Presentation on Cancer Research by Mr. Kevin Roberts

Photos of Mr. Kevin Roberts (father of Brittany Roberts - 7th Grade Life Science Student at WPMS) talking to our students about the causes of cancer and the research work that is being done by his company (HudsonAlpha Corp. of Huntsville) in the fight against cancer. Mr. Roberts also spoke to all our students about careers in science and research during his time with all our them. Westpoint Middle school sincerely appreciated the time that Mr. Roberts devoted to the education of our students.

Today

Today Nov 19, 2009 we had a special guest at the school. His name was Dr.Roberts. He works at the Hudson-Alpha Research group and is the father of a student at our school. He showed us how cancer develops at the cellular level. He said that the problem starts when the DNA becomes slightly diffrent. There are three kinds of mistakes:insertion where the cell adds a strand, deletion where the cell deletes a strand, and finally when the cell changes one of the strands. The abnormal cell then reproduces itself and creates more cancer cells which develop into tumors.

Second Meeting

Yesterday Nov 18 2009 we had our second meeting. We changed a nickname and got a new member. Dericks new nickname is Sparticus and the new member is Austin Weaver A.K.A. Black Diamond. We talked about some fundraisers. They will be Hat day, T-shirts, and tattooes. We will also be making posters and phamplets. The t-shirt design team will consist of Dakota, Austin, and Tallie. The poster team will be Tallie, Stone, Ashton, and Dakota. The phamplet team wiil be Jesse, Derrick, and Austin. Finally the t-shirt flyer team will be Dakota and Katie.

Students studying cells

7th grade Life Science students at West Point Middle studying normal cells in preparation for their study of abnormal cancer cells and cell division.

Trenda Bates -

Photos of Trenda Bates addressing the students at West Point Middle School on the subject of skin cancer and her personal story of victory over melanoma

Class with Ms. Gidgett Overton

Photos of class sessions with Ms. Gidgett Overton of the American Cancer Society. Ms. Overton discussed the impact of Cancer on Cullman County and ways that the West Point Cancer Fighters could be of help to the community

Photo of our WPMS Leadership Team for our Cancer Education and Awareness Project:

Nick Roman A.K.A. TatterDerrick Sloan A.K.A. Goofy GooberDakota Lott A.K.A. KotaStone Parker A.K.A. Rolling StoneTallie Shaffer A.K.A. Pink PantherSavahnna Robinson A.K.A. VannaAshton Laney A.K.A. BlondieNicole James A.K.A. Super NikkiJesse Shewbart A.K.A. YogurtKarly Beck A.K.A. BeckyKatie Martin A.K.A. K8eRon Kochik (Teacher)A.K.A. Koko

Cancer Awareness Day

Yesterday November 13, 2009 was Cancer Awareness Day. Our school had two special guests come in to talk about cancer. One of them was Trenda Bates who's family and herself had been affected by cancer. Two of her grandmothers had skin cancer and one of them passed away. Then she got skin cancer at age 15. She told us how she had gone to tanning beds and that is how she thinks she got the cancer. But the doctors managed to get the cancer out and save her. The other special guest was Ms.Gigdet Overton from the American Cancer Society. She talked to us about some diffrent types of cancer and also gave us a sheet on how many people in Alabama had cancer and how many died from it in past years. It also included the risks for people at current ages and behaviors. Ms.Overton then told us how the American Cancer Society helps patients who have cancer by providing them a home-away-from-home for those whose treatments are not local with a program called Hope Lodge. It not only provides them a home-away-from-home but also pays thier expenses. The last thing Trenda Bates said was that you should always wear sunscreen because if you got more than five sunburns that that could give you the risk of getting cancer.

West Point Cancer Fighters

The 7th Grade Science students of West Point Middle School in Vinemont Alabama have officially announced their united fight against cancer. This fight is part of a "Science in Action" Service-Learning project that will integrated into the 7th Grade Life Science curriculum for the school years 2009/2010. Over the past two weeks the students at West Point Middle School (WPMS) have taken a number of important steps in their fight against cancer:
1. Began to learn about the many aspects of cancer and what this terrible disease is.
2. Conducted class "brainstorming sessions" on how WPMS 7th grade students could be of help to their community in the fight against cancer
3. Nominated and elected class leaders from the five different 7th grade science classes to lead the entire 7th grade student body in the fight against cancer.

In the coming weeks the following action items are to be accomplished by the West Point Cancer fighters:
1. The class leaders will meet on Thursday afternoon, November 12 to begin putting together the Student Action Plan (activities that will be accomplished between now and the end of the school year in the fight against cancer)
2. Listen to Ms. Gidgett Overton (Cullman County representative for the American Cancer Society) talk about cancer in Cullman County, and talk with her about how they can be the most effective in their fight against cancer
3. All 7th grade students will begin their research on a particular type of cancer that has effected their families. 7th grade english and writing teachers will assist all students in this research work that will result in a formal research paper.
4. Meet with Dr. Kevin Roberst of the HudsonAlpha group, a high tech biotechnology company in Huntsville Alabama that is conducting research on several different kinds of cancer.