Jaguar Journal
October 21, 2020
Message from Principal Nicely
I hope that each of you and your families are well during this time! It is a privilege to lead UBMS, and I have enjoyed meeting and talking to many of you and your students, either by phone, e-mail or on Zoom! It is hard to believe, but we are already more than six weeks into the school year!
We remain hard at work at Unity Braxton updating our school with regard to our new name and mascot. If you have driven by the school you may have seen new signs installed, and the large boulders in our parking lot have been painted. Our gymnasium floor has been updated, and we will soon begin working on some murals in several parts the building.
During the most recent school board meeting, the superintendent proposed a plan that would keep the majority of 6-8th grade students in a virtual learning environment through the second quarter. I want to thank you for updating your Return to Learn packet, and your child’s learning preferences so that we can continue to plan for this eventual return to in-person learning.
Our teachers and staff have been amazing during this historic time. Many have spent countless hours above and beyond to learn and practice new technologies and have shown a tremendous amount of resiliency and flexibility as our plans have evolved. I want to commend you and your students for your willingness to work with us to share your concerns, successes and struggles in the virtual learning environment. Education truly is a partnership between the school, students and families, and this has never been more evident than the Fall of 2020.
Our first quarter ends for students on October 31, 2020. We will continue to have an asynchronous learning day on Mondays for the second quarter, and our teachers have office hours during the morning to engage with students and parents in order to provide support. I encourage you to check in with your child’s teachers frequently, and to check the e-mail accounts you have provided the school each day. If teachers have concerns about participation, conduct or work habits, they are using this e-mail to try and make contact.
Thank you again for all of the support and feedback you have been providing. GO JAGUARS!
Sincerely,
Mike Nicely
Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS
UBMS Advisory Council
If you are interested in serving on the UBMS advisory council, please click on the following link to e-mail the principal: mailto:nicelymp@pwcs.edu
The advisory council will meet virtually on the last Monday of the month from 5:30 - 6:15pm. Meeting dates are October 26, November 30, February 22, April 26 and May 24. There will be no meetings in December, January and March.
Monday, Oct 26, 2020, 05:30 PM
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Title 1 Family Night
Tuesday, Oct 27, 2020, 06:30 PM
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INCREASING STUDENT PARTICIPATION AND STUDENT CAMERAS DURING CLASS MEETINGS
Teachers can gain valuable feedback from facial expressions during a class meeting. For example, during a faculty meeting, scanning the Zoom screen as I am relaying information allows me to see who is following along, who looks confused, and who looks frustrated. It also allows me an opportunity to check in on anyone who looks confused or frustrated.
We also realize that there are many reasons why a student would not want their camera to be turned on during a class meeting. This could be because of their working environment, personal feelings, or other factors. UBMS will work with any parent or student who does not want their camera turned on.
The spirit of this clarification is to increase student engagement and participation in class. There are many instances where students will log into a class meeting, keep their cameras off, and not participate in class. This is an issue we need to address.
There are also many students who log into the class meetings, keep their cameras off, and frequently engage through the chat window, by unmuting when requested and participating, or by using non-verbal tools such as a poll, playing a kahoot game, or sharing work on a zoom whiteboard. Participating in this manner would be acceptable should you or your child wish to keep your camera off during instruction.
Please contact your child's teachers if you have concerns about your child's camera being on during instruction. We are happy to work with you.
PARENT RESOURCES
Parents as Educational Partners
For more information on the Prince William County PEP Program contact Regla Perez Pino, PEP and EL Counseling Coordinator, at 703-491-8432 (Ann Ludwig Central Registration Services) or the main line of the Office of English Learner Programs and Services at 703-791-8745.
PEP Program Classes With Rosetta Stone : Classes are held at both the Ann Ludwig Center and the Global Welcome Center near our school in addition to in some other local schools. Please contact Regla Perez Pino, PEP and EL Counseling Coordinator at 703-491-8432 for more information.
Unity Braxton Middle School
Please follow us on twitter, facebook and check our school website for important school information!
Email: UBMS-Helpdesk@pwcs.edu
Website: https://unitybraxtonms.pwcs.edu/
Location: 10100 Lomond Drive, Manassas, VA, USA
Phone: (703) 361-3185
Facebook: facebook.com/UnityBraxtonMiddleSchool
Twitter: @unitybraxton