The Applegater

Applegater Winter 2019 23 Kids grow better outside NEXT GENERATION | SCHOOL NEWS A r e n e w e d music program, s o m e v e r y enriching field- trip experiences, a n d a r i s i n g enrollment (now 108, up from 95 last year)—these are just some of the accomplishments t h a t A p p l e g a t e School is proud of. T h e s c h o o l's annual Jogathon w a s c o m b i n e d with a color run o n O c t o b e r 9 . Wearing white T-shirts with the logo "Applegate School Cougars," students made numerous trips around the track, each time becoming more colorful after being doused in a different colored nontoxic powder by "color throwers" standing on the sidelines. Thanks to the Applegate fire department, whose members came to help with the run and to cheer on the runners. Many thanks also to all the donors whose generosity helped make the Jogathon a big success. e annual Harvest Fair, sponsored by PTSG (Parent Teacher Student Group), on October 30 provided many fun experiences for students and raised funds that PTSG will use to support Applegate School's needs, such as classroom supplies and playground equipment. Each classroom prepared a basket to be auctioned at the fair, and food and games gave students many opportunities to participate in the event. Students and staff eagerly welcomed Jennifer Joy to lead the Friday afternoon music program. Filled with boundless enthusiasm and a deep knowledge and appreciation of music, Jennifer teaches each circle of students some basic rhythms and fun songs that involve movement. She will also incorporate some simple instruments into the program. Welcome, Jennifer! Volleyball, under the leadership of Diana West, provided fifth- through eighth-grade girls with new skills and the thrill of a winning season. e varsity team won all but one game, and the JV team went undefeated. Congratulations! Fifth- through eighth-grade boys began their basketball season in November with Austin Bristow as their coach. Mrs. Halsted's second and third graders and Mr. Scull's fourth and fifth graders visited the North Medford High School Planetarium in October. This unique experience created many lasting memories for the students. Second and third graders went to North Mountain Park in Ashland to learn about Native Americans of the Rogue Valley. M r s . H i r s c h m u g l 's K - 1 c l a s s studied the life cycle of the butterfly as they watched 11 caterpillars in their classroom change to the chrysalis stage and then to the butterfly stage. Joined by second and third graders and the art class, the K-1 class released the butterflies into the wild. ese students also had the opportunity to visit Fort Vannoy's Pumpkin Patch after studying the life cycle of the pumpkin. Middle schoolers are enjoying their new robotics elective by assembling cars donated by T. Hall Manufacturing. A $1,000 grant from Josephine County Youth Foundation provided funds to buy more supplies for the robotics program. Sixth graders traveled with Lincoln Savage students to Newport, Oregon, for a three-day outdoor school session led by OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry). Students agreed that the highlight of their coastal experience was dissecting squid! Applegate School's Book Fair will be held on December 16 - 18 from 7:30 am - 3:30 pm and on December 19 from 7:30 am - 8 pm. is year's holiday program is scheduled for ursday, December 19, at 6 pm. Jean Hall jhall80@juno.com e name says it all: Ruch Outdoor Community School (ROCS). ROCS strives to create a learning environment w h e r e e x p e r i e n c e s o u t s i d e o f t h e classroom help bring learning to life inside the classroom. Using its immediate community resources for learning and giving back to its community are critical to the school's mission. Adventures are tied to the rest of the curriculum. One example is the seventh- grade overnight trip to Pacifica Garden to learn about tree identification, habitats, the mycorrhizal network, forest fires, decomposers such as bark beetles and fungi, predator-prey relationships, and fish identification. Students tied this learning to their experiences at Crater Lake and Mt. Ashland. ese outings connect to their yearlong project involving endangered species and native versus nonnative species. While on the Pacifica overnight trip, students were also able to connect with each other through team-building activities around a campfire and on a challenge course. Some of the campfire activities they enjoyed the most were games like "Name that Tune," "I went to the Market and Bought…," "I can tap the stick just right…," and roasting marshmallows over the campfire for s'mores. e challenge course was enlightening and life changing. "I feel like it changed the way I view my classmates and our connection. It brought us together more," said student Lucie Hatcher. Another big part of the Pacifica overnight trip were the electives and art. Zoey Ellis enjoyed spoon carving. "It seemed like it was easy, but it was challenging to keep our shavings small and do the detail work," she said. Other students created felted owls. Isabelle Brown said, "I felt like I connected with my classmates and was confident about my work in the end." All students created bracelets from madrone berries and tree sculptures out of wire and beads. "My fine motor skills, confidence, and attention to detail improved by participating in these art projects," said Everett Cohen. Fishing on the pond, hiking through the different habitats, going on a solo hike, and playing games such as "Eagle Eye" were the highlights of the trip for some students. Students at the school recognize that none of this would be possible without adults. The staff at Pacifica interacted well with the students and created a positive place for each of them to learn and grow. ROCS is lucky to have parents who chaperone these trips and work hard to help them be successful. e students are also fortunate to have a wonderful and outstanding teacher, Jennifer Drane, to plan field trips that help them build better connections. roughout the year, students in the seventh-grade class will be participating in more field experiences as well as planning their end-of-the-year overnight trip. Last year, the class went to Seattle and experienced the art, science, and community of that area. is year, students are planning a trip to San Francisco or Seattle. ey know that they have a lot of money to raise and a lot of planning to do. (Donations can be made now toward the San Francisco trip!) "We have to budget for the cost o f f o o d , t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , t o u r s , and accommodations," said student Lupita Estrada. "Time management will also be a part of the planning," added student Mariana Figueroa. Students will plan the entire experience using curriculum skills in the process. is class is also working on other ways to improve their school and community. ey want to make their cafeteria more in line with what they learn about and do during their field experiences. For example, when they go to White Oak Farm, Pacifica, and Fall in the Field, they create meals with locally farmed food. ey would like to change the cafeteria to reflect this type of eating, which is healthier and more sustainable. is class also gives back once a month by providing community service. ey partner with the Humane Society, Sanctuary One, Pioneer Village, Jacksonville Parks, and Ruch YMCA Preschool. Each student "adopts" a service place for the year and works there, during school days, for 1½ - 2 hours a month. ROCS is a place where all classes take charge of their own learning. e school is led by an amazing principal, Julie Barry, who always tries to encourage the students to help her improve the school with their input. Seventh-grade Class Ruch Outdoor Community School julie.barry@medford.k12.or.us Ph o t o s by Je n n i f e r D ra n e , s e ve n t h - grade teacher. ROCS seventh graders jump for joy during their overnight trip to Pacifica. Students encircle the "R" (for ROCS) that they created during their Pacifica adventure. Applegate School takes pride in accomplishments Applegate School JV volleyball team goes undefeated! During the 2019 season, the junior varsity volleyball team at Applegate School was undefeated with a record of 9 - 0. The varsity team lost only one game, ending the season with a 9 - 1 record. Pictured are varsity and junior varsity team members. Applegate students are called upon to answer questions about monarch butterflies, which are reared by the students and Linda Kappen (center), then released to fly south. Photo: Karen Hirschmugl.

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