EXTRA CREDIT: To some, a tree is a tree, but most people realize that there are many different types of trees around this area. The quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is a very common tree around these parts. If you bring me in a leaf from a quaking aspen you will get 2 extra credit points. This may require you to do an internet search so you can identify the leaf/tree. You will get 3 points if you can tell me why it is called a "quaking" aspen. Here is a hint - They almost ALWAYS grow in a "grove" or a bunch.

Hey Everyone -
Hope you all are having a great Memorial Day Weekend. Mr. Lott and I saw two awesome Pearl Jam concerts in Philadelphia this weekend. I've never seen him so excited before. Make sure you get out and enjoy the weather...but wear your sunscreen!

Thursday, 40 8th graders participated in Six Flags - Darien Lake's Middle School Science Day, where students from area schools answered physics-related questions about different rides. Eighth grade science teacher, Mrs. Hume offered the trip to students with the top 30 overall science averages and the 20 most improved. Props to Mrs. Hume for organizing this event and managing to find funding for the fancy bus. Everyone had a great time. This is something for you 7th graders to aim for next year. In the photo, we all met for a huge match of bumper cars...giving students their chance to get back at the teacher chaperones, MRS HUME, MR. TOYAMA, MRS. MOREY, and myself.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY it was today. It was way too nice outside to stay in and learn about ecology, so we ventured to our outdoor classroom behind the highschool. There we talked about the importance of soil in terms of survival, not only for humans but every other animal and plant in the biosphere as well. I was impressed to see that a good number of students compost their kitchen scraps at home...way to go! Today we learned just how important it is to return these nutrients to the soil. Above is a photo of 5th period sitting on the benches. AIMEE, is that you hiding behind your notebook? This area is great, but still needs a lot of work to be as nice as it could be. Anyone wanna help?

Here, Beth, Corinne, and AMBER show off their tree-hugging skills. In the background we see a huge diversity of wildflowers that are starting to pop up in the woods. Get out and take a look!

Hey Kids,

Since I wasn't there today to update Homework Hotline (and so you don't lose sleep over that fact...haha), here is what we are doing this week: Tomorrow you will be going over that review sheet you got today and take a quiz on Heredity and DNA. Wednesday I will be back to start ecology (one of my favorite topics of the year). We will probably go outside to do a little activity and whatnot. Thursday I have to chaperone the 8th grade science day fieldtrip to Darien Lake so there will be an in-class assignment, which will be due when we get back from our long break. See you guys tomorrow.

PS. I want to stress that everyone try this week's Weekly Stimulus. I suggest Wiki'ng some of those species or explain why "invasive species" are bad. Your book should help too.

What a great time at the end-of-the-year semi formal at Groton Middle School! Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun and I managed not to spill punch on my white shirt. Above we have a little choo-choo action (which even I got in on). Below, ZACH, HEATHER, SARA, LIZ, RYAN, JAZMINE, AIMEE, and VANESA pose for a quick picture.

Special thanks to student counsel for organizing and everyone else that helped decorate the cafeteria. It looked great.

WHO DONE IT??
Today we pretended to be crime scene investigators in 4th period by analyzing DNA (in this case, food coloring) through gel electrophoresis. Annie, from Cornell, explained how they match up suspect's DNA to that of DNA from a hair, blood, etc at a crime scene. Electrophoresis is a cool technique used to separate segments of DNA based on size, using an electrical charge.

WOW! Here is an interesting article, especially because it ties right in to what we're studying now in class.

"Scientists have reached a landmark point in one of the world's most important scientific projects by sequencing the last chromosome in the Human Genome, the so-called "book of life".

This project, which began in 1990, has identified 20,000 to 25,000 human genes in our 46 chromosomes responsible for everything from dimples to diabetes in us and is one of the biggest scientific accomplishments since landing a man on the moon! 25,000 genes packed into the tiny nucleus of every cell...unbelievable. What's really interesting though is that this article is tucked away in the science section of this news website. Why isn't this of more importance? Why do "news" stories about who got eliminated from Idol or Brittany Spears' baby receive more attention than something like this? Seriously...what do you guys think about this? Does anyone think this speaks poorly of our country when people from Germany or Japan look at our news services? If you comment to this post you will receive extra credit. I want to know how you feel about this. If you want to post as anonymous, that's fine. You can tell me it was you in class.

PUT ME IN COACH....a couple members of the modified baseball team look on during a tough game against Lansing. Click here to see a schedule of remaining meets and games.

Saturday night I went to Toronto to see my favorite band play, Sigur Rós. Even though I had no idea what was being sung about in Icelandic, the music and vocals were so perfect and full of emotion that it almost told a story by itself. As I sat there in awe I pondered what it must be like to live in Iceland. What is the landscape like? What are their schools like? Do families gather around the tele every night to catch 'Lost' and 'Idol'? For all of you that work hard in school and are curious about the world like I am, you will soon be rewarded as your determination takes you to and through college to get a good, well-paying job doing something you enjoy. Last week someone made a comment like "I'd do my work if I got paid to do it". If you hold this attitude you will be working a lot more for a lot less than your classmates that worked a lot more when it really counted. I promise.

I've played them several times this year but if you'd like to sample more Sigur Ros download here. There are also more choices on this page

Good luck to everyone on their take home test this weekend. Remember, these are due Monday and will not be accepted late. Since we just talked about this yesterday, here is a link to a news article from today about conjoined (siamese) twins. I found this interesting:

"Conjoined twins occur once in every 70,000 to 100,000 live births, according to the John Hopkins Children Center."

Check it out!

LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE SOME LATE ENTRIES in the middle school fishing derby. Here is Mr. DeVoe with his 19" Smallmouth Bass he caught in Cayuga lake tonight, along with Mr. Filzen who is holding up the 27 perch we caught. Did anyone match us? Bring it! Thanks to all the teachers who donated prizes and Mr. Gambitta for organizing. Hopefully everyone got a chance to get out fishing.

Today we discussed the importance of the endocrine system and a few of the disorders associated with it. We read about goiters but there were no pictures in the book...so here you go. Tomorrow should be interesting because we will be researching about human problems associated with environmental poisons like pesticides and dioxins.

For those of you who like animals, nature, and want to help make a difference, I have compiled a list of websites to help you do that. These sites create an easy way to automatically send letters to important people. If anyone is looking for some extra credit and/or self-satisfaction, you can (in your own words) write a letter to the newspaper editor about a certain issue you like. (and get published in the newspaper!) I will help you write it up and send it to The Cortland Standard or Ithaca Journal for you.

These will get you started:

http://www.environmentaldefense.org/actioncenter.cfm?linkID=5
http://whistler.sierraclub.org/action/actionindex.jsp
http://www.nrdc.org/action/default.asp

Greetings...I will compile a list of everyone who I have a record of turning in their Me Manuals (either emailed, put in the shared folder, or physically handed to me). This will be updated as much as possible. So far I have.....

NICK C., SPENCER W., NICOLE J., JOHN L., ALLISON C.,
HANNAH W., AIMEE R., SHELBY W., MALLORIE M., COURTNEY P.,
HANNAH I., MARINA S., MATT R., MARKIE R., CRYSTAL B.,
BETHANY S., VANESA Q., DeANNA D., CORINNE N., CORY K.,
HAYLEY P., NICHOLE O., STACEY C., JAKE V., CRISSY C.,
EMILY C., KATIE S., AARON D., SAM W., ASHLEY M., TRAVIS C.,
TIFFANY S., JENNIFER E., MARISSA B., GAGE B., JOSEPH M.

Remember! Full credit cannot be achieved if handed in after 12 midnight of Friday 5 May 2006. You are better off finishing it and handing it in late than handing it in 1/2 done but on time.

Good luck to the procrastinators out there.

Congratulations to the modified baseball and softball teams for big wins yesterday over Trumansburg. NICK C. picked up the save on the mound at Ross Field. Over at the elementary school LIZ M. cracked 1 homerun and a triple for the ladies.

Meanwhile, the modified track team had their first home meet. You girls ready for some high jump?

MATT R. goes the distance in the long jump.