Edition 25 Week of 02/18
From the Desk of Ms. Hicks
AACPS Chromebook Verification
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are in the process of updating our Chromebook inventory district wide. It is crucial for your child to participate in this assignment. Students should bring their Chromebook to school and complete the assignment in class. This process is essential for maintaining an up-to-date technology inventory at your studentās school. The entire process should take less than 3 minutes.
All students will complete this verification on Friday, Feb. 23rd during their ELA class. If you have any issues with your Chromebook, please refer to the attached troubleshooting document. Thank you for your cooperation.
Best regards,
Ms. Hicks
February: Black History Month
Beatrice "Bea" Gaddy
Ms. Maldanado's Class showcasing their artwork for Black History Month
This artwork was inspired from the class presentation given by Ms. Parker-Rogers!
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Cougar Calendar
Wiley H. Bates MCAP Testing Schedule
If possible, please avoid late arrivals, early dismissals, and absences.
Attention 6th Grade Families
Ms. Weiss, 6th Grade Couselor, will be going into Social Studies classes this week to conduct a classroom lesson and to assist 6th graders with choosing their encore classes for 7th grade. Students will need their charged Chromebooks in class that day to make their selections. Students are encouraged to share their choices with their parents. There will be a Google Link in your studentās Brightspace for English class. Parents and students will have until Friday, March 1st to submit any changes via that Google Link. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Weiss at dweiss@aacps.org.
Attention 7th Grade Families
Deadline March 1
Mrs. Barnett, 7th grade School Counselor, met with your scholars to help them select their encore classes for their 8th grade school year.
The encore lesson and google form link is posted in the Brightspace classroom of your student's English class for your reference. Parents and students will have until Friday, March 1st, 2024, to submit an updated google form with their child's encore selections. For questions, please contact Mrs. Barnett at cmbarnett@aacps.org.
That's a Wrap!
A Bates Drama Club Look Back
To many adults, a school play is a fun diversion for their children. To be sure, Wiley H. Bates Drama Club students do have fun. But they work very hard as well. They learn lessons and gain skills they will use throughout their lives no matter what they choose to do.
Participating in a school play helps students improve their planning skills and increase their confidence in speaking in front of others. They prepare for the unexpected, manage anxiety, respond to mistakes, and keep moving forward.
Our crew leaders learn to supervise and coordinate a group of peers and help guide them to success. Our crew members learn how to work together to fix problems as they arise and keep things running smoothly.
Together, our theater company learns to work as a tightly knit, smoothly running team with a unified purpose. These are all skills and experiences that will serve our students well throughout life.
A look back:
-5 months of work for students.
-10 months of work for the creative team.
-26 cast students.
-20 tech crew students.
-75 rehearsal hours at Bates and Studio 39.
-Singing, acting, dancing rehearsals.
-Teachers sharing their classrooms for our rehearsal and tech spaces.
-Countless hours of students practicing at home.
-Students building props during the school day and after school.
-Students and parents searching for, buying, borrowing, and assembling costumes.
-Volunteers searching for and borrowing set pieces and props.
-Studio 39 staff installing theater equipment to serve our production.
-Many hours of students learning to operate professional theater lighting, sound, projection, and communication equipment.
-Bates PTA helping us afford to transport our student audience on a field trip to Studio 39.
-Bates and Studio 39 administration, faculty, and staff supporting students during our journey to the stage.
-More than 30 adult volunteers filling many creative, technical, editing, planning, guest services, delivery, safety, and managerial positions.
-Many miles of families driving cast and crew.
-5 performances.
-More than 500 audience members.
Thank you Bates community for supporting Bates Drama Club and The Drowsy Chaperone Jr.
Wiley H. Bates Drama Club is funded by the Apex Arts magnet program and open to all Bates students.
Martin Egna, Director
Bates Drama Club
Apex Arts Magnet Program
Wiley H. Bates Middle School
Help our Wiley H. Bates Gardens
Saturday, February 24 10:00am-2pm
Workday at Bates Gardens on Saturday, Feb 24th from 10:00-2:00. Come work as long as you want. Hauling compost, digging in leaf gro, cutting back old stems, weeding, transplanting, planting seeds for spring crops.
Great opportunity for service hours! Offering to St. Maryās High School students, Wiley H. Bates students and staff, and Master Gardeners. Ms. Ford, Master Gardner, will teach you what to do.
Bring gloves, pants, long sleeves, closed toed shoes and a hat. Bring shovels and hand tools if you have them. Will provide snacks! Bring water too. There will be more workdays so if you cannot make this one there will be more times announced later.
Staff vs. Student Basketball Game Event
Out of Area Requests
Open from March 1 till May 1
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) seeking an out of area transfer for the school year 2024-2025 must complete and submit the Out of Area form along with supporting documentation to the principal for review between March 1 and May 1, 2024. This includes ALL CURRENT out-of-area students as they too must be competed and submitted along with the supporting documentation each year.
If your child is an 8th grader and you are considering submitting an Out of Area Request for a high school other than your zoned high school, you will need to submit an Out of Area request to the high school principal of the requested school. *The daycare option is not valid at the high school level.
Fillable forms and full details regarding requirements for a request for Out of Area are available on the website: www.aacps.org/outofarea. (click āView Allā tab).
**Please keep in mind that incomplete Out of Area requests & those lacking accompanying documents will not be accepted**
Mattress Fundraiser - Support the Wiley H. Bates Music Program
Saturday, March 2, 2024
Student Choreography Showcase - 04/12
Submissions due March 15
Order your Yearbook NOW
April 12 Deadline
(Click the image below to order or scan the QR code on the form brought home)
No extra yearbooks will be ordered so be sure to order yours today!
Congratulations to our Students of the Month - Dec/Jan
6th Grade Students of the Month - Dec/Jan
7th Grade Students of the Month - Dec/Jan
8th Grade Students of the Month - Dec/Jan
News from the PTA
PTA Reflections Finalists
The Bates PTA is excited to celebrate our PTA Reflections contest finalists! We hope you will join us as we honor our Reflections entrants at the Bates PTA Dessert Reception following Arts Fest on March 14, 2024.
Three entries from Bates students have won awards at Anne Arundel County Council of PTA's Reflections contest in the Middle School Literature category:
1st Place - Rayah Smith, Bates MS
2nd Place - Aiden Meade, Bates MS
3rd Place - Ellis Kennard, Bates MS
All three entries are now moving on to the Free State PTA's contest next! Good luck! We are so proud of our talented Cougars!
The current PTA officers are all 8th grade parents, which means that they will be moving on to high school next year. In order for our PTA to continue, we need volunteers to step up to lead this organization next year. It's fun, it helps our school, and it's not a ton of work. If you're interested, please drop us a line at BatesMiddleSchoolPTA@gmail.com, and we can tell you what each position entails. The sooner you volunteer, the more time you'll have to "shadow" the current officers and start learning the ropes before your term in office actually begins. Please help our organization continue!
Thank you for supporting Bates Middle School and our PTA!
Wiley H. Bates Food Pantry
If interested in learning more about our Student Food Pantry please have your student go to the counseling department to speak to Shauna Rykiel, our school social worker, or you may contact her through email at srykiel@aacps.org. Our pantry is currently open Mondays from 3:30-3:55 pm and Fridays from arrival through the end of advisory.
Bates Literary Magazine
Deadline has been extended!
After-School Bates Girls Lacrosse
A girls after-school lacrosse club will be starting this coming Tuesday, January 9th and will run on Tuesdays through February 20th. We will be playing lacrosse, getting some exercise and learning new skills.
You do not need to know how to play or have any equipment. We have equipment if you need it. Come out and have some fun with Coach Fox, Annapolis High School's assistant lacrosse coach!
Chromebook Chargers
Reminder: If you have lost your charger or would like an extra one for home, please use the below link to order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about transportation?
Please forward any questions to our administrator, Mr. Walker at jewalker1@aacps.org
Do you have questions about your student's attendance?
Please contact Christine Clark at cclark3@aacps.org.
Do you have specific student concerns, ie. behavior, scheduling, academic performance, etc. please contact your grade level administrator or counselor:
6th Grade
Administrator: Mr. Walker jewalker1@aacps.org
Counselor: Ms. Weiss dweiss@aacps.org
7th Grade
Administrator: Mr. Lustgarten jlustgarten@aacps.org
Counselor: Ms. Barnett cmbarnett@aacps.org
8th Grade
Administrator: Ms. Adkins ktadkins@aacps.org
Counselor: Ms. McFadden cmcfadden@aacps.org
Do you have an emergency concern (after hours)?
Please contact our Principal, Ms. Hicks, at 302-314-6146.
Around the Community
Sound of Silence - A Conversation about Mental Health
We would like to invite you to our Sound of Silence Program on February 28, 2024, at 6:30 PM. All community members are invited to attend the parent event at our school. We encourage all parents to have a follow-up conversation with their youth. Discuss the topics with them and have an open conversation.
This program was created for youth, to help dismantle and break the stigma related to mental health and give access to mental health services. Sound of Silence otherwise known as SOS is a targeted assembly for all Middle and High School students. We provide a panel of mental health and substance misuse professionals along with representation from SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Department of Health, Crisis Response, and the leading Prevention Coalitions that represent Anne Arundel County. We talk about target topics that can lead to mental health disorders, how to prevent self-medicating through substance misuse, suicide prevention, maintaining healthy relationships, and many more. We encourage our youth to talk and ask questions and also provide services using each school's Behavioral Health Facility following if our youth should need the help.
We hope you can join us for a very educational evening. Even if you do not need the information, someone you know does. Reach out and help in any way you can.
The 2024 application window for summer camp and learning enhancement programs will be open February 9, 2024 through March 15, 2024.
Please note that students are eligible to apply for programs based on their current grade level for the 2023-2024 school year.
Please click HERE to see the summer programs offered by AACPS.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Annapolis
Annapolis Police Athletic League - Co-Ed Volleyball Club
Dress Pop-Up Shop
March 9th 12-4pm
Offering FREE formal dresses
We are Hiring for AACPS Summer Programs
Free Chromebook Giveaway - AACPL
(En EspaƱol: Dispositivos Conectados Chromebook Sorteo)
As part of AACPL's commitment to help close the digital divide, through a grant provided by Anne Arundel County and the State of Maryland, we are proud to participate in a free Chromebook giveaway for eligible Anne Arundel County residents. Distribution events will be held starting in January 2024.
Please click on this link for more information.
Mobile Food Pantry - AACo Food Bank
Dear AACPS Students, Parents, Guardians, Teachers, Staff, and Community Members,
We are excited to announce an upcoming event that is both informative and impactful. Anne Arundel County Public Schools Special Education is hosting a special screening of the thought-provoking documentary, "Normal Isn't Real," and we invite you to Save the Date for this enlightening experience.
Event Details
Date: March 14, 2024
Time: To be announced
Location: To be announced
RSVP: It is crucial to RSVP to reserve your seat for this screening. Further details on how to RSVP will be provided soon.
"Normal Isn't Real" is a powerful documentary that challenges societal perceptions of normalcy and explores the unique strengths that individuals with learning differences and disabilities bring to our communities. This event aims to foster understanding, promote inclusivity, and inspire meaningful conversations.
As we prepare for this event, we encourage you to mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information, including venue details and how to secure your spot. We look forward to your presence and active participation in this important conversation.
Together, let's celebrate diversity, promote acceptance, and build a more inclusive community within Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
Thank you for your continued support.
File attachments:
Special Ed Documentary Screening 1-12-2024.pdf
Anne Arundel County Crisis Response Warmline
AACPS is hiring for all positions. Click HERE to apply.
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