BCIT MEDFORD NEWSLETTER
AUGUST 2016
Parents & Students:
As we approach the opening of school on September 6th, the BCIT staff and administration want to make sure that you have all the information that you need for a successful start of the school year. This month’s newsletter will provide you additional information regarding important items such as school lunches, dress code regulations, and the back to school letter from Dr. Nagy, the Superintendent of Schools.
For all our new families to BCIT, transportation information will be forwarded to you from your home school district in the very near future. BCIT does not determine pick-up times or locations, as all transportation information is provided by your home district. Please direct all questions and concerns to your home district’s transportation department. Contact information can be found on your home district’s webpage.
Also, parents that drop-off their children at BCIT in the morning, the building will be open for students promptly at 7:40am. Students are to be dropped off in front of the building by the flagpole and enter through the doors by the Medford sign. DO NOT ENTER THROUGH THE MAIN OFFICE. There will be a staff member at the student entrance door to allow the students to enter.
Enjoy the last few weeks of the summer and please feel free to contact BCIT if you have any questions as you prepare for the upcoming school year.
Thank you,
Mike Parker
Principal BCIT Medford
FROM THE OFFICE OF DR. CHRISTOPHER NAGY, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS:
August 2016
Dear BCIT Families:
The summer vacation is more than halfway over, and back-to-school time is quickly approaching. Staff and administrators have been working diligently to ensure that when our children return to school, resources are in place to support teaching and learning. We are interviewing candidates for various positions. We have been working diligently over the summer to support new curriculum advancements including the establishment of a District Curriculum Council. We are offering for the first time American Sign Language and an Advanced Manufacturing and Fabrication Program. We now have in place a District Supervisor of STEM and a District Supervisor for Humanities, and most recently, through a grant, a District Mathematics Specialist. We are excited about the impact these three will have on student learning and success. We have also made some changes to our shop areas to enhance functionality. We are continuing to improve the integration of technology into classroom instruction while maintaining and improving facilities and security.
The first day of school for students is Tuesday, September 6, 2016; this will be a full day for students and staff. Important information may be found on our district website, www.bcit.cc, including:
· The district calendar
· The BCIT Parent/Student Handbook
· Information regarding emergency school closings and delays in the student handbook
· Information regarding school lunches on each campus website
· District policies http://www.straussesmay.com/seportal/Public/pubELANOnline.aspx?id=ff973c0559f6462296136ee556a60d27
· Information regarding the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act for students.
We wish everyone a pleasant remainder of the summer, and hope you join in our enthusiasm for another great year of learning. We have served our sending districts to learn how we can improve the scope and delivery of our services. Through the ongoing support of the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders, we look forward to continuing to pursue our shared mission to prepare adolescents and adults of Burlington County to enter the labor market and/or to continue their education.
FRESHMAN PROGRAM FIRST DAY
All Freshman students will report to the auditorium for homeroom the first day of school. They WILL NOT report to homeroom. Prior to homeroom, Freshman should identify their homeroom number and teacher by reading their schedules in Genesis and the Homeroom Postings throughout the first floor in the following areas:
Student Entrance
Outside the Cafeteria
Outside the Guidance Office
Auditorium Main Lobby
Mr. Pino will welcome the Freshman and conduct the class meeting at that time. At the conclusion of the meeting, homeroom teachers will escort their assigned students to their respective homerooms. Once the teachers and the students report to homeroom, the teachers will continue the orientation and the provide information pertaining to school rules and procedures.
The freshman students will participate in a Scavenger Hunt during 2nd block as they work to get familiar with the building. This scavenger hunt will conclude in the cafeteria as Mr. Pino will explain the procedures for the cafeteria.
STUDENT I.D. SMART CARDS
***Freshman students will receive their official photo ID after school pictures have been completed at the end of September. Temporary ID's will be supplied for the beginning of the school year. ***
BCIT MEDFORD GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT
GENESIS PARENT PORTAL INFORMATION
The parent and student modules of Genesis are temporarily unavailable due to summer maintenance.
Incoming students and parents will receive an e-mail with their account information in mid-August. E-mails will come from genesis@bcit.cc. Please add this address to your safe sender list. The email will be sent to the email address provided during the admissions process.
Back-to-School forms will be available mid-August, with student schedules available shortly thereafter.
Parent Portal - How To Read And Submit Forms
STUDENT SCHEDULING INFORMATION
Student schedules will be available in the Genesis Parent Portal in mid to late August. Please contact the Guidance Department at 609.654.0200 ext. 8423 if you need access to the Genesis Parent Portal. Changes to student schedules after the start of the school year will only be considered for the following reasons:
· A data or statistical error in the schedule, i.e., two subjects in one period, no lunch, wrong grade level for English, etc.
· To meet graduation requirements or mandated program requirements.
· If student failed with scheduled teacher in the previous year and another teacher is available. Where necessary, such changes will be made at counselor discretion, and only after extensive review of the circumstances.
· Improper program/level placement, i.e., student is not in the course(s) as indicated on the course request form.
In all cases, except a clerical or data error, parental permission or parental awareness is necessary in writing before any change can be made. No course may be dropped after the first interim report is issued. Students may not transfer out of any class after four (4) weeks from the beginning of semester course and after nine (9) weeks from the beginning of a full year course.
TESTING INFO / ACADEMIC REMEDIATION
STUDENT ADDRESS/INFORMATION CHANGE FORM
STUDENT PICK UP DURING SCHOOL HOURS:
The safety of our students is our main priority. Guardians and authorized emergency contacts may pick up a student during school hours in the Main Office. When arriving in the Main Office, a driver’s license or state/federal issued I.D. must be presented. Students will not be released to anyone who does not provide proper identification.
Guardians must send written authorization in the form of an email in order to authorize someone who is NOT listed in Genesis to pick up their student. The email should be sent to mainoffice@bcit.cc from the email address listed in Genesis and include the following information:
- Date
- Student’s name and grade level
- Name of the person picking up the student
- Time and reason of departure
- Your name and relationship to student
- Your phone number (phone number must match what is listed in Genesis)
The person being designated to pick up their student must present a driver’s license or state/federal issued I.D. when arriving at the Main Office. Once the email is received, the student will be released.
Please review the contact information in Genesis for your student to ensure that the most current information has been provided. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the Main Office at 609-654-0200 ext. 8411.
STUDENT-ATHLETE INFORMATION
AFTER SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION
FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
Visit www.meritaid.com to find merit-based scholarship opportunities from colleges before you apply. This website can help students with merit-based scholarships from colleges that reflect your accomplishments and interests.
Another good resource for researching scholarships is www.finaid.org
Paper FAFSAs will no longer be delivered in bulk to high schools. Students are able to obtain a paper FAFSA by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243). Students are encouraged to file the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov for faster processing. A PDF version of the FAFSA is also available for download at www.studentaid.ed.gov
The US Department of Education sponsors www.studentaid.ed.gov, which provides helpful information on preparing for college, types of financial aid, determining who is eligible for financial aid, how to apply for aid with the FAFSA, and information on repaying your loans.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
Students are encouraged to get involved in all the various athletics and activities that BCIT Medford has to offer. Please click HERE to visit the STUDENT LIFE section on the BCIT Medford Website to find information on all of our programs.
Below is information regarding athletics at BCIT – Medford. If you have any questions please feel free to contact the particular coach or Athletic Director. You can reach the Athletic Director by calling the school at 609-654-0200 Ext. 8415. Please click HERE for the Athletic Director’s website.
• Fall sports (Boys Soccer and Boys/Girls Cross Country will begin on August 15th and Girls Soccer and Field Hockey) will begin on August 18th. The times for tryouts/practices is 9:00am – 11:00am and the tryouts/practices will be Monday - Friday.
• All student-athletes must have a valid physical and other required forms on file with the school prior to participation in athletics. The school’s physician must approve all physicals completed by any private physician. Please utilize the Required Athletic Packet and checklist for physical and paperwork requirements. This information can be found below.
• Our school physician performs physicals at each campus twice a month. We recommend that student-athletes get a physical at school as this helps to streamline the approval process (less paperwork). You must call the school and make an appointment for a physical. Physical dates are listed on Mr. Pappler’s website.
• For more information and updates about Medford’s athletics (coaches, schedules, required paperwork, etc.) please reference Mr. Jesse Pappler’s website. This can be viewed by going to the Medford Campus – selecting administration – Jesse Pappler – browse all the tabs for pertinent information.
• We encourage all students to get involved in athletics. Becoming part of a team is a great way to instantly make twenty or thirty new friends.
• If you have any questions please feel free to contact the specific coach HERE or the Athletic Director.
SPORTS OFFERINGS INCLUDE:
Fall.............................................Winter...........................................Spring
Soccer........................................Basketball.....................................Baseball
Cross Country...........................Bowling.........................................Softball
The State of New Jersey requires that all students must pass a licensed physician’s or licensed nurse practitioners (SP) physical examination prior to participation in any sport. Student-athletes must submit a completed physical examination packet and other required forms to the Athletic Director’s Office at least 1 ½ weeks prior to the start of the sports season they intend to participate in. Required physical and participation information submitted late to the Athletic Office will delay the student-athlete's participation in athletics. Only the “Preparticipation Physical Evaluation” forms, approved by the NJ Department of Education, will be accepted. The medical history portion of the packet, including parent/guardian signatures, must be completed prior to your exam appointment. If you are unable to secure an appointment with your private physician, you are welcome to make an appointment with our school doctor. Please print and take the entire Required Athletic Packet to your physical appointment to ensure everything gets completed properly. Required forms and physical information will not be accepted unless it is fully and correctly completed. Appointments during the summer are for incoming freshmen students by appointment only; first come, first serve. Students can make an appointment at either campus location. To schedule an appointment, please call the Westampton Athletic Office at 609-267-4226 ext.8240 or the Medford Athletic Office at 609-654-0200 ext. 8415.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION APPOINTMENTS ARE AVAILABLE:
Tuesday, August 9th @ BCIT - Medford campus from 9:00am – 2:00 pm
Athletic Director Jesse Pappler's Webpage
Required Athletic Packet
NEW CTE PROGRAM ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND FABRICATION UNDER WAY
BCIT is partnering with RCBC to offer Advanced Manufacturing & Fabrication Program on our Medford Campus for high school & adult students!
EXPLORATORY: CAREER MAJOR
The purpose of the Career Major Exploratory Program is to expose all incoming students to a select number of career options prior to their selection of a career major course. The student, parent, guidance counselors, Child Study Team, and career major instructor will participate in the career major selection process.
PROCEDURE:
Each entering student will have four exploratory cycles in career majors during the first semester of his or her initial year at BCIT. Students will select three career majors and will be assigned to one non-traditional career major. New student exploratory programs will be scheduled in the fourth block of each day.
At the conclusion of the fourth exploratory cycle, the student will have the opportunity to select first and second career major choices, with the advice of his/her parent/guardian and career major instructor.
All students will then be ranked in each CTE area based on their academic performance. Guidance counselors will assess and match students to their career major choices dependent upon each student’s ranking, space availability in the career major program, and student/parent selections for first and second choices. It is important that students perform their best in each exploratory in an effort to get their 1st or 2nd choice of Career Major.
COLLEGE ENROLLMENT UP FOR CTE STUDENTS
CTE students have dramatically increased their postsecondary enrollment since the 1990s, according to new data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), particularly students earning more CTE credits.
High school graduates from the class of 2004 with some CTE but less than two credits, and high school graduates who earned 2-3 CTE credits, had enrolled in college eight years later at nearly the same rate—90 percent and 91 percent. This was a big jump for those students earning 2-3 CTE credits (i.e., CTE concentrators) since the latter 20th century. However, completion rates only increased for students who took 4-plus CTE credits. Completion decreased for all other groups—students taking CTE and those who never took CTE. This echoes data on challenges in earning credentials across the education spectrum.
DROPPING OFF MEDICATION FOR STUDENTS
ATTENDANCE POLICY REVIEW
Every student is expected to be in school every day, all day. Should the student be absent in excess of 8 days per semester, then he/she will be placed on non-credit status. Students who reach a total of 16 or more days absent from school for the semester will not be eligible for non–credit remediation, and may be referred to the Superintendent for consideration for referral to the Board of Education for action.
Partial absences caused by lateness to school or early departure from school will be counted toward non-credit. Each partial absence will be equal to at least .25 of a day. Four (4) such partial absences shall equal one (1) day absence for the purpose of non-credit.
AFTER SCHOOL DETENTION
SENIORS
SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM 2016-2017
Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day and has been shown to increase attention and memory while promoting healthy eating throughout the day. To better meet the needs of our student’s busy schedules, we offer Grab N’ Go dining options, especially at breakfast. These meals will be created by our in-house chef and dietitian with the student and healthy eating habits in mind, by serving a fruit and milk with all offerings.
Breakfast Prices are $2.25 for Full Paid, .30 for Reduced and Free for eligible students.
Lunch Prices range from $3.25 to $4.25 for Full Paid, .40 Reduced and Free for eligible students.
The higher price meal options will be for our new and exciting Street Eatz Food Truck, display cooking meals, and other specialty meal options.
Our New Food Truck will alternate between campuses starting at the end of Sept. The truck will offer exciting new menu options on a 5 week cycle.
To help your student experience an easy transition this school year, please fill out his/her meal application. These application must be filled out each school year or you risk that your student may not be eligible for the discounted child nutrition rate. These applications are available on our website. You can also make payment online at www.parentonline.net . For every $20.00 you place on your students account you will receive a 10% bonus.
If you have any questions about your students meal, special dietary needs, or suggestions please feel free to contact us.
Margaret Happe – Director of Food Service – MHappe@bcsssd.k12.nj.us or 609-261-5600 x2302
Meredith Whiteley – Dietitian – MWhiteley@bcsssd.k12.nj.us or 609-261-5600 x2310
If you have questions regarding your student’s meal application please contact
Gina Copper- Secretary to the Food Service Director- GCopper@bcsssd.k12.nj.us or 609-261-5600 x 2303
Information for Free and Reduced Lunch will be in located on the Medford Home Page under Parents>School Lunches.
This page will provide all the information that you will need to complete the online application for Free and Reduced Lunch.
Parents will also have the ability to create an account for their children from this page. This will allow the students to pay for lunch through their ID card.
The purpose of this dress code is to prepare students for expectations of the world of work and to promote the image of the school district. All students are required to dress in a manner that reflects good taste, modesty, and appropriateness for the type of career major in which the student is enrolled. Choice of attire should be made according to the health, safety, and welfare of all students. The dress code policy is available in the BCIT Parent Student Handbook found on the district website: BCIT Parent Student Handbook
Please also visit the Dress Code 101: Clarification and FAQs section of the BCIT Medford website for more helpful information regarding the Do's and Don'ts of our campus attire:
BCIT MEDFORD CAMPUS - SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST 2016-2017
Please visit the Site Shortcuts section of the BCIT Medford homepage to find information regarding the Medford campus school supply list:
BCIT MEDFORD CAMPUS SUMMER READING ASSIGMENT
FRESHMAN SUMMER MATH PACKAGE FOR 2016-2017
Under Lesson Resources:
- Extra Examples Chapters 1 and 2 ONLY
- Self-Check quizzes Chapters 1 and 2 ONLY
You do not have to print out the information, just complete the work. All Algebra 1 classes will begin the school year with a test on Chapters 1 and 2. The material is used to help our math teachers plan for the upcoming school year and is not calculated into the students grade.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM BCIT MEDFORD SUMMER CAMP'S
2ND AND 3RD WEEKS: HAPPY CAMPERS!
Intro to Guitar Camp
Middle School Band Camp
"All About Me" Cosmetology Camp
Welding and Fabrication Camp
NotificationofRightsunderFERPAforElementaryandSecondarySchools
TheFamilyEducationalRightsandPrivacyAct(FERPA)affordsparentsandstudentswhoare18yearsofageor
older("eligiblestudents")certainrightswithrespecttothestudent'seducationrecords.Theserightsare:
1. Therighttoinspectandreviewthestudent'seducationrecordswithin45daysafterthedaytheschool
receivesarequestforaccess.
Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the
recordstheywishtoinspect.Theschoolofficialwillmakearrangementsforaccessandnotifytheparent
oreligiblestudentofthetimeandplacewheretherecordsmaybeinspected.
2. Therighttorequesttheamendmentofthestudent’seducationrecordsthattheparentoreligiblestudent
believesareinaccurate,misleading,orotherwiseinviolationofthestudent’sprivacyrightsunderFERPA.
Parents or eligiblestudentswhowish to askthe BurlingtonCounty Institute ofTechnology toamenda
recordshouldwritetheschoolprincipal,clearlyidentifythepartoftherecordtheywantchanged,and
specifywhy it shouldbe changed. If the school decides not toamend the record as requested by the
parentoreligiblestudent,theschoolwillnotifytheparentoreligiblestudentofthedecisionandoftheir
right toahearing regarding the request foramendment. Additional information regarding thehearing
procedureswillbeprovidedtotheparentoreligiblestudentwhennotifiedoftherighttoahearing.
3. Therighttoprovidewrittenconsentbeforetheschooldisclosespersonallyidentifiableinformation(PII)
from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without
consent.
Oneexception,whichpermitsdisclosurewithoutconsent,isdisclosuretoschoolofficialswithlegitimate
educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator,
supervisor, instructor, or support staffmember (including health or medical staffandlaw enforcement
unitpersonnel)orapersonservingontheschoolboard.Aschoolofficialalsomayincludeavolunteeror
contractoroutside ofthe schoolwhoperformsan institutional service of function forwhich the school
wouldotherwiseuseitsownemployeesandwhoisunderthedirectcontroloftheschoolwithrespectto
theuseandmaintenanceofPIIfromeducationrecords,suchasanattorney,auditor,medicalconsultant,
ortherapist;aparentorstudentvolunteeringtoserveonanofficialcommittee,suchasadisciplinaryor
grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteer assisting another school official in
performinghisorhertasks.Aschoolofficialhasalegitimateeducationalinterestiftheofficialneedsto
reviewaneducationrecordinordertofulfillhisorherprofessionalresponsibility.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S.Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the
school district to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that
administersFERPAare:
FamilyPolicyComplianceOffice
U.S.DepartmentofEducation
400MarylandAvenue,SW
Washington,DC20202