Raider Review Principal Newsletter
April 1, 2021
Important Dates
Report Cards - Visible in Skyward Family Access on Monday, 3/29 at 9am.
4/2: Student and Staff Holiday
4/5 & 4/6: 6th Grade Lifeguard Presentation
4/5-4/9: Assistant Principal Week
4/6: 7th Grade Writing STAAR Testing
4/7: Golf - Eanes Invitational @ Shadow Glen Golf Club
4/7: Paraprofessional's Day
4/8: Tennis vs West Ridge @ WHS
Boys and Girls Soccer (White) vs HBMS @ BCMS
Boys and Girls Soccer (Black) vs Hill Country @ HCMS
Cheer Information:
4/12: 4:30 - 5:30 - Cheer Clinic
4/13: 4:30 - 5:30 - Cheer Clinic
4/15: 4:30 - Cheer Tryouts
Join the BCMS tryout Schoology page for more information! WHG3-Q2KT-4M89D
Dance Information:
3/31: 4:20-5:30 Prep Clinic in the Dance Room
4/28: 4:20-6:00 Tryout Clinic
4/29: 4:30-7:00 Mock Tryouts
4/30: 5:00-8:00 Auditions
Join the Schoology group for more info! 8ZF9-WPM5-RRKZJ
STAAR TESTING DATES
7th Grade Writing STAAR
April 6th: In-Person & Remote Students
Algebra EOC
May 5th: In-Person & Remote Students
8th Grade Science STAAR
May 6th: In-Person & Remote Students
8th Grade Social Studies STAAR
May 7th: In-Person & Remote Students
6th-8th Grade Math STAAR
May 11th: In-Person Students Only
May 13th: Remote Students Only
6th-8th Grade Reading STAAR
May 12th: In-Person Students Only
May 14th: Remote Students Only
More information regarding details of test administration will be communicated once finalized at the district level.
Principal's Corner
Dear Raider Families,
Spring has sprung for the Raiders! We are all excited for some beautiful weather and sunshine. It is great to see our soccer, tennis and golf teams in action. This is our first year to have Spring Sports in full swing. Best of luck to our athletes competing in the coming weeks! STAAR testing season is upon us for our 7th graders next Tuesday. Let's all send them some love and good vibes! They are going to do an amazing job.
Looking into next week I hope you will consider joining our district's community summit in person at the PAC next Thursday to contribute to some important conversations regarding our district's future. The information is below and I hope to see some of you there.
I hope everyone has plans to enjoy the long 3 day weekend. It's our last school holiday until the end of the year, so have a great time with your families!
Go Raiders,
Principal Prehn
BCMS Teacher Of The Year!
If you are so inclined, feel free to send a special note of appreciation to him at:
Thank you for ALL you do Mr. Forgey. BCMS is honored to recognize you with this award!
Celebrating Assistant Principal's Week April 5th-9th
Mrs. Laura Keogh
Thank you for ALL you do!
Mr. Tres Ellis
Happy Paraprofessional's Day to Our Outstanding Team!
Please join me in honoring their hard work!
Lizette Cortes: CMC
Ben Kurecka: Life Skills
Sarah Bailey: Life Skills
Tanya Rivera-Yates: Special Education
Shakita Dennis-Chain: General Education
Valentina Mallows: ISS
Chromebook Distribution and Technology Support
Students have now been issued a Chromebook for in school and remote learning purposes. I've listed two very important documents below for you to read through and familiarize yourself with the new guidelines and expectations regarding their use.
Students are now responsible for bringing these devices to school each day. Students are responsible for keeping their devices charged and ready for learning each day. Students are expected to use district-issued Chromebooks when participating in classroom and state assessments. They may not use their personal devices for testing purposes.
We appreciate you helping remind students of these expectations.
If you missed the opportunity to receive your Chromebook, we can help! In-person learners need to stop by the Tech Depot (Room 503) before school or during Go Time to pick up their device. The Tech Depot is also available for all students to get assistance with technical support, damaged equipment or software issues. Please encourage your students to stop by and get help if they need it during the day.
The Tech Depot will be open ALL DAY Monday, April 5th, to assist students picking up their device for upcoming STAAR testing on Tuesday for 7th graders. Students are required to use district devices for all STAAR assessments.
Remote learners who missed device deployment need to email their Go Time teacher for help. Those teachers will submit a help ticket on their student's behalf and a member of our technology team will reach out to families directly to schedule pickup. Following the break, we will have lockers installed in our front vestibule for device pickup. Technology will schedule those details directly with families.
Important Information for Families and Students:
If you have any further questions regarding technology support, feel free to reach out directly to any of the following folks:
Tech Depot Technician: Stacy Desrocher desrochers@ltisdschools.org
Tech Depot Technician: Aaron Schoenrock schoenrocka@ltisdschools.org
Technology Helpdesk: helpdesk@ltisdschools.org or call 512-533-6565
Andrea Heckler: hecklera@ltisdschools.org
2021 National Junior Honor Society Application Process
Raider Parents,
If your child qualified to apply for membership for National Junior Honor Society you have been contacted by email this week. Your child has also been placed in a Schoology course where they can access all of the necessary materials to apply for membership.
Membership in the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is one of the highest honors that can be awarded to a middle school student. Our chapter has worked hard to bring the accomplishments of outstanding students to the attention of parents, teachers, peers, and the community. Our chapter strives to give practical meaning to the Society’s standards of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship.
These five ideals are considered as the basis for selection. No student is inducted simply because of a high academic average. The National Junior Honor Society strives to recognize the total student—one who excels in all of these areas. The standards used for selection are:
· Scholarship: 93% cumulative average in the four core classes
· Leadership, service, character, and citizenship: as demonstrated by activities and teacher evaluations
Membership, however, is more than an honor. It is an ongoing responsibility and an obligation to continue to demonstrate those outstanding qualities that result in a student’s selection.
Membership also carries a responsibility to the chapter. If our NJHS chapter is to be effective and meaningful, each member must become involved. Members are obligated to:
· Attend monthly meetings before school.
· Earn at least 12 volunteer hours serving both our school and local communities.
· Maintain the academic and behavior standards on which this organization is based.
· Contribute one-time membership dues of $20.
I hope you will submit your request for consideration form so that the faculty committee can evaluate your candidacy. Congratulations on your success thus far!
Sincerely,
Leslie Sparks
Bee Cave Middle School NJHS Sponsor
Counselor's Corner
Greetings Raiders,
Each week our students take part in Social Emotional Learning Lessons (Second Step) with their Go Time classes. These are necessary life skills, and especially during these unprecedented times we want our students to face these challenges with some great tools to help guide them. If your student is struggling and needs additional emotional or academic support, please refer them to us for assistance. We are available anytime during the school day to meet with students that stop by our offices and for our remote learners, we also schedule remote counseling sessions. Our contact information is below, at the bottom of Mrs. Prehn's newsletter.
Second Step Lessons for April 5th:
6th Grade:
Lesson 23: Respectful Communication
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will practice using non-blaming language to resolve conflicts.
Question:
Ask your child to give you an example of non-blaming, respectful communication. Brainstorm with them to think of a time in your household when non-blaming language could have been helpful and make a plan for how to use respectful communication in the future.
7th Grade:
Lesson 23: Resolving Conflict Part 1
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn how to describe a conflict in a non-judgmental way by avoiding blaming language.
Question:
Discuss with your child a time in your life when you had a particularly difficult time resolving a conflict. How did avoiding blaming language help?
8th Grade:
Lesson 23: Finding the Best Solution
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn to find solutions to a conflict that everyone can agree on.
Question:
Ask your child about a conflict they recently had where they got something they wanted after it was resolved. Share a similar situation of your own.
Reminder for 6th Grade Parents Regarding Lifeguard Instruction Next Week
All Science classes will attend Lifeguard presentations beginning Monday April 5th to 7th. Your student's science teacher sent an information email with the opt out form. If you have questions or concerns, please email JoAnna Janecek, BCMS counselor, at janecekj@ltisdschools.org or feel free to call her at 737.931.2426. You may also contact your child’s science teacher with any questions or concerns.
For further information, please check out our district resources below:
Thankful, Grateful & Proud to Support Our Raider Teachers
We appreciate you taking the time to do this and lift up our staff this holiday season! We are extremely grateful for our generous and supportive Raider parent community. This year is a year like no other and we are honored to partner with you in supporting our students.
NOTES FROM THE NURSE
VISION AND HEARING SCREENING - 7th grade
I am currently working to screen vision and hearing for our 7th grade students. If your student is learning remotely and you would like to schedule an appointment with me to screen your 7th grader’s vision or hearing please contact me.
SCHOOL REQUIRED VACCINES (Attention 6th grade parents):
Entry into 7th grade requires proof that your child received the Tdap and Meningococcal (MCV4) vaccines or have an updated immunization exemption on file. The Tdap and meningococcal vaccines are typically given at the 11 year check-up. Please email me or have your child drop off an updated immunization record. 7th graders will not receive their fall schedule until their records are up-to-date. To avoid any delays please get updated records to me by the last day of school. For more information on the vaccines please see the following links: Meningococcal Vaccine, Tdap Vaccine, and Vaccine Safety.
Stay well and stay safe RAIDERS!!!
Cheryl Rhodes, RN School Nurse
737-931-2418
Library Book Checkout
Library Book Checkout has begun! Sign in to Destiny Discover (username:S123456 Password: birthday YYYYMMDD ex 20100428) and place the book you want on hold. You may request up to four books at a time. Remote students will receive an email when their book is available for pick up in the front office and in-person students will get theirs delivered to their LA classes. We are so excited to finally get the opportunity to get books in hands! If you need recommendations or have any questions contact Mrs. Heckler (hecklera@ltisdschools.org)
Your Leadership Team
While our campus leadership team works collaboratively with all students and teachers, the following information should help you reach the appropriate Principal or Counselor for your child's grade level should a concern or question arise. We are all committed to serving our students and appreciate the opportunity to work together with families to support our learners!
6th grade Assistant Principal- Ms. Laura Keogh
6th grade Counselor- Ms. Dana Page
7th grade Assistant Principals- A-K Ms. Laura Keogh and L-Z Mr. Tres Ellis
7th grade Counselors- A-K Ms. Dana Page and L-Z Ms. JoAnna Janecek
8th grade Assistant Principal- Mr. Tres Ellis
8th grade Counselor- Ms. JoAnna Janecek
Please reach out directly to your child's teacher(s) with classwork, homework or curriculum needs and feel free to include any member of your child's leadership team if needed.
BCMS Homework Help
Homework Hall Is Open for Business For ALL Raiders!
Purpose: Stay after school to work on and get help with homework
Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday after school
Time: 4:15 pm - 5:15 pm
Transportation: Late buses are provided that leave at 5:20 pm. You must sign up for the late bus by 3 pm that day in the front office.
Homework Help Locations
Monday: Ms. Hank - Room 757
Tuesday: Mr. Rosenberg - Room 707 / Ms. Hank - Room 757 (alternating days)
Wednesday: Mr. Rosenberg - Room 707
Thursday: Ms. Austin - Room 651
Are you a remote learner?
Join the Homework Help Meet here: g.co/meet/bcmshomeworkhelp
Mr. Seeger (Room 657) will be the alternate teacher if one of the above teachers are not available to supervise Homework Help. We will notify students each day of changes.
No school tomorrow Raiders...enjoy the long weekend!
Bee Cave Middle School
Email: prehna@ltisdschools.org
Website: https://www.ltisdschools.org/Domain/1093
Location: 5400 Vail Divide, Austin, TX 78738, USA
Phone: 737-931-2400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ltisdschools
Twitter: @BCMSRaiders