The Weekly Update #20
From the Desk of Ms. Hicks
Virtual Days
I would like to thank all of our parents and guardians for helping our students transition to virtual learning this past Monday. It was a true test to see if we are prepared for any upcoming virtual snow days. If your child had trouble with their Chromebook or Brightspace, please have your student talk to their teacher to ensure they are prepared for the next virtual day. Whenever we must transition to a virtual day, we will communicate a finalized schedule via email. If you did not receive the email last Monday, please contact the main office to verify that your email is accurate in our system. Finalized schedules will also be posted on Brightspace.
Cougar Calendar
Please welcome our visiting artist - Ms. Dwyer!
Attention 8th Grade Families
Can you believe it is time to start the process of choosing classes for HIGH SCHOOL? Over the next few weeks, 8th grade teachers will be making placement recommendations to the high school based on grades and test scores.
On January 17th and 18th, Program Coordinators and Counselors from Annapolis High School will be visiting all 8th Grade Science Classes to talk about the program and elective options for 9th grade. Expect your child to bring home a form on the 18th that has their core class recommendations and elective options.
On Wednesday, February 1st, Annapolis High School will hold their Scheduling Information Night at 6:00 p.m. at the high school. This night is important to attend because they will explain how to sign up for the different elective options.
Scheduling Information Nights for the other AACPS High Schools. Please contact the high schools directly with any questions:
Arundel High School, January 24, 5:00
Broadneck High School, January 31st, 5:30
Chesapeake High School, January 12, 9:00 (virtual)
Crofton High School, January 17, 5:30
Meade High School, January 18, TBD (virtual)
Northeast High School, January 11, 6:30
North County High School, January 11, 6:00 (virtual)
Old Mill High School, January 19, 6:00
Severna Park High School, January 13, 6:00
South River High School, January 19, 7:00
WIDA Testing for our English Language Learners
Please congratulate our students of the month - DECEMBER
6th Grade Students of the Month - DECEMBER
7th Grade Students of the Month - DECEMBER
8th Grade Students of the Month - DECEMBER
Bates Drama Club
Seeking students for tech crew!
All students interested in working on tech crew for the school play, Monty Python’s Spamalot, should visit the Bates Drama Club’s website for all details and the online form.
Students interested in tech crew member jobs must apply by February 7, 2023.
Assistance
The website and online forms are accessible from most devices including student Chromebooks. If you cannot print at home, hardcopies of documents are available in the club’s wall pocket outside the cafeteria and from Mrs. Peregrina and Ms. Miller.
If you have no internet access at home, we will gladly assist families with applications. For help submitting tech crew applications, please email our technical director, Ms. Peregrina, mperegrina@aacps.org.
Order your Yearbooks - April 7th deadline
We have raised over $10,000 for Polar Bear Plunge which means........
Polar Bear Plunge Permission Slips
Permission slips will be going out this week for students who have raised $75.00.
Parents and Guardians - Want to watch our team plunge?
Plunge Timeline:
December 8th-Dec. 20th: Register for our team
January 2nd-Jan 13th: Raise a total of $75
Once you raise the $75, let Ms. Page know and she will give you the necessary forms to complete.
January 20th: Have all forms signed for the field trip
February 2nd: Plunge Field Trip
4. Contact Information: Oona Page, opage@aacps.org
Orden del evento:
He aquà la lÃnea de tiempo para nuestra recaudación de fondos
Diciembre 8-20: RegÃstrate en nuestro equipo
Enero 2- 13: Recauda un total de $75
Una vez que recaudes los $75, infórmale a la Sra. Page y ella te dará los formularios necesarios para completar
Enero 20: Asegúrate de tener todos los formularios firmados para la excursión.
Febrero 2: Dia de la excursión
Are you ready for a SNOW DAY?
An inclement weather day could mean a few different scenarios:
1. Snow day - Entire day off
2. Two hour delay - School will begin at 11:15am
3. Virtual Synchronous - Live teaching through Google Meets found on your student's Brightspace pages. Attendance will be taken for each class. (See below schedule)
4. Virtual Asynchronous - Your student must log into Brightspace to get their assignments for each class no later than 2pm to be considered present for attendance.
To make sure your student is prepared for an inclement weather day, please ensure they bring home their chromebooks daily with their chargers and they know how to log onto Brightspace from home. Any problems, please contact the school.
Bates Student Food Pantry - OPEN Mondays and Fridays
Reminder:
Our pantry is currently open Mondays from 3:30-3:55 pm and Fridays from arrival through the end of advisory. If interested in learning more about our Student Food Pantry please have your student go to the counseling department to speak to Shauna Rykiel, our school social worker, or you may contact her through email at srykiel@aacps.org.
Covid Test Kits and Masks
The Bates PTA has obtained a supply of COVID-19 home tests and KN95 masks.
They are available for pick up in the school office. Please note that they must be picked up by an adult.
If you cannot get to school and need test kits, please contact the PTA at batesmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com or text us at 443-782-5423 and we will arrange to get some to you!
PTA Events
Please join us for our next PTA Meeting on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. This will be a virtual meeting.
To join, please go to: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83556274105?pwd=UHM5V1NvU01JREFsM25aNFBjOGJJdz09
We will be welcoming a special guest this month! Erin Merli, CPNP, PMHS will demonstrate how to help children cope with worries and concerns using simple, effective strategies. She will discuss a holistic approach to decreasing stress during adolescence. Through Annapolis Pediatrics, she works closely with children and adolescents to support their mental and behavioral health. At a time in history when anxiety is increasing, Erin is passionate about sharing coping strategies and methods for stress reduction.
Donations and Volunteers Needed
The Cocoa Shack at the Quiet Waters is open and going strong! This is the biggest fundraiser for the year for the PTA, but we need your help to make it successful.
We need donations to help stock the booth. You can order supplies online or deliver them locally. The wishlist is available here: https://tinyurl.com/cocoasupplies
We need volunteers to help run the booth. Please consider volunteering for a shift! We will train you, and all students will receive signed documentation for service hours completed. You can sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/cocoashack
Thank you for your support!
Health Room News
When should I keep my child home?
Parents should keep their child home from school because of a serious illness, injury or a condition that can be passed on to other children. Although no comprehensive list is possible, the following conditions may be considered appropriate reasons to keep a student home from school:
Examples of serious illness or injury:
- Vomiting
- Temperature 100 °F or greater. Children with a fever (> 100 °F) must stay home until they are fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
- Abdominal pain- New onset of sharp pain
- Earache
- Head injury
- Adverse medication effect
- Suspected fracture
- Chest pain
- Severe pain
- Severe shortness of breath or wheezing
Examples of possible communicable conditions:
- Vomiting
- Loose stools/diarrhea
- Suspected communicable disease
- Nuisance condition not currently being treated, e.g., ringworm, scabies, head lice
- Red, draining eyes
- Persistent runny nose with yellow/green discharge, accompanied by fever
- Productive cough, accompanied by fever
- Undiagnosed rash
Any questions or health related concerns? Contact your school nurse.
If these don't apply, we want your kids here :)
Teacher Shoutouts
Does your student want to give a shoutout to their teacher?
Students can give their teacher a shoutout of appreciation! Please scan the QR code or go to our website to give their shoutout. I know the teacher's would LOVE to hear from their students
Is your student not feeling well? Don't forget to fill out the absence note!
Student Absences
If you need to report your student absent for a partial day or for the entire day, please click on the image and complete the google form.
These attendance forms can also be found on the Bates Website. You may also email the Attendance Secretary, Christine Clark, at cclark3@aacps.org with your attendance note.
Around the Community
FREE Kids' Health And Wellness Fair
February 4th, 2023, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Pip Moyer Recreation Center, Auxiliary Gym
273 Hilltop Ln, Annapolis, MD 21403
This event is FREE for kids and families ages 5-13, and will include the following activities and organizations:
- Meet and Get Active with Navy Football Players
- Free lunch provided!
- Resources & Food Distribution from the Anne Arundel County Food Bank
- Healthy Food Demonstrations from Makeathe bakery
- STEM Activities and Book Giveaways from the Anne Arundel County Public Library
- Family-Fun Activities and Information from Chesapeake Family Life
- Boys & Girls Club of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County
- Arc of the Chesapeake
- And resources, activities and fun for kids!
Would you like to be a mentor for one of our students?
Come Join our Team
Please look at the available positions at AACPS
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about transportation?
Please forward any questions to our administrator, Joe Lustgarten at jlustgarten@aacps.org.
Do you have questions about your student's attendance?
Please contact Christine Clark at cclark3@aacps.org.
Do you have questions about student/parent portal?
Do you have specific student concerns, ie. behavior, scheduling, academic performance, etc. please contact your grade level administrator or counselor:
6th Grade
Administrator: Mr. Lustgarten jlustgarten@aacps.org
Counselor: Ms. Barnett cmbarnett@aacps.org
7th Grade
Administrator: Ms. Adkins ktadkins@aacps.org
Counselor: Ms. Darling mdarling@aacps.org
8th Grade
Administrator: Ms. Patterson kypatterson@aacps.org
Counselor: Ms. Weiss dweiss@aacps.org
Do you have an emergency concern (after hours)?
Please contact our Principal, Ms. Hicks, at 302-314-6146.
If your student would like to meet with their grade level counselor, please have them use the below links to request an appointment. These links are also available on each teacher's Brightspace page.
Request to See Mrs. Barnett (6th Grade)
https://forms.gle/F6ZFZmZhayVGCcJc6
Request to See Ms. Darling (7th Grade)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nQAAGOTHWZIi2AJ-2HgNQnOcd6TW8OCMqdRuPWwuCDA/edit
Request to See Ms. Weiss (8th Grade)
Do you want to know what is happening at Bates? FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM!
PTA BOARD 2022-2023
Laura Graham-Booth, President
Roberto Garza, Vice President
Norma McGowin-Reynolds, Treasurer
Colleen Zelenakas, Secretary
Thank you for volunteering and all you do for Bates Middle School! Questions, contact the PTA at BatesMiddleSchoolPTA@gmail.com
Wiley H. Bates MIddle School
Katherine Hicks, Principal
Christine Clark, Editor
We are better together!
Email: cclark3@aacps.org
Website: www.aacps.org/bates
Location: 701 Chase Street, Annapolis, MD, USA
Phone: 410 263-0270
Twitter: @whbatesaacps
Instagram:@WileyHBatesMiddleSchoolAACPS