Houses of Wood and Straw

Houses of Wood and Straw

My 8th grade Engineer/Build class got to build doghouses for needy dogs this semester. This was bigger than any wood project that I've ever done in my life. I split the class into 5 groups and each group got a small, medium, or large house to build. We planned, designed, and wrote on plywood. We used T-squares, rulers, measured and measured again. I cut the wood on the table saw, but the kids did every other part. My students drilled, screwed in screws, marked angles with pencils, caulked, and waterproofed. They problem-solved when there was a mistake, they stayed late, and they came down during wrapup at the end of the day.

 

 

I'm proud to say that each group used critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity and successfully and proudly came up with a structure for each needy canine.

 

The icing on the cake was when local TV stations came in and reported on this project.  My class was on Cloud 9. I look forward to helping my kids help out their community in the future!

The HOWS Project is run by an animal-loving, tree-hugging, peace-wishing vegan named Stacey Norris. If you need a doghouse, you can contact her through this contact form or by calling this number and leaving a voicemail at this number (434)882-1847.

There are SO many needy dogs out there ... please consider helping ... you can donate your time or your money .... you can donate materials or educate others .... you can report needy dogs .... you can write to your legislature.

NBC29 Story on the Web "Albemarle Students Build, Distribute Free Doghouses"

CBS19 Story on the Web "Walton Students Build Dog Houses For Service Project"

-Jon Barber
CTE Teacher Walton Middle School
hoosjon@blogspot.com
twitter.com/hoosjon

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The month of January will be a busy one for sixth graders at Walton! Language Arts classes, along with Walton's librarian, Ms. Proffitt, will begin individual research projects. Students will be able to select a topic of their own and follow correct research procedures in order to create a finished product. Students will especially make use of all that their 1:1 computers have to offer: websites and databases. Over the next two weeks, sixth graders will learn how to safely and accurately search on the web, how to select the best site and how to cite their sources. They will also become familiar with Walton's databases and ebooks and will use these sources to find reliable information. Be sure to ask your child what all they have learned about how to be smart searchers!

Many activities taking place at Walton these days!  Parks & Rec Volleyball league reg ends Fri, Jan. 17th with the season starting at the end of Jan.  Spirit Week: Jan 13-16 (PJ's, Look Alike, Neon, Sweater, and Back to the Future Days).

Care and Share Update

 

Care and Share Update

Our Walton Middle School family once again came through to help those in need in our community. Through our non-perishable and monetary donations we were able to provide food (and grocery) packages to over 40 families.  A school-wide project of this size needs so many folks to help:

·         WMS Math team for their friendly competition in class to help remind kids to bring in cans

·         Ms. Collier for sending out and collecting sign-up forms …. and so much more

·         Ms. Haluska, the WMS drum line and Mr. Hansell for getting us started at the Care and Share Kick-Off

·         Staff/ Admin  and parents volunteering their time at the Care and Share Dance

·         Mr. Barber and his students for packing

·         Front office staff

·         Staff who helped deliver packages, as well as, pick up food

·         WMS PTO for sending out the Care and Share message to parents

·         Any and all of us who brought in any amount of cans, non-perishables items or gave a monetary donation

Thanks to all who helped make this year’s Care and Share project a success!

 

Paula Hoffman

8th grade Teacher

Lead Special Education Teacher