Bumpus E-NEWS!
DECEMBER 16, 2021
Bumpus Middle School
PE Instagram : bumpus_bucs_p.e
Email: bumpuspr@hoover.k12.al.us
Website: https://www.hoovercityschools.net/bumpus
Location: 6055 Flemming Parkway, Birmingham, AL, USA
Phone: 205-439-2200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BUMPUSMS/
Twitter: @RFBumpus
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE - DONNA BURKE
Hello everyone,
We only have a few school days left in 2021. Last school year, and this year have definitely presented many challenges, and we are slowly getting back to the way things were prior to March 2020.
Beginning in January, everything will be back to "regular scheduled programming" which includes students working in small groups in classes as well as all students eating together in the cafeteria. The only thing we will not do is dress out in Physical Education classes. We made this decision because we have not assigned PE lockers, and we have not ordered uniforms this year. We feel like this process will take too long, and we are not even sure if we could get uniforms at this late date. We plan to dress out at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. Since there are days when the students go outside and/or participate in strenuous activities, I have asked the PE teachers to communicate this message with the students in class and post this information online in their "Week at a Glance".
As I have said many times, our teachers are working very hard to educate our students, and we appreciate all they are doing. In addition, we have other staff members who help keep Bumpus going. We all love what we do and we enjoy partnering with the parents to raise our students.
Thank you for your continued support and GO BUCS!
Donna Burke
CARPOOL REMINDERS
We are continuing to look at ways to make carpool run safely and efficiently. We have worked with the city traffic engineer and Officer Love to brainstorm ideas that might help.
1. At least 7-8 students can exit cars at one time.
2. Students should exit the cars quickly so the car line does not get backed up.
3. Students must be dropped off in the carpool line between 7:30-8:30. Students cannot be dropped off in the front of the building during this time.
Reminders about AFTERNOON carpool:
1. All cars should pull all the way up to the car in front of you at all times. (close the gap).
2. Students are not allowed to move toward cars until all cars are stopped and a school employee gives the signal to load.
3. If a student does not load, the car will be asked to circle and get back in line.
4. It is the student's responsibility to look for his/car.
Dates to Remember
Dec. 16 - Winter Choir Concert
Dec. 21 - Early Dismissal @ 12:15 pm - Buses will run!
Dec. 22-Jan. 3 - Winter Holidays
Jan. 4 - Students return to school!
Jan. 7 - Report cards go home!
EARLY DISMISSAL
WE WISH EVERYONE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!
ATTENDANCE MATTERS - ALL DAY, EVERY DAY!
Please email Mrs. Prescott at jprescott@hoover.k12.al.us or call (205) 439-2268 concerning any attendance issues.
- Turn in notes WITHIN 3 DAYS OF ABSENCE in the gray boxes or to Mrs. Prescott
- Notes CAN BE EMAILED as long as there is a signature to: jprescott@hoover.k12.al.us
- Anticipated Absence Forms must be turned in AT LEAST 3 DAYS PRIOR to the absence
ATTENDANCE/ABSENCES/EXCUSES/TARDIES
Per the Hoover City Schools 2021-22 Code of Conduct:
Nine (9) total excused absences per year and nine (9) total excused check ins/check outs per semester is the maximum number of parent notes that can be excused. Each case will be evaluated on an individual basis. Illness, when supported by a physician verification, may be considered as a mitigating circumstance.
Excused Absences are excused for the following reasons:
1. Illness
2. Death in the immediate family
3. Inclement weather
4. Legal quarantine
5. Emergency conditions as determined by the Principal/Designee or Superintendent/Designee
6. Permission of Principal and consent of parent
When a student returns, the parent must provide in writing within three (3) days of the student’s return to school an excuse which includes the following:
A parent note must:
1. A written statement stating the reason for the absence (emails without signature are not accepted)
2. The date of the absence(s)
3. The parent’s signature
A doctor’s note must:
1. Be submitted on official practice letterhead/excuse or similar document from their CURRENT employing practice.
2. Be signed by the physician or authorized practice employee.
3. List the date of treatment/exam, address and telephone number of the practice.
4. Days requested to be excused while under the doctor’s care.
5. Excused days must reflect doctor’s direction not parent request.
6. Student must be a “Patient on Record.”
Anticipated Absence Forms can be picked up in the 2nd Floor Office or printed from the form posted on our website and must be filled out entirely with reason for absence, parent signature and ALL teachers’ signatures and turned in AT LEAST 3 days before the absence for approval as excused absence. Anticipated Absence Forms can be turned in to Mrs. Prescott in the 2nd Floor Office.
NEWS FROM OUR COUNSELORS!
TIPS for REDUCING HOLIDAY ANXIETY IN KIDS
Try these tips for lessening the stress of the holidays on the whole family.
Set a Calm Example
The most important way parents can help ease anxiety in children during the holidays is by trying to keep things relaxed as much as possible. As with so many situations, the way parents handle an issue can set the tone for how their kids will behave. If you let holiday stress get to you, your kids will definitely pick up on it, and child anxiety is more likely to be a problem in your house.
To minimize anxiety in children during the holidays, take steps to handle your own stress and anxiety.
Set up Conditions for Good Behavior
Avoid taking your child to places, such as the mall or holiday gatherings, when he is hungry or tired. It’s hard, even for grown-ups, to deal with noise and lots of stimulation when they’re not feeling their best; kids get hungry more often and become tired more easily, and may understandably have a tough time being on their best behavior and are more likely to experience holiday stress when they’re exhausted or hungry.
Remember the Importance of Routines
The holidays can throw a big wrench into household routines, and that can play a role in anxiety in children. To minimize holiday stress in your kids, try to get routines back on track once an event or party is over. For instance, if a school holiday concert or a church gathering goes past your child’s bedtime, try to stick to quiet, calm activities the next day and get your child to bed on time the next night.
Watch What They Are Eating
Another thing that can fall by the wayside amidst the holiday hubbub is healthy eating. Between all the extra sugary holiday snacks and the lack of time to sit down to regular meals, it can be all too easy for kids to eat less healthy foods, which can contribute to holiday stress and anxiety in children.
Get Your Child Moving
Fresh air and exercise are essential for boosting mood and re-setting the spirit, which can alleviate holiday stress and anxiety in children. Make sure you schedule some time to get your teen outside for some fresh air and outdoor activity.
Avoid Overscheduling
As tempting as it may be to accept every invitation from friends and family, try to limit your holiday parties and activities so that you and your child are not overwhelmed.
Have Your Grade-Schooler Help You
Big kids love to help mom and dad, especially if they get lots of praise for being responsible and helpful. If you have to shop, ask your child to help you look for an item at the store (fun stocking stuffers for cousins, for example). Giving your child a task will not only boost her self-esteem, but it’ll also distract her and help prevent any holiday stress and anxiety.
Schedule Some Quiet Time
Having some peace and quiet with your child is more important than ever during the busy holiday season. Find a quiet corner and read a book with your child or create holiday pictures for grandma and grandpa. Take a walk outside in nature, away from noise and crowds and obligations.
Focus on Helping Others
A great antidote for holiday stress and the bloated commercialism of the season is helping others, whether it’s by shoveling an elderly neighbor’s sidewalk or by wrapping presents for needy kids at your local church. Helping your grade-schooler become a charitable child will help alleviate her holiday stress and anxiety.
Article from VERYWELL Family
Mrs. Catherine Bruno - 6th grade Counselor cbruno@hoover.k12.al.us
Mrs. MaryAnn Grear - 7th grade Counselor mgrear@hoover.k12.al.us
Ms. Brennita Keith - 8th grade Counselor bkeith@hoover.k12.al.us
The Crisis Center 205-323-7777 (24 hrs) TEXT 205-328-5465
Teen Link 205-328-LINK (5465) Kids Line 205-328-KIDS (5437) available 3-10pm
The Trevor Project 866-488-7346 Jeffco DHR 205-423-4900
Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 Shelby Co DHR 205-669-3000
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800 273-TALK (8255) OR text TALK to 741741
PIRC (Psychiatric Intake Response Center) - 205-638-PIRC (7472)”
CONGRATULATIONS!
ALL STATE CHOIR
BOWLING TEAM
Congratulations to our fabulous Bowling Team... Naomi Chisolm, Steven Lui, Chase Pope, William Mylius, Sarvesh Kandasamy Vimalkumar, and Braxton Nguyen!
These bowlers finished strong - it was amazing to watch them improve every single time they played. They did great at the All-Metro tournament last Monday and represented Bumpus very well. Braxton Nguyen was also awarded the bowler with the highest game and the highest series out of the entire tournament with scores of 196 (game 1) and 184 (game 2).
SAMFORD HONOR BAND
Samford Honor Band - Anli Chen, Sohnee Patel, Srihitha Vem, Kaylee Zhao, Kotaro Saigusa, Mahi Shah, Jay Dodd, Collin Schroeder, Tyler Stephens, Sarah Doss, Makayla Evans, Kayleigh Heard, Keilan Jefferson, Valeria Manzo, Chloe Wagener, Aiyante Baker, Maria Butler, Gonzalo Celedonio, Lukas Giuvenduto, Matthew Jones, Madison Redwine, Preston Ritchey, Rihanna Morallos, Elijah Burns, Alana Hyche,and Krish Nathan.
ROBOTICS TEAM
WHAT'S NEW?
HOLIDAY SPIRIT WEEK - DEC. 15 - DEC. 22
Holiday Spirit Week
Wear all White
Dress up as any Hoiiday Character!
Wear your Favorite Holiday Accessories!
Wear your coziest Holiday Pajamas!
Wear your Ugly Christmas Sweater!
LIBRARY NEWS - Mrs. Mims
The last day to submit pictures is Wednesday, January 19th.
RFB PHOTOS
https://www.facebook.com/BUMPUS.DIGIPHOTO/
SCHOOL PICTURES - THESE MAKE EXCELLENT CHRISTMAS GIFTS! ORDER YOURS TODAY!
School day photos are online. Please visit: https://store.ironcitystudios.com/login and use your student’s ID number and 2021 to view the photos (no spaces). For example if the student ID is: 1912345678 then the Access Code is: 19123456782021
If you need assistance, please contact Iron City Studios through this form: https://ironcitystudios.com/form/need-a-link-to-your-student-gallery
CLUBS
HOUSEKEEPING INFORMATION
REQUIRED FEE INFORMATION - Mrs. Flowers
Required Fees past due!
We are down to about 135 students who owe any sort of fee. Please go to https://secure4.myschoolfees.com to pay your required fees. Please pay ASAP so that we do not have to send you a statement in the mail!
After you have paid any previous outstanding balances and the required fees, you will be able to "Continue Shopping" to pay some optional fees and donations! After you click on "Continue Shopping", just click on the green box that says "Registration--Optional Fees" and a page of fees will appear including PTO Donation, other donations, and the Yearbook fee. The early bird Yearbook price ($45) is only good through Dec. 31, 2021. After that, the price will go up to $55!
After you pay those fees, you can "Continue Shopping" and look at the fees under the green box to see if any of those fees apply to your student.
If you have not used MySchoolFees before, please click on the following link to the User's Guide.
https://secure4.myschoolfees.com/Content/forms/myschoolfeesv4guide.pdf
*If you do not have a MasterCard, a Discover card, or electronic checks, you may pay by exact cash or check at the drop box in the school lobby. Check MySchoolFees to see exactly what you owe.
RESIDENCY INFORMATION
NEWS FROM MRS. SCHMITH, SCHOOL NURSE
If your child has ANY symptoms of illness, please keep him/her at home until you can determine the cause of the symptoms. If your child has symptoms and they have been tested for COVID-19, they must remain home until the COVID-19 test results are reported to you. Per the ADPH Back to School Guidance, if your child has symptoms and has a negative covid test result, the child should stay home for 10 days UNLESS a healthcare provider issues an alternate diagnosis. We don't need to know the specific diagnosis but we need to know there is a diagnosis other than COVID-19 to explain the symptoms. When students report to school with symptoms of illness and subsequently test positive for COVID-19, they have exposed countless others, creating multiple close contact individuals and additional COVID positive cases. Please refer to the ADPH Back to School Guidance pages numbered 13 and 15, or your personal Healthcare Professional if you have questions. https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19/assets/cov-school-guidance-073021.pdf
NEW FACE COVERING MATRIX PROCEDURES
LOST AND FOUND ITEMS
Come find your belongings in the Lost and Found!
Lost and Found is located in the Electives Hallway on the 2nd floor.
All items will be donated to a local charity at the end of December.
KEEPING STUDENTS INFORMED!
LUNCH ACCOUNTS
All students will have free breakfast and lunch during the 2021-2022 school year. While breakfast and lunch will be free, à la carte items such as extra snacks and beverages must be purchased. To replenish your child’s lunch account, please visit MySchoolBucks.com or send cash or check with your student to pay in the lunchroom or a secure drop box for lunch payments is located in the Front Lobby.
ATHLETICS
CONGRATULATIONS!
WRESTLING TEAM
The wrestling team won both matches in their last home match of the season. Bumpus beat both Mountain Brook and Liberty Park with team scores of 52-36 and 48-42, respectively. The following students won for Bumpus; Zach Merkel, Markel Harden, KJ Means, Adrien Lowe, Leyton Self, Cameron Graham, Caleb Simpson, Colton Redmond, Fletcher Burdick, Luke Frink, Tak Lee, and James Smitherman.
BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM
Congratulations to the 8th grade boys basketball team for beating Pizitz 61-32. We now have a break in the action for the holidays before we play the final 5 games of the season. We are currently 7-4 and sitting in 2nd place in the Metro South division.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Jan. 6 - RFB GBB @ Simmons; BBB vs Simmons (home)
GoFan - TO PURCHASE ATHLETIC TICKETS
Ticketing. Everyone who attends the game are encouraged to buy a ticket online using GoFan.com. Use this link to purchase tickets. https://gofan.co/app/school/AL68127
The following procedures must be adhered to:
- Tickets are preferred to be pre-purchased through GoFan (see instructions below).
DragonFly Information
TENNIS
Only 7th and 8th graders can join the tennis team. Please email rjostsons@hoover.k12.al.us or spope@hoover.k12.al.us if your 6th grader has joined the Tennis Google Classroom and needs to be removed.
Due to overwhelming interest this year, we will have to have tryouts and cuts. We will keep the top 12 seeded girls, and top 12 seeded boys.
FYI: Seeding tryouts will start on January 19th.
Practices will be M-Th until 5:15 (you may miss 2 of these if you take tennis lessons outside of Bumpus)
Our first match will be on February 17th.
Check the Google Classroom for updates and schedule, Email Coach Jostsons with questions at
Communication
If you have questions or concerns, feel free to email or call. If the question is specific to a teacher, email the teacher directly. If you have a general question you can email us directly or through bumpushelp@hoover.k12.al.us
If you have a question email your administrator.
Ms. Donna Burke, Principal dburke@hoover.k12.al.us
Mr. Justin Jones, 6th grade Asst. Principal jjones@hoover.k12.al.us
Mrs. Pamela Davis, 7th grade and Principal pdavis@hoover.k12.al.us
Mr. Sean Colosimo, 8th grade Asst. Principal scolosimo@hoover.k12.al.us