project includes a research summary paper with primary and secondary sources.
The day was energizing to see so many students who worked so diligently on their presentations.

It was all exciting as mid afternoon postings announced that both our KSS students' projects were included in the second round of judging! At the evening Awards Ceremony located in the historical Williams Arena,  Johnny Hermes was recognized with an Honorable Mention with his exhibit board presentation of "Revolution in a Heartbeat: Harvey's Pump Theory". It included an actual handheld pump and interesting information within his exhibit board. This was Johnny's third presentation at state level. He does a wonderful job interacting with judges and others in order for them to understand the importance of his topic. Madisen Becker also received an Honorable Mention with her exhibit board presentation of a now popular topic, "The Moral Treatment: Dr. Kirkbride's Architecture," having to do with the local Fergus Falls State Hospital. This presentation was Madisen's first appearance at a state level and she too held the judges and others attention with interesting background from this controversial subject. Both topics these students chose were very unique in that no other student presented on these subjects. Both Johnny and Madisen represented our local community and Kennedy Secondary Schools with high standards not only with their work but on how well they presented themselves; they are students who are to be commended for their commitment with this event.
Also, on behalf of KSS Academic Challenge for the Middle School,a special thank you to Chris Schuelke and Missy Hermes for their time and resources so that this event's research can be made possible Thank you to the parents, teachers and other community members who also stay involved and support the importance of history related projects. 
To find out more about results and info on National History Day please go to: www.nhd.org.
Submitted by Vera Carlson, Academic Challenge Coordinator for KSS

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Posted from Minneapolis, MN

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Mar 22 / 11:08am

Kennedy Middle School students do well at National History Day Regional Competition

by Fergus Falls Public Schools
Five KSS Middle School students traveled to MSUM-Moorhead, Moorhead MN to compete in the National History Day Regional Competition Tuesday, March 20th.
Two out of the three exhibits qualified for state competition which will be held April 29th at the Coffman Memorial Union on the U of M campus, Minneapolis, MN.

The 2012 competition features the topic, "Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History." Students can develop research papers, exhibit boards, documentaries, performances or websites based on a topic they selected. Additionally, each project is required to include a research summary paper with primary and secondary sources. Up to 30,000 students have participated in this event. 

Students who participated in the Regional National History Day event were Zach Kunz, Tucker Johnson, David Wallington, Johnny  Hermes and Madisen Becker.
Zach, Tucker and David presented a group exhibit board entitled: The Battle of Tours-Patiers; the battle that saved Christendom. Together they formed an excellent team by dividing up their duties to present their research in the most concise and aesthetic appealing manner. Their work ethic and camaraderie are amongst the highest at their level. Advancing to state competition is Madisen Becker with her exhibit board, " The Moral Treatment: Dr. Kirkbride's Architecture." This topic refers to our local state hospital grounds. Joining Madisen will be Johnny Hermes who presented an exhibit board on"Revolution in a Heartbeat: Harvey's Pump Theory." To enhance his presentation, Johnny demonstrated with a hand help pump which distributed faux blood throughout the model. 

As always, the students did their best to share their Otter Pride. Appreciation is extended to Chris Schuelke and Missy Hermes of the Otter Tail County Historical Society for their time and resources, the Eerdman family for sharing their valuable experiences and encouragement as well as other judges and local teachers. 

David Wallington, Tucker Johnson and Zach Kunz

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Madisen Becker

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Johnny Hermes

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Posted from Moorhead, MN

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Feb 9 / 3:26am

Math Counts - Great Competition in Moorhead!

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Congratulations to the Math Counts Height of the Land Chapter Competition Participants!  They had a great time on Wednesday in Moorhead, testing their skills at this year's event, which was one of the best attended chapter competitions, according to coordinators!  Way to go Cody, Sean, Emily, Emma & Lauren!
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Jan 11 / 5:39pm

Jan./Feb. Book Club Choice - The Help!

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Click here to download:
BookClub-TheHelp.odt (160 KB)
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By popular demand, our next Book Club choice is Kathryn Stockett's novel, The Help.  We hope interested students join us to read and discuss this compelling story, told from the point of African-American "help" and one white woman who dares to expose their lives in a book of her own!  

Please refer to the attached sign up sheet for more info. about mtg. times  - and note that a viewing of the movie will follow!

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Jan 9 / 12:34pm

This Week's Updates!

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I can't believe we only have 2 weeks left of Semester 1, and as things are picking up for students, we are changing the schedule a little as well.

Tuesday - 7:45 Book Club - Come help us pick our Jan/Feb book!
Wed - NO Creative Writing, as we are taking a break for a while to get through our busy time!
Thursday - 7:45 Math Leagues & 3:30 History Day researching - NO Sketch, meet next week!
Friday - 7:45 History Day researching

Note:  Creative Writing Club will pick up again after Math, Spelling Bee and History Day main competitions are past us.  Sketch Ya Later is now lucky enough to have Mrs. Belinda Kummrow helping us create every other Thursday at 3:30
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!  Students will begin water colors next Thursday, Jan. 19th!

I am attaching January's Reading Challenge sheet again as well for your use!

Click here to download:
WinterReadingChallenge2012.doc (15 KB)
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Jan 2 / 8:44pm

Happy New Year!

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Click here to download:
WinterReadingChallenge2012.doc (15 KB)
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2012 is filled with great Academic Challenge opportunities for you!

But first, we'd like to send a HUGE congratulations to Poetry Contest winner, 8th grader Amanda Carr!  For her thoughtful poem titled "Popularity", Amanda wins a movie pass for her efforts.  

Another opportunity to win a movie pass starts today with the AC Winter Reading Challenge.  The stakes have been raised for this one, so look for the Winter Reading Challenge sheets in your English classes (or print the one I'll attach for you) meet or surpass the guidelines to earn a movie pass as the top reader for your grade!

This Week:

Tuesday - Book Club @ 7:45, Rm. 1420 - Join us to wrap The Hobbit and pick a new choice for Jan/Feb!
Wednesday - Creative Writing @ 7:45 - Rm. 1420 - Memoir Glog!  Turn your story into an interactive bulletin board called a Glog!
Thursday - 1. CML/Math Masters @ 7:45 - Rm. 1420 - CML competition #3 so BE THERE!
                 2. History Day @ 3:30 - 8th Grd. Lab - Be sure you attend this or Friday morning's mtg. & meet in the 8th grade lab!
Friday - History Day @ 7:45 - 8th Grd. Lab

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Dec 12 / 9:02am

This Week in AC!

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If you are submitting a poem for the AC Poetry Contest, it must be turned in to Mrs. Thielke by Tuesday at the end of the day in order to be eligible to enter.

Regular AC clubs meeting days/times this week, but note 2 additions - Math Counts will be open for interested 7th & 8th graders to meet starting this Thursday at 7:45 in Room 1420, and 8th graders wanting to participate in the History Day events should meet on Friday in room 1420 at 7:45 to start planning your projects!

See Mrs. T if you have any questions!

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Dec 7 / 6:22am

Math Counts & Poetry Contest Deadline!

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The Math Counts 7/8 graders are getting organized and ready to meet starting next Thursday from 7:45-8:10 in Room 1420 to practice their Math skills w/Mr. Olson.  The talented students will get to compete in the Height of the Land chapter competition in Moorhead in February, and will also have dibs on going to the Tri-College competition at Concordia in March!  We could still use about 4 more talented individuals who are in 7/8 grade and have great math skills and an urge to compete!

The Poetry Contest is quickly winding down and submission must be turned in to Mrs. T by Tuesday, Dec. 13th!  You DO NOT have to be in the Creative Writing Club to submit a poem, as we decided to open it up to all interested writers!

History Day research begins next week in class for 7th graders and interested 8th graders will meet next Friday morning at 7:45 to begin their planning and research as well!

Knowledge Master Open - 6, 7, 8 grade competitions!  We are going to allow each grade to compete by answering 20 questions to see which grade gets the most points and earns a prize!  Stay tuned for competition date and details!

It's a BUSY December in AC, and we're excited about all that is to come!

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Dec 6 / 7:02am

This Week's Updates

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Students - Today is the day!  The Knowledge Master Open trivia challenge will be held in the AC Room 1417 from 3:30-5:30 (or whenever the competition ends).  The questions are on the computer and all participants will work as a team to answer questions on a variety of topics.  Speed an accuracy of answers earns higher points, so bring your thinking caps and join in the fun today!

7 & 8 graders interested in Math Counts, if you want to be in Math Counts and have dibs at attending this year's Tri-College math competition day, join Mrs. Thielke in Room 1420 tomorrow morning at 7:45.  Leave a message w/the office if you want to participate but can't make the meeting!

Creative Writers, we will also be meeting in room 1420 tomorrow morning at 7:45 to talk about Poetry, share our pieces and look at some of our favorite published poems.  Bring your favorites to share and remember that the Poetry Contest submissions are due next Tuesday, December 13th for your chance to win a prize!

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Nov 29 / 6:23pm

2 Hr. Late Start - Creative Writing Canceled this Week!

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We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!  Our Book Club is diving into The Hobbit and enjoying the vivid descriptions of the Shire and trying to predict the motivations of "creepy" characters like Gollum!  We had a Knowledge Bowl team place 4th at the Fergus Falls meet - way to go KBowlers!  They will also have the opportunity to participate in the upcoming Knowledge Master Open competition in December.

There is a 2-hr. late start Wednesday, so I will meet with Creative Writers and Poetry Contest participants next week (sorry for the mess up in announcements)!

Thursday, our Continental Math League crew will take part in their second meet, so good luck to them!  Math Counts will be starting up soon for interested 7th & 8th graders with great math skills!

We will also meet with Sketch Ya Later! after school to plan t-shirt creations.

7th graders will be planning for History Day events by researching Revolution, Reform, Reaction in their social studies class during the 2nd week in Dec.  After their classroom participation, those wishes to compete with their research will then meet outside of class to put together their presentations for competitions at local levels and hopefully beyond!  8th graders will be meeting soon to fine-tune their thesis statements and plan research strategies before the Winter Break.  We're excited to get History Day events off and running!

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