Here is a link to our favorite article, "When Children turn into Cats" By Adair Lara.

SOMS GOES TO WASHINGTON 2011

Rookie of the Year

Angela T. was named "Rookie of the Year" at TZHS Sports Awards. Angela is a 7th grade athlete who plays on the varsity golf team. Congratulations Angela!

Fun with Physics

On June 8, Mrs. Moore’s 7th grade accelerated math class went on a second field trip to Clarkstown North High School. Our students worked collaboratively with this Physic’s Class in the fall and returned to continue the work on applying real life application of mathematics. The students used rockets and were able to calculate the height of the rocket using the formula for velocity. Mr. Covert, Clarkstown North Physic’s Teacher, posed questions to the students based on the information of the rocket that was launched straight up in the air. They had to make predictions using their previous calculations on the behavior of the rocket’s path due to the angle it was launched. After the rocket activity, we returned to the classroom in order to review and dialogue about the mathematics concepts and its correlation to physics. Dominic M., a SOMS student, answered the question posed about resistance in which he said “air hinders the speed of the rocket at a 30 degree angle”. The goal of the field trip was to have students apply their learning to real life applications and get them excited to take Physics in the future.
 

Use of Technology Continues to Engage Children to Learn

QR Codes unlock ancient civilization for 6th graders at South Orangetown Middle School. You probably have seen a similar image to the one above, popping up in advertisements and windows and/or on products all around you.

A Quick Response (QR) Code is a 2D barcode that can be read by special software on a camera phone, usually as a free download on a smart phone. Depending on your QR code reader, once scanned you’ll be redirected to a web page, call a phone number, see a message, a URL, calendar event, contact info, email address, SMS text message, or even a geolocation.

Sixth Grade students used their knowledge about QR Codes to entice more people to learn about Ancient Civilization. After completing the Big 6 research protocol, students generated and posted QR Codes to their exhibit. There is a wealth of information that many of us do not have the time to read and the time to absorb information all in one day. QR Codes allow everyone to learn at their leisure. Please view their projects in the SOMS library and scan the QR Codes. The information will be available to read immediately or for later enjoyment.

The QR project was coordinated by the following teachers: Kerri McBride, Patty Eyer, Pam Tarasco, Luke Freeley, Farah Jaquith and Morgan Harris.

 Global Ambassadors interviewed Lynn Manzione, the author of
"A Wondrous Journey" which chronicles the life of Dr. Macguffie.

 

Bracelets will be sold at the middle school and high school during the lunch periods.
Donate two dollars, buy a bracelet, and make a difference. WEAR for SHARE!

For more information about Dr. MacGuffie’s SHARE organization, visit http://shareafrica.org
 

Character Education… Heroes and Cool Kids Update

Heroes and Cool Kids wrapped up its second of three vistis to SOMS today. The high school students (our Heroes) and our sixth grade students (our Cool Kids) did a great job presenting and handling themselves in the middle school classrooms. While the first visit focused on "ice-breaking" activities and developing a relationship with the students, today's visit focused on bullying awareness and prevention. Topics included:

• Characteristics of bullying behavior

• Three-fold message of the visit: (Stop bullying if you are, get help if you are a victim and get involved by talking to an adult if you witness bullying)

• Sportsmanship

• Problem Solving Scenarios

• Steps to take if you are bullied online

The third, and final, visit by the high schoolers will take place in early May. This session will focus on the "heaviest" of the topics so far (drugs, alcohol and other temptations).

Submitted by:
Chip Foley
Character Education Committee
 

SOMS French Canadian Adventure!

Forty-four South Orangetown Middle School French students traveled to Canada for four days to experience French life in and around Quebec City. The trip, arranged by Madame Marie-Laure Spatz, French teacher at SOMS, allowed students to enjoy many great activites and experience a totally different cultural. Outdoors activities such as dog-sledding, a visit to the Hotel de Glace and the Montmorency Falls and snow tubing were all explored. At the sugar shack, they learned about maple syrup production, ate sirop a la tire and partook in dances with locals. They also spent a morning with their Canadian pen-pals interacting in a game of "Crazyball" and having conversations over local pizza. Finally, they were able to walk through history in the cobbled stone streets of the Petit-Champlain neighborhood, and learned about the creation of Quebec through the many characters of the Chateau Frontenac.

You can share their adventures by clicking here: http://staff.socsdblogs.org/mspatz/quebec-2011.

 

SOMS Students Receive Awards from NYS PTA Reflections Competition
Congratulations to Sabrina R. and Lian C. for receiving an Award of Merit at the New York State PTA Competition for their Reflections Program Visual Arts Entries. Their work will be featured at the New York State PTA Convention in November.
 

SOMS Participates in Doodle 4 Google Contest

Forty six SOMS art students recently competed in this year’s Doodle 4 Google competition. Each year, Google invites students to use their artistic talents in redesigning the Google homepage logo. This year’s theme is "What I'd like to do someday…..". The student’s work was judged, and winners chosen by teachers Beth Dougherty, and Peter Olsen based on artistic merit and how well the theme was depicted. Sixteen student works were selected to move on to the Region # 2 competition encompassing New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Winners from each region around the country will then go to the National competition. The winning logo from the National Competition will be displayed on the Google homepage on May 20, 2011.

The following students will be competing at the Regional's:

Yuna S., Kai C., Sara M., Shannon E., Erin B., Caitlin T., Stephanie S., Rebecca S., Rachel M., Sandra G., Joanna S., Samantha G., Livia B., Annika S., Christy J., Elen X.
 

A hearty congratulations to our very own Science Olympiad Club
The Science Olympiad Club came in first place in the Lower Hudson Valley region. There were 27 teams in the tournament and the competition was tough. They now move onto the State Competition in April. Congratulations again to all the SOMS Science Olympiad participants and a special "Thank you" to the coaches and parents for all of their support.

Stephen Cohn Participates in St. Baldrick's for a Cure

Middle school teacher Stephen Cohn participated in St. Baldrick's on March 13 at Dominican College. The St. Baldrick's organization raises money to help find a cure to childhood cancer. Mr. Cohn collected over $1,100 in sponsors (and counting), about $400 of which came from the staff of SOMS.
 

The Art Department of Rockland Community College and the Rockland Art Educators Association will present, “Young Artists at Work,” an exhibit by K-12 Rockland County art students, from March 7 to March 30, at the RCC Library on the main campus in Suffern. There will also be a special opening reception for the artists on March 9.

Reception: “Young Artists at Work”
Wednesday, March 9, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
(snow date is Thursday, March 10)
Free and open to the public
Art Underground, Library Media Center, lower level

“Young Artists at Work,” is the 13th annual student art exhibit organized by the College’s Art Department, in collaboration with the Rockland Art Educators Association. The exhibit features a wide range of media, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, graphic design, ceramics and jewelry.

Four 8th grade SOMS students will be exhibiting their artwork in the 13th Annual Young Artists Exhibition including;
Sonya H., Sydney C. Sara M., and Lily S.

Five SOMS Students Receive Black Achievement Awards

On February 9, 2011, five SOMS students were honored at the Annual Black Achievement Awards ceremony held at Rockland Community College. Amber M-W, Hailey Mc-W. and Desiree S. received awards based on the requirement of an academic average of 92% or greater, plus outstanding participation and accomplishment in at least two of the following categories: Community Service, Artistic Expression, Athletic Ability and Accomplishment, Leadership, and Personal Triumph and Success. Chelsea M. and Adrian T. received Honorable Mention certificates based on an academic average between 85 and 91.
 

All-County Music Festival

Congratulations to the 33 students selected to participate in the Intermediate All-County Music Festival from SOCSD!  Students will spend Friday afternoon and Saturday (March 4 and March 5) in rehearsal preparing for a Saturday evening concert. The Intermediate All-County Festival will be held at the Fieldstone Secondary School in Thiells. Participating students in grades 4, 5, and 6 will perform in either the choral, orchestra, or band ensembles. The following students from SOMS and CLE will be participating:

Grace B., Emily B., James B., Diana C., April C., Jane C., Olivia D., Caroline D., Erin D., Tara D., Ryan F., Liam F., Emily G., Elinor G., Sydney J., Paul K., Andrea K., Zoe K., Kayla L., Sarah M., Stefano M., Alexander M., Kelsey M., Camryn M., Bridget O., Laura O., Lauren S., Natalie T., Ian T., Maria T., Rose U., Danielle V., Sophia Z.
 

SOMS STUDENTS EMBRACE WORLD MATH DAY 2011

SOMS School Library Media Specialist, Mrs. Patty Eyer collaborated with Mrs. Suzanne Mantin and her 8th period math class for World Math Day 2011. Using laptops, iTouches and an extremely high level of excitement, the students entered the room ready to create their avatars and mathematically challenge countries from around the world in a day of demanding math concepts. At the beginning of the day, there were already over 22, 000,000 correct responses. Within hours, the ticker reached over 307,000,000. There were 5.3 million students from 218 countries registered to take part this year.

Students are united on this special day to set a new world record by answering 1 billion questions. All SOMS 6th grade math classes joined in this fun competition.


“Everybody needs some inspiration, Everybody needs some motivation, mix it up with some imagination, and use your natural gifts.” -- The Kinks

SOMS ART STUDENTS PUT A STAMP ON IT





Youth Art Month is an annual observance in March that emphasizes the value of art education for all children, and to help encourage support for school art programs. SOMS Studio in Art students and members of the Art Club helped celebrate Youth Art Month by creating postage stamps in the style of famous Artists. Their work, The Artists Stamps, is presently on display throughout the South Orangetown Middle School building.

Also, in keeping with Youth Art Month, SOMS 8th grade students enrolled in the Advanced Studio in Art Class were given the opportunity to participate in an in-school field trip. They were given the opportunity to spend the entire day in the art room working on a variety of art projects.
 

Congrat's to SOMS MathCounts Team

Congratulations to David L., Alex L., Lawrence C., Daeseob L., Eli R., Emma W., Amit K. and Changseob L. for their participation in the 2011 MathCounts competition. Amit took second place overall in the individual competition and Changseob took first place overall in the individual competition. The SOMS MathCounts team took second place and will advance to the state competition in March 2011.
 

SOMS Teacher is Contributing Editor On New Science Book

Mrs. Deena Kramarczyk, SOMS 8th grade Science Teacher, was the primary author for one chapter of the book, Earth Science Puzzles: Making Meaning from Data. Additionally, she served on the committee of teachers who developed and tested all of the data puzzles included in the book. The new book can be previewed online at :

http://learningcenter.nsta.org/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9781935155157

Kramarczyk has served as a contributing editor for numerous textbooks, review books, and lab books over the last 12 years. The students and staff of the middle school sent Kramarczyk their congratulations on her accomplishment.

Atka Returns to South Orangetown Middle School Wowing the 8th Grade Class

Students in the 8th grade of the South Orangetown Middle School had the opportunity to learn about the plight of the North American Wolf. Representatives from the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, NY, came to the assembly, accompanied by Atka, a white wolf, to attempt to clear up common misconceptions regarding wolves. "It is our job", said Josh, who was leading the lecture, "to make sure wolves will be around for a long time. Wild wolves are elusive and will stay away from humans," he continued. "It is the mission of the Wolf Conservation Center to promote wolf conservation through education, and to convey the fact that wolves in the wild are not dangerous to people, but are, in fact, afraid of them. Wolves will run if they see humans," he added. After asking the students to remain seated, Atka was brought in by his handler, Rebecca. Atka walked all around the auditorium giving everyone the opportunity to see him at close range while he observed his surroundings. As he continued his observation, students were given the chance to pose any questions they had. When the assembly was over, Josh invited students to visit the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, NY, to see some of the wolf pups and to be able to study the wolves in their natural habitat. Eighth grade student’s responded positive to the presentation; one student stated “it’s amazing how fast the wolves grow, from such cute pups”. Another student stated, “I think that the assembly helped me understand why Buck, in Call of the Wild, can compete with the huskies and survive the wild is because they are a descended from wolves.” The eighth grade would like to thank the SOMS PTA for providing this wonderful experience to enhance their reading of Jack London’s Call of the Wild.

Lions International Peace Poster Contest

Students at South Orangetown Middle School participated in the Lions International Peace Poster Contest. The Lions International Peace Poster Contest is an international contest that encourages children, ages 11 – 13, to creatively express what peace means to them. The 20010-2011 contest theme is “The Power of Peace.” The contest allows student to share their unique image of peace with others, so that we may all have greater tolerance in international understanding.

The following students posters were chosen to represent the middle school; Will ., Grade 6, Olivia R., Grade 7, Katie K., Katie P., and Erin S., Grade 8.

These students and their families will be honored at the Blauvelt Lions Club May meeting at the 76 House Restaurant in Tappan.
 

Clarkstown North Field-Trip

On Friday November 5th, Mrs. Moore’s 1st period 7th grade math class, went on a field trip to Clarkstown North High School. On this field trip, we went to visit Mr. Covert’s physics class and applied algebra to the real world. In this experiment, we got into groups and were matched with high school students to work with. We were all placed with a launcher and a metal ball. We measured the height of the launcher and the width of the table. Next, we took a piece of contact paper and placed it where we thought the ball would hit. The ball was launched five times and we took the average of the five lengths. With this information, and using algebra, each group should have been able to find the amount of time and velocity (speed) that the ball was in the air. We built castles in the exact location we thought the ball would knock down the castle. Four of the five groups were successful!

We enjoyed working with the teenagers from Clarkstown North. Overall, it was a great trip!

Written by: Caitlin H. and Maggie M.

SOMS Italian Club Visits Torinos Deli for Some Culinary Updates

On October 6th and October 20th Torino's Deli in Blauvelt, once again graciously invited the South Orangetown Middle School Italian club to their store. The students enjoyed a lesson on making home made mozzarella and sausage and were then treated to an afternoon snack of pasta, meatballs and Italian mineral water. A delicious afternoon was shared by all.

 

2009 - 2010

Senteo Interactive Science Tech at South Orangetown Middle School
- Rockland County Times - 4.29.10

Social Networking with Civil Rights Activists Eighth grade students from Mr. Foley’s classes participated in a Ning as a Civil Rights activist. (A Ning is an online platform for people to create their own social networks.) With the help of Mrs. McBride, students selected and researched a Civil Rights activist. They used this information to create their profiles and described themselves through their personal trials and tribulations related to the Civil Rights Movement. Videos and photos were uploaded and shared, and students posted comments and questions to each other’s profiles. The Ning invited these “activists” to special events. The events included: Freedom Songs, Paparazzi, and Friend or Foe. “Activists” participated in the events and shared information in a forum for others to view. In Freedom Songs, activists listened to the top six songs from the Civil Rights Movement and chose one of them that related to their own historical situation. “Activists” created an additional stanza to the song, posted their lyrics and some uploaded their own recordings. At the Paparazzi Event, “activists” selected an historical photo of their experiences and created a comic strip that summarized this significant event using Make Beliefs Comix. “Activists” upload it to the Ning and shared the significance of their political cartoon. Linda Brown, Harvey Milk, Fred Shuttlesworth, Elizabeth Eckford, Ruby Bridges, and Ralph Abernathy were just a few of the many activists who participated in this Ning. The perspectives and information shared, made for one amazing “Social” Studies class.

NBC Studios Tour On Thursday May 27th, students in Ms. Sorensen's project based class went on a trip to tour NBC studios. Mr. Gilbert Muro, one of our parents has worked as a technical director at NBC for over 25 years. As our tour guide, Mr. Muro took students behind the scenes. Students visited the set of Saturday Night Live, Dr. Oz, and the World News desk. Students were given a rare look at what it takes "behind the scenes" to produce a television show in the control rooms using state of the art technology. Many of the students in project based class have produced their own commercials and imovies, so this tour was especially helpful to them.

SOMS Choir Sings More Who Have Less Priscilla Pena-Carney heard Saffire's song  More Who Have Less and asked to include it in the SOM's Spring 2010 Concert.  The band shared that "it was so awesome to be singing our song with the rest of the concert choir, and it was just as much fun to teach it to them.  More Who Have Less is already a powerful song, but with a group of 35+ girls singing it...well, just watch the video."  (Saffire is a local band made up of students from SOMS & TZHS.) Saffire Supports Haiti - A Love Haiti Relationship - read more

Taste of Spain On May 21, Mr. Sullivan, Dr. Solomon and Mrs. Muchoe dined with the 8th grade students at Taste of Spain restaurant in Northvale to reinforce their restaurant unit. (Photos to left)         On April 23, Mrs. Hackett, Dr. Solomon, Mrs. Muchoe and Mr. Sullivan dined with the 7th grade students at Taste of Spain restaurant in Northvale to  to reinforce their Food unit. (Photos to right)

National History Day "Innovation in History: Impact and Change." SOMS Middle school students taught by Ms. Arlene Sorensen participated in the annual National History Day Contest at St. Thomas Aquinas College. The topic of this year's theme was "Innovation in History: Impact and Change." Rachael M. and Brianna Y. created an outstanding exhibit about the Knickerbocker Ice Company founded here in Rockland County.  Lucy T. and John C. created an exhibit entitled "Through the Lens of Mathew Brady: How his Innovation Captured History. Lizzi G. and Zoe M. created a documentary film on "The Navajo Code".

New York vs. New Jersey in Classroom Math Competition Mrs. Moore's 7th grade math class competed against a class in Jersey City via Skype. Each student from SOMS was matched with a student from Jersey City and given a mathematical equation to solve. The student who answered the question accurately earned points for their class. The game was tied up until the end and Jersey City won by a point.

SPIRIT DAY & ELA RESEARCH COLLIDE On April 30th, South Orangetown Middle School Cafeteria went back in time to the 20th Century while using 21st Century technology. Every year, SOMS student government sponsors a spirit day in which each grade level dresses up as a different decade. Meanwhile, students in Ms. Murphy’s 8th grade ELA classes recently completed research papers based on a specific aspect of a decade. As a culminating project, students were asked to create decade’s videos similar to Billy Joel’s famous MTV video, “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Interest and passion was evident throughout their research and as a result amazing videos were created. Student Government and eighth graders teamed up and made Decades Day even more festive. Four stellar videos were chosen and showcased during all lunch periods. Students were asked to bring their cell phones to lunch in order to have a school wide vote. History unfolded at SOMS with great enthusiasm and support.

Technology used to come to the aid of people... On April 20, 2010, Mrs. Biggs’ Design Drawing for Production classes (otherwise known as the Advanced Technology classes) at South Orangetown Middle School visited Helen Hayes Hospital. This trip gave students first hand experience on how technology is used to rehabilitate people with physical disabilities and also how technology is used to help people communicate using Augmentative / Alternative Communication. The tours of the hospital were lead by Mr. Thomas McCorry, C.O., Certified Prosthesis’ trainer, and Debra Zeitlin, Director of the Center for Rehabilitation Technology / Augmentative/Alternative Communication. Each specialist guided students through their respective departments and described the different ways people can be treated in this facility. The students were shown how prosthetics and orthotics are fitted to the patients and how the tools that are used to do the building of these devices are very similar to the tools they use in school. The communications department fascinated everyone. A computer was made sensitive enough to read subtle eye movement to get instructions from persons otherwise unable to speak. Students tried the machine and were able to manipulate the machine after a brief demonstration. They communicated with peers without moving or speaking. They used their eyes to command the computer to speak, type, play, etc. All in all a great learning experience was had by students and faculty of SOMS. We extend a sincere thank you and deep appreciation to the staff of Helen Hayes for making this happen.

SOMS Art Students Participate in Studio in Art Exhibition During the month of May, forty Studio in Art students from the South Orangetown Middle School will be exhibiting their art work at the Dennis P. McHugh Piermont Library in Piermont, New York. Studio in Art, an advanced high school level course, is offered to eighth grade students under the guidance of art teachers Karen Garguilo and Beth Dougherty. The course explores a wide range of methods and materials involved in drawing and painting, graphic design, and printmaking. The elements of art and the principles of design are emphasized. The exhibit offers a variety of art media, pen and ink, scratchboard, watercolor, acrylic paintings, and pencil drawings. Students participating in the event are: Mikayla A., Rachel A., Christa B., Julia B., Dana C., Nicholas C. Matthew C., Christine C., Monica D., Besnik D., Ravina G., Elizabeth G., Madison G., Paulina G., Olivia J., Alberto K., Jeanne K., Katie K., Soohyun K., Ellie K., Katie K., Shannin L., Savannah L., Mara M., Brigid M., Kristen M., Zoe M., Maureen N., Siobhan N., Molly O., Connie P., Akta P., Kathleen P., Carolyn Q., Michael R., Erin S., Michael T., Clara W., Graham W., and Brianna Y., There will be an opening reception on Sunday May 2nd from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. at the library.

Hidden Letters Authors Visit SOMS Students As part of an ongoing goal to reinforce the importance for students to identify, evaluate, and reflect on their own learning in order to develop an empathetic understanding of other people and other cultures in the school and global community, SOMS Library Media Specialist, Patty Eyer recently arranged for a visit by authors Deborah Slier and her husband Ian Shine who researched & annotated the book, Hidden Letters. The book was made possible through letters found in 1997 during the demolition of a small family house in Amsterdam, when the foreman found two bundles of papers hidden in a ceiling. The papers consisted of 86 letters, postcards, and a telegram sent from an 18 1/2 year-old Dutch boy, Philip “Flip” Slier, to his parents while he was imprisoned in a forced labor camp in Holland during the Holocaust. The foreman, realizing the importance of the letters, took them to the Dutch National Institute of War Documentation under the condition that he be told what happened to the boy and his family, and whether there were any survivors. The letters found their way to Deborah (first cousin to "Flip") and Ian Shine in 1999. The Shines spent the better part of the next 7 years traveling back and forth to Europe in search of relatives, friends, stories and pictures in an effort to unravel the conditions, fears, and courage that underlined Flip's letters to his family, during his brief life in the work camp. Since Hidden Letters was published, the authors have graciously visited with students and different organizations to share with them the complex, multifaceted, difficult, sometimes delightful and sometimes heartbreaking discoveries that came of their research into Flip's short life. "It is our hope", commented Mr. Shine, "that after hearing us talk and learning about Flip, at least one child will step up to the plate when they see someone being bullied or ridiculed, and rather than thinking, "Thank goodness they're not picking on me," will speak up and say, "Quit it!" After all, it usually only takes one brave person to speak up for others to follow. "

Rockland County Black Achievement Awards The Rockland County Black Achievement Awards Ceremony was held March 17th after two snow delays. Three of our students were honored at the ceremony.  Mrs. Karen Martin, School Counselor and Mrs. Karen Tesik, Principal joined in the celebration and proudly announced each student who proceeded across the stage to be congratulated by Dr. Cliff Wood, President of Rockland Community College. The keynote speaker for the evening was Colonel Ricanthony Ashley, M.D. from the United States Military Academy at West Point.  His words were motivational and inspiring to all present. Immediately following the ceremony, students gathered with their families and enjoyed a treat to celebrate their success. Congratulations Sienna, Patrick and John. We are very proud of you.

Mac Music Lab in Action Eighth grade students from Mr. Yassky's Music Explore class recently completed a "Sound Design" project. The assignment was to compose an original poem, story or narration that would then be punctuated and underscored using the Apple program Garage Band. The following example is one of the final projects.  Listen now!