NB Wall

March 10, 2023

Middle School Parent Message

Good Afternoon,

Here are the updates from the middle school:

We want to hear from you!  The Northern Burlington Regional School District values effective communications throughout our school community.  We are looking to you to help us identify our strengths, challenges and potential growth opportunities so we can find ways to enhance communication and reach all members of our community.  We want to hear from you!

If you haven’t already done so, please take a few minutes to complete our survey. We appreciate your time and honest feedback.

Middle School Fun Night:  The Middle School Student Leaders are planning a Go Green! Fun Night on Friday, March 17, from 6:30-8:30 pm.  There will be dancing, games in the gym, and more! Students should dress casually and wear sneakers to play in the gym.  Tickets are $5 or 5 NB3 tickets and will be on sale during lunches Monday March 13 through Thursday March 16.  No tickets will be sold at the door and this event is for Northern Middle School students only.  

Course Selection for the Class of 2028:  Middle School Program of Studies for 2023-2024: 

The 2023-2024 Middle School Program of Studies is available on the Middle School Counseling Department Web Page.  Course selection will occur electronically via PowerSchool as it did last year.  Please review these instructions and contact your student’s counselor if you have any questions. The PowerSchool Parent Portal will be accessible according to these timelines:  

 

  • Students in Grade 7: Thursday, March 2nd - Sunday, March 19th   

  • Students in Grade 6: Wednesday, March 8th - Sunday, March 19th.

 

Middle School Counselors will meet with current 7th graders in late March to confirm their course selections. 

High School Counselors will begin to meet with our current 8th grade students to review their course selections starting March 13. 

 

FFA Horticultural Exposition:  Spring is in the air and we have many high school and middle school student arrangements entered at the New Jersey FFA Horticultural Exposition this weekend. It's free and there are over 500 student horticultural and floral entries designed by food, agriculture, and natural resources education students from throughout the state. The show is open to the public 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm on Friday and 8:00 am – 5:00 pm on Saturday and located at Mercer County Community College – 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550.   Entries will be displayed throughout the second-floor skywalks.  It is best to enter through the John P. Hanley Student Center (Welcome Center) and take the stairs or elevator to the second floor.  You can park in the East or West Student Parking Lot.  Follow this  link for a campus map:

 http://www.mccc.edu/welcome_ca....

High School Musical:  NBCRHS proudly presents Shrek, The Musical on March 24th and 25th at 7:30 pm and March 25 and 26th at 2:30 pm.  Please see this flyer for ticket information.

Spring Sports:  Spring sports registration is open

https://northernburlington-ar.rschooltoday.com/

 

If you already have an account, there is no need to create a new one.  Log in with your username and password to register your child for the 2023 Spring Sport Season.

 

Please be sure that all current physicals are uploaded into the registration portal (STEP 4).

 

If you have any questions, please contact Michele O’Neill, Athletic Department Secretary at moneill@nburlington.com or 609-298-3900, ext. 2093.

Students who do not submit the sport registration information will not be cleared to practice or try out for a spring sport.  The School doctor must review all of the applications so do not wait to submit the registration since the process can take time between the submission and final approval.

PTSC News: Thank you to all of the parents who were able to help run the book fair!  We could not have had this event for our students without your support. 

Clinical Corner: While the last Clinical Corner discussed boundaries, what goes hand in hand with that is how passive, assertive or aggressive a person is.  In an article by kidshealth.org, it explains how assertive is the “just right” between passive and aggressive.   However, this style of communication doesn’t come easily for everyone whether it’s one’s personality, their experiences, or habits that get in the way.  The article gives these guidelines to define assertive behavior:

  • You can give an opinion or say how you feel

  • You can ask for what you want or need

  • You can disagree respectfully

  • You can offer your ideas and suggestions

  • You can say no without feeling guilty

  • You can speak up for someone else

It goes on to explain how people who are more passive often feel taken advantage of, hurt or resentful.  People who are too aggressive often have trouble making or keeping friends.  The article gives helpful case examples of people exhibiting all three styles.  The good news is that you can become more assertive if you feel you are falling too much to the left or right of the continuum.  If you are more passive, they recommend trying to get in touch with what you want or need as well as trying to avoid saying “I don’t know”, which allows others all too easily to make decisions for you. The article also gives specific examples on how to word things to make it easier to be assertive.  If aggressiveness is your norm, one can do things like asking someone else’s opinion and listening more.  Another mindful thing to do is to notice if you interrupt, if so, apologize and let the person finish.

We are all works in progress.  Helping your child/student figure out which style they are and how they can move closer to being more assertive will help them feel more confident and in control of getting their needs met.  For more examples and information on this topic please click here.

A Message from your Northern Nurses:  Following data from the Burlington County Health Department, we are seeing a downturn in the number of Flu, COVID and all respiratory infections.

Please continue to do your part by carefully monitoring your student and keeping him/her home for any sick symptoms.  Worrisome symptoms are cough, fever, breathing difficulty AND 2 or more symptoms combined such as congestion, headache, sore throat, muscle aches etc.

Please do not send students with sick symptoms to school and either:

  • Take to your doctor for clearance OR

  • Use a home COVID test (ideally 1 negative test and a second 48 hours later)

  • AND - Please communicate with your student's school nurse.

We must track the number of COVID and Flu cases in our community and we will work with you and Administration to ensure students home sick have excused absences.

Contact our school nurse with any questions, tpugliese@nburlington.com.

Relay for Life:  From May 20th at 6:00 p.m. to May 21st at 6:00 a.m. we will gather on the football field to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society!   The night is spent celebrating survivors, supporting cancer patients, and remembering friends and family.   There are also events and games all night long, and you can spend the night hanging out with your friends and family.  All are welcome!!!!

Meeting Schedule:  

  • March 21, 2023 - 6:00 PM (Room 110)

  • April 4, 2023 - 6:00 PM (Room 110)

  • April 26, 2023 - 6:00 PM (Room 110)

  • May 9, 2023 - 6:00 PM (Room 110)

  • May 20-21, 2023 - Relay for Life (6:00 PM to 6:00 AM)

If you have any questions or you would like to be a part of the Relay for Life of Northern Burlington Committee, please contact Lori Nadolny (lnadolny@nburlington.com ) or Dr. Sally Lopez (slopez@nburlington.com ). If you would like to participate in Relay for Life by creating a team or joining a team, please visit the website:  https://relayforlife.org/NB

Reminders:  

Student Pickup:  In the event that a student must leave school before the conclusion of the school day they may only be picked up by a person that is listed in PowerSchool as a parent, guardian or emergency contact.  All persons will need to present picture identification prior to the release of a student.  Any changes to this information must be completed  IN WRITING PRIOR to the day of implementation.   

School Closure/Delayed Opening due to Inclement Weather:  In the event that school must be closed or the opening delayed by 90 minutes due to inclement weather, announcements will be broadcast via twitter  @nbcrsd, posted on our website www.nburlington.com or please follow me at @NBC_MSPrincipal.

Important Dates:

Mar. 12:  Daylight Saving Time:  Clock Springs Forward 1 Hour

Mar. 15:  PTSC Meeting, 6:30 pm, HS Media Center

Mar. 17:  Early Dismissal of Students/Staff Development Day

Mar. 17:  Middle School Fun Night, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Mar. 31:  MP3 Ends

Mar. 31:  Middle School Musical, 7:30 pm 

Apr. 1:  Middle School Musical, 7:30 pm

Apr. 6:  Early Dismissal

Apr. 7 to Apr. 14:  School Closed for Spring Break

Have a good weekend. Remember to spring forward!

Andrew Kearns, Ed.D.

Principal