The Weekly Update #4
August 28th, 2022
From the Desk of Ms. Hicks
The Bates Binder
Last year, we realized there was a need to develop a schoolwide organizational system for students, which led to the creation of THE BATES BINDER. We have asked all students to have a 2-3 inch binder that includes 8 dividers, one for each class. All teachers are utilizing a table of contents and allowing students an “organizational minute” at the beginning of each class to help establish this new routine. In addition to the new binder, we are also continuing our Motivational Monday, where students use the advisory period to check their grades, make a plan for help during Bates Block, update their agenda books and set goals for the marking period. Please ask your student about their binder, agenda book, grades and their selection of activities at Bates Block. If you find you student needs additional help, please contact their advisory teacher as they are able to help students get organized and they have extra supplies if needed. This life-long skill of planning and organization will benefit students for years to come!
Did you know?
Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)
Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15th because it coincides with the Independence Days of several Latin American countries. At Bates, we will recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others!
BATES MIDDLE SCHOOL APEX+ CALENDAR
Please come to our first community event this year!
SHOW YOUR COUGAR PRIDE!
SAVE THE DATE
Picture day is scheduled for October 18 (make up day Nov. 29)
Are you looking to give back to Bates? Be a volunteer!
If you are interested in volunteering at Bates Middle School, please do the following:
- Watch the sexual harassment and child abuse training module and complete a verification form which is kept on file at the school.
- Complete a commercial background check at https://www.aacps.org/chaperone (scroll to the bottom of the page). Successful completion of a commercial background check is required before any person has access to students, either on or off school property. There is no cost to the volunteer. Know what level of background check is required. The following groups of individuals must complete a fingerprint-supported background check. The cost of fingerprinting is $58.25 and it includes the commercial background check.
- All overnight volunteers or chaperones
- All drown proofing volunteers or chaperones (effective 07/02/2018)
- Any volunteer or chaperone with one-on-one unsupervised/unrestricted access to children
Please note: Commercial and fingerprint-supported background checks for chaperones should be completed at least 3 weeks prior to the scheduled field trip.
Once you complete these tasks, please email Mr. Gabriel at wgabriel-bustam@aacps.org who will verify your volunteer status and contact you with opportunities.
"Not in Service" Buses
If any student is late due to a bus that is currently not in service or your family can not provide transportation due to a bus not in service, please email Ms. Clark at cclark3@aacps.org so their attendance can be updated properly.
Safety Reminders for a Successful Year
Speed Limit 5mph
Please remember the speed limit is 5mph around the Bates campus. Please reduce your speed as the students are not always paying attention.
Morning Carpool Drop Off
Wiley H. Bates staff will be outside with your children starting at 8:50am. Once you see staff members outside, you may begin student drop off. Please allow your children out of the car where they will wait with their peers outside with staff until 9:00am. You do not need to wait until 9am to let your child out of the car. This will allow for the carpool line to keep moving.
Afternoon Carpool Pickup
The dismissal bell is at 3:55pm. If you are picking up your student, please arrive no later than 4:10pm. Staff at Bates will be leaving at 4:10pm each day so please arrange to pick up no later than 4:10pm.
Students Walking to and from the Parking Lot
Please remind your student to always use the crosswalk when trying to walk to and from the school building. In the mornings and afternoons, there is a lot of traffic and we can not have students walking in between buses or darting in front of cars. Let's use the crosswalks and be safe!
When Entering the Building
If you need to come to Wiley H. Bates, you will be asked to show ID each and every time. You must present ID in order to gain access to the building. If you forget your ID, you will be asked to retrieve it prior to entering the building. Please adhere to this policy.
Early Dismissals
Please remember when picking up your student for an early dismissal, you must present ID each and every time. Only custodial parents may pick up the student unless we have a written note from the custodian allowing someone else to pick up their child. If a note is not received, a phone call to the custodians will need to happen. If we are unable to reach the custodians, we will not be able to release the student. This is an AACPS policy and please understand this is for the safety of our students.
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.
Ausencias de estudiantes
Si necesita informar que su estudiante estuvo ausente por un día parcial o por todo el día, haga clic en la imagen y complete el formulario de Google.
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.
Lunch Delivery Policy
Bates Middle School will not accept deliveries from any restaurant or third-party vendor like DoorDash, GrubHub, Uber Eats, etc. Students and parents may not arrange for those services to provide food to students during the school day. If a parent is unable to drop off a lunch for their student, we will provide them with a meal from the cafeteria. Additionally, parents bringing bulk food drop-offs (lunch for your student and some of their friends) will not be accepted. Please limit any lunch drop-offs to your student only, and only in the rare instance of forgetfulness.
Only Buses in Bus Lanes
Parents who are driving students to/from school should follow the below map to help us ensure student safety. The speed limit in the parking lot is 5 mph. Please note, as indicated in the picture below, 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. Thank you for helping keep our students safe!
Free and Reduced Meal Application
For this upcoming school year, all school lunches will need to be purchased. There are no longer free lunches for all students. However, breakfast will still be available for all students for free. Below is the link to get to the Food & Nutrition Services website.
https://aacpsschools.org/nutrition/apply-for-free-or-reduced-price-meals/
Below is the direct link to the application
https://frapps.horizonsolana.com/welcome
This form needs to be completed as soon as possible.
Happenings at Bates
School Play
All Bates students interested in auditioning or working on tech crew for the school play, Monty Python’s Spamalot, middle school edition, should visit the Bates Drama Club’s website. The site contains all details and online forms.
Deadlines
Parents/Guardians of auditioning students must register for the required virtual information meeting
by September 26, 2022. Choose between meeting dates on September 27 or 28 or email the director, Mr. Egna, megna@aacps.org, to arrange an alternative if you have conflicts.
Students must apply to audition by October 3, 2022, for auditions on either October 11 or 13.
Students interested in tech crew leadership positions must apply by October 26, 2022.
Students interested in tech crew member jobs (non-leadership) must apply by February 7, 2023.
Assistance
The website and online forms are accessible from student Chromebooks, home computers, and mobile devices. If you cannot print at home, hardcopies of documents are available in the club’s wall pocket outside the cafeteria and from Mrs. Peregrina, Mr. Kurtzberg, and Ms. Miller. If you have no internet access at home, we will gladly assist families with applications. For help submitting tech crew applications, please email our technical director, Ms. Peregrina, mperegrina@aacps.org. For help with audition applications or virtual info meeting registration, please email our director, Mr. Egna, megna@aacps.org.
FOR OUR 8TH GRADE STUDENTS
Career Exploration Program is available to students entering 9th or 10th grade.
Amazon Wish List
Calming Corner Amazon Wishlist
Each class has a calming corner to allow kids to help improve self regulation, manage behavior, and help build social emotional skills. If you are able, please donate any items for our teacher's calming corners. Thank you! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3NJYP1G7OCNBJ?ref_=wl_share
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 Mr. Thompson (7th Grade)
Request to See Ms. Weiss (8th Grade)
Do you want to know what is happening at Bates? We got you covered!
Follow us on Instagram so you can stay up to date with all the fun learning activities Bates kids do throughout the day. @WileyHBatesMiddleSchoolAACPS.
Mark your Calendars
Please come to our first PTA meeting of the year!
The first meeting will be held online on September 22, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
To join from your browser go to: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83556274105?pwd=UHM5V1NvU01JREFsM25aNFBjOGJJdz09
Meeting ID: 835 5627 4105
Passcode: Cougars
To join from your phone, please dial 301-715-8592 and enter
Meeting ID: 835 5627 4105
Passcode: Cougars (2684277)
We look forward to seeing you there!
(All future meetings will be the second Thursday of each month)
Why Join the PTA?
By joining the PTA, your membership:
- Provides for Honor Roll Celebrations each quarter
- Contributes to our 8th Grade Promotion Celebration
- Celebrates our teachers & thanks them for their hard work on behalf of our students
- Supports our Cougar Chronicle
- Funds additional grants for programs and activities at Bates MS
- Allows our PTA to benefit from Anne Arundel County, Free State, and National PTA affiliation and training
- And much more!
All PTA members receive a monthly newsletter with information about monthly PTA activities and opportunities, including information about our monthly meetings.
To join, just aim your phone at the code above or go to https://qrco.de/JoinBatesPTA
Questions? Email batesmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com or call/text us at 443-782-5423.
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/batesmspta
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
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