Super Saturday - October 22, 2011 You Have To See This!

Super Saturday - High Speed Learning for High Speed Learners

Super Saturday, the first ever at Hartsburg-Emden, saw 40 children and 10 adults busy with learning exciting science and math. Math is an area the district needs to improve – so the kids voluntarily spent 3.5 hours on a Saturday morning working with addition, measurement, subtraction, multiplication and weight. Pumpkin math used up over 45 pumpkins -  not to mention the 4 pounds of candy corn used in graphing. Then it was on to an awesome science presentation by  Dangerous Dan! The kids went home at noon with new t-shirts, math mysteries, math games, a bucket of slime and lots of fun science ideas swirling around in their heads. Oh, and their hair was standing on end. That’s what a Super Saturday can do – fun learning at the speed of light! We are in the planning stages for the next Super Saturday – Robotics!

Thanks to -  

Dr. Manos, Ms. Brooks, Mrs. Willmert, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Wisniewski  and Mrs. Doering- and all the parents who stayed to learn.

The kids said –

I liked the floating hovercraft and the spider.

I love seeing hair standing on end. The pumpkins were gross but I loved it. I learned how to make monster slime. Thank you for this. It was very, very fun. I would love to do this again. Thanks for a great day.

I liked it a lot because I want to be a chemist.

I leaned about flashpaper.

I loved Super Saturday. This is the best yet! My favorite was the frozen carbon dioxide experiments. Super Saturday was fun and I hope we have it again.

I learned about the rings on the pumpkins.

I like learning more about science.

How in the world did that electricity thing work?

Super Saturday - Wow! Awesome Science and Math!

NASA in November - Hartem is Spaced-Out this Month

Students in Hartem grades  k-12 will be spaced-out next month! Helped with a grant from CornBelt Energy, the district will host a NASA educator and several displays from NASA, attend the National Challenger center to experience a space mission, not to mention an inflatable planetarium in the elementary school gym! Our high school science teacher, Mr. Sam Guthrie will host a NIGHT SIGHT to watch the stars thru power telescopes in the school parking lot. Parents are invited to all activities -please come. The schedule below is TENTATIVE and may be changed.

                   

                             NASA in November

November 3, 2011 – “Night Sight”, telescopes in the high school parking lot, Mr. Guthrie, 6:30 – 8:30pm, middle and high school kids only

November 7, 2011 – Challenger Center, Heartland College “Lost Satellite Mission” for grade 4 students

November 8, 2011 – Challenger Center, Heartland College “Rendezvous with a Comet Mission” for grades 5 and 6 students

November 15, 2011 – Skylab Planetarium, Lakeview Museum, 8:00 am – 3:00 pm, at Emden Elementary School, Emden, IL.

November 14, 2011 - NASA educator, Susan Kohler Penn State, directs Robot Challenge for teacher professional development at Hartsburg-Emden High School, Hartsburg, IL

November 15, 2011 – NASA educator, Susan Kohler Penn State, directs Robot Challenge for classroom instruction, grades 5-12 at Hartsburg-Emden High School, Hartsburg, IL

November 14 – 21, 2011- NASA Display Exhibits at Emden Elementary School and Hartsburg-Emden HS - Apollo Space Suit Display ; Space Shuttle Photo OP Suit; Manned Space Flight History Display; Space Food Display; Exploring the Universe Display

November 14^th – Teacher Professional Development Schedule – Design Challenge

• Teachers, Grades  k-1-2-3      8:00 am – 10:00 am
• Teacher, Grades  4-5-6-7       10:30 – 12:30 pm
• Teachers Grade 8 / High School  1:30 – 3:30 pm

November 15^th – NASA Educator Classroom Visits - Robotics

• Grade 5 – 8:15 – 9:00 am
• Grade 6 – 9:10 – 10:00 am
• Grade 7 – 10:10 – 11:00 am
• 11:00 – 12:00 noon -  lunch for educator
• Grade 8 -  12: 10 – 1:00 pm
• High School Group One – 1:10 – 2:00 pm
• High School Group Two – 2:10 – 3:00 pm

NASA in November

Bus Refresher

Dr. Manos has long been a school bus driver. Her recent refresher with Mrs. Lu Barry, has renewed her skills and you may see Dr.M in the seat of the big yellow bus. Thanks LU!

Rachel's Challenge - Speak With Kindess - Visits Hartem Jr/Sr High

Hartsburg-Emden CUSD 21  hosted the nationally acclaimed anti-bullying and violence prevention program , RACHEL’S CHALLENGE from Colorado. The entire junior and senior high school was included in the program. Parents and community members were welcome as well. The program is based on the life and death of Rachel Scott, who was killed at Columbine High School. She lived a life of kindness and compassion and demonstrated an outgoing and inclusive nature. The students will be given information on how to make positive change in their lives and include others in a circle of friends.  The day will include two presentations and a leadership workshop for the junior/senior students.

Illinois Teacher Of the Year Vists Hartem

Annice Brave, Illinois Teacher of the Year spoke to all Hartem teachers to kick-off the school year! She encouraged her audience to find the superhero inside us and be the best teachers we can be. She also encouraged us to continue our work with NASA and STEM lessons. Thanks Annice for visiting and have a great school school year!

Kids Love Netbooks and Wireless Computing

Third graders love the 1-2-1 computing opportunities to learn inside the classroom. The 5 netbook pod can be taken to any class on a  minute's notice and our students can research topics of interest safe within our net filters. Welcome to the 21st Century!

Great Literature Center Opens at Hartem High School Library

State Farm Literature Center at Hartsburg-Emden High School library. A big thanks to State Farm for donating the beautiful furniture in our Great Literature Center. The high school readers can get comfortable and read the classics on their Kindles in pure class! The rug is provided by a grant from Monsanto. Thanks to our corporate partners!

Superintendent For A Day -Mr. Zach Leonard!

Mr. Zach Leonard, Senior, became Superintendent of the Day on September 9, 2011. Zach earned the highest score in the district for the Illinois State High School Exam – PSAE. He spent the day “In Charge” and in consultation with Mr. Struebing, Head Maintenance, Mrs. Eeten, Head of Food Service,  and Mr. Wisneiwski, Transportation Director and High School Principal. Well Done, Zach!

Mr. Rademaker Helps the District Again - Thank You!

Thanks to Mr. Ivan Rademaker the sculptor of this wooden stag for the Board Room. Mr. Rademaker is a stalwart supporter of Hartsburg-Emden School. He is also the carpenter who has donated 6 footrests to the new literature center in the High School Library. Mr. Rademaker is a generous and skilled worker and is much appreciated by the entire district. The stags are yearly gifts to sports team members who excel! The footrests are outstanding!Thanks!

Emden Grade School Turns 100 This Year !

Bethel School - Education in 1912

What was school like 100 years ago? The Hartsburg-Emden students had the opportunity to find out thanks to Mr. Bob Cross and the Emden Historical Society. September 13 and 15^th students in grades k-5 spent a day in the re-constructed Bethel one-room School. Students did writing with slates and chalk, turn-of-the –century recess games, and enjoyed the history lesson given by Ms. Norma Bathe, our School Marm. Long-term teacher at Hartem, Ms. Bathe presented excellent information about life in 1912. Mrs. Betty Gail Wagoner, History Society volunteer shared pictures of her class from Bethel School. Mr. Bob Cross, pointed out unique areas of the building. Thanks to all who helped make the day possible – especially  Emden School Teachers, Mrs. Curry, Mrs. Struebing, Mrs. Wilmert, Mrs. Johnson, Miss Dirks, and Mrs. Meeker. The event is the official kick-off for the Emden Celebration of 100 years of continuously educating children. Kids Come First!

Teacher Professional Development at Its Best!

Math Solutions  representative, Mrs. Karen Zuehl, provides 4 days of shoulder-to-shoulder teacher professional development in math lessons and how to teach to all levels of students in the regular education classroom. She taught model lessons and used outstanding materials for students and teachers. This PD was funded through our Title I federal grant. Math Solutions will also conduct 2 days of additional training in June after school is done. Teacher comments include "I really appreciated the chance to see someone else demonstrating the activities with our students. I look forward to gaining more ideas from the wealth of resources that have been left for us" (Mrs. Wilmert). "I enjoyed the opportunity" (Mrs. Meeker). "Very worthwhile and useful!" (Mrs. Johnson). "Karen is full of knowledge. I look forward to her return in June" (Mrs. Curry) "She is easy to talk with and is very positive" (Mrs. Geary).

Fun Falling at Emden Elementary

4th Grade students have a blast doing the OLD SCHOOL fun of roller skating to music! Learning to lace up -  this student has to wiggle into her skate. She hopes to earn her first "trophy."  Hey, Mrs. Batterton how many trophies did you earn?



ISAT Movie Madness Night - Grades 3 and 4 - March 24, 2011 and Grades 5-8 - March 25, 2011

Thanks for a great job!

The ISAT has come and gone and we had 100% of all students completing the test. The kids worked down to the last minute on every test and many asked for the extra 10 minutes allowed under state law!

The ISAT  Movie Madness Nights are scheduled for:
Grades 3-4   March 24, 2011
Grades 5 - 8, march 25, 2011

The kids will have a wonderful time! Once again - great job. Everyone here at Hartem said it was the best effort ever given by the students! Well done!