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General Information
Important Dates and Information Hilda Walker Intermediate School
19900 S. 80th Avenue
Tinley Park, Illinois 60487
Phone: 815-464-2285
Jan Zevkovich, Principal
jzevkovich@summithill.org
Christine Hudziak, Assistant Principal
chudziak@summithill.org
2008-2009 School Year
Student Attendance Hours: 8:20 A.M .to 2:50 P.M.*
*early dismissal for students every Tuesday at 2:35 P.M.
School Office Hours: 7:55 A.M. to 3:55 P.M.
Teacher Attendance Hours: 8:10 A.M. to 3:10 P.M.
For your information…
After School Activities: The activity bus will leave HW at 3:50 each day.
Friday, October 3: HW Treat Day
Friday, October 3: HW Fall SCO Sponsored Social (Dance/Open Gym 7 to 9 P.M.)
Thursday, October 9: HW Girls Basketball vs Oakview
Friday, October 10: 1/2 day of school - Teacher Institute
student dismissal at 11:30 A.M.)
Monday, October 13: No school - Columbus Day observed
Tuesday, October 14: HW SCO meeting at 3:30 P.M.
Tuesday, October 14: Band - Fall Concert LWN 7:00 P.M.
Friday, October 17: HW Hot Lunch
Tuesday, October 21: End of 1st grading quarter
Week of October 27-31: Red Ribbon Week
Monday, October 27: HW Girls Basketball @ Bentley
Tuesday, October 28: HW Girls Basketball vs Martino
Wednesday, October 29: Report Cards Issued
Friday, October 31: Classroom parties
Monday and Tuesday, November 3 & 4: Parent-Teacher Conferences
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TransportationInformation for bus riding:
These are expectations for riding Hilda Walker buses. We expect students to ride the bus in a safe manner at all times. Students are to get on and off the bus at their assigned bus stops.
Students are to ride their assigned bus only. If a student is not going to be riding the bus home and another form of transportation will be used (walking, car ride, etc.) a note needs to be sent with the student.
Activity buses run Monday through Friday and beginning in January every other Friday. Activity runs are posted in the commons. If students are unsure which bus to take home, he or she needs to contact thier teacher or the supervisor for the after shool activity.
Students need to be out at the bus stop a minimum of five minutes before the bus is scheduled to stop. Students must make appropriate behavior choices on the bus stop and while riding the bus. Read the handbook for further rules and regulations regarding appropriate conduct on the bus and at the bus stop.
All students who ride Walker buses are assigned seats. Students are assigned after the first few weeks of school. Students may only change seats with permission from the driver or the administration. Students may be reassigned a seat for disciplinary reasons. Assigned seats have been very successful for Walker students. It has reduced the number of students running to the bus for the "best"seat, it has reduced the number of bus referrals, it has reduced the amount of vandalism to bus seats, it has reduced peer conflicts, and it has helped build relationships with other students.
Students who miss their bus after school have two options: 1) go inside and call home for a ride (students will either enter the back door or are to use the front entrance); 2) students may call home and ask to ride the activity bus home. When students miss their bus they should alert an adult who is supervising outside.
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Health PoliciesA medication form must be filled out by both physician and parents for all medication to be given during the school day. If your child should need cough medicine or any other temporary medication, a form will still need to be filled out. The forms may be picked up in the office. The other option you have for temporary medications is to administer the medications yourself by coming up to school. The child can not self administer any medication except for inhalers and they too need the authorazation forms filled out.
With school underway, we will probably be seeing cases of lice in our school. To help prevent this, please check your cildren's heads for the appearance of nits (small white eggs) attached to the hair shafe or the lice themselves (tiny, wingless, grayish-tan insects). Remember, head lice are very contagious and can be spread through sharing personal items such as combs, brushes, scarves, hats, and headphones. Continue to remind your children not to share these items. The most common way lice are transmitted, however, is by head-to-head contact, which often occurs during sleepovers and close play activities. The risk of exposure is even greater after holidays and family gatherings. If you find your child has head lice, you may wish to consult your physician or pharmicist for treatment guidelines. Also, please notify the school so that we may take precautions to avoid future infestations. We cannot control this pest without your help. Your early detection and treatment at home will help to prevent outbreaks at school. Please call the school nurse with any questions.
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Lost and FoundIf you have lost something at school, there are two places to check. If you lost something like a sweatshirt, lunchbox, winter hat or other articles of clothing you need to look on the tables outside of the gym near the vending machine. If you lost something valuable like jewlery, money, books, glasses or keys, check in the main office. If you left something on the bus, check with the office for a few days to see if it was turned in. Many times it takes a few days for things left on the bus to make their way into the building.
You may also consult the assignment notebook handbook for further information.
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Science FairWalker Intermediate
Science Fair 2008
February 20, 2008
Science Fair Mission:
Our mission is to encourage student, parents, and teachers to take a more active interest in the study of science by providing a curricular opportunity for students to conduct and publicly present an independent scientific inquiry.
Students’ first steps:
1. Choose a topic.
2. Complete the Approval Slip by Wednesday, December 19, 2007.
By Wednesday, December 19, 2007, you will need:
1. Title
2. Question
3. Purpose
4. Hypothesis
In this packet you will find:
General Science Fair information: contacts, rules, dates, etc.
What a Science Fair Project is NOT
Getting Started – How to choose a topic & helpful sites
Project Ideas
Experiment Skeleton – to help you begin to organize
Approval Slip due Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Some important definitions and notes:
Title – Choose a title that relates to the topic. It cannot be a question.
Question – Your question must be specific. What do you want to know?
Purpose – Restate your question. The purpose is to find out the answer to the question.
Hypothesis – Make an educated guess about the outcome of your experiment. The hypothesis must include the words, “If…then…” and must be very specific.
Independent Variable – What I change in the experiment (should only be one thing)
Dependent Variable – What I observe and take data on
Controlled Variables – What I keep the same for all trials
GENERAL SCIENCE FAIR INFORMATION
The Science Fair will be held on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 in the Walker Intermediate multi-purpose room and gym. Parents and students – accompanied by an adult - are invited to view the exhibits that evening between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. Science Fair award ribbons will be posted at that time.
Science Fair participation will be organized as follows:
Grade Six Students: Mandatory individual experiments
Certificates for each participant
Ribbons for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place experiments
All sixth grade students are required to participate in the Science Fair. To begin, students must complete the attached “Science Fair Approval Slip,” including a parent/guardian signature, by Wednesday, December 19, 2007. Entry forms turned in after this date will receive a placement penalty (i.e. a first place project would receive a second place after the penalty).
Submitted forms will be reviewed by the science teachers and returned with additional information and samples on Wednesday January 9, 2008. If a student’s form is reviewed and found to be inaccurate, incomplete, or otherwise lacking information, it will be returned to the student with suggested revisions. Students will be responsible for making the necessary corrections by the correction deadline. The students will then have approximately five weeks to complete their projects. Science fair projects must be turned in to students’ science teachers by Thursday February 14, 2008.
The attached sheet outlines the deadlines, rules, and requirements for students’ participation in the fair. ALL DEADLINES WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED.
What if students want to get started during the winter break?
Students may submit “Science Fair Approval Slips” by Wednesday, December 12, 2007, and they will be reviewed and returned by Wednesday, December 19, 2007. Please note that this is not a requirement. The above deadline applies unless students want to get an early start.
If you have any questions about the Science Fair, please call Walker Intermediate at 815-464-2285. Thank you for your involvement and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Flores Colbert and Mrs. Meagher
Science Fair Coordinators
RULES
1. ALL requirements and deadlines must be met in order to be entered into the fair.
2. No part of students’ experiments (title, question, purpose, or hypothesis) may be changed in any way once it has been approved. However, students may reword with teacher approval.
3. No store bought or plastic models may be used as the basic part of any experiment.
4. Only one student per experiment.
5. No live animals may be used for the Science Fair.
6. All entries MUST BE EXPERIMENTS. NO displays, demonstrations, or informational reports of any kind will be accepted. For example: Volcano demonstrations will not be allowed. Also, taste tests such as Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi, may be used as examples in class and are not allowed.
7. All experiments must be grade level appropriate.
8. Only WHITE poster board is to be used. This poster MUST be free-standing. Sorry, no exceptions. Boards will be available for purchase at school after winter break.
9. The student is responsible for demonstrating to the judges knowledge of the topic chosen.
DEADLINES and DATES
Wednesday, December 5, 2007 – Friday, December 7, 2007 – Science teachers discuss the Science Fair school. Initial letter is sent home and ideas discussed. Students have 2 weeks to select an experiment.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 – Completed and signed “Science Fair Approval Slip” is due to students’ science teachers.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008 – Science Fair teachers will return Approval Slips with additional information. In some cases, students may have to redo and resubmit “Science Fair Approval Slips” before receiving additional information. New entries will NOT be considered after this date. Students have five weeks to complete their projects.
Thursday, February 14, 2008 – All Science Fair projects are to be brought to school.
Tuesday February 19, 2008 – Set up and judging starts. Students must be prepared to explain their projects to a judge.
Wednesday February 20, 2008 – Set up and judging continues throughout the school day. All parents, students, relatives, and friends are welcome to view the exhibits in the gym at Walker Intermediate from 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. Ribbons will be posted at this time.
ALL CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.
A Science Fair Project is not:
just a report
an enlarged model or drawing
a weekend chore
a poster
something done by a parent or teacher
a question that you already know the answer to
a project that shows little evidence of understanding
a question that can be answered without performing an investigation
something that consists of only one trial
something that can be completed in one day
a volcano
GETTING STARTED
How to choose a topic:
1. Choose a topic that interests you.
2. Choose a single aspect about your topic to investigate.
3. Make sure your experiment is testable.
4. Be sure to allow yourself enough time to complete your experiment.
5. Be sure you are able to gather the necessary materials for your experiment.
6. Choose a topic that is challenging and makes you curious about other things.
How to do a science fair project:
1. Come up with an idea for a scientific experiment by observing a certain phenomenon and writing down your observations.
2. Gather information about the topic you want to experiment on.
3. Write a short and direct title that describes what your experiment is about.
4. State the exact purpose of your experiment.
5. Identify possible variables in your experiment. Variables are things that change.
6. Write a hypothesis that states what you predict will happen based on changes in your variables.
7. Create a step-by-step experiment that tells exactly what you intend to do.
8. Gather together and list the materials needed to perform your experiment.
9. Perform your experiment and record the data as you go along.
10. Write down all of your observations while doing your experiment.
11. Do all necessary calculations.
12. Write a summary of what happened in your experiment.
13. Use your data and observations to draw conclusions about your experiment.
Tips:
• When designing your experiment try to use only one variable and include a control so that you have something to compare the changes to.
• If you have performed calculations, record your results on a table or graph to include with your project.
Science Fair Web Sites and Useful Links:
Science Buddies - www.sciencebuddies.org
Science Fair Project Resource Guide - www.ipl.orq/vouth/proiectquide/
Successful Science Fair Projects - facultv.washinqton.edu/chudler/fair.html
Science Fairs Homepage - www.stemnet.nf.ca/scifairs/
Kids’ Zone: Science Fair Projects - http://www.agclassroom.org/kids/science.htm
Science Fair Central - school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral
IPL: Science Fair Guide - www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/projectguide/
Science Fair Project on the Web - http://sciencefairproject.virtualave.net/
Science Fair Preparation - www.cyberbee.com
LOOKING FOR A SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT IDEA?
These ideas should be used as a springboard for your investigation. Find a topic that interests you. All students are encouraged to challenge themselves in selecting their topics.
PROJECT IDEAS – LEVEL 1
Do watches keep time the same?
How can you measure the strength of a magnet?
How long will it take a drop of food dye to color a glass of still water?
Can you tell where sound comes from when you are blindfolded?
Can plants grow without soil?
Do bigger seeds produce bigger plants?
Which materials absorb the most water?
What materials dissolve in water?
Does holding a mirror in front of a fish change what a fish does?
What holds two boards together better - a nail or a screw?
Does temperature affect the growth of plants?
Do all objects fall to the ground at the same speed?
Which paper towel is the strongest?
Can plants grow from leaves?
With which type of battery do toys run longest?
How will different liquids affect the growth rates of plants?
PROJECT IDEAS – LEVEL 2
Do different types of soil hold different amounts of water?
Does the shape of a kite affect its flight?
Does sugar prolong the life of cut flowers?
Which liquid has the highest viscosity?
Does the color of light affect plant growth?
Does baking soda lower the temperature?
Does the color of water affect its evaporation?
Can you separate salt from water by freezing?
Do suction cups stick equally well to different surfaces?
Will water with salt evaporate faster than water without salt?
Does it matter in which direction seeds are planted?
Which cheese grows mold the fastest?
Do all colors fade at the same rate?
Which kind of cleaner removes ink stains best?
Which brand of soap makes the most suds?
Using a lever, can one student lift another student who is bigger?
What gets warmer - sand or dirt?
Which kind of glue holds two boards together best?
Which living plant gives off the most water?
Do taller people run faster than shorter people?
Who can balance better on the balls of their feet - boys or girls?
Does chewing mint-flavored gum have an affect on the temperature of a person's mouth?
PROJECT IDEAS – LEVEL 3
Can the sun's energy be used to clean water?
Which metal conducts heat best?
What percentage of seeds in a package germinate?
Does the human tongue have definite areas for certain tastes?
Does the viscosity of a liquid affect its boiling point?
Does surrounding color affect an insect's eating habits?
Do children's heart rates increase as they get older?
What materials provide the best insulation?
Do different kinds of caterpillars eat different amounts of food?
Does heart rate increase with increasing sound volume?
Which way does the wind blow most frequently?
Does the size of a light bulb affect its energy use?
What type of soil filters water best?
Does the color of a material affect its absorption of heat?
Does sound travel best through solids, liquids, or gases?
Do sugar crystals grow faster in tap water or distilled water?
Can you see better if you limit the light that gets to your eye?
What common liquids are acid, base, or neutral?
Does the length of a vibrating object affect sound?
Does a plant need some darkness to grow?
Which type of oil has the greatest density?
Which containers keep items hot or cold best?
Does a person's lifestyle affect the heart rate?
Which stain-fighting toothpaste works best?
Which fruit or vegetable makes the best battery?
What's the difference in plant growth when chemical or natural fertilizers are used?
How does one's handedness affect foot, eye, and ear preference?
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Science Fair-Experiment Approval Slip#______
Name:
Homeroom Teacher:
*************************APPROVAL SLIP*************************
Title:
Question:
Purpose:
Hypothesis:
Describe your experiment’s procedure:
What is your independent variable?
(What is the one thing that you will change?)
What is your dependent variable?
(What will you observe & measure? Include units.)
What are your controlled variables?
(What will you keep the same throughout the experiment?)
REMEMBER!
This needs to be a test! Think about what you want to find out.
Find a way to measure your results using numbers and metric units
You can only have one independent variable.
o Everything else needs to remain controlled.
What kind of location or setting will you need for your experiment?
What kind of materials will you need for your experiment?
What costs do you expect? (You will purchase your show board from the school for about $5.)
HOW PARENTS CAN HELP
As your child works on his or her project, he or she will likely face stumbling blocks. To help, ask questions to help your child figure things out; don't just provide the answers. Open-ended questions, such as, "What else could you try to solve this?" or "What is stopping you from going on to the next step?" are best (Fredericks & Asimov, 2001, p.xiii). Sometimes just talking it out can help children get unstuck. If not, ask the teacher for help. Respect your child's independence in learning by helping at the right level.
HELP AT THE RIGHT LEVEL
Project Step
Helping at the right level:
Going too far:
Ask a question.
• Discussing with your child whether a project idea seems practical.
• Picking an idea and project for your child: A topic not of interest will turn into a boring project.
Do background research.
• Taking your child to the library
• Helping your child think of keywords for Internet searches
• Doing an Internet search and printing out articles.
Construct a hypothesis.
• Asking how the hypothesis relates to an experiment the child can do
• Writing the hypothesis yourself
Test the hypothesis by doing an experiment.
• Assisting in finding materials
• Monitoring safety (you should always observe any steps involving heat or electricity)
• Writing the experimental procedure
• Doing the experiment, except for potentially unsafe steps
• Telling your child step-by-step what to do
Analyze data and draw a conclusion.
• Asking how your child will record the data in a data table
• Reminding your child to tie the data back to the hypothesis and draw a conclusion
• Creating a spreadsheet and making the graphs yourself, even if your child helps type in values
• Announcing the conclusion yourself
Communicate your results.
• If a presentation is assigned, acting as the audience
• If a display board is assigned, helping to bring it to school
• Writing any of the text on the display board
• Determining the color scheme and other graphic elements
I give my consent for the above-mentioned student to conduct this experiment. I pledge to “help at the right level” so that this student is able develop independence through completion of this inquiry.
Parent/Guardian Signature:
Date:
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