BHMS Principal's Update
May 4, 2020 (Remote Learning Update)
New and Important Information
Keeping Up with What is Going on at the Hill!!!
We are embarking on Week 7. We are still in limbo as we wait for the Governor to decide the fate of the school year. I do appreciate the care that the government and health officials of New Jersey are taking. As South Jersey cases are on the rise this week, I encourage everyone to be safe.
Dr. Muscelli and I want to thank all the families and students who wished us warm wishes on Friday for Principal's Day. It was certainly a nice gesture. It was certainly not necessary, but heartwarming nevertheless. It was nice to get the remembrance from some Bulldogs as we hold all Bulldogs in our hearts.
This week is teacher appreciation week. Just as you're struggling with time management at home, the teachers are really busy trying to do the best they can. Now more than ever, it is so important to let them know how much they're appreciated. A simple email of thanks and wishing them a good week can go a long way. The PTO set up some ideas for the week, which are included below. Anything you as children or a family can do to let the teachers know how awesome they've been is so needed during this time. It would mean a ton to them and would go a long way.
I know I greatly appreciate these teachers and you as parents who have become the homebound teacher at times. You deserve that accolade as well.
Please see the new information in this newsletter.
- Teacher Appreciation Spirit Days
- Need for Support with Children's Academics
There is no video message this week.
Take Care Bulldog Families. Be safe.
Regards,
Mike D'Ostilio (Prinicpal)
Please take time this week to let the teachers know how much you value them.
Bulldog Families...We Need Help to Make Sure Students are Keeping Up with Their Studies
Families, we need your help. Our teachers are working hard, and families are working hard as well to keep the children motivated to do the work. Since many teachers are making themselves available through video conferencing, students need to understand that they are still "in school". This means when a teacher comes on the screen or when the teacher opens a test for a specific window of time, the students are expected to show proper readiness to learn...we've noticed students talking with their peers in the background, letting the meeting be on the computer without paying attention, playing video games during the meeting, etc. We've had some students unfortunately say they can't test or do the assignment because they are napping. To be honest it's not everyone but it's enough to be incredibly frustrating as a teacher is planning the lesson and the student isn't paying attention then asks for a redo on an assignment. It's hard in the remote setting for both parent and teachers to watch over the students as we normally can in the classroom. We understand that students can't do everything at a specific time, but we do expect that if we give enough heads up that there will either be a test or a conference that the student is ready to participate. We recognize that students are finding their way as they learn email etiquette and responsibility. Any support you can give the teachers regarding reminding students of the expectations would be awesome and very much appreciated.
Athletic Teams Information...Fall Sports...MAY 1 AND JUNE 15 ARE KEY DEADLINES
First, if your child would like to play a fall sport (at BHMS it's just field hockey, but at the high school, there are more opportunities), you have to register/create an account with the Family ID Portal by May 1, 2020. The link to Family ID can be found here: Family ID
Once you do that, you should download all the physical information. As of right now, this is due June 15, 2020. This timeline is vital to give all principal parties like you, your doctor, school nurse, and contracted school physician to review the physical forms. This can take weeks. Please adhere to the deadline so that it provides ample time to review the forms so your child is ready to try out /participate in school sports. The date is very important.
By Clicking on this link: Participation Information, you need to download/print all relevant "physical forms" paperwork. This includes:
- Asthma Treatment Plan
- Health History Questionnaire
- Sports Physical Form.
For questions, please reach out to our school nurse Mrs. Keane at bkeane@wtps.org
Click the Image Below to Access Current Information Regarding 5th Grade Transition to 6th Grade
Information about Taking Assessments
1. The teacher may not assign your child the test until the teacher can certify that your child is ready to take it.
2. If a child doesn't do the work leading up to a test, takes the test, and does poorly, the student may ask for a retest. However, it is likely that the teacher will not provide the retest unless the student goes back to do the supportive work or redo some missed assignments.
As a principal, I support this practice because with the two examples above, we are promoting learning and acquisition of skills or standards. We're trying to get students to focus on submitting the best work they can rather than just getting the work done.
Understandably, middle school students just want to get school done with for the day. However, if we can slow them down a little to focus on the quality of what they're submitting, rather than how fast, students will be able to maintain their high marks in school.
To be truthful, a majority of the students are really trying to put their best foot forward and are meeting expectations in a stellar Bulldog-like fashion. However, there are still a large many that may need a simple reminder to slow down and really concentrate on what they are turning in.
Thanks as always for your support. I think this is incredibly difficult on everyone, especially the parents as they are trying to navigate their own jobs while providing oversight and support to their own children. While we've grown accustomed to this, it is still incredibly difficult. Hopefully, knowing our parameters will help with conversations about this (if necessary) with your child.
Thanks again.
If You Haven't Purchased a Yearbook, and Still Want to, There is Still Time!!! Click the Image Below
Updates to Keep in Mind
Update 3/16/20...Teachers may call you as parents to discuss your child's grades and the like. You may receive the call and it will say Blocked Call or No Caller ID. While we often don't answer these calls, this is how calls from the school may come since we'll be using our cell phones.
Update 3/29/20.
- NJSLA State Test and Middle School Final Exams Cancelled
- Teachers were given permission by the District's BOE to engage in video conferencing with students as an optional form of delivering instruction.
Update 4/6/20.
- Ms. Kerfoot and Mr. Petticrew link resources to counseling page to help with anxiety, understanding, and organization of academics and well being during this time.
- End of the 3rd Marking period is 4/9. However, we the grades will not be permanently stored at this time to give teachers an opportunity to obtained missed or incomplete work from students.
Update 4/20/20
- 7th/8th Grade Music Trip Cancelled
- Information about Final Marking Period Needs
The Final Marking Period...Click on the Picture Below to Access Very Important Information About Marking Period 4
Important Contact Information (other than teachers)
Click the Image Below to Access the School's Counseling Page with COVID-19 Counseling Resources
Answers to Some Questions That Have Come Up.
Question 1 Starting the Day
- Q: Do students have to log in a certain time of day?
- A. Not specifically, students should work during the school day to get work done. Typically a student will begin work at 8am. This keeps kids in the academic routine. They should be keeping up with email and emailing their teachers. Update: Teachers are expected to post their lessons by 9:30 am
Question 2 Talking to a Live Person
- Q: What happens if I need to speak with a person instead of email.
- A. Mr. D'Ostilio (Principal) and Dr. Muscelli (Assistant Principal) have set up phone lines that allow for text and voicemail. We will try to take the live calls but it won't always be possible. That being said, we will check these lines regularly and get back to you as soon as possible. Additionally, Mr. D'Ostilio is the point person for the 8th grade and Dr. Muscelli is the point person for the 6th and 7th grades.
- Mr. D'Ostilio's Contact is mdostilio@wtps.org (Email)/856-318-9386 (Talk or Text)
- Dr. Muscelli's Contact is gmuscelli@wtps.org (Email)/856-362-4441 (Talk or Text)
Question 3 Expected Work/Deadlines
- Q. How much work is expected, what if my child can't make the deadlines?
- A. Teachers are trying to give 20-30 minutes of work a day per class. If your child is struggling with more work or time management, please reach out to the teachers to let them know the pitfalls. Deadlines are expected to be adhered to, but there will be some latitude. However, please make sure your child is keeping up with work. Your child should not be getting additional homework on top of these assignments. Please let Dr. Muscelli and I know if homework is being assigned.
Question 4 Getting in Touch with Teacher via Phone
- Q: If I want to talk to my child's teacher, what do I do?
- A: Teachers have been given permission to reach out by phone based on their comfort or cell phone plan. If a teacher calls, it will be either "blocked" or "no caller ID" to preserve the privacy of the teacher's cell number. Phone conference would be arranged via email and then the teacher would call at the appointment time.
Question 5 Grades in PowerSchool
- Q: When are teachers going to put grades in?
- A: Since teachers are being flexible with deadlines, grades might not be entered as timely as you would hope or what has been our practice. Teachers are trying to have the quickest turnover with grades possible.
Question 6 Teachers Returning Emails
- Q: Why is it that sometimes I email a teacher at the end of the day, and he/she doesn't get back to me until the next day?
- A: Since its a long day for everyone, if the teacher receives an email after 3pm or so, he or she may not have the opportunity to respond until the following day. Thanks for your patience with that.
Question 7 Internet, Devices, and Wifi
- Q: What do I do if my computer fails to work or I'm having trouble with my software.
- A: Scroll Down to the IT Section and Click on the Links or go directly to https://www.wtps.org/Domain/3156 for the Technology COVID-19 Page of the District
Question 8 IEPs/504s/I and RS Plans
- Q: Who do we seek out if we need clarification if our child has a specialized academic program and need to talk to someone about it?
- A: We have a myriad of peole that can help. Remember, to reach a person via email, type in the staff members first initial of his/her first name, followed by the last name then @wtps.org
Question 9 Student Learning Gaps and Preparedness for Next Grade Level
- Q: What is going to happen to help students fill in the gaps of learning due to the students being taught remotely?
- A: Currently, we have scaled lessons way back. We have reviewed our curriculum and have given the students what we deem most essential to solidify learning while not all lessons may be at the rigor of expectation for the classroom. In our administrative meetings, we have discussed how Supervisors next year will have to look at their curriculum and have articulation meetings as to the expected readiness of the students. We understand that pacing may need to be adjusted and reteaching happen a lot more next year in the fall. We will go through the 2020-21 school year, where we are able to accelaerate units in content areas and spend more time on others depending on the readiness of the child. We are prepared that there may be a gap in instruction and are making plans to remediate that gap either by curriculum or teaching practices.
Question 10: Virtual Learning at a Specified Time
- Q: Why aren't teachers teaching lessons at specified times during the day and having "class."?
- A: There are several factors that go into this. It is incredibly difficult to have all students online at the same time per class. We have families that are sharing devices, we have families with different internet connectivity, we have families that are working where the older sibling has chip in and help with the household. Due to this unpredicatability, we have to be as equitable as possible. We have found that the best vetted course of action is to give lessons, check in via email with the students, and make ourselves available through Microsoft Teams, Schoologoy, Email, or WebEx to provide that feedback if a student reaches out to let us know they're struggling or we ourselves find a disconnect in the work the student is turning in versus their proficiency on an assessment. The model that we're employing here is to try to take into account all situations, while at the same time providing more opportunity for feedback. We are leaving it up to the familiy's individual needs to come up with a suitable working schedule for the family's needs. Our counseling department page on our website has a link to help students organize their day. You can download the form here at https://www.wtps.org/Page/30319 or you can use a Check off list, which you can find here: https://www.wtps.org/Page/30372.
Click the Image Below to Gain Access to Independent Reading Books for ELA
Recurring Items From Previous Newsletters
This link includes also information on Remote Learning Tech Support and Support with Video Conferencing Sites.
Bunker Hill Middle School: Home of the Bulldogs
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Email: ddijohn@wtps.org
Website: https://www.wtps.org/bunkerhill
Location: 372 Pitman Downer Road, Sewell, NJ, USA
Phone: 856 881 7007
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