Minisink Valley Middle School

TOO COOL! Middle School technology teacher Teresia Parker recently worked with small group of students after school to work in NASA's SPARX (Sparking Participation and Real-world eXperiences) program. The Engineering Design Process (EDP) is an iterative process involving a series of steps that engineers use to guide them as they solve problems and is crucial to mission success at NASA. SPARX provides educators with hands-on, standards-based activities, and related training resources, to bring EDP to their students. Students utilized the engineering design process to learn about the challenges and difficulties of exploring other worlds and applied that engineering design process to help the NASA Mars AstroBio Bot to complete its mission on Mars. For this particular challenge, students needed to design wheels that would help the rover move over the surface of Mars. Students used challenge specific materials and tested their designs in the “MS Mars Yard,” modeled after JPL's Mars Yard. There were plenty of failures and lots of learning. “Space is hard,but our students will continue to learn about the world around them and engineer solutions to make our world a better place,” said Mrs. Parker. “By completing these challenges, participants join NASA as part of the next generation of explorers

Thank you to New York State Troopers Brendan Hoolan and Jared Vonderheide, who visited Teresia Parker's Eighth-Grade Computer/Innovation Class on June 3 with some awesome drones! It was the perfect visit to support students’ learning about flight and science through “Project Lead the Way.” Students are learning about the four forces of flight (gravity, lift, thrust, drag) and flight controls (pitch, yaw, roll). Troopers Hoolan and Vonderheide reviewed these concepts and talked to students about drone operation, parts of a drone and how drones are now regularly used in New York State Police operations for many different reasons. After their presentation, students went outdoors and Trooper Hoolan flew the drone and reviewed flight concepts in action. This also included a review and discussion of the necessary pre-flight procedural requirements for drone flight. Once the drone was airborne, students were able to see a "bird’s eye" live view via an app. Students learned the science behind drone flight, but they also learned the important lesson of how first responders are using technology to keep communities safe….as well as a "drone pilot" is a future career option! New York law enforcement agencies, including the New York State Police, are increasingly utilizing drones for various purposes, including public safety, first responder support, evidence collection, general surveillance, search and rescue and disaster response.

Thank you to members of the American Legion George Smith Post 1607, who visited Ashley Beairsto’s and Debbie Orrio's sixth-grade class to teach the students about Memorial Day last Friday, May 30. Veterans Earl Demberg, Ronnie Aillet, Paul Gale, and Art Olah shared stories of their time in the military and shared positive messages of hard work and dedication to our country. Becky Olah of the Ladies Auxiliary presented a history of Memorial Day and handed out poppies to the students with the help of Raegan Depola, a Post 1607 junior auxilian. The first national observance of Memorial Day occurred on May 30,1868, so their visit this past Friday made the day an extra special one.

Thank you to the Middle School Yearbook, for treating all Middle School faculty and staff to a cool treat of their choice from “The Ice Mother” today, June 1! June is a busy month for Middle School staff: The Eighth-Grade Send-off Dance is this Friday; Otisville fifth-graders visit the campus on June 9 and Intermediate School fifth-graders visit on June 10; core curriculum finals are held on June 12 through 17 in addition to the Living Environment Regents on June 17 and the Algebra 1 Regents on June 18! Yearbook distribution is June 16; the eighth-grade picnic is June 20 following the eighth-grade foreign language exam; and Field Day is June 24!

HOW SWEET AND ENCOURAGING IS THIS? The Girls Modified track team has been busy making these special “clips” using regular clothes pins and writing positive words or phases before a home game and secretly clipping them onto an opposing team member’s bag or shirt. It’s a Tik Tok trend initiated by volleyball players, and Head Coach Nicole Van Pelt asked her team if they’d like to join in! The team immediately agreed and created over 80 clothes pins with inspiring messaging for their Port Jervis opponents during a recent home match. “We’re leaving ‘the visiting’ with an abundance of encouraging messages,” she said. “The girls jumped at the opportunity to partake in continuing Minisink’s reputable sportsmanship atmosphere, and to spread kindness.” WELL-DONE, EVERYONE! Take a peek at their kind, inspirational clips!

Please support the good work of the Minisink Valley PTO and purchase an ULTIMATE DISCOUNT CARD! This fundraiser concludes Saturday, June 7! Get all the details via this link: https://www.ultimatefundraisinginc.com/discount-card-store/physical

The Middle School’s Minisink Motivates Club recently traveled up to the Elementary School for their second annual reading of the "Weird" series by Erin Frankel to second-grade classrooms. Middle schoolers read a story from the series and then completed an activity with students. It’s another great example of positive inter-school relationships! Middle school students and elementary school students had a great time interacting with one another and completing the activity. Take a peek at this wonderful example of inter-school cooperation and relationships! In one book read to some students, Luisa gets made fun of for her polka dotted boots. She comes to find that they are just one thing that makes her unique. Students used a chart paper in the shape of a rain boot and received two polka dots. They decorated one in their own creative way. On the other one, they wrote something that makes them unique or something nice about themselves. Each of the students' polka dots were put onto the poster as a reminder of how special they are. Other students were read a book about Jayla, a bystander who gets involved in a way that she isn't proud of. She is "dared" to do things that are unkind. Jayla is very interested in the solar system and even does a project on it. Each of these students were given stars to decorate and write on to put on a solar system poster. Lastly, some students were read a book about Sam, the story’s bully. Students learned where her bullying behavior stems from. She loves to play guitar so the students put hearts on a guitar poster, which also included decorating one and writing a note on the other. “No matter which book they were read, the message ended up being the same,” said co-advisor Lauren Pullen. “Everyone deserves to be accepted and know that they are special in their own way. After reading, our members helped each of the second-grade students talk about, identify, and write qualities that make them feel special. Our hope leaving this visit is always that students understand the importance of accepting and celebrating others for who they are, as well as loving themselves for what makes them different.”

The tradition continues! The High School Marching Band and the Middle School Band again represented the district with distinction yesterday, May 27, in the Unionville Memorial Day Parade! It was a gorgeous day to remember those who gave their lives in service to our nation, and the district was honored to be a part of the events of the afternoon. This included a stop at the Unionville Cemetery, where students Vincent Galligan and Drew Jashembowski and played solemn taps. Senior Audrey Guido was the student speaker and guest speaker was County Executive Steve Neuhaus.

Middle School runners "On your mark, get set, go!" The Fastest Runner competition is set for Monday, June 9! The deadline to register is Wednesday, June 4! We invite you to register your student to be part of this physically fun event! Scan the QR code for details and thanks for sharing!

Last evening's K-12 Art Show was beyond beautiful! It was bright, colorful, unique creative and full of pride by everyone who attended! We hope you were there! Take a peek at some of our proud student-artists who were thrilled to show their works of art. Did you know that approximately 1,000 students had at least one piece of art on exhibit? THANK YOU to our awesome art faculty in our five buildings for their work to stage such a gorgeous exhibit! We appreciate you! See more photos on the district's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinisinkValleyCSD

Sixth-graders recently had a fantastic class trip to the Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament in Lyndhurst, N.J.! Their trip supported their Social Studies work focusing on the Middle Ages by providing an immersive and interactive learning experience! It was a great opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to a real-life understanding of the period through this great dining and theatrical performance opportunity. Take a look! See more photos on the district's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MinisinkValleyCSD •The medieval era, often called the Middle Ages or the Dark Ages, began around 476 A.D. following a great loss of power throughout Europe by the Roman Empire. The Middle Ages span roughly 1,000 years, ending between 1400 and 1450. Though, in Spain, 1492 is considered the end of their medieval period and the beginning of the modern era. •The Middle Ages changed the landscape of Europe through: A surge in Christianity leading to the building of great cathedrals; clearing of large tracts of land by peasants; settling of new towns and villages; and the building of great castles by local nobility The period was one of human expansion, centralization and great political upheaval and violence, resulting in the foundation of many modern European countries.

IMPROV FUN! The High School and Middle School drama clubs recently gathered for a special joint “Yes and…” Improv workshop, led by teachers Teresia Parker, Brendan O’Brien and alumnus Haley Parker who are members of Richmond, Virginia’s ComedySportz performance team! They learned new skills, made new friends and had a lot of fun. “Through a series of activities and improvisational games students bolstered their dramatic art skills and learned life lessons,” said Mrs. Parker. “They learned how to think on their feet, actively listen, trust their teammates, and experience the positive outcomes of saying ‘yes and...’ while building on someone else's ideas. They learned the importance of staying present and recognized that ‘mistakes’ can be gifts. In the theater world, improvisation, or "improv," is a form of live theatre in which the plot, characters, and dialogue of a game, scene, or story are made up in the moment. The method has been used for different purposes in theatrical history.

Congratulations to the four students who are winners of the Middle School Library’s recent Bookmark Design Contest! •Eighth-Grade: Gabby DeNonno and Lucia Garcia •Seventh-Grade: Alina Barone and Lily Mausling Their winning designs will be professionally printed and made available for people to take from the library.

CAN YOU HELP? Mark your calendar, ONE WEEK FROM TODAY! Giving back has never been cooler! Join us at Rita's on Dolson Avenue on Thursday, May 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. for a refreshing ice or custard and a portion of your money spent will go to the Tyrell J. Audian Memorial Scholarship at the High School! TJ was a 2019 graduate and dedicated his life to our nation by enlisting in the Marines right out of high school. Tragically, TJ suddenly passed away during a training exercise with his unit. A track scholarship in his honor has been created in collaboration with High School yearbook. Please consider supporting of this worthy cause!

The Middle School’s Pet Club has been fortunate enough to have some recent and very esteemed guests! Take a look! Students had the recent opportunity to learn about goats, ducks and chickens from Minisink Valley parent Erin O’Neill Ferraro. They also learned about proper rescue of backyard wildlife from Middle School eighth-grade science teacher and certified animal rehabilitator Diana Lucas. She showed pictures of some of the animals she has been able to help and what to do if they find an injured animal. Plus: students also met the two bearded dragons she keeps in her classroom and learned more about them and the care they require. Students also met bunny breeder and show owner Melissa Ordway. Her family raises and breeds show rabbits. She brought with her eight bunnies, including two babies, and spoke to students about breeds, proper care and the responsibilities necessary for keeping these animals. Advisor Kristine Ostensen and the Pet Club are thankful to all the volunteers who have come to their meetings to educate, support and share their animals with us this year. The Middle School’s Pet Club has been fortunate enough to have some recent and very esteemed guests! Students had the recent opportunity to learn about goats, ducks and chickens from Minisink Valley parent Erin O’Neill Ferraro. They also learned about proper rescue of backyard wildlife from Middle School teacher and certified animal rehabilitator Diana Lucas. She showed pictures of some of the animals she has been able to help and what to do if they find an injured animal. Plus: students also met the two bearded dragons she keeps in her classroom and learned more about them and the care they require. Students also met bunny breeder and show owner Melissa Ordway. Her family raises and breeds show rabbits. She brought with her eight bunnies, including two babies, and spoke to students about breeds, proper care and the responsibilities necessary for keeping these animals. Advisor Kristine Ostensen and the Pet Club are thankful to all the volunteers who have come to their meetings to educate, support and share their animals with us this year.

What’s cookin’ in Victoria Ingrassia’s Middle School kitchen? Eighth-grade FACS students have made pierogi! Take a peek at their preparation, cooking and “eating” time over these last few days, which also included sauteed onions, bacon and sour cream! Many members of the Middle School faculty stopped by for a very delicious snack! •Pierogi, a beloved Polish dumpling, have a complex and somewhat disputed history. While commonly associated with Poland, the dish's origins may have roots in Central Asia, with some tracing them back to China via Marco Polo's travels. Regardless of their exact origins, pierogi have a rich history in Poland, dating back to at least the 13th century. •While the exact origin is unclear, a popular story attributes the introduction of pierogi to Poland to Saint Hyacinth, a Polish saint who is said to have brought them from Ukraine in the 1200s. •Boiling pierogi is the most popular method of cooking pierogi because it adds no additional calories to your meal. It also offers a soft, delicate texture which is the more traditional way of eating Polish pierogi. •The word pierogi comes from the Slavic word, "pir," meaning “festivity.” This makes sense as pierogi are often associated with, and served during the holidays, also making them a comfort food for many.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW! One of the biggest district-wide events will take place Tuesday, May 20: The annual annual District Art Show/K-12 Exhibition! Over 400 student artists representing the High School, Middle School, Otisville Elementary the Intermediate School and the Elementary School will have work on display from 5 to 8 p.m. at the High School cafeteria and auditorium. It's always a gorgeous and vibrantly colorful exhibition, featured all kinds of art mediums! This exhibition is equally wonderful because of the smiles on the proud families and students! Please join us!

Congratulations to the 17 students who were recognized at the NYSAHPERD Catskill Zone Leadership Awards Ceremony, held this past Saturday at Wallkill High School! This event honors top-grade-level students who exemplify excellence in fitness, leadership, and citizenship—key components of New York State learning standards. These students were selected for their commitment to an active lifestyle, responsible behavior, leadership qualities, and contributions to their school community. While athletic ability is not a requirement, each honoree embodies the spirit of personal growth and positive influence. "These students are role models who lead by example, showing us the power of character, effort, and service in physical education and beyond,” said Physical Education teacher Theresa Uhelsky, the organization’s past president. Students honored were: Middle School • Mason King • Ben Ziegler • Lennox Addo • Erin Arias • Lyla LeBarbera Otisville Elementary • Leah Galligan • Quinn Lattimer • Luca Artola • Eliya Graziano Intermediate School • Ella Manzie • Madison Worden • Jemma Marsala • Charlotte Kohler Elementary School • James Santos • Gary Boyajian • Declan Barry • Kaylee Jackler

There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes every concert season! Take a peek at Laura Hulle's eighth-grade band, which has been intensely practicing together to be ready for the Spring Concert! Every member in this ensemble is important and contributes to the overall band's success!

SOLDERING SUCCESS! Rich Budd's seventh-grade technology students recently had the opportunity to work more on their soldering skills in a project which allowed them to make their own LED night lights! Prior to this, students used a wiring diagram to properly arrange the components on the circuit board. The Night Light kit uses a photocell to automatically turn on a super bright LED as the room darkens and turns off the LED as the room lightens. Now, they have an extra light to make their favorite "dark" rooms a bit more brighter!