Banks Trail Middle School
Teamwork, Responsibility, Ambition, Integrity, Leadership
September, 2018
Knowledge is Power. Unlimited Power.
Timberwolf Families,
Welcome again to the 2018-19 school year. It is hard to believe that we have already completed 4 weeks of school. I feel like just yesterday we started.
As you may have heard, at BTMS we will once again embrace a school wide theme. Again this year our theme will be related to Star Wars with our slogan being "Knowledge is power. Unlimited Power!" we came up with this slogan because we we believe that as student learn, they are empowered and this knowledge is not something that can ever be taken away. We figured this was a good way to continue to build school spirit not only with our teachers, but also our students. The 3rd Wednesday of every month is designated as Star Wars Wednesday. Our teachers will be wearing their favorite Star Wars shirts (and jeans which they love) and we hope our Timberwolves will sport their favorite Star Wars clothing as well. Its is just a way to have a little bit of fun.
Those of you who were with us last year may remember we started showing how the Star Wars series we could link to education and we will continue that again this year. If you are new to us this year, don't worry in our next newsletter we will have a link where you can read up on what we posted last year so you can catch up.
We look forward to having another amazing year where our Padawans learn from our Jedi as they become members of our community.
Sincerely,
Michael Pratt
Straight Talk From Mr. Pratt
Here are two article I read this week:
1. Your own use of cell phones can affect your child’s achievement! http://runwonder.com/wup/phones-affect-childrens-02086.html
2. How to help Gifted Kids who suffer from perfectionism.
ENROLLMENT FREEZE AT BTMS
Staff Report: Report on School Opening/Attendance Numbers
Superintendent Dr. Chuck Epps and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Human Resources Marty McGinn presented an update on first week of school and the current enrollment numbers. As of today our student enrollment reached 16,012 students, an increase of more than 1100 students from the same time last year. Due to increased student enrollment numbers the district will freeze enrollment at Tega Cay Elementary School and Banks Trail Middle School effective September 1. Tega Cay was the original receiving school for freeze students from Gold Hill Elementary. Any new students enrolling on or after September 1 at Tega Cay and Gold Hill Elementary will attend Pleasant Knoll Elementary and any new students enrolling at Banks Trail Middle will attend Fort Mill Middle.
Bus Transportation
Students using bus transportation will remain on their assigned bus and travel to their original school each day. The district will shuttle students from their original school to the receiving school in the morning and return them by shuttle in the afternoon to ride their assigned bus home.
NOTES FROM THE NURSE
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) wants to assure that all children and teens receive recommended vaccines to prevent disease entering 7th grade receive one (1) dose of Tdap vaccine. The Tdap vaccine protects preteens and teens from three serious d. DHEC reminds parents and guardians that South Carolina law requires that all students receives: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). It is important to know that there are three other vaccines that all preteens and teens are recommended to receive: human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, a cancer prevention vaccine, meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) that prevents some types of meningitis, and the yearly flu vaccine.
Make sure you get an updated SC Certificate of Immunization to give to your school nurse. This certificate is required by state law for school attendance.
Many students have received the Tdap but the school doesn’t have verification of it being given.
*After September 18, 2018 your student will not be allowed to attend school without verification of receiving the Tdap.
Your local DHEC health department also can provide these vaccines. Call 1-855-472-3432 to make an appointment. For more information about vaccinations in South Carolina, go to scdhec.gov/Health/Vaccinations/
PTO NEWS
Parents: Go Play Save Coupon books came home with your children the first week of school. This awesome Fundraiser runs through 9/14 and enables the PTO to pay for all needed supplies for the over 40 clubs here at BTMS. Anyone who sells 5 or more books will be invited to a pizza party with the Charlotte Energy arena football team and have a chance to win one of our amazing prizes. Everyone will win something!! Books will be delivered Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings through your students homeroom teacher. They can be purchased for $30. Cash and checks (made payable to BTMS PTO) can be sent in using the envelope that went home with your student or online via:
https://www.goplaysavecharlotte.com/store/products?school_code=btm2019.
We ask that every student try to sell one book. If every child sells one book our school earns $14,000 to fund our clubs and events. No time to sell a coupon book? You can always donate $16 to the PTO here:
https://squareup.com/store/btms-pto
Any questions? Contact us at btmsfundraising@gmail.com.
ONE SCHOOL ONE BOOK
Have you seen the school rock? Has your student been talking to you about our school wide read aloud happening during Homeroom and Power Period? On August 27, our school launched a special event called One School One Book. Our chosen title is The Running Dream by Wendelin. For two more weeks, your student will listen to the book read aloud by their homeroom teacher, other BTMS staff members, and mystery guests. This event requires no additional school work from your student. The goal is simply for the students, faculty, and staff, to follow a reading schedule to promote literacy and build community. Purchasing the book is not needed since we want to keep the excitement and suspense of each daily’s reading a surprise.
We ask that you help encourage your student to arrive to school on time and participate in each day’s book discussion. An audio version of each day’s reading will be posted every afternoon to the BTMS website in case your child is absent or you would like to participate.
Mark your calendars now for our fall Family Literacy/STEAM Night on October 11, 2018, which will be held from 5-7 PM. Many ideas and themes for this school wide family night will include connections from our One School One Book title.
PICTURE DAY will be Friday, September 28th. Forms will be sent home with students next week. The Picture Day ID is: NR048020Q0
THEATRE ARTS NEWS
Mary Poppins Jr Audition Information!
Attention all 6th, 7th, or 8th graders!!! If you are interested in auditioning for the cast of Mary Poppins, Jr., you must sign-up for the Musical Theatre Club for the first club rotation. All audition information will be released during club time. After the first club rotation, cast members will be placed in the Musical Theatre Club for the remainder of the year. Students who are already committed to another organization (broadcasting) during clubs, will not be able to participate. We will be utilizing club time every week to prepare for the musical and Broadway Jr.
We are so excited to see all of the talent at BTMS and to be working with your performers!
Email Mr. Quinn at quinnt@fortmillschools.org if you have any questions about auditions.
5 SCHOOL 5K
WHEN: November 3, 2018 at 9:00AM
WHERE: Walter Elisha Park, 345 N. White Street, Fort Mill, SC 29715
REGISTER: 5Schools5K.racesonline.com
Click on the links below for more information!
Morning and Afternoon Car Drop Off
If you are going to drop your student of at BTMS please help us by following these simple guidelines:
A. Form two lanes to the car rider line when entering the campus.
B. Merge into one lane (alternating lanes) at the point designated with a yellow stripe.
c. Pull up as far as you can (passing the front entrance) up to the orange traffic cone.
D. Have students ready to unload as soon as your car comes to a complete stop.
E. if you are going to wait for the school to open for the first few days, please stay in the car line, but start a drop off line by the fire road on the right hand side. This allows parents who are just dropping off, to go around you and drop off their students and then exit the grounds.
Also remember that the school is open to students at 7:45 a.m. Students may be dropped off prior to this time, however will not be formally supervised.
On most days, morning drop off traffic is at a minimum between 7:55 a.m. and 8:05 a.m., and the bell to go to homeroom rings at 8:05 a.m. Of course for the first few days there will be a lot of traffic. Did I mention to please have patience?
Here is an map that tries to show drop off information
GOOD THINGS TO KNOW!
TARDY
* If your student arrives late to school - 8:10 or after, or is Returning from an Appointment - A PARENT OR ADULT MUST COME INTO THE OFFICE TO SIGN THEM IN. Students are not allowed to sign themselves in.EARLY DISMISSAL
* If you are picking up your student for early dismissal, YOU MUST ARRIVE BEFORE 2:50 PM. THERE ARE NO DISMISSALS BETWEEN 2:50 PM AND 3:20 PM.
CHANGE OF CLOTHES
* Guidance Counselors recommend that you send a change of clothes for students to keep in their lockers for any accidents or dress code issues. Counselors have a few items for students to change into, but most students prefer to wear their own clothes.
Let Me Run Sign Up
Let Me Run Fall Registration for Banks Trail Middle
What is Let Me Run ? http://www.letmerun.org/about-the-program/what-is-let-me-run?play
Practices start Sept 27th | Tues and Thursdays from 3:20-4:45pm
$110 cost - link below to register (spots limited)
For more info please contact Debbie Houser | sellinguahome@gmail.com | 803-431-3293
Upcoming Events
9/17 Football @ Gold Hill Middle
9/19 Volleyball v Indian Land Middle
9/19 Football v Springfield Middle
9/24 Football @ Pleasant Knoll Middle
9/26 Volleyball @ Gold Hill Middle
9/26 Football v Indian Land Middle
9/28 Fall Pictures
10/01 Football v Fort Mill Middle
10/03 Volleyball v Springfield Middle
10/03 Football v Gold Hill Middle
10/08 Football @ Springfield Middle
10/11 Family Literacy/STEAM Night
Together, Building A Tradition of Excellence
Banks Trail Middle School
Email: costs@fortmillschools.org
Website: http://btms.fortmillschools.org/
Location: 1640 Banks Road, Fort Mill, SC, United States
Phone: 803-578-2990
Twitter: @BTMStimberwolf