Mr. B’s Blogspot

Congratulations to seventh grade science teacher Erynn Wright. Ms. Wright and her colleagues in the science department has been awarded a spot in the SRP/AFRE Global Climage Change in the Southwest Academy for Educators this summer. The selection process for this academy was highly competitive. Out of 231 teachers who applied, only 50 were selected! Ms. Wright and her team will spend four days studying climate, sustainability initiatives, resources, and a number of other topics in the area of global climate.

Way to go Ms. Wright!

As you know, this is AIMS week! We completed the writing test on Monday, and we will complete one section each of reading and math on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. On Friday, we will conduct the eighth grade science test and the math field test. All students will take the math field test. Since the Arizona Mathematics Standards were updated last year, the test must be adjusted to fit; the math field test is how the state and the testing company try out test items for the new math test next year. We do not get any scores or data back on the field test.

Please do your best to get all students here and on time each day for testing. We will begin each day with a two-hour testing block, followed by an abbreviated class schedule. Although we provide a two-hour time period for testing, the AIMS is an untimed test. Students who need more time are provided a quiet, supervised space in which to work to continue their test. Officially, students have until the end of the school day (2:20 p.m.) We had a number of students (around 25) who used the additional time on the writing test yesterday.

Ten students (out of 548) missed AIMS on Monday.

Make-up testing will take place next week.

If you have any questions about the test, the schedule–anything at all, please don’t hesitate to call me at 664-5411.

NOTE:* Please click on this link to view our “Spring Sports Schedule”.
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Copy and paste the following link into your web browser to find directions to our games:
http://www.ms.fountainhillsschools.org/index.cfm?pID=1481

On April 23, 5-8 PM, FHMS will host its third annual Arts in the Courtyard Celebration. The event is a major fundraiser for our arts programs: art, band, dance, and drama. Mrs. Gina Waldo is the parent volunteer who makes the event really come together. Tickets for the event are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Ticket price includes admission, performances, and the meal. This year’s sponsors are:

Ahnala Restaurant

FHUSD PTO

Langston Family Foundation

Rowland Luxury Homes

These sponsors make it possible for us to put on a high quality event while maximizing our fundraising efforst for our programs.

FHMS Art Teacher, Mrs. Perry held a contest in her classroom to recruite artwork for this year’s logo and poster. Eighth grader Morgan Gantner created the winning logo picture below.

We are accepting family advertising for this year’s program. Click on the link here to see the order form for a family ad: family-ad-solicitation-31309

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One of the many highlights in sixth grade social studies is the annual castle project. Mrs. Larsen has been guiding students through the creation of medieval castles for many years. There is a highly specific rubric Mrs. Larsen provides to students in order to complete the projects.

Students build castles based on actual structures from Great Brittain and Europe. Mrs. Larsen noted that this year’s castles were especially “true to life.”

Once completed, students then make presentations to their classmates, sharing many of the cool facts they learned about their castles.