8th grade Science students make larger than life size cell

DMS PTA Effort and Citizenship Breakfast for the First Quarter

Congratulations to all our students in 4th, 5th and 6th grade who were recognized Friday, November 18th for showing citizenship or effort in their classroom throughout the first quarter.  Our quarterly breakfast is always a well-attended and appreciated way to celebrate the success of our students.  Thank you to everyone who joined us today.  Thanks to all the parents and teachers who support and encourage your children to try hard, do the best they can, never give up and be good leaders and role models. This was truly a great way to start the day!

DMS Yearbook Spiritwear Sale

The DMS Yearbook is sponsoring their annual spirit sale now through November 27th.  Use the link below to place orders online.  Order forms are also available in the main office.  Ordering by November 27th will guarantee a delivery for Christmas!  Some items shown below but other options available!

Online Order Form

Marcellus Teachers & Students Put Marcellus “on the map” with Science Instruction in Our Region

This school year, Marcellus teachers and students have been involved in something called “lesson study.”  Lesson study is a professional development model in which teachers collaborate, study, and design a lesson around a particular topic.  A lesson study cycle includes a research component where teachers consult experts and conduct research on the topic they are studying based on learning standards.  Collaboratively, teachers design a lesson addressing that standard.  While one teacher implements the lesson, the other teachers observe the lesson and take notes on their observations.  Afterwards, the team meets to discuss their notes and the lesson is revised based on the feedback about student learning.  The lesson is then taught a second time to a new group of students and student learning is observed once again.  The purpose of lesson study is to allow teachers to collaboratively work together to improve their teaching and to ultimately improve student learning.

At Marcellus, a team of K-12 teachers and one administrator (Heidi Busa, Katie Cook, Katrina Ercole, Mary Jo Hoeft, Sue Tavolacci, and Jill Zoccolillo) began a lesson study cycle in August with the guidance of Kevin Moquin, a doctoral student from Syracuse University School of Education, and Dr. Sharon Dotger, an expert in the field of lesson study and science education, also from Syracuse University.  Team members met weekly to participate in a lesson study cycle focused on implementing a new science standard for sixth graders revolving around the Sun-Earth-Moon system and phases of the moon through the use of models.  

This lesson study cycle culminated in delivery of the lesson at a regional conference on November 8th, hosted by OCM BOCES under the direction of Jessica Hehl, Science Center Coordinator, and Syracuse University’s School of Education’s Science Education Department. The lesson, called an open research lesson, was a live lesson in which Sue Tavolacci taught Marcellus sixth graders while approximately 80 teachers from the region observed student learning.   

The conference, called “It’s Go Time: Seeing the Future Through the NEW NYS Science Standards,” is the first of its kind to combine lesson study cycles focused on science instruction.  Typically, lesson study cycles are focused on mathematics instruction.  Our Marcellus teachers and students were part of a group that is the first in the world to do this.  Heidi Busa, Katie Cook, Katrina Ercole, Mary Jo Hoeft, Sue Tavolacci, and Jill Zoccolillo have taken on a leadership position in our region through their participation in this conference as this event has allowed their regional colleagues to see how lesson study is a useful strategy for gaining an understanding of the coming shifts in science instruction.  

Book Reports on a Bag!

4th grade students completed a project to go with each students' independent reading book. On one side of the bag they had to create a cover representing the title of the book.  On another side, they listed 5 good vocabulary words with a definition and a sentence for each. On the back of the bag they had to write about 3 parts they liked in the book.  On the last side, they had to list 5 items they put inside the bag. These 5 items inside the bag were items they felt were significant or represented something important in the book. Every student was responsible for presenting their bag with information and discussing why they put the items in the bag, and what they had to do with the book.

DMS Artwork on Display

Hygiene Kits

DMS students donated personal care items to be used to create hygiene kits to send to victims of hurricane Matthew. National Junior Honor Society and Mustang Pride facilitated the effort and stayed after school last Friday to assemble the kits. Students were able to make 90 kits with your generous contributions. With the help of Mrs. Tucker, our kits will make their way down South to support those effected by the hurricane. Great job everyone! One more way the DMS community reaches out to show support for others.