► Central Issues Newsletter Spring 2012

► Central Middle School Students in Statewide and National Bridge-Building Contest

Bridge Building Nationals Update from Mr. Champion…
“I am pleased to announce that our team from PCMS, the Boa Constructors, had a strong showing and finished in 3rd place at the AASHTO National Bridge Building Challenge in Traverse City. The bridge building team members Michael Tarn, Ali Thomas, and Tristan Greathouse impressed the judges with their use of technology, their professional presentation, and their cleverly designed bridge. Two teams from Mississippi had a better strength to weight ratio for their bridges and the Mississippi teams won 1st and 2nd place. We toured the Mackinac Bridge and Mackinac Island, made new friends, and had an experience of a lifetime. We are very proud of the teams accomplishments.”

Before the nationals, six teams from Central Middle School traveled to Lansing on April 30 to participate in the statewide 2012 Michigan Bridge-Building Challenge sponsored by the Michigan Department of Transportation. Central Middle School had 18 students involved in this state level bridge building competition. Seventh grade science teacher Mike Champion coached the middle school participants to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th  place! The winning teams are as follows:

1^st place – Elisa Weber, Grace Schafer, and Noah Sutton
2^nd place – McKenzie Elliot, Nicole Prihoda, and Catlyn Walsh
3^rd place – Alex Hufford, Tristyn Martin, and Connor Koryto
4^th place -  Joey Liu, Ben Behrens, and William Chung

The students had a wonderful day and learned many things during the contest. Congratulations to all participants! All of the competing middle school students had to design and build a truss style bridge. Given specific parameters and the same amount of balsawood, each team had to design and construct the strongest truss bridge. Teams created lengthy proposals using creativity, teamwork, problem solving, science, math, language arts, technology, and social studies skills. This year MDOT personnel informed us that for the entire competition, 200 applications were submitted, and 120 finished proposals were turned in.

Out of that group, 82 teams qualified and were invited to come to Lansing to compete in the state finals.  Most of the teams coming to Lansing are made up of high school students. The finalist teams built and tested their model bridge Monday in Lansing. The students also prepared a Power Point presentation. Top engineers from the Michigan Department of Transportation judged the presentations and the bridges.

The CMS students did an excellent job explaining the bridge building process and the many lessons that they learned from this project. The students who qualified for the state competition are: 7th grade students  - William Chung, Elisa Weber, Grace Schafer, Noah Sutton, McKenzie Elliot, Nicole Prihoda, and Caitlyn Walsh. 8th grade students  -  Caleb Taylor, Lyvia Osterstock, Ben Provancer, Joey Liu, Ben Behrens, Michael Tarn, Ali Thomas, Tristan Greathouse, Alex Hufford, Conor Koryto, and Tristyn Martin.  Monday after each presentation the students took their finished bridges to a testing room where machines were used to test the weight and strength of each bridge.

IMPORTANT ITEMS TO REMEMBER...

► Adult Visitors:
All adults, including parents, please assist us in keeping our school safe and orderly by signing in at the front office and getting a visitor pass sticker before walking down the hallways before school starts, as well as during school hours, as a safety precaution for our students.

► When a child becomes ill at school…5 easy steps:
1. Student tells the teacher they are not feeling well.
2. Teacher sends student to health room (counseling office).
3. Student signs in with Mrs. Leblong; child calls home using school phone.
4. Mrs. Leblong confirms & documents (the pick up of the child) with the parent/guardian.
5. Student may get their belongings and wait for parent in the front lobby.

► Walking out to the bus…
Please remember to stay on the sidewalk while exiting the building to your bus; in other words, do not cross the parking lot and do not walk between or behind the busses.

► Dress Code…take a look at page 4 in your assignment notebook.
Since spring seems to be greeting us with open arms, so please remember that shorts and skirts must be at least mid-thigh, BELOW the fingertips. In addition, shirts and blouses must not reveal the midriffs, meaning no skin showing in the middle! Spaghetti straps, low cut tops, halter tops, backless tops and/or mesh tops are also considered violations of the dress code. Please save these types of apparel for when you are not at school. Thanks to the great majority of you who meet our school expectations each day!

► MyCokeRewards for CMS!
Click on the link below to donate points from the codes found on all Coke products. Thanks to student Max Nicolai for organizing this project! You will see our school's total points, view the wish list, and search for fun ways to get involved. “The more points you donate, the more you help every student learn and grow stronger in all aspects of life.”  www.mycokerewards.com/schoolDetails.do?id=1056674743&x=45&y=13

► Voluntary Student Accident Insurance Program
During this school year the Portage Board of Education made available a voluntary student accident insurance program.  Since the District has made this insurance available, an increasing number of parents/guardians have been taking advantage of this inexpensive policy.  This fact dictates that as a community service, we will continue to offer this voluntary insurance. The District offers this program because of trends in rising family health and dental insurance costs, increased deductibles, and co-payments.  Furthermore, in an attempt to limit the Districts' rising insurance costs, this program provides an alternative for claims due to accidental injuries that unfortunately occur on our property.  This is the case for both during and after school hours. The plan described in the brochure you'll receive in the fall has been designed to respond to diverse family insurance needs.  Coverage provided can help decrease the burden of unexpected medical and dental expenses, including those left unpaid due to family insurance deductibles and co-payments. As it relates to middle and high school interscholastic athletics, this voluntary insurance plan also provides coverage for all sports except grades 9 through 12 tackle football.  In that the District requires athletic insurance, you should consider this policy for the coverage it will provide you and your child.  A separate policy for high school interscholastic football is also made available before practice begins in August. Please watch for the enrollment forms at the start of the next school year.