Osborn Middle School Selected for Special Pilot Program

The Osborn Middle School has been selected to partner with the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, ASU Herberger College of the Arts, AZ Dept of Education, and AZ State Library. Beginning on October 16, graduate students at Herberger will collaborate with 8th grade writing teacher Karen Levesque to present: Art Space, a performing arts program after school in which students will study Time through stop motion animation, human sculpting, and other exciting art techniques.

Osborn Middle School Cheer Performs at NFL Activities

Back row: Eunice, Jamiea, Alexis, Markeitta, Andrea, Yesenia; Middle row: Selma, Dulce, Gina, Leah, Cecilia; Front row: Diana, Aisha, Karen, Cashe

Congratulations to the Osborn Middle School Firehawk Cheerleading Squad coached by seventh grade math teacher Sarah Saiz. They took fifth place in the AZ State Cheerleading/Pom Tournament. They competed against 41 Middle Schools from across the state. “Before the competition my girls were nervous,” says Saiz, “they noticed the confidence and poise of the veteran cheerleaders. In the end, we didn't get top 3, but the tournament director made it a point to tell me how great my girls were.”

This is the first year 8th graders tried-out for the Central Cheer Squad. Rumor has it that Central’s Cheer Coach was impressed by Osborn Middle cheerleaders’ talent. At Central there were an additional 30 former OMS cheerleaders trying out for cheer. The following OMS 8th graders have made the JV Cheer squad at Central High School: Diana, Gina, Jamiea, Aisha, and Selma. Congratulations one and all.

Industrial Technology

Students in Alan Wendt’s Industrial Technology class have been learning about aeronautics–  Bernoulli’s Law, parts of airplanes, how airplanes fly, and forces that affect airplanes in flight– through the construction of Styrofoam gliders. Students also learned about aerodynamics by constructing CO2 power dragsters. Using electric and hand tools, these students handcraft light-weight and aerodynamic cars. Cars were spray painted and outfitted with plastic wheels. The culmination of their hard work was to race their cars on the cafeteria floor at speeds of nearly 60 mph! A few hot rodders competed against seasoned veteran Mr. Wendt, who has 25 years experience making CO2 cars.

Experiencing Government in Action

In its fifth year, the Washington DC Program for 8th grade students has 60 students preparing to go to the nation’s capital. The program provides students with civic knowledge of how our country operates along with the motivation and inspiration to get involved. In order to earn a place in the program, students log dozens of hours of after school research on social issues and craft legal solutions to identified areas of concern; participate in community service and fundraising efforts; achieve excellence in the classroom and in after-school activities; model academic excellence for their peers; and maintain exceptional attendance throughout the entire school year. They document their Washington D.C. experiences and share them with others after they return. Students and trip leader, teacher Brian Holman, must raise $800 per student to fund the trip. Students engage in a number of fundraisers, including a spectacular spaghetti dinner where the students cook and serve guests.

Osborn Middle School & the Youth Serve America Grant

Through joint efforts of SAMHSA, State Farm Service Learning and the Osborn Educational Foundation, 15 7th and 8th grade boys were trained in the basic rules of basketball officiating. Skills required to referee include knowing how to make calls, setting limits early to maintain control of the game, and keeping emotions in check. These translate into important skills for success in daily life. The project culminated in a district tournament sponsored by the youth referees who officiated with mentoring from their coach and two additional certified referees. The boys had a chance to experience many aspects of officiating— knowing the rules, making them clear to young players, maintaining control of the court, keeping the tournament moving and what it is like to be on your feet for a very long day!

The boys also learned about taking on a major event and following through on it. The project involved the Arizona Recreation Center for the Handicapped so the boys were exposed to resources and services provided to the community in their own backyard. Many thanks to Coach Sylvester Campbell and Mentor Referees: Steve Janes and Richard Schwartz.

Referees in Training from OMS at the ARCH, 2007

“These youths’ horizons are expanding- and they are gaining a skill they can use to earn money while attending school by officiating at  games for younger children,” notes Anne Marie Cardinal, from Osborn. The cost of the coach, gym time, and some of the costs for refreshments, food and supplies have been covered by the Youth Serve America grant from State Farm Insurance. Basha’s Food Stores has also supported the program.