Supercharged Middle School by Erik Olson

Canoe Build

erikolson — 2025-02-04 16:04:17 UTC

Great team building opportunity. Currently in the Arch Diocese only, but we are talking about expanding to greater Minnesota as well.

8th grade mission trip

2025-02-04 16:52:28 UTC

Br. David Darst Center - for Justice & Peace, Spirituality & Education

Chicago Urban Immersion trip. OLL sends 8th grade each year.

ILPs

2025-02-04 17:00:02 UTC

Yondr Pouches

erikolson — 2025-02-04 17:01:57 UTC

Cell phone pouches.

Trinity Woods

erikolson — 2025-02-04 17:03:12 UTC

Retreat option for schools focused around science and faith.

Middle School Social Event Ideas

2025-02-04 22:30:47 UTC

Middle School Fun Activities:2025-2026

Orange: MS Specific Black: Family Fun Night)FFN but MS typically attends

July 16th - Middle School Bunker Beach Aquatic Center 11am-3pm 10am-4pm with bus

August 22nd- New MS Orientation 4:30-5:45 w/Pizza

September 11th - FFN Big Stone Mini Golf 5-7pm

September 13-15th Inc Festival ( We don’t do a Sept MS event because of our Parish Festival in Sept, all MS student attend)

October 6- FFN/ Fundraiser Minnetonka Orchard 5-7pm

October 11th- MS Hide and Seek 6:30-8:30 with Pizza. Hosted by parish w/ Parish kids.

November 22nd- West Metro MS dance at OLL 6:30-9pm (12-9:30, hold room 11/23 8am-10am)

January 25th- MS Trout Lake with Parish

February 11th - Middle School Arcade Night

March 7th - FFN FMSC 5-6:30

March 18th- Tuesday FFN Family Bingo Night 6-730 Invite Parish

***Springbreak 3/21-3/30***

April 11th- MS Spring Social at St. Therese.

April FFN - TBD

May TBD date- End of the year MS Urban Air trip (invite parish)

Other items we have done:

EP Pool
Movie Night (at theater)

Rock Climbing
Whirlyball

Games in the Gym
Bonfire and Outdoor Games, Parish

Spirit Squad/St. Dominic Northfield

2025-02-11 15:25:37 UTC

Our Spirit Squad at St. Dominic has breathed life into our school! We have incredible school spirit, attendance at games has increased and our cheer squad has created a positive buzz around our school. This activity gives girls who are not into sports a chance to be involved. Everyone is welcome! Thanks to CSCOE for the MS funding to make this happen.

Ambassador Times

ahonetschlager — 2025-02-11 18:28:09 UTC

Elementary teachers sign up for middle school students to come into their room and work with their students throughout the month. The middle school students are throughout the building twice a week working with the younger students.

Daily Whole School Prayer

2025-02-11 20:23:26 UTC

The middle school begins each day with the whole school joining in prayer, pledge of allegiance, and daily birthday announcements.

Monday: Praise & Worship

Tuesday: Households with NET Team or some other SEL topic

Wednesday: Liturgy of the Hours

Thursday: Mass

Friday: Adoration

Angelus at noon. All students line up in the hallway and 2 students lead over the intercom.

End of day: St. Michael the Archangel Prayer together that the same 2 students led over the intercom.

Young Apostles

2025-02-11 21:30:00 UTC

Heidi Gallus at St. Michael implemented a Young Apostles program where they have 2 students from each GOD Time (multi-age homeroom) as peer leaders.

hgallus@stmcatholicschool.org

Owakonze

erikolson — 2025-02-12 14:01:28 UTC

A canoe trip with that could be a great extension of the canoe building experience. Camp Counselor Abby is part of the canoe building in Minnesota.

The Amazing Race

erikolson — 2025-02-12 14:02:54 UTC

Create an experience at your school that connects students with your community.

The Great Lakes Shake/Amazing Shake

erikolson — 2025-02-12 14:05:56 UTC

Create an invaluable experience that allows students to master communication skills with adult professionals.

The House System

ehatlestad1 — 2025-02-12 14:58:29 UTC

An amazing opportunity for students to interact with others throughout middle school to form long lasting relationships and social skills.

Student leaders help plan the events each week and Houses have challenges once per month that focus on sportsmanship, collaboration and fun.

OLL Middle School Experience

erikolson — 2025-02-12 21:24:02 UTC

Thank you to Becky Kennedy for sharing this earlier this year.

Saint Rose of Lima Catholic School Middle School Experience

erikolson — 2025-02-12 21:26:42 UTC

Thank you Sean for sharing this earlier this year! When you have your updated version, please feel free to upload here.

Studio 3:16

erikolson — 2025-02-19 20:47:10 UTC

Supplementary resource for 2nd-8th grade Catholic school Religion Classes. https://www.studio316.com/

Thank you, Carrie Hackman!

Embedding Entrepreneurship Learning Opportunities in Middle School

2025-03-03 21:25:23 UTC

Our school is exploring ways to embed hands on entrepreneurship experiences into our current courses for our junior high students. The goal is to take things we already "do" each year such as designing homecoming buttons and class t-shirts and look for ways to have our students take part in all the aspects of those types of projects from the ground up. Our hope is to expand our current tradition of hosting a button design contest and selling buttons to include things like making the actual buttons rather than sourcing that step out. In Math we could have the students work on the budget and track income and expenses. In Art, they could learn about design and marketing and create posters and social media posts. In Industrial Tech, students can learn about production strategies and help produce and assemble the buttons. Tech students could work on designing a spreadsheet to track orders.

We have LOTS of ideas going around this concept. Now we just need to narrow our focus and flush out the details in a well-thought out plan. So far we are planning to purchase items like a 3D printer, an engraver, a button maker, a t-shirt iron on press, and an embroidery sewing machine. All of these items would be used with various classes and courses to promote more real world and hands on learning.