November Newsletter 2023

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Email: bms@sbps.net
Website: www.sbps.net/bms
Location: 27 East 23rd Street, Scottsbluff, NE, USA
Phone: 308-635-6270
Twitter: @BMSCATS

On behalf of the entire Bluffs Middle School staff, we would like to extend our appreciation to all our families who attended parent teacher conferences. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to meet with teachers and staff. Please contact your student's counselor or teachers if you could not participate in conferences or have any questions. As a reminder, first-quarter report cards will not be mailed home but are accessible in Infinite Campus. A tutorial video is linked below. Additionally, we would also like to thank our parent group for providing our staff with meals both evenings during conferences. Your kindness and generosity is greatly appreciated by all of us.

Winter sports season has begun and we look forward to watching our students compete. In order for students to participate in competitions they must be in good academic standings. Students have several opportunities during and after school to receive academic support if necessary. Student athletes who are ineligible will be required to attend after school tutoring. Please reach out to coaches for schedules and weekly information regarding practice and competitions.

Academic success for all students continues to be a priority at Bluffs Middle School. We offer after school tutoring Monday through Thursday from 3:10 - 4:10 p.m. Additionally, students have time during the school day to take assessments or complete assignments in Homeroom and WIN (What I Need) periods. Please encourage your student to take full advantage of these extended learning opportunities.

If your student is absent from school, please contact the main office at 308-635-6270. We will gladly assist with any questions about your student's absence. If your student attends an appointment during the day, we encourage your student to return after the appointment.

As always, please contact your student's teacher, counselor, or administration with any questions or concerns that may arise. We will gladly assist you. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to your student's success.

Thank you,

Jana Mason

Principal

Miss Gillette and Student Council members will be partnering with Potter's Wheel for a local food drive during the month of November. Our food drive will run from November 12-16th. Here are some of the items we will be accepting:

Coffee, Tea, Hot Cocoa

Cereal, Pancake Mix (water only)

Soup, Chili, Broth

Flour, Oil, Sugar (small)

Spaghettios/Raviolis

Rice, Pasta & Stove Top Stuffing

Tuna, Chicken & Nut Butters

Jam, Jelly, Syrup

Canned Fruit

Canned Tomatoes, Veggies

Dry or Canned Beans

Thank you in advance for your participation and donations.

BMS BAND STUDENTS SELECTED TO NSBA 8TH GRADE ALL-STATE BAND:

Each year all of Nebraska's 8th Grade band students are invited to audition for the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association 8th Grade All-State Band.

Mr. Zac Konrad, NSBA Middle-Level Chair, is honored to announce and would like to "CONGRATULATE those students that were selected to participate in the 2024 NSBA 8th Grade All-State Band!"

Students from Bluffs Middle School have participated in the NSBA 8th Grade All-State Band for the past 23 years and we are pleased to add the following names to the list of those selected:

London Grant (First Chair Clarinet) - Parents, Cassie Ruffing and Keith Grant

Zain Jennings (Bass Clarinet) - Parents, William & Kazia Jennings

Caleb Clodfelter (Trumpet) - Parents, Jeremy & Jaimie Clodfelter

Gauge Vela (Trumpet) - Parents, Brock & Natasha Aschenbrenner

William Green (First Chair Euphonium) - Parents, Nathan & Kelli Green

Samantha Camacho (Percussion) - Parents, Christopher & Kathryn Camacho

William Schlickbernd (Percussion) - Parents, Stephen Schlickbernd and Lois Schlickbernd

These students were selected by recorded audition to be members of the most prestigious and selective middle school honor band in the state of Nebraska.

This year, the NSBA (Nebraska State Bandmasters Association) Honor Band committee selected 92 members and 23 alternates for the Concert Band. This group of 115 young musicians were selected from a total of 426 auditions and represent 46 schools from across the state of Nebraska.

The 2024 NSBA 8th Grade All-State Band Clinic will be held at Kearney High School in Kearney, NE on Saturday, January 6th.

Students love YouTube…sometimes a little too much! YouTube can be an engaging learning tool for students. The trick is teaching students to use the platform safely by helping them navigate their way to useful YouTube channels. Common Sense Media has reviewed several tween and teen YouTube channels that promote student success. Click the link for more information.

YouTube Content Helping Tweens and Teens Navigate School and Life

Adolescents, just like adults, experience stress. As we continue in to the school year, our youth

may be experiencing elevated stress related to: problems with friend and/or peer groups, expectations to perform well academically and in the various activities they participate in, or negative thoughts or feelings about themselves as they are figuring out who they are and how to connect.Often, stress manifests in situations or experiences one may perceive as unsafe, difficult to work through, or potentially painful. Check in with your child and explore any stress they may be

experiencing. You may then ask, “How can I help support my child and alleviate stress?” Included are

some tips to help manage stress in healthy ways:

• Exercise and eat regularly.
• Get enough sleep.
• Rehearse and practice situations which may increase stress. For example, asking a teacher for help in the classroom. What does assertive communication look like? Let your child know it’s okay to ask for help.
• Increase positive self-talk: For example; My life will never get better” can become;Things are hard right now, but my life will probably get better if I work at it and have some help.”
• Learn to feel good about doing a " good enough” job rather than demanding perfection from yourself and others.
• Take a break from stressful situations. Activities like listening to music, talking to family or a friend, drawing, taking a walk, writing, dancing, or spending time with a pet can reduce stress.
• Connect with family and friends who help you cope in positive ways.

Additionally, http://www.therapistaid.com has excellent resources for specific coping techniques you

and your child can try out together. Check it out!

“You are growing, and you are trying your best… And, that is good enough.” – Ashley Hetherington

Nov. 5 Daylight Savings Time ends

Nov. 6 Motivational Speaker @ BMS Corey the Dribbler

Nov. 21 No School -Professional Development Day/Work Day

Nov. 22 No School Thanksgiving Break

Nov. 23 No School Thanksgiving Break

Nov. 24 No School Thanksgiving Break

Just a friendly reminder about SBPS recommendations for keeping students home:

Temperature: A student with a temperature 100 degrees or higher will be sent home from school. It is recommended that the student return to school once fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.

Vomiting and/or Diarrhea: If a student is vomiting and/or has diarrhea, it is highly recommended that the student remain home for 24 hours. Students are sent home if this occurs at school.

Lice: If you find lice or NITS on your student, please contact the school to let them know. Your student may attend school, SBPS health office staff will perform followup head checks and provide you with education needed to treat your child. SBPS policy regarding head lice is on the district website under health services or click on the following link: https://cdn5-ss20.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_392748/File/Departments%20and%20Services/Services/Health%20Services/Head%20Lice/SBPSHeadLiceAdministrativeProcedure.pdf

Remember, once a week check your child’s head.

Our Krispy Kreme fundraiser is ready for kick off. We are excited to announce we have new doughnut options and coffee will be available for purchase this year. Our doughnut pick up procedure will be new as well. Details are listed below. Please contact Stacy Celli at scelli@sbps.net or Ashley Dillman at adillman@sbps.net for more information.

Sales start: Monday, November 20th

Sales end: Wednesday, December 6th

Delivery: Friday, December 15th in BMS gym (enter west doors) 3:30 - 6:30 pm.

New items:

Dozen doughnuts - $15

Specialty dozen doughnuts - $20 (chocolate iced, raspberry filled, lemon filled, or kreme filled). These are not assorted - only 1 flavor)

Regular or Decaffeinated coffee (12 oz.) $10

Thank you for your continued support with our annual fundraiser.

Letters and candidate packets have been distributed and applications are due by Monday, November 20th. Please contact Ashley Dillman (adillman@sbps.net) with any questions. The Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Monday, December 4th at 6:00 pm. More information will follow.