NBMS

May 13, 2022

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Here are the weekly updates from the middle school:

State Mandated Testing Dates:  Middle school students will be completing state testing on the following dates:  

May 17, 18, 19, and 20

All students is grades 7 and 8 will complete NJSLA 

in Mathematics and English Language Arts

May 26 and 27

All students in grade 8 will complete NJSLA testing in Science

Every day it is important that students bring a charged chromebook with them to school, but it will be especially important that they do so on these testing dates.  Students who do not have a charged chromebook for testing may be unable to test and will need to do make-up testing at a  later date.

All of these testing dates will be half days for students (12:05 pm Dismissal Time.)  

Eighth Grade Class Night:  As has been described before, the eighth grade class night is scheduled for Friday, June 3rd, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm  The event will be a picnic type event and will include food, music, and games. The event is open only to Northern Burlington 8th graders and tickets will be sold in advance only.  The tickets will be $20 per person and will be on sale during homeroom on May 23, 24, and 25.

Choral Concert:  On Tuesday, May 24, the middle school choral students will take the stage for their spring concert.  This event is open to the community and begins at 7 pm.

PTSC SeniorCitizen Soiree:  The Parent Teacher Student Connection (PTSC) is hosting a Soiree for senior citizens in the community.  Please feel free to share the attached flier with any senior citizens in our community who might be interested.  The flier can be found HERE.  

COVID Update from the School Nurse for Healthy School Environment:  As you have seen from our dashboard, Northern has seen an increase in positive COVID cases that reflect larger trends across our state. This has been combined with positive flu cases, a bad allergy season and other illnesses such as strep throat, bronchitis, etc.

It is critical that parents screen their children at home and keep children who are sick at home.  When in doubt please keep your child at home & consult with your medical provider and school nurse. Leave a message on the attendance line:  609.298.3900 ext. 4060.

We are still following the Burlington County Health Guidelines for COVID & illness:

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

Students who come to school with a combination of these symptoms will be sent home by the school nurse and require a lab negative COVID test before they can return to school. 

The Health Department does not allow negative home tests as clearance due to a margin of error resulting in false positives, but we can accept POSITIVE Home tests.

Any questions, please contact our school nurse, Ms. Pugliese tpugliese@nburlington.com.  

 

Tours for Incoming 7th Graders (current 6th grade students) & New Students:  This summer, the middle school will be open to tour for any students in seventh and eighth grade who will be with us in September.  The schedule is listed below.  While we do an extensive orientation program for students when school begins in the fall, the summer tours will give students a chance to get a feel of the layout of the building and some familiarity before school opens officially.  The tours will be led by school personnel who will also be able to give an overview of different parts of the middle school program.  In addition, we will have lockers available for students to try out and practice opening using a combination.  

During the summer our facilities department is hard at work getting the building ready for the opening of school, so on a given day different parts of the building may not be accessible and the building will be in some disarray as classrooms are being emptied and cleaned.

Tours will begin at the main entrance to the middle school(near the flagpole).  For students who are interested in visiting for a tour, they must be accompanied by a responsible adult.  Tour group size will depend on the number of registrants.  The tour itself should take no more than 30 minutes. Please complete the form to register for the date you wish to attend. 

Tour Dates and times: 

  • Wednesday, July 20 at 1 pm 

  • Wednesday, July 27 at 1 pm

  • Wednesday, August 3 at 1 pm

  • Wednesday, August 10 at 1 pm

  • Wednesday, August 17 at 1 pm

  • Wednesday, August 24 at 1 pm

  • Wednesday, August 31 at 1 pm

Please sign-up for the Middle School Tours here:   Summer Tour Registration 

High School Tours for Incoming Freshmen (our current 8th grade students) & New Students:  This summer we are going to be offering tours for incoming freshmen and new students provided by our Assistant Principals on the following days from 10 am to 2 pm:  

  • Tuesday, July 19

  • Wednesday, July 20

  • Thursday, July 28

  • Wednesday, August 3

  • Thursday, August 4

  • Monday, August 8

  • Tuesday, August 9

  • Thursday, August 18

  • Tuesday, August 30

  • Wednesday, August 31

Please sign-up for the High School Summer Tours here:  Summer Tour Registration 

PTSC Clothing Drive:  The Clothing Drive is Back on for the Spring!! Please use this time to clean out your closets and help raise money for our organization. The Clothing Drive will run from May 9th through May 23rd, with the last drop off being no later than 12 noon on the 23rd. You can drop off your clothing/items at the Pole Barn behind the Middle School. There will be signs up by the 9th of May guiding you to exactly where it is. Here are the items that are accepted/not accepted as well as instructions. Please follow these instructions:

All items must be in sealed black bags. Clothes need to be bagged separately from shoes.

What is accepted: All types of clothing, comforters, quilts, curtains, towels, blankets, sheets, stuffed animals, bikes, and scooters.

No hard toys, car seats, strollers, or baby gear. 

Accessories are also acceptable such as purses, backpacks, ties, scarves, hats, belts, gloves.

Not accepted: No Hard Toys, car seats, strollers, baby gear, sports equipment, games, puzzles, books, pots, pans, electrical items, glass, cribs, high chairs, large toys, vcr tapes, furniture or play sets.

Here is a LINK to an updated flier outlining what kinds of donations are permitted and those that are not permitted.

Any questions, please reach out to us or go to their web page at www.clothingdrive.net.

Northern Burlington FFA Plant Sale: The Northern Burlington High School Agricultural Department will be opening up its new greenhouse complex for 3 dates to host its annual NB FFA Spring Plant Sale. Plant sale dates and times are listed below:

  • Saturday, May 14th, 2022  9am - 2pm    Farmer Appreciation Day

  • Saturday, May 21st, 2022   9am - 2pm   Senior Appreciation Day (55 and older)

Location: Greenhouse Complex, Northern Burlington High School

160 Mansfield Road East, Columbus, NJ 08022.

Customers may park in the East parking lot and access the greenhouse through the front door to the Greenhouse Complex located directly to the right of the 700 Hallway/East Parking lot door entrance. Please see the attached flyer here.

NB Band Fundraiser:

The Band Boosters are hosting a Designer Bag Bingo Night on Saturday, June 4th, to raise money for the Middle School and High School band programs!  This Bingo Flyer has all the details!

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. 

Clinical Corner Spotlight:

  • May is Mental Health Awareness Month:  -  During Mental Health Awareness Month, SAMHSA is raising awareness about the importance of mental health in the lives of all Americans. This year, it provides the opportunity to celebrate and reinforce decreased stigmatization of mental health.  Check out what SAMHSA is doing and how to get involved!  Watch this message from Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use - Mental Health Awareness Video

  • Mental Health Awareness Month EVENT - Please see picture below for a free event to be held on Saturday 5/14 at the Partners for Kids and Families, Inc.  There will be food, games, and giveaways for Mental Health Awareness month.

  • Summer Group for students: Is your child struggling with their mental health? Looking for your child to talk things out with peers that can relate? Group counseling will be offered in July only. Tuesdays for High School students and Wednesdays for Middle School students.  Please use the link to sign up! Form to complete - Summer group

  • (DISCONTINUED as of 5/6) Promoting Me, Myself, and I – An after school self-esteem skill building group for students at Northern in April and May.  

 

 

Important Dates:

 2022-23 District Calendar approved April 25, 2022.

Revised 2021-22 District Calendar as of February 22, 2022.

 

May 9 to 23:  PTSC Spring Clothing Drive

May 17 to  20: NJSLA (½ days):  Early Dismissal of Students

May 24:  Middle School Choral Concert, 7 pm

May 26 & 27: NJSLA (½ days):  Early Dismissal of Students

May 30:  Memorial Day:  School Closed

June 3:  Early Dismissal of Students

June 3:  8th Grade Class Night, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Have a good weekend.

Sincerely,

Andrew Kearns, Ed.D.

Principal