Freedom to Read Week By Cameron Huett

Hello ladies and gentlemen, welcome to yet another installment of Techspert blogs with Cameron. This week we will be discussing Freedom to Read week. Next week, October 28th- November 2nd, we will be encouraging everyone at ESMS to take advantage of all of the books and e-books at their disposal. ESMS never bans books and believes that your own judgment will always be enough to tell what books you should be reading. While you are at the learning commons, feel free to ask about our monster book fair. It will be titled, A Beautiful Monstrosity: There's a Story Behind Every Door. Thank you all for showing support for the learning commons and the book fair. We look forward to seeing you!

Makerspace presentation by Morgan Schindler

Makerspace presentation
Yesterday(Monday) there was teacher in service (which is why we didn't have school.) 3 techsperts, including myself were asked to give a student presentation on makey makey's, spheros, and green screens. We were asked to tell how these devices could make learning fun. We explored possible lesson plans, activities, and projects to do with the new technology.

The teachers loved the spheros and were excited to bring them into their own classrooms. They got to try them out for themselves and we had a lot of fun!
~ Morgan S.

STANDARD BASED GRADING...by Rebekah Harness

  Not a while ago we started the standard based grading. Since we've had this I think it's been great because you get to see what you've been struggling with in each individual subject instead of having the teacher go back and tell you what you need to reassess on so you have a more clearer understanding. But I've also found it quite stressful because if I were to have one bad grade on a test, if my family were to see it they would think of it as my final grade before I would have the chance to explain to them that it was one test and not my final grade.

CLUBS by Rebekah Harness

This year I'm so excited for all of the after school activities coming up. With all of the new teachers here so many clubs are going to change their perspective. I know I'm going to be in three clubs this year ,although I want to do more they end up being on the same day. Which I think is a bummer because they're only putting clubs on Monday or Tuesday . What I'm aware they have three clubs on Monday that I want to be apart of all. With my knowledge I don't think there are any clubs on Thursday. I'm sure other people would love to be in all these clubs but can't because they can only pick one for that day. Some teachers I think are being nice about it and letting us be a part of it even when not there and at other clubs. That's how I'm able to be in two clubs on the same day. But overall I just can't wait for the clubs to start they sound so fun and helps us get involved with ESMS.

Techsperts By Madyson Harris

By: Madyson

Are you good with technology? Well then tech applications is the class for you! Tech

applications is a class were a few kids are selected to help with the school I pads, and work in

the library.

One of the many things I do as a techspert is working for the Book Fair! Working on the book

fair is exciting because, I get to think of cool Ideas that will encourage people to read, and I get

to help make the theme come to life.

Another thing I get to do is help fix IPads when they are broken. Helping fix the IPads is

because it is fun, and because if we can help solve the problems it helps Save the teacher's

time.

One of the last things we do as techspert is do things to help the learning commons run

smoothly. This is very important because, the teachers don't have time to do everything so we

get to help do things we couldn't do in other classes.

I hope to see even more people in this class next year!

Book Fair by Olivia Richey

I am super excited for the book fair! We have started a new thing called monster bucks. Monster bucks are an incentive for reading. When you finish a book that is 100 pages or more you get ten monster bucks. You can buy a lot of stuff with your monster bucks. You can even save up for stuff that you want. Once you have a certain amount you can get a free book from the book fair! I'm super excited for this incentive and can't wait!

- Olivia Richey

BOOK FAIR CREW by Sierra Hightower

So far being on the book fair crew is really fun. We have came up with so many ideas for the Monster Book Fair. Some of my jobs are making a door all about the Loch Ness Monster and decorating the entrance of the library to look like the Monsters Inc. factory.
    Some of the other things we are doing are making monster bucks and with the monster bucks you can by different prizes at the monster market. We are doing lots of contests like voting for monsters that people believe in real life like Bigfoot, the Abominable Snowman, the Loch Ness Monster, and aliens.
     The middle school has never gotten lower than second place and we aren't going to this year. It's a high bar but I know we can do it. It's going to be hard but I think it will be really fun being on the book fair crew this year.

By Sierra Hightower

FREEDOM TO READ WEEK by Maddie McFee

Next week is freedom to read week and if you read a book that has more than 100 pages you will get 10 monsters bucks to spend at the book fair.

Monsters Book Fair by Morgan Schindler

Monsters book fair
        The monster book fair is coming December 3rd and will be here until the 11th. The name for our book fair is, A Beautiful Monstrosity; There's a Story Behind Every Door. We will be having a store called the monster market starting October 1st. You can earn monster bucks by reading books and ebooks.
     You can buy coupons for local shops with your monster bucks, as well as tickets to come into the learning commons and read for 15 minutes. The monster market will run up until the book fair is over. I'm excited to see everyone start to read!
  ~ Morgan S.

Look at this ad by Maddie McFee

Monster Market by Julie Yanits

Monster market

There will be a monster market on October 1st. DOSEN'T NEED MONEY. You can earn monster bucks by doing our reading challenges. There will be lots of prizes and fun things. You should come and try it. It will be really fun. 

Come to the monster market now.

Attendance by Zane Lohman

Attendance is a big issue at ESMS. It's an issue we need to fix the school has taken major steps

to hopefully eliminate this problem. These steps include; you have to be here the whole day to

participate in any school sports or events and also to participate in the events you have to be at

school at least 90 percent of the time. On the other side of the argument is that things happen

it's not fair to those who are here everyday but then get sick on a Game Day even if they are

feeling better and want to go to the game they can't because they weren't at school one day.

But Still overall I agree with the new rules because we are 520 out of 560 schools in attendance and

we have been below the state average before 2010.

Book Fair by Olivia Richey

This years book fair is going to be awesome! I am on the book fair crew and I am super excited! We are working really hard on it and it is in December! It is so much fun! We are decorating everything! So far we have decorated the doors and made tons of advertisements! We have never made anything below second place and we are expected to maintain that steak or get first place. It will be a challenge but it will be fun!

Upcoming Book Fair by Madyson Harris

By: Madyson Harris

I am really excited to be on this year's Esms book fair crew! So far

we have discussing the upcoming book fair "Monsters and

Goosebumps." I think it is really cool that the students get to help

design our book fair because, we get to encourage reading in ways

we feel will be effective. I am having a great time working with other

students, and trying to make this our first place winning Book Fair,

don't miss it!

Learning Commons by Avrie Chrisitansen

The learning commons is a great place to sit, relax, and read! If you give your teacher 15 tiger paws you can go to the learning commons and relax and read! But if you don't want to stay for that long you can give your teacher 5 or 10 or anything in between! I hope you'll make your journey to the learning commons soon!

Sports Change by Megan Rice

This school year has given the 7th graders a chance to be in sports. They will make up the B team. Not saying they're not good but and don't deserve to play, I think it's unfair. Every girl in the 8th grade plays the same sports, and there's only limited spots on the team.

As an 8th grader last year if you did not make the A team you could possible get a spot on the B team. This year 8th graders aren't given the option because of the 7th graders. I am super passionate about the sports that I play, but i know several other girls are too. I don't think it's fair to 8th grade girls that want to play and don't make a A team to not be able to play at all. The 7th grades should have to wait until their 8th grade year to play sports.

Art Club by Gracie Creason

We should have an art club because I know a lot of people (including myself,) that would love an art club. Art is a way to express yourself through movements or through a masterpiece, and in my previous art project we did balloon splatter paint inspired by Jackson Pollock. It was really fun, and my whole class I think would agree that it was the most fun art project we had ever done. I think if we had an art club we would have more than an hour to be creative. And the people who are in band could be in art club too.


Another reason why we could have an art club is we could make our school more colorful and show everyone what talents we are capable of too. In some hallways they look a little blank, and we could make them more colorful with our students art work. Plus as I said before band kids can't do art and what if they are great artist but they can't show their artwork off at school? This gives them the perfect time to do so, they can have fun with their friends and show off their art skills. This is why we need art, to dazzle up our school, show our school spirit, and let kids who can't be in art be in art.

iPads by Alli Hatch

Our school district just got iPads.  The pads are a good thing because we are able to work on things at home. Also we don't lose things very easily on the ipad. We can finish things faster on the iPads. We can look up things faster too by just typing on the iPad instead of going to the computer lab to work
on things.

With that said, I think that we should go back to pencil and paper because to many kids take advantage of the iPads. I need to work on my handwriting and the iPad doesn't help at all because all we do I type. Yeah we might not lose things very easily it helps to always work on handwriting because when you get older you might have to write things out to get a job.  Many kids just check things and be on not school related websites. Also many kids might not be able to buy the insurance and I don't think that it's fair to kids that have their work on there and then they can't take it home and work in it. Many kids should be great full to have a iPad instead of taking advantage of it. I honestly think the iPads are useless what will we do with the computer labs if we have iPads. We should go back to pencil and paper and go back to the computer labs.

Volleyball by Rylee Johnson

Yesterday was our first home volleyball game, we lost, but we played our butts off. Us working together makes the team get better, and play better as a team also. I'm proud of what we looked like on the court, and we're all looking forward to out next away game on Thursday, and our tournament in Chillicothe on Saturday!

Makerspace by Gracie Creason

I'm so glad we get to use all this new technology this year. The Spheros are really fun, you get to control where this little robot sphere ball and make it go where ever you want it to go. You can make it go on ramps and do jumps, it can go all over the place. It's really cool that we have this advanced technology at school to work and play with. And it's cool that Ms. Travis allows us to work with them and understand them a lot better.



The makey makey allows you to play bongos on the banana, type on fork, and play the piano on a shoe. It's quite cool how we can do that now with technology. It took us awhile to figure out how to make them work but after a while we found out. It's not as complicated as it seems, once you figure out how to use it, it is really cool. I'm so excited to use our school's technology in the future.

Reading by Maddie McFee

How long ago did you read a book? What was that book you read? We need to start reading more. You need to go to your schools library and check out a book that you would like to read and read it. Most people read to become smarter, wiser, and some read for fun. I read all the time for fun because we'll it's fun. Every one now a days is on social media. Can you put your phone up just for 30 minutes or even an hour to read a book?

VOLLEYBALL 9/10 by Payton Conyers

 today is our first volleyball game. I have been playing volleyball since third grade. This is my 5th year playing volleyball then, volleyball is my passion. If I didn't have volleyball I would be really board. This year we had 8th grade volleyball team and I was so nervous about trying out. But I made it tho.

So tonight is our first 8th grade volleyball game. Everyone will be there so I want to impress everyone. But I'm so nervous about messing up really bad. But I can't let that get to me. I think I will do fine if I don't worry about. Also a lot of people are coming from our school so I want to be good.

I have played many seasons of volleyball but this the most intense. I would say that my best area is serving. When I am under pressure I sever good. So tonight if I do my best I will secede.

VOLLEYBALL 9/10 by Taylor Dusek

There are many ESMS sports but I would have to say the best one by far would have to be volleyball. Volleyball is a nerve racking sport. You get hard hits at you, tough digs, and hard servers. Through it all you have to throw your self at balls and not worry about your bruises your going to get or how bad it will hurt.

I am a ESMS volleyball player myself and tonight is my first home game. I have been nervous all day but it's something you have to get through and not worry about. Although I may be nervous  as is the rest of my team you have to worry about school first. If you don't do good in school you can't play games and you have to sit out or you might be permanently kicked off the team.

iPads by Avrie Christiansen

This year we got iPads. The iPad's a great help in class, we can look up stuff easily and can type an essay in class. But honestly I don't like the Idea of taking the MAP test on the Ipads. I believe this because last year I took it on the computer and it hurt my eyes everyday and I also don't like taking notes on my iPad. I'm not saying I don't like the iPad's I'm just saying we don't need to use them for every single thing.

Second week...by Rylee Johnson

It's the second week of school, and so far it's been one to remember! I made the 8th grade volleyball team, and couldn't be more proud of myself! It's been a blast being apart of the team! Also, I am getting all good grades in my classes, and completing my work. Looking froward towards the year!!

Week 3....by Cassidy Bradshaw

So it's the 3rd week of school and I think it's going really good. Web is going great I love all my kids. Grades have been good. Teachers are great. I'm looking forward to the rest of 8th grade. I've even made new friends that just moved here. The only thing that I'm disappointed about is not making the volleyball team. But that's okay because I'm manager. Hoping this year will be great!!

Book Fair by Maddie McFee

A beautiful monstrosity there's a story behind every door is the awesome book fair that's coming up, in December. December 3rd-11th is the days that the book fair will be open. Come and by a book at the wonderful awesome book fair.

Book Fair by Payton Conyers

 Come to the excelsior springs middle school book fair. We will have a great time. This years theme is monsters, so we decided to do monster inc. this time it is called " a beautiful monstrosity, there's a story behind every door. The book fair is from December 3rd to the 11nth.

At the book fair we will have contest and much more. The family night for the book fair will have food and games for everyone. We will also be raising money for all for books so feel free to donate. We will also have fun activities on family night for all ages to do. The family night is on Tuesday December the 8th.

So remember to come and support us. And bring everyone with you. There a lot of books for everyone and you can win prizes. Hope to see you there.

Book Fair by Taylor Dusek

The Middle School book fair is coming up! The book fair will be in the learning commons December 3rd through the 11th. The Bookfair will be called " A beautiful Monstrosity, there's a Story Behind  Every Door.

The Bookfair will have a family night as it does every year. Family night will be named soon. At family night there will be snacks, drinks, contests, and many games. Family night will take place on Tuesday, December 8th. Bring your family and friends!

We hope to see you at the Bookfair and family night.! Spread the word to all of your family and friends!

Bullying Contest

 Bullying contest

Esms is doing a bullying contest. There is a paper you will get in your third hour. You do a design only the front of the shirt. Who ever has the bests shirt design will have the design on a shirt and you get to keep it. It will end Tuesday September 8th. Have fun and hope you win the contest.

Julie Yanits

School Dance Team by Gracie Creason

School Dance Team


The school should have a dance team because the high school has a dance team for their sports so why can't we have a dance team for our sports. It's unfair for the high schoolers to have a team when the middle schoolers can't. We should have a chance to our dance talents to. So we can cheer on our sports teams too.

Plus it will also help the middle schoolers get ready for the high school dance team. And it's not like it has to be an all year thing it can just go on for one season of sports instead of all year. Also in dance you learn about teamwork, which is really good to learn about. So having a school dance team we can learn teamwork, getting ready for next year in high school, and cheering on for our sports teams.

Sports by Avrie Christiansen

 This year I'm looking forward to volleyball and basketball. Last year I didn't get to play school sports and I was pretty sad and this year I'm  super excited to play for our middle school.I'm happy I'm a W.E.B. leader so I can help little 6th graders get around this school.

       This year I'm a learning commons helper , last year I would come in and help when I was done with my work. And when Mrs Travis asked me if I wanted to be a learning commons helper I was super excited.

School Involvement by Megan Rice

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