6th grade: eCYBERMISSION

The 6th grade students have form 3 teams and are working on the projects they have chosen for eCYBERMISSION (www.ecybermission.com.)

One group is working on cleaning rivers possibly using bamboo and other plants in a process known as phytoremediation. They will be developing an experiment to determine what type of things plants absorb from the soil and water in which they are grown.

One group is working on reducing knee injuries in student athletes. Mrs. Heather Anderson, elementary physical education teacher, was their guest speaker last week. These students will be developing analyzing the extent of injuries to student athletes and devising a plan to help reduce the incidence of such injuries.

One group is working on designing a futuristic green classroom. They will be experimenting with carpet made from corn.

7th and 8th Grades: Mock Trial

The Junior High Mock Trial Competition is Saturday, November 7 at the Des Moines County Courthouse. Times for the actual competition have yet to be determined. We have 3 teams competing. Parents and others are welcome. Photography is not permitted during the trial without the permission of both coaches and the judge. Note: some of the courtrooms are quite small, so seating is not always guaranteed.

The students have done an excellent job learning this criminal case, " The State of Iowa vs. Abra(ham) Pulley." Each student has been assigned either a witness or attorney role. Questions have been written; witness statements are almost all memorized; openings and closings are being finished and we are practicing, practicing, practicing. While there is still much to learn and to finalize, the three mock trial teams have made wonderful progress and I expect them to be stron competitors at the competition.