Volcanic Adventures
Thursday, October 31, 2013 • 43
Schools
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Simmons Middle School science teachers Susan Ogle, Julie Falkner and Dana Langford have spent the last two summers studying volcanoes across the globe so that they can share their knowledge with their students.
Simmons Middle Erupts with Science Excitement “Lava Lounge” may be an apt phrase to describe some sixth-grade science rooms at Simmons Middle School this fall. That’s because teachers at the school have erupted with excitement over volcanoes following back-to-back summers of international learning experiences. Those experiences have now flowed into classrooms recently as students have started learning about volcanoes in their science classes. This past summer, teachers Susan Ogle and Dana Langford embarked on a Costa Rican adventure to study volcanoes including the Rincón de la Vieja volcano and the Poas volcano. In 2012, teacher Julie Falkner studied at the famed Soufriere Hills volcano on Montserrat. “We’ve always been very excited and motivated teachers, but now I think we’re better teachers because of this,” Ogle said. Ogle is in her 30th year of teaching, and Langford is in her 18th. Both said they enjoyed the excursion thanks to a grant from the Fund
for Teachers organization in Texas. The two teachers saw active volcanoes, rain forests, hot springs, indigenous wildlife and more. “It was out of our comfort zone--and that was a good thing,” Langford said. Ogle said she had an “aha moment” at the Poas volcano. “I got to the peak and saw the crater where the top blew off years ago. I thought, this is my first time to see a volcano after teaching about them all these years,” Ogle said. Falkner, who has taught science for 14 years, said the textbooks were brought to life for her in a new way in 2012 when a University of Alabama-Huntsville grant enabled her to visit the Caribbean island of Montserrat, home to the Soufriere Hills volcano. Soufriere Hills became active in 1995 and has continued to erupt ever since. Falkner said a tour guide helped her get close-up encounters with Soufriere Hills and
Photo special to the Journal
that she got to meet cientists at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory. “That was a big highlight. It was awesome,” Falkner said. Falkner also studied reef life, rain forests, seismology and other concepts and subjects taught to students at Simmons each year. “This trip enriched what we already knew. Being an AMSTI (Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative) site, it’s already handson in terms of what we do. This professional
development made me more confident in how I connect with our students,” Falkner said. Ogle, Langford and Falkner all said the places they visited were unique but how they went about the process was not. They said they encourage any teacher to apply for professional development grants available to educators. “The experience is better than any workshop you can attend, better than any book,” Langford said. “It will make any educator want to be a better teacher.” ❖
School Notes Cont. Father John Fallon and Assistant Principal Katie King greeted students as they stepped onto the new cushioned playground surface. Fallon spoke to the students about the new playground and
blessed it. Turning the previously hilly and boulder-strewn area behind the church and school into a safe, fun space took about two months, school officials said.
The $100,000 project was a joint effort of the Prince of Peace Catholic School, Church and PTO. The school has four playgrounds.
Mike A. Keller, DDS, PC Pediatric / Adolescent Dentistry Dr. Mike Keller, friends & staff are happy to recognize September members of the NO SUGAR BUG CLUB
Several students at Homewood High School were recently recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. From left: National Merit Semifinalists David Selden, Sarah Grace McDuff, Josh Gardner and Roman Paoletti and Commended Students Miller Williams and Yevgeni Gavrikov. National Merit Semifinalist Adam Pratt is not pictured. Photo special to the Journal Scholarships worth about $35 million that will be offered next spring. Homewood students named Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation were Miller Williams and Yevgeni Gavrikov. Students with exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their outstanding performances on the qualifying test used for program entry but who are not continuing in the competition are designated as Commended Students.
Prince of Peace Opens New Playground Kindergarten and first-grade students at Prince of Peace Catholic School in Hoover have a new place to play. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to open a new playground at the school on Sept. 19. Shortly after lunch, the young students waited inside the primary school wing for their teachers to open the door to the new recess area.
Prince of Peace Catholic School Assistant Principal Katie King cuts the ribbon to open the school’s new playground. Photo special to the Journal
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