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First Day of School	Mrs. Timaeus uses keyboarding to enhance her lesson plans
Ms. Hawes 2nd graders makes windmills .	GE Engineer Jim Schwaun works with Ms. Gillespie's 4th graders on membranes.
Ms. Stephens' 4th grade class tests materials to see how fast water travels through each membrane. Their data is recorded and observations are made . Ms. Stephens' 4th grade class tests materials to see how fast water travels through each membrane. Their data is recorded and observations are made .	GE Engineers help 5th graders with their Mindstorm project and Engineer Beth helps with team building skills.
Ms. Crow's 2nd graders performed their Reader Theater for staff members and the other 3 2nd grade classes.	3rd, 4th and 5th graders visit the North Carolina State Fair study NC Agriculture and Motion for their science lesson.
Bjorn Barja, manager of the new Home Depot at Monkey Junction brought co-workers Jacob Archer and Tara Womble to work with Ms. Wonderlich's Kindergarten class on the basics of constructing a model car. This project ties in with Rachel Freeman's engineering, project based learning environment. 3rd, 4th and 5th graders visit the North Carolina State Fair as part of their NC Agriculture studies and Motion for their science lesson.	FORT FISHER BRINGS THE AQUARIUM TO FREEMAN'S 4TH GRADERS
$famiily math night$ Family Math Night was a HUGE success.... students did math activities with their parents, friends and staff members.	Coach Shaw and Mr. Schwartz's class have Freeman's first "Turkey Bowl" while Kindergarten celebrates with a Thanksgiving meal.
Our fall talent show was "standing room only"	A big THANK YOU to Mrs. Timaeus and all of the students, their family members and Freeman staff who made our 2007 Holiday Concert very special...
b GirFreeman's Girl Scout Troop #1788 collected over 1200 cans of food for the Salvation Army.... Good Job Girls!ls!	Future engineers at work .... Kindergarten classes put together their holiday gingerbread houses.
Thursday evening Ms. Timaeus and our 4th-5th grade chorus performed at Airlie Gardens.	Future engineers at work .... Kindergarten classes put together their holiday gingerbread houses.
STUDENT ENGINEERS AT WORK GE mentor, Eric Helin helped Ms. E's 4th grade class construct "gum drop" bridges.	Ms. McCorkle's class is learning about the holiday season and celebrations in Mexico.
Pajama Day, Kindergarten Engineers, Polar Express, Hot Chocolate.... the holidays came to life at Freeman today.	Ms. Wiggins and Ms. Day hosted a laptop training session for the students who are creating an engineering magazine in preparation for the 4th grade writing test. The laptops will be used at school and at home. Parents showed thier support by attending the training session as well.
In Mrs. Exline's 5th grade classroom the student engineers planned, designed, and tested barges.	Through the use of Engineering is Elementary Design Process students in Mrs. Exline's class discussed and brainstormed what makes structures such as the CN Tower and the Eiffel Tower stand so tall and are able to support weight.
Science Fair participants set up for judging by some of Freeman's GE mentors. The judges determined which projects move on to the county science fair.	Ms. Gillespie's 4th Grade uses "Engineering Strategies" to create items like double bridges, sailboats with two levels and much more to making life more convenient for consumers.
Ms. Bame's 3rd Graders and GE mentor, Rich Augi use assorted materials to make simulated pollenators.	Ms. Ashton's 3rd Graders also designed pollinators with assorted materials.
Kindergarten decided to build igloos for their final project on what they leared about snow and ice. They explored different building materials - sugar cubes, mini-marshmallows and packing peanuts to see which material would build the best igloo. They were given frosting and glue to adhere their materials to a bowl, which shaped the igloo.	With With clipboards in hand, Ms. Bame's 3rd graders asked questions of our 5th grade Science Fair participants.
Ms. Wonderlich's kindergarten students are making reading fun with their new SmartBoard and document camera.	Erik Heden, from the weather service, visted the 5th grade students at Rachel Freeman. He shared information on highs and lows and worked with students on reading a weather map. Students became forecasters and were about to plot and read Isotope bars by the end of this adventure. Mr. Heden also brought and shared several unusual instruments. This was a fantastic conclusion to our weather unit.
Thank you to all of the students and family members that joined us for "Family Reading Night". Our PTA cooked fresh pizza for all that attended. After dinner families participated in reading activities throughout the school. Students showed their families how to take an AR test, while others played games and read books together. Afterwards each child was given a book, a reading magnet and a bookmark displaying helpful reading tools.	100th Day of School Weighing, measuring, counting by 5, 10, 20. All of these skills were part of the 100th day of school celebration.
Kindergarten Engineers worked with GE mentors Kevin Whildin, Steve McIntosh and Mary Rosenbluth today on designing a caterpillar. Each student used their engineering notebooks to plan their project.	NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher paid a visit to Freeman's first graders to talk about respecting and protecting animals in the wild. They made eco friendly bird feeders and learned about animal habitats, foods and survival techniques .
Criag Carnesi, member of the First Alert team at WECT, visited Freeman's 2nd Grade classes as part of their lessons on weather. They discussed "Highs" and "Lows" and how they control our weather.	Ms. Rickey's 1st graders did a great job designing their own bridges. Future engineers at work.
TO CHECK OUT WHATMRS.EXLINE'S 5TH GRADE ENGINEERS ARE UP TOCLICK HERE	Engineering week was February 17th - 23rd. Rachel Freeman engineers in training had a competition between classrooms. Grades K-2 had a balloon throw competition and grades 3-5 had an egg drop competition. Each class made housings for their balloon or their egg to protect them from damage. GE volunteers helped with design concepts, which were recorded in their student engineering notebooks. Once a design was agreed on, each team made their housing. Balloons were tossed and eggs were dropped. The students did a great job on their designs, most of which made it through 3 or 4 drops.
Not only are Ms. Gillespie's 4th graders engineers in training, they're electricians in training as well.	3rd grade paid a visit to the Ingram Planetarium in Sunset Beach...
Ms. Haven's kindergarten class collected items outdoors that they felt a bird might collect to make their nest. Once the objects were collected the class worked in groups to create a "larger than usual" bird's nest.	Part I While studying ecosystems and habitats 5th grade students created their own ecosystems using 2 liter bottles, live fish, snails, plants and many other items. What a great way to see how an ecosystem works. Part II As part of the 5th grade engineering students studied packages of many types. They have discussed what criteria would be needed to ship a plant to a different location. By using the engineering design process of ASK, IMAGINE, PLAN, CREATE and IMPROVE each group of students created a package that would contain, protect, communicate, display, carry and preserve their plant. Packages also had to be cost efficient.
Instructional Technology Specialist, Lizette Day received a grant from the North Carolina Association for Educational Communications and Technology for a project she calls "iPods Go To School" Academically gifted students read leveled and decodable books into the computer, using Audacity. These digital audio files were converted to MP3s and added to iTunes. The files were then loaded onto the iPods. The iPods were assigned to students and sent home with print copies of the books. Additional instructional and hands-on materials corresponding with the books were also sent home. Parents were trained on the use of the iPods and the accompanying materials.	Each kindergarten class decided on an insect and then designed and engineered that insect. Ms.Wonderlich's chose their materials, planned in their engineering notebooks and then created "huge" caterpillars.
D.A.R.E. Graduation Deputy A.D. Curry presented awards to all 5th grade students for their participation in the D.A.R.E. program. Three students were recognized for their essays on the program... Asjah Simpson from Ms. Exline's class spoke about smoking and the health hazards related to smoking. Makela McRae focused her essay on alcohol and drugs, saying that if you use them you're life will be ruined. Ni'Aysia Bellamy wants to be an OBGYN and knows that if she doesn't stay "drug free" she will not be able to reach her goals. Deputy Curry advised parents to be "nosey", to listen to their children and to keep their children busy so the influence of drugs never hits home. STARBASE, a program for youth ages 6 through 18, is aimed at improving math and science skills. The program starts at the elementary school level in order to attract and prepare students at an early age for careers in engineering and other science-related fields of study. The program principally exposes at-risk-children and their teachers to real world applications of math and science through experiential learning, simulations and experiments in aviation and space-related fields. The program also addresses drug use prevention, health, self-esteem, and life skills within a math and science-based program. Rachel Freeman School of Engineering has participated in this program since the 2004-2005 school year. These 5th grade students are using a flight simulation program.	Toshiba and Rachel Freeman School of Engineering are proud to announce that two of our students are regional winners in the 2008 Exploravision competition. Read about the project submitted by David Guerrero and Demarcus Mears on the Exploravision website. Click Here for the News Release 1st Grade Students made their own lip balm with Freeman's NCSTATE Engineering partner, Liz Parry. Students had to measure and weigh their ingredients, then Ms. Parry melted the substance to pour into the lip balm container. After a few hours the liquid had hardened enough for the students to use their lip balm.... their favorite flavor was "Bubblegum".
Ms. Jordan's Kindergarten made edible bugs as part of their study on insects.	Rachel Freeman School of Engineering participated in the NHCS Art Show at Independence Mall. Ms. Crafts' display showed our students' talent through several creative projects.
STARBASE, a program for youth ages 6 through 18, is aimed at improving math and science skills. The program starts at the elementary school level in order to attract and prepare students at an early age for careers in engineering and other science-related fields of study. The program principally exposes at-risk-children and their teachers to real world applications of math and science through experiential learning, simulations and experiments in aviation and space-related fields. The program also addresses drug use prevention, health, self-esteem, and life skills within a math and science-based program. Rachel Freeman School of Engineering has participated in this program since the 2004-2005 school year. On the last day of the project students, teachers and Ms. Miars launched the rockets built earlier in the week.	Q and U are two of the most fun letters to learn about. Ms. Jordan decided to teach her kindergarten class about the union between Q and U by having a wedding ceremony. Guests were invited, the room was decorated for the festive occasion, food was served and the ceremony went off without a hitch. Congratulations Q and U!
Rachel Freeman School of Engineering participated in the NHCS Art Show at Independence Mall. Ms. Crafts' display showed our students' talents through several creative projects.	5th grade students had a luncheon for their Book Club and discussed "The Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson" by Betty Bao Lord. They shared Chinese food and thoughts on each book. A great time was had by all!
Our final PTA meeting for the 2007-08 school year started with an "Engineering Showcase", then dinner and ended with an encore performance of our Best Foot Forward team and a special tribute from Ms. Bame's 3rd grade class to classmate Daquan Anderson.	Ms. Harris, Ms. Greer and Ms. Boyer decided a "pool party" was the best way to spend the last day of school.
Ms. Williamson's 2nd grade class was presented an award from Junior League member Terrie Boggs for having the most students attend the "Love of Reading" event at Wilmington's Childrens Museum. The event was sponsored by the Junior League, the Childrens Museum and Harris Teeter. Morgan Winston and Myra Ogola won an ice cream party for their classmates by attending the event. Thank you to Harris Teeter for donating the ice cream for the party.	Awards Assemblies were packed with excited students from all grade levels and parents were present as well to show their support.