May 2008
-
It's a Bird, it's a Plane, it's a High Altitude Balloon!
Anne Scheele
Things are looking up at Orchard and it was especially evident on the morning of April 24th. Sixth grade students made an all-call on the public address system for Orchard students and teachers to gather on the track at the north end of the campus at 8:45 a.m. Our six graders had teamed with physics and astronomy students from Taylor University to develop and launch a high altitude balloon with research payloads to receive real-time feedback in flight. How do elementary school students build a curricular partnership with college students? Networking. Orchard science teacher, Holli Joyal’s involvement with NASA and Purdue University has opened many doors of opportunity for Orchard students. We are a pilot elementary school for the “Engineering Design Process” (Ask… Imagine… Plan… Create… Improve). Our accomplishments with this program have achieved such notoriety that Sally Ride cited the work of Orchard students at a national conference; she did not know Holli Joyal, who was in the audience at the time. Teacher-astronaut Barbara Morgan from the Johnson Space Center and involved with the “space seeds” program stated in her blog, “Every teacher should see what the students at The Orchard School are doing. Orchard has taken this program further than any other elementary school."
Read More -
A Living Wax Museum!
Ginger Bievenour
On March 27, second graders made history come alive for hundreds of parents and fellow classmates during their annual Wax Museum. As explained by 2nd grade teacher, Courtney Linder, the overall goal of this curricular unit is to get the students "thinking about what it truly means to be a good leader; in the classroom, school, local community, state, all the way up to global leadership. It's all about choices. Someone who has status but makes poor choices is not a good leader." After spending two weeks discussing what makes a good leader, students select someone they particularly admire to research. Students have many people from whom to choose, but they are also given the option of choosing someone, for instance, from their own cultural background who may not be well known. Students research their choice from materials at school, take notes and prepare for their presentation at the Wax Museum. When the big day arrives and the Wax Museum is all set up, the 2nd graders stand in place ready to give their presentations and to answer questions of their many visitors. The students enthusiastically share information about their chosen leaders, often interjecting amusing and unknown details about the lives of these individuals. These students have already learned that part of becoming a leader is planning and carefully preparing for an effective and meaningful presentation.
Read More
-
Celebrating Earth Day Year-Round at Orchard
Ginger Bievenour
At the all-school assembly on Friday, April 25, students from several grades presented environmental projects they have been involved with throughout the year. Many of the projects are student-driven and part of ongoing curriculum. It's important to note that the following summaries reflect only part of what students are doing at Orchard to make our community more environmentally aware.
Read More
-
Orchard Summer Camps
Ginger Bievenour
JOIN US FOR SUMMER FUN! Registration is still open for fun-filled weeks at Orchard Summer Camps! Fun and Learning Go Hand-in-Hand Camp helps make us who we are—through the discovery of new places, meeting new friends, the thrill of learning something new. Orchard Summer Camps are committed to offering a quality camping experience where our campers discover learning in hands-on and exciting ways. There is a camp to fit every need and interest, to build new skills and hone existing ones, to open doors to new and exciting possibilities. A diverse group of campers offers opportunities to make new friends while sharing experiences and exploring intriguing places.
Read More
-
Annual Giving Participation at a New Level!
Erin Duffy
It has been a phenomenal year for the Annual Giving Campaign. Thanks to the dedication of many families and volunteers, parent participation is the highest it has been in over five years. As of April 30, we are celebrating 78% parent participation -- well on our way to 100%. Thank you to each and every family who has participated so far. Every gift is just the right amount and important to the financial health and well-being of the school. While it is very much a time to celebrate, we still have to meet our dollar goal. We don't have far to go -- less than $3,000 more will bring us to the threshold where the Annual Giving Challenge kicks in and and then EVERY dollar equals $2. From there, because of the match, we are less than $20,000 away from our $775,000 goal. It has been an inspiring year in no small part to the entire Advancement Committee, the Annual Giving Champions, the Parents' Association and YOU!
Read More -
Math-a-thon for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Ginger Bievenour
Ninety-nine Orchard students from kindergarten to 8th grade participated in the Math-a-thon again this year and earned an astounding $11,268.70. These dollars will help fight the more than 200 forms of cancer and other catastrophic diseases that are treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. This is how it works: students first choose to participate, then they select a booklet, CD or Online set of math problems. Generally the student selects a set of 200 plus problems for his or her grade level, but not always--some prefer to go to higher levels. They then solicit sponsors for each problem they complete. Once done, the problems are checked by parents, but there is no competition involved. Diana Najjar touts this program as being congruent with Orchard's math curriculum, as being a good way to involve parents and as a great way to earn much-needed funds for a worthwhile cause. It's a win-win for everyone involved!
Read More -
I.S.S.M.A. -- Orchard Students in the Limelight!
GInger Bievenour
According to music teacher Dustin Klein, the I.S.S.M.A. (Indiana State School Music Association) competitions give students 5th through 8th grade opportunities to gain experience in performance and excellence in musicality. Students perform at different levels and compete for a rating--not against other students. There two different competitions; one for instrumental and one for piano/vocal; and five levels, within which a student may attain a rating of gold, silver or bronze. Thirty-six Orchard students participated this year.
Read More
-
Continental Math League Defined and the Results of the March 2008 Competition
Ginger Bievenour
Just exactly what is the Continental Math League? And, who participates? According to Diana Najjar, hundreds of schools throughout the country participate in the Continental Math League competitions. New Jersey, New York, Minnesota and California are especially well represented. Here in Indiana, participating schools include: Park Tudor, Stanley Clark, Sycamore, St. Mary's, Van Buren, Kennedy Primary Academy, Heritage Christian, Sunman, Indian Creek, Zionsville, Tecumseh and West Lafayette. The Continental Math League competitions require students to problem solve using multi-step equations, critical reading skills and many other problem-solving strategies. No questions are multiple choice. The League annually sponsors five competitions, one each month from November to March. Orchard students grades 4 through 8 participate. There are three competitions for 3rd grade, one each month January to March. Many public and private schools participate in the less-rigorous Indiana Math League contest that is a multiple choice test requiring 30 minutes of class time.
Read More
-
KUDOS to Students, Faculty & Staff
Ginger Bievenour
Kudos to 8th grader Ali MacAllister for placing 4th in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Writing Contest that is sponsored by the Children's Museum. There are 1000's of entries from across the state. She will be reading her essay at an upcoming event at the Children's Museum.
Isabella and Cecie Baranyk, Amanda Spitzenberg and Megan Carmichael will be performing in a tribute performance at Clowes Hall with the Jordan Academy of Dance on Saturday, May 17 at 2 p.m.
The kindergarten classes are displaying vases the children made to raise money for Riley Children's Hospital. They may be purchased through the Kindergarten teachers.
Kudos to the many students who assembled bags for Orchard In Bloom. It was an all-day effort to stuff 5,000 bags for the weekend event!
