On September 17th, 8th grade students saw the Nebraska Court of Appeals holding its annual off-site argument session at the College of Saint Mary. After the hearing, students toured the College of St. Mary. Our tour guide was a former Russell Timberwolf!

Because this was an actual hearing, cellphones were not allowed in to capture the action. You can see students touring the College of Saint Mary in the folder linked below:

• 8th College of St. Mary/NE Court of Appeals

On September 12th, 8th grade students participated in workshops with faculty members related to accounting, actuarial science, and supply chain management. Afterward, students toured the College of Business facilities. Hopefully, students who attended walked away with a better understanding of different majors that exist in college and how those majors translate into various career paths. 

Click here to see images from this seminar:

• 8th: UNL Business and Accounting

On April 23rd, students spent the morning at DLR Group engaging in lessons around the design of structures, ducts, classroom design, and school design. After the time at DLR, students learned more about the brutalist design of the Swanson Public Library. On the way back to Russell, students listened and observed mid-century design on a driving tour.

Click here to see more images of this seminar:

• 8th architecture

On March 25th, Methodist College provided an opportunity for students, who had a Clarkson seminar cancelled, to explore the fields of respiratory therapy, surgical technology, and nursing. Students learned how to properly draw medicine into a syringe in the nursing station, operated on a tumor in the surgical technology station, and tested a shake vest in the respiratory therapy station.

Click on the folder below to see more images of this seminar:

• 8th Methodist

On March 4th, 8th graders dissected a squid. Students learned how squids are used for research in related to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The learned various defense mechanisms and connected where parts of the squid differ or are similar to the human body.

Click on the folder below to see more images of this seminar:

• 8th Squid Dissection

On January 28 and 30, twelve students from Russell participated in a district mock trial with students from Beadle and North Middle. Over two days, students read one case as an attorney, read one witness role for a second trial, and participated as a member of the jury in a third trial. Dan Fischer from Koley Jessen mentored students throughout the process.

• 8th District Mock Trial Picture Folder

In 6th grade, students met roughly once per month to build community in a space with peers who may have the same talents or interests. During the week of January 7-10 and 13, we had a reunion to remember all that has happened in the time since that first meeting in 6th grade as well as complete another team challenge: a Breakout Box!

• 8th Cohort Reunion Picture Folder 

On February 4, students started the day by watching performances from Millard North and Millard West High Schools. Following these performances, students selected various workshops, including stage makeup, technology, choreography, improv, and creating centered characters. The host school, Millard South, finished the day with a performance.

• Millard Theater Festival Picture Folder

During this seminar on January 14, students interacted with STEM professionals, university representatives, and senior high school students who are passionate about these fields.

• MWHS STEM Open House Picture Folder

On November 13th, students participated in workshops around food science, aeronautics, and civil engineering. Before we left campus, students received a tour of the new Kiewit Hall on campus.

Click here to see images from our 8th grade UNL Engineering Days seminar:

• 8th UNL Engineering

On November 6th, students explored the Kiewit Luminarium understand aspects of physical science like motion, sound, light, and heat.

Click here to see images from our 8th grade Luminarium seminar:

• 8th Luminarium

On October 30th, students learned about the fields of meteorology, physical and biological sciences. After escaping the downpour, students ate at Cather dining hall before heading back to Russell.

Click here to see images from our 8th grade UNL Arts and Sciences seminar:

• 8th UNL Arts and Sciences

Over the course of two weeks, students in honors ELA prepared for and participated in a mock trial serving as lawyers/witnesses and jurors in two separate trials.

Click here to see images from our RMS mock trials:

• 8th Mock Trial at RMS

On September 27th, students attended workshops at UNL's College of Business in actuarial science, accounting, and supply chain. Prior to the workshops, students heard from former Millard HAL students who are current students in one of the College of Business' programs. After the workshops, students toured Howard Hawks Hall.

Click here to see images from our 8th grade UNL Accounting and Actuarial Science seminar:

• UNL Accounting and Actuarial Science

Click here to see images from our 8th grade Architecture seminar:

• 8th Architecture

Click here to see images from our 8th grade squid dissection:

• 8th Squid

Click here to see images from the mini-art seminar:

• 8th Grunge Cakes

Click here to see images from the district mock trial that was held at the Sarpy County Courthouse on February 2nd:

• Mock Trial Pictures

Click here to see images from UNL Engineering Days seminar on November 30, 2023.

• Clarkson College Seminar

8th grade students tested water samples and observed bison and other animals during this

Click this folder to access pictures and videos from this day!

Click here to see images from the squid extension in science class.

Squid Dissection

Click here to see images from our law seminar at Sarpy County Courthouse on March 14/16.

• Mock Trial Images

I partnered with American History teachers to provide literacy opportunities during their unit on westward expansion. Students participated in a Socratic Seminar as a way to share and learn from others through dialogue using various text and lecture sources to form conclusions.

Click here for images related to this extension:

• Westward Expansion Socratic Seminar

Click here to see images from our medical seminar at Clarkson College on February 2nd.

• Clarkson College Images

During high school registration season, Mrs. Radtke, Millard West's Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone teacher, and seniors from the AP Capstone Program visited to inform students about the program.

Students will have a chance to see senior AP Capstone research on May 16th. Sign up to attend by completing this Google Form by Friday, May 12th. 

Students participated in 4 sessions related to engineering concepts. Check out pictures and videos linked in the slideshow to the left.

Click this folder to access pictures and videos from this day!

This seminar is open to 8th graders only.

In your email, you receive a Google Form to complete prior to September 6th.

Twenty-five students will have the opportunity to go. If more than 25 sign up, a lottery system will be used to select who is going. 

Every student will be contacted via email by September 13th to know if you will or will not go on this seminar with Mrs. Dietsch.

In September, students were selected based on readiness in reading and writing skills targeted in the extension on the Great Awakening and Enlightenment period. During this extension, students analyzed various texts to draw a conclusion to this AP/IB-type essay question: To what extent did the Great Awakening/Great Enlightenment influence the American Revolution?