Students visit Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh via virtual connection

On April 4, Avonworth 8th Grade students participated in a virtual seminar with the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh.  The program entitled, Holocaust Testimony and How it Relates to You featured two segments. 

 In the first segment, 93 year-old Sam Gottesman, a Holocaust Survivor from Czechoslovakia, shared his personal story about his horrific experiences in Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, and several labor camps in Europe. 

Read more about Sam Gottesman's story online

Holocaust Survivor and Speaker Sam Mr. Gottesman presenting at the Pittsburgh Holocaust Center

The second part of the program included a presentation by Andrea Joseph from the Anti-Defamation League and included anti-bullying messages that promoted tolerance and acceptance of others beliefs.  The virtual seminar was broadcast live from Greenfield and viewed by hundreds of students who were invited to submit live questions through a chat feature to Mr. Gottesman and Ms. Joseph.  8th Grade students will continue to study the Holocaust in the coming weeks and participate in a Teen Screen event organized by the Jewish Film Forum of Pittsburgh on May 19 to view the film, Nicky's Family.

8th grade students listening and watching the Holocaust Center Seminar in Mr. Haskins's room. 

Chase the Antelopes

     You are invited to attend Avonworth’s first annual Chase the Antelopes 5k Run and One Mile Walk on April 29 at 9:00 a.m. The 8th grade class at Avonworth Middle School has planned this race in order to bring the community together. The students have been responsible for every aspect of this race. From designing shirts and awards, to promoting the event, to creating registration posters, securing sponsorships from local companies, and keeping track of each group’s progress. Through this project the 8th grade is learning to develop teamwork, communication, marketing skills, and being an engaged citizen within their neighborhood and community.

      The students also have elected to send all proceeds from the event directly to the Hannah Milbert Memorial Fund. Hannah Milbert attended Avonworth High School, and tragically lost her life in a house fire in January. As a community, we hope this event will show the support we have for the Milbert Family.

MORE INFORMATION:

Letter to Parents about the 5K project (pdf)

Registration Form (pdf)

Veterans Day Field Trip

On Tuesday, November 8, thirty-three 8th grade students spent the day with local veterans at the Heinz History Center.  The WWII, Korean, and Vietnam War veterans shared their personal stories, brought in artifacts, and answered students' questions.  The heroic actions of these men and women were an inspiration to students and teachers.  Thank you to all veterans for your service to our nation.

Election 2016 Project

Thanks to the over 150 guests that attended our 8th Grade Election Event on Tuesday night.  Those in attendance were able to view student-created videos, board games, artwork, websites, children's books, presentations, and even a live debate! 

If you were in attendance and did not get an opportunity to take the Exit Poll, please feel free to leave us your feedback here:

https://goo.gl/forms/FnCyhDAmLvjLaqO73

AMS 8 in the News!

Just in case you missed the article in Wednesday’s Pittsburgh Post Gazette featuring Mr. Smith and his lessons on the 2016 Presidential Election, you can read it here!

Presidential campaign’s hostility challenges teachers https://t.co/p9mqLfaYBj pic.twitter.com/YC0BwcaNcM

— Pittsburgh PG (@PittsburghPG) October 19, 2016

8th Grade Election Project Event!

Dear Parent/Guardian:

The 2016 Presidential Election season is upon us and voters have many questions to consider before they enter their polling place.  Who would make the best commander-in-chief?  How will each candidate’s economic policy impact me and my family?  What are the candidate’s different plans to fight terrorism? And, most importantly, who should I vote for?

Avonworth 8th grade students have the answers!  They will spend the month of October closely examining the policies and proposals of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in Civics class.  Then, on Tuesday, November 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., students will present their projects to parents, community members, and undecided voters at their 2016 Election Night event.

Parents/Guardians: Please plan to bring your child to the school on Tuesday, November 1 at 6:00 p.m. and stay for the presentations that will take place in several different classrooms in the Middle School.

Student projects and presentations will include the following topics:  Economy, Health Care, Foreign Policy, Fight against Terrorism, Social Issues, Immigration, Environment, and Gun Control.

Student projects and presentations are intended to be informative in nature, meaning that students will be instructed to report objectively on candidate’s policies and proposals instead of negatively attacking their opponent’s ideas.  

Official representatives from both the Democrat and Republican Parties have also been invited to attend this event.  While not in attendance at the presentations, information about Third Parties will also be introduced to students during Civics class so they can learn more about the important role Third Parties play in U.S. Elections.  The decision to not include Third Parties in this event is based the same criteria as the U.S. Commission on Presidential Debates who have set a 15% polling threshold in order for a candidate to appear on the upcoming presidential debates.  If any third party candidate were to reach that percentage and appear in the presidential debates, I would invite a representative from that party to attend our event as well as be a part of our student presentations.

In the meantime, I encourage you to talk with your child about the election and inquire about the project that they are completing in Civics class.  See you on November 1st!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions,

Jason R. Smith

jsmith@avonworth.k12.pa.us

8th Grade Civics

8th Grade Welcomes Visitor from the North Hills American Legion

On Monday, September 12, 8th Grade Students welcomed Retired Sgt. First Class Eber Tripp.  Mr. Tripp spoke to students about his military service in both the Vietnam and Iraq Wars as well as the history of the US Flag.  He then led students through a demonstration of how to properly salute, fold an American Flag, and retired a flag that has become damaged or unfit for display.

Flight 93 Virtual Field Trip

Students in the 8th grade watch and participate in the Flight 93 virtual field trip made possible by the National Parks Service. 

Holocaust Survivor visits AMS 8

Making history come alive! Holocaust Survivor Shulamit Bastacky speaks to the 8th grade students.

American Legion Award due Monday

Resumes are due to Mr. Smith by Monday, May 2. Click here for details. 

Women and Girls Foundation 2016 GirlGov

The Women and Girls Foundation is still accepting applications for our 2016 GirlGov yearlong program and we need help spreading the word to young girls entering 9^th grade in the Fall of 2016. 

The Women and Girls Foundation’s Seventh Annual GirlGov program will kick off this summer with a trip to Harrisburg June 12^th through June 16^th.  GirlGov is designed to provide local girls with the opportunity to learn firsthand about government, civics, advocacy, philanthropy, community involvement, youth organizing, women’s history, and leadership.  Participants will shadow a state legislator for the day and learn about current public policy issues impacting women’s and girls’ lives in our region.  Transportation, overnight accommodations, and meals are included; there is NO FEE TO PARTICIPATE.  This year’s program also includes GirlGov meetings from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM on the second Thursday of every month.  Transportation to and from GirlGov meetings is the participant’s responsibility.

The program is open to all girls entering 9^th to 12^th grade in the Fall of 2016 who live in Allegheny, Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.  Past GirlGov participants are welcome to apply.

This year’s program promises to be our biggest and best yet! Participants will have opportunities to:

·  Shadow a state legislator for a day at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg

·  Learn about philanthropy and grant-making, and award $10,000 to local girl-led projects

·  Explore nonprofit and government career options

·  Discuss issues affecting women and girls with key decision makers

·  Meet and hear from accomplished women working in and with government

·  Become (more) involved in community civics

·  Most of all – have fun!

APPLY HERE:  https://wgfpa.wufoo.com/forms/mv4qah904z1w29/

The application deadline is this Friday, April 29^th. If you need a deadline extension, please contact blayre@wgfpa.org. 

Avonworth School District does not sponsor the activities of GirlGov. 

Courthouse Field Trip Expectations

Students will be attending a courthouse field trip on March 10, 16 or 17. The following are the expectations for students while being at the courthouse:  

• Dress appropriately - proper attire might include khakis and a nice shirt.  Some judges will not permit visitors to their courtroom if they are wearing jeans, shorts, and flip-flops, 
• No gum
  
• No talking inside of the courtroom
• No cameras
• No cell phones, iPods, or tablets
• Be prepared for metal detectorsThe courthouse requires that students pass through metal detectors.  Students will be asked to remove everything from their pockets, their jewelry, and belts while passing through the metal detectors.
• For lunch, students should pack a lunch to be eaten at school.

Civics Classes Review the Republican Debate

Photo courtesy of Mr. Hall
 from Twitter (@mhall_AMS)

Last week in Civics, students watched clips from the most recent Republican Presidential Candidate Debate on their Chromebooks.  

After watching, students responded to a question that was posted on the message board in Google Classroom asking them which candidate was their favorite and which one seemed "most presidential".  

Students also posted questions they would like to ask the candidate in the online message board.

Examples of student posts to message board from the Period D class:

"I think that Carly Fiorina seems the most presidential because she uses statistics and facts rather than her own opinions to support her argument."

 "What did Donald Trump do politically in the past few years?"

"What does Senator Paul mean by the constitution restrains the government, not the people?"

"I agree that they need to stop arguing with each other and start telling us about their plans for our country."

2015-2016 Back-to-School Supply List

Textbook Return

Science books are past due.

Math books are due tomorrow.

Reading & English books are due June 2. 

Civics textbooks will be collected on June 4.  Replacement cost for a lost textbook is: $70.47

Read about more end of the year information from the Grade 8 Blog.

Civics Final Exam

Students in Grade 8 will be taking the civics final exam on Wednesday, June 3.

Read about more end of the year information from the Grade 8 Blog.

Holocaust Survivor Visits AMS 8

On Wednesday, students heard the life story of Sam Weinreb. He is a holocaust survivor who escaped Auschwitz Concentration Camp, Poland in 1944. He explained how he became the only survivor from his immediate family due to the persecution of Jews in Eastern Europe. At the time of German occupation of his native Czechoslovakia, Mr. Weinreb was the same age or younger than the 8th grade students in the audience.

Avonworth Middle School was Mr. Weinreb's last Pittsburgh speaking engagement as he moves to Boston to live with his daughter. This activity was part of the various events held to help connect Grade 8 students to World War II and the Diary of Anne Frank which is being read in reading class. Special thanks to Mr. Weinreb, JFilm, Mr. Smith, and Mrs.Galecki for organizing the assembly for our 8th grade students.

2015 American Legion Award

At this year’s Middle School Awards Assembly, the 8th  

Grade will recognize two students as American Legion Award recipients.

This national award is presented to 8th Graders across the 

country and is sponsored by the American Legion, a non-

profit veterans group.

To be eligible for this award, you must submit a resume 

to Mr. Smith by THURSDAY, MAY 7.

The resume must include how you meet the criteria set 

forth by the American legion in the following categories:

· Courage

· Leadership

· Patriotism

· Scholarship

· Service

Video Conferences

“It’s OUR War Too: Women in WWII” 

During the month of April, 8^th Grade Civics students had the opportunity to participate in four video conferences with some of the most renowned museums in the nation following their daily PSSA Tests.  Students were able to choose which video conference most appealed to their interest from among four choices.

On April 14, Twenty-four students learned about the history of Presidential Campaign commercials from the Paley center for Media Museum in New York City.  Through a program entitled, “The Thirty Second Candidate”, students discussed propaganda techniques, analyzed historic campaign commercials from President Eisenhower and President Johnson and also compared & contrasted them with advertisements from more recent elections (Clinton, Obama).

On April 15, Twenty-six students participated in a video conference entitled “It’s OUR War Too: Women in WWII” which was broadcast live from the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.  Students not only viewed original TV spots promoting women entering the workforce, they also analyzed political cartoons from the era.  For many, the highlight of the video conference was the first-hand oral history provided by a real-life “Rosie the Riveter” named Edna Donnelly who worked in a shipyard in New Orleans during WWII.

On April 21, twenty students tested their espionage skills when they met with an educator from the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC.  Students graduated from “Spy School 101” by completing three tasks:  analyzing a still photograph for suspicious activity taking place in a seemingly ordinary courtyard, identifying tools used by spies that appear to be common everyday accessories, and trying to spot a spy in disguise during a crowded scene from a hotel lobby.

On April 22, twenty-seven students learned about the “Red Scare: The Cold War on Television” as presented by the Paley Center in New York.  Students first viewed a famous P.S.A. that instructed everyone to “duck and cover” for protection from an atomic bomb.  Then, they discussed the psychological effects that building bomb shelters might have on the nation.  Finally, after viewing clips from the McCarthy hearings, students analyzed a sci-fi clip from a famous episode of The Twilight Zone for similarities to the hysteria-causing hunt for communists happening in the US in the 50s & 60s.

Courthouse Field Trip Expectations

Students will be attending a courthouse field trip on March 17, 18 or 19. The following are the expectations for students while being at the courthouse:  Proper dress (Khakis and nice shirt.  Some judges will not permit visitors to their courtroom if they are wearing jeans, shorts, flip-flops, etc.)

• No gum
  
• No talking inside of the courtroom
• No cameras
• No cell phones or iPods
• The courthouse requires that students pass through metal detectors.  They will be asked to remove everything from their pockets, their jewelry, and belts prior to entering the courthouse.
• For lunch, students will be eating at the Ross Park Mall food court. Students should bring money or a packed lunch.