BHMS Principal's Update 2/28/22
Women's History, Mask Optional, Reminders and Support
Keeping Up with What is Going on at the Hill!!!
I hope this weekend finds you well. It has been a sad weekend across the world with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We have some students here with ties to both countries as well as Poland. As a school, we want to take a moment to think about those people in peril and wish everyone safety and a peaceful resolution to this conflict.
We are moving into the month of March. March starts the recognition of Women's History. We as a school honor those women who are difference makers in our world. Each week, we will honor someone new who uses wealth and fame to give to others.
Additionally, we have some reminders in here on ways you can help us. There are some code of conduct reminders, computer maintenance reminders, and support needed for March 7. Please read that information in this newsletter and please reach out should you have any questions.
Here's a highlight...March 20 is the first day of Spring. It's coming soon and I can't wait. Have a great week families!
Sincerely,
Mike D'Ostilio
In this Newsletter:
- New and Important Information
- Women's History Highlight: Angelina Jolie
- African Dance and Drum Ensemble
- Bulldog Sprit Wear
- COVID-19 Update. Important "Mask Optional" Information
- Cell Phones/AirPods and Code of Conduct Violations
- Student Laptops and Chargers
- World Language Spirit Week
- Counselors' Notes/Social Media Awareness
- Restroom Procedure/Scanning ID Cards
- Bulldog Bash
- 8th Grade T Shirt Art Contest
- What it Means to Be a Bulldog
- Building Better Bulldogs Mission and Vision
- PTO Information
- Signing Up for Remind Text Notifications, Facebook, and Twitter
New and Important Information
Some Important Dates:
March 1...6:30-8:30...ASTA Orchestra Concert...Cafeteria
March 3...7th Grade Student Assemblies...Officer Egizi talks about Social Media Safety
March 4...School Wide Assembly...Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble
March 6...Sprit Wear Sale Ends
March 7..."Mask Optional" directive goes into place.
March 7-11...World Language School Spirit Week
March 23-25...Early Dismissal
March 24...3-4:15 PM...BHMS Spring Fling
March 25...8th Graders T-Shirt Design Due to Mrs. Franz
Bulldog Families: We Need Your Help
Bunker Hill Celebrates Women's History Month
Week 1: Angelina Jolie: Actor and Activist
Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble Coming to Bunker Hill Middle School on March 4, 2022
Check out the latest edition of the student published newsletter: "Bunker Hill Times"
Recent Updates
Mr. Bollendorf sent this letter to families regarding the Governor's assertion that masks will not be mandatory in schools beginning March 7. As stated in the previous section, the district feels it is poised to successfully move in this direction as a result of the "Test to Stay Program"
Previously, Mr. Bollendorf sent this letter out regarding the new Grapefruit "Test to Stay Program" This is an effort to provide accessible testing programs for students to remain in school if they had an exposure or close contact. We had this in place for the first week last week and we continue to work out the kinks.
We are awaiting more direction from the New Jersey Department of Health if there is any update and guidance regarding quarantine and contact tracing. While we wait, masks will be optional starting March 7 and we at this time will not be providing a permanent remote option. We will still provide intermittent remote access should children need to quarantine.
Please continue to monitor the COVID-19 Weekly Activity Level Reports. This is one of the main data points NJDOH uses to advise schools.
Please Help Us Combat the Behavior over Social Media. Please Monitor Your Children's Accounts
Recently, we have had a counseling lesson on social media etiquette in the 8th grade with the support of Officer Hamilton and will continue to have these talks with the entire school in the upcoming year.
Some things you should know:
1. Snap Chat: Please check and ensure parent filters are enabled on your children's snapchat and especially set to private so only your child's friends can "snap" each other. We've had situations where random people infiltrated our students' snap chat with inappropriate images or messages. Also with snap chat, people can send pictures or message that quickly erase. Unless your child screen shots things, these messages are hard to retrieve and the hate or bullying has already been done.
2. Tik Tok or Discord: Again these platforms (like snap chat and if the parental controls and privacy settings are not enabled) students can be met with an onslaught of negative information. Most of our country's threats of violence are happening on Tik Tok. The vandalism that was going on in the fall was a result of Tik Tok challenges. Tik Tok is highly unregulated content. The challenges and threats in Tik Tok can have felony or misdemeanor charges With Discord, we had a recent threat on that platform as well.
3. Instagram: With Instagram, we have had our own students make fake pages, especially talking about students. The owners of these pages make fun of students, make lies about students, antagonize drama between people, or make up that students are in relationships with each other. Regardless of the content, the sole purpose is to tear people down. Please ensure that your children do not follow anything like this. By following these pages, it gives credence to these students who seek to emotionally harm their peers.
Students Must Carry IDs with Them Throughout the School Day.
This procedure promotes safety and the preservation of instructional time for the students. This allows to keep track of students, how long they are out of class, and the frequency by which they are out of class. This new program allows us to sort using an excel spreadsheet and then address only those individuals who are frequently out of the classroom.
Shoot For the Bulldog Bash
Some community service opportunites at school can include: helping clean and landscape campus/courtyard, participating in school sponsored community cleanup days, participating in future acts activities, etc. If you need ideas for 2 hours of community service at the school, please reach out to the counselors, administrators, team leaders, Mr. Cabrera, Mrs. Finn, or Mrs. Lyons.
Building Better Bulldogs (3Bs) Mission and Vision
This pandemic has created so many questions and concerns for students that are well beyond academics. We are committed to providing a safe environment where students can express themselves as they question the ebb and flow of their world around them. Please see below our affirmations about Buidling Better Bulldogs and the people we as Bulldogs aim to be.
Bunker Hill Middle School: Home of the Bulldogs
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