BEATRICE MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
MAY, 2022/SUMMER
There will be a Back-to-School newsletter highlighting 6th grade orientation, student schedules, supply list, and introducing new staff.......... Stay tuned!
PRINCIPAL POINTS BY......ANDREW HAAKE
5TH AND 8TH GRADE TRANSITIONS
Beatrice Middle School is supporting the current 8th and 5th grade students as they make the transition to a new school for the 2022-2023 school year. Change is always a concern for students as they begin a new career at a different school building. Moving from a familiar location to a bigger and more diverse school will bring new and different challenges for students.
During the month of March, Tracy Post and Jennifer Prososki, the BHS counselors, met with the 8th grade students to explain the registration process for high school scheduling. They reviewed with students the necessary courses needed to graduate and go onto a post-secondary school. When students completed the registration by selecting their classes, the forms were sent to BHS.
Beatrice fifth grade students meet with BMS counselors and administration during the months of April and May. A counselor and an administrator will go to each elementary building and describe what a 6th grade student’s day will look like. The counselors describe classes students attend, supplies they will need, and activities they can be involved in. During the visits, the administrators talk about three areas of concern that most 5th grade students have. The concerns are: not being able to find their classrooms, opening their locker, and how to go through the lunch line. To ease their concerns, students are invited to BMS to tour the building and have lunch at the school. To help with lockers, a lock board is given to each elementary to allow students to practice opening a school locker. To find their way around the building, all incoming 6th grade students and their parents will be invited to an orientation at BMS prior to school starting. Information regarding 6th grade orientation will be shared in the back to school newsletter.
Change can be a concern to students and parents. BMS is working with the students to help them make the adjustment to Beatrice High School and Beatrice Middle School as smooth as possible by providing opportunities to see the buildings during the day and ask questions. If you have questions about the transition, please feel free to contact BMS.
FROM THE OFFICE.....
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL.....BMS students will be dismissed at 3:12 on Friday, May 20th. Students will not be allowed into the building that day with backpacks, purses or bags of any kind.
LOST & FOUND.....Please check the lost and found at the office. All unclaimed items will be discarded on Monday, May 23rd.
SUMMER OFFICE HOURS.....May 23rd-June 3rd/9:00-12:00 & 1:00-3:00.
BACK TO SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS.....August 3rd-10th/9:00-12:00 & 1:00-3:00. Beginning Thursday, August 11th/7:30-4:00.
FINES & FEES.....All fines and fees MUST BE PAID prior to the last day of school.
FINAL REPORT CARDS.....will be mailed the week of May 23rd.
6TH GRADE & NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION.....Tuesday, August 9th. Details to follow!
SUMMER SCHOOL AT BMS...
During the month of June, BMS students will have the opportunity to participate in a summer school program. Students who are recommended by a staff member have been invited to participate in the summer program. The program is designed to strengthen academic skills, invitation letters should be in the mail soon. If your child does not receive a summer school letter and you feel your child would benefit from the program, please feel free to contact Beatrice Middle School and request the information. Summer school will run from June 7 to July 1, Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. Numbers are limited so please contact the school as soon as possible
LEADERBOARD AS OF MAY 2!
HOPE WEEK!!
BMS' Hope Squad (peer-nominated suicide awareness and prevention group) sponsors and students conducted a "Hope Week". We had various activities, dress up days, and opportunities to spread hope and kindness throughout BMS.
Coinciding with Hope Squad's "Hope Week" was a house competition of "Lifesaver Dodgeball". Teachers joined in on the fun too with a little competition with students!
TUG OF WAR HOUSE COMPETITION!
COUNSELOR'S CORNER....ANGIE VOGEL, COUNSELOR; JILL RICE, COUNSELOR
NOTES FROM THE NURSE.....JENNIFER ZIMMERMAN
We are down to the last few weeks of school. If your child has medications in the nurse’s office, including prescription and “as needed” meds such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen, they will need to be picked up and taken home. I will be sending notes to students the last week of school requesting this be done. Parents may stop by to pick up their child’s medication if they prefer. Students MAY NOT take the medication home on the last day of school. ANY MEDICATIONS NOT PICKED UP WILL BE DESTROYED AFTER NOON ON MAY 20th.
**REMINDER**
Any current 6th grader going into 7th grade needs a physical and current Tdap vaccine before school starts in August. Physicals and proof of vaccine are due in the nurse’s office BEFORE the first day of 7th grade. **If we do not have proof of vaccine and physical on file the first day of school your student may be excluded from school on a medical exclusion until Tdap and/or physical is completed (per Nebraska Law (79-444) and State Stature 79-4,171; 7904,117(1)(b); (2),(3).** Any student wanting to participate in a sport in the 2022-2023 school year will need a sports physical dated after May 1st before participating (7th grade physicals count towards sports also, so no need to get a sports physical if your child had a 7th grade physical).
GAGE COUNTY IMMUNIZATION CLINIC: 1110 Jackson St.; Every Monday 12-4pm, Every Tuesday 3-7pm, and Every Thursday 12-4pm. Call 223-2366 for an appointment. Must bring insurance card or Medicaid card to appointment.
THE FOLLOWING MEDICAL OFFICES WILL BE
OFFERING PHYSICALS BY PRESCHEDULED APPOINTMENT
GAGE COUNTY MEDICAL CLINIC, P.C.- 402- 228-3436. (Dr. Thomsen, Dr. Gloor, Dr. McGuffey, Dr. Benjamin Thayer, Jaime Hatcliff-P.A.-C, Brady Hanquest-P.A.-C, Anne Paulmeyer-P.A.-C). All physicals will be categorized as well child checks.
BEATRICE MEDICAL CENTER- 402-228-3366. (Dr. Daharsh, Vicki Arnold P.A.-C, and Stacy Lewandowski P.A.-C, Cara Esau N.P.)
BEATRICE CHILDRENS CLINIC- 402-223-6518 or 402-228-3117. (Dr. Reyes, Dr. Dayton, Tammi Carstens-P.A., Jenny Hanshaw-Pediatric N.P., Penny Shaffer-Pediatric N.P.)
COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER- 402-228-4295. (Dr. Parks, Rick Blum-P.A.)
WYMORE MEDICAL CLINIC- 402-645-3310 (Don Harmon P.A.-C, Lisa Decker-Family N.P). Well child check will be done with physical.
Please return these physicals and forms to the office or nurses office as soon as they are completed so they may be entered into your child’s file.
FROM THE MEDIA CENTER-------KAREN DITTBRENNER
Throughout the year, students are notified when library materials become overdue. Students continue to receive an overdue notice until the book is returned. Ask your student if they have received a notice and please look around the house for books that need to be returned to the Beatrice Middle School Media Center. If a book has been lost or ruined, you will need to send the replacement cost for that book to the media center as soon as possible. In the event you pay for a book and find it later, we will return your money to you.
The last day to check out books will be Tuesday, May 10. All books need to be returned NO LATER than Friday, May 12. Remember, kids can continue to read using our FREE e-book system. All you need is the free app called AXIS 360. Students use their school computer username and password for this site as well. I would love to help your student access this resource, just send them my way.
All students who checked out a chromebook for home use will need to return those to the media center on Wednesday, May 18
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO BMS! BEST WISHES IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
5TH GRADE BEATRICE MIDDLE SCHOOL TOUR DATES!
Paddock Lane and St. Joe
Monday, May 9
Stoddard and St. Paul
Thursday, May 12
DETASSELING OPPORTUNITIES!
Over 13 years old and looking to make some money this summer? Apply to S & J Detasseling!
Detasseling season starts in July and goes for a few weeks. For more information or to apply go to S&J Detasseling or find them on Facebook at S&J Detasseling.
DRIVERS EDUCATION....
My name is Michael Policky and I am a retired Beatrice Middle School teacher. For many years I spent my summers detasseling corn, but for the past four years I have been driving with young men and women teaching them the basic skills of safe and responsible driving for the Nebraska Safety Council of Lincoln. I work out of Beatrice and all driving is done in the Beatrice and Lincoln area.
I invite you to register your child for driver's education classwork through Triple AAA (American Automobile Association AAA) by going to the Nebraska Safety Council website. Follow the following instructions to register: On the right hand side, you will need to select "online" as the Beatrice location rather than selecting "Beatrice" to begin registration. You will be taken to "Teen Driver Education - Online" and will need to choose "Beatrice-online".
On average, students take about 25-35 hours to complete the classwork and successfully pass the exams given throughout the course. You are expected to complete the coursework before you drive this summer so it is best if you sign up as soon as possible to get this done. You are given 60 days to complete the class which would be working 1/2 hour per day. Parents, please see to it that your child has completed their coursework before their drive time. If the coursework is not done you run the risk of cancelled drive time and a penalty payment for leaving that spot open in the summer. It is critical that all classwork is done before you drive. You are allowed to work a maximum of five hours per day before the class will shut off and lock you out until the next day.
Once you are registered and have been given your passcode, I will be given your information from the Nebraska Safety Council of Lincoln and will call you to set up a drive time this summer. Those signed up first have the first choice of drive times for the summer. Driving will begin in late May once I return home from my trip with 8th graders going to Washington D.C. and Gettysburg. The projected start date for driving is Monday, June 6, 2022. The driving time options you will have to pick from are as follows:
- Option #1 - Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 7:00 A.M- 11:00 A. M.
- Option #2 - Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 11:30 A.M- 3:30 P. M.
- Option #3 - Thursday and Friday from 7:00 A.M- 1:00 P. M.
In July there may be some adjustment to driving due to the 4th of July holiday and a family wedding that month. You are not allowed to miss any driving time or be late for any drive time. You have five hours of time behind the wheel and five hours of observation time from the back seat. It all concludes with a driving test over familiar roadways that lasts approximately 35-45 minutes.
I must tell you that drivers education is offered by other companies in this area, but I am reaching out as an educator who knows many of the students already and who cares about the safety of the people on our roadways. I invite all of you to please seriously consider making this investment for your child's education and safety on the roadways. You could save money on your insurance premiums by having your child take the class and that in itself will pay for the class over time and more importantly it could save a life.
***No one 18 years of age or turning 18 during the class may take this class.
***You must have a valid school permit or learners permit in order to register for this class
If you have questions, please feel free to email or call me at mpolicky@bpsnebr.org, 402-228-4642. This article will also be sent to Lewiston, Southern, Diller-Odell, and Tri-County schools. Classes will be limited to the first who sign up for the class so please do not put this off thinking you may be able to get it done later as I do not know what the demand will be this year for driver's education. I am once again going to be able to drive about 60 students over the course of the summer and the past two summers have been filled to capacity for me.
On behalf of the Nebraska Safety Council of Lincoln and myself, Michael Policky, I would like to welcome you and thank you for considering having your child take driver's education through us, The Nebraska Safety Council of Lincoln.
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH IN JUNE
BPS will offer FREE breakfast and lunch to ALL 1-18 year old kiddos from June 6-June 30. Meals will be provided at Paddock Lane Elementary, Monday-Thursday. Breakfast is from 7:45-8:30 a.m. and lunch is from 11:00-12:30 p.m.
BMS STUDENTS OF CHARACTER!
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM!
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!
Beatrice Middle School
215 North 5th Street, Beatrice NE 68310
(402) 223-1545
BMS Messenger Editor: Laurie Bloomquist