December Newsletter 2023
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
Twitter: @BMSCATS
Principal's Message
As our first semester of the 2023-24 school year comes to an end on Friday, December 22, 2023 we would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for your continued partnership and support. Your involvement in your student's education is invaluable, and it is truly a privilege to work alongside such dedicated families.
Our students continue to amaze us with their endless accomplishments in and out of the classroom, excelling at band, choir, and orchestra and fiercely competing in athletic competitions. Win or lose, our students never quit. Our staff at Bluffs Middle School could not be more proud of our students.
PBS Assembly
The second quarter PBS assembly will be held on December 21st at 2:30 pm in the BMS gym. We are excited to showcase the accomplishments of our students. Please watch for more information from grade-level teachers.
Holiday concerts
Holiday concerts are scheduled for December (please see below). Our students are very excited to perform for you. Thank you, Mr. Koch, Mrs. Koch, Mrs. Hillman, and Mr. Brening, for preparing our students for the upcoming concerts. Please join us in the forthcoming weeks and enjoy our amazingly talented students.
Report Cards/Infinite Campus
First-semester report cards will be mailed home the week of January 15, 2024. As a reminder, you can view your student's grades and attendance via the parent portal in Infinite Campus. Please contact teachers or your student's counselor with any questions about grades. If you need assistance setting up an account, don't hesitate to contact our main office at 308-635-6270, and we will gladly help you.
Emergency Contact Information
Please make sure we have current emergency contact information on file for your student. If changes need to be made to your physical address, phone number, or email address please let us know.
End of First Semester
Students will be dismissed on December 22, 2023, at 11:07 AM. Lunch will not be served. The second semester resumes on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season.
Thank you,
Jana Mason
Principal
National Junior Honor Society
NJHS Induction ceremony will be POSTPONED until January 15, 2024. Please watch for more information from Ms. Dillman in the upcoming weeks. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Upcoming Events
December 2 Jazz Band/Brass Ensemble 2:00 PM Downtown Scottsbluff
December 4-15 NSCAS Growth Testing (winter testing window)
December 7 Vocal Music Concert 6:00 PM at BMS
December 11 Board of Education Meeting 6:00 PM at SHS
December 14 Orchestra Concert 7:00 PM at SHS
December 15 Band Concert 6:00 PM at SHS
December 19 Honors Gala 8:00 AM-10:00 AM at BMS Cafeteria
December 21 Second Quarter PBS Assembly 2:30 @ BMS
December 22 End of first-semester dismissal 11:07 am
December 25 - January 8 Winter Break
January 8 Professional Development Day/Work Day
January 9 School resumes for students and staff. Welcome back.
Student Council Information
NSBA 8th Grade All-State Band
BMS BAND STUDENTS SELECTED TO NSBA 8TH GRADE ALL-STATE BAND:
Each year all of Nebraska's 8th Grade band students are invited to audition for the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association 8th Grade All-State Band.
Mr. Zac Konrad, NSBA Middle-Level Chair, is honored to announce and would like to "CONGRATULATE those students that were selected to participate in the 2024 NSBA 8th Grade All-State Band!"
Students from Bluffs Middle School have participated in the NSBA 8th Grade All-State Band for the past 23 years and we are pleased to add the following names to the list of those selected:
London Grant (First Chair Clarinet) - Parents, Cassie Ruffing and Keith Grant
Zain Jennings (Bass Clarinet) - Parents, William & Kazia Jennings
Caleb Clodfelter (Trumpet) - Parents, Jeremy & Jaimie Clodfelter
Gauge Vela (Trumpet) - Parents, Brock & Natasha Aschenbrenner
William Green (First Chair Euphonium) - Parents, Nathan & Kelli Green
Samantha Camacho (Percussion) - Parents, Christopher & Kathryn Camacho
William Schlickbernd (Percussion) - Parents, Stephen Schlickbernd and Lois Schlickbernd
These students were selected by recorded audition to be members of the most prestigious and selective middle school honor band in the state of Nebraska.
This year, the NSBA (Nebraska State Bandmasters Association) Honor Band committee selected 92 members and 23 alternates for the Concert Band. This group of 115 young musicians were selected from a total of 426 auditions and represent 46 schools from across the state of Nebraska.
The 2024 NSBA 8th Grade All-State Band Clinic will be held at Kearney High School in Kearney, NE on Saturday, January 6th.
Technology Tips
Artificial intelligence (AI) is an important topic in education right now. AI presents both opportunities and challenges in the classroom and everyday life. It is important for educators and parents to stay informed about the benefits and challenges of AI to help students learn to use this tool safely and ethically.
NSCAS Growth State Assessment
Please encourage your student to put forth their best effort during the NSCAS Growth Assessment as it helps to accurately showcase their knowledge and skills. Remind them to stay focused, read the questions carefully, and take their time to provide thoughtful responses. With their best effort, they can demonstrate their true abilities.
Please visit https://www.education.ne.gov/assessment/ for more information. Please reach out to teachers, counselors, or administration with any questions.
LMHP and Counseling Message
Unplug and Connect
The holidays are a time for our children to relax and disconnect from the school environment. We want them to fully enjoy their time away from us! Many of our children enjoy screen time, whether watching movies and favorite shows or engaging with various social media platforms and gaming in their free time. Days away from school provide an opportunity for increased screen time for many of our children.
As with any activity, screen time is accompanied by beneficial and potentially detrimental effects on our children. While devices can support education and learning, excessive, unmonitored use can result in negative impacts on executive functioning and self-regulation – particularly in adolescents (Muppalla SK,Vuppalapati S, Reddy Pulliahgaru A, Sreenivasulu H. Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Child Development: An Updated Review and Strategies for Management. Cureus. 2023 Jun 18;15).
In a world of hashtags, scrolling, and algorithms, let’s bring light to the significance of authentic human connection. This upcoming break, we challenge you and your child(ren) to utilize the time to unplug and intentionally connect with one another. Provided are some activities to share in that encourage stepping away from the screen and jumping in to togetherness.
- Cooking and/or baking
- Decorating cookies
- Playing boardgames and card games
- Getting outside for some fresh air
- Painting
- Cozy up and read
- Helping out around the house (A nice way to say “chores.” Sorry, kiddos!
These activities promote teamwork, provide structure, and a sense of responsibility and accomplishment).
- Crafting
- Puzzles
- Play together (Parents, share your interests and hobbies with your child(ren) – especially those you enjoyed at their age!)
- Continue family traditions, or create a new one for just you guys
- Volunteering
- Acts of kindness
We would love to hear about all the fun had during your time away this upcoming break. If you would
like, please bring a story or photo to share with the Counseling Department when you return! Enjoy!
“Connection is the energy that is created between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued.” --
Brené Brown
Health Office Information
Just a friendly reminder about SBPS recommendations for keeping students home:
Temperature: A student with a temperature 100 degrees or higher will be sent home from school. It is recommended that the student return to school once fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
Vomiting and/or Diarrhea: If a student is vomiting and/or has diarrhea, it is highly recommended that the student remain home for 24 hours. Students are sent home if this occurs at school.
Lice: If you find lice or NITS on your student, please contact the school to let them know. Your student may attend school, SBPS health office staff will perform followup head checks and provide you with education needed to treat your child. SBPS policy regarding head lice is on the district website under health services or click on the following link: https://cdn5-ss20.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_392748/File/Departments%20and%20Services/Services/Health%20Services/Head%20Lice/SBPSHeadLiceAdministrativeProcedure.pdf
Remember, once a week check your child’s head.
Krispy Kreme Fundraiser
Our Krispy Kreme fundraiser is in full swing. Please contact Stacy Celli at scelli@sbps.net or Ashley Dillman at adillman@sbps.net for more information.
Sales start: Monday, November 20th
Sales end: Wednesday, December 6th
Delivery: Friday, December 15th in BMS gym (enter west doors) 3:30 - 6:30 pm.
New items:
Dozen doughnuts - $15
Specialty dozen doughnuts - $20 (chocolate iced, raspberry filled, lemon filled, or kreme filled). These are not assorted - only 1 flavor)
Regular or Decaffeinated coffee (12 oz.) $10
Thank you for your continued support with our annual fundraiser.