BHMS Principal's Update
February 18, 2020
Keeping Up with What is Going on at the Hill!!!
We hope you had a restful Presidents' and Valentine's Weekend. We are 1/2 way through February and if we don't have any snow days, we are entering about 6 weeks where there is no extended weekend or no days off. It can be hard for middle school students to sustain the drive to keep pushing toward their goals. It is not uncoming for this long stretch to create what researchers across the country call a "malaise" at the middle level as the students get comfortable with the year. However, while they are comfortable, they can lose focus just as the school year is getting harder. We will continue to work to communicate with you and establish a partnership so we can help the students not only move forward, but to also combat this phenomenon and even improve academically and behaviorally.
For your purposes, there is a lot of information in this update. Please view it to stay current at the happenings at BHMS.
Lastly, please click here if you wish to view a short video explaining the contents of the bulletin.
Please review the information below. As always, have a wonderful next couple of weeks.
Sincerely,
Mike D'Ostilio
(Principal)
New and Important Information and Events
Disabling of Microsoft Teams
For those of you who aren't aware, Teams is a chat feature not unlike Skype or Google Hangouts. It can be a very useful tool. However, many middle school students have used this feature to chat in class when they're supposed to be engaging in studies, disrupt class, or even worse, use it as a vehicle for inappropriate comments and derogatory comments about others.
If you click the picture below, or go to https://www.wtps.org/Page/27974 you will be able to access a tutorial as to how to turn off Teams notification from your child's computer. Each child will be instructed how to do this manually and if your child turns it back on, that would be considered a technology violation.
Thanks as always for your support. Also keep in mind that various websites are blocked here at school under district permissions. When the students go home, they are no longer subjected to our Internet restrictions. Your children can access anything at home that is permissible through your home internet service. Many families don't know this; so it can be a good reminder.
Families, Please Consider Advertising Your Business On Our Student Folders. If We Get 16 Advertisements, the School Will Get $1200 to Support Initiatives for Students. See Below and the Bottom of the Update for More Info.
BHMS Student Council Revives the 8th Grade Snowball Dance for February 21, 2020
- Dance is for 8th grade Bunker Hill Students Only. Students who do not attend Bunker Hill will not be permitted to attend.
- Students must get permission slip signed by parents.
- 7-9pm on February 21, 2020
- $10 for the ticket (Tickets Must Be Purchased in Advance). Snacks will be provided at an extra cost. Ticket sales help offset cost of the end of year 8th grade trip.
- This is NOT a formal event. This is a semi formal. This means for students dress nicely but Tuxes and Gowns and Limos are not permitted. This is not a prom. It's meant to be a fun, no pressure 8th grade dance. Students can come in a peer group. We don't want students to feel pressure to "ask" someone to the dance.
- There will be a photo booth, DJ, and plenty of refreshments.
- Let's make this a great success with a majority of the 8th graders attending
Bunker Hill Middle School Spiritwear Available...Click the Photo Below to Access the Link for Purchasing. Deadline for Orders 3/15/20
7th/8th Grade Music Trip/High Notes Festival
New WTHS PRIDE Schedule Discussion Wednesday, Feb 26, 2020 at 6:30 PM
Support our 3rd Annual Faculty v Girls' Basketball Team on March 4, 2020 After School.
Disabilities Awareness Activities
Most importantly, the students will be reminded that while this activity may give students a glimpse into what having a specific disability may be like, they will never really know because they don't have to live with the disability day after day and face the challenges, discrimmination, or misunderstanding that may come with it. We feel it is also important to remind students that a particular disability is merely one aspect of a person's indentity, and it in no way defines who they are.
Middle School District World Language Night Coming to BHMS
To Pre-Register for the College and Career Fair, Consider Using Your Smart Phone
PURCHASE YOUR COMMEMORATIVE BRICKS-- BRICK SALE IS BACK!!!
Extra Curricular Activities - Join Any Time
Many of the clubs have started. Please listen to the morning announcements or view them on the website. If you don’t hear your club on the announcements, please view the club list in the main hallway or in the cafeteria to see who the teacher is to contact. You can also visit this link: https://www.wtps.org/Page/6860.
Please keep in mind that in all three middle schools there are clubs that are the same and clubs that are different. We try to have a wide assortment of clubs for all students to enjoy.
It is also important that families know about the prep clubs. Prep clubs are in place to provide homework assistance and study assistance. If your child needs to attend or receive extra support, please see this link so you know when your child’s grade level prep club meets. https://www.wtps.org/Page/26254.
IMPORTANT...Updated Vistor Procedure
Winter Edition of the Bunker Hill Times
National School Folders
Stay Up to Speed with the BHMS PTO
Wellness
Schools and the Department Of Health Look to Put Out Information on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
BHMS Pantry Coming to BHMS
Important Information About the Vaping Epidemic
Breakfast Grab and Go
School Lunch Information
Other information you can obtain by clicking on the photo. This includes lunch menus, health information, free and reduced lunch information.
Upcoming Events
- Feb 21...8th Grade Snowball Dance
- Feb 26...Pride Schedule Presentation at the High School
- Feb 27...Dress For Success Day
- Feb 28...ASTA Festival
- March 3...BHMS Counselor to Visit Birches
- March 4...Faculty v Girls Basketball Team Charity Event
- March 5...BHMS Counselor to Visit Whitman
- March 5...Disability Awareness Activities
- March 6...6pm...World Language Night...Middle School Students Only
- March 10...6-8pm...College and Career Fair...9/10 High School Gym
Recurring Items
Middle School Code of Conduct
The code of conduct for the middle level was revised last year. It reflects a concentration on purposeful discipline aimed at shaping behavior. It incorporates restorative practices and categorizes infractions based on tiers. Students will be briefed in the first couple of days on the minor changes to the document. Click here to access the full document.
Child Abuse or Neglect Hotline
A new law was recently passed that mandated schools inform parents and students of the NJABUSE hotline. We have posted signs around the building and would like to inform you. Please, if you suspect the abuse or neglect of a child, report that to this hotline. School personnel are familiar with this service and have used it. We have a duty to report credible suspicions for the sake of a child.
Resources for the Teen and Adolescent Child
These resources can be found on our webpage in the “Parents” tab. We will work to update information for you to help your child have a safe and healthy pre-teen and teen experience while in middle school. As a middle school administrator for many years, and in talking with Dr. Muscelli and the counselors, we see trends that have surfaced at the middle level. We’ve included links on three important topics so we as a community can educate ourselves about what your child may be experiencing or engaging in. You most likely are aware of some of the information in these resources, but we feel they are important to share. We will update and add to these resources throughout the year. Right now we’ve included information on Vaping, Social Media, and Anxiety. Please view these resources at https://www.wtps.org/domain/3013 or go to the Bunker Hill Web Page and click on the “Parents” tab then scroll down to the bottom of the list.
School Safety Procedures
Please go to this link: Safety Procedures to access the latest information regarding drills, dropping off/picking up procedures, visitation to the school, bike safety, and procedures for handling threats causing public alarm.
Partnership with Jake's Pizza on Greentree Road
Through the help of the PTO, Jakes has agreed to give us pizza at a discount price and fundraise for us all year. In return, we agree for all our school-based events (involving pizza) to order from Jake's. Click on the picture to see specifics.
“The Bunker Hill Times”…This is a student created newsletter that comes out quarterly. To view the most current edition please click on this link: Bunker Hill Times 19-20 Winter Edition
Bunker Hill Middle School: Home of the Bulldogs
Sign up for Remind Notifications
--Grade 6…Text @BHMS2022 to 81010
--Grade 7…Text @BHMS2021 to 81010
--Grade 8…Text @BHMS2020 to 81010
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