Dear Upper School Families,
Things remain very positive in Upper School! Students and teachers alike are working hard and beginning to prepare for the end of the year. As fast as it is speeding toward that end, there is much to do before we rest.
Below you will find helpful information about what to expect as the year winds up:
-Academic classes continue and content is taught right up through May 31. Teachers will devote the next two days after that to review. (Many teachers will begin review before this time.) I am reminding students to stay engaged and not check out yet. Please help by reinforcing that at home. It is a shame if students allow their grades to drop after so much good achievement all year.
-Behavior: Please support us by reminding your kids that our expectations about conduct, academic honesty and citizenship remain steady to the finish of school. As I say, things are going very well, but separating from a “home” like Applewild can be hard for those graduating or moving on and one reaction can be to push hard against the adults and the rules. We know this is a time of year that we must employ new shades of understanding, but our Core Values remain constant.
-Exams will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, June 5th, 6th and 7th. The daily schedule is very different on these days. You will soon receive a detailed schedule of which exams happen on which days. Please note that Thursday, June 7 is a noon dismissal for Upper School only. Busses do not run at noon that day and Extended Day is not available. Please don’t mistake the last weeks as time when kids could miss school. We have many rehearsals for our graduations ongoing- graduates, bands and choral groups all need to prepare.
-Sixth grade does not take formal exams with the exception of math. The date for the math exam will be determined soon. They do have a very full week of work and activities during exam week however. Don’t forget their juried installation at the Fitchburg Art Museum on June 6!
-Graduation Dance: This dance takes place on Monday, June 11 at 7:00 for grades 7 and 8. This is a dress up event. The kids have taken to calling it “The Semi.” Don’t let this alarm you. For boys dress pants and a shirt and tie are just fine, and for girls anything from a sundress to a party dress will be lovely! There is more talk at this time of year about “going to the dance with someone.” Again- this is not an expectation. This dance remains age appropriate- kids should plan to come and have fun with everyone celebrating the school year and our graduates!
Eighth grade has a special dinner prior to the dance. At 5:45, the graduates are invited to gather at Mr. and Mrs. Williamson’s house for refreshments and pictures. Soon after we will head over to the Crocker Building for dinner before the dance.
-Dress up days: Recognition Day and Graduation are dress up days for all.
-Graduation Dress: Attire for the graduates on their graduation day is a suit for boys and a white dress for girls.
-Field Day: Field day is Friday, May 25. This is a blast of a day! We go over to Fitchburg State University and compete in track and field events as well as some other sillier events. This is the culminating event of our Green and White competitions for the year. There is a noon dismissal. See Dr. Miles’ information about t-shirts further along in this newsletter.
Enjoy the spring!
Erica R. Hager
8th Graders in the midst of Hands Across Time Finals
Todd Goodwin
All 8th graders have been taking a unique approach to learn the time line of US History called Hands Across Time or affectionately, HAT. It is comprised of 101 slogans and hand motions that contain key vocabulary and ideas that support our textbook, and other activities in class. Between now and June 1st, each student must visit me during an Extra Help or recess to run it for me. Students who come early can have a second chance to complete it, but all must be done by June 1st. Invite an 8th grader you know to run it for you as a practice; you might find your history coming back to you!
8th Grade Math
Janet Cowan
All students in 8th Grade Algebra classes are preparing to take Part I of their semester exam on Monday, May 14. This part consists of a 45-minute standardized, multiple choice test covering material since the beginning of the year. During the regular exam week in June, these students will complete Part II of their exam, an equal length, pencil-and-paper test covering just the second semester's work. As part of the in-class review for Part I, students are practicing specific test-taking strategies which can help them in standardized tests. The semester exam is broken into two parts in order to help students show their best work by focusing their review. In addition, the standardized test portion provides useful information to Applewild about the endpoint of its math curriculum.
Car Wash - Friday May 18th!!!!
Julia Miles
The 8th grade will run a car wash on May 18th to raise money to give a gift to the school at the end of the year. They will hold two sessions to capture both Lower School and Upper School parents and cars. The first session will be in the Crocker driveway from 11:30-12:30 and the second session will be from 3:15-4:15 in the Marshall circle. Please come support this great effort!
Eighth Grade Head’s Seminar coming to conclusion
Mr. Williamson
The students presented their Public Service Announcement “rough cuts” to the Board of Visitors on April 25. Each visitor watched two of the PSAs in small groups, with the students discussing their goals and receiving feedback. The students told me they appreciated the comments, and several groups are re-working their PSAs before final submission by May 14.
Our panel of alumni and other judges will provide final reviews of the pieces virtually and in person on May 18. Depending on the status of the pieces at that point, some may be ready to be shown on FATV. We will debrief on May 21, then be ready to show to parents on May 30.
Contributions from the Board of Visitors included insightful questions such as “How do you react to the background music? Is it serene, inspirational, or ominous?”; “Maybe show fewer stats and use more audio for your younger target audience?”; and my favorite, “Do you think you are finished?” Each group received specific useful feedback, with one group having to sort out how to respond when an earlier version was actually preferred to their most recent effort. Of course, these real world exchanges were exactly the point, and each group is now deciding how much their work should be influenced by the critiques.
At the same time, the visitors were highly complimentary. Sample responses on the evaluations (which have been distributed to the students) include the following:
- “You reached me on a very emotional, direct level.”
- “Both incorporated strong, collaborative communication and technology skills.”
- “Students could clearly point to their research.”
- “Both had an amazing emotional impact with combination of visual and sound.”
- “Collaboration [was evident] because they all fielded questions and participated in the introduction.”
- “The students really showed poise and were very interested in the group’s feedback. Nice to see the students involved in projects that give back to the community.”
- The students were highly articulate and poised. Very impressive.”
- “Both were great presentations. Even though the second group needs a bit of editing, they were terrific and very receptive to ideas.”
- “Amazing and very mature and poised – delightful.”
Our students always impress, and it is a tribute to our program that they can engage with adults in such mutually meaningful, effective ways.
Parents – to enjoy seeing your student in this light (in case there are moments when you wonder!), this is a reminder to save the date for the formal presentations to parents:
Wednesday, May 30 at 4:00, Alumni Center Theater
This will be an opportunity to enjoy not simply seeing your student’s work but also to interact with members of the class and their parents before the blur of culminating events in June. It has been scheduled in conjunction with the Spring Sports dinner that evening to eliminate another trip to school in this busy time.
Notes from the English Department: Golden Apples and Summer Reading
Jen Caldwell
At this time of the year the Upper School English Department is busy! In addition to regular class assignments to finish the year, students are in the process of selecting a strong piece of writing to put in the Golden Apples, our online student anthology, and the teachers are finalizing their summer reading requirements and suggestions.
We’re asking students to pick and polish an original piece of creative writing to publish in Golden Apples. It could be a poem or two, an essay or speech, a short story or an excerpt of a longer piece. The full publication will be available on the Applewild website under the “Parent” heading after June 8th. Our past years’ editions are archived there as well and are organized by grade. Consider reading other student work online in addition to your child’s- we have some very talented writers!
It’s almost time to think about Summer Reading! English teachers are finalizing plans for required summer reading texts and assignments and other members of the Upper School faculty are choosing books to read and recommend for our Upper School Summer Teacher Recommended Book list. These titles and materials will be available online after June 1st. The letters and work will not sent home in a hard copy through the mail, so your child should plan to check online for what is required, printing all necessary forms. Required English work is handed in on the first day of school, while Teacher Recommended book groups will meet once to discuss the book in early fall. Students shouldn’t feel pressured to purchase these books, but could borrow from a library or read electronic versions of them. Keep in mind, if your child would like to bring the electronic version to school in the fall to discuss in class, s/he would need to fill out our Upper School e-Reader Acceptable Use Policy found on the school website.
We’re enjoying the end of the year and, as always, already looking forward to the next! Happy Reading!
Upcoming Events
5/14 Jazz Band (last after-school practice)
5/17 Rising 6th Grade Parent Meeting @1:30pm
5/17 Spring Concert @7:00pm
5/25 Field Day – Noon Dismissal
5/28 Memorial Day – No School
5/30 8th Grade PSA Presentations @4:00pm
5/30 Spring Sports Banquet @5:30pm
5/31 6th Grade Play @7:00pm
6/2 Pride of Downtown Fitchburg - Gr 7-8 Installation
6/5 PA Appreciation Breakfast @8:15am
6/5 Yearbook Dedication @2:15pm
6/5-7 US Exams
6/7 Upper School Noon Dismissal
6/8 Noon Dismissal All
6/11 No School – Professional Day
6/11 8th Grade Graduation Dinner @5:30
6/11 8th Grade Graduation Dance
6/12 Recognition Day @10:00am – Noon Dismissal
6/13 Graduation Day @9:00am – 11:00am Dismissal
6/25 Summer Camp Begins