December 2013
From the Desk of Principal Cozza:
Warm wishes go out to you and your family from Palos South!! Our students
continue to remain busy and focused on their educational and social development. This
time of year brings us an abundance of activities to enjoy and remember. The Palos
South Lady Cardinals basketball teams will be hosting the SWIC girls’ basketball
tournament this month; be sure to come out and cheer the Cardinals on! We also have
several winter music concerts and performances on the calendar, and our students are
actively trying to help those in need with fundraisers and activities. This newsletter
contains various examples of the positive energy that is flowing throughout the building.
I recognize that it is a hectic time of year, but I encourage you to continue to take an
interest in your child’s studies, activities, and interests. Don’t delay discussing “what’s
going on” in school; a few minutes per day will yield a lifetime of benefits!
Winter benchmarking has been taking place during the first two weeks of
December. The data will be reviewed by our professional staff in January, and we will
make any necessary instructional adjustments. As always, please contact your child’s
teachers if you have any academic concerns. Teachers will contact parents early next
month for any necessary conferences on January 27th.
Thank you in advance to the PFA for the fantastic assemblies that you
generously provide to our students. The month of December is certainly a busy month
for supplemental and interactive learning through re-enactments, personal journey
stories, and curriculum related assemblies. On December 6th, the 8th grade students
solidified their understanding of WWII with their very own “WWII day”. Students
were able to connect their reading and in class discussions to presentations on this day.
On December 12th, our 6th grade students will be enhancing their knowledge of Egypt
with a presentation that includes humor, interaction, and even a game show.
Additionally, in an effort to wrap up the month of December and send the students off
with a nice message before the winter break, the PFA managed to get an outstanding
motivational speaker, John Grossman, to come speak to our students about his personal
journey and share his important message of “Don’t judge a book by its cover”.
Furthermore, the PFA Reading Committee will be bringing Caudill nominee and author
Sally Walker to Palos South on January 15th. She will be visiting with all grade levels
in what promises to be a captivating day!
As always, we thank our parents for all your help and support! We have great
kids at Palos South, and it is because they come from wonderful families! Enjoy the
upcoming holiday break with family and friends, and never hesitate to contact Ms.
Phelan or me with any questions or concerns.
FOR THE ENTIRE
NEWSLETTER
CLICK HERE
-Important Reminders/Mark
Your Calendar
-Nurses Notes
-Psychologist/Social Worker
News/Speech-Language
Notes
-Media Center News
-Team 6A
-Team 6B
-Team 7A
-Team 7B
-Team 8A
-Team 8B
-Holiday Relief/Drama
-Band Notes
-PAE News/ALPS
-P.E. Departmnet/Music
-Spanish
- Applied Technology
-Sport Teams
Palos South
Middle School
13100 S. 82nd Ave.
Palos Park, IL
708-448-5971
Dr. Ron Cozza
Principal
Ms. Kim Phelan
Assistant Principal
Mrs. Kruse
Secretary
Warms Regards,
Ron Cozza
Principal
In This Issue
Kim Phelan
Assistant Principal
Mrs. Allen
Secretary
Important Reminders
Don’t forget to check your child’s grades! Last Friday, December 6th was considered the midpoint
of the 2nd quarter. This is just a reminder that the Skyward online grade book is a terrific way to
foster conversations between you and your child. If you have trouble accessing the system, contact
the main office at 708-448-5971 for assistance.
With the cold weather season upon us, this is a reminder that the district has a “late start of
school” option that maybe utilized if needed, in lieu of canceling school for the entire day. The late
start would delay all school and bus operations by one hour. Palos South would begin at 9:15 am.
All zero hour classes and activities would be cancelled. Parents would be notified of the late start
by phone and email through the district’s urgent parent notification system.
Information about Graduation and Diplomas will be coming home in late January.
Mark Your Calendar
December 13
Band & Choir Assembly & Pictures
@ 8:45 am
December 16
½ of Team 7A Shedd Aquarium
5th & 6th Grade Winter Band Concert @ 7:00 pm
December 17
Board of Education Mtg. 7:00 pm @ Central
December 18
8B Holocaust Museum
½ of Team 7A Shedd Aquarium
7th & 8th Grade Winter Band Concert @ 7:00 pm
December 19
Performing Art Ensemble Concert @ 7:00 pm
8A Holocaust Museum
6a Field Museum
December 20
All School Safety Assembly @ 9:15 am
December 23 – January 3
Winter Recess
January 6 - Classes Resume
January 9
Winter Sport Team Pictures
January 17
End of 2nd Quarter
Early dismissal 11:15
January 20
NO SCHOOL – Martin Luther King Day
January 21
Board of Education Mtg. 7:00 pm @ Central
January 23
Drama @ Stagg all day
January 24
Report Card Distribution
Drama Production @ Stagg 7:00 pm
January 25
Drama Production @ Stagg 7:00 pm
January 27
Early Dismissal 11:15 am
Parent/Teacher Conferences 12:15-2:45
January 29
8 Grade Graduation Pictures
th
February 1, 2014
Daddy/Daughter Dance @ South
February 7
Theme Lunch
February 5
PFA meeting @ South 7:00 pm
Nurses Notes
Friendly Reminders
From: Jane Scott
Meningitis is a viral or bacterial infection of the
fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Viral
meningitis is not as severe as bacterial meningitis and is
usually resolved without specific treatment. Bacterial
meningitis, a serious illness caused by meningococcal
disease, may be controlled with antibiotics or prevented
through immunization. According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,000 to 2,600
people contract meningococcal disease each year in the
United States. One in 10 of these cases results in death.
Bacterial meningitis infections may also cause serious
health problems in 11 to 19 percent of survivors such as
loss of limbs, deafness, nervous system problems,
mental retardation, seizures and strokes.
Symptoms of meningococcal disease are usually
sudden onset of fever, headache, and stiff neck. It can
start with symptoms similar to influenza (flu), and will
often also cause nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light,
rash, and confusion. The disease progresses rapidly.
Even with antibiotic treatment, people die in about 1015% of cases. About 15% of survivors will have longterm disabilities, such as loss of limb(s), deafness,
nervous system problems, or brain damage.
Meningitis can be spread from person to person.
The bacteria are spread by exchanging respiratory and
throat secretions during close (for example, coughing or
kissing) or lengthy contact, especially if living in the
same dorm or household. Many people carry the bacteria
in their throats without getting meningococcal disease.
Since so many people carry the bacteria, most cases of
meningococcal disease appear to be random and aren't
linked to other cases. Although anyone can get
meningococcal disease, adolescents and college
freshmen who live in dormitories are at an increased
risk.
The good news is that there's a vaccine to help
prevent meningococcal disease and it can prevent two of
the three most common disease-causing strains. Until
now, the vaccine has been routinely recommended for
all 11 through 18 year olds. Beginning January 1, 2014,
however, all students will have to get the vaccine
before entering 6th and 12th grades in the state of
Illinois. The exact wording of the requirement has not
yet been made available but it is expected to be in effect
for the beginning of the 2014/2015 school year.
Talk to your child’s doctor about this new requirement at
their next appointment. Further information will be
passed on to you as soon as the Cook County
Department of Public Health releases this information.
Information obtained from:
www.cdc.gov and www.ilga.gov.

The back entrance doors are locked promptly at
8:10 am to assure student’s safe arrival to their
connections classroom by 8:15 am.

Any students arriving after 8:12 must report to the
nurse’s office for a tardy slip.

Call the absence hotline 923-7053 to report student
absences.

Lunches may be dropped off in the appropriate
baskets in the front foyer. Be sure the lunch is
labeled with your child’s name

Homework can be picked up in the front foyer on the
table AFTER 2:30 pm

Homework may be requested if the student is absent
2 or more days

A doctor’s note is required to return to school if
student is absent for 5 or more days
Check the district website daily for the latest information
on Palos South’s events www.palos118.org
IMPORTANT GRADUATION
INFORMATION
Graduation this year will be June 3, 2014
Cap/gown measurements January 23, 2014
Graduation Pictures January 29, 2014
Graduation Re-takes February 26, 2014
Psychologist/Social Worker
News
From: Ms. Yerkes and Mrs. Djikas
ORGANIZING YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLER
Middle school moves at a fast pace. Students
have many different teachers each with their own test
schedule, homework, and due dates. Add to the mix the
after school clubs and sports students participate in and
it is a challenge to get organized. Kids can get stressed.
Good work management and organizational skills are
essential for balancing and minimizing the stress. For
some students, organizational skills come naturally but
for most, they must be learned. Here are some ideas to
help kids be prepared.
Assignment Notebooks are essential
No matter how good your child’s memory is, he
or she must have a central place to record activities. A
student’s planner should contain important dates and
events such as bell schedule changes, holiday breaks,
tests, homework assignments, and project due dates. It is
also a good idea for students to record personal items
such as after school activities
Have a Contact
Students should identify a classmate in each
class who can be contacted in the event of a forgotten
homework assignment or lost worksheet. The contact
can also help when a fellow student is absent and needs
a handout or class notes.
A Homework Space
Encourage students to locate, design, and stock a
space at home. This will help them do their best work in
the least amount of time. The space should be quiet and
free from distractions such as people, talking, TV, and
video games. Make it a place they won’t mind hanging
out. Encourage a time in the day that is devoted to
studying and homework.
Be Proactive
Most students, especially those right out of
elementary school, have no idea that the typical middle
school teacher works with 100 or more students each
day. Unaware of the many demands on a teacher’s time,
students continue to believe that as in elementary school
their teachers will track them down to provide missing
assignments or make up work. Encourage students to
take personal responsibility for following up.
Without Basic organizational skills, middle school
students can become overwhelmed. Take some time to
help your child recognize the benefits of good
organizational skills. Excerpts taken from
middleschoolguide.com. Article
by Susan Mulcaire
Speech/Language Notes
From: Sheila Stull
When Speech/Language Pathologists evaluate
students, they try to look at all aspects of communication.
Communication involves not only using good
listening and speaking skills in the classroom but also
using these fundamental skills to interact socially with
both peers and adults. Now you might be asking, what this
has to do with speech and language. Pragmatically
speaking, “Everything!” would be my answer. This area
of language, known as pragmatic language, encompasses
how people use their language skills to interact socially.
Students can be quite intelligent and still have poor
pragmatics, which in turn, can negatively impact their
school performance, both inside and outside of the
classroom. Pragmatics generally involves two areaslanguage functions (can a student use language to request,
inform, persuade, justify, entertain, etc.) and secondly,
using language in conversations. Students who have
difficulty expressing themselves in social situations often
lack the knowledge of social and conversational rules.
When students do not know how to initiate a friendly
conversation, talk too long without letting others take a
turn, rudely interrupt, switch topics abruptly, invade
another’s personal space, or are unable to read body
language, they may have difficulty with pragmatic
language and this can impact their entire school day. You
may even know some adults that lack these skills and they
may not be your favorite people to talk with.
For our self-conscious adolescents just waiting at
the bus stop can be uncomfortable if they don’t know what
to say to the other children. They talk to other students (or
not) at lunch, passing in the hallways, while doing group
projects, and numerous other occasions throughout the
day. In addition to knowing how to talk with their peers,
they must also know how to change their speech when
they talk to teachers. It can be the difference between
students saying, “I don’t get it.” or “What?” (which may
seem a little rude or vague), instead of asking “Could you
please explain the stock market a little more?” Some
students are just quiet by nature and there is nothing wrong
with being a little shy. There are others however, that
want to join in but just aren’t sure of what to say. There
are also some that are left out of groups, because of poor
pragmatic language skills. At Palos South, the Social
Worker and the Speech/Language Pathologist facilitate
social/language groups together that target using language
in socially appropriate ways. Groups are generally
informal where students can learn and practice these
essential social-communication skills.
Mark your calendars for the annual Palos South Book Fair run by Andersons Book Stores.
The Book Fair will run in the Media Center February 3 – 7. We need parent volunteers!
If you can help out, please call the media center at 708 761-3907.
Proceeds from the book fair go to adding books to our collection.
Thanks to Mrs. Hammerstein and the PFA for arranging author Sally M. Walker’s
upcoming visit to South on January 15th! Mrs. Walker specializes in nonfiction. Blizzard of
Glass: The Halifax Explosion on 1917 is a current Rebecca Caudill nominee, an ALA
Notable Book, and a 2013 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults nominee.
Other books she has written include:
Boundaries: How the Mason-Dixon Line Settled a Family Feud
and Divided a Nation (Coming March 2014)
Their Skeletons Speak: Kennewick Man and the Paleoamerican World
Frozen Secrets: Antarctica Revealed
Written in Bone: Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland
Secrets of a Civil War Submarine: Solving the Mysteries of the H.L. Hunley
We are the Weather Makers: The History of Climate Change
Fossil Fish Found Alive: Discovering the Coelacanth
November Contest – Talking Turkey about Books
1st Place: Alicia Szewczyk
2nd Place: Alexandra Mroz
3rd Place: Ella Gibbons
Congratulations!
Weekly Caudill winners: Aleksandra Rozanski, Shaheena Papa, Maggie Kasprzak,
Jakub Ustupski, Agata Gebala, Ella Gibbons, Tess Vasil (3 times), Anna Szymonik,
Liam Sise, and Elizabeth Ferguson.
Read the Caudills! The contest ends January 31, 2014.
One District One Book
Mrs. Shem recommends:
Chuck Close: Face Book by Chuck Close
The One District One Book event will be
held at Palos South Middle School on
Monday, February 3, 2014. The event is
from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Parents can
purchase the book at the district's
webstore.
Artist Chuck Close introduces children to his art, shows
the processes he uses in his studios, and answers
questions about his life and the challenges--physical and
mental--he has faced.
To begin your adventure, visit our website
for everything you’ll need. This website
contains: the link to order the book,
registration information, chapter
podcasts, and an overview of our
culminating event.
*We open at 7:30 a.m. every day. Homework
Lab meets Tuesdays and Thursdays until 3:30.
Students are encouraged to use the labs, media
center, and reading suite.
Zombie
True Stories
of Nature’s Undead
The One
and OnlyMakers:
Ivan by Katherine
Applegate
by Rebecca L. Johnson examines real-life accounts
of zombies in nature, including a fly-enslaving fungus, a
suicide worm, and a cockroach-taming wasp, and
related topics.
Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage
Today a reader, tomorrow a leader
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
– Margaret Fuller
2013 ALA Notable Children’s Book
Grade 6
Team 6A Members: Deb Buyan, Jeremy Mancilla, Mary Lou Murphy, Ann Marie Ruprecht,
Deb Satler, Lori Swan and Kelly Zdralevich
In social studies class, the mysteries of Ancient Egypt are being unraveled as team 6A continues
our train ride through the ancient civilizations. On December 19, we will stop at Chicago’s Field
Museum and visit the Inside Ancient Egypt exhibit. Students will experience a walk through a mastaba, a
tomb of an ancient pharaoh, and explore the everyday life of the ancient Egyptians. The Awesome A’s
will also get to experience mummification first hand as they mummify their own “fruity pharaohs.”
Mrs. Zdralevich’s classes have been hard at work this quarter. Math
students have just finished a unit on decimals and fractions, as well as a mini unit
working with conversions from fraction, decimal, and percent form. Now, they are
beginning their unit on Ratios, Rates, and Proportions. Pre-Algebra students are focusing
on operations with fractions and decimals, and will soon be entering the world of
Equations. All students will also begin working with the program Study Island.
Assignments will be given on a weekly basis to help reinforce the material we have
learned or are learning about in class. Parents, just a reminder: keep signing the Math
Practice Log each week. I am anxious to see the improvement in Map scores due to this
extra practice the students are putting in. I am proud of how far our students have come,
and I hope they continue to put forth the effort I have seen thus far! Great work, team!
In science classes, students are finishing the Populations and Communities unit
and will soon begin working on unraveling the mystery of owl pellets as they dissect the
pellets and assemble the skeletons of an owl’s prey. Students will also uncover the
weavings of a food web as they become forest plants and creatures and create a food web
in the classroom. The water cycle, carbon dioxide-oxygen cycle, and the nitrogen cycle
will also be investigated. Don’t forget to check your child’s folder to see his/her work for
the unit.
Language Arts students explored the genre of mystery using short stories and plays. All students are reading a
mystery novel as well. Please encourage your child to continue reading his/her outside nonfiction reading book. Pizza
book projects will be due before winter break, and the project is rather extensive.
Make sure enough time is allowed to do a thorough job. In addition, students are busy
reading documents to determine if Hammurabi’s Code is just. Each student will be
writing an essay to support whether Hammurabi’s Code is just. Don’t forget a book for
your child’s stocking for the holidays. Nice work, Awesome “A”s!!
Grade 6 cont…
Team 6B Members: Dawn Bertucci, Julie Easter, Tim Kahle, Kelly Korhonen, Dawn Murray,
Ashley Partin and Ivy Zimmerman
Reading and English Class: Mrs. Easter’s and Mrs.
Partin’s 6B students continue to read a lot of great books.
Ask your child what fiction and non-fiction book he/she
is reading for reading logs. Reading log responses
continue to improve with more text evidence and higher
level thinking. Keep up the good work!
6B students practiced their analytical thinking
skills when looking at primary source documents about
Hammurabi’s Code. The kids discussed the justness of
the code of laws and wrote a five paragraph essay
supporting their claim. Thesis statements, evidence, and
arguments were used in their writing.
The students also had a chance to discuss some great
mystery novels in literature circles in reading class.
Students read one of the following: Sammy Keys and the
Hotel Thief, The Westing Game, or Shakespeare’s
Secret. Ask your child who the suspects were and what
evidence they found to help solve the mysteries!
Finally, they reviewed figurative language in
poetry and literature. They also wrote creative,
humorous, and heartwarming poems. To apply this
knowledge, the students also identified authors’ usage of
similes, metaphors, personification, and alliteration, to
name a few.
Study Island online assignments have been
assigned. Please make sure that your child’s account is
working and that he/she is getting all of the topics done
by the due date. Remember, the library is open for
homework club Tuesdays and Thursdays after school if
your child needs online access.
Mrs. Robson’s reading students continue to make
individual progress using the iReading program that
adjusts to each child’s level. Keep it up!
Social Studies Class: 6B students learned about the first
civilizations in Ancient Mesopotamia. They learned
about the geography, social classes, culture, government,
economy, and history of these earliest civilizations. They
will see how these same systems of civilization continue
to exist and improve as they study Ancient Egypt.
Students will learn more on December 12 when
presenters come in to discuss life in Ancient Egypt, and
the students re-create the mummification process with
“fruity pharaohs.” Finally, the field trip to the Field
Museum on December 18 will give the students a
firsthand look at artifacts from the Ancient Egyptian time
period. Ask your child what interesting facts they are
learning about these ancient people.
Math Class: Both the math and pre-algebra classes have
been working very hard this quarter. The 6B Math
classes just finished up the Fraction and Decimal Unit.
They are working with converting fractions, decimals,
and percents. The concepts of ratios, rates, and
proportions are in the next unit. The 6B Pre-Algebra
classes are finishing up the Fraction Unit and will
complete the Decimal Unit within the next couple weeks.
Equations are next. Students in both classes continue to
learn how these math concepts relate to the real world.
The students benefit greatly when the concepts learned in
class carry into conversations at home.
Please remember that students should not be
using a calculator to complete assignments. If your child
is still struggling with the computation of basic facts,
please continue to have them practice at home. Also,
Study Island will be assigned within the next couple
weeks. It is a weekly assignment that will reinforce
concepts learned in class. Many students have come a
long way since August, and I look forward to their
continued progress! Thank you for all that you do!
Science Class: Mrs. Murray’s students have been busy
learning all about biotic and abiotic organisms and how
they interact in their environments. They have explored
different aspects of this unit, such as animals and their
habitats, populations, communities and ecosystems. Do
you know the difference between biotic and abiotic
factors that are present in our environment? Just ask any
of the 6th grade future ecologists! Next, they will unravel
the mystery of owl pellets as they dissect the pellets and
assemble the skeletons of an owl’s prey. Learning about
food webs will be fun when students have the opportunity
to act as forest plants and creatures and create a food web
in the classroom! Investigating the water cycle, carbon
dioxide-oxygen cycle, and the nitrogen cycle will be
another exciting adventure for the students. Keep up the
great work everyone!
All of the 6B teachers are really proud of the
progress our sixth graders have made in the first half of
the school year. The second half of the school year will
continue to present more challenges and exciting
activities. Remember to get involved at school and seek
out your teachers if you need extra help.
Grade 7
Team 7A Members: Mary Banner, Roy Bullard, Lisa Hanley, Bridget Keaty, Kelly Regan and
Kris Sesterhenn would like to take this time to wish everyone a very happy, healthy and safe holiday season!!
MATH
Our 7th grade students were fortunate to receive a visit
from Mr. Mike Byster, mathematician extraordinaire on
October 24th.
Mr. Byster has been labeled as the
quickest mathematician in the world. He amazed us
with his ability to quickly solve our pre-made math
problems mentally. For example, he was able to square
three and four digit numbers in his head within a matter
of seconds. Also, he could divide a three digit number
by a two digit number accurately to 10 decimal places.
Both the students and parents were astonished with his
speed and precision. Later in the presentation, Mr.
Byster showed the students how to figure out the last
three digits on a driver’s license and how to add four
digit numbers mentally. Mr. Byster also spent time
talking to the students about the importance of finding
patterns in all realms of school and life. Patterning
helps the students logically organize information,
resulting in greater retention of the material. The
students thoroughly enjoyed the time that they spent
with the “human calculator”! In addition, Mr. Byster
came back to Palos South on November 25th to work
with a randomly selected group of students in a smaller
group setting. We were beyond impressed with the
skills and strategies that he taught the students that day!
Mr. Byster presented our students with enrichment
activities that our students were very luck to experience
twice in one year.
Ms. Keaty’s Algebra-H class has been busy solving
inequalities and a unit involving proportions, ratios,
rates & proportional relationships.
Recently, the
students have been focusing on their probability unit.
The Pre-Algebra classes have been challenged with
solving equations and inequalities. The students have
learned about complex problems for both topics. Next
to learn will be statistics.
In Duffy’s 3rd period Algebra Class....The 7th grade
algebra students will begin working with equations that
involve absolute value. The students recently finished
working with ratios, proportions, and percents. We will
also be exploring inequalities and word problems. A
cartoon enlargement project will be done in school to
reinforce scale factors and proportions. Thanks for all the
hard work! If you have questions please remember to ask
for help.
LANGUAGE ARTS
7A students learned the process of researching and writing
an MLA style research paper. After reading a fiction
novel, students selected a topic that was mentioned in their
book and then began the research process. To find their
sources for the paper, they were introduced to EBSCO, a
database that searches through thousands of peer-reviewed
or scientifically published journals, magazines, and books,
and to Britannica Online. As they read through their
articles, students used paraphrasing skills and used direct
quotations to take notes on what they thought was
important. Other skills taught were learning to document
using in-text citations in order to avoid plagiarism and
using the source’s documentation to write the works cited
page. A collective cheer was heard when they finalized
the paper by adding a header with page numbers to the title
page, outline, paragraphs, and works cited page. Note: The
research paper will be a large part of the 2nd quarter grade
and will not be in Skyward for another few weeks. A unit
on sentence structure will close out the 2nd quarter.
In reading, we are involved in a Fiction and Nonfiction
unit using stories from our literature book and pairing
them with informational texts. The Common Core
Standards we will focus on will be to analyze how two or
more authors writing about the same topic shape their
presentations of key information by emphasizing different
evidence or advancing different interpretations of facts.
Continue to look for Friday reading practice. Students may
be given assignments to complete using Study Island,
Common Core Bellringers, Newsela, or Phenomena. Also
reading logs will be returning! We are encouraging each
student to select a book in his/her Lexile range to improve
comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency.
Grade 7 cont…
7A – THE ALL STARS
SCIENCE
7A Science students just completed their earthworm dissections. Students
investigated the internal and external anatomy of these worms. Most students
were amazed that the earthworm had so many organs, and that some were even
similar to human organs. As we studied the internal organs of the earthworm, we
reviewed the systems of the body and discussed which organs belong to each
system. Students also presented brief PowerPoint presentations on frequently
asked questions related to earthworms, such as “Do earthworms have a heart?”
and “How can you tell which side is the head?” It may not be the best dinner
table conversation, but ask your child if they remember some of those earthworm
questions and answers.
We also recently completed our Phylum Film projects, where groups of students created a Movie Maker presentation
about one of the eight phyla of Invertebrate animals. The students did a great job on the presentations. I uploaded a few
of their movies to my website for you to view.
We are also looking forward to our December trip to the Shedd Aquarium to dissect the squid. We will post pictures in
our next newsletter. In January, we will begin our study of cells, both their basic structure and various functions. As
always, please continue to check the 7A calendar for upcoming quizzes, tests, projects and daily homework.
SOCIAL STUDIES
In Social Studies classes, we concluded our unit on the U.S. Constitution by challenging our students with a Mini-Q
“How Did the Constitution Guard Against Tyranny?” A Mini-Q is a scaled down version of the DBQs (document based
questions) used in many high school Social Studies classes. Our students used higher level thinking skills to read and
analyze documents related to the topic, and showed understanding by writing a short essay finding evidence in the
documents to support their position. Next, we are moving on to the Illinois Constitution, where we will look for
similarities and differences between our state and the U.S. Constitution, discuss the history of our state & study the
geography of the area.
Grade 7 cont…
Team 7B Members: Donna Albomonte, Amy Andrekus, Randy Buvala, Chris Helmin,
Maureen Murphy, Kristen McNulty and Cathy Kruszynski
In Mrs. Helmin and Mrs. Andrekus’s reading classes, our main focus this quarter has been to develop a solid
understanding of Fiction and Nonfiction. We have been reading various stories from within the text and have applied our
knowledge of Author’s Purpose to determine why the Author wrote the writing piece. Please continue to read for those
reading logs, which are given every few weeks!
The students also did an amazing job participating in a Mock Trial. They were in charge of prosecuting a defendant,
defending their client, keeping order in the courtroom and swearing in witnesses, deciding the defendant’s fate, or
determining the sentence for the defendant. They did an outstanding job in their roles. We will be tackling the First
Amendment with the novel Nothing but the Truth, and debating with one another our opinions on the outcome of the
story. Argumentative writing will be a major component in this unit.
In Mrs Helmin and Mrs. Andrekus’s English classes, vocabulary packets are still a major focus! Reminder: The packets
are given out on Fridays, are due on Tuesdays and our tests are on Fridays. Remember Quizlet is your best friend!!!! As
for grammar, we finished up our nouns unit and the students can correctly identify concrete, abstract, proper, common,
collective and compound nouns. Go ahead and quiz them. Next unit we are JUMPING into is verbs.
Please continue to check skyward for updated grades. Also, the calendar is a great place to see when upcoming
assignments and tests are appearing!
SOCIAL STUDIES
As we anxiously anticipate the celebration that
the holiday season brings so too do we celebrate
the successful completion of the United States
Constitution test! Our results were fantastic in
that all students passed the test. We are so proud
of the effort and dedication the students put forth
in this academic endeavor. Congratulations on
your successes! As the culminating activity to the
constitution unit we held a mock trial to witness firsthand our constitution in action.
All of the Constitution work will make our trip to Springfield this year even more
exciting. Mark your calendar the 7th grade Springfield Trip is planned for May 5,
2014. We would love to have lots of parents be able to join us. You will be receiving information about this adventure
around mid-January.
Grade 7 cont…
7B – EXPLORERS
SCIENCE
Our parade of life so far has included the study of the Invertebrate Phyla’s.
Students made movies to demonstrate their knowledge. Check out the 7B
work web page for some examples of the student movies. Impressive
examples of what is possible with hard work and a vision. I wish I could have
included all of them. I want to congratulate all the students for doing such an
awesome job.
Through the centuries the study of animals has led to many advances in our
understanding of life on earth and in our own bodies. The students are excited
and eager to be dissecting in class. So far we have dissected a squid and the
earthworm. We have enjoyed the adventure of learning through our dissection
experiences. Thanks
District 118 for funding
such educationally
enriching experiences.
Our next units focus on
cells and heredity along
with practice for the
upcoming ISAT test. Students should be working on the assigned
Study Island Practice lessons which are computer generated weekly
for the next several weeks. Please make sure they are reviewing the
7B calendar for assignments and the due dates. The library is open
every morning and on Tuesday and Thursday after school if they are
having computer difficulties. Our Squid Dissection at Shedd Aquarium
was as enriching as it was fun.
Grade 7 cont…
7B - EXPLORERS
MATH
Our 7th grade students were fortunate to receive a visit from Mr. Mike Byster, mathematician extraordinaire on October
24th. Mr. Byster has been labeled as the quickest mathematician in the world. He amazed us with his ability to quickly
solve our pre-made math problems mentally. For example, he was able to square three and four digit numbers in his head
within a matter of seconds. Also, he could divide a three digit number by a two digit number accurately to 10 decimal
places. Both the students and parents were astonished with his speed and precision. Later in the presentation, Mr. Byster
showed the students how to figure out the last three digits on a driver’s license and how to add four digit numbers
mentally. Mr. Byster also spent time talking to the students about the importance of finding patterns in all realms of
school and life. Patterning helps the students logically organize information, resulting in greater retention of the material.
The students thoroughly enjoyed the time that they spent with the “human calculator”! In addition, Mr. Byster came back
to Palos South on November 25th to work with a randomly selected group of students in a smaller group setting. We were
beyond impressed with the skills and strategies that he taught the students that day! Mr. Byster presented our students
with enrichment activities that our students were very luck to experience twice in one year.
The Algebra-H class has been busy solving inequalities and a unit involving proportions, ratios, rates & proportional
relationships. Recently, the students have been focusing on their probability unit. The Pre-Algebra classes have been
challenged with solving equations and inequalities. The students have learned about complex problems for both topics.
Next to learn will be statistics.
In Mrs. Duffy’s 3rd period Algebra Class....The 7th grade algebra students will begin working with equations that involve
absolute value. The students recently finished working with ratios, proportions, and percents. We will also be exploring
inequalities and word problems. A cartoon enlargement project will be done in school to reinforce scale factors and
proportions. Thanks for all the hard work! If you have questions please remember to ask for help.
Grade 8
Team 8A Members: Caylee Bruce, Barb Duffy, Ray Kouba, Patti Lindeman, Katie
McDonough, Peggy Montroy and Lindsay Wulf
Math: In math class, the students have been working very
hard. Students in algebra are quickly becoming experts at
solving multi-step equations. We will continue working with
equations as we explore other chapters during the remainder of
the school year. We are working in our ratio and proportion
chapter and will begin working with percents. To review and
reinforce proportions, the students will apply the skills they
learned with a scale-drawing project. Advanced algebra H.
students have just completed working with system of
equations. The 1st semester final for the Advanced Algebra
H.students will be held on December 14th. After break, the
Advanced Algebra H. students will be working on factoring
equations and using the quadratic equation. Advanced Algebra
students are also working very hard. They are currently
working with polynomials and are exploring rules to multiply
and divide these problems. After break we will begin
exploring the concept of slope. The advanced algebra final
will be on January 18th. To continue seeing the relationship
between math and the real world, all the classes will explore
Kubic Bubbles and examine how geometry is found in various
3-D shapes. The 7th grade algebra students are currently
working with equations that involve absolute value. We will
also be exploring inequalities and word problems. As a way to
share their math knowledge, students are working in pairs to
create a math book that we hope to share with the students at
East and West. Thanks for all the hard work! If you have
questions please remember to ask for help.
Social Studies: With the holidays promptly approaching, I
want to take a step back and think about what we did this year.
The students learned about World War 1, witnessed the
Roaring 20’s, watched the Stock Market Crash, felt the pain of
the Depression, and got a first hand look at World War 2 and
the Holocaust. World War 2 is an event that defined the world
and the rebirth of the United States of America. Students dove
into this material with open arms and open ears. They learned
about the leaders, battles, heroism, and the sacrifices that men
and women made to win the war. Students received a firsthand look into World War 2 with “World War 2 Day” on
Friday, December 6th.
Now we find ourselves in the middle of the
Holocaust. This is the darkest period in history where 6
million Jews and 5 million others were eliminated by
Germany in Extermination Camps during World War 2. This
is a part of history that I am passionate about. The Holocaust
must not be forgotten and it needs to be taught. Students are
immersed with the history of the Holocaust, the events of the
Holocaust, and are reading true life accounts from survivors of
the Holocaust. Students are getting a great perspective of
what these people went through. I am happy to say that class
is filled with great discussions and students have really opened
their minds to this material. On December 19 th students will
be engrossed in the history of the Holocaust when we visit the
Illinois Holocaust museum in Skokie.
Language Arts: As the winter break approaches, students are
completing the reading of The Diary of Anne Frank in the
Literature Book. Reading this play, we focus on the critical
reading skills of making inferences, characterization, and
using details to identify the main idea and its connection to the
Social Studies curriculum. Students have created a packet
where they are taking character notes, writing scene
summaries, doing vocabulary activities, and completing a
variety of writing assignments. The unit will wrap up just
before winter break with the completion of the packet and a
test.
Continuing our focus on WWII themed reading,
students have chosen and read a book of their choice from the
media center. Next, they’ll create book trailers using Windows
Movie Maker to “sell” their books and present to the class.
In English class, students write on various topics
related to Anne Frank, WWII, and, especially, the holocaust in
preparation for our upcoming field trip to the Holocaust
Museum. Ongoing weekly vocabulary activities continue to
build their use of words in verbal and written expression. All
vocabulary quizzes are cumulative and students are
encouraged to learn what study methods work best for them,
including the use of quizlet.com, studyblue.com, and good,
old-fashioned flash cards.
Science: The 8A students have been leaning about physical
and chemical properties and changes. In the lab, students
practiced identifying these properties and changes by making
slime or a silly putty substance. This was a fun and
educational way to observe these concepts. The students have
also visited the different states… of matter. Students have
studied the three main states of solids, liquids, and gasses, but
also learned about two additional states: plasma and BoseEinstein. Students continued their work with physical and
chemical properties/changes and states of matter by growing
crystals. Be sure check out your students “crystal star” and
have them explain the process. In addition, students have
been able to see how each state may be transformed from one
to the other through a variety of class activities and computer
animations.
Team 8A would like to take this time to remind
parents and students about Remind 101, a text messaging
reminder program that Mr. Kouba, Mrs. Duffy, Mrs. Bruce,
and Mrs. Wulf are using for Connections and academic
classes. If you haven’t already done so and are interested in
signing up, please see the handout your son or daughter
brought home for information on how to subscribe. We wish
everyone a very happy, healthy and safe 2014 Holiday
Season!!
Grade 8 cont…
Team 8B Members: Scott Adams, Bob Beran, Karen Kaminski, Robin Kmiec, Kathy Rowan,
Carolyn Schaver, and Judy Schramm
Second quarter is a busy, productive time for 8B Builders. Students participate in
many outstanding curricular activities beyond the classroom, such as World War II Day.
During this event, 8th graders play an active role by dressing in clothing of the time period
and participating in the many interesting experiences of the day. Many thanks to the
PFA Humanities for sponsoring this fine program! We also look forward to a field trip to
the Holocaust Museum as an informative and enriching activity.
Math
In Algebra, the students are working on geometry concepts including angles,
rotations, transformations, and reflections. We will be going over Pythagorean Theorem
and functions before break. The Honor’s Algebra class has been working on factoring polynomials. The Honor’s
Geometry placement test will be taken here on December 17. I hope you have a great winter break!
Science
In Science, students have learned about buoyancy and how objects more dense than water can be made to float by
increasing the volume. Changes of state were discussed, as well as latent heat being absorbed in an endothermic reaction
or given off in an exothermic reaction for the change of state to occur. Next, students will learn about properties of metals
and nonmetals and physical and chemical properties and changes.
Social Studies
Currently, we are studying World War II in the European, Pacific, and North African theaters of action. Another
focus is on life in the U.S. during World War II. Students will be creating advertisement posters to support “The Home
Front” and the need for self-sacrifice undertaken by patriotic Americans of this time period. We will finish this unit by
studying both the Japanese American internment camps and the Nazi death camps of the Holocaust. The unit will
culminate with a field trip to the Illinois Holocaust Museum December 18, 2013.
December 6th was WWII Day at Palos South, thanks again to the continued support of our dedicated PFA
Humanities Committee! This day provides a hands-on, live approach to the study of the Great Conflict, and is an
enriching experience that truly enhances the students’ understanding of these events in history. Two websites from this
presentation are: www.anzioexpress.org and www.10thmountaindiv.org.
Reading and English
In reading, we just wrapped up Unit 1 Introduction: Fiction and Nonfiction. Students learned about different types
of fiction as well as the elements and purposes of nonfiction. Instruction was aligned with the Common Core Standards
focusing on key ideas and details in text. In addition, students strengthened their knowledge of literary elements such as
conflict, plot, and flashbacks and foreshadowing in stories such as Raymond’s Run and The Land Lady.
Our next literary adventure is that of Anne Frank. We will be reading the play The Diary of Anne Frank. This
inspiring story takes us through the heart-wrenching experience in which Anne and her family struggle to endure life
hidden in an attic, in the hopes of surviving the Holocaust. Students relate to Anne because she is so close to their age. As
a result, class discussions are often quite moving.
In addition to reading Anne Frank in class, students will be reading several nonfiction/informational articles
relating to the events, people and ideas of that time period. Additionally, students are required to read a novel
independently outside of class. Each student is responsible for reading a book of their choice, and creating a collage
based on the theme of novel.
Holiday Relief for Washington, IL
Club Action, a community service club from Palos South, is sponsoring the “Holiday Relief for
Washington, IL” to help those affected by the tornadoes on November 17, 2013. We are looking for
the following donations:
- Monetary (please make checks payable to Washington Rotary Foundation)
- Gift Cards
- Gas-BP and Shell
- Home Improvement-Home Depot, Menards, Lowes, and Ace Hardware
- Auto Improvement-Advance Auto Parts and Midas
- Retail-Wal-Mart and Target
*All items collected will go directly to the Washington Rotary Club.
Please turn in all donated items to the following teachers:
Ms. Turner-Palos East
Mr. Kouba-Palos South
Ms. Hotzfield-Palos West
“Holiday Relief for Washington, IL” will run from December 9th to December 16th. If you have any questions, don’t
hesitate to contact Mr. Kouba at [email protected] or 708-448-5971
For more information about the relief effort in Washington, IL please visit the following website:
http://heroesmemorial.org/content/information-guide-washington-il
My Son Pinocchio: Gepetto’s Musical Tale
Welcome to drama club at Palos South Middle School and it’s going so quickly already!!! Ms. McDonough is
directing and coordinating the different cast and crews. Mr. Hansen is giving us musical direction as well as sound and
lighting. Mr. Buvala is the art and stage director. Anyone who is interested in an informational packet should see Miss
McDonough in room 204. Anyone interested in stage crew should see Mr. Buvala for more information. This year’s
musical will be My Son Pinocchio: Gepetto’s Musical Tale.
The cast, student directors, and stage crew began in September and October. We have a large cast and two
student directors. Stage crew is also one of the largest this school has ever seen! We expect our sets will be stunning.
Lighting and Sound Crew begins in December, so anyone looking to join should attend the informational meeting and get
a packet.
We are happy to present again at Stagg High School because of the larger venue, we will be able to accommodate
more people than ever within two performances. And as in years past, we will also be presenting a condensed version of
the musical at Palos South and Palos East and Palos West will come and see us at Stagg.
We are also looking for parents to help make this year’s play a success, so if anyone has any interest in helping
we’d love to have you! Specifically, I am looking for someone who could put together our playbill. The parent who has
done it for years for us no longer has a child at South, so we are in desperate need of new volunteers. We are also looking
for some animal costumes, so if you have them, please let us know. If anyone has any questions, please see Ms.
McDonough. This musical is a lot of fun and the staff has great expectations for our students. We are sure that this year
will be the best our district has ever seen!
Anyone who needs information about anything concerning the musical or drama club should
contact Ms. McDonough at Palos South. Good luck to the over 125 students in the cast and stage crew
and we hope that our audiences enjoy this year’s production of My Son Pinocchio: Gepetto’s Musical
Tale!
Department News
BAND NOTES November/December 2013
We have been working very hard preparing for our Annual Winter Concerts to be held
on December 16th & 18th and for our School Concert to be held on December 13th. The 6th grade
Cadet Band will feature the students performing Holiday Concert, Candy Cane Clarinets, and
Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. The 7th grade Concert Band will perform The Merry
Christmas Machine, God Rest Ye Merry Mallets, and Eine Kleine Christmas. The Wind
Ensemble will perform Christmas Troika, and All Is Calm. The Blue Jazz Ensemble will play
Jammin with Charlie, and the Red Jazz Ensemble will perform Maximum Velocity. As a Finale,
all of the band students will participate in an audience sing-a-long with Here Comes Christmas;
a fitting way to start the holidays!
Our Cardinal Percussion Ensemble is preparing the classic composition, Tread Heavily, for its spring performance
with early Wednesday morning and lunchtime rehearsals. The students and I will be adding our own tricks and licks into
the mix as soon as we learn the rest of the parts! It should be a spectacular percussion event. Be looking for details of
performance dates in 2014.
Some important Band dates to remember include:
 PSMS Drama Production of My Son Pinocchio January 24-25, 2014
 District 118 Solo/Ensemble Contest February 8, 2014
 IGSMA Band Contest March 8, 2014 (7th & 8th grade bands)
 St. Laurence Band Contest March 15, 2014 (5th & 6th grade bands)
 South Fine Arts Festival April 10, 2014
 SWIC Honor Band April 22 & 23, 2014 (selected students)
 Finale Concert I May 6, 2014 (5th & 6th Grade)
 Finale Concert II May 7, 2014 (7th & 8th Grades)
 Finale School Concert May 9, 2014 (all bands during school)
 Band Awards Banquet May 12, 2014
 Graduation June 3, 2014 (7th grade band)
If you wish to be on the Band Constant Contacts list, please send me a note at [email protected] and I will sign you
up! Also check out all of the information on my band web page.
Happy Holidays!
William J. Hansen
Director of Bands
Department News…cont
The Performing Arts Ensemble is working hard preparing for our first official concert on Thursday, December 19,
2014 at 7:00 pm in the Palos South gym. Our winter program is coming together and will feature an eclectic blend of
song, dance, and instrumental performances in solo, small group and large ensemble arrangements.
Some important PAE dates to remember include:
 PSMS Drama Production of My Son Pinocchio January 24-25, 2014
 District 118 Solo/Ensemble Contest February 8, 2014
 South Fine Arts Festival April 10, 2014
 Spring Concert May 8, 2014
 Spring School Concert May 9, 2014 (all bands during school)
If you wish to be on the PAE Constant Contacts list, please send me a note at
[email protected] and I will sign you up! Also check out all of the information
on my PAE web page.
Happy Holidays!
William J. Hansen
Director of Bands
ALPS
All three grade levels in ALPS continue to pursue their vocabulary studies in The Word Within the Word. Ask an 8th
grader to define numinous or a have a 7th grader explain the difference between discursive and desultory. Better yet, as a
6th grader why Thursday is “the funnest day of the week”. In The Magic Lens, all three levels are hopping into phrases
and clauses as they set their minds to learn the language of language. Both 7th and 8th graders have completed their first
MLA research papers of the year, while the 6th graders are gearing up for the fundamentals of research Both Henry Evans
and Peter Gordan were featured speakers at this year’s Veterans Assembly, sharing compositions about our veterans. All
classes also composed letters for the district’s Senior Citizen breakfast. While the 8th grade has been reading an extensive
array of nonfiction relating to World War II, 7th grade has turned its attention to a thematic unit on the art of persuasion.
The 6th graders are entering a world of mystery and suspense with an author study on the Grande Dame of mystery,
Agatha Christie.
AL
Department News…cont
P.E. Department
The Physical Education Department has been hard at work this quarter. Our units include weekly trips to the
fitness center. These workouts are designed to help students improve their cardiovascular fitness through aerobic activity.
We would like to see each of our students maintain a constant heart rate between 145-185 beats per minute. This ensures
that each student will get maximum benefits from their workout. The goal is to see noticeable improvement on our
students’ Presidential Physical Fitness test scores this spring.
We have added a new team sport to our curriculum this year. Tchoukball is a fast paced exciting game that focuses on
high speed offensive play, agility and athleticism. Utilizing a foam game ball our students relentlessly attack a bunjee
frame to catapult the ball through the air. Multiple scoring opportunities and maximum participation for all skill levels
makes this a game that can be enjoyed by all students. The positive health benefits this game provides includes
cardiovascular workout, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, and flexibility. This is a great team game and our
students have demonstrated a tremendous amount of skill and understanding of the strategies required to be successful in
this trailblazing new sport.
We have a lot of exciting activities planned for the first half of the winter semester.
Basketball, the sport that almost all of our kids love to play will be one of our units this
quarter. Our P.E. students will be dribbling, passing, shooting, and scoring during the
month of December. A series of drills designed to introduce and improve various
basketball skills will be utilized at each grade level. As a culminating activity each class
will play a round robin tournament to determine the class champion.
After the holiday break our students will participate in a two week dance unit,
discovering that dance can be a lifelong fitness activity as well. The students will have
fun learning about creative movement and rhythm. Our 6th and 7th graders will learn
several social and cultural line dances and mixers including the Majestic Slide, the Boot Scootin Boogie, Cotton-Eyed
Joe, and the Wild Wild West. Our 8th graders will be hand-jiving through the 50’s, twisting through the 60’s, and disco
dancing to the Hustle and the Bus Stop through the 70’s.
Mrs. Kmiec
choreographed a tribute
dance to one of Michael Jackson’s most popular songs, “Thriller”. This dance
will be taught to all three grade levels and has proven to be a smash with our
students. The dance unit continues to evolve into one of our most popular
activities.
Department News…cont
The third quarter will continue with units
including Bowling, Roller Blading and Floor
Hockey. We will give you the details regarding
these units in our next newsletter. In the meantime,
“Think Spring.” Enjoy the rest of the school year.
We would like to recognize our November PE students of the month:
6th Grade:
7th Grade
8th Grade
Josh Lara
Darek Michniak
Julian Lara
Mairead Boyle
Ariana Zapata
Matty Spacil
Sincerely the Palos South
Physical Education Department,
Roy Bullard
Carolyn Schaver
Robin Kmiec
Tim Kahle
Ivy Zimmerman
♫ General Music Notes
All of our general music classes have been working on the keyboard unit. This is a wonderful hands-on
experience for our students. Our sixth grade classes will then study the wonderful composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and
will enjoy listening to music from the famous Phantom of the Opera. They will then dive into studying the Star Spangled
Banner. We will look at where it originated, sing it, and watch a video telling us all about the history.
Our seventh grade classes have just finished studying rhythm. They learned how to put rhythms to their name,
words, and watched the video, “Stomp Out Loud,” which is based on rhythm. After the keyboard unit, they will begin
working on a song poem project. They will have to choose a song and explain what the message is by listening carefully
to the music and lyrics.
Department News cont…
Noticias de Español
The eighth grade class has been very busy experiencing a variety of activities in Spanish. They recently
completed a unit about their family members and are now able to describe them in
Spanish! Each student gave a one minute speech about their favorite relative. They
have also engaged in listening, writing, speaking and on line activities. These on line
activities are available via PHschool.com using web codes noted in the book. The next
unit will involve stem-changing verbs and many other skills needed for high school.
The December project will involve students creating a house, labelling it in Spanish,
along with a conversation about the house in the target language. All 8th grade Spanish
students will be taking the Spanish placement test during 2nd and 3rd period on
December 11, 2013.
Coming soon: Students will be reading their first novel entirely in Spanish, Pobre Ana, and will be
discussing the story in the target language.
The seventh grade students are engaged in a unit about their favorite foods . They will complete
listening, writing and speaking activities, including discussing their food likes and dislikes. Students have
also learned the subject pronouns and how to conjugate AR verbs. They will be learning how to conjugate
ER and IR verbs. Now they are able to use many regular verbs in simple conversation.
The seventh grade students will be finishing their semester of Spanish on January 17, 2014.
Coming soon: Students will design their own menu, and use it to participate in a partner conversation
involving ordering food in a restaurant.
The sixth grade students have been learning about all the countries that speak Spanish. They have
engaged in listening activities and have participated in some simple speaking activities. Students are now
able to respond to and ask questions like; What is your name?, How are you today? They are learning the
numbers 1-100!
The sixth grade students will finish their quarter of Spanish on January 17, 2014.
Coming soon: Lots of new vocabulary and phrases in Spanish!
Applied Technology
The Applied Technology class is continuing to
progress at Palos South. The Applied Technology
program at Palos South is designed to provide authentic
math and science experiences that will expand concepts
learned in these and other subjects. Students will use a
variety of technologies, specialized equipment and
computer simulation to apply science, technology,
mathematics, and engineering.
Students in 6th and 7th grade are finishing up their
2 quarter, while the 8th grade students are enrolled in
their 1st semester of Applied Technology. At each of the grade levels students are exploring a variety of
computer modules used to enhance the math and science curriculum. Students are engaged in research,
graphical challenges, and applying mathematics to everyday situation on a daily basis. Students are
exploring how math, science, and technology are used in the world of work and everyday life.
nd
One of the favorite modules is Flight Technology. In the Flight Technology Module, students learn
the principles of flight. Students use a computer flight simulator to experience piloting an aircraft. Each
student evaluates the other and prepares a written critique of his or her partner’s flight. Students are
introduced to navigation and plot a course using angular measurement and mathematical computation.
Students also design and build a wing to observe and understand Bernoulli’s principle by using a wing tester
to determine lift. 7th grade student Noelle K. describes Flight Technology as “harder than it looks, but I
enjoyed it because you learn how to really fly a plane!”
A second module that students enjoy is Forensic Science. In Forensic Science, students determine
the prime suspect in a fictitious vandalism of a local high school. Students analyze evidence, which includes
fingerprints, hair samples, handwriting, and ink. Students also extract DNA from a sample. Students
compare the evidence with samples taken from suspects. Finally, they must put all the evidence together and
identify a prime suspect. 7th grade students Ryan D. and Gabby S. “enjoyed Forensic science because it was
interesting to learn how to solve criminal cases using science.”
Parents and students can learn more about the Applied Technology curriculum by visiting
Mr. Mancilla’s webpage.
Let’s have a great 2014!!!
Sports Teams
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
The 7th and 8th grade boys volleyball teams have completed their
volleyball season and will be competing in the SWIC tournament
December 7-14 at Simmons Middle School in Oak Lawn. The 7th grade
team completed the regular season in 5th place with a 6-5 record while the
8th grade team finished in 4th place with a 7-4 record.
The SWIC coaches selected Garrett Wolan and Kosta Kyriakoulis
to the 8th grade All Conference Team, and Brian Ward and Mikey
Kaufmann to the 7th grade All Conference Team.
Congratulations to both teams on another outstanding season.
Mrs. Sesterhenn and Ms. Keaty thank all of the boys for their hard work and effort. The 8 th grade team
consisted of Billy Lovell, Connor Rachowicz, Jake Snell, John Mahoney, Kosta Kyriakoulis, Michal Wolan,
Garrett Wolan, Luke Goral, Leo Angelos, Zachary Chibucos, Dan Prochaska, Colin Mullen, and Michael
Kaunas. Ally Mussallem was the manager. The 7th grade team included Clay Bumsted, Billy Djikas, Owen
Erikson, Joey Garbie, Darren Hall, Mikey Kaufmann, Mikey Kazanecki, Eddie Lovell, Jack Guinn, Philip
Scarim, Ricardo Vazquez, and Brian Ward.
MRS. SES COACHES FINAL HOME GAME
On Tuesday, December 3, 2013, Mrs. Sesterhenn coached her last boys volleyball game in her home
gym at Palos South. She and her husband, Jim, have been successful coaches for the Cardinals since the
inception of boys volleyball as a SWIC sport in 1986. Coach Ses coached the girls volleyball teams at Arbor
Park Middle School in Oak Forest, at Southwood Jr. High in Country Club Hills, and at Rich Central High
School in Olympia Fields before coming to Palos South. She coached the Palos South girls volleyball teams
from 1991 to 2003 and the boys teams from 1994 to 2013. Mrs. Ses has led the Palos South boys teams to the
SWIC Tournament finals 13 times. She says she will miss the camaraderie of the SWIC coaches but she will
return to watch the games next year and keep in touch with everyone.
Sports Teams cont…
8TH GRADE GIRLS BASKETBALL
The 8th grade Lady Cardinals basketball team had
a great season this year!
The girls were
undefeated in regular season conference play with
an 11-0 record. A strong work ethic, selfdiscipline and teamwork kept the Cardinals on
top. Palos is hosting the Southwest Interscholastic
Conference Tournament this week. Good luck
girls!
Team members include:
#1 Abby Rosynek
#3 Jesse McMahon
#4 Isabella Corso
#5 Lauren Glaza
#10 Maddie Dederichs
7TH GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM
Samantha Webb
1
Lilly Corso
2
Julia Marotta
3
Jessica Balich
20
Sydney Downs
31
Molly Fitzpatrick
40
Katarina Balchunas
41
Emily Baca
42
Nicole Vacha
43
Nikki Marsh
44
Madison Karr
45
Jessica Wojciechowski
50
Maeli Sanchez
51
Maggie O’Leary
52
Maria Hennessy
54
#11 Anna Djikas
#12 Madison Webb
#13 Sarah Sheppard
#14 Hannah Westphal
#15 Kate Barry
#21 Jaime Ryan
Head Coach: Scott Adams
#22 Maddie Duffner
#24 Nandini Kumar
#32 Mia O’Sullivan
Manager: Aidan Morrissey