February Newsletter 2024
Bluffs Middle School
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Email: bms@sbps.net
Website: www.sbps.net/bms
Location: 27 East 23rd Street, Scottsbluff, NE, USA
Phone: 308-635-6270
X: @BMSCATS
Principal's Message
Dear BMS Families,
As we enter the second month of the year, and our third quarter of the school year, we would like to take some time to reflect on the progress that has been made so far and look forward to what is ahead. Please enjoy the 2nd quarter BMS highlight video below that captures the learning opportunities and activities our students have participated in thus far. Thank you, Mrs. Shaddick for the amazing video.
It is inspiring to witness the dedication and hard work of our students. Their achievements in both academic and extracurricular pursuits demonstrate their commitment to excellence. The boys' basketball and girls' wrestling seasons are drawing to a close, and it's amazing to see how much growth and progress the athletes have made throughout the season. Their hard work and perseverance have paid off, and we are so proud of their ongoing efforts to excel.
In addition to the sports events, the Student Council has activities planned; WEB Leaders will be working with sixth-grade students, and the Middle-Level music contests at Scottsbluff High School are all scheduled this month. Please watch for more information from coaches, sponsors, or teachers.
Please join me for our CAT (Collective Advisory Team) meeting at 4:30 pm on February 20, 2024. We will review our Target Implementation Plan, discuss incentives and celebrations for NSCAS and meals for parent teacher conferences in March.
Thank you for your continual support and involvement. Please reach out to counselors, teachers, or administration with any questions or concerns, and we will gladly assist you.
Sincerely,
Jana Mason
Principal
Eighth Grade Important Information
Freshman Registration and Information
February 6-7 - SHS counselor & Mrs. Urwiller at BMS to provide 9th grade course information
February 8 - Incoming 9th grade parent/student meeting at SHS, 5:30 pm-7:00 pm
February 20-23 - SHS Counselors will be at BMS to have individual parent/student meetings to register 8th grade students.
Tammy Harrison, Media Specialist at Scottsbluff High School has added information to the high school's webpage. The link is below for your reference.
https://shs.sbps.net/announcements/class_of_2027_informational_meeting
Baby Pictures
It's time to submit your baby picture for the 8th grade end-of-the-year presentation. If you would like your picture included, please have your families email it to Mrs. Shaddick or bring a hard copy to school to scan. See Mrs. Shaddick if you have any questions. Pictures are due by March 1st.
End of Year Awards Ceremony
The 8th grade awards ceremony will be held on Monday, May 20 at 2:00 pm in the gym at Bluffs Middle School. We look forward to celebrating and spotlighting our students amazing accomplishments. More information will follow as the date draws nearer.
ELPA 21
English Language Proficiency Assessment
We are very excited for our students to demonstrate language proficiency on the upcoming ELPA 21 assessment. Students are assessed in four domains; speaking, listening, reading, and writing. It is extremely important for students to put forth their very best effort while testing and challenge themselves to show growth from the previous year's assessment. Proficiency levels are determined at the national level and are extremely rigorous. Our students have been focused and diligently preparing for the upcoming assessment. We are very proud of our students and encourage them to put forth their best effort while testing and challenge themselves to outperform the previous year's score. Students will set goals for each domain and be rewarded for individual growth. More information from Mr. Gomez will follow soon.
We would like to extend a very special thank you to our classroom teacher Mr. Gomez and para educator Mrs. Galindo for the continual academic support students receive every day at Bluffs Middle School. Additionally, we would to thank Mrs. Shaddick for coordinating services and administering assessments for our students.
The ELP Standards provide a framework for English learners to acquire the content knowledge and English proficiency needed for school success. These standards correspond to states’ college- and career-ready standards, and reflect a shift in focus from language possession to language use within the content areas. For more information please visit https://www.education.ne.gov/natlorigin/elpa21-assessment/
Tentative testing dates are as follows;
February 20-21: Speaking
February 22-23: Writing
February 27-28: Reading
February 29: Listening
8th Grade Basketball
Positive Messages from LMHPs
7th Grade Basketball
Congratulations Mr.Amundsen
WIN Class ESports
Congratulations Miss Adams
Upcoming Events
February 5 - 9 School Counselor Appreciation Week
February 13 National SRO Day
February 19 Professional Development Day - no school for students
Technology Tips
Accessing Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides Offline
Students can work on their Chromebooks even without an internet connection. Please check out the links below to learn how to work offline with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
School Counselor Appreciation Week
It's that time of the year again when we take a moment to appreciate the hard work and dedication of our school counselors! From February 5-9, we celebrate School Counselor Appreciation Week and recognize the vital role that our counselors play in supporting our students' academic, social, and emotional growth.
Our school counselors work tirelessly to provide individual and group counseling, academic guidance, and career support to all our students. They are there for our students through the ups and downs of life, offering a comforting presence and endless support as they help our students navigate the complexities of adolescence and prepare for the challenges of the future.
Thank you, Counselors, Shana Dick, Dave Castle, Letizia Kosman, Social Worker Ashley De Los Santos, and Licensed Mental Health Practitioners Irma Torres, Samantha Faron, and Carrie Snyder. Scottsbluff Public Schools is committed to our students' mental health and well-being, and we are so thankful for counselors, social workers, and LMHPs.
Licensed Mental Health Practioners
Counselors and Social Worker
Thank you for all you do!
LMHP and Counseling Message
FOSTERING SELF-COMPASSION
What is Self-Compassion?
Self-compassion is the practice of showing kindness to yourself. Many who are compassionate find it simple to show kindness to others.However, it can be more difficult to show that same compassion to our self. Having compassion for yourself is to be understanding of and kind towards yourself through
mistakes and imperfections. Nobody is perfect, nor are we designed to be. We are each unique and growing. Part of self-compassion is giving ourselves permission to authentically be who we are.
It is understanding you are a work in progress, and that is okay.
“Unlike self-criticism, which
asks if you’re good enough,
self-compassion asks, what’s
good for you?” – Kristin Neff
Practicing Self-Compassion
Imagine a close friend makes a mistake. As their friend, we would likely
tell them mistakes happen, provide our help and support, and encourage
they correct the situation or try again. We believe, despite a mistake, our
friend is good and well-meaning. Right? So, how can we provide ourselves
the same compassion we give to others when we make a mistake or fall
short of a goal we hoped to accomplish?
One important skill of self-compassion is accepting ourselves for who we
are. We are often flooded with ideas and expectations of who we “should”
be. Accepting who we are is knowing everyone is different. Another skill of
practicing self-compassion is taking care of ourselves. Just as we think about
what is best for those we love, it is important to consider what is best for
ourselves and fulfill those needs in healthy ways as we grow through life. An
additional helpful skill in practicing self-compassion is having awareness of
our thoughts and feelings. When we make a mistake or do not achieve a
desired goal, it can be easy to judge ourselves and be critical. We can get
stuck believing “I’m a failure” or “this only happens to me.” Everyone
experiences bad days, makes mistakes, or makes a choice they wish they had
not. Try to take a step back from the thoughts and feelings and give yourself
some compassion in those moments. Often, our mistakes are an opportunity
for growth. Practicing self-compassion in those tough moments allows us to
stay optimistic and motivates a growth mindset! This February, let’s make it
our goal to show ourselves more compassion. #keepgrowing
Health Office Information
INFLUENZA (also known as flu) is a contagious respiratory illness that is spreading rapidly through almost every state, affecting many in our valley.
Symptoms: Cough, sore throat, headache, chills, fatigue, body aches. Sometimes vomiting and diarrhea may occur. A fever may or may not be present.
How to protect your family: Avoid those who are sick as much as possible. Cover coughs and sneezes. WASH HANDS OFTEN! Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids. If you suspect influenza, see your health care professional.
Thank you for taking these precautions to help decrease the spread of influenza in our schools.
Bearcats Activities Digital Display/Website
Scottsbluff Public Schools Activities Director, Dave Howorth, is excited to announce the launch of Bearcat Activities Digital Wall of Fame at Scottsbluff High School that will display awards, recognize athletics and activities, provide highlights of sport seasons, and much more. Currently, the first Hall of Fame Induction Class is available on the digital display/website. Thank you to the following donors for helping make this possible: Floyds Trucking, Carr-Trumbell, Paul Reed Construction, Kelley Bean, Ehler Family LLC, Intralinks and from those that attended the first Hall of Fame Induction in October 2023. Thank you to all the business and donations that made this possible, this important piece of Bearcat history could not have happened without all the support. In the next few months, the digital display will be available for the public to use/view when attending events at Scottsbluff High School. The information on the digital display can also be viewed here.