On Monday and Tuesday, December 5th and 6th, students in Mr. Georgsson’s Eighth Grade Business Education classroom took part in what has been dubbed “the largest educational event in history”.

Hour of Code is an initiative to get students to spend an hour of time learning to program, as part of national CS Education Week (December 5-9, 2016).  The Hour of Code is a global movement reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries through a one-hour introduction to computer science and computer programming.

The hour of code activity in Mr. Georgsson’s classroom exposed students to programming concepts via a visual programming language called Blockly.  Blockly uses blocks that link together to make writing code easier, and can generate JavaScript, Python, PHP or Dartcode.

Although pensive at first, once students delved into the “Play Lab” activity they found the lesson both illuminating and fun.  Each student picked their own theme to explore and, through a series of steps, were exposed to individual programming concepts.  Each step would build upon the previous one until students had the knowledge necessary to complete either a compelling story or fun, playable game.  The final stage involved students testing whether their programs were up to snuff, i.e. they played their games or reviewed their story.

At the end of the programming phase, students could share their programs with their classmates and experience each other’s creations.  This is the only time playing a game in Mr. Georgsson’s classroom is appropriate!  At the end of the activity, students gave enthusiastic reviews asking for more activities in the same vein.

Great News!

Katie Buell-Flemming. Katie7356, from Cab Calloway School Of The Arts, has been selected as a finalist for this week’s “Artist of the Week” award for the 10th-12th age group.

The finalist who receives the most online votes between now and Saturday October 29 will be selected as our “Artist of the Week.”

The “Artist of the Week” will be featured on the Artsonia homepage and will receive a commemorative plaque from Artsonia.  In addition, Blick Art Materials has generously donated $50 to the winning artists.

To view the finalists and cast your vote, simply click on the link below.

Voting is limited to one vote per computer per day for each age group!

   http://www.artsonia.com/aotw/vote/0/49269986

Artsonia’s Artist of the Week Contest http://www.artsonia.com/aotw/vote/0/49269986

www.artsonia.com

Artsonia is a kids art museum where young artists and students display their art for other kids worldwide to view. This gallery displays schools (K-12) and student art projects in our museum and offer exciting lesson plan art project ideas.

Thank you for your support!

Ms. TH DeGregory

National Board Certified Teacher; High School Artist Educator; Curator

Cab Calloway School of the Arts

The CCSA Marching Band placed 1^st  in Group 4 this past Saturday  evening at the Tournament of Bands Chapter 9 Championships held at Appoquinimink HS in Middletown.

Additionally the band received awards for: Best Music, Best Color Guard, Best Percussion and Best Drum Major.

This is our 6^th overall Chapter Championship, having won 6 out of the last 7 years. 

Next Sunday Oct. 30th we will go to  Hershey, PA to contest for the Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Championship. We are currently  ranked 3^rd in  Group 4  among all of the participating units in Tournament of Bands.

Congrats Mr. Tharp!

Middle School Parents, please chaperone and/or assist with refreshments – SignUpGenius 

On Thursday, October 13^th, a group of aspiring eighth grade pioneers set sail on an inspiring historic journey.  The Kalmar Nyckel, a Dutch built, Swedish owned merchant ship from the 17^th century, has long been a Delaware landmark giving visitors an opportunity to experience how settlers of North America’s distant past lived in a more challenging time.

Delaware’s official “Tall Ship”, as evidenced by the state flag, is a replica of the original Kalmar Nyckel. The Ship and Museum, located in downtown Wilmington, serves to give students a real, kinesthetic feel for how our ancestors survived and the hardships they endured to begin a new life in the new world.

Three groups of students cycled through several different settler experiences.  Students participated in a blacksmith demonstration, trading simulation and a day in the life of a Swedish settler.  In addition, an exciting demonstration showed the intricate details involved in firing a Naval Cannon.  During this team building exercise, students began to realize that if one of them didn’t do their job properly, did their duty in the wrong order or performed too slowly, it could spell explosive disaster for the ship.

The most impressive portion of the field trip involved taking a short ride on the Kalmar Nyckel which is in complete working order.  With a crew of full-time sailors, as well as, part-time volunteers, the ship takes trips on the Christina River year round giving visitors a truly “hands-on” learning experience.

While on the ship, students busied themselves with a variety of activities an actual colonial crew would have to accomplish on a voyage.  Concepts such as the physics involved in sailing, food requirements on long seafaring journeys and the operational hierarchy of personnel needed for the vessel to function properly were explored.

The Kalmar Nyckel gives students an authentic immersive learning experience which is fun and exciting.  The trip was a great experience for all attendees, thank you Mrs. Golder for organizing such an illuminating event!