MiDDLE SCHOOL
MiDDLE
School
Young Middle School Expansion Donors virginia sanders ’19 and members of Girl Scout Troop #2543 presented a $1,000 check to Head of School evan d. Peterson and Middle School Division Head John stephens to go towards the Paul W. Mason Middle School Expansion. The troop has been together since first grade and has sold cookies each year to raise money. After deciding to disband this year, troop leader Julie Casement and troop members determined that their residual funds would be best used as a gift to the School.
Melisa Dorsey
FWCD offers a big thanks to Troop #2543 members!
Shashank Kovuru ’17 and BRIT volunteer conduct a soil density test.
Seventh Grade Trip to BRIT
Girl Scout Troop #2543 presented a check for the Middle School expansion to John Stephens and Evan D. Peterson. Troop members include fifth graders: Catherine Harris, Alexis Margo, Sarah Clark, Elena Casement, Virginia Sanders, Rachel Ellman, Jessica Schaffer and Riley Hammett Not pictured: Isabella Coslik, Katherine Faulkner, Stella Finley, Alexandra Galloway, Rebecca Galloway, Jordan Klein, Meredith Mitchell, Carlotta Murrin, Rachel Patton, Alauna Pete, and Abby Shaffer.
Middle School Latin Students Dig! Middle and Upper School Latin teacher Bryan Carlson’s Upper School students helped seventh grade Latin students create a two ton simulation of an archaeological excavation to explore. The project was constructed over a week’s time outside of the Middle School. Seventh grade students Jack Baker, Jackson Christian, Jon “reilly” Clark, Bailey evans, riley Hamburg, samanna maberry , robert Patton, ryleigh rains, sean smith, robert todora and Jonathen Wilks excavated for approximately one week before gathering their finds and assembling a museum of artifacts in the library. Seventh graders Riley Hamburg and Samanna Maberry measure the depth of their “find” during the excavation.
12
FALCONER
For many years, FWCD seventh graders have taken an annual trip to the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. Last year, they were unable to attend since BRIT was preparing for the move from their warehouse in downtown Fort Worth to their new facilities by the Botanical Gardens. Seventh graders this year were able to re-establish their relationship with BRIT by taking their first field trip to the new building in October. Students learned from BRIT scientists about the research, development, and installation of their green roof. This included a lesson in the function and value of our native Texas plants as well as how to capture rainwater runoff for use on the grounds. Students toured the herbarium with a BRIT field researcher and were instructed on how specimens are collected and preserved. They also received a lesson from BRIT’s librarian, Gary Jennings, husband to our own librarian, debby Jennings. Lastly, our students had the opportunity to learn the differences between natural and manmade soils through their own observations and testing of unidentified samples. fwcd.org
The Battle of Bryant Irvin – The Debate! This year, middle school had the opportunity to formally debate against middle school students from Trinity Valley School. Thirteen seventh and eighth grade students spent every Wednesday (and a couple of lunch recesses) preparing with Middle School Assistant Division Head Chaka Cummings and learning debate decorum, logical fallacies, types of evidence, techniques and strategies crucial to forming a solid argument. Oct. 25, seventh and eighth grade classes watched students debate the resolution: Middle schools should incorporate the technology students use into the curriculum and, therefore, allow the use of such technologies during school hours. FWCD was the affirmative team, arguing for the resolution, while TVS was the negative team arguing against the resolution. “We had a packed house, incredible judges and the best time keeper ever,” Cummings said. “In the end, TVS won the closely contested debate; our middle school students had a blast; and they learned a lot about public speaking and cooperative argumentation.” Middle School Debate Club members are: Alex doswell ’16, isabel Gray ’16, michael Jacobson ’16, david Lonergan ’17, Austin Westermann ’16, matt Williams ’16, matt Aufiero ’17, Julian Cedillo ’17, edie Huling ’17, Jared imber ’17, Thomas mullins ’17, Harry Thomas ’17 and Joanne Wu ’17. The top speaker, as voted by our judges, was Gray.
fall/winter 2011
FWCD Middle School debate team members discuss their argument before proceeding in the debate against Trinity Valley School.
This was the first in a series of two debates. The team’s next debate will be in March at Trinity Valley School. If you are interested in learning more about the spring debate, contact Chaka Cummings for further details.
FALCONER
13