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The Freeman Bears have gotten off to a great start to a new school year. The opening assembly for all grade levels was about being a proud citizen, our school creed and caring for eachother. Mrs. Miars introduced staff members outside the traditional classroom that are here to help our students. Staff members performed a skit for the students about a food driveand how just "ONE" person can make a difference in the lives of others.	Rachel Freeman School of Engineering Educators Attend Teacher Academy Recently, five educators from Rachel Freeman School of Engineering attended a North Carolina Teacher Academy at Appalachian State University. The participants included: Meghann Crow, Brandy Metzger, Andrea Raines, Melissa Stephens and Melissa Williamson.
Ms. Wiggins 5th grade class created "lunar vehicles" designed to haul "lunar rocks" over a distance at a specific speed. All of the vehicles were an engineering success.	Good Job 1st Grade Engineers Ms. Rickey's 1st Graders decided to make hats that would NOT blow off in the wind after reading "The Hat", a book about a little girls who's hat always blew off in the wind. Their engineering projects were tested in the wind,on the playground and proved to be a great designs.
Mrs. Exline's 5th grade class took a field trip to The Coastal Horizon's Ropes Course. Students worked on cooperation, communication, and teamwork stratagies to complete several tasks. Every student took on the challenge of climbing a wooden tower. Students were asked to work on stratagies used and will be bringing ideas back to the classroom to continue using teamwork in classroom activities.	Family Math Night Thank you to the PTA and Freeman staff for making Family Math Night a huge success.
Ms. Exline's 5th Grade students constructed 5 different simple machines using their Engineering is Elementary kits. After constructing each simple machine students tested by first measuring a load using a spring scale. After recording the number of Newtons it took to lift their load the students used their simple machine to do the work. Each group discovered how and if the simple machine actually reduced the work/force needed to complete their task. In every test the use of a simple machine reduced the amount of force/work needed to raise the load.	3rd graders were visited by a veteran associated with The JOE FOSS Institute. The institute did a presentation about "Veterans Inspiring Patriotism" and presented the school with a classroom size Bill of Rights.
Our school was chosen by the New Hanover County Reading Association to receive books for kindergarten students from low income school districts. Their representative and WECT news presented the books and were thanked by the students for their generosity.	Eleanor Johnston from the ABC Board visited our school this week to do a presentation for grades 1, 2 and 3 on drug prevention. Our art teacher, Ms. Crafts was a big help filling as the AB Cardinal.
Kindergarten Students made farm animal hats for their field trip the Mike's Farm.	3rd grade students worked on a designing a waterproof cast. A representative from Wilmington Orhtopedics showed the student engineers how a cast is applied to broken bones.
Students at Freeman participated in "Kids Voting USA, North Carolina ". A national leader in civic education, Kids Voting USA gets students involved and ready to be educated, engaged citizens. Students learn about democracy through a combination of classroom activities, an authentic voting experience and family dialogue.	One of our 5th grade students used her creative talents to make posters about bullying. Her efforts to help her fellow students practice a "non-bullying" environment are appreciated by all.
Staff Member for the month of October Mrs. Jennifer McCroskey is a UNCW graduate and is originally from Rockingham, NC. She's been married exactly one year today, Oct. 6th.Mrs. McCroskey loves photography, the beach and reading, but most of all, teaching Kindergarten at Rachel Freeman School of Engineering.	Mr. Bob Boxley from The Rotary Club presented a new dictionary to every 3rd grade student at Rachel Freeman School of Engineering. Thank you for contributing to the continued success of our students.
3rd graders work along side UNCW students on the "Study Island" website in preperation for the End of Grade Tests in the spring. These after school activities are provided throughout the entire year.	As part of Red Ribbon week all students at Rachel Freeman School of Engineering signed a pledge to stand together against drugs and to personally say "NO" to drugs. The students each signed a card that looked like and symbolized bricks. The cards (bricks) were stacked in the lunchroom on a bulletin board illustrating the affect of all students standing together to say "NO" to drugs. The wall is strong because all of the bricks stand together.
Staff members that completed NC Reads I and II did a book study on "Making the Most of Small Group Instruction" as part of their continuing staff development on differentiating instruction in the classroom.	Kindergarten Engineers At Work Home Depot employees brought kits to Ms. Wonderlich's and Ms. Harris's students to make a leaf press. The instructors used the document camera and SmartBoard to demonstrate each step of the process.
5th graders continued to explore motion and design as they explored yo -yo's. Students dis-assembled yo-yo's to examine the parts inside: wheel and axel, screw, transaxel. Students then experimented with different assemblies to see how they influenced trick performance. Students were able to master 3 yo-yo moves; the palm up throw, the palm down throw and the sleeper.