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Dear Wamogo Families and Friends,
Please View This Video Message From Mr. Egan
For the last two years, we have been investigating different schedules. Wamogo will be changing our schedule to better meet the needs of our students in the 21st Century. Please click on the following link for information pertaining to Wamogo's Block Schedule. Please know that we will be keeping our current middle school schedule as we transition to a new high school schedule at Wamogo.
Also, I would like to remind everyone that if you need to dismiss your child for any reason, we need a note brought to the office at the beginning of the day. We require a note for safety reasons, as well as to insure that your child is in the office prepared to leave at that time. Additionally, the nurse should be the only one to make a determination to dismiss your child in the event of illness. We have had a few occasions where parents and students communicate during the school day without seeing the nurse. Parents will call or come to the school asking their child to be dismissed early because they are sick. All students who are sick, including upper classmen, need to see Mary Romano, our school nurse. We appreciate your cooperation concerning this matter.
Don't forget to check out our links. There are many blogs and activities that highlight our work here at Wamogo.
You can access my blog by clicking on my Principal Message page on the Wamogo website. I hope that you enjoy it.
Also, please feel free to follow me on Twitter. I am @wprincipal and welcome all followers.
Wishing you the best,
Bill Egan
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Google Apps at Wamogo |
Google Apps Update!
Staff at Wamogo have been taking full advantage of the many ways to use Google Apps in the classroom. The implications are great for our learning community. Our staff members have found many creative ways to integrate Google Apps into their classrooms. Our students are using Google docs to create and collaborate. Staff and students are using Google sites to promote programs and share their work with a greater audience. The following examples are some of the ways we are currently using Google Apps at Wamogo Regional High School.
Middle School
Seventh grade students have used Google Apps in a variety of ways. Students recently completed Google Sites for their independent reading books, and shared them on Mrs. Magyar's 7th grade wiki. Students included connections, recommendations, author information and videos. Some students created Animotos, uploaded them to Youtube and incorporated them into their sites. These sites will also be shared with another 7th grade class at a neighboring school. This is a great way to get students to write about what they're reading, while showcasing their creative talents!
In 7th grade Geography, students utilized Google Docs to prepare for state testing. Mr. Marcucio assigned an activity that had the students create a group essay using a Google document. The students split up into groups and he gave each group a CMT-like writing prompt. Each group had to collaborate and write a five-paragraph persuasive essay. Every student was required to contribute at least two sentences for each paragraph.
Using the Google Doc allowed each member of the group to type the essay at the same time. The Google Doc assigned each student a different color for the chat room. Each student changed the color of the font they were typing in to match their color in the chat room. Doing this made it easy for them to discern which group member was typing each particular sentence of the essay. Also, they were instructed that a majority of the collaboration/discussion would take place only in the chat room.
Mr. Marcucio notes "It was really amazing to see how much they helped each other during the assignment, and that each essay ended up being a true "collaborative" product. They all enjoyed this project as it gave them a different way to reinforce the elements of persuasive writing."
9th Grade Science
Mr. Parkinson's class has used Google docs to calculate students' ecological footprints. Each student calculated their own footprint using this website. They input their data into a shared Google doc spreadsheet. Mr. Parkinson used this information to find an average footprint and make a bar graph which the class analyzed. Students were able to see how their lifestyle impacts the environment. Mr. Parkinson and the students were surprised by the results. "It turns out that if everyone on Earth was as wasteful as we are, we would need about 6 planet Earths to sustain us!"
Junior English
Mrs. Pixley's English classes use Google documents to work on collaborative writing assignments. Individually students free write about a theme related to the novel To Kill a Mockingbird (innocence, experience, tolerance, racism, maturation courage), they then took their free writes and began answering questions:
What is the purpose of _____? What conclusions did you come to about ________? What are the implications of _____? What questions can you ask about ________?
Individually, students construct a thesis and create an outline. During class students mingle and discuss their topics until they find a group of students with similar theses. From here the groups discuss their writing process, develop a group thesis and outline using a Google doc. The group then collaborates to construct the body paragraphs, introduction, and conclusion while also sharing the responsibility for editing.
Robotics Site
The Robotics Team shares their progress on their robot through a Google Site, created by one of the team's members. This has been a great way for the students to share their hard work with the community. Check out their link here!
Skills Site
Our social worker, Mrs. Foley also prepared a comprehensive site to share with staff, students, families and the entire community.
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| Team 7 News |
Team 7 is so proud of all of the 7th graders for their dedicated efforts on the CMTs over the past 2 weeks!! We tried to create a nice end to the testing period by having Friday, March 16th be our "Leadership Through Cinema" day. The entire 7th grade watched "Miracle" the Walt Disney film that tells the true story of the USA Hockey team in the 1980 Olympic games. Students worked on different questions in order to analyze quotations from the film, identify John Wooden leadership traits, recognize themes, understand historical context and make connections to their own lives.
On Thursday, April 5th the 7th grade will be going to The Connecticut Science Center in Hartford. The Science Center has over 150 hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art 3D digital theater, four educational labs, and several daily programs and events which cover everything from Physics to Forensics, Geology to Astronomy.
On Friday, May 18th, the 7th grade will be going to White Memorial Conversation Center in Litchfield. The staff at White Memorial has prepared several programs including Bones & Skulls, Predator/Prey and Invasives. In addition to the programs, we will also be touring the museum. Permission slips and more information will be going home the week of March 19th. If you have any questions, please contact Team Leader, Stephanie Magyar (smagyar@rsd6.org).
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Math News
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Many math classes at Wamogo celebrated "Pi Day" on Wednesday, March 14th. Students had competitions on who could draw the best circle and recite the greatest number of digits of Pi. Joanne Harrington, an 8th grader in Mr. Ranft's math class, set the school record by reciting 915 digits of Pi. This led to many conversations on how to break down large chunks of information for studying.
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Guidance News
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Mrs. Pekoske and Mrs. Spielman spent last week introducing Naviance to the freshmen class. Naviance is a web-based research and planning tool for students, parents, and school counselors. Individual students can move through the entire career and college planning, application, and decision making process using this website.
Last week, students completed a career interest inventory, identified career clusters of interest, and completed their four-year course plan. Be sure to ask your child about it.
Through Naviance, counselors and students can communicate about upcoming deadlines and important notices. If you do not have access to Naviance, contact your child's school counselor for access codes.
If you are a parent of a junior, be sure to call and set up your junior planning meeting if you have not done so already.
The ASVAB test will be given on April 11th from 7:30 - 10:30 a.m. sign-ups are now taking place.
The College Fair is Tuesday, April 3rd at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT. All college-bound students are invited to attend. Registration forms are due by March 30th. It is a great opportunity to meet admission representatives from all over the country.
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Ag/FFA News
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Ag/FFA Events - Week of March 19
Monday, March 19: Timber Team practice 2:30
Tuesday, March 20: Parli Pro practice 2:30
Tuesday, March 20: Rose Haven Horticulture Therapy program periods 10 & 11
Wednesday, March 21: Ag Day at the Capitol and JLC all day
Thursday, March 22: Envirothon practice 2:30
Friday, March 23: Tractor Restoration 6:30pm-9:00pm
Pie sales orders will be delivered on March 20th around 12:30. Pick up times will be any time during the school day, after school until 3:30, or Friday evening. See any ag teacher, or Mrs. Rubbo in the ag office, to pick up your orders.
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Art Department News
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The Wamogo Art Department is proud to announce that the following students have artwork in an exhibit at the Harwinton Public Library:
Robin Carlson
Jane Fischer
Addy Keilty
Emily-Catherine Madia
Kailey Truczinskas
Elliott Hall
Brooke Bittel
Hayley Gravel
Laura Brady
Zachary Shemms
Erin Thoms
The work will be on display through April 24. Wamogo students are presenting their work along with those from Lewis Mills, Litchfield, Forman, and Farmington. The gallery is located at 80 Bentley Drive, Harwinton. The library is open Monday and Wednesday 1-8:30 pm, Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 am-5 pm, Friday 1-5 pm, and Saturday 9:30 am- 3 pm.
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SCOPE
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Middle School students have a unique opportunity to explore a wide variety of healthcare careers through SCOPE, or Science Opportunities in Healthcare Environments. This program, run by Education Connection, allows students from many school districts to experience interactive, hands-on activities, and to meet and work with various professionals. This year's schedule is as follows:
Sat., May 5: UCONN Medical Center, Farmington
Sat., June 9: Emergency Responders Day, Woodbury
Tues., June 26: Waterbury Hospital, Waterbury
Wed., June 27: CT Science Center, Hartford
Thurs., June 28: BODIES...The Exhibition, NYC
Transportation from Wamogo, lunches, and admission is FREE OF CHARGE for all participants! Permission slips are available from Mrs. O'Connor and must be returned by March 30th.
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From the Desk of Mary Romano
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Notes from the Health Office-
-Please keep your children home if they have a fever, vomitting, or diarrhea. Students should be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication before returning to school.
-If your child needs medication while at school a parent/guardian needs to bring the medication, and the authorization completed by the prescribing doctor. The medication and form need to be handed to the School Nurse; do not send the medication into school with your child. The authorization form can be found on the Wamogo home page under Nurse's Corner.
Please call the Health Office at (860)567-7429 with any questions or concerns.
Thank you
Mary Romano, RN, BSN
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English News |
Students in Grade 9 have just completed their non-fiction independent choice book. After reading, the students organized themselves by theme into small groups (3-5 students)to create presentations that answer the question, "How do people in the 'real world' reach others, get their ideas across, and show off their work and research?" Presentations have included various technologies including Prezi, "Choose Your Own Adventure" YouTube videos, PollEverywhere Survey, and Powerpoints. In creating these presentations, members of each group had to include information they learned reading their books, concepts that need to be explained to an audience, connections they can make to their books, and the big questions that the author poses and answers in their books. Some of the presentations will be posted on the Region 6 Tech Times blog.
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| Teacher of the Year Process |
NOMINATIONS ACCEPTED FOR THE NEXT REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT #6 TEACHER OF THE YEAR
We invite the entire community to participate in the nomination process for the next Region 6 Teacher of the Year. Students, parents, community members, and staff are encouraged to nominate qualified candidates for the 2012-2013 school year. To be considered, nominees should exhibit superior performance in the classroom, exhibit active teaching practices, possess high expectations of students, and have good working relationships with students and colleagues.
Region 6 shares this honor between the elementary and Wamogo staff. This year, we are seeking nominees from members of the certified teaching staff at Wamogo.
Applications for nominating a teacher can be obtained on the Region 6 website at www.rsd6.org. Applications can also be obtained at Region 6's District Office. For more information, call 860-567-7400. A committee made up of past Teacher of the Year award winners, other Region 6 staff members, and Principal Bill Egan will review the completed applications. The deadline for accepting applications is April 24, 2012.
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WPO News
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Reminder: Our next meeting is Monday, March 19th, at 6:30 for Task Force and WPO Booster begining at 7:00.
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Order Your Yearbook Now!
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Limited Edition.
Unlimited Stories.
Your student only gets to experience their school year once.
Help them relive it again and again with the Wamogo Regional High School yearbook. It's only available for a limited time, so get it while you can.
The 2012 Wamogo Yearbook is on sale now! Please visit the yearbook webpage which can be found on the Wamogo website at
www.rsd6.org Click on "Yearbook" on the navigation bar for directions on how to order.
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