From the Middle: Addictions

Keep Our Kids Safe: 

Today in our society there is an increase of dangerous products that are getting the attention of our youth.  In the past, cigarette companies have produced ad campaigns showing how cool it was to smoke.   Today there is in an increase of students using their next wave of products and getting hooked.   Chickasaw County Health is an excellent organization that wants to help youth that may be struggling with addiction.  They can be contacted at 641-394-4053.  Below is a brochure they have put out for the public. 

Project Based Learning in the Content Area: 

Teacher:  Ms. Gilbert

Topic:  Party Time

Driving Question: How can I plan a party that will have activities and food and stay within a budget?  

Project Summary:  Throw a party with snacks, decorations, games/entertainment working together to organize a party including: staying on budget, having a positive attitude, and interacting appropriately (staying in own personal space, using manners, being positive and participating) .  

Conclusion: Ms. Gilbert worked with a group of students to learn how write checks and balance a checkbook. Students then needed to make a list of things they would need to buy for a party and learn about good deals and how to make their money stretch. Students were given $15.00 and they had to make choices to celebrate at the end of the quarter.

J-term Showcase/Getting Into Semester 2

J-term Showcase

J-term came to an end on Wednesday with the Showcase. Students used this opportunity to shows parents and community members how they answered their driving questions and met the standards of their courses. In addition, we gathered feedback from families and community members, and will be sending out surveys to staff and students to work on continuous improvement of J-term and project based learning at NHHS.

The gym and surround area were packed with over 600 people curious to see what our students and staff were doing during J-term and what deeper learning occurred.

One of the highlights of the Showcase was the fashion show, speech presentation and tap dance performance. The students in Project Runway not only organized and sewed the clothing, they also designed the presentation for that half hour on the gym stage.

The afternoon before the Showcase, Dinner Party with a Twist performed the murder mystery they wrote and served the meal the prepared. Although weather kept them from their original performance, having some students from another class helped fill the audience.  What a creative and complicated task!

Getting Into Semester 2

Second semester official began on Thursday.  Students hit the ground running after the J-term transition following winter break.  This semester, students will be preparing for the new state assessment, PBL in classroom time, and end of the year activities including graduation. 

One of the highlights in February will be the Networking and Opportunity Fair sponsored by the NICC Sector Board and Iowa BIG North.  We are working to show students the opportunities in the greater Chickasaw County area and the education and training required for careers in their identified and/or chosen clusters. 

J-Term and Building Project Update

J-Term

If you've been following our social media or talking to our high school students you are likely aware that J-Term is going on now at the high school.  This is our second year for this at the high school.  It gives our students and instructors an opportunity to go deeper into an area of interest to them.  We have groups out exploring careers by visiting a variety of businesses, industries, and colleges to see what's available to them.  We have 24 seniors who are out doing extended internships to really get a feel for what they may be thinking of doing after they graduate this spring.  Of course, we have students creating their own clothing, making marble roller coasters, working on robotics, exploring history, exploring the outdoors and a whole lot of other opportunities for them.  The extended internships are something I find very exciting.  We've always done job shadows and will continue to do them, but they are usually fairly short and only give our students a taste of what a career may have to offer.  By allowing our students the opportunity to explore a career for an extended time, they can really see what the career is about.  We have students out in a variety of fields and want to send a huge shout out to the businesses and entities that are providing these opportunities for our students.  We couldn't make it work without the support and cooperation of each one of them.  

Another opportunity I want to take a minute to discuss is "Cruising Careers".  Last year this was known as Cruising Colleges, but our instructors changed it to reflect all of the opportunities our students have when they graduate that may reflect varying levels of education.  These students have been visiting a variety of colleges and also a variety of industries and businesses so our students can learn about what's available.  I think some students have been surprised at the opportunities that exist that don't require a four year degree.  We frequently discuss the importance of making sure our students understand that not everyone needs a four year degree (and the debt that goes with it) and more importantly they understand what's out there and what it pays.  "Cruising Careers" does exactly that.  If someone wants to attend a four year college, we will make sure they have what they need to be successful.  If someone wants to pursue another avenue, we are making sure they know what that is and what it takes to be successful there.  

This also gives our students a chance to explore some Project Based Learning and dig in and do some hands on work with their peers in ways they may not have done before.  They practice collaboration, problem solving, creativity, and a host of other skills they've acquired over the years.  

In addition, the students get to apply what they've been learning throughout their school careers.  It's a lot of fun to see the excitement and enthusiasm in both our students and staff members.  If you want to see more, be sure to plan to attend our showcase next Wednesday, January 16th from 4 to 6 in the gym area at the high school.  Stay tuned as we will be doing Mid-Mester with our middle school students in late February.  

Building Project Update

Progress is moving ahead rapidly on the new building.  Yesterday, I counted 27 work trucks on site related to the project.  The contractors have been doing an awesome job of keeping everything moving.  Below are a couple of pictures.  The stairway between the two levels is nearly complete and the drywall and interior wall finishes are moving along in the main lobby areas.  

Every time I go through the space I see new things that have been completed.  It's really an exciting time in the process.  Drywall is going up, finish brick is being applied inside the building and they are currently putting the final roof on the Ag/Industrial Tech building.  It sounds like they are expecting the windows to start arriving next week so they can get those in and get the plastic out of the way.  They have the heaters running in the gym and locker area and the ground is thawed so they are running underground utilities in those areas as they prepare to pour the cement there next.  Keep checking our Facebook page for updates as we will continue to post there as well.  

 

From the Middle: Start of a New Semester

New Year and New Beginnings: 

We welcomed students back on January 3rd and shared with them progress on the new building project.  The building is progressing quickly and our hopes are to be in the building before July.  If you have ever built a house, you know there are a lot of decisions to be made and adjustments needed along the way. Students are very interested in what next year will bring for them as well as the community.  We will have an awesome facility that will support many opportunities for students to collaborate, communicate, think critically, and be creative.  We have many examples of new learning this week in the middle school that demonstrate the hard work teachers are doing to get ready for next year.  Continue reading below to see some of the highlights as well as pictures of the new building.

New Building:

Cafeteria

 Classroom

 Hallway from the Main Entrance

Gathering Space

Project Based Learning in the Content Area: 

Teachers:  Mrs. Feldman

Topic:  Changing Our World

Driving Question: How can you change your world?

Project Summary:  Students will work in groups to determine what issues they see in their world that they could potentially have the ability to try to change. They will need to research and find facts to accompany their opinions and then will be given the chance to support their arguments through an essay and presentation to whoever has control over their chosen issue.

Conclusion: Students will be presenting their persuasive arguments to people of influence to lobby for change beginning next week. Some of the topics include more time for student lunch, portion size of student lunches, cell phones, deer hunting regulations, and other topics in the community, state and country.

More J-term- great stuff happening!

We are now more than halfway through out 10 day J-term.  Part of the Project Based Learning process is the final product for a public audience.  Please make time to attend our J-term Showcase on Wednesday, January 16 from 4-6 pm.  This is a free event in the high school gym and surrounding area where students are demonstrating how they met the standards of their J-term course.  You will experience everything from food samples to a fashion show to discussing with students how they are making career and college decisions.  Last year, this was our highest attended event for parents and community.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Pictures do not do credit to the work our students and staff are doing during J-term.  The authentic and community based learning is beyond measure and hopefully has created an educational experience our students can take into their futures in a positive and meaningful way.

Band and choir students left on Tuesday afternoon for a once in a lifetime experience at DisneyWorld in Florida.  As part of their Disney Music Production course, they will perform, work with Disney staff and produce music from Disney movies and productions.  Of course, this is also an opportunity for them to explore Disney!  The spent the 4 days leading up to the trip researching the parks and working through music they will perform.

A group of senior students is taking Practical Economics during their time.  Not only are they meeting the required economic standards, they are also going out into the community to learn how to "adult" more.  This week they have learned how to buy a car, set up a financial and/or retirement plan and work with a local bank.  This has all been hands on with the business and industry services in the New Hampton area. A big thanks to Mitch Laures, Ryan Rausch and Dustin Lewis for giving up time to work with our kids!

Even the adults are getting in on the fun.  It is difficult to not want to learn with students, and in fact, learning WITH students instead of being the giver and holder of knowledge is part of the PBL process.  Mr. Schmitt and Mr. Frerichs works with Building Rollercoaster students this week when they needed someone a littler taller to help with some construction.  Retired staff member, Bill Ipsen has also been working with this group of students who receive math credit for the class while also learning some physics concepts and industrial technology construction skills.



There is so much going on that it is hard to catch everything.  I suggest you follow our hashtag #Jterm19 and #NHtribe to see videos and pictures of the amazing things happening at New Hampton High School. See you at the Showcase on Wednesday!

J-term 2019 Has Begun!

J-term 2019 at NHHS is underway!  Please keep up with us on twitter, facebook, and instagram with videos and pictures of the work students are doing.  It is exciting and invigorating to come back after winter break to see students looking forward to courses that address some of their learning passions and focus on student-centered classrooms with project-based learning.

Day 1 is full of relationship building activities and setting the stage for 10 days of student driven work. In addition to course content standards, students and staff are laser-focused on the skills of the 4 Cs-- communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.

Self-proclained "History Nerds" are working through the process of History Day in Extreme US History while earning social studies credit.  Students began their course with setting up a form of communication among the group outside of the classroom.

 In America at War with Mr. Meisner, students are earning history credit will exploring the evolution of war from the early explorers to modern history. They started the course with group research and discussion on the early explorers, myths and realities.

Counting back change is a life skill personally and professionally that students spent time on one afternoon in Are You Ready for the the Real World? Students had to communicate and use critical thinking skills to give back and make change for a variety of circumstances.

In Project Runway, students are already working on ideas for their outfits as the prepare for shopping tomorrow.  They are using their creative skills to choose fabrics, styles, and combinations.










These are just a few examples of the classes occurring these 10 days.  I encourage you to ask your students about J-term and what they are expecting to discover.  I also invite you to stop up at any time to see the work in action.  What a fun way to come back from winter break!