BHMS Principal's Update 3/15/21
April Instruction Info, Events, Clubs
The district continues to make changes to move more students to in person instruction full time. Just like anything else, districts have to wait for data and direction from many arenas (department of health, state recommendations, county recommendation, COVID-19 transmission trends, etc.). At this juncture it looks as if the schools are poised for more in person instruction in April. While it is a great thing that we are moving in this direction, it comes with a lot of unknowns and reliance on a total partnership with families and school staff to ensure students and staff are kept as safe as possible to provide some semblance back to normal in the last six weeks of school. As I can only speak for the BHMS community. You're support, patience, and understanding has been wonderful.
In this newsletter, we will try to give you as much information as we know at this time. To be honest, there are tons of things we don't know. However, each school has been charged with making the best decisions possible for in person instruction. The schools will be working together in a common vision, but each school will have different nuances due to number of students, schools size, square footage etc. Our commitment to you is that we will work tirelessly to maintain the safest and academically sound school for your child.
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Stay Safe Bulldogs,
Mike D'Ostilio, Principal
In this Newsletter:
- April Instructional Changes and Q&A
- Reminder about March's Instructional Schedule
- Middle School Sports Interest
- Social Club Information
- High School Bowling Team Fundraiser
- World Down Syndrome Day Celebration
- Future Acts Virtual Spring Trivia Challenge
- Coronavirus Weekly Update
- PTO Updates
- Celebrating Contemporary Difference Makers
- Seeking Teachers out for Academic Support
- Uploading Yearbook Pictures
- Academic Reminders
- Clubs, Activities, and Support
- Building Better Bulldogs and Student Discussion Panel
- Links to Past Newsletters and Correspondence
New and Important Information
- Most March and April Event Dates TBD based on new schedule. We are working with capacity regulations to assess what we can have in person. All of our formerly planned events need to be analyzed for safety. We will be sure to communicate with you as things surface.
- 3/16/21...3-4pm...Social Club Virtual Meeting
- 3/17/21...Texas Road House Fundraiser for Twp Bowling
- 3/19/21...Cohort B Rock Your Crazy Socks for World Down Syndrome Day
- 3/22/21...Cohort A Rock Your Crazy Socks for World Down Syndrome Day
- 3/25/21...7pm...Future Acts Spring Trivia Challenge (Virtual)
- 4/2-4/11...Spring Break No School
- 4/12-4/25...Plan to collapse cohorts and run both cohorts on a half day schedule (pds 1-4, then pds 5-8).
- 4/26...Tentative plan to begin full day in person instruction
Keeping Up with What is Going on at the Hill!!!
Key Features in Letter and In Plan
4/12...Day we return from spring break...Collapse cohorts.
- Still in place...1/2 day schedules (pds 1-4 on M/Th, pds 5-8 on T/F, 1/2 hr pds on Wednesday)
- Students report to school same time...No change in bell schedule
- Students can attend 5 days per week
- Provisions for students who continue to opt to remain remote.
- Social distancing (6 feet) promoted but not guaranteed.
- Portable plexiglass to be purchased
- Varied class sizes depending on family decisions to have children return.
4/26...Return to Full Day 8 period day...Tentative plan depending on success of 4/12 plan.
- Students report to school by 7:55. Classes begin then and will dismiss at 2:55
- Bell schedule not yet developed
- Plan to serve lunches. More information to come regarding this in subsequent newsletters.
- Social distancing (6 feet) less possible
- Plexiglass will still be used
- Varied class sizes
Events
- Outdoor Sports will run. Basketball and Field Hockey Coaches are in the process of setting their schedules.
- Recognition events will be virtual or in person depending on the amount of people permitted to safely assemble per executive order.
- Music classes (band, chorus, orchestra, musical) performances will be offered as in person practice at times with a tentative virtual performance
- Clubs may take place after school after 4/26 per regulations and executive orders on safe numbers for assembly.
- Cancellations...Bulldog Bash, 8th Grade Trip, 8th Grade Dance, Dorney Park Music Festival
Below is a running list of questions asked by families regarding the recent information from Mr. Bollendorf
- First, you have to fill out the survey for the district. See Mr. Bollendorf's letter above for specifics as to how to access the survey through unified classroom. OR
- Go to wtps.org and follow the tutorial there.
- Second, you can also send an email to Dr. Muscelli (assistant principal) gmuscelli@wtps.org. Copy Mr. D'Ostilio (principal) on it - mdostilio@wtps.org. Explain what your intent is for your child. Although you must fill out the survey, we are happy to answer any questions you may have.
- You can decide at any time to have your child in person or remote. It may take a few days for me or Dr. Muscelli to finalize the details. Whatever you choose for the best option for your family, please remember to inform Mr. D'Ostilio or Dr. Muscelli of that decision.
- Moreover, especially 6th graders, if you need a tour of the building, Dr. Muscelli can set that up too.
Will there be lunch served and how will that work?
- ​Our cafeteria holds 288 students. We are going to have no more than 75-85 students in at a time. That is less than 30% capacity. Students will bring their shields down with them to eat. They will sit socially distanced, eat, then the teacher will escort them to class. Immediately after each group of students is dismissed by the teacher, the surface of the tables is cleaned and sprayed with Virex. Students take their shields back to class.
- Cafeteria staff will serve the lunch to the students at their tables.
- Meals are still free until 9/30 and remote pick up will still be on Mondays at the high school at the 9/10 side
Are all the classrooms now equipped with approved HEPA filters for Corona virus? If not, is there a plan to install them?
- ​The forced air in the rooms comes from the hall HVAC system to the rooms. Therefore, right outside each classroom, we have MERV-13 filters which are the recommended filters to fend off the micron particles of COVID-19
Is there deep cleaning of the schools, and if so how often per week?
- There is no routine "deep" cleaning. However, we disinfect the rooms regularly. Each morning and night, the custodians spray each room with a disinfectant called Virex. Virex works within 3 minutes on surfaces. It's a hospital grade cleaner. Additionally, each student is given a wipe to wipe their desk before they sit down.
Will the students be allowed to use their lockers?
- Students will be able to use their lockers only twice per day. That is in the morning to get their shields and in the afternoon to return the shields to the lockers. Students will be allowed to carry a back pack this year and will need minimal school supplies as we are not giving out handouts per se.
March 2021 Sees New Schedule
- Cohorts A and C will attend in person Wednesdays on 3/3 and 3/17
- Cohorts B and C will attend in person Wednesdays on 3/10 and 3/24
- There is a typo on the 4th week of March. It should read "March 22-26"
- During the week of March 29, Cohorts A and C will report on 3/29 and 3/30. Whereas Cohorts B and C will report on 3/31 and 4/1
- Spring Break Begins on 4/2...No School that day.
- First period on Wednesdays only begins at 8am NOT 8:13am
- Regretfully, middle school wrestling will not be played this school year. While there was some interest there was not enough interest to be able to justify the team and ensure all weight classes were accounted for. Mr. Falzone, the wrestling coach will be reaching out to all those athletes who expressed interest
- We are still sorting out basketball and field hockey. If you expressed interest, Mrs. Keane our school nurse is verifying physicals and reaching out to you to make sure your child gets the proper paperwork in. Remember, your child cannot play or practice if there is not a verified physical form. This could take up to 3 weeks because the nurse and the district doctor have to review the documentation.
- New Update: If you informed us of your child's interest, the coaches should have reached out to you.
Future Acts Events on the Horizon!!!! - See Below
Information in Addition to the Tracker
BHMS had 1 case reported last week with a verification that no transmission to another individual occurred. As a result:
- 35 since Sept 2020
- Includes Staff and Students
Most Recent Report of an Individual Who Tested Positive for COVID-19
- March 19, 2021
Number of In-School Transmissions (Person transmitting to another while in the building)
- 2
This Generation's Difference Makers
2/8-2/12 - LeBron James
2/15 - 2/19 - Chadwick Boseman
2/22 - 2/26 - Alicia Keys
3/1-3/5 - Megan Rapinoe
3/8-3/12 - Becky Hammon
3/15-3/19 - Greta Thunberg
Greta Thunberg: 2019 Time Magazine Person of the Year
Getting Extra Help
Get Involved by Joining a Club...Families Please Review this Information with Your Children
Building Better Bulldogs (3Bs) Mission and Vision
Episode 12 of Building Better Bulldogs/Being a Difference Maker - Trustworthiness
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