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| May 2006 |
Volume XVII, No.7
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| Notes from the Office |
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May is here and that means the end of the school year is right around the corner. It is hard to believe that summer vacation is only 18 school days away, as a student reported to me this morning! As I reflect on the school year, I have to say it has been a very successful one at Price Laboratory School. At every level of education, all stakeholders in the school have been working hard to make Price Laboratory School a better place.
In the classroom students have been doing a great job. I have loved seeing all the work and progress the students have made. It is such a joy to walk into a classroom and see students highly engaged in learning.
I have also been very impressed with the dedication teachers have demonstrated in helping meet the needs of each individual student. There have been countless hours, both in and out of the classroom, where teachers have demonstrated their caring effort to help improve instruction for their students.
Many parents and volunteers have also been working hard this year. We have many parents and volunteers serving in leadership organizations such as the Parent Advisory Committee, the Parent Teacher Partnership, The Educational Equity, Advisory Committee, and the N.U. Booster Club. These parents have been instrumental in working with the school to create an atmosphere that makes all of us proud.
Finally, we have had many wonderful community groups, business members, and alumni work to help the school. These individuals have given of their time, talent, and resources to help aid in the daily operation of classrooms within a school setting.
We want to send a personal thank you to all these groups of people. It is so special to work with such hard working people. In every area of Price Laboratory School there are people dedicated to improving the educational experience of children. This fact makes Price Lab School a true caring community.
Have a great summer and we will see you in the fall!
J.D. Cryer, Elementary/Middle School Principal jd.cryer@uni.edu
Dave Smith, Associate Director and 9-12 Principal dave.smith@uni.edu
Lost and Found
We would like to remind parents to check the lost and found in the main office at school. There are numerous items that will eventually be donated to Treasure Chest or Goodwill if not picked up shortly after the end of the school year. Thank you.
Carnival was a great success!
Price Laboratory/NU High School would like to personally thank Calista Horan, Jill Lankford, the Parent Teacher Partnership organization, the UNI Festivals and Special Events Management Class and all the volunteers, which included members of the Alpha Xi Delta, Delta Chi chapter, and the many other volunteers who helped put on the annual Price Lab/NU High Carnival. The parents put in countless hours of organizing, preparing, and working at the carnival to help make this a successful event.
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The 8th Grade students in Mrs. Dykstra's Business Technology class recently completed their nature photography unit. They used digital cameras to take close-up pictures of flowers and plants in the Butterfly Garden. To provide a framework for the project, the students critiqued photographs on the web in terms of subject matter, angle, lighting, focus, color, texture, framing, dominance, contrast, and balance and discussed how photography is used for various purposes in society. After taking a variety of nature shots they used Picasso, a photo-editing program, to edit and add special effects to their photographs.
The main purpose of studying and producing photographs in the 8th grade business technology class has been to help increase the students' visual literacy skills by making them more aware of the elements within a photograph, to learn more of the advanced featured offered on a digital camera, and to understand how photography can be incorporated into other student projects and multimedia presentations.
Currently the students are working in groups of two on a photo/poetry activity where they are selecting and arranging photos into a sequence and writing accompanying poetry verses to create a story.
For more information contact Lynn.Dykstra, lynn.dykstra@uni.edu
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| Jalen Bergman |
Emily Highnam |
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| Irene Hochgraf-Cameron |
Keith Hanson |
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| Jonathan Hershberger |
Haley Burbridge |
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| Eddie Diemer |
Spencer Jensen |
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| Nick Long |
Mario Meza |
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| Ridwana Zaman |
Cathy Nelson |
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| Brice Patnode |
Will Rector |
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Mumps Update
MUMPS is a viral infection of the salivary glands spread through coughing, sneezing, and saliva. It can also be spread by sharing drinking glasses, food or kissing. Symptoms include swelling of the glands close to the jaw, fever, headache and muscle ache. All Iowans are asked to help reduce the spread of mumps by practicing good hygiene, such as covering coughs and sneezes, frequent hand washing and staying home when sick.
As
of April 21st, 2006 -- there were 975 Mumps cases in the
State of Iowa. The highest number of which is located in
Black Hawk County. There are approximately 50 new cases reported
statewide each day. The Median age of those diagnosed is
21. 50% of these cases are college students. 66 of Iowa's
99 counties are involved in this epidemic.
Personal Prevention measures:
1. Use good respiratory hygiene (cover your cough)
2. Wash hands frequently
3. Do not share eating utensils or beverage containers
4. Stay home when sick.
5. Check your own measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine records.
For more information about mumps, please check the Iowa Department of Public Health website: www.idph.state.ia us or call them by phone at 319/291-2413.
We are happy to answer any of your questions here at the PLS Health Office -- 319/273-2348.
Thank you,
The NU-PLS Nursing Team
Jennifer Christiason
Michele Gerdes
Verla Paulsonmichele
jennifer.christiason@uni.edu
michele.gerdes@uni.edu
verla.paulson@uni.edu
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Students Design Carnival T-shirts
While Dylan Diemer and Morgan Cawley are better known for serenading us in the hall with their guitars, they also designed the “South of the Border” T-shirts for the PLS Carnival this year. They were both successful students in the new Design: Graphic and Object course offered this last Fall and are good collaborators.
rick.knivsland@uni.edu
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Battle of the Books
On Tuesday, April 18th, 5 students from PLS 5th grade competed as a team at Area Education Agency’s 2006 Battle of the Books. The team members were Dunia Gonzales, Alyssia Sims, Atif Zaman, Kory Miller, and Dominique Harrington. The AEA sends out a list of 40 book titles in the Fall of each year. Students interested in competing in the Battle of the Books read as many of the titles as they can, and practice answering questions about the books. At the competition, each team is given a written list to complete. The 4 teams who score the most points on that test proceed to a verbal round of testing. At the end of the verbal round, a winning team is named. Congratulations are in order for our PLS 5th grade team, who narrowly missed making it to the final round, scoring very competitively. Many students have expressed an interest in competing next year; Mrs. Weber will notify students when the list of titles is available.
Letters About Literature
Earlier this year, PLS fourth graders participated in the Iowa Center for the Book’s 2006 Letters About Literature competition. As part of this reading and writing promotion, each student wrote a letter to an author describing how one of that author’s works made a difference in the student’s life. The students wrote amazing letters. In fact, Danielle Snowden’s letter was chosen for an Honorable Mention Award, which she received in April.
Several sixth grade students also expressed an interest in the competition. Judy Bleile, whose letter was entered in the 7th and 8th grade competition because of its length, also received an Honorable Mention Award in April. Congratulations to all of the students who entered on a job well done. Be thinking over the summer about authors to write to next year!
lou.weber@uni.edu
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May Music
OPUS HONOR CHOIR 2006
Opus Honor Choir is open to all students in grades 5-9 in Iowa schools. Students are selected by individual recorded audition made in mid-September. The Opus Festival is held annually in conjunction with the Iowa All State Music Festival in Ames on the ISU campus on the Thursday of All State weekend.
Last year Price Lab/NU hosted the first annual Opus Workshop in partnership with the student ICDA/MENC chapters and Dr. Nicole Lamartine from the UNI School of Music. We will again be offering an Opus Workshop on Saturday, September 9 in the morning. The titles have been released and music will be available for order. With a grant from AFPLS the NU Music Dept. will be able to purchase a direct to CD digital recorder, allowing for high quality recordings with little editing. This will be ideal for making rehearsal materials for students as well as making their audition CD’s. More information will follow regarding Opus and the Opus workshop in September.
NU/Janesville Madrigal Project
NU High and Janesville High School are planning to present a joint Madrigal Dinner production December 9-10, 2006. If you are interested in helping with costuming, banners, table decorations, set building, etc., contact Linda Sharp (Linda.Sharp@uni.edu) . There are some Madrigal workshop days scheduled in August that will be used for Renaissance dance lessons, instrumentalists, vocal ensembles, as well as beginning costuming and banner construction. Vocal director at Janesville is Sandy McDonald.
Gilligan’s Island
The 6th Grade Choir plans to drift out to sea on Tuesday, May 23 with a dinner concert from 5:30 to 7:00. We are hoping for good weather so we can be outside and you can bring lawn chairs. It won’t be a “Three Hour Tour”, but we will have a few glimpses at the characters on “Gilligan’s Island” along with some songs and even a dance number. It will be a potluck meal – more information will come home in a letter.
Solo/Ensemble Vocal Recital
Students who received Division I ratings in the Vocal Division at State Solo/Ensemble Contest on April 9 will present a recital in Butzier Auditorium from 6:30 - 7:00 p.m. before the Choral Night Concert at 7:00 on Monday, May 15. There is no admission charge. Soloists and ensembles will perform.
May Music Calendar
2 5-6th NEICDA Honor Choir - Oelwein
5 State Large Group Music Festival
7 Mackenzie Carlisle - Senior Recital, 1:30 p.m., Butzier Auditorium
10 Band Night, 7:00 p.m., 5-12
13 Abhay Nadipuram - Senior Recital, 3:00 p.m., Davis Hall, GBPAC
15 Choral Night, 7:00 p.m., 3-12, Pre-Concert Solo/Ensemble Recital, 6:30
16 Orchestra Night, 6:30 p.m.
19 Clair Williams - Senior Recital, 7:00 p.m., Butzier Auditorium
23 6th Choir Potluck Dinner Concert – “Gilligan’s Island,” 5:30-7:00 p.m.
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2005-06 Chile Exchange
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On March 14 a group of junior and senior NU students along with Sra. Doyle embarked on a two-week exchange trip to Arica in northern Chile. Our trip this year took us from Minneapolis to Atlanta then overnight to Santiago, Chile. From there we flew north to Arica, a city of 350,000 located on the Pacific coast near the border with Peru.
Mandy Rector, Hanna Wiesley, Kenton Engles, Brandon Richmond, Ben Davidson, Mackenzie Carlisle and Joy Hanson represented PLS at our host school, Colegio San Jorge, in Arica. Each student was hosted by a family and had a “brother” or “sister” attending school there. Joy was returning for the 2nd year to stay with the same family. Our students had the opportunity to visit English courses, shadow their host in other classes and meet with the school Director and the school owner. The administration graciously hosted a welcome brunch for our students upon arrival and scheduled an all-school farewell ceremony near the end, awarding honorary diplomas to each of us.
Along with the school experience the NU students and Sra. Doyle participated in a several cultural excursions. Our first excursion was a daylong regional tour which took us to the Anthropological Museum to learn about the peoples and civilizations that have lived in the area from the beginnings to present day. We saw the Chinchorro Mummies, some of the oldest in the world. The excursion also includes visiting the Museum of the War of the Pacific, the Moro monument, Corozones – a series of caves and cliffs on the coast, and the San Marcos cathedral ending with the railway museum.
Colegio San Jorge sponsored a day trip to Tacna Peru included a trip by train, a cathedral tour and shopping at the native markets.
A visit to Lauca National Park and Lake Chungara was a two-day trip high into the Andes Mountains. Spectacular scenery, wild alpacas, llamas, etc as well as hot thermal baths made a big impression on us.
The true highlights of the exchange program are the new friendships and relationships with our Chilean families.
“ Chile was a place that will stick with me forever. My family was amazing and all the experiences were unforgettable. I have never met a group of people who were so kind and giving.” Hanna Wiesley, junior
We look forward to hosting the group from Chile next fall from mid-September through early October.
mary.doyle@uni.edu
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2005-06 French Exchange
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The 2005-2006 NUHS French Exchange has just come to a close. On April 8, ten students from a suburb of Paris came to NUHS to spend two weeks learning about American culture and the English language. They were accompanied by their English teacher, Madame Tourne. The students were hosted by students of French at NU, most of whom made the trip to France in March. The students who participated are: Libby Schultz, Brittan Lawrence, Shannon Piehl, Brittany Juntunen, Jenny Hills, Dylan Klenske, Sid Mitra, Katie Kelly, Amanda Koch, and Ben Kishman.
The French students stayed in the homes of the NU students and attended school with them. Some NUHS teachers also offered special courses to the French students in their areas of specialization. The students made two daytrips while they were here. The first excursion was to Dubuque and Hazleton, where they toured the Mississippi River Museum and an Amish community. The second trip was to the Mall of America in Minneapolis. Many other social and cultural events were planned and carried out by our host students and parents.
The French group left Iowa on April 22 with fond memories of their first visit to the United States.
elizabeth.zwanziger@uni.edu
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Yearbook Orders
It's Time to Order your 2005-06 Yearbooks
Please choose from one of the following three options:
2005-06 All-School Pre-K through Grade 12 Yearbooks (Hard Binding)
The PLS/NU High 2005-06 traditional, hard-bound yearbook covers all grades, P/K through grade twelve, and includes Lifetouch pictures, and pages for organizations, sports, events/activities, student life sections, and candid photo collages. To order a yearbook please email the following information to lynn.dykstra@uni.edu, or fill out a form in the main office. Payment of $40 may be made out to PLS/NU High, Attn.: Yearbook. (Please note: There are still a few of the 2004-05 books available fo r $35 each. If you are interested, please email lynn.dykstra@uni.edu.)
2005-06 Middle School Yearbooks (Soft Binding)
The PLS/NU High yearbook now publishes a separate, (soft-bound) yearbook that includes just the middle school section of the 2005-06 yearbook: Lifetouch photos, candid collage pages, sports and activities, and faculty and sponsor pages. If you are interested please email the following information to lynn.dykstra@uni.edu, or fill out a form available in the main office. Payment of $15 may be made out to PLS/NU High, Attn.: Yearbook 2005-06. (There are still a few of the 2004-05 books available for $15 each). If you are interested, please email lynn.dykstra@uni.edu.)
2005-06 Elementary Yearbooks (Soft Binding)
The PLS/NU High yearbook now publishes a separate, (soft-bound) yearbook that includes just the elementary section of the 2005-06 yearbook: Lifetouch photos, candid collage pages, and faculty and sponsor pages. If you are interested please email the following information to lynn.dykstra@uni.edu, or fill out a form available in the main office. Payment of $15 may be made out to PLS/NU High, Attn.: Yearbook 2005-06. (There are still a few of the 2004-05 books available for $15 each.) If you are interested, please email lynn.dykstra@uni.edu.)
Student Name
Grade
Parent/Guardian Name
Phone Number
**Seniors, please turn in your senior picture, baby picture, favorite memory, and post-secondary plans so they may be included in the yearbook as soon as possible.
Lynn.Dykstra, lynn.dykstra@uni.edu
Graduation Gifts
Parents,
If you are interested in purchasing a novelty item from PLS/NU High for your graduate, please consider one of the following items:
Price Laboratory School
University of Northern Iowa
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PLS Novelty Items
PLS Print - $12.00 each, unframed.
PLS Notecards - (15 cards and envelopes in box) - $10.00
PLS Stocking cap or beanie - $10.00 each
PLS Headband - $8.00
PLS Mugs - $5.00
PLS Yearbooks for 2004-05 - $35
To place an order, please email your request to lynn.dykstra@uni.edu or call 273-2575. Payment may be made out to PLS/NU High. Thank you.
Lynn Dykstra, Instructor, 273-2575, lynn.dykstra@uni.edu
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Guidance
News You Can Use
ACT provides this monthly newsletter to inform students and their parents about college and career planning. ACT is a not-for-profit organization that serves millions of people in schools, colleges, professional associations, businesses, and government agencies with programs and services that help people achieve their education and career goals. Visit www.actstudent.org for more information and services. http://www.act.org/news/use/
jim.stichter@uni.edu
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Jalen Bergman
Receives DAR Award
Jalen Bergman, 8th grade middle school student, was recently honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) at their statewide meeting held in Ames on Saturday, April 29, for his American History essay entitled, Benjamin Franklin - A Revolutionary (How he shaped our society). DAR awarded Jalen with a certificate, a book , a medal, and $75 for his outstanding essay. Jalen will now qualilfy to be entered in the regional competition. Congratulations Jalen!
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Project Green Earth - A Big Success
Thursday night, April 27 is a night to remember! All PK-5th grade students were involved in a concert called Project Green Earth. Mike Nobel, singer/songwriter from Maine was here to work with the students in presenting the concert about civic engagement and care for the Earth. Each classroom had special time to rehearse with Mike during the day and then presented their songs at night for the audience of parents, teachers and friends. Mike believes that through the "power of song", children can help change the world. Under the direction of Michelle Swanson, the wonderful musical talents of our Price Lab Elementary students were showcased. From the opening song "Color Me Green" by the PK/K students to the closing song "One by One" the audience was captivated. Highlights included Riley Gardner's impression of Elvis and the 4th grade girls as back up singers, first grader Isaac Lynch on the guitar and the world debut of "Heartland of America" sung by Delaney Horan and the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. By the end of the concert the whole audience was helping with the song "Stand Up." Unit II students served ecological desserts and set up a recycling center for the trash. Their ecology art work was on display to demonstrate all they have learned throughout this project. An additional part of Project Green Earth is planting a rain garden on the playground. The concert and rain garden were made possible by grants from the R.J. McElroy Foundation and the Community Foundation written by Lynne Ensworth, Denise Tallakson, Nicole Geopfert and Mary Stichter.
Lynne Ensworth, lynne.ensworth@uni.edu
Nicole
Geopfert, nicole.goepfert@uni.edu
Mary Stichter, mary.stichter@uni.edu
Denise Tallakson, denise.tallakson@uni.edu
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Senior Schedule
Wednesday, May 3 - Honors Assembly, 2 p.m., Butzier Auditorium
Tuesday, May 9 - Senior Presentations, 5:00 p.m. - 9:15 p.m.
Tuesday, May 16 - Last day of classes for seniors.
Wednesday, May 17 - "Senior Day"
8:30 a.m. – Assembly in Auditorium (Multiple Presentations), Locker Clean/Check Out
10:00 a.m. – Rehearsal at GBPAC
11:30 a.m. – Senior Luncheon at Becks, Activities Conclude Early PM
2:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Senior Presentations
Thursday, May 18
9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Senior Presentations
All assignments are due to your teachers by 5:00 p.m.
Friday, May 19
Seniors Grades are due in the office by teachers by 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, May 21 – Commencement - Gallagher Bluedorn Perfrorming Arts Center at 12:00
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Elementary Citizenship Program
Monthly Theme: May - Celebrating Care and Excellence
“Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself.”
Chinese Proverb
Some books to read that demonstrate care and excellence are:
First Year Letters by Julie Danneburg
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
My Teacher for President by Kay Winters
Our Principal Promised to Kiss a Pig by Kalli Dakos
Thank you Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill
Related Links:
http://www.pls.uni.edu/citizenship
http://www.firstamendmentschools.org
Manufacturing Class:
Bob's Sweet Games
The 2006 manufacturing class, Bob's Sweet Games, is selling beanbag games. We will probably only sell forty games so this is a limited time offer. Get your beanbag game before we are out of stock.
Plain - $30
Custom painted - $35
Colors ( black and orange, red and yellow, black and yellow)
For more information contact:
Mr. Wilson, Manufacturing class instructor at 273-7858, or send an email to michael.wilson@uni.edu
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| May Links |
UNI-Dome Home – Event Calendar http://www.vpaf.uni.edu/unidome/home/calendar.asp
The UNI-Dome’s online Event Calendar is fair comprehensive and searchable. They include listings for NU High Football home games and other events that are held there,
Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center http://www.uni.edu/gbpac
The GBPAC’s home page offers a listing of upcoming events, and also a link to a calendar for the entire 2004-2005 season. Also worthwhile are the links to events specifically for kids, such as the Kaleidoscope series.
PLS Homepage
The PLS home page includes directory information, links to department and instructor pages, sports and activity schedules, important announcements, a calendar that is updated weekly and links to a variety resources and program information. http://www.pls.uni.edu .
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To submit an article for the online newsletter, please email the information and link to lynn.dykstra@uni.edu
PLS/NU High Online Newsletter Staff
Lynn Dykstra, Editor
PLS Student Assistants
Andreea Dragoi
Jay Miller
Ashley O'Kane
Libby Schultz
Hanna Wiesley
Webmaster
Aaron Spurr
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