Enrichment choices 2009/2010 school year-
9/16- Smith Island Parent meeting (8th grade) This meeting is for the PARENTS of any 8th grade student interest in the Smith Island trips in November and December. See those dates below for a description of the trip. Cost to be announced at the meting.
10/2/09- The Bog (7th grade only) Travel to Linn Run State Park to study ecology in the BOG! You will also visit St. Vincent’s college to learn how they naturally filter water through a series of settling ponds. This trip leaves from IMS before the start of school and returns to IMS after the end of the school day.
10/15- Write On (6th grade only) Do you like creative writing in any form, (stories, poetry, articles)? If so “Write On” is for you. At the Baierl Center, bring a lunch.
10/23- Creative Convention (7th and 8th grade) A day to unleash your creativity. Creative Convention highlights several different types of creative activities and also lets you get to know some of your classmates with group activities. At the Baierl Center, bring a lunch.
10/28- Creative Convention (6th grade) A day to unleash your creativity. Creative Convention highlights several different types of creative activities and also lets you get to know some of your classmates with group activities. At the Baierl Center, bring a lunch.
11/5- Calcu-Solve (6th grade) Do you do math problems for fun? Ok, are you good at math and ready for a challenge? If so then Calcu-Solve is for you. This competition will be used as a qualifier for the AIU Calcu-Solve later in the month. At the Baierl Center, bring a lunch.
11/9 Smith Island Workshop (8th grade) The students attending the Smith Island trips will meet to plan for their excursions and learn more about their destination. Attendance is required for any student going on the trips. At the Baierl Center, bring a lunch.
11/11- Sci-Tech Festival (7th and 8th grade preference) Sponsored by CMU and the Carnegie Science Center this event focuses on careers in the fields of science. Students will be asked to preregister for workshop on specific careers. At the science center, bring a lunch.
11/17- Faraday Chemistry Lecture (7th and 8th preference) If you enjoy Bill Nye the Science Guy you will like this event. A “hands on” description of basic scientific principles always leads to fun and learning. At Soldiers and Sailors Hall, lunch at Ross Park Mall.
11/20- Calcu-Solve (6th grade) This event is for the students with the highest scores from the earlier NA Calcu-Solve. This competition has the exact same format as the previous one, (not the same questions though!). At Duquesne University, bring a lunch.
11/22-11/24 Smith Island (8th grade) This trip focuses on learning while immersed in an atypical environment. You will be on a remote island in the Chesapeake Bay learning about how ecological laws have affected the residents of small fishing villages. You will meet and talk to the few remaining islanders and learn about their way of life. Cost to be announced at the parent meeting.
12/2- Knowledge Master (8th grade) This competition involves answering a variety of questions on a broad knowledge base. Students work together as an MMS team and submit one answer. In the MMS computer lab for 3 periods.
12/8- Chess Tournament- (6th grade) The name pretty much says it all. The top 10 representatives from MMS will take on the rest of the northern area schools. At Hampton Middle School, bring a lunch.
12/9- Chess Tournament- (7th and 8th grade) The name pretty much says it all. The top 10 representatives from MMS will take on the rest of the northern area schools. At Hampton Middle School, bring a lunch.
12/15- Globe Quest- (6th grade) If you like social studies and do well in geography Globe-Quest is for you. There will be all sorts of challenging activities involving maps, flags, and other things geographic. At the Baierl Center, bring a lunch.
1/5- Mock Trial (7th and 8th grade) Do you argue with your parents? No, surely not you! Put those skills to good use in Mock Trial. The team begins in October analyzing a case and then bringing it to trial today in front of an actual attorney. You will be competing against a team from another school district. At LaRoche college, eating arrangements TBA.
1/19- Write On (7th and 8th grade) Do you like creative writing in any form, (stories, poetry, articles)? If so “Write On” is for you. At the Baierl Center, bring a lunch.
1/20- Knowledge Master (6th grade) This competition involves answering a variety of questions on a broad knowledge base. Students work together as an MMS team and submit one answer. In the MMS computer lab for 3 periods.
1/21- Battery Car Race (6th grade) You will prepare a battery car to compete against other 6th graders in a drag race. This event involves preparing a car beforehand to race. At the Baierl Center, bring a lunch.
1/28 Calcu-Solve (7th and 8th grade) Do you do math problems for fun? Ok, are you good at math and ready for a challenge? If so then Calcu-Solve is for you. At the Baierl Center, bring a lunch.
The week of 2/8- Shakespeare Competition (6th, 7th, and 8th) Calling all actors, you have to get your big break somewhere. This competition involves memorizing a monologue or scene from Shakepeare and then performing it on stage. (You can work with friends on the scenes!) The top ten students from the Pittsburgh area then perform in the finals at night in front of a live audience. Obviously preparation is involved. At the O’Reilly Theater, eating arrangements TBA.
2/17- Back in Time (7th and 8th grade) Did you know that Chester A. Arthur owned 80 pair of pants? If you did then Back in Time is for you. If you didn’t, but you like history and learning is for you too! At the Baierl Center, bring a lunch.
2/18- Back in Time (6th grade) Did you know that Chester A. Arthur owned 80 pair of pants? If you did then Back in Time is for you. If you didn’t, but you like history and learning is for you too! At the Baierl Center, bring a lunch.
3/3- Wordsmith (7th and 8th grade) This event is for everyone who loves words, competitions will involve Scrabble, Boggle, and Think-it Linkits. For anyone who reads a lot and loves English class. At the Baierl Center, bring a lunch.
3/9- Equations (6th grade) A unique math competition where you get the answer first and work backwards. This game has been challenging students for years and the competition will be intense again this year. You need to learn the game before the competition (about 20 minutes). At the Baierl Center, bring a lunch.
3/16- Wordsmith (6th) This event is for everyone who loves words, competitions will involve Scrabble, Boggle, and Think-it Linkits. For anyone who reads a lot and loves English class. At the Baierl Center, bring a lunch.
3/19 Equations (7th and 8th grade) A unique math competition where you get the answer first and work backwards. This game has been challenging students for years and the competition will be intense again this year. You need to learn the game before the competition (about 20 minutes). At the Baierl Center, bring a lunch.
3/24 Knowledge Master (6th grade) This competition involves answering a variety of questions on a broad knowledge base. Students work together as an MMS team and submit one answer. In the MMS computer lab for 3 periods.
4/8 Academic Triathlon (7th and 8th grade) This is a general knowledge competition that will test your knowledge base against other students your age. Half of the contest is a “Jeopardy” style buzzer game, the other half is a series of stations that challenge you with identification questions. At the Baierl Center, bring a lunch.
5/11 Space Expo (7th and 8th grade) Do you like engineering? Are you interested in space? If so Space expo is for you. This is the “big bubble “ project where students construct a habitat to live in for a day. Preparations also include doing research on space travel and a specific planet. At the Baierl Center, lunch is incorporated in the event. There is a small cost ($15-20) for this event.
5/14- Environmental Problem Solving (6th grade) For all budding ecologists. This event will help students learn more about the world they live in and the creatures that share that world. At North Park, bring a lunch.
Date ???- PA Middle School Computer Fair (6th, 7th, and 8th grade)- Students prepare a computer project using a variety of platforms (Word, Publisher, Moviemaker, etc.) and exhibit at the science center. Judges select the winners who then go on to the State Computer Fair. At the Carnegie Science Center, bring a lunch.
We will be adding opportunities throughout the year as they become available. Please check the MMS website for updates and feel free to contact us anytime with questions or concerns. Thanks!!!
Pam Ross- PRoss@northallegheny.org
Dan Williams- dwilliams@northallegheny.org
724-934-6010