Banks Trail Middle School
Teamwork, Responsibility, Ambition, Integrity, Leadership
January, 2017
Congratulations from our Principal
How big of a deal is this recognition? Well in South Carolina there were 1800 entries into the contest so being chosen as the top entry is quite an honor.
Now our team will refine their award winning video on the HearingHelper app and submit it to the national level.
Each of these student will receive a prize package from Verizon that consist of a Verizon Ellipsis 10 tablet and case, T-shirt, backpack, and certificate. BTMS receives $5,000 and a Plague and Banner.
We are extremely proud of the hard work and imagination that these students used to achieve this award.
Leaders Of The Pack/Terrific Timberwolves
Each month students are chosen to be “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 Timberwolves” are then selected among those chosen as Leaders 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 January we would like to congratulate the following Leaders of the Pack:
- Team 6-1: James H.
- Team 6-3: Caleb D.
Team 7-1: Harrison W.
Team 7-3: Jordyn P.
8th Grade: Will S.
8th Grade: Sydney S.
Related Arts 6th Grade: Landon R.
Related Arts 8th Grade: Philip F.
The December Terrific Timberwolves Students of the Month are:
6th Grade - Dylan B.
7th Grade - Peyton W.
8th Grade - Noemi G.
Related Arts - Dorothy A.
Teamwork, Responsibility, Ambition, Integrity, Leadership: "The Trail" As Leaders of the Pack and Terrific Timberwolves, these students live "The Trail" everyday!
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Counselor's Corner
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL 8TH GRADE STUDENTS & PARENTS
Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) High School Registration Meetings
In order to complete the high school registration process, all 8th graders and their parent or guardian are required to attend an Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) conference. During the IGP conference you and your student will meet with a middle school and high school counselor. They will review your student’s high school course recommendation sheet, discuss career plans and goals, and schedule 9th grade high school classes.
This meeting is mandated by the state of South Carolina. Your IGP appointment date and time was sent home with report cards on Friday, January 6th. We appreciate your support in honoring the appointment schedule.
High School Registration Materials
Throughout the week of January 9th, school counselors will be in 8th grade classes assisting your student as they prepare to transition to ninth grade. Students will receive their course recommendation sheets, examine the district’s Program of Studies book outlining important high school guidelines, and begin the process of selecting courses that will best prepare them for a successful future. Parental involvement is essential for this process to be successful.
Your student will receive their Fort Mill School District 2017-2018 9th Grade Course Request Sheet. All elective classes that ninth graders are eligible to select are listed on the request sheet. Descriptions of all courses can be found in the student’s Program of Studies book. Please complete the electives portion of the request sheet, sign it, and have your student return it to their Homeroom teacher by Monday, February 6th. A copy of the sheet will be given to you at your student’s IGP meeting.
High School Curriculum Night and Parent Meeting
Please plan to attend the rising freshman information night at your assigned high school. Nation Ford HS will host a “Curriculum Night” on January 19th. Fort Mill HS will host a “Rising 9th Grade Parent Meeting” on February 2nd. Both events start at 6:30. More information about these events will be sent home with students as a part of their high school registration materials.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
January 2017 BTMS Newsletter
R2S Endorsement Course Update
In December, teachers reflected on the variety of vocabulary acquisition strategies they use in their content areas. We reviewed the importance of having students make connections with the words they are learning through incorporating vocabulary-based discussions, creating visual representations of the words, and playing review games with words.
Parent and Family Involvement With Literacy at Home:
Speaking of games, board games are a great way to spend time with your children and help reinforce literacy development at the same time. Board and card games help younger children to match pictures and words. This is an important reading skill. They also help your child recognize symbols, signs, letters, and understand maps. Games such as Scrabble encourage older children to read. Games help teach children of any age learn important social skills. You can even try some of the vocabulary review games used at school when studying at home. For example, for a recent health unit, BTMS PE teachers Tyson Gardin and Corbin Bray had students perform a variety of fitness activities as they raced to collect vocabulary terms and definitions related to their health unit. Then, in small groups, the students worked together to match the words and definitions they had collected. It was a great way to review important content and have fun at the same time. You might try this activity to review vocabulary words from any content area.
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Mark your calendar for BTMS Family Literacy Night March 21!
Mark your calendar for our BTMS Family Literacy Night on Tuesday, March 21, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Teachers and students will be showcasing the wonderful ways that literacy is infused across the curriculum. Visit our exhibits, watch our students perform and share their work, participate in literacy-related activities, and stop by our school Book Fair. The book fair theme is Smore Fun With Books! We will even have a children’s room for our young visitors to have story time, arts and crafts, games, and more. We’ll look forward to seeing you for this special evening!
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CLASSROOM HIGHLIGHTS
Congratulations To Our Spelling Bee Winners!
6th grade:
Matthew F. * Runner up Schoolwide
Brianna L.
Pauleen C.
7th grade:
Connor C.
Madison M.
Ben M.
8th grade:
Teddy F. ** School Winner
Will S.
Kenzi W.
Congratulations to everyone who participated!
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CAKE WARS - Presented by the 8th Grade Family & Consumer Science Classes
The eighth grade Family and Consumer Sciences worked hard on the Cake Wars Competition in December. They created backgrounds of a theme and decorated their cakes with their group as part of it. All eighth grade teachers and administrators volunteered to be judges of this awesome competition. The winning group from each class enjoyed a nice breakfast in Ms. Bauer’s room before the Holidays. “All the groups won this competition in my eyes, the talent and hard work was very impressive and delicious …to say the least”, Mrs. Bauer commented.
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PTO News
Beef O'Brady's Is The Place To Be on January 25th! WHO CAN EAT THE MOST WINGS?
The next BTMS Spirit Night will be held on Wednesday, January 25th at Beef O'Brady's. Our very own Mrs. Bauer will emcee the event as we watch the match of the century. Mr. Wagner (7th Grade Teacher) will be taking on Mr. Helms (8th Grade Teacher) in a wing eating championship. The fun will begin at 6:00 PM! Be sure to bring your friends and families to this entertaining event to raise money for the BTMS PTO.
Do you shop at Harris Teeter, Publix, or on Amazon? Here are some super easy ways to raise $ for our school!
- Re-link your Harris Teeter card to BTMS PTO either in-store or online at Together in Education. Our school code is 8686.
- Pick up a Publix card at the front desk of the school, or notify us that you need one by emailing BTMSPTO@gmail.com with your child's name and homeroom teacher.
- Go to Amazon Smile and shop! For each purchase you make, 0.5% will be donated to Banks Trail Middle School PTO at no additional cost to you. To make it even easier, link to Banks Trail Middle School PTO in your Amazon account.
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PARENTS: PLEASE LABEL YOUR STUDENT'S BELONGINGS
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TARDY/STUDENTS RETURNING FROM AN APPOINTMENT
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EARLY DISMISSALS
Students leaving school early must be picked up no later than 2:50 PM. There will be no dismissals from 2:50 PM until 3:20 PM.
Upcoming Dates
1/12 Boys Basketball @ Gold Hill Middle
Girls Basketball v. Gold Hill Middle
1/14 All Region Band Auditions (Blythewood HS) New Date
1/16 Martin Luther King Holiday - No School for Students Possible Weather Make-up Day
1/18 Academic Team @ Fort Mill Middle
1/19 Boys Basketball v. Springfield Middle
Girls Basketball @ Springfield Middle
1/21 All State Band Auditions - (Lexington HS)
1/23 Boys & Girls Basketball 7th Grade Divisional Games
1/24 & 1/25 York County Band Clinic (Winthrop University)
1/24 Boys & Girls 1st Round 8th Grade Tournament
1/25 Academic Team v. Springfield Middle
1/25 BTMS Spirit Night at Beef O'Brady's Wing Eating Contest
1/26 Boys & Girls Basketball 2nd Round 8th Grade Tournament
1/27 Krispy Kreme Donuts Sale
1/30 Boys & Girls Basketball Semi Finals
2/01 Academic Team @ Saluda Trail Middle
2/02 Boys & Girls Basketball Finals
2/08 Academic Team v. AR Rucker
2/15 Academic Team @ Lewisville Middle
2/22 Academic Team v. Sullivan Middle
3/01 Academic Team v. Indian Land Middle
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Banks Trail Middle School
Email: munns@fortmillschools.org
Website: http://btms.fortmillschools.org/pd/FMSD_BTMS/index.html
Location: 1640 Banks Road, Fort Mill, SC, United States
Phone: 803-578-2990
Twitter: @BTMStimberwolf