BHMS Principal's Update 9/11/20
Recap of First Week
We wanted to take this moment to check in with you and commend you on a great first week. We've been navigating unforeseen tech issues with you and supporting you as you meet your teachers. While it has not been perfect, a majority of you have had great success in this opening. If there are any snags, please know we will continue to support you and will continue to provide you and your parents with information needed to make sure you have access to your lessons. We thank you for your patience and confidence in us.
I would like to also say that as teachers, assistants, secretaries, counselors, and administrators, we miss you, our students, terribly. We got into this profession because we find great fullfillment and purpose in interacting with the children on a daily basis. It keeps us going. Because of that, it has been incredibly hard from our end since the Spring working remotely with you because we haven't been around you that time. We love watching you grow, improve, and learn, and we're so honored to be a part of that. I will tell you that despite how hard this is, we will continue to do our best to support you. We care greatly for you and especially 6th graders, we want you to know how much we will work to help you be successful. Thank you for your patience. I hope we get to work face to face soon.
Please check out the following information in this update:
- Video: National Archives Video: George W. Bush addresses the nation regarding the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks on the nation.
- Video: Welcoming Students
- Video Chat and Computer Etiquette
- Important Unified Classroom Information for Parents
- Instructional Schedule
- Remote Wednesdays
- Schoology
- Past Resources
New and Important Information
- September 1, 2020...WEBEX Event Q and A for families. See information in this newsletter.
- September 8, 2020...Tentative first day of school. See this link for the new calendar: 2021 School Year Calendar. For explanation of the changes, click here: Explanation of calendar changes.
- September 8, 2020...Current Immunizations need to be updated for all students according to NJDOH
- September 17, 2020 ... Middle School Virtual Back to School NIght (More information to come).
- October 12- 13 (Picture Day Cohort A)/October 15-16 Picture Day Cohort B (Information about Remote Cohort to come)See this link to find out what Lifetouch is doing to reduce risk and social distance during the time of the photo shoot: Lifetouch Photo...THIS WILL BE RESCHEDULED
Keeping Up with What is Going on at the Hill!!!
19 Years Ago, President George W. Bush Addressed the Nation Following the Terrorist Attacks on our Nation
Welcome Bulldogs
Student Technology Etiquette
Parents, if your child is going to the Hybrid Model after 9/18, please see the below information from the district.
ATTENTION HYBRID FAMILIES: This was emailed to families by the WTPS Postmaster on the morning of 9/10/20:
All parents of students receiving in-person instruction are required to complete the WTPS COVID-19 Parent Daily Screening Pledge for Students PRIOR to students attending school. This form can be found on your Unified Classroom PARENT Account. We will not admit any student for in-person instruction whose parent has not completed the pledge.
- For directions on accessing the pledge in your Unified Classroom Parent Account, click this link.
- For questions or assistance with completing the pledge, please contact your child’s school.
- For help with your Unified Classroom Parent Account, please use this link.
We appreciate your cooperation and support in keeping our staff and students safe.
Instructional Models
Remote Instruction: 9/8 to 9/18
9/8-9/11...No remote Wednesday...The schedule is T, W, Th, F
Tuesday 9/8 (Periods 1-4 All Students)
Wednesday 9/9 (Periods 5-8 All Students)
Thursday 9/10 (Periods 1-4 All Students)
Friday 9/11 (Periods 5-8 All Students)
9/14-9/18...Schedule is as displayed
The purpose of "Remote Wednesdays" is to give teachers time to provide additional synchronous or asynchronous supports for hybrid and remote learners. A unique feature of "Remote Wednesdays" is the establishment of Office Hours, scheduled by individual teachers within the established timeframes by department. Teachers will be sending you particular time frames for office hours. We as a district have worked to minimize an overlap. Each teacher will inform students (through Schoology) when his/her specified office hour is.
The following aspects of Remote Wednesdays will support the success of all students during the 2020-21 hybrid learning year:
Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Teachers and school counselors or student assistance coordinators (SAC) will be encouraged to check in with students in need of support. Individual or small group live sessions can be scheduled.
Teachers can initiate communication with students in need of the opportunity to revisit learning and/or redo/retake summative assessments based on teacher parameters. Interventionists can also provide scaffolding and additional instructional interventions for students in need of support.
Independent Practice and Reinforcement of Skills: While Remote Wednesdays are to be considered as “no new work” instructional days, teachers may ask students to engage in various practice and reinforcement activities to help them retain previously learned skills and strategies
Please be on the lookout for the teacher's office hours
Hybrid Instruction (Cohort A, B, Remote) Beginning 9/21/20
All Students' Lessons Will be Posted on Schoology
Bunker Hill Middle School: Home of the Bulldogs
Email: ddijohn@wtps.org
Website: https://www.wtps.org/bunkerhill
Location: 372 Pitman Downer Road, Sewell, NJ, USA
Phone: 856 881 7007
Facebook: facebook.com/OfficialBHMS
Twitter: @Official_BHMS