Coding and Math for Sphero Circus Maximus Races
March 21, 2019McKean Elementary fourth graders combined math and coding for Sphero Circus Maximus Races.
According to McKean Elementary fourth grade teacher Scott Hutchison, students build a chariot that will hold their Robotic Sphero and calculate the cost of their design. Each piece has a different monetary value. (A shout out to Mr. Triola for this elementary version of the great things he does with his K’Nex!) They also have to make a spot for their marshmallow rider so he/she doesn’t fall out of the chariot.
After building the chariot and doing all the math work, the students have to use block coding on the iPads to program the Sphero to pull the chariot around a rectangular track. This is the qualifying round. They make adjustments to the distance per second, force, and direction based on a 360 degree compass. At the end, the competition begins. Students earn points and compete for the WIN!
This is the culminating activity after their unit on multi-digit multiplication.
McKean hosts Hoops for Heart Assembly
March 21, 2019
McKean Elementary School hosted their Hoops/Jump for Heart Assembly last week in honor of their fundraising for the American Heart Association. Students have raised more than $1300 over the last month and will continue raising money through the end of the month.
Edinboro Elementary School third grader, Gabe, attended the Assembly. His sister and he spoke about his journey and fight, as he was born with four heart defects.
General McLane High School student-athletes on the basketball programs, as well as Edinboro University’s Men’s Basketball Team, attend the assembly.
This year’s focus of the program is a healthy and kind heart.
Last year, McKean Elementary raised more than $2200.
McKean 4th Graders create circuits
March 20, 2019McKean Elementary School Fourth graders were electricians at work! Students completed a hands-on learning activity to learn about circuits during their science days.
Students learned about the flow of electrons, voltage and conductors and insulators, circuits and the construction of switches. Then, students applied their knowledge to design a room and wire that room with a switch installed onto the wall. Students were able to choose from bulbs or batteries in series or parallel. Some students used a hybrid version based on their desire to have multiple bulbs, or very bright bulbs. They all did great explaining the circuits they used and their rationale for that choice.
March Students of the Month
March 20, 2019
James W. Parker Middle School announced its March Students of the Month.
- 5th – Respect – Alyssa Bentley
- 6th – Integrity – Owen Eisert
- 7th – Determination – Emma Czarnecki
- 8th – Empathy – Leo Chen
- Exploratory –Positive – Caden Brumagin
The Parker Pride students of the month recognizes students throughout the entire building, in grades 5 through 8.
PRIDE is an acronym for Positive, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Empathy. Through this program, the school recognizes students that exemplify these character traits every day. Each month, one of the grade level teams is assigned a character trait in a rotating basis. The teams are: 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and exploratory. These teams are responsible for nominating students and then selecting one student that best exemplifies that specific trait.
Students selected are recognized over the announcements and then meet with JWPMS associate principal Justin Whitford, who shares the reason why they were selected. Their pictures, grade and character traits are then posted on a banner outside of the gym lobby for the month. Additionally, students are invited to a breakfast celebration and can bring a friend.
The program launched this year with the start of the middle school’s new Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), which is a program based on a national model to promote positive behavior growth. This new model focuses on shifting students’ mindsets with recognition, rewards and celebrations.
Although similar, this program is different from the PBIS Parker Pride weekly winners.
Parker Pride Students of the Month (Running List)
February 2019
5th – Positive – Daniel Sychuk
6th – Respect – Magdalen Kennedy
7th – Integrity – Alanna Puller
8th – Determination – Chandler Kopystecki
Exploratory – Empathy – Johnathan Kavelish
January 2019
5th – Empathy – Jaela Moir
6th – Positive – Madelin Barto
7th – Respect – Chance Kimmy
8th – Integrity – Sierra Griffith
Exploratory – Determination – Julia Scrutchins
December 2018
5th – Determination – Phillip Gocal
6th – Empathy – Jane Howard
7th – Positive – Allisyn Stuck
8th – Respect – Nathanael Robbins
Exploratory – Integrity – Kyle Cousins
November 2018
5th – Integrity – Midori Zheng
6th – Determination – Estella Menc
7th – Empathy – Annika Semoe
8th – Positive – Abby Walker
Exploratory – Respect – Bailey Cannon
October 2018
5th – Respect – Charlie Salvo
6th – Integrity – Bryce Mulligan
7th – Determination – Maya Egloff
8th – Empathy – Talon Frick
Exploratory – Positive – Peter Alberti
September 2018
5th – Positive – Zoey Delaney
6th – Respect – Noah Saulsgiver
7th – Integrity – Scout Adamski
8th – Determination – Thomas Langer
Exploratory – Empathy – Pacey Moran
Parker PRIDE Winners
March 20, 2019
Congratulations to last week’s Parker PRIDE winners:
Breena Kineston
Wyatt Junkins
Riley Vogt
Natasha Leslie
Heaven Wager
James W. Parker Middle School’s Parker PRIDE program is a new program that launched from the school’s PBIS initiatives. Each week, five students will be recognized for exhibiting the positive behavioral expectations set. Students will be selected randomly from those who have earned “tickets” throughout the week. Students selected will choose an incentive from a list of five choices. This is only for grades 5 and 6.
Kindergarten Registration
March 14, 2019GMHS hosts annual College, Career & Transition Fair
March 14, 2019
Close to 60 colleges, businesses, agencies and armed services were in attendance today for General McLane High School’s College, Career & Transition Fair. There were even some Lancer alumni representing a handful of companies present!
This annual event was for all sophomores and juniors at General McLane High School.
GM student becomes a Displate artist
March 12, 2019
A General McLane High School budding artist is quickly learning how to utilize the internet as a market for artwork.
Prior to last week, senior Eric Johnson’s only artwork sold was during Edinboro University’s Highland Games & Scottish Festival’s Plein Air. Now, he is now selling his creations on displate.com, an online marketplace that prints artwork onto metal posters.
“I take inspiration from a lot of different things, but I really want my work to be original. I love creating new things and different ideas, so the items on the site are the result of that,” Johnson said.
Johnson started selling his artwork on the website after General McLane High School digital art teacher Karen Hodas recommended he apply for the site’s Create Eight Art Challenge, a contest for artwork collections. In order to apply for the contest, he needed to be an approved artist on the site.
Just this week, Johnson received notification that his artwork was approved and officially up for sale.
“I’m not really expecting to make money off of this, it’s just for fun,” Johnson said. “But, it was cool when I received notification that it was up. I’m happy to have the opportunity to sell it.”
Johnson is currently taking an independent study in digital art with Mrs. Hodas.
For Johnson, this isn’t the first independent study program he has utilized at General McLane High School. In fact, he’s already taken two other ones.
“I’ve always enjoyed doing art, so I’ve taken as many art classes as I possibly can,” he said. “For me, the independent study really allows me to be independent and build on my skills. Personally, I make the best use of my time and have been able to improve tremendously.”
Johnson has created around 50 different types of artwork during his time.
“The thing with what I am doing right now is that in a month, I’ll look back and know I can do better, that’s the down side to what I am doing,” he said. “It’ll level out at some point, but I am constantly practicing so I can improve and set into my own style.”
The eight pieces that he submitted to displate.com were his favorites from the month, he said. His favorite is one that he created using black and white line art.
Next year, Johnson will attend Edinboro University’s Art program. He would like to pursue a career in Digital Concept Art.
Johnson’s artwork can be found here:
https://displate.com/displate/897347
https://displate.com/displate/897346
https://displate.com/displate/897345
https://displate.com/displate/897344
https://displate.com/displate/897343
https://displate.com/displate/897342
https://displate.com/displate/897339
https://displate.com/displate/897317
Congratulations to Eric!
GMHS students create stop motion animation
March 11, 2019
Last week, General McLane High School students learned a basic process of animation used in commercials, music videos, television shows and feature films.
Kirstie Fitzpatrick, a High School Regional Outreach Representative at Full Sail University, visited Ms. Mumau’s Literature and Film class to teach students a lesson on stop motion animation, or animation that is captured one frame at time.
Using objects and Stop Motion, a software that creates animated films, students became animators of their own films! Here is the winning film from Ms. Mumau’s class.
Parker PRIDE Winners
March 8, 2019
Congratulations to this week’s Parker PRIDE winners:
Izzy Borrero
Nicole Baron
Cassia Myers
Kody Etzel
Daquan Simione
James W. Parker Middle School’s Parker PRIDE program is a new program that launched from the school’s PBIS initiatives. Each week, five students will be recognized for exhibiting the positive behavioral expectations set. Students will be selected randomly from those who have earned “tickets” throughout the week. Students selected will choose an incentive from a list of five choices. This is only for grades 5 and 6.
Subscribe
