Aubry Bend Weekly News
Friday, September 25, 2020
Calendar
Wednesday, September 30 - MAP testing for MATH - all grade levels
Announcements
IN-PERSON LEARNERS ONLY - October Schedule Update
The BV district announced on Monday, September 21 that all middle and high school students would start in a hybrid model on Monday, October 5. Although the elementary was in a hybrid model since the start of school, the middle and high school hybrid model will include alpha groupings by last name that determines who will physically come to the building and who will learn in the distance model. We will continue to keep the calendar on our ABMS website up-to-date. We have included a visual below for our families’ planning purposes.
There is NO CHANGE to the virtual learners’ schedule. They will ALWAYS remain on the Green/Silver rotation.
IMPORTANT BUS INFORMATION
As we are preparing for a return to in person learning beginning October 5th, Durham has an important message about bus routes. Families that have registered for the bus by the initial deadline should have received a letter from Durham in August with bus stop location, stop time and bus number. The letter went on to provide stop times for when the District is in Hybrid or All in School. Durham has decided to not use the Hybrid stop times and instead only use the All in School stop times regardless of what mode the District is in. If you have any questions regarding bus registration please call Durham at 913-681-2492. Note that it is best to call outside of route times, between 9 AM – 2 PM or email admin6700@durhamschoolservices.com.
Attention female students ages 13-17 interested in Technology
T-Mobile and iD Tech are teaming up to sponsor 40 students from the areas of Seattle, Washington, or Overland Park, Kansas to experience the world’s top technology camp. Selected applicants will participate in one Squads After School Experience, a Women’s Panel, and a virtual tour of T-Mobile’s tech offices. The program will run October-December 2020. To read more about this opportunity and scholarship, click here.
To qualify, candidates must:
- Be female ages 13–17
- Reside in the Seattle, Washington or Overland Park, Kansas area
- Have a desire to learn tech. No prior experience is needed
- Computers may be provided to eligible applicants
- Please see attached flyer for details.
To apply, complete the application found here. Deadline is October 5, 2020.
Questions? Contact codingherfuture@idtech.com
Athletics/Activities Update
ATHLETICS
As we change to the hybrid mode on October 5th, we will begin opportunities for fall athletics. While this will look different than past years, we are excited to offer these extracurricular opportunities to students. Our traditional fall sports will be converted into an intermural format. We are intentionally using the word intermural to distinguish from our traditional intramurals. In our traditional intramurals, ABMS students compete against other ABMS students. In this fall’s intermurals, ABMS teams will compete against other Blue Valley middle school teams.
Intermural Information
Intermural opportunities for middle school:
- Cheerleading Intermural- (7th and 8th Grade) participants will focus on practicing game day cheers/chants, jumps, technique, dance, rules of the game and game day etiquette. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to work on and submit a virtual group performance to BV high school cheer/dance coaches for critique. No live performances at football games will occur.
- Cross Country Intermural- (7th and 8th Grade) participants will practice during the week to prepare for duals and tris (3 competition dates).
- Football Intermural- (8th Grade) participants will practice during the week and will experience 7 on 7 contests (flag football) against other intermural teams within the district (3 competition dates utilizing a tri format). Each game will be a 15 minute running clock.
- Volleyball Intermural- (8th Grade Girls) participants will practice during the week to prepare for duals (4 competition dates).
- Athletes competing with club teams will be able to participate in intermural athletics.
- Intermurals are open to both students enrolled in In-Person and VirtualED learning.
- Intermural teams will compete against intermural teams from other Blue Valley middle schools.
- Administrators, coaches, and athletic trainers will collaborate to establish and utilize procedures to mitigate risks.
- Students will wear masks while participating. This is true for both indoor and outdoor intermurals.
- All participants will complete daily COVID temperature screenings.
- Spectators will be limited to those who currently live in the same household as athletes. Please fill out this ATHLETE/SPECTATOR form. The form allows families to sign-up a student for a particular intermural sport and denote the person(s) currently living in the same household as the athlete. Only those listed on this form will be allowed as spectators at events. If a family has more than one student who will be participating in intramural sports, it will be necessary to submit a separate form for each student.
- Each student participating in intermural sports must submit a completed 2020 Intermural Pre-Participation Packet to the office. This packet includes a permission form, a COVID-19 questionnaire, and a transportation consent and release form.
- Some students have already submitted physicals and other forms to schools. These students are still required to submit completed 2020 Intermural Pre-Participation Packets.
- Physicals are not required to be submitted for students to compete in intermurals.
- Students will need to arrange their own transportation to school for practices and home games. Transportation will be provided from a student’s home school for away games.
- Students who are unable to participate in some practices due to a lack of transportation will not be penalized for missed practices.
ACTIVITIES
Clubs
With health and safety modifications, clubs can begin meeting October 5th.
- Clubs are open to both students enrolled in In-Person and VirtualED learning.
- Information about club meetings will be sent to students through the daily announcements they receive via Canvas.
- Clubs may meet in-person, virtually, or utilize a format in which students may attend either in-person or virtually.
Play/Musical
We are reviewing opportunities for musicals and plays.
PTO News...
ABMS MASKS -THANK YOU to everyone who ordered masks. The orders are being processed and will be ready to ship and/or pick up in a couple of weeks. We will keep you updated!
SPIRITWEAR - Thank you for everyone who placed an order! You should have received an email regarding pick up of your items. You can email us with questions!
Invest in ABMS/PTO membership - Any and all support is very much appreciated!! Log into ParentVue to donate.
AMAZON SMILE - Did you know you can support ABMS by shopping through Amazon Smile? It's an easy way to help, but you must shop through our link.
"BE IN THE KNOW WITH ABMS PTO"- Be sure to follow us on FB (@AubryBendMSPTO) and twitter (@AbmsPto).
FAMILY FUN NIGHT - Mark your calendars for October 9th as we will host VIRTUAL Bingo Night!
BINGO cards are for sale now. https://aubry-bend-pto.square.site/ Stay tuned for more details!!
DIRECTORY - It is time again for our student directory cover design contest!
PTO Cover Design Contest
Library Updates
Curbside Checkout is being offered to all ABMS Distance Learners. For this process students will place checkout “holds” through our online catalog. Students can browse the catalog and hold up to 3 library books. Once the hold is placed we will process the books and email your child through Canvas & their school email account when they’re ready. Please wait for the email confirmation to know when the books are ready. The items are wrapped with the student’s name and on a cart outside the main entrance doors. Students have learned the process of placing a hold during their ELA classes. You may view a video on the Library webpage that explains this easy process.
Also, if students have library books from last spring to turn in, there will be a Return Cart as well in the vestibule of school. Please return at any time!
Not comfortable with checking out a print book? No problem! Students can check out eBooks through Axis 360. See the link for directions and to locate the Axis 360 link!
6th Grade News...
ELA
Students read and analyzed the short story titled “Zlateh the Goat” while identifying various types of conflicts in both the short story and other media sources. We also completed the Reading MAP test on Wednesday and Thursday during ELA – the students did great with this remote method for MAP testing. We are very proud of their extra focus this week during testing.
Math
Students finished up Math Mindset content and will be moving forward with our geometry unit. As a reminder, we will be Math MAP testing on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
Science
Science classes began learning about astronomy and how Earth’s motions drive the patterns for days/nights and seasons. Students will continue to dive deeper into these subjects next week.
Social Studies
We have been learning about the first civilizations to settle in groups to form cities and learning about the acronym RECIPE which applies to every culture we will study this year. Students were to finish a google slides about the RECIPE about themself and submit to their teacher. Some google slides were being difficult and not submitting. If your student is struggling with the submission part, please direct them to the SHARE button in their google slides and have them add their teacher's email address: AParker@bluevalleyk12.org, KSVail@bluevalleyk12.org, or CZimmerman@bluevalleyk12.org
Chromebook Update: Many Chromebook issues can be fixed simply by updating the Chromebook and restarting the device. The following video link will give a step-by-step explanation on how to update your student's device: Chromebook Update Tutorial
Camera Issues: If you are experiencing problems with your Chromebook's camera, and you have already updated your Chromebook, this video will show you how to check your Chromebook's camera settings: Chromebook Camera Settings
7th Grade News...
ELA
Students are rocking out with using MLA in-text citations. We are so proud of them! Next week, they will be reading stories and applying their MLA citing knowledge into writings. And....here they go......soaring as writers.
Math
Will continue a focus on operations with rational numbers! MAP testing will be Tuesday September 29th & Wednesday September 30th. Please look for an email from your math teacher with details!
Science
Started a cell project this week which is due September 29th & 30th. The quiz is also September 29th & 30th over the same content covered by the project (cell organelles, structure & function eukaryotic vs. prokaryotic, plant vs. animal).
Social Studies
We had our first draft in Fantasy Geopolitics (Fanschool) this week. Ask your child what countries he/she drafted! We are continuing to study the Five Themes of Geography next week.
Chromebook Update: Many Chromebook issues can be fixed simply by updating the Chromebook and restarting the device. The following video link will give a step-by-step explanation on how to update your student's device: Chromebook Update Tutorial
Camera Issues: If you are experiencing problems with your Chromebook's camera, and you have already updated your Chromebook, this video will show you how to check your Chromebook's camera settings: Chromebook Camera Settings
8th Grade News...
Farris Science
We will start energy conservation and transfers.
Social Studies
Continuing with our Unit “Who Gets to be in Charge.” We are evaluating elements of the Constitution and will be moving specifically into the Bill of Rights.
Math
Algebra 1: Continuing our intro to functions unit. Evaluating linear and non-linear patterns to define functions
Math 8: Solving equations. One, Two & Multi-step equations is the focus. Students will be earning “badges” based on their accomplishments.
ELA
We will be delving into The Outsiders and exploring characteristics of direct and indirect characterization.
Chromebook Update: Many Chromebook issues can be fixed simply by updating the Chromebook and restarting the device. The following video link will give a step-by-step explanation on how to update your student's device: Chromebook Update Tutorial
Camera Issues: If you are experiencing problems with your Chromebook's camera, and you have already updated your Chromebook, this video will show you how to check your Chromebook's camera settings: Chromebook Camera Settings
From the Desk of Mrs. Tate...
I remember when I got my first email account. It was amazing! I could send an entire letter with an attachment that was delivered instantly…instantly…that was so cool! I remember thinking, “I will never use the U.S. Postal Service again. This is going to change the world!”
Fast forward…30 years. Email changed our world in so many ways. We are accustomed to instantaneous responses and communication. We are able to connect quickly with people across town, next door and across the world. That fact still amazes me, but can I tell you how much I love getting letters via the U.S. Postal Service? I’m giddy when they come and I hold on to the cards for weeks cherishing the time and effort the sender put into that one act of kindness.
I’m not going to bash email because it absolutely serves its purpose in my personal and professional life, and I’m thankful for the timely delivery of important information. However, today I must acknowledge the email fatigue that many of us are feeling during all of the transitions we’ve had with Return to Learn. I understand. I empathize with you. I get it.
I can’t go back and change anything about the past or the fatigue any of us has experienced. I can acknowledge it and promise to do the very best I can to communicate important information to our community in a timely manner. The Weekly News is the number one form of communication for our ABMS families. We send it every Friday. Sometimes, we need the flexibility to send it on Saturday. The biggest reason we do this is to reduce the number of emails you get in your inbox. What I hope happens is that you take the time to read the Weekly News in its entirety and use it as your main point of reference for school-related information.
Of course, if there is important timely information that must be sent before Friday, I will send it. That way, if you get something from the school other than Mr. Colburn’s Tech Tuesday newsletter or the Weekly News, you know it’s important and needs your immediate attention.
Our in-person learners will move to the Hybrid model on October 5, and there will be ABMS-specific communication that we will send that will be vital to the success of that transition. We’ve provided some of that information this week, and there will be more to come next week. The district Return to Learn site is consistently updated with current information, as well. You can access that on our district website at this Return to Learn link.
Our virtual learners will have no changes to their model/schedule on October 5. They will continue utilizing their current schedule.
Thank you for hanging in there with us! We value our community and the team-approach for our students’ success. We are excited to get students back in the building!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Diana Tate, Principal
Aubry Bend Middle School
Email: AubryBendMiddle@bluevalleyk12.org
Website: www.bluevalleyk12.org/ABM
Location: 12501 West 175th Street, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: 913-624-2300
Facebook: facebook.com/AubryBendMiddle
Twitter: @ABMSWolverines