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Century Middle School Newsletter
Century Middle School provides opportunities, expectations and support for each student to achieve academic excellence.
Our community is dedicated to creating a world class school that celebrates and values respect, a strong work ethic and life long learning.
April, 2008
Dear Students, Parents and Guardians,
As we approach the end of this school year, I would like to encourage all of parents and guardians to mindful of the 20 mile per hour speed limit around our campus during school hours. We continue to worry about our students that cross the street when cars are traveling too quickly. We have successfully worked with the City of Thornton to install flashing warning signals on the three streets surrounding our campus and expect those to be installed prior to our next school year. We also ask that you pay attention to the message elsewhere in this newsletter about respecting our Hunters Glen Legends and Pinnacle neighbor’s property. Apparently, some of our parents or older siblings are speeding through their parking lots, using their parking lots for turning around, dropping students off or parking. Please respect their tenant’s parking areas and use Century’s existing drop off zone.
While traffic is always of concern to parents and faculty alike, we also have been working on the parking issues that we seem to face on a daily basis. Century Middle School has never had adequate parking for its visitors and we have been working on a solution for you. Over the summer we will have additional parking put in to our northern lot and a new lot placed at the centermost point on our campus. The centermost parking zone will be utilized exclusively by our faculty freeing up needed space in our large parking lot directly to the west of the gym. Hopefully, we can make it easier for you to come in for visits to our school, attending awards ceremonies, etc.
Adams 12-Five Star School district is hosting an informational community meeting regarding installation of additional cell phone towers to Century Middle School’s roof-line. Currently we already have towers located on our gymnasium and cafeteria, providing service with Sprint and Cricket. This proposal would place another set of cell towers to the northernmost building on our campus. AT&T will be at Century Middle School on Monday, May 12, 2008 at 6:30 PM in our school cafeteria. Representatives will be on hand to discuss the proposed addition and answer questions members of the community might have.
We are looking at adopting a more middle school oriented transition program for our eighth graders ending the school year. In the past we have offered a continuation program that is much like what you might envision for a graduation from high school. Instead, we will offer an awards ceremony, followed by a short reception for parents and students. We will then offer a picnic lunch for eighth grade students followed by some games and fun activities designed by their 8th grade teachers. Hopefully, this will prove to be a proper way to say goodbye to these wonderful eighth grade students and at the same time provide a more age appropriate approach to the ceremonies that we have had in the past.
As you are aware, Century is undergoing its portion of budget cuts as is the rest of the school district. It is with great regret that Century will be forced to suspend our AVID program due to these budget reductions. We will continue to offer some form of our sixth grade AVID essentials class to our sixth graders, but will no longer be able to offer the AVID program to students in the seventh or eighth grade. If funding sources become available in the future, we will attempt to resurrect the program for the benefit of those students in most need of the program.
We will be saying our goodbyes not only to a wonderful group of eighth grade students, but to a number of our faculty who are finding the lure of retirement too great to resist. At year’s end we will be saying are farewells to Mr. Pennel (Band/Orchestra), Ms. Marks (7th grade Math), and Ms. Vaughn (Special Education). We wish them the best in their future endeavors and hope that each of them find retirement as rewarding as their contribution to Century Middle School has been. We ask that our parents have that “end of the year” conversation with their students about maintaining appropriate behavior and dedication to their classroom education as they have for the prior eight months of school. We will expect them to remain focused on their daily lessons to the last day of this school year.
Finally, I would like to say thank you to all the parents and guardians who have been volunteering their time and effort into making Century Middle
School the best school in the district. We could never do it without you and your contributions.
Sincerely,
Larry A. Pohlit
Principal
Art Newsletter
Well, it has been another amazing year down in the G hallway at Century Middle School. Students in all grades were introduced to new and creative things and produced wonderful projects. Art history was the focus this year in Mr. Wimmer’s and Mrs. Kelley’s classroom and students definitely now have an advantage on others when continuing on their art education in high school and college. Students were introduced to art from Greek Vessels to the Dada movement. If you are interested in seeing some most excellent examples of students work, go to the Adams 12 District Art Show at the Front Range Community College.
The show is from April 24-May 8. Here are a few names you might see:
Nathan Fletcher 7th Grade Erik Bergstrom 7th Grade Gabreila Gandarilla 8th Grade Katie Morey 6th Grade Allye Wagner 8th Grade Allison Ear 8th, Breann Kabert 6th, Reghan Hoyt 6th Michael Blascoe 8th Grade Kendra Hadrick 8th Grade |
“Bender Bust”
Brandon Torrez 8th Grade Sculpture Clay Century Middle School
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Jake Chiddix 7th Grade Christopher Sweetwood 8th Grade Justin Spencer 8th Grade Noah Pate 8th Grade Abby Williams 8th Grade Emily Kaiser 6th Grade Vincent Thao 6th Grade Zach Johnson 6th Grade |
“Jack Bust”
Kendra Hadrick 8th Grade Sculpture Clay Century Middle School |
Taylor Molliconi 6th Grade Melissa Gerlach 6th Grade Katie Morey 6th Grade Christopher Sweetwood 8th Grade Justin Spencer 8th Grade
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Softball
Attention girls interested in playing softball for Century next fall: The season starts very early in the school year! Please make sure you have your physical and all the proper paper work ready so you can start practicing right away. If you have any questions, please see Mr. Wiske. Free athletic physicals will be available at Northglenn High School on May 17, 2008 from 7:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Book Battles in the Library
Students Michelle Saal, Annie Pitts, and Hayley Brooks, known as the MASH team, represented Century Middle School at the district wide Battle of the Books contest on April 16, at Westlake Middle School.
The MASH team placed eighth overall in the district competition, where points were won by answering trivia questions about books that the team read.
What is Battle of the Books? It's a nationwide program to promote reading; check out www.Battleofthebooks.org, for more information. Century library will host another battle next year, so start forming your teams now!
Eagle Core
8th Grade Celebration Night
Students in the Eagle Core will be presenting their “Back to the Past” projects on May 21st at the 8th grade celebration night. Students had to complete a separate assignment for each core class including a newspaper article for Language Arts, a drawing on a coordinate system for Math, a model replica of an invention from history with an accompanying poster for Science, and a scrapbook of assignments for American History. In addition to the above work, the Language Arts and Social Studies Honors classes created a quilt made up of patches representing how they see an aspect of the past influencing their lives in the present day.
Civil War Reenactment
All 8th Grade students will participate in the Civil War reenactment on Thursday, April 24th. This year the Eagle Core will represent the Confederate army at the battle of Gettysburg. Students have the opportunity to learn about this famous event through the eyes of a soldier in the battle.
Physics Day at Elitch Gardens
Imagine getting to ride a roller coaster for a class assignment. The Eagle Core students get the opportunity during Physics Day at Elitch Gardens in Denver. Please remember that permission forms and fees are due on Friday, April 25th. Students will return from the trip at 6 p.m. on May 8th. Please make appropriate plans for transportation home from school.
EXTREME CORE SCIENCE
For many this is the most difficult portion of the year, they are tired and want to rest, rather than gear up for becoming 7th graders. We will have completed Earthquakes and Volcanoes on April 17/18 with the students creating an assessment of their own. We will spend the remainder of April reviewing Science as a Process, or Experimental Design. We have worked on this all year and it will be their last District Assessment. The remainder of the year will be devoted to Rocks and Minerals. I will emphasize student independence, organization, and meeting expectations during the last 6 weeks. Your students will have been prepared to begin their 7th grade year with confidence in their both their abilities and their skills. Please stay up-to-date with school events as many things occur during the month of May and the first week in June.
Greetings from the Extreme Core Social Studies Classes!
We have finished our studies of Central and South America and are deep into learning about Canada. Starting with the general geography (landforms, bodies of water, climate, resources, etc.), we will take a look at the different groups of humans who have populated Canada, the animals that live there, and issues facing Canada today. The 6th grade curriculum, in conjunction with the study of the United States in 5th grade, completes the students’ exposure to the Western Hemisphere and gets them ready to learn about the Eastern Hemisphere in 7th grade. Projects for this final unit include: map work, individual and group presentations, Bloom Balls, game-shows, and murals. Students usually really enjoy the end of the year assignments and love teaching their classmates what they have learned. We hope your students have had an excellent year and that they have learned a lot about the Western Hemisphere and had fun while doing so!
Liberty Core
Science – Debbie Brown
Science students are currently studying physics. We are leaning how things move and how to calculate velocity, speed and acceleration. All students are looking forward to their trip to Elitch Gardens where they will apply what they have learned in class to make measurements of the different rides.
Math – Pat Williams
Students are giving their brain cells plenty of exercise as we continue forward with exponential and quadratic equations. When we go to the Elitch’s Science/Math field trip, students will be required to use their mathematical skills in order to develop estimates for a number of the operations at the site.
American History – Mike Grapner
As we work our way through the Civil War Re-enactment on April 24th, we will be dealing with a couple of issues in American History. We will be taking our journey westward and look at Westward Expansion and Manifest Destiny along with the Civil War. This is a fun time of year when we can get outside and experience history outside of the classroom. We do this not just with the Re-enactment, but with other lessons as well.
Honors Language Arts – Cindy Baca Schlessinger
Instruction and application continued for nonfiction reading such as: comparing and contrasting text with similar themes/ideas of readings throughout the year in reading, writing, and speaking (seminar). Poetry, fiction and nonfiction provided for analysis of causes and effects of human experiences through literature. Emphasis placed on ethical responsibility, summarizing and organizing information in the journey through the process of research in working towards the production of the second research product.
Language Arts – Cindy Baca Schlessinger
Instruction, application, and evaluation of conventional writing skills based on student writing continued to be the foundation for all reading and writing. The multigenerational novel Glory Fields by Walter Dean Myer provided for building background toward understanding of America’s historical events. Writing process was adhered to in the production of a final product. Literary terminology and basic story elements were focus areas of previously taught material.
From the library:
We are excited to announce the award winning young adult author and teacher, Todd Mitchell, is coming to visit on Monday, May 5th. His novel, The Traitor King, was published by Scholastic in 2007. Mr. Mitchell will give a presentation to a large group of students and then will teach writing workshops in the library. If you would like to purchase The Traitor King, please see a Language Arts teacher or a librarian with a check for $14.00 payable to CMS. Books will be distributed to students the week before the author visit. Books can also be purchased the day of the visit. The author will be available during his visit to sign books. To learn more about Todd Mitchell please go to www.ToddMitchellBooks.com.
Just a friendly reminder…..all books checked out from the library are due on Thursday, May 15, 2008.
Moose Core Sprinting Through the Finish
It’s truly amazing that the end of the school year is looming on the horizon and how quickly the year has gone. Even though the end is near, it is extremely important to keep in mind that it’s not over . . . yet.
The 7th grade language arts classes are finishing up Nothing But The Truth by Avi. From this, students discussed varying degrees of truth and bias in the media, along with cause-effect relationships. In May, students will work collaboratively in learning about Greek mythology and how stories from 2700 years ago have impacted their lives today. Students will also study events leading to the Trojan War and Homer’s Odyssey.
Eighth grade students will also have the opportunity to study Greek mythology. Students will collaborate on their final project incorporating today’s technology with information from ancient Greece. However, before this students will finish with their study of the Civil War.
The end of the school year is fast approaching and Mrs. Skeeters days at Century Middle School are drawing to a close. She will remain in close contact with Mr. Tyler Elbin throughout the rest of the school year. She will also still be available through email.
The 8th graders will be finishing up the last Connected Math book, Shapes of Algebra, by the middle of May. In this book students are studying linear systems and inequalities. Students will be studying circles, including their equations, and learning how to solve systems of equations and inequalities. This will be the first time they are able to solve equations in two variables. Once students have completed this book they will be completing the Dream Car Project.
The 7th graders have two books left to finish before the end of the school year. By the middle of April students will have completed the book, Thinking With Mathematical Models. In this book they studied linear and inverse variation. They will then get into learning about and using the Pythagorean Theorem in Looking For Pythagoras. To finish up the year 7th graders will start the book, Growing, Growing, Growing. This book looks at exponential relationships.
In 7th Grade Geography, the Moose have begun their study of Africa. Besides learning about the physical and political geography of the continent, students will also learn about slavery from both a human and historical standpoint, the genocide in Rwanda, and various other political and environmental issues. To finish the year in Geography, the students will study Europe.
The 8th Grade American History Moose are in the middle of learning about Westward Expansion and have also begun reading and interacting with the Civil War novel, The Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara. In late April, the 8th graders will participate in the Civil War reenactment; and to finish their final month of middle school, these Moose will learn even more about the Civil War.
7th grade science is exploring the world of the Human Body. Circulation, digestion, and respiration is the name of the game. In 8th grade science students are working on motion. Can anyone say rockets, paper airplanes and Elitches? Yes, it is possible to have a blast in science.
You’re invited!
What: 8th Grade Open House
The 8th grade students will be displaying their Personal Projects
Where: Century Middle School Cafeteria
When: May 21, 2008, 6:00-8:00 pm
All 8th grade Moose are required to attend.
Seventh grade Moose and their families are also invited. This would be an excellent opportunity to get ideas for next year!
Parents,
We continue to experience concern over the student/parent drop off and pick up times here at Century. I would ask your cooperation in respecting our neighbors directly to the west of us in the Legends complex and not utilize their property for parking, drop off, pick up or turn around. The property managers have asked us to relay that information to you in order to gain your cooperation in respecting their tenants traffic and parking areas. We would ask that you maintain the twenty mile per hour spend limit on Lafayette Street during school hours and adhere to the mandated stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk to the west and north of our school. We want to make our students entrance onto and off of our campus as safe as possible for all. Your help in making that happen would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
Larry Pohlit
Congratulations to the following students of Mrs. Kelley’s. Their art is in the ADAMS 12 ART SHOW!
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Refund of Leftover Lunch Balances and Lunch Numbers for Next Year
Students who have balances or who owe charges in their lunch account at the end of the year will have that balance or charge rolled over into next year. Students who change schools will have their balance or charge follow them to their new school.
However, if you would like to have the balance refunded to you, please contact your kitchen manager. Refunds begin on May 21. The last day for refunds is June 5 at 1:30 p.m.. Be aware that your school office cannot do refunds for the Lunch Program. Please see your kitchen manager.
In order to close out our financials for the school year, there can be no more charging as of May 8 at the MIDDLE schools and May 22 at the ELEMENTARY schools.
Students staying in the same school next year will keep the same lunch number with one exception. The first digit of the number will change to match their grade level. Example: Your first grader’s number is 1001, after promotion to the second grade, the number will become 2001.
We have sincerely enjoyed having your student eat with us. We look forward to serving your student nutritious meals again next year. Thank you for your support of our program!
OUTER LIMITS CORE
Greetings from the teachers and students of the Outer Limits Core, we are working diligently in the core to get all of the required material presented and mastered by the end of the school year, which is quickly approaching. The teachers have seen their students mature and gain valuable knowledge that will help them become successful in eighth grade and further on in their educational careers.
In Social Studies, the 6th graders are preparing to attend Outdoor Education from April 30th – May 2nd. The excitement is high as they get ready for their outdoor adventure in the Colorado Rockies. Past sixth grade classes have always had a great time and shared a tremendous growing up and learning experience at Outdoor Ed. Sixth graders have also been studying the ancient Incan society. This wraps up our study of ancient societies (Mayan, Aztec, and Incan) and allows us now to explore the present day countries of Middle America and South America. The seventh graders are finishing their study of Southwest and Central Asia (formerly called the Middle East) with a unit on the importance of oil on our society today. Our next unit is Ancient Civilizations of the Eastern Hemisphere – Greek and Roman. This will coincide with Mrs. Reffel’s Greek/Roman Mythology Unit and culminate with the “Greek Fair” in May. Both 6th and 7th grade students traveled to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in April to view the exhibit “Gold”, and watch the IMAX movie “The Alps”. Students were thrilled with the “Gold” exhibit and enjoyed the IMAX immensely. In addition, the sixth graders visited the Colorado Biome displays of animals, and the 7th graders visited “The Mummy” exhibit. Seventh graders will finish out the school year with Africa and Europe.
7th grade: Last month in Life science we finished up with DNA and how organisms have changed over time through natural selection. In science we have been investigating human body structures and functions. We will be moving on to dissection and comparative anatomy. Student will have the opportunity to dissect a worm and review the organs. Then they will dissect the frog and review the organs. And lastly they will compare these dissections to the human body. After this we will move to the Population and Ecosystems where they will learn how organisms interact with each other and their environment. During this time student will visit the Denver Zoo. HOW FUN this will be!
6th grade: Last month in Earth science students studied Beyond Earth, where students learned about the moon, the planets, and the stars. We will be moving on to the Earth, Plate tectonics, ocean floors, volcanoes and the rock cycle.
Our seventh graders have been working on a core-wide project involving math geniuses from the past. They researched their genius, and then prepared a play, math lesson, and tri-fold board about their individual. This project culminates on Tuesday, April 29th, when we venture to Hunter's Glen Elementary to present our findings to the fourth grade classes. After that, we will be working with our last book of the year, which deals with comparing and representing data sets.
Our sixth graders are beginning to look at linear relationships: including graphing, making tables, and equations. We are also getting ready to go to Outdoor Ed at the end of the month. Once we return from that adventure, we will be embarking on a project similar to the television show "Mythbusters." Students will be researching physics concepts and ideas, and will present their findings to other classes in the school.
It’s that time of year! Mythology reigns supreme in the Outer Limits Core! The 6th graders are preparing for Outdoor Ed, which requires they know their constellations. Each student studied one constellation, learned its story, memorized and storytold it to classmates. Next, they had to turn that story into an extensive poem; this is not an easy task for sure. Currently, they are reading Jason and Medea from Greek Mythology. The students have learned that this is the primary retold myth in Latin America. The story transforms from Medea to La Llorona, the famous “wailing woman” told in “cuentas” or stories throughout all of Central America, Mexico, and the southwestern United States.
7th grade students have also begun their personal study of mythology. That means that they have been reading daily from novels and the internet on characters they have chosen. This will expand until the students are experts on their stories and they venture out into classrooms to enthrall other CMS students with their storytelling abilities. The storytelling tour means that the GREEK FAIR can’t be far away! This year the 7th graders will present the FAIR to the entire CMS student body on Friday, May 23rd, during 2nd and 3rd periods. Don’t forget your funds for the fair. Some events are free, others range from .25 to $1. Come one, come all to the GREEK FAIR!
Springing Into Action! Get Physical!
As our days get sunnier and warmer we are heading outside as much as possible in our Physical Education classes. This time of year we also are gearing up for our post testing session in physical fitness. Our students earn a score based on national standards of Proficency. Advanced Proficient / Proficient / Non-Proficient are the category ratings that students fall within. This spring we are encouraging students to do their very best, put forth all their efforts in hopes of a personal best as well as attempting to be a record setter. We are acknowledging those students who perform the best on each test by grade and by gender and they will become record holders on our Century Physical Fitness Record Board of Champions. The tests and their proficiency ratings are as follows:
Boys Fitness AP P NP______________
Sit ups 50+/min 31 - 49/min less than 31/min
Push ups 45+ 21 – 44 less than 21
Mile Run 7 min or less 7:01-9:00min more than 9:01min
Beep Test Level 9 + Level 6 – 8 Level 1 – 5
Sit n Reach 12” or more 6” – 11” 5” or less
Shuttle Run 9.8 sec or less 9.9 – 11.1 sec 11.2 + sec
Vertical Jump 19” + 11” – 18” 10” or less
Girls Fitness AP P NP
Sit ups 45+/min 26 – 44/min less than 26
Push ups 30 + 11 – 29 less than 11
Mile Run 8 min or less 8:01 – 10:00min more than 10:01
Beep Test Level 8+ Level 6 – 7 Level 1 – 5
Sit n Reach 12” + 6”- 11” 5” or less
Shuttle Run 11.1 sec or less 11.2 – 11.5 sec 11.6 + sec
Vertical Jump 19” + 11” – 18” 10” or less
Please encourage your children to be physically active and to work on their Muscular Strength and Endurance and their Cardiovascular conditioning. We encourage you to join your children in becoming physically fit. Make fitness a family affair!
Students in the Century Middle School intramural program recently participated in an after school wrestling club. The club started with twelve wrestlers. As a culminating activity, eight wrestlers entered the first ever Colorado Middle School state wrestling championships. James Rheinheimer, Craig Egging, Ash Bobye, Chaz Polson, Anthony McArthur, Austin Yurko, Michael Mondragon, and Adam Eberl all entered the sectional tournament. Century had five wrestlers qualify to move on to the state tournament, and placed fourth overall in the team standings. Chaz Polson and Austin Yurko were both sectional tournament champions. Chaz Polson went on to finish fourth in the state the following weekend. The tournament was an exciting event that the wrestlers at Century will never forget.
Jeremy Wilson
Century Middle School
P.E./Health
720/972-5264
World Language Summer Activities
Looking for a way to have some extra fun this summer? Check out this list and plan to expand your horizons with World Language skills! Use these activities to build on your knowledge from this year, get a head start on the next or explore a brand new language!
*Check out basic language and “easy-reader” books from your local library.
*Surf the Web to learn about various countries and cultures.
*Investigate language tapes, CDs, or computer software from your local
library or bookstore.
*Write to a pen pal in another country. This can be done by regular mail
or by e- mail. You may make a new friend for life!
*Listen to a variety of international music or learn an international dance.
*CDs and tapes are available at your local library as well as local music
stores.
*Watch for cultural events taking place in your area. Festivals and fairs
mean family fun!
*Search for recipes on the Internet. Host an “International
Night” by cooking, serving and enjoying a new and different meal.
*Keep your eyes and ears open for other ways to broaden your horizons with
World Languages this summer!
CONGRATULATIONS to the following students who had artwork entered in the
Tashco Art Show.
A special acknowledgement to Jordan Freburg who received an Honorable mention and had her artwork purchased for a $100.00 gift certificate to Michael’s. Brandon Torrez’s watercolor was also purchased for a $100.00 gift certificate to Michael’s. Their art work will be matted and framed and given to the City of Thornton to hang in one of their buildings.
6th Grade Students |
7th/8th Grade Students |
Conner Driver Rain Rogers Cortez Emma Hatfield Reghan Hoyt Steven McClure Kelli Anne Krueger
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Cameron Kinchen Dana Morgan Brandon Torrez Krista Harrington Tina Kleidon Gilbert Novogradac Jordan Freburg Natalie Osborne Calvin Colasanto |
Mountain Range H.S. Volleyball
Are you a future Mustang interested in improving your volleyball skills? Mountain Range Volleyball will be holding a youth volleyball camp for all inboundary 6th, 7th, and 8th graders coming to MRHS!!
When: May 19th - May 22nd, 2008 from 4:15 to 6:15 pm
Where: MRHS
Cost: $50 - includes a t-shirt
Hope to see you there!
Adams 12-Five Star School district is hosting an informational community meeting regarding installation of additional cell phone towers to Century Middle School’s roof-line. Currently we already have towers located on our gymnasium and cafeteria, providing service with Sprint and Cricket. This proposal would place another set of cell towers to the northernmost building on our campus. AT&T will be at Century Middle School on Monday, May 12, 2008 at 6:30 PM in our school cafeteria. Representatives will be on hand to discuss the proposed addition and answer questions members of the community might have.
Dress Code
As the weather is getting warmer and the end of the school year draws near, we need to remember to follow the dress code policy and dress appropriately for the remainder of the year. Here is a reminder of what not to wear:
Q&A –health concerns about cell towers
Q: What are cell phone base stations, and are there health hazards associated with living,
working, playing or going to school near one?
A: Cell phones are low -power, single-channel, two-way radios. When you talk on a cell phone, you are
talking to a nearby base station. That base station then routes your call into the regular land-line
phone system or to another base station. Cell phones and base stations produce radio-frequency (RF)
radiation and expose people near them to that energy. However, because both the phones and the
base stations are short-range low-power transmitters, the RF radiation exposure levels from them are
generally very low.
Q: Are there possible health risks from cell phone base station antennas?
A: First, it is important to be aware of the difference between antennas, which produce the RF
radiation, and the towers, which are the structures that hold the antennas. It is the antennas that
people need to keep their distance from, not the towers. Because antennas are the source of the RF
energy, there is a greater potential exposure to RF radiation from cell phone antennas, because the
antennas of cell phones deliver much of their RF energy to very small volumes of the user’s body.
Base station antennas (the antennas on tops of towers) do not create such ‘hot spots’ unless you are
standing directly in front of one. So, potential safety issues concerning cell phone antennas do not
generally apply to base station antennas.
Q: Do the differences between base station antennas and other types of radio and TV broadcast
antennas matter when evaluating their potential impacts on human health?
A: FM and VHF-TV broadcast antennas send out 100 to 5,000 times more power than cell phone base
antennas, but usually are mounted on much higher towers to reduce human exposure to the radiation
levels produced.
Q: Are there safety guidelines for placement of cell phone base station antennas?
A: There are both national and international safety guidelines for human exposure to the RF energy
produced by cell phone base station antennas. The most widely accepted standards are those
developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and American National Standards
Institute (ANSI/IEEE), the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
(ICNIRP), the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), and the U.S.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Q: How do these guidelines affect the design and placement of cell phone towers?
A: Cell phone towers are designed to place antennas high enough to keep human exposure to RF energy
under the recommended limits. For example, a cell phone base station mounted 33 feet
(approximately 10 meters) above the ground and operated at the maximum possible intensity will
produce ground-level power densities far below all the safety guidelines. It is important to note that
the guidelines and standards themselves are set far below the level where potentially hazardous
effects have been seen.
Q: Is it safe to live or work on the top floor of a building that has a cell phone base station on it?
A: Cell phone base station antennas radiate very little energy straight down. In addition, the roof of the
building will absorb large amounts of any downward-directed RF energy. If desired, lead shielding
can be installed on the roof to further block RF energy. Current worst-case calculations by the FCC
show that power density on the top floor of a building with a base station antenna atop it meets all
current RF safety guidelines.
This information was compiled from the Medical College of Wisconsin’s report on Electromagnetic
Fields and Human Health, by John Moulder, Ph.D., Professor of Radiation Oncology.
