BCIT MEDFORD NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2017
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Winter Break is here and the staff and students at BCIT-Medford are ready for a well deserved break. The first semester will be wrapping up very quickly, as there will only be roughly four weeks left when we return from break.
As we enter the dark and cold winter months, please remember to check the BCIT Medford web page for information related to school closures. The district also utilizes a global call system to keep everyone informed of delays and closures.
Upcoming Events in January:
PARCC Math Sessions Jan. 3-5
Poetry Read Outloud Jan. 17
Talent Show Jan. 19
Final Exams Feb. 1 - 2
It will be Spring Break before we know it, so be sure to visit to school calendar for important dates and events. As always, feel free to contact our staff for any questions that you may have regarding your child’s education.
Please have a safe and restful holiday break!
Mike Parker
Principal
BCIT Medford Pep Rally!
As a reward for our PRIDE students and to celebrate the start of the Winter Athletic season a Pep Rally was held here for the Girls and Boys Basketball Teams, our Cheerleading Squad and the Bowling Team on the afternoon of December 15th. The Jaguar Band played the event.
Congratulations to Medford Campus Senior, Liam Doherty!
Liam was recently inducted into Rowan College at Burlington County's Mathematic Honor Society. BCIT students can earn up to two years of college credits while attending BCIT.
BCIT SEMESTER 1, FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Final exams for BLOCKS 1 and 3* will be administered
Pre-Homeroom 8:12- 8:20 8 minutes
Homeroom 8:20- 8:26 6 minutes
BLOCK 1 8:26-10:26 120 minutes (Final Exam Administration)
Passing Time 10:26-10:32 6 minutes
BLOCK 3 10:32-12:32 120 minutes (Final Exam Administration)
Student Dismissal 12:32
Friday, February 2, 2018
Final exams for BLOCKS 2 and 4* will be administered
Pre-Homeroom 8:12- 8:20 8 minutes
Homeroom 8:20- 8:26 6 minutes
BLOCK 2 8:26-10:26 120 minutes (Final Exam Administration)
Passing Time 10:26-10:32 6 minutes
BLOCK 4 10:32-12:32 120 minutes (Final Exam Administration)
Student Dismissal 12:32
*PLEASE NOTE THE ORDER OF THE EXAM PERIODS
**MAKE-UP EXAMS will be held on Monday,February 5, 2018 which is a full day In-Service for teachers. Students need to provide their own transportation.
Semester 2 begins on Tuesday, February 6, 2018.
Dear Parents & Guardians - Back to School Day is coming soon!
The Burlington County Institute of Technology, Medford Campus, will be hosting a “Back-to-School Afternoon” on Tuesday, February 13, 2018. Students will have an early dismissal schedule with dismissal at 12:32 p.m. Conferences will begin at 1:35. You must schedule your conference with your son/daughter’s teacher in Genesis, between February 5-9, 2018, for the date of February 13.
To schedule a conference, please follow the steps below:
· Access BCIT Website
· Click on Parent Genesis at the top of the page
· Sign in
· Click on Student Data (top of page)
· Click on Conference (top right side)
· Request a Conference
· Choose Week of February 12
· Choose day February 13
· Choose a teacher
· Choose a time
· Click reserve
The appointment conference will be reserved at the end of these steps.
Please go to the Summary tab and print your child’s schedule. If you have any questions regarding scheduling your conference, you may contact Mrs. Bouchard at Ext. 8437.
We look forward to welcoming you and informing you about your child’s education at Burlington County Institute of Technology, Medford Campus.
We have a new Doctor in the House!
Instrumental & Vocal Music Director
Dr. Pamela L. Turowski has been a music educator for twelve years, teaching every level from early childhood to young adults as well as pre-service music teachers throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Dr. Turowski specializes in developing musicianship in instrumental music. She performs throughout the Philadelphia area on bassoon and as a jazz vocalist and her performances often include educational outreach. Dr. Turowski earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Rowan University, Master of Arts in Music Education from the Eastman School of Music, and has recently completed a Ph.D. in Music Education from Temple University. She is currently the Music Director of the Burlington County Institute of Technology Academy of Performing Arts in Medford, New Jersey.
I believe that we learn music in a similar way to learning a language. First we listen and soon develop a speaking vocabulary. Then we learn to read and write in that language. Music should be taught in a similar way--listen, sing/play, improvise, read, and compose.
Basketball has grown on Medford Tech senior Dasia Wright by Nick Italiano
If circumstances unfolded as Dasia Wright anticipated, she’d be in her third and final season of keeping statistics for the girls basketball team at Medford Tech. “I wanted to be the manager originally because I didn’t think I was that good at basketball,” said Wright, who asked sophomore classmate Jordynn Thompson to see if it could be arranged. Coach Ed Kenney had different ideas when Dasia walked into the gym carrying a lanky, 5-foot-11 frame at the time. “I told her, ‘I don’t need a scorekeeper, do you want to play?’” said Kenney, who asked that same question several times until they reached a compromise. “I asked Dasia to hang out and watch the (preseason) scrimmage. If she thought she could play at this level, I wanted her to play. If not, then come back tomorrow and be our manager,” said Kenney, who’s in his seventh season at the helm.
At the end of halftime, Kenney got a tap on the shoulder. Dasia told him, “I just called my mom. We’re going to get sneakers and I’ll see you at practice tomorrow.” Wright’s growth as a player is finally catching up to her growth physically. “I was always the tallest person in school — so awkward and skinny. I was terrible at basketball in middle school, so I stopped playing,” said Wright, who transferred from Rancocas Valley her freshman year to study computer science.
Once her growth spurts subsided, Wright has matured under her coach’s tutelage over the past two winters. “Mr. Kenney is such a good coach. He definitely lets you develop at your own pace, works with you and tries to bring out the best in you,” said Wright, who averaged nearly 15 points per game as a junior. "Dasia has never disappointed me. Such a strong kid who’s put in the time and is really trying,” Kenney said. “We’ve added six or seven post moves in her arsenal and the kids now respect her because she’s gotten so good.”
Thompson agrees. “Dasia has developed quickly, not like anyone else I’ve seen,” said Thompson, who deserves some recognition for introducing her to the team. “Whatever she gets, she deserves, because she earned it.” As co-captain, Wright has readily accepted a leadership role. “Dasia always has something positive to say in the huddle and always talks to us on the court,” said sophomore point guard Sam Walters, the lone underclassman in the starting lineup.
The Jaguars finished 9-15 last season and qualified for the state tournament for the first time in 25 years. “It felt so good to finally make the playoffs and we’re probably an even better team now,” said Wright, whose squad wants to host a playoff game. With a battle-tested and senior-laden team, the bar has been raised this winter.
Wright’s fellow Class of 2018 starters include shooting guard Sha’kera Hilton and small forward Sionnie Mathis. Tiara Bell and Thompson will share time down low while Taylor Thompson and Mia Cafaro add quality depth at guard and forward, respectively. Also on the agenda is setting the school record for wins in a season along with challenging for the Independence crown in the Burlington County Scholastic League. “We have to beat (defending champion) Riverside and we have them at the Wells Fargo Center on Feb. 12 in the afternoon,” Kenney said. “That could be for the division.”
This summer was an eye-opener for Wright, who got her first taste of AAU basketball and turned her focus to the future. “Being with a different team gave me whole new perspective and something clicked. I got to keep playing basketball and, hopefully, I will in college,” said Wright.
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CREDIT MAKE UP CALENDAR
Attendance for the first semester of the 2017-2018 schoolyear will be closed as of Wednesday, January 31st. Non-Credit make-up in January/February will include 13 days (January 4– February 15) that will run after school from 3-5p.m. in the café. These will count as a ½ day each and can be added up to complete full days as needed. Transportation will be provided via the late bus. We will run two Saturday Non Credit sessions, February 3rd and February 10th. Students must be in the Health Room by 8:00 a.m. for each Saturday session. A full day Saturday make-up is 4 hours and the students will be released via the student entrance at 12:00 p.m.
Saturday transportation is the responsibility of the student.
All dates are posted on the BCIT Medford website and calendar.
*Students are reminded to bring work to complete.*
Medford Campus Academy of Performing Arts Vocal Music Majors
Cassidy Outlaw (soprano), Jasmine McCormick (alto), Danielle Knouzi (alto), and Justin Ross (bass) performed the National Anthem at the New Jersey Association of Counties Summit on December 8, 2017. Directed by Dr. Pamela Turowski, Instrumental & Vocal Music Director, they performed for several state & local dignitaries. We are also proud to announce their next public performance will be at the Board of Chosen Freeholders Annual Reorganization Meeting on January 3rd, 2018 in Mt. Holly, NJ.
Medford Campus Vocal and Music Majors
On November 30th, the Academy of Performing Arts Vocal and Music students presented their Winter Concert. Thank you to all who came out to support our students!
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BCIT Foundation announces a $1,000 donation!
The PRIDE program very directly impacts more than half of BCIT students and encourages others in less direct ways.
The Ellis Family Foundation, started by the former owners of the Burlington County Times, made the donation to continue its support of PRIDE. The program, which operates at both campuses, encourages the positive behaviors that support positive academics. It has been linked to fewer discipline cases, detentions, suspensions, and attendance problems.
PRIDE rewards students for solid attendance, good deeds, and clean disciplinary records. Students with PRIDE cards have earned admission to special programming, discounted rates to school events, participation in occasional dress-down days, and entrance into weekly drawings for rewards like school-branded merchandise and gift cards to local stores.
BCIT Foundation is committed to finding financial support for the PRIDE Program, and appreciates any donated amount. You can contribute with a check to BCIT Foundation, with "PRIDE" in the memo line, sent to PO Box 297 in Rancocas, NJ 08073. While any amount helps, note that $25 covers a week of PRIDE expenses at both campuses, and $100 offsets end-of-year recognition events.
For more information on the BCIT Foundation, visit www.bcit.cc/foundation.
Just a reminder as we begin Semester 2. Any changes to student schedules after the start of the second semester will only be considered for the following reasons:
· A data or statistical error in the schedule, i.e., two subjects in one period, no lunch, wrong grade level for English, etc.
· To meet graduation requirements or mandated program requirements.
· If student failed with scheduled teacher in the previous year and another teacher is available. Where necessary, such changes will be made at counselor discretion, and only after extensive review of the circumstances.
· Improper program/level placement, i.e., student is not in the course(s) as indicated on the course request form.
In all cases, except a clerical or data error, parental permission or parental awareness is necessary in writing before any change can be made. No course may be dropped after the first interim report is issued. Students may not transfer out of any class after four (4) weeks from the beginning of semester course and after nine (9) weeks from the beginning of a full year course.
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We will be administering the ASVAB again on February 13, 2018 to give our students an additional opportunity to fulfill their graduation requirement. Please encourage your son or daughter to take advantage of the online practice tests in preparation for the test.
https://uniontestprep.com/asvab/practice-test
https://uniontestprep.com/asvab/practice-test
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The Accuplacer is being administered on January 24, 2018. If you son or daughter has registered, please encourage your son or daughter to take advantage of the online practice tests in preparation for the test.
https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/students/prepare-for-accuplacer
https://accuplacerpractice.collegeboard.org/login
http://www.studyguidezone.com/accuplacertest.htm
Our Winter Sports season is in full swing and our teams are participating in various competitions and games across the state. Beginning this spring sports season all student-athletes wishing to participate in athletics at Medford Tech must register online. More information will come shortly, but please check the athletics website regularly for important registration information. All student-athletes and his/her parent/guardian must sign and submit all required medical forms to the Nurse’s Office at least 3 weeks prior to the start of the sports season in order to participate. More information is available on the Athletics website.
Please come out and support our Jaguar Athletic Teams. The bowling team competes at Medford Lanes. The boys and girls basketball and cheerleading teams compete in the gymnasium on campus. For schedules to all events and games click HERE
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~Way to go Medford Campus 12th Grader Scott Swinger~299!!!
~Congratulations again Scott on a job very well done~
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STUDENT-ATHLETE INFORMATION
Any senior student-athlete wishing to compete in the NCAA Division I or II must complete an application through the NCAA Clearinghouse. Click HERE to register. You must complete this process to receive any type of athletic scholarship money! Student athletes are reminded to send their SAT and ACT test scores to the Eligibility Center by entering the code “9999” in the box when registering for the tests. Any senior student-athlete wishing to compete in the NAIA level must register through the NAIA Eligibility Center. Click HERE to register. You must complete this process to receive any type of athletic scholarship money!
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STUDENT ACTIVITY ORGANIZATIONS
BCIT-Medford offers a wide range of student activity organizations. We recommend and encourage all students to become involved in at least one club/organization. Feel free to contact the staff advisors and see how you can become involved. Additional information may be found on the school website under Student Life. Click HERE to view our student activities.
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MY SCHOOL BUCKS
To make an online payment please click HERE and create a MySchoolBucks account. Then find your product and make a payment. We encourage all students to make their payments via MySchoolBucks.
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MEDFORD TECH APPAREL
Please check out our online spirit wear store to get your Medford Tech apparel. It can be customized for any academic, career major content area, club/activity or athletic team. The items are shipped directly to your house. Please click HERE to take you directly to the online store.
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Medford Culinary Arts & Hospitality Students Literally Serving our Business Community
Thank you to our talented Medford Campus Culinary Arts & Hospitality students and staff for preparing and serving a delicious meal.
BCIT MEDFORD WINTER DANCE CONCERT
On December 7th and 8th, the Academy of Performing Arts Dance students presented their Winter Dance Concert. The performance included solo works choreographed by Junior Dance Majors and group works choreographed by Senior Dance Majors. Thank you to all who came out to support our students!