Pioneer Post
BJHS Back-to-School Newsletter for December 9-15, 2019
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday, December 10th – Winter Band & Choir Concert - PVCFA - 6:00pm
Thursday, December 12th – WEB Meet-up - Basketball Courts - Primetime
Friday, December 13th – Holiday Door Decorating Contest judging - 1st period
Monday, December 16th – Wednesday, December 18th – Holiday Themed Spirit Week
Wednesday, December 18th – Last Day of the 1st Semester
Thursday, December 19th - January 6th - Winter Break (No School)
PRINCIPAL'S LETTER
Dear Parents,
Thank you to all of you who took the time to respond to our mid-year Parent Survey. One concern that came up a few times was with respect to being able to more-closely monitor your students’ academic progress. Here’s a quick reminder of how to use Parent Portal (linked here) to see more details behind your students’ grades.
1. From the Portal Home screen, click on the Gradebook of the class you’d like to view (red arrow):
3. Finally, many teachers have Google Classroom and/or a teacher website that they maintain and have shared with you at Back to School Night (or by email if you reach out to them). In the 6th-12th grade world, “no news is good news” with respect to behaviors, etc., in the classroom. Teachers will respond within 24 hours if you email them with a question or concern. Feel free to include your students’ counselor as well.
Much of junior high is about helping students learn a healthy sense of independence and personal responsibility. Helping your students to monitor their own progress on their own Student Portal account is often the best approach. They may need to know that you’re paying attention, but please encourage them to reach out themselves to their teachers and counselors through email or a personal appointment.
As always, please feel free to send me your questions and concerns. Here’s another link to the survey if you haven’t taken it already. It only takes a minute to make your voice heard and, as you can see, I’m listening!
--Dave McKay
Principal
REBOOT BETWEEN SCHOOL AND HOME
MINIMUM DAYS
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. MCKAY
Students and staff helped Mr. McKay celebrate his birthday in style! The office staff surprised him with a nacho bar, and students sent many well wishes his way all day! We hope we made his birthday a little brighter.
CONGRATS TO OUR HONOR BAND STUDENTS!
Several band students have been accepted through a rigorous audition process to represent Bidwell at the California Music Educators’ Association-North Section Jr. High Honor Band. The honor group is open to grades 6-9, meaning our students were, in many cases, competing against the best high school freshman from just north of Sacramento all the way to the Oregon border for their placement. Out of 65 total students accepted, Bidwell will be sending 9 (almost 14% of the entire band!!).
Those students who have been accepted are as follows:
- Holly Alchin, Flute
- Ryann Berge, Clarinet
- Grace Waller, Clarinet
- Ricky Salazar, Alto Sax
- Eliza Carr, Tenor Sax
- Tyler Hildebrand, Trumpet
- Zoee Schroeder, Tuba
- Christian Sanchez, Tuba
- Titus Pittenger, Percussion
In addition, the same organization hosts a Select Choir on the same weekend in which the best singers enrolled in their school choir program can be selected to represent their school. This year 19 students from Bidwell will take part in the Select Choir including:
- Milee Bryant
- Penny Murphy
- Balzora Green
- Madisyn Kopping
- Arya Pocock
- Malia Wilkinson
- Caitlyn Liberty
- Lyia Smith-Barrett
- Rylee Gates
- Keysha Wilkerson
- Shaylee Cockrum
- Aliah Luden
- Taylor Wilkins
- Lily Humlick
- Tysen Brown
- Trenton DeMontigny
- Nikolas Gephart
- Savannah Satterfield
- Gianna Lamb
These band and choir students will spend many extra hours learning challenging music on their own before going to CSU Chico to rehearse for nearly 15 hours over a 24-hour period. It is an amazing and exhausting event for the kids that culminates with a performance in Laxson Auditorium on 1/18/20.
Please feel free to congratulate these students on the honor of being selected to such a prestigious event!
BIDWELL FOUNDATION UPDATE
The Bidwell Junior High School Foundation’s application to support BJHS Camp Fire students was granted. The North Valley Community Foundation and the Butte Strong Fund approved the funding for “Pioneer Success 2019.” Grant monies will be used to support the academic and personal needs of the fifty Camp Fire students attending BJHS. Case Manager Martha Newton and the counseling staff will assist the BJHS Foundation in its support for these students
DECORATING CONTEST
Girls' Basketball season is winding down and Marsh Rivalry Night is our girls' last home game. We will have a Bidwell student section as well as Marsh student section, cheerleader performances, a half-court shot opportunity, and a Best Pioneer Spirit Wear award. Should be a really fun night for everyone and we hope to see you there!
COZY CLOTHES
GOING, GOING, GONE!
There are only 80 yearbooks left before we are sold out. They are currently 45 dollars, but after winter break they go up to $50. If you plan on getting a yearbook, there's no time like the present!
Attention 8th-grade families! Would you like to feature a cute baby picture send well wishes to your graduating 8th grader in the yearbook? Use the link to upload the baby picture and message. Please pay through the ASB store online or in person.
Deadline: 1/24/19
8TH GRADE BABY PHOTOS
DID YOUR LITTLE LOSE A BOOT?
This tiny boot was found in front of the office on the last rainy day. If it belongs to one of your kids, please come claim it in the main office!
CHARACTER STRONG
At the end of each class today, tell each of your teachers one specific thing about their class that you enjoyed. Think about the way they taught the lesson - did they use great stories or create and awesome visual with the lesson? Did they prepare a Powerpoint or video at home? Did your teacher say your name correctly or remember something important about your family or personal interests? Did you learn something totally new today?
GET YOUR ID CARD
ATTENTION, STUDENTS
VAPE TURN-IN
Bring your vape to the either Mr. McKay or Mrs. DeBock to receive your certificate for free pizzas or Jamba Juice, no questions asked.
NO EATING IN LOCKER ROOMS
AR GOAL DEADLINE
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BIDWELL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Email: bjhsconnect@chicousd.org
Website: http://bjhs.chicousd.org/
Location: 2376 North Avenue, Chico, CA 95926, United States
Phone: (530) 891-3080
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BidwellASB/?fref=ts
Twitter: @BidwellASB