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A note from the principal . . .

APRIL 2014

Main Office

303-387-1800

Fax

303-387-801

Attendance

303-387-1802

Athletics/Activities

303-387-1812

Bookkeeper

303-387-1808

Registrar

303-387-1820

Transportation

303-387-0415

Weather Hotline

303-387-7669

Twitter

follow@mountainridgems

Online Payments

dcsdk12.revetrak.net

As the year begins coming to a close

I am reminded about what amazing students, families, and staff members we have at Mountain Ridge. As I look around the building on a daily basis, I see students working hard to impact our society. I am in awe of the passion and purpose that our students are putting into their work. I see 7th graders beginning to tackle their iLab capstone projects. I have talked with students who are working on ways to save pandas, help out devastation in other countries, create sustainable food options for the hungry, just to name a few. I see students working together and not being afraid to ask each other hard questions to push critical thinking and creativity. I see teachers pushing to find an area that every student truly believes in to get behind and create real-life solutions. It is absolutely incredible to see the growth of these 7th graders since the beginning of the year. These are now students who believe in their ability to make change. These are now students who know that easy is not usually best. These are now students who know what resiliency and hard work can really do. I am so proud!

Then I go upstairs and am no less impressed. Every 8th grader has created a 243 second slam poem. They have taken on a cause and created a poem to promote the cause and educate listeners. These are not your cutesy, rhyming poems (not that there is anything wrong with that). These are intense, passionate poems that have been created and delivered collaboratively.

continued on next page

P A G E 2

Mountain Ridge Middle School

A note from the principal . . . continued

Table of Contents

Page 1-2 Principal Note

Page 3-4 General Announcements

Page 5 Athletics / Activities

Page 6 Team 7-1

Page 7 -9 Team 7-2

Page 10-11 Team 7-4

Page 12-13 Team 8-1

Page 14-15 Team 8-3

Page 16-17 Team 8-4

Page 18-19 World Language

Page 20 Electives - ePub

Page 21-22 Electives - Multimedia

These are just as good as the wonderful examples of slam poetry that can be found throughout the country. I have been blown away with poems about self-worth, childhood hunger, education, just to name a few. Who says that middle schoolers only care about themselves? Not THESE middle schoolers, for sure!

These are just a couple of the amazing ways that Mountain Ridge is working to help students create passion and make a difference through their learning. These are great examples of what is possible when you lay some groundwork and then let students and teachers fly. Thank you, all for supporting our school as we try some of these projects that go beyond traditional learning. Thank you, for supporting us as we work to make sure that learning is transcendent, related, and relevant. Thank you, all for trusting us with your students, knowing that we care about their well-being and success and will do whatever we can to support them.

I am a proud principal when I see the amazing stuff that is happening throughout this school. Just like everything, we will evaluate at the end of the year and tweak things to continue to improve and positively impact students. As always, thank you for sending us amazing kids that make it easy to do amazing things.

Shannon Clarke, Principal


General Announcements

P A G E 3

2014 MRMS Yearbooks

MRMS 2014 Yearbooks are coming! If you haven't preordered a yearbook or aren't sure, please contact Mrs. Margene Greeno, our MRMS bookkeeper, and she will reserve one of the extras we've ordered. Her phone number is 303-387-1808. The books are going quickly, and the cost is $35 per book. Also, please know that yearbooks will be held for students who still owe fees. You can check to see if your student owes fees by accessing dcsdk12.revtrak.net and then clicking student required fees.

From the Registrars Desk

Not returning to MRMS next year?

If your student is an incoming 7th grader or a returning 8th grade student and you will be moving or changing schools for the 2014-2015 school year, please call me at 303-387-1820 or email me at [email protected].

I will need to know your students name (please spell out the name) and grade level and where your student will be attending school. If your student will be attending another DCSD school, there is no need to contact us as our district schools will contact me.

Thank you.

Kathy Sheehan Registrar


303-387-1820 - phone

303-387-1818 - fax


General Announcements

P A G E 4

MRMS Library News

MRMS library recognized by CDE!

Our schools library program is one of seven middle school programs in Colorado recognized as Highly Effective by the state Department of Education. During a recent recognition ceremony held at the Department of Educations building in downtown Denver, our librarian Pete Vincelette was recognized and his MRMS library wiki was featured in a presentation to the state board. The wiki provides links to our online library catalog, reliable research resources, and materials for a variety of activities that support classroom curriculum. Mr. Vincelette created and posted the on the wiki, and he encourages you to feel free to the site. It is a perpetual work in progress.

Please remember to encourage your students to read for pleasure. Reading for pleasure is a powerful learning experience!


Athletics / Activities

P A G E 5

Mountain Ridge Middle School would like to invite you to the Night of Champions, the marquis event of the year. The Night of Champions will be showcasing the skills and talents of the MRMS students, teachers, and staff. We would love to welcome you all to this amazing event. The Night of Champions will be on Wednesday, May 7th from 6:00-8:00 pm in the Mountain Vista High School Gym.

The night will include:

* Teachers vs. Students Basketball Game

* Choir Performance

* Band Performance

* Thespian Group Performances

* United Basketball Players * Drawing for a Flat Screen TV

* ...and much, much more

We look forward to seeing you there!

Congratulations to our 7th grade boys basketball teams for a great season and our A Team making it to the finals in the tournament April 12th!

MRMS Track is running strong, and it is our last sport of the season. Our year-ending invitational is Friday, May 16, 2014 at Sports Authority Stadium in Parker, CO.

I hope to see you all at the Night of Champions!

Zac Hess

Assistant Principal/ Athletics and Activities Director

P A G E 6


Team 7-1 participated in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society fundraiser this month. Each 7-1 teachers Period 8 competed in the Penny Wars, and we raised over $2,000 dollars for this worthy charity! Ms. Meyers class had the highest positive total and won a lunch catered by Olive Garden. We were astounded by our students generosity and want to give a big thanks to our 7-1 families!

We are looking forward to upcoming events such as our cultural fieldtrip and iLab capstone project. Congratulations, to our March students of the month (From left to right: Cat Nguyen, Garrett Hansen, Allie Repaskey, Brek Wooten)!

Team 7-One Wonders!

P A G E 7


Team 7-2


Spotlight on Health & PE As part of their smart choices discussions this year, students in Health have been collaborating with each other to discover the facts about tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and drug use. Here are some facts from recent surveys conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and various other governmental organizations.

Tobacco use. Are you aware that:

9 out of 10 smokers started smoking before the age of 18.

In 2012, 6.7% of middle school and 23.3% of high school students currently used tobacco products.

Current cigarette smoking among middle school and

high school youth declined between 2000 and 2011

From 20112012, electronic cigarette use doubled among middle and high school students, and hookah use increased among high school students.

Alcohol use. Are you aware that:

In 2011, 33% of 8th graders and 70% of 12th graders reported they had tried alcohol, and 13% of 8th graders and 40% of 12th graders drank during the previous month.

The 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that among high school students, during the past 30 days

1. 39% drank some amount of alcohol.

2. 22% binge drank.

3. 8% drove after drinking alcohol.

4. 24% rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol.

Drug and Marijuana use. Are you aware that:

Some people mistakenly believe that everybodys doing it and use that as an excuse to start using marijuana themselves.

In 2012, about 6.5% of 8th graders, 17.0% of 10th graders, and 22.9% of 12th graders had used marijuana in the month before the survey.

In 2012, 6.5% of 12th graders reported using marijuana daily, compared to 5.1% in 2007.

Is marijuana a gateway drug? Long-term studies of high school students show that few young people use other illegal drugs

Are you Aware?

P A G E 8


Team 7-2 continued

continue on next page

The end of the 2013-2014 school year is rapidly approaching. As the students of Team 7-2 wrap up this year, they are working hard in all of their classes to complete some very important learning activities.

MATH IN THE CITY.

Are you aware of all of the MATH you can find around Highlands Ranch? Students will be working to identify interesting examples of math all around our town and provide clear explanations for the public to enjoy. The math does not have to be difficult (shapes such as triangles, squares, hexagons, etc.) and might involve the mathematical and technical challenges of creating some of the more interesting sites in Highlands Ranch. You can find math nearly everywhere. Well just have to see what they discover!

iLAB CAPSTONE PROJECT SYMPOSIUM.

Did you know that even a 7th grader in Highlands Ranch can have a significant impact on the lives of people, the protection of animals, and the health of the planet? In iLab, students are working hard on their Capstone Projects. They have been asked to find a topic that inspires them, become an expert at that topic, identify issues related to that topic, and innovate a way to have an impact on one of the issues. This is a passion project one that they care about. They will be carrying out events, creating social media campaigns, establishing websites, corresponding with organizations, governments, and businesses all in an effort to make a difference. Their work will culminate on May 20th when they present their work to YOU and our community at our Capstone Project symposium. This will be an evening event, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Mark your calendars. More information will be coming soon.

SHAKESPEARE!

In Language Arts, students are exploring the culture and literature of Elizabethan England and performing the works of Shakespeare. Its quite a treat to be walking through the halls of MRMS and overhear groups of students reciting lines from some of the most beautiful pieces ever written!

This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day,

Thou canst not then be false to any man.

William Shakespeare, Hamlet

My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee,

The more I have, for both are infinite. William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

P A G E 9


Team 7-2 continued

ASIA-ZINES.

Meanwhile, Social Studies takes the students to East Asia and the Pacific where they will be creating an online, digital news magazine that teaches their classmates about their chosen region of Asia & the Pacific (south, east, southeast, southwest & central, or Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands). When completed, the magazines will be posted online for classmates to browse (parents too!).

WHY DO SOME PEPPER MOTHS LOOK MORE SALTY AND SOME MORE PEPPERY?

How do organisms become what they are now from what they were before? How do plants, animals, people and the planet adapt to changing conditions? Why do some species survive while others face extinction? In Science, students have selected an organism to use as an example as they explore the causes of change - how organisms evolve when they need to adapt. They will be displaying their findings on posters and sharing these with their classmates.

P A G E 10


Team 7-4 Change Agents

A finalist for one of the top 6 teams at MRMS!!

April Change Agent of the Month:

Katie Derosiers

Katie Derosiers sets a good example of being a genuine person in all settings with students and adults. When you speak with her, she puts you at ease with the way she engages in conversations and the way she listens and responds to discussions. Working with others can be a challenge at any age, but when Katie is in a group, she takes a lead role while including everyone. Katie listens to everyone in discussions, but she will also speak up as the need arises. If you are having a bad day, just saying hello to Katie can put a smile on your face from the positive hello you receive from Katie as her face lights up and her voice exudes happiness. You are left feeling better, knowing Katie is willing to have a conversation with you and share a bit of the happiness she carries with her wherever she goes.

UPCOMING PROJECTS

iLab Capstone

Students are embarking on a final project in iLab; they will be creating and implementing a positive change based upon their passions. Students have brainstormed, developed a driving question, researched, and are in the midst of contacting experts. I encourage you to talk about this project with your child because you give them a wonderful perspective and challenge their thinking. Please ask to see their Capstone Journal (which is in their google drive) because this is where the bulk of their evidence and learning should be placed. Also, take a look at the Capstone Website; it has tons of valuable information to help your child succeed with this project, including a student guide, calendar, and useful links page. The due date for this project is two-fold; the class presentation will be on May 14 (odd cores) or May 15 (even cores). There will also be a final capstone symposium on May 20 from 6-8 pm. Be on the lookout for an email discussing the symposium in greater detail.


P A G E 11


Team 7-4 continued

Monthly quotes from the students:

What animal would your teacher be and why? If Ms. Foust were an animal, she would be a monkey because she laughs a lot and it can sound like a monkey. Also, she is very energetic (and she is loud); monkeys have a lot of energy.

~ Breanna Workman

If Ms. Grissom were an animal, she would be an owl because she knows so much and is very beautiful. I think owls are smart and beautiful. (She also sees everything!)

~ Nicole Cox

P A G E 12


Team 8-1 Important dates for April - please be sure to visit our team calendar often this quarter as it is very busy.

April 28 & 29 - Finance Park field trip.

SOCIAL STUDIES:

We are at war, Civil War, the greatest of all military oxymorons. By the time you have received this newsletter your student submitted a project surrounding a key event during the Civil War. Going back in time students will recount, through detailed research, what it was like to participate in the event. Students were expected to write from the perspective of a character who lived at that time and survived the event. Using descriptive language, thorough research, and perspective, students will retell their story of the Civil War. Moving forward, we will be looking into the conspiracy to assassinate Abraham Lincoln and the plot to assassinate his key cabinet leaders.

MATH:

We have finished our preparations for Finance Park, and we now look forward to the field trip. Thank you to those parents who volunteered to help us out on those days. We are now working on reviewing and preparing for our final tests to make sure we are ready for high school! After I have the results from the final tests, I will talk to the students and send out an email to all to see if your students math placement should be changed. If any changes need to be made, we can discuss that, and I can make the changes toward the end of May. The students are working hard, and I am proud of them!

LA:

Language Arts has been on a wonderful journey with the rest of the 8th grade teams in the building. We have completed an 8th grade-wide Social Change Project. We have raised over 1,500.00 and will be making a donation to a charity. Students chose a cause or organization that they wanted to represent. They spent time researching and writing a speech to represent the cause or organization. They added elements of Poetry (or what most call Slam Poetry). All students wrote and memorized a speech and performed together in teams of their choice. All students made tremendous growth in the area of public speaking, and leadership skills. They spent the time to make sure that they represented a cause with dignity, care, and passion. There were many teams that competed for a top spot, and it was so close that we had to have a semi-final round of competition. The finalists were chosen through peer evaluations and scoring. Congratulations, to our two final groups that included from Core 6 - Alexis Bernal, and Adrianna Desmond, and from Core 5 - Simon Pozder, Michael Ray, Rebecca Walton, and Kira White. These students competed against other 8th grade finalists on April 16th, we will be able to donate the money to the charity that they chose. Go team 8-1!!!!!!!! In the end, Simon Parker, Michael Ray, Rebecca Walton, and Kira Whites group won and raised over $1000 to donate to their charitable cause: Green Eyes In Africa.

Team 8-1


P A G E 13


Team 8-1 continued

PE/HEALTH:

In Health, we have started our Human Reproductive Unit. We will be learning about healthy relationships and how we should respect others and ourselves when it comes to our bodies. This should be an interesting time with student input and questions. In PE, we will hopefully be outside working on soccer skills and agility. If weather does not permit, we will be inside working on basketball skills. Stay fit, and be healthy!

STEM:

Students are having fun! At least thats what they tell Ms. Personett. Currently they are exploring a new learning area: Robotics, Electronics, Mechanics or Global Awareness. This time around, students were given their final challenge early on and then were to demonstrate what theyve been practicing all year: the NASA design process of research-build-test-redesign-test and share. Its been such an amazing journey watching your students persevere through all the worthwhile struggles. I hope conversation around the dinner table always includes whats going on in STEM.


P A G E 14


Team 8-3

Facing the Giants in All Arenas April was an exciting and educational month for our pod. From the introduction of plate tectonics in science, to out-of-the-box tests in math, 8-3 students were given the full gift of struggle. Students were all challenged by weight room workouts and crossfit, while Mrs. Rasbach led preliminary activities for the city project. Highlands Ranch planners visited to give us advice about transportation, water, and communication for our cities. The biggest project in April was the 243 Seconds to Change speech in language arts.

A sea of eyes were fixed on students as they spent 243 seconds on stage delivering a speech designed to inspire social change. The past few weeks have been filled with rehearsing gestures, voice inflection, and powerful stage presence. Eighth grade students on all teams were allowed to choose a social injustice that frustrated them. Then, they had the opportunity to write and a powerful speech that included a slam poem. Subsequently, students chose an organization that works to diminish the problem. Parents and students alike, were asked to donate. The donations go to the organization chosen by the winners of the speech contest. Every penny made a difference, as it wasnt the amount of money that counted. It was the thought. Each class voted on one performance that influenced them the most. Then, each pod chose two groups to represent their team in the finals. On Wednesday, April 16, outside community members came to critique each performance and choose a winner. The variety of speech topics have made students deeply aware of current issues and how to address them.

Over the past few months in STEM, students have been learning and experimenting with different criteria. They recently wrapped up these units and are now moving onto the final project, building a city. Students were assigned to groups and have been working on team-building activities. For example, students were equipped with a bag of latex gloves and packing tape and were instructed to create the tallest possible freestanding structure. They have been learning the strengths of every group member and what areas they work best in. During the city project, students will have to construct a working society. In order to be prepared for this, engineers from the Highlands Ranch community have come to speak about their jobs and how they all work together. Everyone is getting excited to begin building their own city and learning what goes into a successful community.

P A G E 15


Team 8-3 continued

In the past two weeks of P.E., students have been working in the weight room and learning how to use different weights. Mr. Kelly also decided to try crossfit. Crossfit is a group of stations that involve many challenging exercises. Students are in partners and start at one station. They will do that exercise until they are done with the reps or after 30 seconds. After students finish the station theyre at, they go for a jog outside. The jog is short, but gives them a way to keep moving and to catch their breath. Crossfit is a healthy way to stay active and get a great workout, but not in an overwhelming way. In health, students are working on healthy relationships in middle school and learning what a relationship should look like.

Our pod, much like our society, is made of hundreds of interrelated systems. Each student, teacher, and staff member works together to keep the systems running smoothly, pruning and nurturing and maintaining the overall healthy pod system. Everything weve been talking about is a crucial part of this system. From learning how to plan cities, to speaking about social injustice-our pod has marched its way into the fabric of the world outside of school, and all of us are benefiting from the experiences that this has provided. Weve gone to the Moon in STEM, we went to war with Mexico in Social Studies, and weve changed the very structure of the Earth in Science. And now, as we move ever closer to ninth grade, we learn more about the ever-changing nature of our society than weve ever known before. We look forward to the future, while still enjoying the present. And, although this is our last quarter in Pod 8-3, we are going to make it the best of all.

Written By: Natalie Higham, Caden Foster, Hannah Lovell, Colter Giem, Barak Morris, Tyler Pontius, Veronica Lennert, Anna Stegen, and Emerson Zamensky

P A G E 16

Team 8-4

CU Field Trip: Team 8-4 is looking to the future. On April 23rd and April 24th, students travelled to CU Boulder to learn about physics and explore a college campus. As we move deeper into our Physics of Sports project, we are excited to learn more about physics in action through a demo with Associate Professor Michael Dubson, and through our self-guided exploration of the ITLL facility. At CU, students also had the chance to demonstrate their year-long learning through creative thinking projects. We are excited to have had this opportunity to set our eyes on our college dreams as our students transition to high school!

243 Seconds of Social Change:

What does it mean to be passionate? To care so deeply, you are driven to action? Team 8-4 students discovered the answers to these questions through their performances for 243 Seconds of Social Change. These performances were amazing. Students poured so much heart and energy into speaking for those without voices--many students were moved to tears during performances, and we certainly came out with a new awareness of the social issues faced around the world. It is our hope that this passion does not die here with the end of this project. We hope that students continue to push forward for these organizations, and perhaps consider volunteering for their cause in high school. As an 8th grade class, we raised over $2,000 to donate to the organizations sponsored by our two top groups. The final round of six took place on Wednesday, April 16th. Team 8-4 is proud that we sent two amazing performance groups to the final round:

Social Acceptance:

Griffin Bonjean, Jarrett Cesmat, Janey Galligan and Elizabeth Theis

Childhood Cancer:

Nora Landy, Briana Scherer and Bryn Tillman

There were two groups chosen from the eighth grade and our team is proud to announce that the Social Acceptance group was chosen to donate over $1000 to their charity: StompOutBullying.org.

Physics of Sports Update:

Currently, our students are focusing on the physics behind their favorite sport. We have integrated all of their core subjects into this project. Students will learn graphing and rates of change for math, physics and creating an experimental plan for science, testing and practicing their skills for PE and researching and writing a controversy paper within their sport for LA and social studies.



P A G E 17

Team 8-4 continued

Also, we have created a new web page specific for the Physics of Sports Project. This web page has a calendar (we will be adding more specific due dates for the individual items) and important information the students will be using.

At the end of the project, May 9th, students will be putting together a symposium to present everything they have done. Parents are always invited to come and see the end product.

PHYSICS OF SPORTS IN SOCIAL STUDIES

Our students recently wrapped up a project investigating the many ways sports can unite and/or divide different groups of people. The topics of choice varied greatly, including students looking at the ways racism unites/divides groups of people, gender inequalities in sports, controversial topics such as bullfighting and the various ways people view it, mob mentality at sporting events with an emphasis on soccer, the Olympics (past and present), and so much more! The students viewed each others presentations as part of a gallery walk in the classroom and learned about points of view they may have never considered.


World Languages

P A G E 18


Happy Spring!

In Spanish 1A we continue working on AR verbs, conjugating them both verbally and in the written form. Verbs are the cornerstone to any language bringing it to life with their movement.

It has been fun watching students learn this year. When we have them stop and think about it, even they are amazed with the conversations they are able to participate in.

Students have been working on writing books, and we encourage you to have your student share with you what he/she has created.

On a different note VHLCentral, our online curriculum, has a cultural slide show presentation with Easter celebrations around the world. Here is a link if you are interested: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/9925409/Easter-celebrations-around-the-world.html?frame=2508818

As we near the end of the year, please feel free to contact your students teacher with any questions or concerns.

Ask ALL Spanish 1B students where they are going to vacation. The students are putting together a 7-10 day trip to a Spanish-speaking country. There are several different parts to this exciting adventure. Please inquire about where, when, how they are going & what he/she will wear. The annual Spanish 1B fashion show is on May 12 & 13th, when the 1B

students design and show their outfits from their excursion on the MRMS runway! Come and enjoy the show.

As the finale to this unit, all world language students will partake in the International Food Day. On May 21 & 22, the Spanish 1B students will share a food or drink form the country he/she visited for their final in class.


World Languages continued

P A G E 19


In French 1A we just finished a unit about time, so make sure to ask your student to tell you the time at any given moment throughout the day (perhaps a good dinner topic?). We will be finishing up the year using the verb avoir (and useful expressions) and starting in on the topic of family.

French 1B is busy talking about places in the community and using the verb aller to get there. We have been working on prepositions in class, so please ask your student to see/hear our little hand motions that teach the prepositions. We will be finishing out the year learning food, drink, and conversation that take place in a caf or restaurant. Maybe you should check out Pierre Michel bakery to give your student some practice.

All parents of French students: ask your student to show you the Language of the Future article on their online VHL textbook sitevery exciting and interesting news from Forbes magazine!

You know what's fun? Creative Writing/ePub class.

Because great writing happens when authors are allowed to explore and reflect on topics that matter and that allow self-reflection, advanced and emergent writers find their path in here. Current writing? Students are creating an alter ego--while next steps are for students to come dressed and ready to play their roles as their new characters. Students will attend a mock potluck/forum centered around solving a realistic, 21st century bullying problem in their community. Below are some photos to document the fun!

Electives - ePub / Creative Writing

P A G E 20



Multimedia is one of the electives available at MRMS taught by Mr. Beckett. The class focuses on the making of movies and their capability to evoke emotion from the audience. In the class students learn about the process of incorporating emotion into making movies through 1) Pre-production idea

generation, treatment writing, storyboarding, scripting, scouting, blocking and scheduling; 2) Production filming, acting, soundtrack creation; and 3) Post-production editing, software, timing, titles, credits, transitions, and finally, evaluation. Other skills that students acquire are learning how to perform camera tricks, gaining an understanding of film appreciation, and finding new perspective and information about directors, actors, and some movie history. Students focus for a semester on collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. From the first day students work in groups, both small and large, learning the different systems needed to create a movie. When students are done with their movies, they watch and evaluate them in class, based on a student-created rubric. The classroom is equipped with all of the tools necessary for the process

of making movies, including Mac computers with Final Cut Pro X, Canon cameras, and a green screen. One of the nicest things about the class is that students can make a movie about almost anything they want (within specific guidelines. of course) says multimedia student Ian. This year, a new addition to the Multimedia class was a broadcasting system. With this system, students can use professional tools like the

Newtek Tricaster to create news broadcasts, videos for class, or even videos for other classes to enhance their presentations. With this system we have been able to stream video within the school, something we are hoping to do more of next year. Next year, there will be a year-long Multimedia class elective (for eighth graders) offered in the morning to delve further into movie-making, possibly including the creation of intricate special effects, computer animation, and a class generated full-length movie.

Electives - Multimedia

P A G E 21


Movie Club was pretty much an extension to Multimedia this year. Members met in Mr. Becketts room every Monday and Tuesday from 2:45 to 3:45. There were actually three separate movie clubs throughout the year to better incorporate students who also participate in sports at MRMS. These clubs originally had two components; RaMedia, the movie making club, and RNN (Ram News Network), for creating announcements. The original goal of the club was to create a full-length motion picture as well as weekly streaming announcements, however, with students having many different interests, and students leaving and joining,

the Movie Club fell short of these goals. Instead, the students in the club have made multiple movies this year, spanning from horror movies to comedies. Members made good use of the more advanced green-screen technology available this semester and had fun (and some stress) making new movies. We have

even had students from the club help in recording the school plays, band, orchestra, and choir concerts, as well as help Heritage Elementary film some segments for its school play this semester. It is great to see how students work on the 4Cs on their own using what they have learned in all of their classes here at MRMS.

By Ian Wong and Mr. Beckett

Electives - Multimedia

P A G E 22


09 april 2014 mrms

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