February 25, 2022
Dear Parents and Guardians:
Here are the weekly updates from the middle school:
Middle School Student Course Selections: All course selections are done electronically through PowerSchool. The Parent Portal opens on Wednesday, February 23rd for current 7th grade students (Class of 2027) to select their courses and will close on Friday, March 11th. The instructions for course selection can be found here.
For our current seventh graders, the middle school counselors will begin meeting with students individually on Monday, March 14th to finalize their selections. Students will be sent a pass from their counselor with an appointment time.
Middle School Program of Studies 2022-2023: Next year’s Program of Studies is now available on the Counseling webpage.
Book Fair: The PTSC is excited to host a Spring Book Fair Monday through Friday, February 28 to March 4!! The Book Fair will be open for students during their lunch periods for shopping and purchases.
If you have any time available, please consider signing up for a shift using the link below. Remember, we would not be able to run the book fair without our generous parent volunteers!! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0849A9AC2BA0FB6-spring1
Revised District Calendar for 2021/2022 as of February 22, 2022.
COVID Precautions: Our COVID precautions are in the midst of changing. Next week will be the last week masks will be required in schools. Masks will become optional on Monday, March 7. This will not apply to school buses, as masks will still be required on these vehicles.
As we move toward this next stage it is important that students recognize that each will make their own choice regarding whether they wear a mask or not, and it is important that we respect each others’ choices without bullying, harassment, or other unkind actions.
The school district has ceased contact tracing tracing in school. Of course, students who contract COVID should still remain home for the required isolation period.
While we look forward to the decreasing incidence of COVID-19 infections in our community, it is critical to maintain our basic prevention strategies as reinforced in the latest NJDOH Guidance:
Parental Symptom Screening
Parents/caregivers must continue to monitor children for signs of illness every day prior to leaving for school as they are the front line for assessing illness in their children.
Students who are sick should not attend school.
COVID-19 Compatible SICK Symptoms that indicate school absence and a COVID Test:
• At least one of the following symptoms: new or worsening cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste and/or smell OR
• At least two of the following symptoms: fever, chills, shivers, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, congestion, or runny nose
Any questions, please contact our school nurse, Ms. Pugliese tpugliese@nburlington.com.
Burlington County COVID Vaccination Sites: The CDC continues to recommend vaccination as the best way to prevent the spread of COVID. Please see this LINK regarding more information on vaccination sites in Burlington County.
If you need it, the Burlington County Health Department is offering walk-in testing for COVID. Please follow this LINK for location and information.
Looking to Spring Sports: We are now accepting Athletic Participation packets for the Sprinter/Spring Seasons. Students should pay particular attention to our morning announcements as many sports are holding interest meetings next week. A link to the packets can be found here.
The anticipated start date is March 14, 2022 for spring sports. Packets must be submitted and approved by our school doctor before students are permitted to participate. This process can take several weeks due to the volume and the medical review of each one. Please plan to submit the packets at least three weeks in advance (by March 1). Several sports in the spring have tryouts. Students who are not cleared in time, will not be able to try out. It is important to plan accordingly.
If your child’s physical exam is current on the first day of practice for their specific sport, please complete pages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 of the packet and submit them electronically to middleschoolathletics@nburlington.com.
If your child is in need of a new physical, please contact your physician’s office at your earliest convenience to secure an appointment. Please take page 3, 5 and 6 of the packet with you so that your doctor can complete the physical forms. Please submit the entire packet (pages 1-7) electronically to middleschoolathletics@nburlington.com.
Yearbook Orders: Today is the LAST DAY to guarantee your student gets a yearbook by making a purchase now. We will be ordering VERY FEW extra copies to sell at the end of the year. Here is the link to order a 2022 Middle School Yearbook:
https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A09873596
Not sure if you have already ordered a yearbook? Please email Ms. Katrina Gierman, Yearbook Advisor, as kgierman@nburlington.com.
Clinical Corner Spotlight
February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. Every February advocates educate young people nationwide about dating violence, healthy relationship skills and the devastating cycle of abuse. This annual, month-long push helps to stop dating abuse before it starts. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Teen Dating Violence is devastatingly common, with approximately 1.5 million high school students in the U.S. that experience physical abuse from a dating partner. The CDC also developed resources (link to resources) that describes strategies and approaches based on the best available evidence for preventing intimate partner violence, including teen dating violence:
Teach safe and healthy relationship skills
Engage influential adults and peers
Disrupt the developmental pathways toward partner violence
Create protective environments
Strengthen economic supports for families
Support survivors to increase safety and lessen harm
See pages 15 to 44 for the above strategies and approaches.
If someone you know has been the victim of dating violence, free and confidential help is available 24 hours a day through the National Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474 and website: https://www.loveisrespect.org/https://www.loveisrespect.org/
The Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA) trainings are being held through Partners For Kids and Families, in 2022. Here is the link for the flyer: NHA calendar link. All trainings are virtual. For those who need a refresher on what NHA is: “The Nurtured Heart Approach consists of a set of strategies that assist children and adults in further developing self-regulation and has been found to be effective with individuals of all ages. It focuses on transforming the way someone perceives themselves, and the world around them.”
Care Solace helps our Northern Burlington community find mental health care providers and substance use treatment centers. Their Care Companion™ team is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and 365 days per year to quickly connect you to carefully verified providers in your community. Students, staff, and families may access Care Solace services in two ways:
Call (888) 515-0595 at any time. Support is available in 200+ languages. A dedicated Care Companion™ will help you every step of the way to research options, secure appointments, and follow up to make sure it is a good fit.
For an anonymous search, answer a few questions to get matched with an extensive list of care providers at https://caresolace.com/site/nbcrsd
Are you or your children in need of winter coats? Generations has new winter coats available in sizes 2T to adult XL. Please call 609-267-4001 to make an appointment to come in & pick up coats.
Looking for parent support for your child with special needs? The Mom2Mom Helpline connects parents of children with special needs to our trained counselors who are also parents. Talk to someone who understands you and your family. Call 1-877-914-MOM2 (1-877-914-6662).
Important Dates:
Revised District Calendar as of February 22, 2022.
Feb. 28 to Mar. 4: PTSC Book Fair (10 am to 1 pm)
March 1: Make Sure Sports Packets are in for Spring Sports
March 14: MS Spring Sports Begin
March 15, 16 & 17: Regular School Day for Middle School Students
March 18: Early Dismissal of Students/Staff Development Day
March 31: End of Q3
April 1: Beginning of Q4
April 14: Early Dismissal/Beginning of Spring Break
Have a good weekend.
Sincerely,
Andrew Kearns, Ed.D.
Principal