Students To Compete in Knowledge Master Open Tournament

On December 5, 2012, thirteen students from WFMS will compete in the Knowledge Master Open Tournament.  This tournament was designed to stimulate enthusiasm for learning and recognition for academic accomplishment.  The contest runs on classroom computers to allow all students the opportunity to compete in a large academic event without the expense of traveling to a central site.  Results of the contest are tabulated into overall, state, and enrollment-size rankings by Academic Hallmarks, a Colorado publishing firm that hosts the event.  Contest results and example questions will be available at www.greatauk.com after the event.

Please wish our WFMS competitors luck as they show what they know on December 5!

Highly Able Learner Essay Contest

This contest, sponsored by the Maryland Coalition for Gifted and Talented Education, is open to any student, in grades 5-8, who has participated in the Advanced Academics program.  More information about the contest can be found HERE .  The deadline for entries is December 21, 2012.

Slogan Contest Opportunity - deadline Nov. 30

This competition is sponsored by Clean Air Partners, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Baltimore Metropolitan Council. The purpose of the slogan contest is to engage students and educators to study and actively pursue solutions to air pollution and climate change.


Clean Air Partners invites students in grades 4-8 to submit a creative slogan that brings to light the solutions to air pollution and climate change and inspires people to take actions to improve our region’s air quality. Some example topics include but are not limited to:

• Increasing energy efficiency to combat climate change.
•  Reducing electricity consumption.
• Alternative transportation such as bike/walk to school, taking transit, carpool, etc.
• Ways to reduce ground-level ozone and air pollutants.
• Alternatives to fossil fuels.
• The Air Quality Index as an education tool.
• “Green Jobs” related to air quality and climate change.

Resources for helping students develop their slogan can be found on the Clean Air Partners website (http://www.cleanairpartners.net/EducationResources.cfm) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website (http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=student.main, http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/ ).

ELIGIBILITY
All students in grades 4 through 8 residing in the metropolitan Washington and Baltimore region can participate by submitting a slogan. Entries will be judged in two grade-level categories:

• Category 1: Grades 4-6
• Category 2: Grades 7-8

For more information,  please visit http://www.cleanairpartners.net/contest.cfm

Letters About Literature Writing Contest

Has a book changed the way you view yourself or the world?  Are you interested in earning cash prizes for a few paragraphs of writing?  If so, this national reading and writing contest could be for you!!

LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE 2012-2013

Participation Guidelines

Students are encouraged to write to the author of a book expressing how that book changed their view of themselves or the world. There are three competition levels for 2013 (note: students in grades 11 and 12 are not eligible to compete at the state or national level this year):

• Level 1: Grades 4-6
• Level 2: Grades 7-8
• Level 3: Grades 9-10

Sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, Maryland state finalists and winners will be honored in the spring with cash prizes for first and second place winners at each level. The first place winner for each level advances to the national competition. 

Entry Information

Librarians or teachers should mail their students' letters, along with a contest entry form for each student, to the national office postmarked by Friday, January 11, 2013. Students may also submit individual entries using the same form. See complete guidelines on our website. Student entries for Level 1 should be no less than 100 words and no more than 400 words. Entries for Level 2 should be no less than 300 words and no more than 600 words. Entries for Level 3 should be no less than 500 words and no more than 800 words.

Eighth Graders - Planning for the Future

Eighth graders took a field trip to Mount St. Mary's University this week to learn about life in college.  Ask your child about what they learned, and about what they want to do in their future.  Now that the interest has been sparked, I want to share another opportunity with you.  Frederick Community College, in partnership with Frederick County Public Schools, is offering a "Life After Middle School" night for 8th graders.  This special event will be held Monday, November 5, from 7-9 pm in the Jack B. Kussmaul Theater on the campus of FCC.  What a great way to help your child look forward to his/her academic future!

Essay Contest Opportunity

Rand McNally Education is sponsoring a "Dear Mr. President" Essay contest for students in grades 7-12.  Click HERE for more information.  If interested in entering, please see Ms. Bere or Mr. Johnson

Where We've Been... Where We're Headed

It has been a busy first few weeks of school!

Mr. J and Ms. Bere have been in all Language Arts classrooms, introducing the Enrichment Program and its motto, "Creating High-Caliber Cadets," to all students.  We have been surveying student interests, and soliciting ideas for learning opportunities.  Our students are excited about stretching their brains!





We have planned the following opportunities so far for this year:

• Spelling Bee, in conjunction with Scripps Howard
• National Geographic Bee
• Stock Market Game
• Student Newspaper
• Chess Tournament
• Invention Contest
• Field Trips
• Guest Speakers
• Classroom-based Activities
• Individual Projects

More information about signing up for these opportunities will be shared on the morning announcements very soon. 

 If your child is interested in any of these, or has another idea for enrichment, please contact Mr. J or Ms. Bere for more details.

Welcome Back!

Welcome to the 2012-2013 school year at West Frederick Middle School!  We are very excited to be working with you.

We want to introduce our Enrichment team to you, so you can get to know us for when you see us at school.


Amy Bere is the Enrichment Specialist at WFMS.  She has 10 years of teaching experience, all in Frederick County.  Ms. Bere previously has taught Language Arts and Fifth Grade, and is excited to be providing enrichment opportunities for students!  When not at school, Ms. Bere spends time with her son, three daughters, and family cat.

Jason Johnson is the HAL Intervention teacher at WFMS.  In addition to working with students at teachers at West Frederick, he will be working with teachers across the county to help provide enrichment for their students.  Mr. Johnson comes to WFMS from Thurmont Middle School, where he was a Science and Math teacher, and he also has 10 years of teaching experience.  He spends his free time with his wife, son and daughter.




Feel free to contact Ms. Bere or Mr. Johnson if you have any questions about the Enrichment Program, or if you are interested in enrichment opportunities for your child.

Ms. Bere:  240-236-4000 x64031    or    Amy.Bere@fcps.org

Mr. Johnson:  240-236-4000 x64128    or    Jason.Johnson@fcps.org