Wilder Middle School has found amazing benefits while using Schoology this year. "It's been such a great tool to support the students. I've used it to promote library activities and events, like Maker Mondays, and have had some great conversations and built a lot of excitement among the students.

"The addition of the library course has been a massive help. I used it yesterday with my stations for 7th grade ELA where the students were able to have a discussion about book recommendations with their classmates. I will use this to set up a permanent "Recommendation Corner" for students and staff to share their favorite books."

Short Pump Middle School is partnering with GE’s cyber-security division for a second year to provide cyber-security, technology and engineering exposure to our girls to promote and generate interest in STEM career fields. The program is held after school and consists of 5 sessions each semester with a culminating off-campus field trip to GE’s cyber-security office. During each session, women from GE provide our students with hands on experience in coding, engineering, robotics and cyber-security by posing authentic problems through which our girls solve by using these skills and the Design Thinking Process.

One example of student-owned learning in the Tuckahoe Middle School library this quarter are Goose Chase lessons. Goose Chase is an app that allows students to participate in scavenger hunts using missions, all while manipulating videos, photos, and text. While using this app, students are able to show their new learning in a way that excited them.

Careers were a hot topic the first nine weeks at Tuckahoe Middle School. All 8th grade students went on a field trip to Chamber RVA's Mission Tomorrow, where they were able to explore 140 different businesses and opportunities in our region. Calypso Gilstrap, one of the librarians, worked with the guidance counselors to create personal career videos which were then broadcast to the ACE classes. Students then researched careers of their interest through Pathfinder, including eBooks, print books, and the Occupational Handbook. Students took notes and created a script and then used a green screen video to inform about the career they chose. These green screen videos included career training, salary, interesting facts, and what they are currently doing to prepare for their future career.