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RAYTHEON GROUP VISITS TOM BEAN!

 

The last and final of three events at the Tom Bean Middle School was presented to the 8th graders in which the "Egg Drop" activity was a "smashing" hit for all the students.  Raytheon employees Sherry E. Howard (also Tom Bean Mayor), Kristen Ulmer and Brenda Hale joined forces to deliver some inspirational words to the students concerning the importance of Math and Science in their school curriculum and how this can impact their future in the workforce along with giving them challenges for the future as they will be entering high school in the fall.  

The Egg Drop contest consisted of a kit of materials that the students could use to build a cradle to support an egg which had to survive an 8' drop from a ladder.  Each item in the kit had a price attached and the team of students (5 per team) had to design a cradle, keep track of the cost of the cradle, and their design had to be completed in 25 minutes.  Thus, designing a cradle at a lower cost was very important in the decision making of the winners.  Of the 14 teams, around 50% of the teams designs survived the 8' drop and the final scores were tallied to determine the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.  The winning teams received trophies which will be displayed at the school along with some special giveaways.  All of the other students also received giveaways at the end of the event.  One of the students commented that he considered Mayor Howard his "Mentor" and these words were shared among the team members.  What a lovely compliment to receive from a student!

The Raytheon group thanked Principal Dewitt Smith, Ms. Christy Rhodes and Superintendent Kathy Garrison for allowing them to come into the school and present this Raytheon supported program to the students.

The 2010-2011 school year promises to bring some new challenging events to the 7th and 8th graders.  The plans are to have the new 6th graders go through the Eggdrop exercise since this will be their first year in Middle School.

GERMAN FEST HELD AT TOM BEAN MIDDLE SCHOOL

 

Tom Bean’s seventh grade reading classes hosted a “German Fest” Tuesday night at Tom Bean Middle School.  The students presented power point presentations over cities and towns in Texas that were founded by German immigrants during the mid-1800s.  They researched each towns’ history, present day culture and population over cities like Lindsay, Muenster, Gruene, Fredricksburg and many more.  They prepared authentic German recipes for a taste of the German cuisine and served their parents at the end of the night.

 

The students had studied a novel based on German immigration in Texas in the 1800’s.  Paradise Called Texas by Janice Jordan Shefelman is based on a German family that migrated to Texas in 1845, and their struggle to survive the harsh winter stranded along the Texas coast faced with starvation and disease.  They suffered losses but were determined not to give up and to make a better life for themselves.

 

Mrs. Cummings stated, “The students always learn so much during this unit.  Many of them do not realize that there were any German immigrants and that they made such a significant contribution to Texas history.  They are always surprised to learn that Lindsay is a German settlement.  This is what makes literature real, when they can see how it effects their past and their present.  Then it becomes an experience they will never forget.” 

           

She also stated, “I think the students really enjoy the opportunity to show their parents what they learn.  I know the parents are always impressed with the presentations and with their child’s culinary skills.”