Crusader Times
December 2015
Words From Our Principal
Happy Holidays!!
We are finally at the end of the first semester for this school year. Fall semester has been very successful and we had had great moments and events together. Our students have achieved great success in their academics, sports, visual and performing arts, community engagement, and school events. We feel very happy to see our students become engaged in activities and accomplish their personal goals.
I want to thank all parents, staff, and students for all their dedication and hard work this semester. I wish all of you a great and well-deserve break. I also want to wish you a great New Year’s and the best for 2016. Enjoy the time off and be safe.
Eduardo Reyes, Ed.D.
Student Art Work
Staff of the Month
U.S. History Happenings
Students are currently investigating cultural differences in the United States and the contributions to our "melting pot". Students are also finishing community service for first semester, Neighbors Helping Neighbors. They are also busy collecting Toys for Tots. This is the 20th anniversary for this drive and over the years hundreds have received the gift of love.
Read to Succeed Achieve 3000 Contest
Holiday Assembly
The choir department, led by Gail Kennedy, also performed several holiday songs which included a choreographed song using kazoos.
Holiday Extravaganza
Glow Party
This past week students who sold one box of chocolates or more in our all school fundraiser enjoyed a glow party in which they received prizes according to how many boxes they sold. Thank you to all the students, parents, and families who helped support our school by taking part in the fundraiser. We are appreciative of all your efforts and support.
New Traffic Pattern
Beginning on January 19th Bonita Vista Middle will be enforcing a new traffic pattern as illustrated below.
- Any vehicle that enters Bonita Vista Middle from Otay Lakes Road will be requried to make a right turn when they exit on Ridgeback Road. This still allows parents to get to either Otay Lakes Road or East H Street if you follow the traffic pattern shown in blue on the map below.
- If you would like to exit the school on Otay Lakes Road, then feel free to enter the school through Ridgeback Road as shown in red on the map below.
This new traffic pattern will improve the flow of traffic out of Bonita Vista Middle School. We will also have two parent volunteers on Ridgeback Road assisting with student crossings during morning drop-off times in an effort to ensure our students’ safety when crossing at Ridgeback Road.
If you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact our office at (619) 397-2200. Thank you for your support!
Apple Store Field Trip
On November 18th, BVM's Genius Bar had the opportunity to take a field trip to the Apple Store in the Otay Ranch mall. Students learned how to utilize technology to gather data while doing an experiment on paper airplane flight. Using iPads, students researched designs for paper airplanes, then measured and filmed their flight for analysis. After the experiment was complete each group presented their findings to the others. It was a great experience to see the many ways technology can be used and have some fun at the same time.
Planning the airplane design.
Excellence Essays
As an encouragement to our 7th grade students who have worked diligently over a good portion of this semester on the topic of excellence (as researched in texts on deliberate practice, delayed gratification, and growth mindset), some of our students shared his/her essay in the morning announcements—one essay each day for 5 successive days which started on Monday, December 7th.
It is our hope that this will extend the students’ experience into more of a “real world” aspect. It will allow students an opportunity to publish their writing to a meaningful audience, and complete the writing process.
The following students read their essays on achieving success in middle school and beyond during the morning announcements the week of December 7th through December 11th:
Julian Serrano
Jaiden Gray
Anaissa Salas
Fernanda Madrazo
Esai Loza
We also want to foster and promote a successful mindset for all Crusaders prior to End of Course Exams.
Sincerely,
The 7th Grade ELA PLC
Health Corner
Healthy Holidays
The winter break is just a few days away, and I know we are all looking forward to the upcoming holidays and winter break. We are also heading into this year’s flu season. To keep your child and family healthy during this season please keep the following health tips in mind:
1. Consult with your primary care provider regarding getting a FLU vaccine
2. Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds and dry thoroughly
3. If no soap and water are available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
4. Practice good tissue technique when sneezing or coughing by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
5. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper arm or sleeve, not onto your hands
6. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
7. Get plenty of sleep, stay physically active, manage stress, keep well hydrated, and eat a nutritious, balanced diet
8. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school-especially when others are ill
9. Try to avoid others who are ill
I wish all of the Bonita Vista Middle School students and their families a very enjoyable vacation and very happy New Year!
Stay healthy,
Christi Stoddard, RN, BSN
Counselors Corner
Reminder for 8th grade parents to sign Credit Check Review and Parent/Student/School Compact forms on your child’s iPad and submit on Canvas. During Finals week it is important that students are getting plenty of sleep and eating a healthy breakfast before attending school. Happy Holidays from the Counseling Department!
Technology Corner
Ever wonder how someone makes an app, programs a video game, or designs a website? Its done by writing computer code! Coding is part of a broader field called computer science and it is responsible for making the technology we use every day work. Sound complicated? Anyone one can do it! It is an exciting field of study with a lot of potential. There are currently 604,689 open computing jobs in the U.S., however only 38, 174 computer science graduates entered the work force. The Bureau of Labor predicts that by 2022 there will be over 1 million computing job openings in every industry (code.org). But more importantly it teaches you valuable skills that can be used in any field. Steve Jobs said, “I think everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer because it teaches you how to think.” December 7th-13th was computer science week, but it’s not too late to learn more. Visit code.org for more information and activities to get you coding today and building apps tomorrow!
Important Dates
12/12 Saturday School and Saturday Scholars
12/14 - 12/18 Finals
12/16 English Language Advisory Committee Meeting
12/17 School Site Council Meeting
01/12 Students Return to School
01/18 No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
01/21 BVM Science Fair
01/23 Saturday School and Saturday Scholars
01/26 Rising Stars/Perfect Attendance Luncheon
01/27 Knowledge Bowl Match and Straight A's Luncheon
01/28 SSC Meeting
01/30 Saturday School and Saturday Scholars
Bonita Vista Middle School
Email: Eduardo.Reyes@sweetwaterschools.org
Website: http://bvm.sweetwaterschools.org/
Location: 650 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista, CA 91910, United States
Phone: (619) 397-2200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonitavistamiddleschool