The Weekly Update #14
From the Desk of Ms. Hicks
Under Construction!
We are all set to begin construction on our building this week! While students may not notice any disruptions until January, I wanted to share the details and timeline with you now.
On Monday, November 21, the construction crew will move their portable office to the back of the school as well as a large storage container. The overall project will take 2 years and include a new roof, HVAC system, FACS classroom (which includes kitchens), new front office with a vestibule, new lights, and ceiling tiles. The plan is to work on one section of the building at a time, with the larger spaces saved for the summers. Four to five teachers, at one time, will move their classrooms to one of our new temporary classrooms in the media center and/or in the annex while construction is performed in our building. Your students will be in these temporary classrooms for 6-8 weeks.
Construction will take place before and after school to ensure the learning environment is not disturbed. We are very excited for the updates, but know it will be a process. Please bear with us as we make these well needed improvements to our building.
Ms. Hicks
Cougar Calendar
Dr. Bedell Listening & Learning Tour
Residents across Anne Arundel County are invited to provide their thoughts on various topics related to the school system at one of more than a dozen Listening and Learning Tour sessions beginning November 28.
Dr. Bedell will address participants at the outset of each session. His remarks will be followed by facilitated small-group sessions, allowing for a conversation on various topics. Responses will be recorded and posted online after each session.
“The intent of the small-group sessions is to allow those in attendance to talk about what they think our school system does well, areas in which we can improve, and things they would like to see as we move our school system forward,” Dr. Bedell said. “The input we receive will help shape our post-entry plan and, ultimately, the new Strategic Plan we will adopt later this winter.”
The sessions will be held in high schools around the county to make them accessible to all populations. They will run from 6 to 8 p.m., with Dr. Bedell’s remarks beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Sessions will be held on the following dates:
- Monday, November 28: Annapolis High School
- Monday, December 5: Meade High School
- Tuesday, December 6: Northeast High School
- Thursday, December 8: North County High School
- Tuesday, December 13: Old Mill High School
- Thursday, December 15: Broadneck High School
- Tuesday, December 20: Chesapeake High School
- Wednesday, December 21: Glen Burnie High School
- Tuesday, January 3: Crofton High School
- Thursday, January 5: Severna Park High School
- Monday, January 9: South River High School
- Tuesday, January 10: Southern High School
- Wednesday, January 11: Arundel High School
Additionally, two sessions conducted entirely in Spanish will be scheduled. Dates for those will be announced as soon as they are finalized.
Volunteers Needed - Hearing and Vision Screening
Bates Middle School will be doing in-school vision and hearing screening for our 8th grade students during the school day on Tuesday, November 29, 2022.
We need parent volunteers to help direct students to the testing area and assist AACPS staff.
Can you volunteer a couple of hours of your time?
Sign up at: https://signup.com/go/zUBfBwt
TUTORS NEEDED
Interested in being a Tutor, click HERE.
Interested in being a Guest Speaker click HERE.
Any questions, please contact Kasey Bowling at kbowling@aacps.org
Bates Student Food Pantry
We are happy to share that Bates Middle School offers a food pantry for our students and their families. If interested in learning more about our Student Food Pantry please have your student go to the counseling department to speak to Shauna Rykiel, our school social worker, or you may contact her through email at srykiel@aacps.org. Our pantry is currently open Mondays from 3:30-3:55 pm and Fridays from arrival through the end of advisory.
Covid Test Kits and Masks
The Bates PTA has obtained a supply of COVID-19 home tests and KN95 masks.
They are available for pick up in the school office. Please note that they must be picked up by an adult.
If you cannot get to school and need test kits, please contact the PTA at batesmiddleschoolpta@gmail.com or text us at 443-782-5423 and we will arrange to get some to you!
Health Room Reminder
Please remind your students of the health room sick policy:
- If a student is not feeling well, encourage them to ask for a pass from their teacher to see the nurse.
- If a student texts or calls you to ask to be picked up because they are not feeling well, please have them report to the nurse FIRST prior to you reporting to school.
- The nurse will evaluate the student and decide if they can return back to class or if the guardian needs to be contacted.
- The nurse will contact the parent/guardian if the student should be picked up. If they send the student back to class, they are deemed okay enough to finish school.
Attention 8th Grade Families
Parent Teacher Conferences
Our school has been reaching out to individual families to invite them to our parent teacher conferences on Nov 21 and Nov 22 based on grades and attendance. If you did not receive an invite but have questions about your student regarding specific classes, please email those individual teachers. If you have more involved concerns, please reach out to your grade level counselor.
6th Grade
Counselor: Ms. Barnett cmbarnett@aacps.org
7th Grade
Counselor: Ms. Darling mdarling@aacps.org or Mr. Thompson scint-jthompson@aacps.org
8th Grade
Counselor: Ms. Weiss dweiss@aacps.org
Picture Day - Make Up Day 11/29
Wiley H. Bates Middle School
11/29/2002
Thank you SGA!
In the spirit of this season of giving thanks, members of the Bates Student Government came in early on Thursday to appreciate Bates teachers and staff. They surprised staff members by personally delivering coffee, donuts, and candy bags that included handmade thank you cards.
Click on the link to find out how to get a SAIL card for your student.
Find recommendations like Healer of the Water Monster by Brian Young on the Read Across America website!
Students of the Month - OCTOBER
Please congratulate the following students
6th Grade Students of the Month
7th Grade Students of the Month
8th Grade Students of the Month
Encore Students of the Month
Thank You!
Thank you to our Annapolis families and the following sponsors, K&B True Value, Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits, Evolve Direct Primary Care, Ledo Pizza, and Naptown Scoop for donations towards our local Annapolis schools, which includes Bates Middle in the amount of $30,417!
Save the Following Dates
Panera Spirit Night - 11/28
Panera is hosting a Fundraising Night for the Bates PTA!
You deserve a break from cooking after Thanksgiving. Treat yourself (and your family) to dinner from Panera!
Stop in between 4 and 8pm and show them this flyer or place your order at panerabread.com using the promo code FUND4U and the Bates PTA will earn 20% of your purchase!
It's easy, delicious, and helps our school!
Wreaths across America - Deadline 11/29
Bates is participating in Wreaths Across America again this year!
Please help us honor our fallen veterans by purchasing a wreath. For each wreath purchased, Bates will receive a $5 donation to our school.
To order wreaths, visit our fundraising page: http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/MD0471P
The deadline to order is November 29th, so order your wreaths today!
Bargain Basement Donations Needed by Dec. 19th
Volunteer Opportunities for Bargain Basement
- 12/19 - 7:50-8:50am - help sort Bargain Basement items
- 12/21 - 1:00-4:00pm - work Bargain Basement help
If interested in volunteering for either of these activities, please contact Ms. Grimail at tgrimail@aacps.org
Annapolis Angel Tree
Teacher Shoutouts
Does your student want to give a shoutout to their teacher?
Students can give their teacher a shoutout of appreciation! Please scan the QR code or go to our website to give their shoutout. I know the teacher's would LOVE to hear from their students
Is your student not feeling well? Don't forget to fill out the absence note!
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.
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.
Come Join our Team
Please look at the available positions at AACPS
Asbestos Abatement for upcoming HVAC Renovation Project
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about transportation?
Please forward any questions to our administrator, Joe Lustgarten at jlustgarten@aacps.org.
Do you have questions about your student's attendance?
Please contact Christine Clark at cclark3@aacps.org.
Do you have questions about student/parent portal?
Do you have specific student concerns, ie. behavior, scheduling, academic performance, etc. please contact your grade level administrator or counselor:
6th Grade
Administrator: Mr. Lustgarten jlustgarten@aacps.org
Counselor: Ms. Barnett cmbarnett@aacps.org
7th Grade
Administrator: Ms. Adkins ktadkins@aacps.org
Counselor: Ms. Darling mdarling@aacps.org or Mr. Thompson scint-jthompson@aacps.org
8th Grade
Administrator: Ms. Patterson kypatterson@aacps.org
Counselor: Ms. Weiss dweiss@aacps.org
Do you have an emergency concern (after hours)?
Please contact our Principal, Ms. Hicks, at 302-314-6146.
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? FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM!
AmazonSmile is an easy way to help our school. When you shop at Amazon, Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchase price to the PTA. That's it! No cost to you, just shop as you normally do and help our school at the same time. To date, our PTA has received over $1,500 from AmazonSmile!
Just go to https://smile.amazon.com/ and choose “Wiley H. Bates Middle School PTA” as your charity of choice. Make sure you start at https://smile.amazon.com/ when you shop at Amazon.
If you use the Amazon app to shop, go into Settings and make sure AmazonSmile is turned on and is supporting our school.
Around the Community
Rubiks Cube Competition - Sign up in November to get FREE registration!
FREE Narcan Training
PTA BOARD 2022-2023
Laura Graham-Booth, President
Roberto Garza, Vice President
Norma McGowin-Reynolds, 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