Discover! Workshops

What is happening between 7:30 and 8:10 daily at the Middle School? Well, there’s breakfast, of course… Math and Reading Lab, too… But, for three years, now, Mrs. Tuxhorn and a group of eager minds and early risers have joined together during this “Zero Period” to learn about a multitude of topics.

Discover! Workshops are high interest mini-workshops open to all interested learners in every grade level. Lasting about 2 weeks, each, they will begin on a Tuesday, and end ten days later on a Monday. Notices about individual workshops will be posted on the school web site, in classrooms, and usually in the Tiger’s Lair.

What does your interested Middle Schooler need to do? See Mrs. Tuxhorn to sign up for the particular workshop, arrive promptly at 7:30 through the playground center door to her room (9), faithfully attend for those ten days, and send in a quick note from you to let her know your child has permission to attend for that session. Easy as can be!

Together, Mrs. Tuxhorn and her students have designed a program for the duration of this year that might fascinate you enough that you will gladly get up early to join us! We look forward to seeing you here, soon.

Chess Club:

Every week during the 5th period lunch, children in grades 5 and 6 enjoy each others company as they learn the basics of chess. This enrichment opportunity is available to these kids on a first come first served basis. This allows the group to rotate and enjoy the company of others. These students will have the chance to compete in a mini-tournament mid-way though the year. The top 5 winners will have the opportunity to participate in a county-wide tournament held at Blairstown Elementary School in mid-winter. This is a fun opportunity for kids who love this ancient game of thinking and strategy.

STEP and Let’s Explore:

Kids are natural born learners, and for some that desire to learn is so strong that it is insatiable… unstoppable…unbelievable…a magical and magnificent sight to behold.

The students who participate in STEP and Let’s Explore are some of those children who have been identified as this kind of learner.

Children in STEP are enriched in a program geared toward the academically excellent critical thinker, whereas those students in Let’s Explore have been identified as those students who have wonderfully creative problems solving skills. Program participants share the same curriculum, but attack it differently.

This year, topics like World Geography, a Toy-Vention Convention, Create-a-Culture, Heroes and Villains, and Character Education will be explored. Sprinkle that with Current Events, Debate, Problem Solving Activities and Games, and you have the recipe for a fun-filled year of learning enrichment.

Insight: Reading and Language Arts:

A new enrichment program is in its foundling stage at the Middle School. Students who have been identified as outstanding readers and writers have been invited to meet once a week throughout the year to enjoy the wonderful world of Mark Twain and others. These children will have the opportunity to read, discuss, laugh and enjoy this great American humorist, as well as gain an insight into the message of Twain’s work. Look for a chance to see what they’ve discovered as the year progresses on a web page near you.

Warren County Consortium for Student Enrichment: (WCCSE):

The Consortium is a group of teachers within the county all working with children identified as gifted and talented. These people meet twice a year to plan and provide their collective students with opportunities to interact in fun activities. Students in the varying Middle School Enrichment Classes have the chance to participate with these other students throughout the County in activities like Battle of the Books, Chess Tournament, and Battle of the Minds. These activities are held after school at different schools within the county. Such fun!!