The “Riverworks” expedition has arrived for W6! The hallways had a feeling of anticipation. “Riverworks” marks the first true expedition for W6 students. The previous one, “W6 All Stars” was designed to prepare students for expeditionary learning.

For ”Riverworks,” students will study the Presumpscot River. They will go out on the river to collect water samples to test for Escherichia coli (E. coli). The goal is to share the findings with Friends of the Presumpscot, an organization focused on cleaning up the river.

Students kicked off the expedition by tapping into their observation skills. Students traveled through five stations that highlighted each of the five natural senses. They also got a taste of river food by sampling cooked smelts, salmon, and trout.

A walk along the Presumpscot River gave students a real introduction to their subject. They used their senses to observe the natural and man-made surroundings. They noted their observations in journals and included sketches just as real naturalists do in their work.

This past week, students received training from Rippleffect on how to manuever canoes. The training occurred at the swimming pool at Reiche Elementary School. In computer class, students also created computerized architectural illustrations from their river walk sketches. They are preparing speeches to share their experience.

Submitted by Margaret

Windsor 6 science class students created rock jewelry after surviving their MEAs. Jon and Darby, Mrs. Tuttle’s children, took the day off from Trinity Catholic School in Lewiston to teach them more about rocks and jewelry making. Jon presented general information about rocks, gem stones, their shapes, and gem cuts. Darby chose four students in each class to demonstrate how to make earrings and necklaces. Then the W6 students created their own jewelry pieces. The jewelry contained rocks such as marble, coal, granite, sandstone, limestone, rhoylite, and obsidian.

Submitted by Nozima

Twice a year students show off their portfolios to their parents. Each student keeps a portfolio, which is a collection of their work. These conferences are to catch the parents up on what’s been happening in Windsor 6 and for them to ask any questions.

Students select work from each class that represents what they have done that trimester. They take their parents through their portfolio by explaining the different worksheets and projects. The teacher sometimes make comments, but otherwise mainly facilitate the meeting. It’s a great time for parents to gain insight into their children’s school experience.

Submitted by: Eleanor

Students can’t hide their grades from parents anymore. Trimester two just ended, and in comes trimester three.  The school is now posting grades on the web. Parents and students can see their grades any time and for any subject. During recent parent conferences, parents received a password that they can use to log onto the school’s grade site called Powerschool.

Instead of bothering teachers, students can just check the web. “Well, I think it’s a lot easier this way, because I don’t have to go around and ask teachers what my grades are,” said Clyde from Windsor 6. The site shows each assignment and each grade for every subject.

Submitted by Acy

Students  racked their brains for three days while they took the state assessments the week of March 3. The tests are called MEAs for Maine Educational Assessment. The tests definetly challenged the students, but class preparation got them ready for the pressure-filled week. 

Students prepared by taking practice tests in language arts and math. The more they prepared, the more they felt comfortable about taking the real test. “I felt ready because I knew what to expect,” said W6 student Margaret.

The Maine State Legislature instituted the MEAs in 1986. Grades 3-8 take the MEAs. Students in grades 3-7  take tests in math and reading. Eighth-grade students also take tests in science and writing. Though the MEAs are hard, students felt successful and relieved when they finished.

Submitted by: Eleanor, Acy, Margaret, Sarah, and Nozima

“It is important for the students to learn about the community and how they can help, it teaches them how to be a good citizen.” - Mrs. Germani

• Cultivating Communtiy: Planting flowers and making the world more environmentaly friendly.
• St. Elizabeth’s Child Care Center: For two and three year olds to pre-K.
• Gary’s House: A home away from home where brownies and other treats are much appreciated.
• Children’s Museum: Students help clean up the costumes and toys from each station around the museum.
• Reiche Community School: Helping younger students improve their reading by giving them an audience.
• Nathan Clifford: Helping the children learn as well.
• Preble Street Soup Kitchen: Serving food for the homeless.
• PROP Headstart: PROP stands for People’s Regional Oppertunity Program, for small children.
• East End Community School: Helping in classrooms. Like Reiche and Nathan Cliffor.

     Those are the sorts of things Windsor 6 students do throuout the year. On the first Wednesday of every month, eight student groups go to different parts of Portland to share their community spirit.

   “It is our third year doing this in W6,” said Mrs. Germani, the house chair. But Germani added that community service is not unique to the house. She credited York 7 with the idea. Even though community service is not yet a tradition at King, it has spread throughout the school.

   “I really felt like we were helping people,” said Ava, a Windsor stundent who went to the Preble Street Soup Kitchen. One of the things she did there was help sort and hang donated clothing that people in need can take.

   It seems like most of the students liked doing these community services and are looking forward to the next trip.

For a special treat on December 7, 2007, Windsor 6 students took a trip to Merril Auditorium to see Portland Ballet’s “The Victorian Nutcracker.” All the kids had a blast watching the dancers move on stage.
The giant auditorium impressed everyone.

Three Windsor 6 students performed in the ballet. W6 felt proud to have representation in the production. The beautiful costumes and extravagant sets amazed the audience. W6 had a great time experiencing the culture of ballet.

The Windsor 6 web crew has just finished their first video! This video, which shows our kickoff for the All Stars expedition, was produced by Hannah, Margaret, Evan and Acy. We hope you enjoy it.

• Slugger, mascot for the Portland Sea Dogs, makes a surprise appearance at King on Oct. 1 for the expedition kick-off.
• Students scarfed down hot dogs during kick-off cookout. Can’t do baseball without hot dogs.
• Sea Dogs representatives Ms. Riley and Mr. Cameron rallied the students to prepare for their culminating event — a day at Hadlock field with their faces on the JUMBOTRON.
• Students became big league players after signing contracts and receiving bonuses. Students were paid “winnies,” which are W6 currency.
• W6 All Stars expedition focuses on students discovering their uniqueness and their ability to show teamwork. Several team initiatives (games and problem-solving activities) challenged students to show these qualities. This was done at Deering Oaks Park.
• Students finished the day by reflecting on their activities and performance in their expedition journals.

Submitted by Eleanor, Sarah, and Acy

Written by Windsor 6 Blog Team

As King Middle School rookies, students:

• begin Expeditionary Learning experience with Windsor 6 All Stars.
• use baseball metaphor to learn about self and others – answer guiding questions, “How am I unique?” and “How am I a team player?”
• will integrate new knowledge from all subjects to create student rookie cards.
• team up with Portland Sea Dogs for resources – spotlight individuals on centerfield JUMBOTRON at Hadlock Field.

SCIENCE — Work together as teams from base group – create team names and logo from scientific species classification.
SOCIAL STUDIES – Discover how timelines give useful information; create own personal timeline.
MATH — Draw proportioned card image of self by learning and using ratios.
LANGUAGE ARTS — Answer guiding questions with logic and persuasion in expository essay form.
COMPUTER — Learn and apply new computer skills to create card layout.

Written by the Blog Team

Submitted by Eleanor, Acy, and Sarah