Banks Trail Middle School

Good Afternoon Timberwolf Familes,

Spring has sprung here at The Trail and we are gearing up for all of the wonderful things that our students are involved with. This 3rd quarter of the year has flown by and we are putting the final touches on the Q3 report cards. Please encourage your students to take full advantage of turning in late or missing work, making corrections to assignments, or taking care of those last minute tasks before grades are due at the end of next week. We want to see all of our students finish strong.

Congratulations to all involved with our Beauty and the Beast performances! The cast and crew did an amazing job with all of their hard work and the performances were so much fun to watch. To see a show like this, it is easy to forget that it was middle school students on the stage. Everyone did such a great job.

The warmer weather means our Timberwolves are back in action with Spring Sports. Come out and see the wolves on the Track, the Baseball Diamond, and the Soccer Field. Good luck to our athletes this season!

We are looking forward to bringing back our A week/B week rotation. Starting on March 20th, students will rotate weekly how they travel through their schedule. "A Weeks" have no change to how students move through their school day. "B Weeks" do not change lunch or Related Arts, but flip the order in which they go to their core classes. Rather than going from their 1st core class to their 2nd core, to the 3rd, then the 4th, our students will travel the schedule in reverse on B Weeks. Their 4th core class will be first, then 3rd, then 2nd, ending with their 1st class at the end of the day.

This was a normal Banks Trail practice. We had to stop during the COVID years, but we are seeing a need to bring this practice back, and Spring is when it is needed the most. Many children have periods of the day when they are more focused, engaged, and ready with their best energy. This is great for the classes that fall within this window. The A Week/B Week rotations allows students to attend their classes during different parts of the day. It helps balance things out for our students and it benefits all of our classes. I'm sure there will be some adjustments that will need to be addressed, but this practice has proven very beneficial to our students over the years and we are excited to bring this rotation back to Banks Trail.

Please take a few minutes and complete the Parent Survey sent by the Department of Education. A huge measure of a school's success comes from feedback from our parents. By sharing your thoughts on these survey items, you are helping us to make Banks Trail better for our kids. Thank you for the time you spend in sharing your thoughts.

Please also consider joining us at the District Office at 6:00 on March 14th for a RAP Session on The Secrets of Social Media and the cyber concerns our children are facing. We will have a panel of experts sharing strategies and suggestions for keeping kids safe in a digital world.

We have a lot happening at The Trail before Spring Break and we would love to see you cheering on our Wolves.

Thank you for your partnership!

Marc Pyrc

BTMS Principal

March Terrific Timberwolves and Leaders of the Pack

Recognizing our Terrific Timberwolves

These are our students of the month. Selected by teachers for their hard work, great attitudes, and willingness to help others. Way to go, Wolves!

6-1- Maddie R.

6-2 - Collins F.

7-1- Jaylah M.

7-2- Logan C.

8-1- Mason G.

8-2- Jae B.

Related Arts- Cecilia A.

Related Arts- Adelaide S.

Leaders of the Pack

These individuals are selected to represent their grade level as The Leader of the Pack. These students are The Trail, as they show outstanding Teamwork, Responsibility, Ambition, Integrity, and Leadership. Great Job!

6th Grade- Shaleigh C.

7th Grade- Aiden B.

8th Grade- Kalyn R.

Related Arts- Jayden C.

Teachers of the Month

Mrs. Adair-

Mrs. Adair is a member of our 8th grade team. She teaches Math 8 and Algebra 1 and is a standout teacher in our school. She forms great relationships with our students and has a gift for moving students forward with their math. Her students leave her class ready for high school.

Mrs. Blocker-

Mrs. Blocker is new to Banks Trail this year and is doing some great things in her 6th grade ELA and Social Studies classes. She is a member of our STEAM Team and our Ci3T Leadership Team. She has been a great addition to our fantastic 6th grade cast and has quickly become a BTMS superstar.

Media Center

Congratulations to the Battle of the Books Winners:

York County Overall Winner - Sullivan Middle School

1st Rock Hill School District - Sullivan Middle School

1st Fort Mill School District - Banks Trail Middle

BTMS Battle of the Books Members (see team names below) participated in a champions walk at Banks Trail on Friday, February 10. This is the third consecutive year win for Banks Trail Middle. If any students are interested for 2023-2024, please see Mrs. Davis in the media center!

BTMS BOB Members:

Competing Team:

Valentina Z. (6th)

Ananya R. (7th)

Tanishqua G. (7th)

Cameron G. (7th)

Luna G. (7th)

Alternates:

CJ S. (6th)

Addison G. (7th)

Happy reading!

Mrs. Sara Davis

BTMS Library Media Specialist

Follow us!

Twitter: @BTMSmediacenter

Instagram: @btms.media.center

7th Grade Embryology Project

The 7th grade science department will be participating in the Embryology Project. We will incubate, hatch, and care for chicks to learn about their needs and relate it to our ecology standards. Anyone that cares to observe them/ have their class visit for their content may contact Mrs. Lemp. Eggs arrive on 2/13 and should hatch around March 6th.

Guidance Counselor's Corner

The 7th Grade Career Fair is Tuesday, March 28th in our gym. Students are asked to dress to impress! They will get to interact with companies such as QT and Comporium, as well as meet the owner of the new barber school opening in Fort Mill this summer!

State testing has arrived and will continue intermittently throughout the remainder of the school year. Remember to talk with your students regarding any upcoming testing. While testing is important there are ways to help your student minimize stress and maximize performance throughout the testing process.

Talk about the tests at home-encourage your student to do his or her best, but not to stress about them.

Give words of encouragement-Remind your student that he or she has been preparing for this all year. They are ready!

Have your child get a good night’s rest-Rest is important in having people feel their best.

Eat a good breakfast-Students who are full can focus easier and longer than students who feel hungry.

Get to school on time-Students who feel rushed to get to school, start their day with anxiety, and anxiety leads to frustration and poorer test performance.

Make sure students have everything they need-They should be prepared with pencils and erasers.

Things to remember:

Make sure your child attends school on testing days.

If your child is ill, please call the office to inform eh school of the absence.

Please check Doctor visits and other appointments and make any changes necessary to ensure your child is in school during testing.

After school tutoring began on January 10th - Contact Mrs. Crepeau for more information.

Counseling Staff:

Mr. Smith– 6th Grade smithd@fortmillschools.org

Mrs. Young – 7th Grade younga@fortmillschools.org

Mrs. Crepeau– 8th Grade crepeauk@fortmillschools.org

Nurses Corner

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. All students entering 7th grade must receive one (1) dose of Tdap vaccine on or after the 10th birthday.

The Tdap vaccine protects preteens and teens from three serious diseases. 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.

We are reminding you now so that you have time to plan for your child to be vaccinated early, before the start of 7th grade. Beat the back to school rush, a good time to get all of these vaccines is during a yearly health checkup. Talk to your child’s health care provider now about what vaccines he or she needs. Ask about these vaccines at a physical exam required for sports, school or camp. 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.

Make sure the school has the most updated immunization certificate on file for your child. Many students have received the Tdap but the school doesn’t have verification of it being given.

*After the first 30 calendar days of school (September 19, 2023) your student will not be allowed to attend school without verification of receiving the Tdap.

**This immunization certificate includes all 7th grade students enrolled in person to person and virtual learning for the school year 2023-2024.

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/

Important Reminders

Names

Please make sure to write your students name on all items brought into the school (lunch boxes, water bottles, sweaters, jackets etc.).

Start and Finish Times

School starts at 8:10 and dismisses at 3:10 daily. A half day will start at 8:10 and release at 11:35. Two hour early release days will start at 8:10 and release at 1:10. Students may enter the building at 7:45 each morning. Last day of school is May 25th which will be a half day.

Transportation

Bus transportation is provided and set up through the FMSD transportation. Please visit the FMSD website and click on transportation website. You can sign your student up for bus transportation through this website. As a reminder it takes approximately 36 hours for processing.

Students must ride their assigned bus and cannot change buses unless it is a change of address. All changes must be made through the transportation department.

Lunches

Student lunches are no longer free, so please make sure that your student has funds on their lunch account. Parents are welcome to drop off lunch boxes in the front office if a students forgets their lunch at home. Food delivery services, like Grubhub and UberEats, are not permitted for students.

Parents, please be aware of your student's lunch account balance and discuss it with them. There are many times students are unable to purchase the snacks/drinks they have selected due to a balance that is too low. This can sometimes be embarrassing for students as they have to return the items. Please note that students can ALWAYS get a complete breakfast and lunch. This is in reference only for snacks, special drinks and extra food. Thank you

STUDENT REMINDERS

When bringing items into the school for your students, please have the name of the student on the item and leave it with the Receptionist. Please note that students are called prior to the end of class or the start of class.

TARDY / TIME AND ATTENDANCE

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. Please remember to put both first and last name on all doctors, tardy and absent notes. If you have any questions please email Ms. Hartman at Hartmanm@fortmillschools.org

EARLY DISMISSAL

If you are picking up your student for early dismissal, please be cognizant of class times. The fewer times we have to interrupt our classrooms the more instructional time our students receive. The cutoff for students being picked up by a guardian is 2:40. There are no dismissals between 2:40 and 3:10 pm.

CHANGE OF CLOTHES

Guidance Counselors recommend that you send a change of clothes for students to keep in their possession 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.

PTO News

Welcome! If you have a child at Banks Trail Middle School then you are automatically a member of the PTO. Our mission is to encourage communication between parents, teachers, administration and the community. We also want to enrich our children's educational, social and developmental experiences.

Please click the link below for March News:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UQAz1JpVCdqDIZ4MyqyMCaqSpSxTSZJQ/view?usp=share_link

Please email the PTO board with any questions you might have - ptobtms@gmail.com

Be sure to check our website for updated information - https://btmspto.wixsite.com/btmspto

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

Website: https://btmspto.wixsite.com/btmspto

Email: ptobtms@gmail.com

Social Media: "BTMSPTO" on Facebook & "ptobtmsfortmill" on Instagram

-Remember to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with all the PTO events happening at the Trail!

@BTMSPTO

ptobtmsfortmill

-Don't forget you can buy spirit wear year round from our website. Select school delivery and it will arrive to your student's homeroom in 2 weeks.

Stay connected

Stay connected with us by following our Facebook page Banks Trail Middle PTO, our website btms.wixsite.com/btmspto, email us at ptobtms@gmail.com and look for the PTO section in the school newsletter.

Spirit Rock 2022-2023

Please consider signing up for the Spirit Rock to celebrate your child's special day.

Earn money for our school

Please remember you can earn money for our school just by shopping at Publix, Harris Teeter, Amazon Smile and by scanning for Box Tops!

Remember to check back often to see how your PTO is supporting our teachers - both face to face and virtually! Again, Thank You ALL for your support!

Upcoming Events 2023

Mar 7, Baseball vs GHMS @ FMMS

Mar 7, School Board Meeting

Mar 9, Academic Challenge Team Tournament

Mar 9, National Children's Theater Performance- 6th Grade

Mar 9, Baseball @ ILMS

Mar 13, Soccer @ GHMS

Mar 14, Baseball @ FCMS

Mar 15, End of 3rd Quarter

Mar 15, Track @ PKMS

Mar 16 Soccer @ SMS

Mar 16 Baseball vs GHMS

Mar 17, Teacher Work and Professional Day - No Students

Mar 21, School Board Meeting

Mar 22, Band CPA Trip

Mar 22, Soccer vs PKMS

Mar 22, Track @ FCMS

Mar 23, Soccer @ ILMS

Mar 23, Baseball vs. SMS

Mar 27-31- BTMS Spirit Week

Mar 28, 7th Grade Career Fair

Mar 29, Soccer vs FCMS

Mar 30, Soccer vs GHMS

Mar 30, Baseball vs GHMS

Apr 3-5 Spring Break

Accessibility

Banks Trail Middle School

Teamwork, Responsibility, Ambition, Integrity, Leadership

Banks Trail Middle School

Teamwork, Responsibility, Ambition, Integrity, Leadership

Good Afternoon Timberwolf Familes,

March Terrific Timberwolves and Leaders of the Pack

Teachers of the Month

Media Center

7th Grade Embryology Project

Guidance Counselor's Corner

Nurses Corner

Important Reminders

PTO News

Upcoming Events 2023

Together, Building A Tradition of Excellence

Banks Trail Middle School