BEATRICE MIDDLE SCHOOL MESSENGER
October, 2019
PRINCIPAL POINTS BY JOHN JAROSH
TEN HOMEWORK TIPS FOR PARENTS
1. Know the teachers — and what they’re looking for. Attend school events, such as parent-teacher conferences, to meet your child’s teachers. Ask about their homework policies and how you should be involved.
2. Set up a homework-friendly area. Make sure kids have a well-lit place to complete homework. Keep supplies — paper, pencils, glue, scissors — within reach.
3. Schedule a regular study time. Some kids work best in the afternoon, following a snack and play period; others may prefer to wait until after dinner.
4. Help them make a plan. On heavy homework nights or when there’s an especially hefty assignment to tackle, encourage your child break up the work into manageable chunks. Create a work schedule for the night if necessary — and take time for a 15-minute break every hour, if possible.
5. Keep distractions to a minimum. This means no TV, loud music, or phone calls. (Occasionally, though, a phone call to a classmate about an assignment can be helpful.)
6. Make sure kids do their own work. They won’t learn if they don’t think for themselves and make their own mistakes. Parents can make suggestions and help with directions but its a kid's job to do the learning.
7. Be a motivator and monitor. Ask about assignments, quizzes, and tests. Give encouragement, check completed homework, and make yourself available for questions and
concerns.
8. Set a good example. Do your kids ever see you diligently balancing your budget or reading a book? Kids are more likely to follow their parents’ examples than their advice.
9. Praise their work and efforts. Post an aced test or art project on the refrigerator. Mention academic achievements to relatives.
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL'S CORNER....MR. HAAKE
STUDENTS OF CHARACTER
At Beatrice Middle School we feel it is important to recognize students not only for honor roll and athletic accomplishments, but in how they carry themselves as students of BMS. We recognize our students for displaying different aspects of the Pillars of Character (Fairness, Responsibility, Caring, Respect, Citizenship, and Trustworthiness) and for utilizing appropriate social skills under the Boys Town model.
This year, students will be nominated for Student of Character bi-monthly. Our teachers will meet in their content areas and will discuss students that they’ve seen throughout the last couple weeks that deserve to be nominated. Students will receive a gift card to Valentinos, a VIP pass for the lunch line, a certificate to bring home, a locker tag on their locker, a picture in the newspaper, a radio ad on KWBE, and parents will receive a phone call home from the administration!
Awards for honor roll, top musician, or scoring the most points in a basketball are great accomplishments, but they’re temporary. Encourage your student to leave a longer-lasting legacy at BMS by being a student of high character!
COUNSELORS' QUIPS....... Amy Randel, Counselor; Angie Vogel, Counselor
THE LATEST RESEARCH ON THE MENTAL EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA
I have a deal to make with you. If you’ll read the research below on what screen time is doing to teenagers in America, and you feel it might be helpful for your young people to know about this research—print this article, grab a latte together and talk it over with them. My track record doing this with adolescents shows a high rate of engagement and even action steps in response to discussing information like this.
After some groundbreaking studies were published on teens and screens, the research was summarized by journalist Nicole Demarco in late July, in the online site, “Vice.” She summarizes the report below.
The Latest Research on the Mental Effects of Social Media Usage
“As we learn more about the effects of social media, many of us have tried to decrease the time we spend scrolling through our phones. Even with screen time limits, it’s easy to shamelessly click the “ignore limit” button as soon as it pops up, but maybe it’s time we start taking it a bit more seriously. A new groundbreaking study called “Association of Screen Time and Depression in Adolescence,” published this week in JAMA Pediatrics journal links social media usage to depression and it’s one of the most comprehensive pieces of research on this subject to date,” says DeMarco.
I am actually encouraged by the number of high school and college students who, on their own, have decided to “cut back” on the time they spend on social media. It’s as if they are recognizing they’re not happy or satisfied when they spend hours of time on Instagram or Facebook. And they’re taking initiative to avoid certain content they know is going to put them in an unhealthy frame of mind.
“Naturally, the type of content consumed via screen plays a role here. And there are a number of unsettling findings in this survey, for example — exposure to television that depicts idealized bodies leads to greater body dissatisfaction, comparing yourself to others on social media leads to lower self-esteem (Instagram, get rid of those likes already!), and that people seek out content (not without the help of algorithms) that reinforces some of these beliefs,” Demarco continues.
The Bottom Line
“In surveying 3,826 high school students in Canada over four years, researchers found that each hour of screen time, whether it be spent on social media, watching television, or generally on the internet, increases the severity of depressive symptoms like loneliness, sadness, or hopelessness in teens.”
Did you catch that?
Every hour of screen time results in becoming more vulnerable to anxiety, depressive episodes, loneliness, sadness or hopelessness.
Not only that, but psychologists are talking today about “second-hand anxiety.” This is the anxiousness a teen can pick up just from being around a peer who is anxious. Just like second-hand smoke, when being around someone puffing on cigarettes, it’s contagious.
What Can We Do?
Let me get your conversation going and you can take it from here.
- Set your smartphone up to track the screen time you spend on it each day.
- After you spend some time on social media, observe how you’re feeling.
- Set time limits when you’re on a favorite site; stop when your alarm goes off.
- Discuss the data on this reality: People who spend under two hours a day on social media are less vulnerable to anxiety; those who spend more than two hours daily become significantly more vulnerable.
I remember taking my son or my daughter out on dates when they were in school. We’d find a restaurant they enjoyed and our conversation would center around a piece of research I discovered that I felt they should know about. (I’d often bring a short article with me). We actually had fantastic conversations during these meals, which often led them to make changes in their habits. I hope this is your story too.
By: Dr. Tim Elmore, Growing Leaders
BCHHC IMMUNIZATION CLINIC COMES TO BMS
NOTES FROM THE NURSE
** If your child has been diagnosed with asthma and does not have an Asthma Action Plan on file for this school year, please have your physician fill this out and return to the school.
** All 7th graders must have a physical on file regardless if they are playing a sport or not.
INFLUENZA USUALLY HAS A RAPID ONSET AND
CAN INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS:
* Fever
* Sore throat
* Headache
* Dry cough
* Extreme fatigue
* Congestion
* Runny nose
* Muscle aches (mild to severe)
* Stomach symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
PREVENTION IS THE KEY
* Good Hand washing
* Avoid Touching Your Mouth, Nose, and Eyes
* When Coughing Or Sneezing, Use A Tissue, Your Elbow, Or Shirt Sleeve
* Stay Home If Flu Like Symptoms Develop
6th Grade Learns about Being Responsible Digital Citizens
Students came up with plans such as:
1.) completely avoiding the situation.
2.) don't comment online or in person.
3.) encourage the people involved to talk in person.
4.) to remove themselves from the situation.
We also talked about it being important kids do not take their phones with them to bed at night as this is a time when much drama happens. Simply putting their phone away for the night when going to bed is another coping strategy to de-escalate a situation.
We would like to encourage you to be communicating with your kids about what it is they are posting, liking, and commenting on. All of this paints a picture of your children as their online persona. We want that picture to be as positive as possible. Some kids are running multiple accounts (Finstas) so parents and other adults are not aware of what they are posting. Be vigilant on your kids' accounts to keep them safe.
PICTURE RETAKE DAY
CHILD IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM (CHIP)
The Nebraska Freemasons Child Identification Program (CHIP) — is coming to Beatrice Middle School Tuesday, October 8. Nebraska Freemasons invite children in the sixth grade to participate in a comprehensive Child Identification Program. Parents must sign a release form, provide information on their child, and return the form to the office prior to or the day of the program. Click here for the form. If you are unable to print, forms may be picked up at the BMS office.
The Nebraska Freemasons Child Identification Program (CHIP) addresses the alarming fact that over 800,000 children are reported missing in the United States each year. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, on average in the United States, a child is reported missing every 43 seconds. In 2005, over 2,000 children were reported missing in Nebraska. While most are found, many are not. Also, the abduction of children is both under-reported and rapidly increasing in our society.
CHIP is an acronym for CHild Identification Program*. The Masonic CHIP Kit is recognized by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as the most comprehensive service of its kind anywhere. CHIP is provided at no charge to the public and all of the identifying items generated during CHIP are given to the child's family
The CHIP Kit includes: A thumb drive containing: Digital Video Interview, Digital Fingerprints and Digital Photograph. Toothprints™ bite impression, DNA Swab and a Scent Pad Kit (to be completed at home by the parents or guardian).
Events are offered at no cost to parents so that anyone wanting their child/children to participate can do so. All identifying items generated at CHIP events are the sole property and given to the child's parent or legal guardian, are placed in a bag along with safety education information and taken home for safe keeping in case the need arises to give the items to law enforcement to help find a missing person. Only the signed permission form is retained by the Masons of Nebraska.
*The program has nothing to do with "placing chips" in children, or anyone for that matter. CHIP is simply an acronym.
Washington D.C. - Gettysburg Trip Update
Preparations for the 2020 Washington D.C./Gettysburg trip are taking shape and students have until September 27th, 2019 to sign up for this wonderful trip. If you don’t sign up by the deadline and still would like to go, please contact Mr. Policky. The September 10th informational meeting was well attended and many questions were answered. We currently have 104 students, parents, and teachers scheduled for the upcoming trip and would like to have more take advantage of this great opportunity. We are limiting this trip to 110 participants, so if you would like to go, please get signed up soon. There will be a fundraising meeting of all students and parents who are going on this trip held on Monday October 14th, 2019 at 7:00 PM in Mr. Policky’s room 202 or the Library at the middle school. Please watch your email and your child will get information here at school. Also, just as a reminder, if you have already signed up or are just registering, please apply for the FLAG scholarship offered by Worldstrides. If you qualify, you could receive as much as $400.00 to apply to your trip cost. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mr. Michael Policky at 228-4642.
Mr. Policky continues to remind students and parents of 6th and 7th grade students who would like to make this trip possible in the future to begin saving now so that it is not a financial hardship when you get to 8th grade as this trip costs over $2,000.00. He also invites any parent of a 6th or 7th grader with questions to call him at the phone number above. Thanks for promoting your child’s education through life experiences.
SKILLS OF THE WEEK
October 7 - Having A Conversation
October 14 - Disagreeing Appropriately
October 22 - Asking For Help
October 28 - Asking Permission
PARENT PORTAL
Would you like to stay on top of your child's grades? Would you like to see if they did well on their last test? Would you like to make sure they are getting to class on time? Would you like to have heads up on when they need lunch money and be able to put lunch money on their account online? A Campus Portal account can help you with all of those things. To get set up with an account, email either Annette Barnard at abarnard@bpsnebr.org or Karen Dittbrenner at kdittbrenner@bpsnebr.org. We will help you get started on the road to staying in the loop with all of the above mentioned things.
STUDENTS OF CHARACTER
MRS. SYKES' 6TH AND 7TH GRADE PARENTS
Want to know what your child’s math homework assignments are? Check out Mrs. Sykes’ website. Here you will find the homework assignments for my 6th and 7th grade math students. This page is updated on a weekly basis and will let you know not only the daily assignments but will also keep you up to date when quizzes and tests will be. This is a great way to keep on top of things and will also allow you and your child to keep current on assignments when they are absent. Simply log on to beatricepublicschools.org, click on the Beatrice Middle School tab, select teacher websites, Sykes. The assignments are posted on the Math 6 and Math 7 link. Add this link to your favorites or bookmarks so you have a direct link to the homework anytime!
BPS WEBSITE, BMS FACEBOOK, BMS TWITTER, AND BMS INSTAGRAM PAGES
On the Beatrice Public School’s website, middle school tab, you will find the following: Newsletters, student’s of character photos, bell schedules, teacher websites, bulletins, athletic schedules, among other helpful information.
On the BMS Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages you will find fun things happening at our school. Check us out!
CHECK US OUT ON:
Website: beatricepublicschools.org
Facebook: @thebeatricemiddleschool
Twitter: @BMSBrags
Instagram: @the_beatrice_middle_school