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ACS Connect

October 2015
Middle School Issue

Welcome to this years

first issue of ACS
Connect, our monthly
newsletter connecting
students and families to
events and
opportunities to enrich
and extend learning.
In this issue you will find information about resources and events you can connect with in October and November.
Please keep an eye on the Highly Able Weebly tab Open Enrichment Activities for updates: goo.gl/LW9X0C
UK Young Writers Poetry Trials
Middle School students from Grade 6-8 are encouraged to develop a
poem of up to thirty lines for the Young Writers poetry competition,
The Poetry Trials. Students can write a poem in any form or style and
on any theme or idea. The poems are judged on style as well as their
ability to evoke emotion in the reader. Students who are interested in
this competition should bring their poem to a poetry support session in
room 108 during recess on Tuesday, October 8th. The poems must be
finalised and sent in by October 30th 2015. More info at:
https://goo.gl/AnZZ3s
Poetry Emotions Writing Challenge
Middle School students from Grade 5 can also develop a poem for the
Young Writers competition, Poetry Emotions, a challenge to create a
poem on the theme of an emotional experience. Students are
encouraged to use figurative language and other techniques to
communicate a feeling. Students who are interested in this
competition should bring their poem to a support session in room 108
during recess on Tuesday, October 8th. Poems must be finalised and
sent in by October 30th 2015. More info at: https://goo.gl/wkD4nY

National Engineering
Competition for GirlsOpen to girls in Grade 6-12
Talent 2030's National
Engineering Competition for
Girls is a free competition for
girls aged 11-18. The
competition aims to inspire girls
to pursue careers in engineering
and manufacturing and invites
them to solve major challenges
of the 21st century. Girls can
enter individually or in groups
of up to 6. Competition opens
on 28th of September 2015,
closes on December 18th. For
support with your entry
contact Ms Herschleb to get
information about times and
locations of support sessions.

Drop-in Meetings with the Highly Able Coordinator

Beginning on Monday, October 5th the Middle and High School Highly Able
Programme coordinator, Ms Herschleb, will be available during lunch and
recess on Mondays for consultation and support for students undertaking
projects or extension activities. She will be located at the conference table
outside of Mr Higgins room. No appointment necessary, stop by for support
with enrichment or extension activities.

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Online Learning Opportunities

This month we recommend
checking out the following Google
Crash Courses with John Green:
Disease! Crash Course World
History: Many students are familiar
with John Greens funny delivery of
interesting information and this
podcast is no different. Find out
about how disease has shaped our
history and the way we live today.
Intro to Psychology: Crash Course
Psychology: What does Psychology
mean? Where does it come from?
This is a ten-minute intro to one of
the more tricky sciences with talks
about some of the big names in the
development of the field as well as
an introduction to some of the
biggest breakthroughs and most well
known theories.
Podcasts we recommend:
NPRs StoryCorps
At the StoryCorps home page you
can listen to three to four minute
interviews with ordinary Americans
sharing different aspects of their
lives including challenges and joys.
http://goo.gl/nRJa2N
Slate Magazines Explainer
Do you ever have questions you
cant seem to answer- even in the
age of the Internet? Slates Explainer
podcast tackles those difficult
questions like Wheres the safest
place in a tornado? and How
often do thieves destroy their loot?
http://goo.gl/bH4Q9u

Learning Around London:

How to get the most out of this
great city in October

Recommended Reading:
Some books to curl up with as the
days get shorter

Barbara Hepworth: Sculptures

for a Modern World
The Tate Britain, Closes October
25th 2015
Barbara Hepworth has been one
of the leading sculptors of the
20th century. This retrospective
of one of Britains greatest artists
features many of her most
significant and beautiful
sculptures in wood, stone and
bronze alongside rarely
seen works.

The White Bicycle

by Beverley Brenna
A young woman with Asbergers
Syndrome is testing the limits of
her own independence while
taking her summer vacation in
France. This insightful young
adult novel explores the theme of
coming of age through bold first
person prose in a way that is
ultimately relatable for all young
people.

Cosmonauts:
Birth of the Space Age
The Science Museum, Opens
September 18, 2015
In 1957 Russia launched the
world's first artificial satellite,
Sputnik, into space and just four
years later sent the first ever
human Yuri Gagarin. Discover
the dramatic story of how Russia
turned the dream of space travel
into a reality and became the
first nation to explore space in
this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition.
The Oresteia
The Globe Theatre, Opens
August 29th, 2015
Before setting out for the Trojan
War, King Agamemnon
sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia.
Many years later, when
Agamemnon returns to his
palace, his adulterous Queen
Clytemnestra takes her revenge
by brutally murdering him and
installing her lover on the
throne. How will the gods judge
Orestes, their estranged son, who
must continue the endless cycle
of revenge by murdering his
mother?

Gorilla Dawn
by Gill Lewis
This fast paced and sometimes
heartbreaking adventure explores
the fate of a gorilla and two
children caught up in the
violence of a rebel camp in the
Democratic Republic of Congo.
The novel explores themes of
environmental destruction and
the exploitation of children. You
can find this book in the ACS
Middle School library.
Ill Give you the Sun
by Jandy Nelson
Artistically gifted twins, Jude
and Noah, tell their compelling
family story in rich alternating
voices.
The Economist
Subscriptions to the Economist
now available. The Economist
offers insight and opinion on
international news, politics,
business, finance, science,
technology and the connections
between them. If you would like
a school year subscription to the
Economist for 15 for issues
through June, please bring the
subscription fee to Ms.
Herschleb by October 12th.