Horizon Dec 2023 - Flipbook - Page 14
MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS
Patricia Gallaher, Head of Middle School
With 350 students in 2022-2023, the Middle School remained
busy with academics, electives, class trips and special events,
including the Texas Food Festival, the Interactive Cultural
Garden, the Student Council Cake Walk, Valentine candy bar
sales, spring sports and after-school clubs. Middle School
students in our 36 advisories worked hard in their academic
classes, electives and social skills program. Middle School
teachers used multisensory instruction to reach all types of
learners and supported students in developing organizational
and study skills. Advisors utilized the WinAtSocial program
to develop digital literacy and citizenship skills and work on
conflict resolution and self-care.
Seventh-Grade Texas History Trip
The seventh graders traveled to Central Texas for the Texas
History Adventure Class Trip. Students toured the Texas State
Capitol, the Bob Bullock Museum, San Antonio Missions,
Natural Bridge Caverns and the Alamo. They also participated
in community service at the San Antonio Food Bank and Haven
for Hope and had fun on the Riverwalk Boat Cruise. It was a
fun week that combined educational stops, team building and
service.
Electives
Eighth-Grade Trip to the Great Smoky Mountains
Middle School students took Visual Art, Instrumental Band and
Drumline, Drama, PE and Dance, Vocal Music, STEM, Coding,
Life Hacks, Digital Photography, Woodworking and more.
Eighth-grade woodworkers learned how to operate power
tools, work safely in the shop and design and build a cutting
board to take home. The seventh-grade Vocal Music class
worked on solos and duets from popular Broadway musicals,
including “Mamma Mia,” “Waitress,” “The Book of Mormon,”
“Hamilton” and more. In the eighth-grade Vocal Music class,
students finished the year by performing scenes and songs
from the musical “Little Women.” In Visual Arts, students were
inspired by the work of Brazilian
artist Roberto Britto and the
way he uses patterns and bright
colors in his paintings. Each
student designed and painted
a self-portrait in the style of
Britto. Once completed, they
added their portrait to a large
collaborative painting. Hidden in
the painting are fun references
to other artists that students
studied, including René Magritte.
The eighth graders traveled to the Great Smoky Mountains
for their class trip. They hiked in the Tallulah Gorge State Park,
visited Pigeon Forge and explored the Great Smoky Mountains
National Park.
Students
enjoyed a day
of white-water
rafting in the
Pigeon River
and zip lining.
They ended
the trip with
a visit to the
National Center
for Civil and
Human Rights in
Atlanta.
Words and Music
The Words and Music Program is an engaging addition to our
seventh-grade English curriculum facilitated by the Country
Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn. After
completing a 10-lesson Songwriting Unit, students wrote lyrics
reflecting their experiences and perspectives. These student
lyrics were then submitted to the Country Music Hall of Fame,
where Nashville songwriters Chris Moyse and Savannah Keyes
selected six to eight student lyrics per class period to put
to music and transform into a real song. These songs were
performed in an assembly broadcast from the Country Music
Hall of Fame with various songwriters for the students to hear
their songs performed live.
12
DECEMBER 2023
THE HORIZON
SHELTON SCHOOL
Middle School STEM
Middle School STEM students
demonstrated their knowledge of
the Engineering Design Process by
completing a variety of hands-on
projects this year, including
the Hydraulic Judo Robots and
Clothespin Crossbows. They also
created iMovie trailers using the 3D
Students took on the
program TinkerCAD. Students worked Engineering Challenge to
together to create 3D characters and build a bridge from pencils.
settings, import them into iMovie and
develop their own creative storylines.
These projects helped to enhance
students’ problem-solving, teamwork
and critical thinking skills.
Student Council
The Middle School Student Council
had an amazing year with 78
representatives and eight officers
Middle School students worked
on a lab called “Flame and Freeze.”
who met weekly. Students collected
clothing items and blankets to
support the Austin Street Center, raised money benefitting
the SADS foundation through our annual Valentine candy bar
sales, organized a talent show during Mayfest and participated
in other charitable causes. The Student Council finished the
year with elections and elected eight new officers for the
2023-2024 school year.