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Middle School Newsbite: March 9th, 2026

Posted Date: 03/09/26 (04:04 PM)


South Hunterdon Middle School Newsbite banner with an eagle mascot and date March 9th, 2026.

6th Grade Archaeologists Dig Into Delicious Discoveries!

An open book displays images of a skull and ancient artifacts, surrounded by cookie packages and excavation worksheets.
Students sit in a circle around a classroom floor with model skeletons and papers.

After reading Written in Bone, 6th grade students in Mrs. McCarthy’s class stepped into the shoes of real-life archaeologists for a hands-on “cookie excavation” activity. Inspired by the work of forensic anthropologists, students carefully excavated chocolate chips from their cookies, using gentle techniques to avoid breaking their “artifacts.” 

Just like the scientists in Written in Bone, students recorded observations, made inferences, and analyzed their findings. This engaging activity brought history and science to life—proving that archaeology can be both educational and deliciously fun! Thank you Mrs.McCarthy for inspiring our students in a creative way! 


Students are engaged in a 'Cookie Excavation' activity, using pencils and worksheets.

A student examines a cookie fragment on a worksheet titled 'Think Like an Archaeologist: Cookie Excavation'.
Black History Month

Close-up of a pencil drawing featuring a portrait composed of text, with the name 'SIMONE BILES' repeated on the left.
A pencil sketch portrait of a man, possibly a musician, is composed entirely of text, with the words 'Muddy Waters' repeated around the outline.
A pencil sketch of Henry O. Tanner's portrait, with text forming the facial features and background.

A collection of twelve framed pencil drawings of famous individuals, each portrait composed of text.
Pencil sketch of a man wearing a headband with the NBA logo, surrounded by handwritten text.

In celebration of Black History Month, our 8th grade artists explored the technique of micrography — the art of creating images through carefully arranged tiny text. Students selected an influential figure and paired their portrait with powerful, inspirational words, including excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb.”

After constructing their portraits with text, students applied the element of art value to shade and deepen facial features, creating contrast and dimension. The final pieces are thoughtful, detailed, and incredibly powerful — take a look at how beautifully they turned out!


A colorful collection of woven paper art pieces with various patterns and designs.
A colorful collection of woven paper squares with diverse patterns and designs.
A colorful woven art project featuring many squares with diverse patterns and designs.

Our 6th grade artists explored the history and tradition of Kente cloth, a vibrant textile that originated in Ghana, West Africa. Traditionally worn for important ceremonies and celebrations, Kente cloth is known for its bold colors and meaningful patterns.

Students learned about the art of weaving, including the difference between horizontal threads (weft) and vertical threads (warp). Using paper strips, they practiced weaving techniques to construct their own Kente-inspired textiles. To complete their designs, students created three unique patterns to decorate their cloth, thoughtfully combining color, repetition, and symbolism to make each piece one of a kind.


Swoop Star & Student of the Month

Two students and an eagle mascot pose with awards in front of a school announcement board.

Congratulations to Lola Menche, South Hunterdon Middle School’s March Student of the Month! This recognition reflects Lola’s consistent commitment to academic excellence, positive attitude, and leadership within our school community. We are proud of the dedication and effort she demonstrates each day.

We also congratulate Tristan Pursell, our South Hunterdon Middle School's “Swoop Star” of the Month. Tristan exemplifies this month’s Character Strong theme of Honesty. His integrity, accountability, and commitment to doing what is right—even when it is not easy—make him a strong role model for his peers.
We are proud to celebrate both students for representing the very best of South Hunterdon Middle School.



What's Coming Up?

On Tuesday, March 10th, Hunterdon Prevention Resources will give a presentation about current drug trends to our entire 8th grade class in their respective health classes. From the Prevention Resources website, njprevent.com:

This program provides a comprehensive overview of drugs impacting our community including alcohol, tobacco (including vaping), marijuana, and opioids. We address healthy decision-making skills, peer pressure and available resources.

We anticipate that our 8th graders will benefit from this proactive and interactive educational presentation. Thank you to our middle school Health & Wellness teachers for their flexibility in allowing Prevention Resources to present to our students about this and various other important topics during the health classes throughout the year!

March 30-April 6 School Closed: Spring Recess

Three school logos featuring eagles and the text 'HS', 'Eagles', and 'SOUTH HUNTERDON REGIONAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL'.

Click HERE to see the Elementary School Newsbite
Click
HERE to see the High School Newsbite