Cougar Chronicle
Edition 1, August 2022
Welcome Back!
Welcome to edition one of The Cougar Chronicle 2022 - 2023 school year. This newsletter contains the most up to date information regarding important dates, school/student accomplishments, and upcoming activities. The Chronicle is emailed to parents, usually on Sundays and can be accessed on the Bates Website. You will receive an email from AACPS asking you to update your contact information, please ensure that your email address is correctly listed. (Please keep in mind this process must be completed for EACH of your students.) If your email address changes during the school year, please call the front office to update your information. Additional resources and information can be found on the Bates Website.
6th grade orientation is scheduled for August 16 from 9:00-11:00am or 4:00pm-6:00pm.
First day for 6th grade is August 29th; students will report to the cafeteria where they will receive their schedule.
First day for 7th and 8th grade students is August 30th; Students will report to their Advisory teacher (period 7). Student/Parent Portal will be up and running soon; please have your student check student portal to find their schedule. We will have teachers and staff assisting students with finding their teachers and locations.
Make sure your student knows their address and community name. At the end of the day, we help those students who do not remember which bus they are riding find their bus by their address/community name.
All uniform shirts must be purchased from the school (6th grade – black, 7th grade – royal blue, 8th grade – purple). You may purchase your shirts during the days and times listed below. Uniform polo shirts will continue to be available throughout the school year (cost $9 cash/check).
August 29th and 30th will be A days. For a full A B DAY CALENDAR click here.
More information can be found on the Bates Website. Check our websites for Uniform Policy, Bell Schedules and more!
Looking for assistance in Spanish? Click HERE.
AACPS has sent emails asking families to update their Emergency Card Verification Form. Please complete this as soon as possible to ensure we have the most up to date contact and safety information on file for your student.
Go to www.aacps.org/buses to locate your student’s bus route which should be posted by mid August. Have your student arrive at their bus stop a few minutes early on the first day and be patient if the bus is late! Car riders, please see diagram below for drop off procedures.
Charge your students’ Chromebook. Students should bring their Chromebooks to school EVERY DAY including Day 1!
Mark your calendars for September 8th from 6-8pm for Back to School Night!
Students will have to pay for school lunch this school year. Go ONLINE to sign up for FREE and REDUCED LUNCH. Important school funding is determined by Free and Reduced Lunch numbers.
Wiley H. Bates Middle School Supply List- Fall 2022
General MS Supplies:
Backpack to Store School Supplies (To Store in Locker)
AACPS Issued Chromebook and Charger
Headphones compatible with Chromebook
One 3-inch Binder
Pencils (2 Packs)
Black and Blue Pens (No Gel Pens)
Colored Pencils
Pencil Pouch for Binder
Erasers
Ruler
Glue Stick
4 Packs of Loose Leaf Paper (Keep 3 Packs at Home to Refill)
Combination Lock
Other Supplies may be Needed as Requested by Teachers
In Uniform
All students at Bates Middle School are required to wear a uniform to school daily! Shirts must be purchased from the school which includes the Bates logo. The color of the uniform shirt is determined by grade level.
6th grade – Black Polos
7th grade – Royal Blue Polos
8th grade – Purple Polos
All students wear uniform style pants, shorts, skirts and/or skorts in either khaki (tan) or dark blue. Uniform style pants/shorts/skirts are readily available for purchase from local and online retailers such as Old Navy, Walmart, and JC Penney. Occasionally we will hold “Spirit Days” which enables students some fun options (i.e., jeans and jerseys).
Shirts/Sweatshirts are available for purchase. Please see below for the dates and times. Cash or Checks only accepted.
Summer Uniform Sales Days
Uniform Shirts and Sweatshirts will be available for purchase
in the GYM LOBBY.
Cash and Checks will be accepted only.
Polos $9
Sweatshirts $12
PE Shirts $6
PE Shorts $7
Tuesday, August 16 (6th grade only)
11:00 AM -- 4:00 PM
(uniforms will not be sold during the orientation)
⭐⭐⭐
Saturday, August 20 (all grades)
11:00 AM -- 5:00 PM
⭐⭐⭐
Monday -- Thursday, August 22 -- 25 (all grades)
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
ATTENTION 7th GRADE PARENTS
VACCINE REQUIREMENTS
Students must show proof of MCV4 &Tdap Vaccines
in order to start 7th grade
Drop-Off & Pick-Up
Parents who are driving students to/from school should follow the above map to help us ensure student safety. The speed limit in the parking lot is 5 mph. Please note, as indicated in the picture above, that the traffic flows one way. If a car is still waiting for his/her student and there is space in front of you, please close the gap so that other cars can enter into the parking lot. Please comply with directions from staff members monitoring the parking lot. Students should NOT walk across the parking lot to your car. For everyone's safety, no parents/guardians are to drop off or pick up any students in the bus loop. Thank you for helping to keep our students safe!
Cell Phone Policy
Bates cell phone policy states it is expected the student's cell phones are off and away all day. The number one distraction and barrier to a majority of our students' learning and success is an increased need to be connected to their cell phones at all times. As adults, we are able to navigate and disengage when appropriate. However, our students struggle with this ability. We need your help. Please speak with your students as they are required to keep cell phones off and away throughout the school day (this includes air pods, iPhone watches, etc.). If your student needs to call home, they may ask their teacher for a pass to the front office and use the phone in the office. Please support us by only texting/calling your student outside of school hours.
Counseling Corner
Main Office: 410-263-0270
Counseling Office: 410-263-4718
Grade 6: Ms. Barnett, cmbarnett@aacps.org
Grade 7: Ms. Darling, mdarling@aacps.org
Grade 8: Ms. Weiss, dweiss@aacps.org
WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN THE BATES PTA
We are lucky to have an active PTA here at Bates Middle School. The PTA connects parents to the school through volunteering and advocacy. All members of the Bates' community are invited to attend PTA meetings and Coffee with the Principal. These gatherings serve as social events and a forum to discuss both PTA and school sponsored events/activities. Administration attends these meetings and are available to answer your questions. Go to www.batespta.org to learn more about how to get involved and to find an online membership form.
PTA BOARD 2022-2023
Laura Graham-Booth, President
Roberto Garza, Vice President
JC Johns, Treasurer
Colleen Zelenakas, Secretary
Thank you for volunteering and all you do for Bates Middle School! Questions, contact the PTA at BatesMiddleSchoolPTA@gmail.com.
PTA Email Address: BatesMiddleSchoolPTA@gmail.com
PTA Website: batespta.org
PTA Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/batesmspta
In the Community
Greetings from Dominion Hospital
Join Dominion Hospital experts for a FREE three-part educational webinar for parents, legal guardians, or educators and other school personnel wishing to learn about reducing stress and increasing resiliency in children and adolescents.
With students starting school this month, now is the time to manage back to school stress.
We welcome you to join us for one or for all three sessions to help support mental health and wellness during the return to school.
To register, scan the QR code below or email Ashley.Summers2@hcahealthcare.com to join this educational series.
Wiley H. Bates MIddle School
Christine Clark, Editor
We are better together!
Email: cclark3@aacps.org
Website: www.aacps.org/bates
Location: 701 Chase Street, Annapolis, MD, USA
Phone: 410 263-0270
Twitter: @whbatesaacps