SMO? What is that?
Standard Mode of OperationFor the PNA Middle School in February, SMO means being prepared for class, doing homework, participating in sports or other extracurricular activities, recycling chores for the school, taking math tests, playing badminton and volleyball,

reading Spanish story books to younger grades, creating stamps to make a tablecloth/napkin set for the auction, painting and creating designs for a wood block wall hanging auction project, ​

planning, writing and adding to the spring musical, emceeing the science party, ​

running a Valentine fundraiser for Spring Trips, collecting 22 backpacks and hundreds  other school supplies for inbound refugees to Anchorage,

preparing and sharing work with parents at conferences, understanding the science behind cloning and other modern genetics, presenting understanding about the importance of animal pollinators, ​

writing and revising essays, reading dystopian novels that connect science knowledge as well as political governance understanding, speaking Spanish and Swahili, dissecting flowers,

exploring Asian regions and discussing global issues, entertaining parents at a Parent Lunch, playing “The Game” with Ms. Molly in Health,

participating in an all school dance, learning about trait inheritance (genotypes and phenotypes),  and just plain laughing like 12 – 14 year olds.

The Standard Mode of Operation around here is exhausting, challenging, satisfying, and can actually be pretty fun.