by Rick Hatfield

January 18, 2009

The 6th, 7th, 8th grade students at Miltonvale have entered the 2nd semester of the 2009-2010 school year.  It seems like only yesterday that school began and we're already headed down the home stretch! 

The 6th grade class has been working hard in Geography this year.  They are learning about many different places, customs, religions, and people.  Right now the class is learning about North America and the United States of America.  Even though this is close to home, there is a lot to learn about our native land.  We have learned about the varying customs, weather, states, regions and people of our great country. 

Just yeaterday Mrs. Lobaugh came in and talked to the sixth grade about Miltonvale as it is now and how it has changed in her lifetime. Did you know Miltonvale used to have a college?  That's pretty cool!  We also learned about how the cost of items has gone up in the last 50 years or so.  For example, did you know you used to be able to get into the movies for 25 cents?  Pop and popcorn were a dime each!  Gas used to be about 25 cents a gallon!  Those days are most likely gone for ever.  We learned that even in our own community, things don't always stay the same.

The 6th graders on the basketball teams are getting ready to play the B-Team Tournament in Glasco this weekend (January 16th, 2010).  We would love for you to come out and support the B-Team Braves!  Play begins at 9 AM with a girls game, the boys then follow with their 1st game.

The 7th and 8th graders are studying Kansas History and are soon to move over to Civics.  The 7th and 8th graders are studying about the early to mid 1900's in Kansas right now.  We've been learning about different people who have contributed to the growth of Kansas in varying ways. 

We learned about Dr. Samuel Crumbine the other day, who started campaigns to make Kansas a healthier place to live.  Do you remember the no spitting on the sidewalk bricks, or the 1st fly swatters?  Don't forget about the ban on the public drinking cup.  These were all ideas of Dr. Crumbine.

Another person we have learned about is Walter Chrysler of Ellis, who created the Chrysler Corporation that is still in existence today.  He turned a love for machines into a huge corporation that created 1000's of jobs.

The plane industry also played an import role in Kansas and we have looked at pictures of some of the first flying machines to be built in Kansas, some flew and some never made it off the ground, but Kansans were on the cutting edge of early flying technology and that continues today with large airplane factories near Wichita.

The 7th and 8th graders that are out for basketball will be playing in the B-Team tournament or they will be playing in the PTL Tournament at the end of the basketball season.  All the bad weather has slowed the basketball season, so hopefully the weather will clear up so we can complete the rest of our season!

We have had a great year so far!  We hope to complete the year with a lot of good learning experiences and we also hope to compete for a league title in basketball, quiz bowl, and in track in the Spring.