WMS showcase set for Tuesday

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• Worthington Middle School

WORTHINGTON — The next time a seventh-grader tells his parents he did nothing at school, they’ll have proof that isn’t true.

The Worthington Middle School Showcase Night, set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, aims to give parents — and others — a taste of just what students do all day.

A number of activities and demonstrations are scheduled, and the event, now in its second year, will feature a pizza dinner at 5:30 p.m. in the WMS cafeteria.

“You can bring your kids … and feed whoever you need to feed” for a nominal fee, said WMS teacher Ken Henkels, who is organizing the event.

The cost of dinner is being partially covered by the fundraising efforts of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Science Club, Volunteer Optimist Kiwanis Kids and the student council, and the groups will have representatives on hand to talk with visitors.

Students and teachers will show off some of the school’s newer technology, like the touch-screen “Smart Boards” that are part white board, part interactive learning center, and visitors can try out a system that lets students use remote controls to answer questions on the board and provides teachers with immediate feedback as to who is struggling — or succeeding — in each subject area.

Students will also demonstrate what they have been learning in choir, band, technology and family and consumer sciences. There will be digital video editing and woodworking demonstrations and opportunities for visitors to get their exercise.

“If they want to go down there to phy. ed. and take their kid on in badminton or something like that, they’ll have things set up,” Henkels said.

Organizers are also hoping for a good turnout among community members who don’t have children at the middle school.

“We used to have a Back-to-School Night with just parents, but we’d like to make it more of an open house. (The school) kind of gets a bad rap ... and you invite people in during the day, but they have jobs and can’t come,” explained Henkels. “We want to get people into the school to see how it works.”

The event is part of March Madness, the school’s celebration of Middle School Month. Classes are decorating the doors to their classroom in a “Yes we can can!” theme. An all-school checkers tournament, currently under way, will culminate in a championship match during the showcase. And Penny Wars will be going on next week.

“It’s grade by grade, so they try to take each other on,” said Henkels, adding that silver coins or dollar bills deposited in each grade’s jar count against their total penny collection. Money collected is donated to Pennies for Patients.

Tags: showcase night, news, worthington, worthingtonmiddleschool, district518