The MUS Lower School Blog

Summer reading lists

Here they are: Download Summer Reading 7th The List

Download Summer Reading 8th The List

Enjoy some great selections for the summer. A big thanks goes to MUS English instructor, Elizabeth Crosby, who took on a significant project of reviewing past selections, adding new offerings, and providing brief descriptions of the titles.

Rantzow helps land varsity gold

Coaches Tyler and Bakke report with smiles some outstanding news from last week's Spring Fling in Nashville. James Rantzow ('14) ran the second leg on the state champion 4 x 200 team. His split was around 23.5. He is also a member of the 2009 State Champion track team.This is the first time an MUS eighth-grader has accomplished this feat with his feet. Congratulations, James!

Thank you, Mr. Cooper

The classic song celebrated today in the Lower School halls, performed here by the Eighth-Grade Drama Troop. Have a great vacation!

About our last day: Math packs and attire

In order of importance:

Math Packs: Many students will be assigned a math pack for summer math exercises. The pack contains a review of pre-algebra skills in over 2,000 problems. Three help sessions are scheduled in the Lower School, room 101. July 13, 20, and 27 from noon until 2:00 p.m. The packs are to be completed in their entirety over the summer and returned to school August 5 in the Lower School office.

Friday attire:

Students may wear khaki (or dress) shorts to school.  Proper collared shirt must be worn with shirttail tucked in.  Students may wear tennis (running) shoes but must wear socks.  Sandals, flip-flops, or other shoes without socks are not permissible.

Lockers:

Students must clean out their lockers before they leave for the summer. Any personal items left in the building after Friday noon goes either to the Goodwill or to the trash.

Start summer reading

Summer reading lists are available now for those of you about to be headed out for vacation. We put some effort in changing the reading list selections, so, as a result, this summer could be the best summer in your son's life. It really could be. All because of summer reading.

Accelerated Algebra exam review

Mr. Murphy offers two exam review sessions: Tuesday morning from 7:30 a.m. - 8:10 a.m. in LS 102 and

Wednesday morning from 7:30 a.m. - 8:10 a.m. also in LS 102.

Book buy back info

Want to sell your textbooks back? Download Book_Buy_Back

Math placement test info

MUS offers a math placement test annually to incoming Lower School students. Current students have already taken this test.

There are three individual testing dates: 2:30 p.m.today, Saturday at 8:30 a.m., and next Friday, May 22 at 12 noon. All tests are in the Hull Lower School, room 101. Mrs. Maria Burke will proctor.

The test is 90 minutes. No calculator is needed. Clothing is required.

Summer Reading and Writing; Science Camp

As boys sigh up for our Academic Adventures summer courses, we want to announce the details for Summer Reading and Writing: Have You Finished Your Summer Reading , Yet?

Alysson Reese- Session 1, June 1-5 (7^th Grade): The Graveyard Book

Spencer Reese- Session 1, June 1-5 (8^th Grade): Ender’s Game

Alysson Reese- Session 2, July 13-17 (7^th Grade): The Bartimaeus Trilogy: The Amulet of Samarkand

Spencer Reese- Session 2, July 6-10 (8^th Grade): The Lightning Thief

Also, Science Camp sign-ups are ongoing. I saw some applications come in this morning, and I want to encourage more enrollment into these really cool opportunities. Even if a boy does not attend MUS, he would appreciate these courses which are are a significant addition to the summer offerings in town. Maybe you know someone who would benefit? Think about it, and please send them the information if you would. From the Summer Stuff brochure:

Science Camps
Boys, 7th-8th Grades, 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Director: Dr. Michael Schwartz
Instructors: Vincent Beck, Roz Croce,
Laura Lawrence, Shauna Miller,
Wayne Mullins, Loyal Murphy, and
Analice Sowell

June 8-12
Science Camp: Technology and
Engineering

Technology and Engineering week is designed for a boy who has a lot of
curiosity about the world around him and how things work. Campers will
explore science, nature, and technology through hands-on experiences,
experiments, and laboratory participation.
A broad range of science topics in physics, biology, chemistry, and
engineering will be investigated.

Cost: $175 (includes daily nutritious snacks, camp lab coat, safety goggles,
lab notebook, and daily topic-specific items and projects)

June 15-19
Science Camp: Chemical Connections

Chemical Connections week is a unique, inquiry based camp experience
designed to explore the relevance of scientific knowledge. Campers will learn
via hands-on experiments emphasizing chemistry and biology techniques to
acquire basic laboratory skills. The camp will cover a broad range of topics,
including food chemistry, forensics, and genetics.

Cost: $175 (includes daily nutritious snacks, camp lab coat, safety goggles,
lab notebook, and daily topic-specific items and projects)
Campers are encouraged to sign up for both weeks.

Springfield Scholars set a high standard

The annual dinner was held last Thursday night in celebration of the 2009 edition of the Springfield Scholars. Each Scholar invited a faculty member of his choosing to join him at dinner along with his parents. The boys received the commemorative ties as an enduring sartorial symbol of their accomplishments at achieving the top ten percent of their class.

2009 Springfield Scholars (left to right) Brian Ringel, Sylvester Tate, William Hoehn, Philip Aiken, Andrew Raves, Zack Olsen, Andrew Miller, Hurston Reed, Jared Ashkenaz, Remy Rea, Farhan Kathawala, Kyle Gossett

Mr. Reese imposes his will making a convert out of greenhorn Philip Aiken, showing him how to tie his new bow tie.