BCMS November Newsletter

Dear Ballenger Creek Middle Families,

I hope that you and your loved ones are well. Last weekend, I was able to attend (to both learn and co-present a session) at a researchED conference at Frederick High School, the only U.S. conference offered by this international organization this year. Founded and run by classroom teachers, researchED emphasizes the importance of teachers utilizing only research-informed strategies (those proven to work) when we teach your children. With nine BCMS teachers joining me, it provided both inspiration and focus that will benefit your students, our teachers, and you. As crazy as it sounds, it’s only in fairly recent history that the field of education has regularly paired with researchers to identify strategies to use not just because we’ve always used them, but because they are actually effective.

Some research presented at the conference validates our focus to team with you, our students’ parents and guardians, to make your children as successful as possible. As a result, we are going to begin to provide you with more ways to help your students with their memories and learning.

The first way we can help our students be more effective learners: we need to make sure that our kids get enough sleep. A 2019 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study confirmed that students who get enough sleep on a regular basis have improved ability “to learn, memorize, retain, recall, and use their knowledge to solve problems creatively.” Anecdotally (as a parent of three, ages 13, 18, and 21), enough sleep also makes them less cranky when mom and dad ask them to do things;) According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), children 6 to 12 years old need 9 - 12 hours per 24 hour period and students aged 13 - 18 years should get 8 - 10 hours of sleep per 24 hour period. It’s worth noting that only getting enough sleep the night before a big test doesn’t improve student performance--consistently getting enough sleep does, however.

Here are some tips to use with our students to make sure they’re getting enough sleep:

1. Have them go to sleep at a reasonable (and same) hour every night.

2. Don’t let them sacrifice sleep in order to study--research shows it doesn’t help.

3. Limit screen time after 8:00 p.m. or invest in a pair of anti blue light glasses if they need to be on a screen for academic purposes after this time. Blue light in particular suppresses melatonin, a hormone integral for good sleep.

4. Store screens (laptops, phones, iPads, etc) in an area away from their room at bedtime to limit temptations to use them after hours.

This last one’s tough, but it’s worth the fight. “But it’s my alarm!” they often say. Our reply needs to be, “Don’t worry, I’ll wake you up,” or, I’ll dig out our old alarm clock for you.” This is a challenging battle, but our kids will be better for it in many ways. If you care to learn more, here is a good resource for how to limit your child's technology use.

As always, we’re here to partner with you to benefit your children!

Take care,

Jay Schill

Principal, BCMS

Parents and Guardians-we need you at BCMS!

We know that working together, we can offer tremendous support to your children. We are seeking volunteers to assist with the following tasks:

· Morning greeters

· Lunch monitors

· Copy helpers

In order to volunteer, you must complete district training (see link below) and training at the school specific to the task you've volunteered for. If you're interested, please contact Kathleen Rogers, BCMS community liaison, for more information: Kathleen.Rogers@fcps.org, 240-236-5773

To the Staff and Families of BCMS

Hello everyone! I know this has been a difficult year for everyone. We have all been hit by inflation and trying to get life back to our new normal and COVID seems to be hanging on. Things are difficult to say the least. As I stated before, I am here to try and help. So, with that being said, I will again be placing a “Giving Tree” in the front hallway to try and help families in need. Just like last year, those seeking some help will be kept anonymous.

Just like last year, you will reach out to your grade level Guidance Counselor and with an email that they will convert to a bulldog ticket and place it on the tree. If you have multiple children (different grades, not twins) then you reach out to me, Ms. Rogers. I am attaching a form for your usage to forward through an email or hand delivered by your student to myself or the Guidance Counselors.

Grade 6 Mr. Ledyard David.Ledyard@fcps.org

Grade 7 Mr. Webber Johnny.Webber@fcps.org

Grade 8 Ms. Reese Rebecca.Reese@fcps.org

Multiple student Ms. Rogers Kathleen.Rogers@fcps.org

Giving tree will be up for families beginning Tuesday, November 22, The tree will receive tags up to and including, Friday, December 9th. Families will need to pick up their items on Friday, December 16th to Wednesday, December 21st, 2:00pm.

I am hoping this will help reduce some stressors and let you enjoy your families.

Sincerely, Ms. Rogers

BCMS Community Liaison

240-236-5700 ext. 5773

Kathleen.rogers@fcps.org

8th grade: Students will be entering the Inheritance Unit for Term 2. The first topics will be related to the inheritance of traits and the variations of traits within populations.

7th grade: With the beginning of Term 2, students will start the Chemistry Unit! First students will learn the basics involving atoms and molecules. Then students will use models to discuss chemical reactions.

6th grade: Students are preparing to shift to the Water Unit for Term 2. We will be developing models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules.

Term 1 is officially over! It feels like it went by in a blink! There is still a long way to go until the end of the school year and in that time there are many opportunities for growth. With that said, please time the time to again remind your students of the school expectations listed below. With your continued support, our 6th, 7th and 8th graders will have an excellent term 2!

1) Please make sure students are charging their Chromebooks EVERY night.

2) Please have students check Schoology and their grades daily.

3) If a student needs help with an assignment, please contact the appropriate teacher so they can sign them up for ELT.

4) Students are expected to follow all BCMS rules regarding cell phones and earbuds (to be silent and away during school hours), hands to self, no hats/hoods, and appropriate use of language. (see the behavior expectation slides for more information)

5) If your student needs additional help at home, we also have the Tutor Me service which can connect your student with a live teacher at home. For more information, please refer to the Tutor Me Support Guide.

6th Grade:

Students are continuing to work on Cycle 3, which focuses on the essential question: What are our responsibilities to our elders? We recently finished our first text of the cycle, "The Old Grandfather and His Little Grandson." Students will be completing activities that help them to make a connection to the theme.

7th Grade:

Students have finished the nonfiction unit on Abby Sunderland’s sailing trip that focused on how authors create and develop arguments. Students are now beginning curriculum cycle three, which returns to focusing on fictional texts and how authors develop theme. To study this, students will be analyzing several myths/folktales, including the Greek myths of Jupiter, Prometheus, and Pandora.

8th Grade:

Students in 8th Grade recently completed their Cycle focusing on argument and argument evaluation. We are now moving on to Cycle 3, which focuses on Intergenerational Differences. Students will analyze literary texts and poems, focusing on the difference in character perspectives and reactions while working to answer the unit essential question, “What can we learn from different generations?” Students will also be starting an interview project for this unit in which they will interview someone from a different generation in order to compare and contrast those experiences to their own. If you have any questions about the project, please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Nuckols or Mrs. Weller.

NEED COUNSELOR SUPPORT? ❤️

Use your grade level counseling page on Schoology and select "Student Support Request Form." Your grade level counselor will speak with you as soon as possible.

Mr. Webber: johnny.webber@fcps.org

Ms. Reese: rebecca.reese@fcps.org

Meet the 8th Grade ELA Teachers:

Hello! My name is Mrs. Weller and I teach 8th Grade Language Arts. This is my 11th year teaching for FCPS. I graduated from York College of Pennsylvania with my Bachelor's in Secondary English Education and minors in Spanish and Literary Studies. I earned my Master's in Curriculum and Instruction with a Special Education Concentration from Hood College. In addition to teaching, I serve as the ELA Department Chair, School-Based Mentor Teacher, and Advisor for the BCMS Student Government Association. When I'm not working, I enjoy spending time with my family in the mountains, canning vegetables, and cooking.

Ashley Nuckols is a third year 8th grade ELA teacher. She has been at Ballenger Creek Middle School for all three years of her teaching career in Frederick County, and has taught both 6th grade ELA and 8th. In addition to teaching English Language Arts, Mrs. Nuckols enjoys playing frisbee golf, reading books, and baking cookies.

McCamie Patterson was born and raised in Frederick, attending Parkway, WFMS, and graduating from FHS. She worked in research and medicine for 15 years before deciding to bring her love for science and learning back into the classroom through teaching. Dr. Patterson loves being active outdoors, especially running and hiking with her husband Corey and their 3-year-old son Owen.

Hello my name is Brianna Jackson, I am a second year ELA teacher with a goal of inspiring the youth to reach their full potential and know that they have within themselves to make their dreams a reality. Every child has the potential to do great things in life and as an ELA teacher I want them to not just learn the curriculum but utilize what they are learning in class into their everyday life.

Welcome to term 2.

Please make sure your child comes to school with a charged chrome book. This helps them be prepared for classes.

Encourage them to check their grades and missing work on schoology.

Lastly, if they complete missing work, please have them message their teacher. This will ensure their teacher looks at the assignment and grades it,

Thanks everyone for all your support!!

Meet our new speech therapist:

Kaley Paniwokik: New to BCMS and FCPS this year, after becoming a Marylander in March of 2020. I previously lived in Chicago, but am a true Michigander at heart. I’ve been a Speech Language Pathologist for over 8 years, and have worked in a variety of settings and a variety of states! I am also a Certified Scrum Master, and have developed various programs, procedures, and support groups in previous positions. I have 2 daughters and Peyton (5) and Lily (3) and a sweet dog named Rocko (8.5). I recently went skydiving, and enjoy adventuring but also relaxing at home. I believe in a collaborative, team approach speech therapy, and will always have ears open to listen when needed.

Meet one of the 6th grade case manager:

8th grade math teachers will start making recommendations for High School courses in December. Teachers will be looking at students’ grades, i-Ready test scores, and class participation when making recommendations.

Students should be completing weekly ALEKS topic goals in Math. Students should be checking their Math schoology pages to see what their specific weekly goal is. Students can monitor their own progress by checking their topic reports in ALEKS, a step-by-step how to for this can be found here. Students can make up missed topics by completing extra in the next week. ALEKS topic goals have the same mid-term/end of term due date as other class assignments. For questions about ALEKS topic goals - please reach out to your grade level Math teacher; our school Math specialist, Ms. Boyer (Laura.Boyer@fcps.org); or our school Math department chair, Ms. Dickson (Ashley.Dickson@fcps.org).

Students should be checking their grade reports on schoology weekly to see updates regarding missing/re-do work. If there are any questions regarding student grades, please reach out to your grade level Math teacher.

8th Grade students are finishing up Unit 2 which focused on the foundations of the United States government. Throughout the unit, students looked at various conflicts and compromises that helped shape our current government structure. We will wrap up Unit 2 with a project that will allow students to demonstrate their knowledge of the US government through a variety of ways. The following unit will focus on the United States’ first five presidents George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe.

Hello English Learner families,

I hope you had the opportunity to meet with teachers for Parent Teacher Conferences. Thank you for your understanding when we had a few technical difficulties with our interpreters. We are always working to make our services better for families, so please contact Mrs. Beaucage with any feedback about parent conferences. I want your voices to be heard and valued.

As a follow-up to Parent Teacher Conferences, I would like to remind ALL families that they have the ability to access all grades online through a Schoology Parent Account. If you want more information about this, please contact Mrs. Beaucage. I can find your parent access code and provide you with videos to help get you started.

Finally, Talking Points a great way to contact teachers and keep the communication going. Talking Points is a text message platform that automatically translates your message to English for the teacher and their response back to your home language. If you want help with this resource, contact Mrs. Beaucage.

Mrs. Beaucage

English Learner Teacher

mariah.beaucage@fcps.org

240-236-5722 (Please leave a message.)

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a rigorous pre-university course of study that meets the needs of highly motivated secondary students. The program encourages “students across the world to become active, compassionate, and lifelong learners" (IBO Mission Statement) who are prepared to contribute positively in their local communities and the greater world.

Participation in the program requires a two-year commitment to a program of studies that will challenge students across all disciplines. Students learn how to learn, how to analyze, how to reach considered conclusions about people, their languages and literature, their ways in society, and the scientific forces of the environment. After completing the required IB classes and performing well on the IB assessments, students receive an IB Diploma in addition to their Maryland high school diploma.

Students and families can check out the website for the application and information at: https://sites.google.com/fcps.org/international-baccalaureate-pr/home

All applications are due by 2:30 p.m. on Friday, December 2.

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The FCPS Earth and Space Science Lab offers innovative programs that extend learning opportunities, allowing students and visitors to think, ask questions, dream, be curious, and wonder. For the November schedule and to purchase tickets visit: https://events.ticketspicket.com/agency/d518555f-1abb-4243-acb9-5a33f4b75e17

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CHILD PRINT ID KIT

In these days, do you worry about your younger child missing? I know it is a scary thought, but this could help you locate them. It is called a Child’s ID Kit, a kit that gives vital information about your child, because time is of the essence. It includes personal and medical information, physical characteristics, dental chart, photograph and finger prints. If you need a kit, please contact me at 240-236-5773, I am in possession of 25 kits.

Ladies (and gentlemen) I want to make you aware of how important your health is not only to you but to your families. With that being said, please take the time to get needed exams, such as a breast exam. TEAM HOPE is here to help:

HOW OUR PROGRAM WORKS

Any Frederick County resident who is either uninsured or under-insured, in need of a clinical

breast exam or breast imaging, and is ineligible for care through the Frederick County Health

Department’s BCCP Program due to age or income, would be eligible for care through Team Hope.

Team Hope will refer the individual to one of our Frederick County medical partners at

Frederick Health Breast Center, Dr. Julio Menocal, or Michelle Cooper, CRNP, for a clinical breast

exam and follow-up care. From there the individual is referred by their physician to

Community Radiology Associates or Frederick Health for any needed breast imaging, to

include breast biopsy.

The Doris Marie Warthen Fund has been established to provide 100% coverage for the

cost of care through our medical partners.*No paper work. No red tape. Call 240-674-3352

For Information & Referral Crisis Intervention 24/7 call 211. Or 1-866-411-6803. Help with linking callers to needed resources.

Are you struggling with the loss of a loved one? Do you have a child who is struggling also? It is not easy talking to a child about death and dying. If you need help please reach out to Frederick Health Hospice Bereavement Team, they are here to support you in any way possible. They offer 1 to 1 grief counseling, support groups, grief camps for children and adolescents. Call 241-566-3030 or visit FrederickHealthHospice.org.

Boys & Girls club of Frederick County

BACK2SCHOOL after school programs

$60/monthly grades 6-8 3pm-6pm bgcfc.org programs@bgcfc.org 240-831-4330.

Scholarships are available.