Message from the Middle
Rita Sosa
October 2015
Dear Parents,
We are almost finished with MAP testing and are currently working on make-ups and individual tests. All MAP testing school wide will be finished this Friday.
First quarter officially ends on October 2, 2015. Check Edline to make sure any missing work your child may have to complete is turned in. Report cards will go out on Friday, October 9, 2015. Fifth grade parents will receive a copy of the report card at their scheduled conference on October 8th or 9th. Fifth grade parents will receive the time and date for their conference directly from the teacher. Although parent conferences are not formally scheduled for students in grades 6-12, parents should feel free to contact teachers at any time to schedule meetings to discuss their children’s progress or any other concerns they may have.
Our first quarter music concert is scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. in the Wolf Room. Our seventh and eighth grade choir will be part of this concert. Wait until you hear those voices! Parents of performers will receive a special invitation. All parents are welcome to attend. A performance for Middle School students has been scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in the Wolf Room on Friday, October 2nd. We have a lot of talent in the Middle School so you can count on a great concert if you have not had the opportunity to attend one before.
Our September Tribes Dragon Day was a big success. Activities were planned by the leaders of the Firedrake and Orochi Dragon Houses. Students designed and painted flags and banners for their Tribes. We added a new Tribe this year, Mushu, so now we have ten Tribes in all. The theme of the day was getting to know each other, and everyone was super involved. We look forward to a great Tribes year. If your child does not have a Dragon Day shirt or has outgrown the old one, you may purchase a new one for $12.00.
Once again, we have been asked to participate in a project sponsored by Pro-Ninez to help poor children who are in need. The following is information explaining the project:
In 2000, Asociacion Pro-Ninez Panamena began a program called “ Un rayito de luz para
Canazas”in order to increase att endance in school and decrease the levels of malnutrition in
o n e o f t h e p o o r e s t a r e a s o f o u r c o u n t r y . W i t h t h i s p r o g r a m w e s u p p l y m o r e t h a n 5 0 0 0
children in 75 schools in this very remote area in the province of Veraguas with all of the protein for their meals.
For the past 15 years, these rural schools have received rice, beans, oil and flour from the P a n a m a n i a n g o v e r n m e n t a n d w e h a ve c o m p l e m e n t e d t h a t w i t h p r o t e i n . H o w e v e r , t h e
government has now suspended sending these food supplies and currently the only fo od the
children receive is from Pro-Ninez. We are unable to send enough for their basic meals. With
the fear that the children will stop going to school and that l evels of malnutrition will go back
up, we are making an extra effort to find the recourses to send monthly to these schools. This is why we began this food drive for cans of jamonilla (spam) an d ask that all of you, who are
blessed with the ability to provide three meals a day to your c hildren, help these children in
Canazas.
We ask for your support with donations of cans of jamonilla (pr eferably without added flavor
and the highest in protein and lowest in fat). If you prefer yo u can also make a donation with
a check to Asociacion Pro-Ninez Panamena and the cans will be p urchased on your behalf.
T h e r e a r e d r o p o f f b o x e s f o r t h e c a n s i n t h e m i d d l e s c h o o l l o b b y f o r t h e e n t i r e w e e k o f
September 28-October 2 nd .
Representatives from Pro-Ninez met with our students on Thursday, September 24th to explain the project. We had a chance to see pictures of students who have been helped in the past The collection will be a Tribes activity. It helps our students understand the importance of sharing and caring, two very important values which we promote in Tribes. Please help your child support this activity.
We are almost finished taking our school pictures. The schedule is posted on Edline.
At the end of each quarter, please take a few moments to think about personal items which you are missing. Please check our lost and found and the ones in the gym and Dragon Den.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Middle School office at 302-0032.
Rita Sosa
Principal, Middle School
Balboa Academy
Collaborate to innovate, together succeed