The Weekly Update #5
From the Desk of Ms. Hicks
Back to School Night
We would like to thank everyone who attended our Back-to-School Night on September 8th. Watching families take part in the creation of the Bates tapestry was heartwarming. We changed the structure of the event this year and would appreciate any feedback you may have. Please use this link to provide your thoughts about Back to School Night.
Come to our first PTA meeting of the year! (VIRTUAL)
Please come to our first PTA meeting of the year!
The first meeting will be held online on September 22, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
To join from your browser go to: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83556274105?pwd=UHM5V1NvU01JREFsM25aNFBjOGJJdz09
Meeting ID: 835 5627 4105
Passcode: Cougars
To join from your phone, please dial 301-715-8592 and enter
Meeting ID: 835 5627 4105
Passcode: Cougars (2684277)
We look forward to seeing you there!
(All future meetings will be the second Thursday of each month)
We want to hear from YOU!
In preparation for the upcoming PTA meeting, please complete this form if there is a topic or question you would like Ms. Hicks to cover during the Principal's Report.
Cougar Calendar
Cougar Grams
Thank you to parents/guardians who purchased Cougar Grams for students at Back to School Night! They received their message and a treat during their lunch time on Wednesday, Sept. 14th!
Bates Buck Cart available EVERY Friday
Kids can use their well-earned Bates Bucks for all sorts of goodies!
Bates Buck Cart and Calming Corner Donations
Calming Corner Amazon Wishlist
Each class has a calming corner to allow kids to help improve self regulation, manage behavior, and help build social emotional skills. If you are able, please donate any items for our teacher's calming corners. Thank you! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3NJYP1G7OCNBJ?ref_=wl_share
Bates Dance Company Auditions
Bates Drama Club
School Play
Spamalot
All Bates students interested in auditioning or working on tech crew for the school play, Monty Python’s Spamalot, middle school edition, should visit the Bates Drama Club’s website. The site contains all details and online forms.
Deadlines
Parents/Guardians of auditioning students must register for the required virtual information meeting by September 26, 2022. Choose between meeting dates on September 27 or 28 or email the director, Mr. Egna, megna@aacps.org, to arrange an alternative if you have conflicts.
Students must apply to audition by October 3, 2022, for auditions on either October 11 or 13.
Students interested in tech crew leadership positions must apply by October 26, 2022.
Students interested in tech crew member jobs (non-leadership) must apply by February 7, 2023.
Assistance
The website and online forms are accessible from student Chromebooks, home computers, and mobile devices. If you cannot print at home, hardcopies of documents are available in the club’s wall pocket outside the cafeteria and from Mrs. Peregrina, Mr. Kurtzberg, and Ms. Miller. If you have no internet access at home, we will gladly assist families with applications. For help submitting tech crew applications, please email our technical director, Ms. Peregrina, mperegrina@aacps.org. For help with audition applications or virtual info meeting registration, please email our director, Mr. Egna, megna@aacps.org.
Please come to our first community event this year!
Last day to RSVP to the BBQ is Sept. 19th. - Here is the link! Hamburgers and hotdogs will be served on a first come, first serve basis. Once they run out, we do have two food trucks on site to purchase food! Please bring chairs or blankets to relax on and outdoor games or sports balls to play with!
Why cook when you can have lunch or dinner at MOD PIZZA!
SHOW YOUR COUGAR PRIDE!
SAVE THE DATE
Picture day is scheduled for October 18 (make up day Nov. 29)
Do you want to know what is happening at Bates? FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM!
Are you looking to give back to Bates? Be a volunteer!
If you are interested in volunteering at Bates Middle School, please do the following:
- Watch the sexual harassment and child abuse training module and complete a verification form which is kept on file at the school.
- Complete a commercial background check at https://www.aacps.org/chaperone (scroll to the bottom of the page). Successful completion of a commercial background check is required before any person has access to students, either on or off school property. There is no cost to the volunteer. Know what level of background check is required. The following groups of individuals must complete a fingerprint-supported background check. The cost of fingerprinting is $58.25 and it includes the commercial background check.
- All overnight volunteers or chaperones
- All drown proofing volunteers or chaperones (effective 07/02/2018)
- Any volunteer or chaperone with one-on-one unsupervised/unrestricted access to children
Please note: Commercial and fingerprint-supported background checks for chaperones should be completed at least 3 weeks prior to the scheduled field trip.
Once you complete these tasks, please email Mr. Gabriel at wgabriel-bustam@aacps.org who will verify your volunteer status and contact you with opportunities.
"Not in Service" Buses
If any student is late due to a bus that is currently not in service or your family can not provide transportation due to a bus not in service, please email Ms. Clark at cclark3@aacps.org so their attendance can be updated properly.
Need to report an absence? No Problem!
Student Absences
If you need to report your student absent for a partial day or for the entire day, please click on the image and complete the google form.
Ausencias de estudiantes
Si necesita informar que su estudiante estuvo ausente por un dÃa parcial o por todo el dÃa, haga clic en la imagen y complete el formulario de Google.
These attendance forms can also be found on the Bates Website. You may also email the Attendance Secretary, Christine Clark, at cclark3@aacps.org with your attendance note.
Lunch Delivery Policy
Bates Middle School will not accept deliveries from any restaurant or third-party vendor like DoorDash, GrubHub, Uber Eats, etc. Students and parents may not arrange for those services to provide food to students during the school day. If a parent is unable to drop off a lunch for their student, we will provide them with a meal from the cafeteria. Additionally, parents bringing bulk food drop-offs (lunch for your student and some of their friends) will not be accepted. Please limit any lunch drop-offs to your student only, and only in the rare instance of forgetfulness.
Don't forget to fill out the Free and Reduced Meal Application
Free and Reduced Meal Application
For this upcoming school year, all school lunches will need to be purchased. There are no longer free lunches for all students. However, breakfast will still be available for all students for free. Below is the link to get to the Food & Nutrition Services website.
https://aacpsschools.org/nutrition/apply-for-free-or-reduced-price-meals/
Below is the direct link to the application
https://frapps.horizonsolana.com/welcome
This form needs to be completed as soon as possible.
If your student would like to meet with their grade level counselor, please have them use the below links to request an appointment. These links are also available on each teacher's Brightspace page.
Request to See Mrs. Barnett (6th Grade)
https://forms.gle/F6ZFZmZhayVGCcJc6
Request to See Ms. Darling (7th Grade)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nQAAGOTHWZIi2AJ-2HgNQnOcd6TW8OCMqdRuPWwuCDA/edit
Request to See Mr. Thompson (7th Grade)
Request to See Ms. Weiss (8th Grade)
FOR OUR 8TH GRADE STUDENTS
Career Exploration Program is available to students entering 9th or 10th grade.
K&B True Value Cash for Schools Program! Help support our Annapolis Schools!
Why Join the PTA?
By joining the PTA, your membership:
- Provides for Honor Roll Celebrations each quarter
- Contributes to our 8th Grade Promotion Celebration
- Celebrates our teachers & thanks them for their hard work on behalf of our students
- Supports our Cougar Chronicle
- Funds additional grants for programs and activities at Bates MS
- Allows our PTA to benefit from Anne Arundel County, Free State, and National PTA affiliation and training
- And much more!
All PTA members receive a monthly newsletter with information about monthly PTA activities and opportunities, including information about our monthly meetings.
To join, just aim your phone at the code above or go to https://qrco.de/JoinBatesPTA
Questions? Email batesmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com or call/text us at 443-782-5423.
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/batesmspta
PTA BOARD 2022-2023
Laura Graham-Booth, President
Roberto Garza, Vice President
JC Johns, Treasurer
Colleen Zelenakas, Secretary
Thank you for volunteering and all you do for Bates Middle School! Questions, contact the PTA at BatesMiddleSchoolPTA@gmail.com
Wiley H. Bates MIddle School
Katherine Hicks, Principal
Christine Clark, Editor
We are better together!
Email: cclark3@aacps.org
Website: www.aacps.org/bates
Location: 701 Chase Street, Annapolis, MD, USA
Phone: 410 263-0270
Twitter: @whbatesaacps
Instagram:@WileyHBatesMiddleSchoolAACPS