At PLA @ Bellingrath Middle School, it doesn’t take Valentine’s Day to remind us of the need to communicate kindness. We can recognize and acknowledge the inherent goodness in each other every day. Being inclusive at our school is as meaningless as the message on a candy heart if we don’t show it through actions and words. We can, also paraphrase the famous Rogers and Hart lyric, make every day Valentine’s day by banishing bullying behavior, showing respect to each other, and being kind to ourselves.

The 2nd-9 week grading period/1st Semester has ended, and we are nearly halfway through the 3rd 9 weeks grading period as well as the school year. Progress reports will go home on Thursday, February 9, 2022. As we prepare to send out our 3rd 9 week progress reports, we are also continuing to enhance our test-taking skills for The Alabama Comprehensive Assessment of Student Performance ACAP. Students in grades 6-8 will be taking the ACAP Summative this Spring. In preparation for the ACAP Summative, students will be practicing by taking ACAP practice test as well as participating in the A.C.E. after School tutoring Program.

Parents you can go to the ACAP website at https://wbte.drcedirect.com/AL/portals/al

to have your child take a practice test. The new State Testing format is different in format and 100% online. So, we are giving our scholars as much exposure as possible.

When you go to the Website, you will click on the "Online Training Tools" button. You can then access the practice tests as a "Guest." You would be amazed at the rigor of this assessment!!

PLA @ Bellingrath want to hear from you. Please support PLA @ Bellingrath by completing the following survey. We want to make sure that we hear and address your concerns as we move forward. We won’t be able to successfully make changes that impact all stakeholders unless we know what your concerns are.

Black History Month was created to focus attention on the contributions of African Americans to the United States. It honors all Black people from all periods of U.S. history, from the enslaved people first brought over from Africa in the early 17th century to African Americans living in the United States today.

On February 28, 2023 at 5:30 p.m., PLA @Bellingrath will commemorate the month with a Black History Program. The program will be held on our website as well as watched live on our

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Good grooming and personal appearance are critical elements in the teaching and learning process at PLA @ Bellingrath. It is expected that administrators, teachers, and students dress in such a manner that will provide quality learning experiences and will ensure the health and safety of those involved. Students in grades 6th-8th must dress in a manner that will ensure health and safety, not be distracting to others, and non-disruptive of the program.

The following articles of clothing and other items are not allowed:

• Pajama pants or Lounge wear. No blankets or pillow.

• Flip-flops, slide sandals or sneakers which are unlaced or untied.

• Bagging/sagging pants worn below waistline Pants should be worn at waist height with proper fit making sure that no undergarments or skin is exposed.

• Rips/frays/holes in pants at all.

• During the school day, students are not to wear caps, hats, sunglasses, or other inappropriate headwear unless while outside during P.E. (ex. Hoodie pulled up over head, ski hat, etc.)

•Pull over hoodies are not allowed. Students may wear hoodies that zip down the middle only. If students are caught wearing a pull over hoodie, it will be confiscated and returned at the end of the school day.

The Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program, or ACAP, is an annual standardized testing system that evaluates students’ achievement of the Alabama Course of Study Standards. With tests in English language arts, mathematics, and science, ACAP provides valuable insight into students’ mastery of standards, while also providing information about individual schools and districts. Tests are delivered to the following grades:

• English language arts (grades 2–8)
• Mathematics (grades 2–8)
• Science (grades 4, 6, and 8)

ACAP tests given to grade 2 students are used as a baseline to compare students to when they take the test again in grade 3. The ELA tests for grades 4 and up include a writing task that requires students to draw from a passage provided in order to synthesize information and write a response. This task is scored by professional readers, while all other test questions are machine-scored. The math tests involve evidence-based and technology-enhanced questions.

All ACAP tests are delivered online, with paper accommodations available to students whose IEP or 504 plan outlines the need for paper tests. Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities may qualify for the ACAP Alternate, which provides assessments for the same subjects and grade levels and measures students against the Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards. The ACAP Alternate is administered via paper student test booklet, while test administrators enter student answers into the computer testing platform.

ACAP tests in math and science are available in Spanish for qualifying students. Alabama also administers the ACCESS for ELLs English language proficiency assessment to grade K-12 English language learners. Once students achieve a 4.8 composite score on ACCESS, they graduate from receiving ESL services. An Alternate ACCESS for ELLs is available to English language learners in grade 1 and up who have significant cognitive disabilities.

High school students take the ACT with Writing in grade 11 to assess their mastery of math, English, and science concepts.

• For the safety of your child, please make sure that they are leaving the campus after school. There is no supervision on campus after 3:00 PM. Together we will strive to keep our students safe!

• Vistors entering the building are only allowed to enter with car keys, a cell phone, and a picture ID.

• Communication is the key to success. If your address, workplace, or phone numbers change, please communicate that with the office or email your information to the front office Assistant, Mrs. Danieka Hall, danieka.hall.pla@mps.k12.al.us.

• If your child is absent from school, please send a doctor’s or parent’s note/excuse within three days of his/her absence. If your child is going to be absent for an extended period of time, please contact the front office. We will make arrangements to collect assignments to prevent your child from getting behind in his or her classes.