Banks Trail Middle School
Teamwork, Responsibility, Ambition, Integrity, Leadership
March 2018
The Force Of Learning Is Strong At BTMS
~ ~ ~
Dear Timberwolf Families:
We have many exciting events coming up before school ends and we hope to see you! Some highlights of the end of the year activities include; spring sports in soccer, baseball and track, Spring Book Fair, spring band and chorus concerts, and many other fun-filled activities for our students.
Our 6th, 7th and 8th graders continue to work hard in the classroom. State testing will begin at the beginning of May. This year, all of the state tests will be conducted on the computer. As a result, not all students will take the test at the same time. We will update our website calendar with the specific dates each grade will test. Teachers will also include this information in the Monday newsletters. I am proud of our students and I wish to thank everyone for your continued support of the Timberwolf faculty and for ensuring your children come to school each day prepared.
End of Year Dates
7th grade "This I believe" program May 22, 2018 at 1:30 PM
6th grade awards day will be on May 24, 2018 at 9:30 AM
7th grade awards days will be on May 24, 2018, at 1:00 PM
8th Grade Recognition Ceremony: The date has been set for May 25, 2018, at 9:00 AM.
Tips to Help Middle School students (and maybe us as adults)
Advance notice: Does your middle school student wait until the last minute to tell you that he needs a poster board for his project or a ride to a friend’s party? Have him put requests like this in writing a few days ahead of time. For instance, he could add school supplies to your grocery list or email you about upcoming events.
WARM WEATHER is arriving. Parents please remind your students about the appropriate dress code requirements. As the weather gets warmer, their clothing needs to remain within the Banks Trail dress code for all school events.
TECHNOLOGY TIP: Please take time to review your child’s phone, computer accounts, and help with instruction on social media. These are all great tools, but children need to be monitored by their parents. Believe it or not, many students come to school tired because they stay up to the wee hours of the morning snapchating, tweeting, etc. In the Pratt household, all technology has to be placed on the kitchen counter before I go to bed. Feel free to blame the principal on this. Please know what your children are doing with texting, video, Instagram, etc.
I consider myself very fortunate to serve as your principal. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. We are doing some amazing things here, each and every day!
Best wishes for a beautiful spring!
Michael Pratt
PTO NEWS
PTO Online Auction
Timberwolf Families,
Just a quick reminder of a few things coming up.
The BTMS PTO is excited to announce the launch of their online auction this week.
Click the link below to see all the great items generously donated by members of our community to support BTMS.
https://www.32auctions.com/btmspto2018
The auction includes 3 different donations for braces, golf packages from the Greenway, $25 gift cards from several local businesses, plus photography, dance, art, music, theater, and lots of other interesting offerings. The auction is live now, and bidding closes on Sunday, March 18, at 9pm. Please consider placing a bid and supporting our school!
BTMS Spirit Wear For Sale
March 5-16, BTMS PTO Spirit Wear Orders
Order forms have been distributed to homeroom teachers. They are also attached to this email. Send in your completed form in an envelope marked “PTO Spirit Wear” with cash or check made payable to “BTMS PTO”. Or you can order and pay online at: https://squareup.com/store/btms-pto. Orders will be compiled and submitted the week of 3/19 and should be delivered to your child’s homeroom teacher by mid April. Questions? Email btmspto2017@gmail.com
Padawans Of The Pack/Terrific Padawans
Each month students are chosen to be “Padawan's of the Pack” (formerly known as Leaders of the Pack) for reasons such as displaying outstanding leadership, citizenship, school service, good behavior, and performance in their classrooms and throughout the school. “Terrific Padawans” (formerly known as Terrific Timberwolves) are then selected among those chosen as Padawans of the Pack because they exemplify the characteristics found in the T.R.A.I.L. - Teamwork, Responsibility, Ambition, Integrity, Leadership
For the month of February we would like to congratulate the following Terrific Padawans:
- 6th Grade: Margaret J.
6th Grade: Santhoshkumar R.
7th Grade: Angie L.
7th Grade: Nathan M.
8th Grade: Alexa G.
8th Grade: Hunter M.
Related Arts: Kylie B.
Related Arts: Aiyanna U.
The February Padawans of the Pack are:
6th Grade - Sutton T.
7th Grade - Victoria G.
8th Grade - Dominic M.
Related Arts - Jordan J.
Teamwork, Responsibility, Ambition, Integrity, Leadership: "The Trail" As Leaders of the Pack and Terrific Timberwolves, these students live "The Trail" everyday!
6th Grade
7th Grade
8th Grade
LITERACY CORNER
READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY
Thanks to all of our volunteers who made Read Across America Day a huge success this year. In each of our homerooms during Power Period on Friday, March 2, guest readers shared books or stories with special meaning to them. Our readers included a SC Statehouse Representative, parents, school board members, district office staff members, community members, and our own BTMS staff members. In addition, Lucas McFadden, news anchor for CN2 News, spoke to our HOWL news team and their leader, Mr. David Helms, about the broadcasting business and the importance of reading and writing skills for the news profession. We appreciate all of you for sharing the joy of reading on this special day, which is held nationally each year to commemorate Dr. Suess’s birthday. A huge thanks also goes to our wonderful PTO, who provided a delicious breakfast for all of our readers.
Don’t Forget About Reading While On Spring Break!
Spring break is a wonderful time to relax and enjoy time with family and friends. Scholastic has great ideas for including children in planning spring break events, whether you are traveling or having a “Staycation” at home. See the link below for some helpful ideas for keeping your child interested in reading during the break.
Dr. Epps reads to 8th Graders
Celebrating Dr. Seuss
Mr. Pratt reads to 6th Graders
BTMS MATHCOUNTS TEAM
On February 13th, the BTMS MATHCOUNTS team competed at the Catawba Chapter MATHCOUNTS competition in Rock Hill, SC. This group did not place; however, they did an awesome job! They proudly represented BTMS! Way to go BTMS!!!! The team includes:
8th grade: Peyton B., Ben H., Zoe M., Liam O., and Greeshmanth V.
7th grade: Lilly L. and Annie L.
6th grade: Fatima B., Robinson B., Ryan E., Jackson O., and Kobe S.
Coach: Leslie Nivens
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD 2018
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE
Seventh Grade Family and Consumer Sciences classes were able to observe live babies in the Child Development unit. Thanks to the wonderful teachers at BTMS, the students were able to witness what they’ve learned including various developmental stages that occur at different ages. These babies included Baby Helms, Baby Tyler, and Baby Abendano.
Family and Consumer Sciences 8th Grade students are enjoying their virtual trip around the world with Mrs. Bauer. During their visit in Italy, they are preparing Lasagna using their Homemade Marinara Sauce. They are enjoying learning about many foods and their cultures in different countries.
SPRING BOOK FAIR
PARENT SURVEYS
7TH GRADERS WILL ATTEND CAREER FAIR AT PKMS ON MARCH 23rd
Our 7th grade students will be attending a district-wide Career Fair on Friday, March 23. The Career Fair will be held at Pleasant Knoll Middle School and all of the 7th grade students in Fort Mill will attend. Approximately 50 professionals in a variety of careers will be available to talk with students and answer questions. Prior to Career Fair, 7th graders will take an interest inventory so that they have some direction about who they want to visit that day. We are going to meet with students to prepare them for Career Fair but parents can help, as well. Please talk with your child about his/her interests, make a list of questions to ask presenters, explain soft skills like eye contact and handshakes and encourage professional dress that day. If you have any questions about Career Fair or are interested in being a presenter, please email our Career Development Facilitator, Kati McFadden, at mcfaddenk@fortmillschools.org.
FORT MILL READ-IN
PTO UPDATE AND REMINDERS
BTMS Families,
Can you believe it’s the beginning of March already? Spring is in the air, Spring sports have begun us and the daffodils are blooming. Hopefully you and your families are enjoying this time of year together.
The PTO has several reminders of the various events and volunteer needs for March.
March 19-23, BTMS Book Fair
April 23 – 27, Teacher Appreciation Week
Interested in being part of the Teacher Appreciation Week Committee, The committee will meet on 3/23 at 8:15am to begin planning. sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4aaaab23a3fb6-teacher
ATTENTION UPCOMING 7TH GRADE PARENTS
Important Information From The Nurse Regarding Required Vaccine for the 2018-2019 School Year
To all UPCOMING seventh grade parents:
As of August 2013, ALL seventh graders are REQUIRED to get the Tdap vaccine to protect them against whooping cough. Students who have not received the Tdap vaccination may not be allowed to attend school for the upcoming school year.
Please check with your family’s physician and /or contact the local health department for more information regarding this vaccine. Remember, beat the rush and do not wait until the last minute to check on the status of your child immunizations.
If you have not submitted a current SC immunization certificate to the school, and believe your student has received the Tdap booster, please do so as soon as possible.
You will have thirty days from the first day of school to have your student in compliance or they will not be able to attend school.
If you have any questions, please call Robin Brown, BTMS school nurse at 803-578-2994.
Jedi Of The Month (Formerly known as Teacher of the Month)
Mrs. Pettigrew
Jedi Pettigrew serves as instructor of Math to the 8th grade Padawans at Banks Trail Middle School.
Jedi Pettigrew goes above and beyond not only in the classroom, but in assisting her grade level peers on a magnitude of all levels. The Force is truly strong within her classroom, but this Master Jedi ensure all her padawan’s are active and engaged. She has been a phenomenal leader not only in the classroom, but continues to be a big asset to the grade level hallway.
Ms. Thomas
She is outstanding teacher with a massive heart. She is always thinking of creative ways to make her students feel more at home in the classroom. She has brought an energy to the sixth grade hall this year!
We are glad that Jedi Thomas is part of the BTMS Family.
Upcoming Events
3/15 - 3/18 All State Band
Soccer v FMMS
3/19 - 3/23 Book Fair
Baseball v FMMS
3/20 Soccer v PKMS
3/21 Quarter 3 Report Card Distributed
Track Meet @ PKMS
3/22 Soccer @ Oakridge
Baseball v Indian Land
3/23 7th Grade Career Day
3/26 Broadway, Jr. Field Trip (some Theatre Arts students)
Junior Scholars @ FMHS
Soccer v GHMS
Baseball @ SMS
Track Meet @ PKMS
3/27 - 3/30 8th Grade Trip to Washington, DC
3/30 Weather Make-Up Day
4/02 - 4/06 Spring Break
4/09 Boys Soccer v Clover (Played at BTMS)
4/10 Soccer v Springfield (Played at BTMS)
4/11 Baseball v Pleasant Knoll (Played at BTMS)
Track Meet @ SMS
4/12 Spring Pictures
Soccer v Oak Ridge
Baseball v GHMS
Honors Chorus sings at Knights Baseball Game
4/13 6th Grade Field Trip to Carrowinds
Together, Building A Tradition of Excellence
Banks Trail Middle School
Email: costs@fortmillschools.org
Website: http://btms.fortmillschools.org/
Location: 1640 Banks Road, Fort Mill, SC, United States
Phone: 803-578-2990
Twitter: @BTMStimberwolf