2010 Spelling Bee

This year's Spelling Bee proved to be yet another nail-biting event this morning. The road to the finals began with all grades competing by level in the preliminary round on January 20th. The top five spellers from each grade advanced to the finals, held today in the middle school media center. Our spellers went fifteen rounds before a champion was named. This year's winner is 8th grader, Michelle Starkey. Her sister, 8th grader Danielle Starkey, was the runner-up. Both girls will advance to the regionals, held February 23rd at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Belmont, MI. Great job girls, and good luck!

We would like to congratulate all of our Spelling Bee participants. Each of you should feel very proud for simply having the courage to try. The top five spellers from each grade were:

6th: Billy Dickson, Kaleb Fisk, Marilla Marks, Calvin Warning, Donelle Weeks

7th: Max Dean, Zachary Gordon, Emily Judd, Adrienne Rife, Francesca Robinson

8th: Paige Hale, Danielle Starkey, Michelle Starkey, Rachael Walters, Maddie Willemstein

GEARS at Wege Center

GEARS members worked hard at mastering some survival skills out in the woods at the Wege Center. They got to enjoy the fruits of their labor by roasting some delicious marshmallows. The boys also had the privilege of meeting and seeing demonstrations by rescue dogs and their trainers. They wrapped up the day by doing some team-building activities.

EXPLORE Test

All 8th grade students will be taking the EXPLORE test on Tuesday, March 9th during school. EXPLORE is the first part of a testing system that goes on to include PLAN and the ACT. Lowell students will take the EXPLORE in 8th grade, PLAN as 10th graders and the ACT as juniors. All three test you in English, math, reading, and science. However, the material tested in each program gets more difficult. Click on "EXPLORE Test" under our favorite links for more information.

Spelling Bee

LMS students will have an opportunity to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program again this year. The area spelling bee is scheduled for January 20th in the media center. Students can begin to sign up in the counseling office after December 1st. Click on "Spelling Bee Words" under our favorite links, or visit www.spellingbee.com to get Spell It! word lists.

S.T.A.R.S. Comes to a Close

The last group session for S.T.A.R.S. was November 11th. In this session, the girls talked in their small groups about self-esteem and ways in which it can be improved. The 6th grade girls were given a chance to write a letter to their "8th grade self." Girls encouraged their future selves to remember what they learned in S.T.A.R.S. and any other personal notes they thought would be helpful. When the girls reach 8th grade, they will get their letters back to read. The girls wrapped up by taking time to fill out slips of paper for each member in their group, writing something positive about each individual girl. The girls got to put all of their positive comments in an envelope and take home to read later.

When making remarks on how they felt about or what they learned in S.T.A.R.S. on an evaluation, some responses read:

"I loved STARS!"
"STARS was the best thing I've every done. I had a great time and learned a lot too."
"STARS is a good way for girls our age to connnect with each other and to learn more about each other."
"I learned to be confident in myself."
"I learned it doesn't matter how you look, it's who you are as a person."
"I learned to believe in myself."

The counselors are very proud of our 6th grade STARS members for all of their hard work, and of our 8th grade STARS leaders for being so dedicated to their groups. We hope to have a reunion at some point later in the year so that the girls can have a chance to catch up with each other.

G.E.A.R.S. to Wege Center

On Thursday, December 3rd, 6th and 8th grade boys participating in the G.E.A.R.S. (Guys Evaluating and Addressing Real Situations) will be visiting the Wege Center for a full day of activities.

2009 5th Grade Orientation

Pictures from the 2009 5th grade orientation include: Members from the cast of "The Land of Ahhs," some of our Diversity Council members, and 5th graders participating in activities.