Summer Edition Part 2
Edition 1, August 2023
Gearing Up for a New School Year
From the Desk of Ms. Hicks
I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer filled with joyful moments with family and friends. For us, our school has been abuzz with some much needed improvements such as a new HVAC system and a more secure front office vestibule area. We are very excited for these changes!
Parents and guardians, your partnership is invaluable to us. We look forward to working closely with you to support your child's journey and ensure their success. Open communication between school and home is vital to us. One of our methods to communicate is through the Cougar Chronicle. Please take time to read below which will have all the necessary information you will need to begin the school year. If you have any questions, please contact our office staff at 410-263-0270.
I am honored to serve as your principal and excited about the journey ahead. For now, enjoy the rest of your summer and we will see you soon!
Please Welcome our New Faculty at Bates Middle School
Popsicles with the Principals
Students and families are invited to join Bates Middle School's Principals for a popsicle and free school supplies. Come on by and say hi. We would love to see you!
When: 08/21
Time: 1:00-3:00pm
Where: The Stanton Center (92 West Washington Street, Annapolis, MD 21401)
Cougar Calendar
6th grade orientation is scheduled for August 23 from 9:00-11:00am or 4:00pm-6:00pm.
7th grade "optional" orientation scheduled for August 23 from 11:30am - 12:30pm (encouraged for new students to Bates)
First day for 6th grade is August 29th; students will report to the cafeteria where they will receive their schedule. (Don't worry parents, we will have teachers and staff assisting students with finding their teachers and locations all day.)
First day for 7th and 8th grade students is August 30th; Students will report to their Advisory teacher (period 7). Please have your student check their student portal to find their schedule Student/Parent Portal (available late August).
Make sure your student knows their address and community name. At the end of the day, we help those students who do not remember which bus they are riding by finding their bus based on their address/community name.
All uniform shirts with the Bates emblem must be purchased from the school (6th grade – black, 7th grade – royal blue, 8th grade – gray or purple). You may purchase your shirts during the days and times listed below. Uniform polo shirts will continue to be available throughout the school year (cost $9 cash/check).
August 29th will be an A day and 30th will be B day. For a full A/B DAY CALENDAR click here.
More information can be found on the Bates Website. Check our websites for Uniform Policy, Bell Schedules and more!
Looking for assistance in Spanish? Click HERE.
- AACPS has sent emails asking families to update their Emergency Card Verification Form. Please complete this as soon as possible to ensure we have the most up to date contact and safety information on file for your student. If you need assistance with pin #'s, please contact the office at 410-263-0270. Click here to begin form.
- Go to www.aacps.org/buses to locate your student’s bus route which should be posted by mid August. Have your student arrive at their bus stop a few minutes early on the first day and be patient if the bus is late! Car riders, please see diagram below for drop off procedures.
- Charge your students’ Chromebook. Students should bring their Chromebooks to school EVERY DAY including Day 1!
- Mark your calendars for September 7th from 6-8pm for Back to School Night!
- Students will have to pay for school lunch this school year. Go ONLINE to sign up for FREE and REDUCED LUNCH. Important school funding is determined by Free and Reduced Lunch numbers.
Bell Schedule for 2023-2024
Check out what is NEW with our ADVISORY BLOCK
Advisory Block
Monday: Motivational Monday Lessons & Community Circles
Students will review grades, absences, missing assignments, prepare goals for the week and determine which teachers they will meet with on Tuesday/Thursday for additional help. All students will utilize the Tuesday/Thursday time for extra academics.
Tuesday/Thursday: Academic Support Time
Students will be able to receive extra time with two selected teachers each week. This is a great time to get extra help, complete missing assignments, or complete upcoming assignments and of course complete i-Ready.
Wednesday: Clubs
Students will select a club opportunity for each quarter. Those students will report to their assigned club every Wednesday after homeroom.
Friday: Advisory or Second Step Lessons & Community Circles
Students will receive social and emotional lessons each Friday with their Advisory teacher.
Supply List
General Middle School Supplies:
Backpack to carry school belongings to and from home (to store in locker for the day)
String bag (students are allowed to carry this throughout the day)
AACPS Issued Chromebook, charger
Headphones compatible with Chromebook
One 3-inch binder
8 dividers
Pencils (2 Packs)
Black and blue pens
Colored pencils
Pencil pouch for binder
Erasers
Ruler
Glue stick
4 Packs of loose leaf paper (keep 3 packs at home to refill)
Combination lock
Other supplies may be needed as requested by teachers
Uniform Information
All students at Bates Middle School are required to wear a uniform to school daily! Shirts must be purchased from the school. The color of the uniform shirt is determined by grade level.
6th grade – Black Polos
7th grade – Royal Blue Polos
8th grade – Gray and/or Purple Polos
All students wear uniform style pants, shorts, skirts and/or skorts in either khaki (tan), black or navy. Uniform style pants/shorts/skirts are readily available for purchase from local and online retailers such as Old Navy and JCPenny. The Bates-issued logo polos are priced at $9 (Purple Polos $5). Bates outerwear includes Bates-issued sweatshirts (cost $12). Occasionally we will hold “Spirit Days” which enables students some fun options (i.e., jeans and jerseys).
Students, we hear you! We have had many requests by our students for a plaid uniform skirt. We have found an option on Amazon that we have approved. If you would like to purchase a plaid skirt, we have approved the plaid lilac or purple option at this link (as well as plain khaki, navy, or black). Click here to purchase!
Uniform Sales
Summer Uniform Sales Days
Uniform Shirts and Sweatshirts will be available for purchase
in the GYM LOBBY.
Cash and Checks will be accepted only
Polos: $9 each (black, blue, gray)
Purple polos: $5 (while supplies last)
Sweatshirts: $12 each
PE Shirts: $7 each
PE Shorts: $7 each
Thursday, August 17 (6th grade only)
10:00 AM -- 2:00 PM
⭐⭐⭐
Saturday, August 19 (7th and 8th grade only)
11:00 AM -- 3:00 PM
⭐⭐⭐
Monday -- Friday, August 21 -- 25 (All Students)
9:00 AM to 2:30 PM
Donate Old Uniforms
Safety Reminders for a Successful Year
Drop off and Pick Up
Parents who are driving students to/from school should follow the above map to help us ensure student safety. The speed limit in the parking lot is 5 mph. Please note, as indicated in the picture above, that the traffic flows one way. If a car is still waiting for his/her student and there is space in front of you, please close the gap so that other cars can enter into the parking lot. Please comply with directions from staff members monitoring the parking lot. Students should NOT walk across the parking lot to your car. For everyone's safety, no parents/guardians are to drop off or pick up any students in the bus loop. Only buses in the bus loop. Thank you for helping to keep our students safe!
Speed Limit 5mph
Please remember the speed limit is 5mph around the Bates campus. Please reduce your speed as the students are not always paying attention.
Don't get a Ticket!
You are not allowed to turn left from 8 am to 10 am from Spa Rd onto Carraway Lane. ACPD will, on occasion, sit near Maryland Hall and issue tickets for those who make an illegal left turn.
Morning Carpool Drop Off
Wiley H. Bates staff will be outside with your children starting at 8:55am. Once you see staff members outside, you may begin student drop off. Please allow your children out of the car where they will wait with their peers outside with staff until 9:05am. You do not need to wait until 9:05am to let your child out of the car. This will allow for the carpool line to keep moving.
Afternoon Carpool Pick Up
The dismissal bell is at 3:55pm. If you are picking up your student, please arrive no later than 4:10pm. Staff at Bates will be leaving at that time each day so please arrange to pick up no later than 4:10pm.
Students Walking to and from the Parking Lot
Please remind your student to always use the crosswalk when trying to walk to and from the school building. In the mornings and afternoons, there is a lot of traffic and we can not have students walking in between buses or darting in front of cars. Let's use the crosswalks and be safe!
When Entering the Building
If you need to come to Wiley H. Bates, you will be asked to show ID each and every time. You must present ID in order to gain access to the building. If you forget your ID, you will be asked to retrieve it prior to entering the building. Please adhere to this policy.
The Bates Way
Please see below for our school-wide policies.
Cell Phone Policy
Bates cell phone policy states it is expected the student's cell phones are off and away all day. The number one distraction and barrier to a majority of our students' learning and success is an increased need to be connected to their cell phones at all times. As adults, we are able to navigate and disengage when appropriate. However, our students struggle with this ability. We need your help. Please speak with your students as they are required to keep cell phones off and away throughout the school day (this includes air pods, iPhone watches, etc.). If your student needs to call home, they may ask their teacher for a pass to the front office and use the phone in the office. Please support us by only texting/calling your student outside of school hours.
Student Absences
Whenever your child is absent, you must provide a note of explanation within three days of your child’s return to school. Absences due to illness in excess of 5 days shall be verified by a physician’s note and submitted to the front office. If you need to report your student absent for a partial day or for the entire day, you may send in a note to the office or submit a note through PowerSchool.
Early Dismissals
Please remember when picking up your student for an early dismissal, you must present ID each and every time. All early dismissals must be completed prior to 3:30pm so not to interfere with bus arrival.
Only custodial parents/guardians may pick up the student unless we have a written note from the custodial parent allowing someone else to pick up their child. If a note is not received, a phone call to the parents/guardians will need to happen. If we are unable to reach the parents/guardians, we will not be able to release the student. This is an AACPS policy and please understand this is for the safety of our students.
Many of you filled out an Emergency Verification Form and listed other people that are not custodial parents as emergency contacts. Checking ‘Contact Can Pick Up Student’ for an emergency contact, does not grant permission for that contact to pick up a student for an early dismissal. The contacts on the Emergency Verification Forms are truly just for an emergency situation where the parent/guardian cannot be contacted, then the school will reach out to the emergency contacts on the Emergency Verification Form.
Any request for an early dismissal to be picked up by someone other than the custodial parents/guardians, you MUST still write a note and have your student drop it off at the main office, or submit a request through PowerSchool.
Lunch Delivery Policy
Bates Middle School WILL NOT accept deliveries from any restaurant or third-party vendor like DoorDash, GrubHub, Uber Eats, etc. Students and parents may not arrange for those services to provide food to students during the school day. If a parent is unable to drop off a lunch for their student, we will provide them with a meal from the cafeteria. Additionally, parents bringing bulk food drop-offs (lunch for your student and some of their friends) will not be accepted or fast food drop offs as this becomes a huge distraction for others in our lunchroom. Please limit any lunch drop-offs to your student only, and only in the rare instance of forgetfulness.
Health Room Policies
1. If your student is not feeling well, they must report to the health room. If the nurse requests the student to go home, our nurse will contact you directly. Please do not pick up your student because your student texts you they are not feeling well. If they contact you and mention they are feeling sick, please direct them to the health room to be evaluated. Our nurses can evaluate and make proper recommendations whether the student will need to go home.
2. If your child will need medication available during the school day, please download this form and have your physician complete the medication order. All medications, including over-the-counter medications, require a school medication form, completed by both the parent and the physician. All medication must be brought to the Health Room by an adult. Do not send any medication to school with your child! A physician’s order and Health Room approval is required before a student may self carry emergency medication in school. Please remind your students they are not allowed to take medicine on their own or provide medicine to other students per the student handbook. (This includes Advil, Midol, Dayquil, Tylenol, etc.)
Additional Free Vaccination Clinics
6th Grade Counselor
Ms. Weiss dweiss@aacps.org
7th Grade Counselor
Ms. Barnett cmbarnett@aacps.org
8th Grade Counselor
Ms. McFadden cmcfadden@aacps.org
Thank You to our Sponsors for our Welcome Back Teacher Rally!
WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN THE BATES PTA
We are lucky to have an active PTA here at Bates Middle School. The PTA connects parents to the school through volunteering and advocacy. All members of the Bates' community are invited to attend PTA meetings and Coffee with the Principal. These gatherings serve as social events and a forum to discuss both PTA and school sponsored events/activities. Administration attends these meetings and are available to answer your questions.
PTA BOARD 2023-2024
Laura Graham-Booth, President
Roberto Garza, Vice President
Norma McCowin-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.
Stay Connected
Follow us on Instagram so you can stay up to date with all the fun learning activities Bates kids do throughout the day. @WileyHBatesMiddleSchoolAACPS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about transportation?
Please forward any questions to our administrator, Mr. Walker at jewalker1@aacps.org
Do you have questions about your student's attendance?
Please contact Christine Clark at cclark3@aacps.org.
Do you have specific student concerns, ie. behavior, scheduling, academic performance, etc. please contact your grade level administrator or counselor:
6th Grade
Administrator: Mr. Walker jewalker1@aacps.org
Counselor: Ms. Weiss dweiss@aacps.org
7th Grade
Administrator: Mr. Lustgarten jlustgarten@aacps.org
Counselor: Ms. Barnett cmbarnett@aacps.org
8th Grade
Administrator: Ms. Adkins ktadkins@aacps.org
Counselor: Ms. McFadden cmcfadden@aacps.org
Do you have an emergency concern (after hours)?
Please contact our Principal, Katie Hicks, at 302-314-6146.
Around the Community
34th Annual Naval Support Academy’s (NSA) Family Fun Day
When: Saturday, August 19
Time: 10am - 2pm
Where: 168 Bennion Rd., Annapolis
This event includes free games, activities, school supplies and information for families. There will also be music by USNA Band and a Watermelon Eating Contest. Please come and check it out!
March on Washington 60th Anniversary
Navy Men's Soccer Back to School Night
Anne Arundel County River Days
Looking for a great way to end the summer? Anne Arundel County is sponsoring a free River Days event at Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 27. The event if free and you can register at www.aacounty.org/riverdays.
AACPS is hiring for all positions. Click HERE to apply.
Wiley H. Bates MIddle School
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