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Pikesville Middle School Newsletter February 2017
From the Principal's Desk
Dear Parents,
As we move into the second half of the school year, we want to hear from you. BCPS is currently conducting a Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey to provide our community members the opportunity to offer feedback to our school and to the district. The results of the stakeholder satisfaction survey are used to assist in planning our School Progress Plan, as well as ensuring that we work to meet the needs of our students. Your voice can be heard by submitting online responses to survey questions before March 3rd. In order to take the quick survey, you can click on the link above. We would like to have 100% reported participation in the stakeholder satisfaction survey; therefore, everyone is requested to go online and complete the survey. Community members are welcome to come to Pikesville Middle School to take the online survey. The survey takes less than 5 minutes. Let’s show BCPS what Python Pride is all about.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Miller
Important Dates to Remember
February 17 Half-day Professional Development | PMS closes 3 hours early for students
Looking Ahead...
March 31 Third marking period ends | PMS closes 3 hours early for students
April 7 Spring Break Begins at end of school day
April 18 School Resumes
May 11-12 Talent Show at 6pm followed by The Lion King at 7:00 pm
6th Grade News Flash by Ms. Hammel
Welcome to the second semester! Many of our students started new classes in the 3rd quarter; please be sure to familiarize yourself with the teachers and course expectations. We are so proud of the progress our 6th graders have been making over the course of the year. On February 2nd, we honored many of our students for their academic successes. We are pleased to report that the number of students receiving academic rewards has increased from the first to the second quarter. Please remind your children to keep those devices charged and encourage them to see their teachers about coach classes for additional help!
Thank you for everything you do. Keep up the great work!
-Ms. Hammel
The 7th Grade Scoop by Mr. Sullivan
The 7th grade team would like to welcome students and families to the third quarter! We’re looking forward to a successful quarter where all seventh graders work hard and follow the PMS Code of Conduct.
Starting this quarter, homerooms teachers will be implementing routine technology checks to ensure that devices are being used and handled appropriately. Teachers will check to make sure devices are charged, free of physical damage, and in compliance with the Acceptable Use Policy. If a student repeatedly comes with an uncharged device, the device will be kept at PMS overnight to charge. Students need their charged devices each and every day to have access to diverse, student-centered learning opportunities, and we appreciate your support in reminding your child to charge his or her device.
On February 1st, the 7th grade team will be honoring students at the 2nd Quarter Awards Ceremony. Students will be honored for making honor roll and Principal’s list, perfect attendance, improvement, and demonstrating behaviors consistent with the Pikesville Middle School Code of Conduct. We are excited to celebrate the accomplishments of our students.
Be on the lookout for details about our spring field trip, third quarter incentives, and third quarter academic awards!
Congratulations 7th grade!
-Mr. Sullivan
8th Grade Updates from Ms. Franklin
Happy New Year Eighth Grade Students and Parents!
Welcome back to a new and exciting second half of the school year as the PMS CLASS OF 2017! As you know, the end of middle school is near and it is time to celebrate! Click HERE for a list of planned end of the year activities, eligibility dates for participation, and pertinent details for each activity.
-Ms. Franklin
It's Academic
The Pikesville Middle School will have its annual S.T.E.M. Challenge on Friday, February 17th, 2017. S.T.E.M. stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. All students can benefit from S.T.E.M. as it provides an opportunity for students to practice interpersonal skills that are necessary for success in our world. Additionally, it teaches independent innovation and allows students to explore greater depths of all subjects by utilizing the skills learned through all of the content areas. All of the abovementioned skills are important in order for today’s students to be tomorrow’s global leaders.
Please see the schedule HERE regarding coach classes for the Science Department. Teachers can be contacted via email or BCPS One Message in order to schedule coach classes. https://www.smore.com/c46kc
Music
On Tuesday, January 10, members of the Pikesville Middle School music department performed for the Pikesville–Greenspring Community Coalition meeting at the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. Members of the 7th and 8th grade chorus sang songs from their recent winter concert program. The guitar club closed the program with some popular songs and invited the audience to join them on the finale.
The program was well received and the students enjoyed sharing their music with our community. For photos, please go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pikesvilleschools/
Social Studies
Mr. Laraia gave his students the opportunity to watch the inauguration live in his classroom for his lesson. Students were engrossed in the activity and excited to watch such a historic event take place. Students learned the significance of the inaugural address and compared President Trump’s address to former President Obama’s first inaugural address.
World Languages
We would like to welcome Ms. Fernandez to our World Languages department. She is the new Spanish teacher. She is a Towson graduate and her family is from Spain which is a country she visits often. We look forward to having Ms. Fernandez share her culture with the students to bring Spanish alive in the classroom. Welcome Ms. Fernandez!
Math
We are now in the third marking period of the school year, the following topics are currently being taught. Math 6 is learning multiplication and division of decimals, Math 6 GT is working on identity properties and venn diagrams, Pre-Algebra 7 is learning proportional relationships/constant of proportionality, Math 8 is working on solving equations/systems of equations, Algebra 1 is solving systems of equations/inequalities, Geometry is working on triangle congruency. The school year is half over, please remember to keep checking BCPSOne for lessons and grades posted by the teachers.
Counselors' Corner
Service Learning is a teaching method that combines meaningful service to the community with curriculum-based learning. Students improve their academic skills by applying what they learn in school to the real world; they reflect on their experience to reinforce the link between their service and their learning – Learning in Deed.
All students receiving a Maryland high school diploma are required to complete 75 hours of service–learning (or a determined pro-rated amount) prior to graduation from high school.
Students can earn hours through course projects (curriculum infusion), school wide projects, or through independent service projects that address community needs. Most community projects are direct service, giving students the opportunity to interact with the population being served. Some examples of appropriate independent projects may include: tutoring younger students, volunteering at a soup kitchen, helping with a community clean-up, raising money for charitable causes, etc. A good source for discovering places to volunteer in your neighborhood can be found at www.baltimorecountymd.gov , click on Volunteer Today. You can also find a good resource guide for volunteering at the Baltimore County Office of Student Service Learning http://www.bcps.org/offices/service_learning/pdf/Resource-Directory.pdf and under the Guidance tab on Edline.
For more information and to have the required pre-approval for independent service projects, please contact Richard Hecht, Counselor and Service Learning Coordinator. All projects must have Mr. Hecht’s prior approval.
Contact Info:
Mr. Mike Hess (Grade 6) mhess@bcps.org
Ms. Dorsey Daeschner (Grade 7) ddaeschner@bcps.org
Mr. Richard Hecht (Grade 8) rhecht@bcps.org
You can also call the Counseling department at 410-887-6725.
Thank you,
The Counseling Department
Career Fair: Calling All Volunteers!
Pikesville Middle School will host a CAREER FAIR on Friday, April 7, 2017 and we're looking for Career Day Volunteers
The Counseling office would like to recruit 30 speakers from PMS families for our 2017 Career Fair. This presents a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn about a variety of careers through your first-hand experience.
The Career Fair will run from 8:00–10:00 am. Speakers will rotate through five classrooms and present for 15 minutes to each group about topics ranging from educational background to a typical day.
If you are interested in investing two hours of your time in the spring to share your career with our students, please contact the one of our counselors (see contact above).
THE HEALTH SUITE
Yearbook Orders
Yearbooks are now available to pre-order. They are $25, or $30 with personalization. Forms are available from homeroom teachers and you may order through the school or online at jostensyearbooks.com. If you order through the school, cash or money order (made payable to Pikesville Middle School) should be given to Mrs. Yadush in the band room any morning. Questions can be directed to Mrs. Yadush or Ms. Norris.
FAMILY ASSOCIATION NEWS: "Parents as Partners: Helping Your Child Develop Habits of Highly Effective Students."
Find out Family Association news and updates on Facebook! It's never to let to get involved!
Calling all Parents! We need new PMSFA officers for 2017-2018 school year. Read the President's Letter HERE. Interested in helping out? Email pikesvillemiddlefamilies@gmail.com
Our next meeting is Wednesday, February 8 at 7pm in the Library. Mr. Hecht will speak at this meeting: "Parents as Partners: Helping Your Child Develop Habits of Highly Effective Students."
Save the Dates
February 24 Tentative plans for Movie night at AMC Security Blvd: "The Lego Batman Movie"
April 7 Skate Night @ Hot Skates 6pm-10pm, $8 for PMS Family Association members, $9 non-members. Tickets available at Family Association meetings.
May 19 Orioles Baseball Night. Click HERE for flyer.
Spirit Gear is Here, brought to you by the PMSFA!
Show your school spirit by ordering your official Pikesville Middle School spirit wear. To order, click on the flyers below:
We have two options for you:
1) Order completely online and save on shipping. The family association will receive the orders and you can pick up from the school OR
2) Complete the attached order form, send in your payment and the family association will order for you. Again pick up will be from the school.
Questions? Send an email to pikesvillemiddlefamilies@gmail.com
MEETING TEXT REMINDERS: would you like text reminders for upcoming PMSFA meetings? If so, click HERE to enroll. Your cell phone number will remain private, and you will ONLY receive text reminders before meetings.
Put our 2017 meeting dates in your calendar:
Upcoming meetings will be held on March 8, April 5, and May 10 at 7pm in the library
Community News
Pikesville Rec Council Winter Schedule
Everything from lacrosse, chess, winter soccer, to Hebrew and Spanish immersion classes. Check us out online HERE
Pikesville Schools Coalition
Join the Pikesville Schools Coalition by going to our Facebook page. The Coalition meets 2-3 times a year to work with parents, community members, and educators to secure a bright future for our youth attending Pikesville schools. Please join us! Questions? Email Beth Rheingold
March 5 Workshop for NW Baltimore Homebuyers
Interested in purchasing a home in Glen, Cross Country, Mt. Washington, Falstaff, or Cheswolde communities? If so, attend a Housing Festival with realtors, lenders, title companies, inpsectors, movers, and more. Click HERE for more information.
REMINDER: JUST CHARGE IT!
Pikesville Middle School Vision
Pikesville Middle School students will develop excellence in academics, character, and habits of mind by participating in student-centered learning experiences that promote 21st century skills.
Pikesville Middle School Mission
Pikesville Middle School aims to promote a safe, equitable, learner-centered environment for all students. In order to prepare our students for high school, college and careers, we will:
- Provide rigorous, relevant, and responsive instruction to all students.
- Establish supportive respectful relationships that encourage responsive behaviors.
- Instill healthy habits to support positive social, emotional, physical, and academic development.
- Establish strong values and citizenship within and beyond the school community.
About Us
Assistant Principals
Grade 6: Mrs. A. Hammel ahammel@bcps.org
Grade 7: Mr. M. Sullivan msullivan2@bcps.org
Grade 8: Ms. A. Franklin afranklin5@bcps.org
To report an absence, please send a note in with your child upon their return to school.
FAX 410-887-1259
Other Important Numbers:
Guidance: 410-887-6725
Cafeteria: 410-887-1209
Library: 410-887-1272
Nurse: 410-424-9347
Email: lsilverman2@bcps.org
Website: https://pikesvillems.bcps.org/
Location: 7701 Seven Mile Lane, Pikesville, MD 21208, United States
Phone: 410-887-1207
Twitter: @PikesvilleM