The Weekly Update #30
Tips and Tricks - from Ms. Adkins
Cell Phone Policy
Dear Parents,
Cell phone use is both a social issue and a distraction to learning when students are at school. Here are a couple of resources for parents to use to help ensure that students are focusing their attention on instruction and learning while at school. As you are aware, cell phones are to be off and away during the school day. To help ensure that students see the importance of avoiding the distraction that cell phones bring, I have included two attachments that guide parents through setting restrictions depending on the operating system.
By following these instructions, parents can:
Block apps such as snapchat, instagram, and tik tok
Limit screen time during the school day
Limit communication during the school day from specific numbers
Limit texting, facetime, and phone calls from specific numbers during the day
Set ‘downtime’ blocks of time during the day and/or at night
Tips linked below:
Thank you for your continued support of Bates Middle School.
Cougar Calendar
For your Reference (Early Dismissal Schedule)
Don't forget to order a yearbook by APRIL 7th
Yearbook Orders
- Orders can only be placed online.
- Last day to order is April 7th.
- Student names will be printed on the front cover.
- Cost is $23.75 + taxes.
- Please contact Ms. Grimail with any questions: tgrimail@aacps.org.
8th Grade - MISA Testing - 03/21-03/22
Attention 8th Graders, MISA testing will be held on 03/21 and 03/22 during 1st and 2nd periods. Please read the following to prepare for the testing:
- Get a good night's rest.
- Charge your chromebook every night.
- Bring your chromebook to school every day.
- Please get to school on time.
- Please avoid any early dismissals during testing.
NJHS Fundraiser - 03/01-03/31
The National Junior Honor Society at Bates needs your help to raise $1000! All money raised will be directly donated to the Light House Shelter in Annapolis.
Starting March 1st:
Bring in any spare change or dollars to your homeroom teacher
Place the money in the lighthouse box located in your classroom
Have your homeroom teacher record your donation
**You can also donate online using this link. In the description, please write the name of the student and their advisory teacher. **
Hispanic Workshop - March 30th
RSVP by scanning QR Code or clicking picture below
Spring is coming! -Purchase native plants for your own garden - now till 04/14
Click the picture to order your plants.
Purchase plants through April 14th. Pick up on April 21st. Click here to order!
- All plants are beautiful and grow back EVERY YEAR with very little care or effort.
- Service hours available. Help us in the gardens on Earth Day, 04/22
- Contact Mrs. Ford in room 300 or email skford@aacps.org with any questions.
Earth Day Celebration - April 14th
February Students of the Month
Please congratulate the following students
6th Grade Students of the Month - February
7th Grade Students of the Month - February
8th Grade Students of the Month - February
Counselor's Corner
CAT South - March 22nd - 6:00-8:00pm
On March 22nd from 6-8pm, CAT-South will be hosting their first annual Non-Traditional Newcomer Night! This will be open house style and all are welcomed. Families will have the opportunity to see the building, meet the staff, meet business partners, and even practice skills they could learn in the programs. This is open to students of all ages so please share.
Registrar's Corner
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) seeking an out of area transfer for the school year 2023-2024 must complete and submit the Out of Area form along with supporting documentation to the principal for review between March 1 and May 1, 2023. This includes ALL CURRENT out-of-area students as they too must be completed 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 “View All” tab).
**Please keep in mind that incomplete Out of Area requests & those lacking accompanying documents will not be accepted**
Any questions, please contact our registrar, Ms. Gibson, at tmgibson@aacps.org.
Save the Date: June 1st 6-8pm
8th Grade Dance on the Harbor Queen boat!
Chromebook Care
AACPS is experiencing an increasing amount of Chromebook damage, and Chromebooks are in short supply and repair/replacement time is delayed as a result. Bates Middle School is also seeing that uptick in accidental and intentional damage. Please speak with your student about proper care and use of the Chromebook. Damaged and/or missing Chromebooks are repaired or replaced with costs incurred by the student, it is imperative that students care for their devices so they can avoid hefty fees. Please see below for tips for proper care and maintenance of the devices.
Bates Student Food Pantry
Reminder:
Our pantry is currently open Mondays from 3:30-3:55 pm and Fridays from arrival through the end of advisory. 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.
Magazine Donations Needed
If you have any magazines at your house that you no longer need, please drop them off at the front desk. We are in need of as many magazines as we can get. Thank you in advance!
Uniform Pant Donations
We have many kids in need of uniform pant donations. One type of pants that we have noticed fit our students very well are the Old Navy High Wasted Chino Pants. I have attached the link below. If you would like to purchase one or more as a donation for our kids, we would be very grateful. We do have smaller sizes in our uniform closet. If you would like to donate a pair or two, we could use more larger sizes. Feel free to drop them off at the front office. Thank you!
https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=792006002&vid=1&searchText=khaki#pdp-page-content
Volunteer Opportunity
If you would like to volunteer to help the kids with their Bates Story Project, please email Ms. Grimail at tgrimail@aacps.org. Do you have an artistic hobby of dancing, songwriting, collage making, photography, spoken word, or film? If so, we would love for you to help our kids in the next few weeks.
- Dance: 03/06-03/10
- Songwriting: 03/13-03/17
- Collage: 03/20-03/28
- Photography: 04/17-04/20
- Spoken Word: 04/24-04/27
- Film: 05/01-05/05
More information about the Bates Story Project below.
Bates Story Project Information
Green School Initiative
We now have a Planet Aid Clothing donation bin on our grounds located by our carpool loop. Bag your excess clothes, shoes, purses, towels, and linens and place them in the yellow bin. Your donations help raise funds for our school, provides affordable clothing to those who need it, keeps reusable textiles out of our landfills, and supports education initiatives around the world!
AACPS Presents......
AACPS Office of Health, PE, and Dance presents the film SEXTORTION, The Hidden Pandemic. Attend to learn how to protect your children from sextortion.
Showings:
May 4th - Meade High School - 6pm
After the film, there will be a brief panel discussion of experts and Q&A.
Covid Test Kits and Masks
The Bates PTA has obtained a supply of COVID-19 home tests and KN95 masks.
They are available for pick up in the school office. Please note that they must be picked up by an adult.
If you cannot get to school and need test kits, please contact the PTA at batesmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com or text us at 443-782-5423 and we will arrange to get some to you!
Is your student not feeling well? Don't forget to fill out the absence note!
Student Absences
If you need to report your student absent for a partial day or for the entire day, please click on the image and complete the google form.
These attendance forms can also be found on the Bates Website. You may also email the Attendance Secretary, Christine Clark, at cclark3@aacps.org with your attendance note.
Teacher Shoutouts
Does your student want to give a shoutout to their teacher?
Students can give their teacher a shoutout of appreciation! Please scan the QR code or go to our website to give their shoutout. I know the teacher's would LOVE to hear from their students
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about transportation?
Please forward any questions to our administrator, Joe Lustgarten at jlustgarten@aacps.org.
Do you have questions about your student's attendance?
Please contact Christine Clark at cclark3@aacps.org.
Do you have questions about student/parent portal?
Do you have specific student concerns, ie. behavior, scheduling, academic performance, etc. please contact your grade level administrator or counselor:
6th Grade
Administrator: Mr. Lustgarten jlustgarten@aacps.org
Counselor: Ms. Barnett cmbarnett@aacps.org
7th Grade
Administrator: Ms. Adkins ktadkins@aacps.org
Counselor: Ms. Darling mdarling@aacps.org
8th Grade
Administrator: Ms. Patterson kypatterson@aacps.org
Counselor: Ms. Weiss dweiss@aacps.org
Do you have an emergency concern (after hours)?
Please contact our Principal, Ms. Hicks, at 302-314-6146.
If your student would like to meet with their grade level counselor, please have them use the below links to request an appointment. These links are also available on each teacher's Brightspace page.
Request to See Mrs. Barnett (6th Grade)
https://forms.gle/F6ZFZmZhayVGCcJc6
Request to See Ms. Darling (7th Grade)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nQAAGOTHWZIi2AJ-2HgNQnOcd6TW8OCMqdRuPWwuCDA/edit
Request to See Ms. Weiss (8th Grade)
Come Join our Team
Please look at the available positions at AACPS
Resources for the Community
$10 Student Tickets to Annapolis Symphony!
Maryland Food Bank
Maryland Food Bank - SNAP
Family Academy
Annapolis Community of Hope
Tennis Alliance of Anne Arundel County
Boys & Girls Club of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County
Would you like to be a mentor for one of our students?
Do you want to know what is happening at Bates? FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM!
PTA BOARD 2022-2023
Laura Graham-Booth, President
Roberto Garza, Vice President
Norma McGowin-Reynolds, Treasurer
Colleen Zelenakas, Secretary
Thank you for volunteering and all you do for Bates Middle School! Questions, contact the PTA at BatesMiddleSchoolPTA@gmail.com
Wiley H. Bates MIddle School
Katherine Hicks, Principal
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
Instagram:@WileyHBatesMiddleSchoolAACPS