As school winds to an end, Amesbury Middle School sixth-grade Red and Blue teams will stay sharp as they face each other in the AMS Performance Center this morning in a "Jeopardy"-type game developed by science teacher Derek Bent. Sixteen students from each team will represent their fellow teammates as they field questions about the academics covered this past year, as well as trivia about sports, movies, television and music.
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This afternoon, to coincide with the novel currently being read, "Freak the Mighty," written by local author Rodman Philbrick, sixth-grade students will be watching the film made about the book, "The Mighty," and comparing differences and similarities between the book and film.
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Blue team teachers Mark Rinaldi and Gale Regis' math and science classes worked on a ROBO lab class yesterday. Students built a bumper car and programmed it to complete 10 tasks. This program was originally designed by NASA for the Mars Rover Mission and has been modified for schoolchildren. Student teams spent all day brainstorming, troubleshooting and working on their robots and the programs needed to complete the 10 assigned tasks.
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Amesbury Elementary School second-graders and the grades 1 and 2 multi-age classrooms went on bus tour of Amesbury, sponsored by the PTA, and enjoyed lunch at the Town Hall, where the mayor came to speak with students. Historic New England presented at the Rocky Hill Meeting House. They also went to the Bartlett Museum, Alliance Park, Captain's Well, Friends' Meeting House, Training Field and the Powder House. The first grade took a walking field trip on Wednesday to the gazebo to eat lunch, then went to the fire and police stations for tours.
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Physical education teacher Margaret Welch organized a great variety of games and challenges to test her students' skills for Field Days at Amesbury Elementary School. During two sunny days, students enjoyed team events, like water bucket relays, tug of war, bocce ball and hurdles.
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Four interpreters from Historic New England visited AES on Friday, to lead hands-on workshops associated with Colonial trades. The entire third grade received instruction in rope-making, apothecary, weaving and sign making. Students rotated around the building to take part in the in-school field trip. Funding was provided by the Amesbury PTA and AES families.
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The Amesbury High School Summer Reading Lists are available online as part of an effort to "go green." All students are required to read a minimum of two books during the summer, with specific requirements for each grade and level of English. To access these lists, visit the Our Schools section of the Town of Amesbury website at amesburyma.gov; scroll down to Amesbury High School; click on "more" under the news item "AHS Summer Reading Lists"; click on the related link "Download your Summer Reading Lists here" under Summer Reading Lists; and find and open the separate English Department List for students entering each grade; the Faculty Favorites List for all students in grades 9 to 12; and Journal Requirements. Each list includes all instructions. Summer reading is due in early September.
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Important dates:
June 15: CES third grade visits Amesbury Park, 9 a.m. to noon; fourth-grade celebration ceremony, 9 a.m. in the cafeteria.
June 16: Sixth-grade park day, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Brown Team to Camp Kent; eighth-grade farewell dance; CES fourth-graders visit Flatbread.
June 17: Eighth-grade awards celebration; CES fourth-graders visit Flatbread; CES classes of Ms. Scholtz and Ms. Fitzpatrick spring show, 9:30 a.m. for school, 6:30 p.m. for families.
Through June 18: AHS student art exhibit at The Provident Bank's Amesbury lobbies
June 18: Last day of school; kindergarten celebration in CES gym, 9 a.m.
Sept. 7: School resumes.
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Liz King covers Amesbury schools for The Daily News. She can be reached by e-mail at lking@newburyportnews.com or by calling 978-462-6666, ext. 3230.
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