Erie Middle School, Pre AP Focus School

Todd Bissell, Principal

Dr. Rachel Heide, Assistant Principal
Erie Middle School Tiger Community,

MARCH 2016 NEWSLETTER

Second semester is off to a great start. The staff is working hard to challenge all students at
their appropriate levels. The students are working hard and making a commitment to their education.
Beginning the week of April 11th students will be taking the PARCC and CMAS
assessments. All grade levels will be assessed in Math, Reading, and Writing. 7th graders will also
be assessed in Social Studies and 8th graders in Science. Erie Middle School has performed well on
the Colorado State Assessments historically. Please encourage your students to try their hardest as
well as get enough rest and eat well in preparation for the PARCC/CMAS assessments. Thanks for
your support.
Students are beginning to sign up for classes for the 2016-2017 school year. Our counselors
are visiting with our current students as well as our incoming 6th grade to explain course offerings
and the students will be given a course request sheet. In an effort to meet the needs of our students
we will be making a change to offering electives by offering a variety of electives. The students will
still have various elective options to choose from. If you have any questions please call the EMS
counseling office.
Parent/Teacher conferences were a success. A lot of great discussions centered on student progress
were held. If you missed these conferences and would still like to meet with teachers, please call the
school to arrange a conference.
As we welcome our new Principal, Ms. Kim Watry, I will be setting up some meet and greet
times at EMS in the next few months. Please watch for more information to be provided as to dates
and times
Wrestling season is in full swing. Our wrestlers have represented EMS with pride. Track
and Co-Ed Soccer seasons will be starting soon. Please watch for information as we approach Track
and Soccer.
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Todd Bissell
EMS Principal

Dear Parents:
We are very fortunate that each year the St. Vrain Education Foundation sponsors a program that
allows parents and students to nominate teachers for an award.
I have been so grateful in years past at how many parents have taken the time to nominate Erie
Middle School teachers!
The Foundation chooses one winner and two runners-up at each school to attend a wonderful dinner
in May and it's at this time that they announce the Encore Award winner for each school.
The deadline for nominations is March 15th. If you believe a Erie Middle teacher (could be a
classroom teacher, or a elective teacher, or an academic support teacher) is worthy of this award, I
would really appreciate it if you could submit a nomination.
Thank you for your continued support of the Erie Middle community! Please send me an email if
there is anything I can do to help at bissell_todd@svvsd.org
You can find the nomination form here: http://www.efsvv.org/programs/encore-award-program/
encore-award-nomination-form/.

Todd Bissell
Principal

From early on in working with Mrs. Shahinian it was clear that she
has a heart for the children she serves. She is one of the most patient
individuals I have had the pleasure to work with always making sure
that students leave, even a frustrating situation, feeling heard and
valued. She is an advocate for all students demonstrating daily her
desire for all students to have the best possible outcomes. She views
students and speaks about them through the lens of their strengths and
uses each these strengths to help students overcome obstacles and achieve
their goals. Bridget serves on a variety of teams in our school and is a
tremendous asset to them providing intelligent and caring insights on the
various challenges we are faced with as quickly growing school. Bridget,
thank you for what you bring to EMS and the difference you make in the
lives of the students we serve.

Brad Gisclair is an excellent example of a teacher who is working

towards empowering all of his students to achieve high
growth. The environment within his class is safe, caring, a
challenging. Brad
integrates technology and the use of iPads in
class on a daily basis to enhance and enrich his classes. Through
his rigorous curriculum and use of data mining, the students are
being challenged at their level to become outstanding readers,
writers, thinkers, and problem solvers. Mr. Gisclair uses innovative
techniques that encourage student interaction and participation. He
sees the value of 8th grade mentorship through his leadership with
WEB. Brad, thanks for all you do for our students and staff at EMS.

Elective Team Solo Award

All elective students and students of the month will have their picture posted on
our Student of the Month bulletin board in the Main Office. They will also enjoy
a one topping large pizza on Thursday, March 25th at their designated lunch
times. Students, please stop by the Main Office to let us know what kind of pizza
you would like.

Monday
29

Tuesday
1

Wednesday
2
Late Start
10:30 AM

Academic Assistance
3:00-4:00 PM

100 Mile Club

7:00 AM

Tiger Who Code

3:00-5:00 PM

Lego Bricks Club

3:00-4:00 PM

Art Club
3:15-4:30 PM
Sign Language
Club
3:15-4:15 PM

6th Grade
Wrestling Tournament
At Mead HS
3:30 PM

Wrestling Meet
At Trail Ridge MS
3:30 PM

Wrestling Practice
3:15-4:45 PM

Tiger Lily Choir

3:15-3:45 PM

Saturday, March 5th

7th/8th Grades
Wrestling Tournament
8:00 am
Mead HS

Anime Club
3:05-4:05 pm

9
Academic Assistance
3:00-4:00 PM

100 Mile Club

7:00 AM

100 Mile Club

7:00 AM

Chess Club
3 :10-4:00 PM

Lego Bricks Club

3:00-4:00 PM

Student Council
3:00-3:45 PM

Tiger Who Code

3:00-5:00 PM

Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

Soul Sisters
3:15-4:15 PM

Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

15
100 Mile Club
7:00 AM
Lego Bricks Club
3:00-4:00 PM

2016-2017 NJHS
Applications available
In Advisory Classes
PTO Meeting
6:30 PM
EMS Library
Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

16
Tigers Who Code
3:00-5:00 PM
Academic Assistance
3:00-4:00 PM
Chess Club
3:10-4:00 PM
Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

11
Academic Assistance
3:00-4:00 PM

100 Mile Club

7:00 AM

Math Counts
3:15-4:15 PM

Art Club
3:15-4:30 PM

Anime Club
3:00-4:00 PM

Sign Language
Club
3:15-4:15 PM

Tiger Lily Choir

3:15-3:45 PM

Hearing & Vision

Screening

14

10

Good Movie, Better Book

Club
3:15-4:15 PM
Student Council
3:00-3:45 PM
Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

17
100 Mile Club
7:00 AM

100 Mile Club

7:00 AM

Math Counts
3:15-4:15 PM

Good Movie, Better Book

Club
3:15-4:30 PM

Wrestling Practice
3:15-4:45 PM

Friday
4

Academic Assistance
3:00-4:00 PM

Student Council
3:00-3:45 PM

Chess Club
3 :10-4:00 PM

Wrestling Practice
3:15-4:45 PM

Thursday
3

Tiger Lily Choir

3:15-3:45 PM
Academic Assistance
3:00-4:00 PM
Anime Club
3:05-4:05 PM

18
100 Mile Club
7:00 AM
Art Club
3:15-4:30 PM

Math Counts
3:15 PM

Sign Language
Club
3:15-4:15 PM

Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

St. Patricks Day

21

22

23

100 Mile Club

7:00 AM

Tigers Who Code

3:00-5:00 PM

Lego Bricks Club

3:00-4:00 PM

Academic Assistance
3:00-4:00 PM

Track Meet
At Mead HS
3:30 PM

Chess Club
3:10-4:00 PM
Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

100 Mile Club

7:00 AM

24

Tiger Lily Choir

3:15-3:45 PM

Soul Sisters
3:15-4:15 PM

Academic Assistance
3:00-4:00 PM

Student Council
3:00-3:45 PM

Math Counts
3:15 PM

Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

25
100 Mile Club
7:00 AM
Art Club
3:15-4:30 PM
Sign Language
Club
3:15-4:15 PM
Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM
Game Club
3:15-4:30 pm

28

29
100 Mile Club
7:00 AM
Lego Bricks Club
3:00-4:00 PM
Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

30
Tigers Who Code
3:00-5:00 PM
Academic Assistance
3:00-4:00 PM
Chess Club
3:10-4:00 PM
Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

31
100 Mile Club
7:00 AM

1
Tiger Lily Choir
3:15-3:45 PM

Good Movie, Better Book Club

3:15-4:15 PM

Academic Assistance
3:00-4:00 PM

Student Council
3:00-3:45 PM

Math Counts
3:15 PM

Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

Track Meet
At Erie HS
3:30 PM

APRIL FOOLS DAY

100 Mile Club
7:00 AM
Art Club
3:15-4:30 PM
Sign Language
Club
3:15-4:15 PM
Track Practice
3:15-4:30 PM

UPCOMING EVENTS

APRIL 11TH-14TH, 2016

ART SHOW OPEN HOUSE
THURSDAY, APRIL 14TH
5:00-6:30 PM
BOULDER COUNTY
FAIRGROUNDS

From the Counseling Office

The counselors worked with Erie Middle School students to help them register for the
2016-2017 school year. For questions please contact your students counselor.
Heather Solar ( A-K)

Genaro Villareal (L-Z)

solar_heather@svvsd.org

villareal_genaro@svvsd.org

PARCC testing will begin in April. Below are some testing strategies to help your
student during PARCC.

General
Read the directions very carefully.
Do not spend too much time on one question.
Stay calm and focus on doing your best.
Use all of the time you are given.
Pace yourself.
Make sure you answered all of the questions.
Check for careless mistakes, such as marking
the wrong bubble.
Review the problems you thought were the
hardest.
Be neat when writing answers or filling in
answer bubbles. Stray marks may be
counted as wrong answers.
Draw a simple picture. This strategy may help
you solve math word problems.
Short Answer Questions
Explain your answer, what you did to solve the
problem.

Multiple Choice Questions

Read the questions first. This is most helpful when
you have to answer questions about a reading
passage.
Read the questions carefully.
Read all of your choices before choosing your
answer.
Try each answer choice.
Use the process of elimination.

Essay Questions

Organize your thoughts.

Include a thesis sentence in the introduction,
develop the body of the essay by writing and
organizing paragraphs that support the main idea,
use transitions to connect your points, and write a
conclusion.
Check grammar and spelling.
Write clearly and legibly.
If you run out of time, outline the remaining
information.

NATIONAL HISTORY DAY CLUB UPDATE

Erie Middle School is proud to announce we have five teams moving on from the local competition to
the regional competition of the National History Day Competition. The regional competition is
Saturday, March 5th at UNC. Wish the teams luck as they compete to move on to the state and
national level competitions.
The teams and their projects are listed below.

Group

Project Theme

Project Type

Rithik Gangopadhyay, Myles Meskers, and

Caleb Reeves

The Space Race - The Apollo

Missions

Exhibit

John and Michael Recchia

The Silk Road - Marco Polo

Website

Makenna Buckskin, Zoe Hatch, Gavin Mendoza,

and Joe Vennard

Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea Exhibit

Skylar Tempel

Colorado Gold Rush

Website

Lauren Postel and Kaden Sisk

Cabeza de Vaca

Website

FROM OUR HEALTH CLERKS

Inhaler Recall:
Product Description: Ventolin HFA (albuterol sulfate) Inhalation Aerosol, 90 mcg per actuation, 200 Metered Inhalations, Rx Only, For Oral
Inhalation Only, Net Wt. 18 g, GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, NDC 0173-0682-20
Recall Number: D-0519-2016
Classification: Class II
Code Info: Lot #s: 5ZP1708, Exp. 12/2016; 5ZP1951, Exp. 02/2017
Product Distributed: Qty. 128,704 Inhalers
Reason For Recall: Defective Delivery System: Some canisters may not contain sufficient propellant to deliver the labeled claim of 200
actuations through the end of shelf life.

Above info is from the below website:

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/enforcement/enforce_rpt-Product-Tabs.cfm?action=select&recall_number=D-05192016&w=12162015&lang=eng

Hearing and Vision rechecks:

On Monday, March 7th we will be finishing up the hearing and vision screening for this school year. Our audiologist and a district health clerk
will be at Erie Middle from 9:30 - 11:00. Parents of students who wear glasses will be contacted to remind their student to wear their glasses.
6th grade field trip on Friday, March 25 to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
If your student self carries an inhaler, please remind them to bring it on the field trip.
The health office is needing donations of:
Adult size small or medium: shorts or pants for girls and boys. (Occasionally we have a need for spare clothes. We have plenty of smaller
sizes.)
Bottles of water
Saltine crackers

Regarding immunizations: Thank you for turning in updated immunization forms.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Nicole Meadows and Felicia Sanchez

Health Clerks
303-828-3391 - Main line
meadows_nicole@svvsd.org
Sanchez_Felicia@svvsd.org