Books & News 1234 Main Street -Anytown,US 12345

Tel (555) 555 -1234 Fax (555) 555 - 1234"The mission of Ralston Middle School is to develop safe, responsible,

and respectful learners today, leaders tomorrow."

8202 Lakeview StreetRalston, NE 68127

(402) 331-4701www.ralstonschools.org

Mr. Jason Buckingham, PrincipalMr. Andy Parizek, Assistant Principal

& Activities Director

Discipline for Middle School Age Students

Disciplining your middle school aged student can be a very difficult proposition at best. Students in this age range are often stretching and testing the boundaries that have been set by parents, teachers and other authority figures. The best approach to setting guidelines and rules for their behaviors is to follow three simple concrete rules of thumb.

First make sure your rules are clear and concise with the consequences laid out. For example if you set a curfew of 9:00 p.m. and your child shows is late, then having an expectation that their curfew will be 8:00 p.m. for the next month. The rule is clearly stated as well as the consequences for breaking it. This way there are no arguments about the consequences.

Second be fair. Having consequences that are related to the actions are critical. For example if a student is not handling their social networking properly, they may lose computer privileges. If they show up late for their curfew they may be grounded for the next few weekends.

Finally be direct in your conversations regarding discipline. Bringing up past incidents or using negative comments may have the opposite effect. Be sure to stay focused, calm and direct as you correct your child’s behaviors.

Books & News 1234 Main Street -Anytown,US 12345

Tel (555) 555 -1234 Fax (555) 555 - 1234

Team Lightning, “The Bolts”, continues to be all “lit up” and “on fire” as October approaches. Science students are peeking into microscopes as they study the cell, math students are searching for the value of “x”, language arts students are continuing their journey through the underworld in Lightning Thief as well as elements of fiction, and world history students are finishing up their travels through the Stone Age. Klunk, Klorox, Norfia, and Bliffa will testify that the entire unit has been very “enlightening”!

To continue our introduction of 7A staff, the following teachers make up the remainder of this awesome team:

Mrs. Charlesworth, a.k.a. Mrs. Wonderful, is in her tenth year at Ralston Middle School and 14th year of teaching. She has a bachelor’s degree with endorsements in Special Education and General Education (K-8) from Wayne State College. In 2004, she completed her master’s degree at Concordia University in Education as a reading specialist for grades K-12. Papillion is her home and she lives with her husband and three children. Teaching classes in reading, Mrs. Charlesworth considers herself incredibly lucky to be able to work with wonderful people and curious students that challenge her to do and learn more herself. She believes this will be a great year!

Mrs. Scherzberg has been at Ralston Middle School for 18 years. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of

Nebraska-Lincoln and a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Mrs. Scherzberg is the team’s resource teacher, allowing her to co-teach in language arts, math, science, and world history. She also teaches a study skills class that focuses on the writing process and strategies to help her students be successful here at RMS. Among other topics, the writing class includes the Six-Traits of Writing, parts of speech, and five-paragraph essays. Mrs. Scherzberg is also the sponsor for Clown Troupe. This group of middle school and high school students presents an anti-drug, tobacco, and alcohol message to young people in this district and beyond. Clown Troupe is a great way to meet others, have fun, and represent our school about a very serious issue. Students should be looking for information about joining this group in the next couple months.

Mrs. Wallerstedt teaches 7th grade Physical Education. This is her 19th year of teaching in Ralston and her 26th year of coaching in the district. She began coaching Volleyball and Track and is now coaching Cross Country. Mrs. Wallerstedt is very excited about this year in P.E. class since it’s her first year of teaching 7th grade only. P.E. students will be participating in some of the following units: Frisbee activities, Track and Field, Orienteering, Team Handball, Volleyball, Softball, Badminton, and Aerobics/Health.

In Math we are starting the popcorn story. Ms. Redemske gave a sheet with four graphs. We must right a paragraph on how they ate their popcorn. Most likely each students story will be different. We are doing this as we learn algebra skills. In Science we are investigating living and nonliving things. Living things respond to changes, they reproduce, adapt, move use and get energy, grow, have an internal balance system and get rid of wastes.

In Language Arts we are in the middle of a big project about mythological creatures and Greek Gods. We have been researching and finding pictures about our creature or gods/godesses. In World History we just got done with the stone ages! This week we are going to take the stoneage test. We also just got done with the hodza project/ activity. In the Hodza we act out skits about their regular routine.

Written by: Kristina Carlson Brianna Kelly Alex Seek

Team 8A is working on a fun project in math called “graphiti”. They are creating a picture on a coordinate grid and plotting the points necessary in order to recreate the picture from the ordered pairs. In Social Studies the students did interviews about 9-11 and are now learning about the 13 Colonies. Language arts classes are reading "Tell Tale Heart" and working on a short story unit. In Science there is measuring mania 2012 and students are learning how to convert metric units, such as changing a measurement from kilometers to meters. All in all, the students are experiencing some cool lessons on team ICE!

In Language Arts we are in the middle of a big project about mythological creatures and Greek Gods. We have been researching and finding pictures about our creature or gods/godesses. In World History we just got done with the stone ages! This week we are going to take the stoneage test. We also just got done with the hodza project/ activity. In the Hodza we act out skits about their regular routine.

Written by: Kristina Carlson Brianna Kelly Alex Seek

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Team 8B is on Fire

Team Fire is burning up with great kids on the team. We are seeing a lot of students doing the right stuff and trying to pursue excellence in everything they do. The end of September brings us to our parent teacher conferences as well as our team building day. During team building day there we be no regular classes and the team will be competing in their advisements. We are going with a Hunger Games theme, don’t worry we are not eliminating any of your children. We are just sending a boy and girl from each advisement in for simple competitions. The whole day is meant to build friendships, trust and communication with each other. In 8B math, all pre-algebra classes have worked on integers. We have been adding, subtracting (ask them what ching-ching means), multiplying and dividing. We are even using them in equations and solving. We will move into Rational Numbers and eventually all students will need to bring a regular size M&M’s or regular size Skittles. In Algebra, Ms. Penn from UNO has taken over classes. She is covering percents, ratios and inequalities. In US History with Mr. Reischl, students reflected about 9/11 and are studying the Revolutionary war. They have done some reader theatre and we will eventually rap it up with an 8th grade Revolutionary War Day. In Science with Ms. Rerucha, they have been working on metric conversions and significant numbers.. They have been using a lot of math skills and keep saying this is science…why are we using so much math.. The two subjects go hand in hand. In Language Arts with Ms. George, the Pre-AP classes are beginning a new novel unit "Uglies" ; reviewing literary devices, developing analysis skills through discussion of characters and author's work . Wow they are really booking it!! In other language arts classes they are continuing to work on identifying text organization, using text organization in writing. They will begin mini newspaper/informational unit this month, learn how to annotate and respond to what we read, and review main idea.

The 8th grade students in Mr. Lauck’s Health Class went over the importance of recording their heart rate. The lesson focus was on the importance of monitoring their heart rate during activity to achieve maximum benefits. It was also important for the students to locate the two main locations (wrist and neck) for checking their pulse. The students first checked their resting heart rate (number of beats per minute while at rest) and then checked their heart rate after 30 seconds of exercise. The students noticed the amount of change that took place from their results at rest and after exercise. Using their mathematical skills, the students also recorded their target heart rate zone to show the students the beats per minute they would need to achieve to receive maximum benefits from exercise. They all seemed to understand and value the importance of monitoring their heart rate.the importance of monitoring their heart rate.

Free Clothing OutreachRalston Public Schools, in cooperation with Trinity United Methodist Church, are sponsoring a free children's clothing center. The Lost and Found Children's Clothing Center is located at 8009 Q Street in Ralston. The Center is open on Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and every Wednesday, beginning September 5 through May 15. If Ralston Public Schools are closed (a snow day or a holiday, etc.) on a Wednesday, the Center will also be closed.

The Lost and Found Clothing Center will house gently used, clean clothing and will be distributed to parents or guardians at no charge. Parents or guardians, please contact your child’s school psychologist or guidance counselor to fill out a short form that you will need to bring to the Center.

If you have other questions or wish to donate items to the Center, please contact your child's guidance counselor, Ms. Melissa Jacobberger at 402-331-4701.

The Scholastic Book-Fair is being held at Ralston Middle School September 24-28. The theme for the book fair is “C.S.I: Ralston” celebrating all the science forensic books, scary, and horror books that students love to read. Wednesday, September 26 is a costume day for the book fair. Students and staff are encouraged to dress the part of CSI lab technician, police officer, FBI, criminal, or victim. Prizes from the book-fair, iTunes gift cards, and a free yearbook are some of the items that students can win during the fair. The book fair is open extended hours, 4:30-8:30 p.m., during Parent/Teacher Conferences on September 25th and 27th. Stop in and reward your student for their academic efforts by purchasing a book from the fair. Thank you to Applewood HyVee will be donating their freshly-baked cookies to the book fair during the conferences. Special thanks also go to Ms. Cheryl Lentsch and the members of the RMS PTO for volunteering at the book fair.

Lunch Bunch Book Club, sponsored by Ms. Maureen Olsen and Ms. Dee and Ms. Cassie from Ralston’s Baright Public Library, met for the second time this school year. The students were excited to hear about a couple of upcoming activities with the RHS Ralston Readers Book Club. In anticipation for the final “Twilight” movie release, “Breaking Dawn, Part 2,” the librarians at all three locations will be coming up with Twilight Trivia in November. Two lucky winners will receive the life-size cardboard cutouts of Edward or Jacob that have become a fixture in the Ralston Middle School Media Center over the last four years. In December, the two book clubs will join together to attend opening night of “The Hobbit” at AkSarBen Cinema. Tickets must be purchased in advance through Ms. Olsen. New members are always welcome to attend our monthly lunch-time meetings.

The picture above is of students at a dance clinic wanting to audition for the RMS show choir, RIOT. These clinics were held after school three days prior to the audition date. For the audition students came in at a scheduled auditioned time in pairs of two. They were asked to sing "My Country Tis of Thee" and dance with their partner to the choreographed dance. Students were both nervous and excited but all in all the auditions went great! There was an outstanding total of 84 students at the auditions. The decision was tough but congratulations to the 46 who made RIOT!! This will be an exciting year!

The picture above is of students at a dance clinic wanting to audition for the RMSshow choir, RIOT. These clinics were held after school three days prior to the auditiondate. For the audition students came in at a scheduled auditioned time in pairs of two.They were asked to sing "My Country Tis of Thee" and dance with their partner to thechoreographed dance. Students were both nervous and excited but all in all theauditions went great! There was an outstanding total of 84 students at the auditions.The decision was tough but congratulations to the 46 who made RIOT!! This will be anexciting year!

WHAT IS BEING “BOLD” ALL ABOUT????BOLD is Ralston Middle School’s drug free youth group. BOLD stands for “Be Open about Living Drug-free.” This group is sponsored by Mrs. Groesser and Mr. Lauck, and meets on Friday mornings at 7:35 a.m. in the Health Room. Currently, BOLD is in the process of planning our Red Ribbon Week activities. Red Ribbon Week will be celebrated October 15th through the 18th, and will include many fun dress-up days, Team and Advisement competitions, and then end with a school dance on Thursday, October 18th. Throughout the year, we hope to plan a variety of activities that encourage the students of RMS to be “BOLD” and stand up to drug use. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Just show up, and be willing to take a stand against drugs!

Members of the Omaha Lancers hockey team came to visit Ralston Middle School on Monday, September 24th to talk with students about the importance of reading and living a balanced life. Connor Chatham and Jake Randolph visited Ms. Charlesworth and Mr. Lacey's Reading class.

Lower left-hand photo: winners of a classroom raffle received an autographed Lancers calendar and an autographed Lancers t-shirt.

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Order your Ralston Middle School yearbook today!ORDER BY 12/31/2012 Order Online at jostensyearbooks.com

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Personalize Your Cover with your name or special phrase & up to 4 icons to make your yearbook unique.

NAME OR SPECIAL PHRASE You must order 1 line of personalization in order to add a 2nd line

1st Line $5.50

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Clear Protective Cover Protect your yearbook from scratches, spills and wear $2.35

Hear the Year Download 12 songs from a dedicated music library and enjoy a fun, complimentary bonus feature $12.99

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The 2012-2013 Ralston Middle School yearbook is available now. Order onlineat jostensyearbooks.com or return this form to school with payment.

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