On top of a very windy Cadillac Mountain (elevation 1530 feet) in Maine's Acadia National Park with wife Charlotte, daughter Linnea and son Nicklas.
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Frank Natale - ScienceWelcome to Science at Hickman Middle School, where science learning is about science doing...about science experiencing. As we seek to implement the Next Generation Science Standards, the emphasis will be on taking chances, thinking critically, making decisions based on what we know at the moment, and learning from our inevitable missteps. Just like most parents have invariably told their young charges at one time or another, the best way to learn in life is to make a few mistakes along the way. Along with experience comes learning...especially when roadblocks are met and successfully traversed. But there won't be success at every turn for every student at exactly the same time. We learn differently, at different paces and by different means. There will always be a level of uncertainty...this is the nature of the world of science. New information, new evidence and new experiences continually put "old" thinking to the test. I hope this is the case with the students of Hickman Middle School this and every year, who are bound to come with their own understandings of how things work. I want them to see themselves as pioneers in their own way, and to be able to confidently seek answers to their questions. Middle School is a indeed a frontier; and I am excited to be serving as the guide through that frontier for these sixth, seventh and eighth graders.
Grade Six Families
If you have a question about Camp SEA Lab you would like answered, please submit a question in the comment box above. 
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Camp SEA Lab Questions and Answers
Our Sixth Graders will be attending Camp Sea Lab in Aptos again this school year. The dates for the 2016/2017 school year will be Wednesday, May 10 through Friday, May 12, 2017. Here are some FAQ's to date:
Q: Are parents permitted to go to Camp SEA Lab? If so, what is the cost for parents to attend?
A: I will be taking six parents along to help chaperone, which will be paid for. Otherwise, there are no other parents in attendance.
Q: Is there another 6th grade camp, or is this the only one?
A: This is the only outdoor education experience we presently have at Hickman.
Q: Where does the class stay? Is it in a hotel?
A: The students stay in dorms - one for the boys and one for the girls. You can check out photos of these at the website or at my website slideshow.
Q: Do the dinner ticket sales go to the cost of the camp as well, or do the kids have to help with the dinner to raise money for the camp?
A: All students attending the camp are expected to sell 10 tickets. They are encouraged to sell as many as they can, but 10 is the minimum. If students are having difficulty selling to families, friends and neighbors, there will be opportunities to sell tickets here on campus in the morning as parents drop off students. Whoever sells on campus will get credit for the sale. All students are expected to help at the dinner on the night of the Harvest Carnival. They will work in shifts, bussing tables, pouring water and iced tea, and insuring diners have a great experience. They will have ample time to enjoy the carnival festivities as well as dinner. All ticket proceeds go to pay for camp for all students.
Q: While students cannot bring their cell phones, can they bring another type of camera, such as a disposable or a small digital?
A: Yes, and please be sure to have your child's name on it.
Q: If a student does not have a sleeping bag, can they just bring a blanket?
A: They would need to bring a full set of bedding - sheets and blanket. The mattresses just have the sewn on covers so they don't have sheets. Don't forget pillows. :)
Q: What days are Camp SEA Lab and at what time will the students be arriving back at school?
A: Camp SEA Lab will run from Wednesday, May 10 through Friday, May 12. We will arrive back at Hickman at approximately 4:00 pm.
Our Sixth Graders will be attending Camp Sea Lab in Aptos again this school year. The dates for the 2016/2017 school year will be Wednesday, May 10 through Friday, May 12, 2017. Here are some FAQ's to date:
Q: Are parents permitted to go to Camp SEA Lab? If so, what is the cost for parents to attend?
A: I will be taking six parents along to help chaperone, which will be paid for. Otherwise, there are no other parents in attendance.
Q: Is there another 6th grade camp, or is this the only one?
A: This is the only outdoor education experience we presently have at Hickman.
Q: Where does the class stay? Is it in a hotel?
A: The students stay in dorms - one for the boys and one for the girls. You can check out photos of these at the website or at my website slideshow.
Q: Do the dinner ticket sales go to the cost of the camp as well, or do the kids have to help with the dinner to raise money for the camp?
A: All students attending the camp are expected to sell 10 tickets. They are encouraged to sell as many as they can, but 10 is the minimum. If students are having difficulty selling to families, friends and neighbors, there will be opportunities to sell tickets here on campus in the morning as parents drop off students. Whoever sells on campus will get credit for the sale. All students are expected to help at the dinner on the night of the Harvest Carnival. They will work in shifts, bussing tables, pouring water and iced tea, and insuring diners have a great experience. They will have ample time to enjoy the carnival festivities as well as dinner. All ticket proceeds go to pay for camp for all students.
Q: While students cannot bring their cell phones, can they bring another type of camera, such as a disposable or a small digital?
A: Yes, and please be sure to have your child's name on it.
Q: If a student does not have a sleeping bag, can they just bring a blanket?
A: They would need to bring a full set of bedding - sheets and blanket. The mattresses just have the sewn on covers so they don't have sheets. Don't forget pillows. :)
Q: What days are Camp SEA Lab and at what time will the students be arriving back at school?
A: Camp SEA Lab will run from Wednesday, May 10 through Friday, May 12. We will arrive back at Hickman at approximately 4:00 pm.
