NB Wall

March 17, 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 hosting a Go Green! Fun Night  TONIGHT, Friday, March 17, from 6:30-8:30 pm.  Tickets were sold in advance this week during lunches.  No tickets will be available at the door.  For those attending, doors will open at 6:30 pm and the event will conclude at 8:30 pm.  Please ensure you are here to pick up your student promptly at 8:30 pm.  

To reduce car congestion, seventh graders will be picked up at our bus lot, which is accessible from Island Road and eighth graders will be picked up at the front entrance, which is accessible from Mansfield Road- East. Also, students will be expected to wait on the curb until either a parent is able to walk them to the car or parents are able to pull up directly to the curb.  We do not want unescorted students trying to cross a potentially busy parking lot on their own.

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 have begun to meet with our current 8th grade students to review their course selections and will do so through March 29. 

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.

Mark Your Calendars:  The middle school’s musical , Into the Woods, premiers on March 31 with an encore presentation on April 1.  Tickets will be sold at the door starting at 6:30 pm. The curtain rises at 7:30 pm. Adult tickets are $8 and $5 for Students/Seniors with ID. Tickets are cash only, exact change appreciated. We hope to see you there!

Spring Sports:  Spring sports began this week. Students who did not submit the sport registration information are not cleared to practice or try out for a spring sport.   https://northernburlington-ar.rschooltoday.com/

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

Clinical Corner: In discussing boundaries in recent blog entries, I thought it would be appropriate to include information about teen dating violence.  Especially since 1 out of 10 teens experience an abusive relationship.  Often they will keep silent about such a relationship because they are embarrassed, think it is their fault or may feel afraid they will have to break up with the person and they are not ready to do that.  There are many other reasons as well, as mentioned in an ARTICLE  from American Academy of Pediatrics.   

The article also dispels common myths as well as listing red flags such changes in attitude and mood, physical appearance,  and activities.  It discusses in detail what abusive behavior often looks like, and gives helpful tips about how to talk to your child about healthy relationships and if they are in an unhealthy one, how to get out of it.  Lastly, there are even scripts on what to say when having such a difficult discussion.  

A Message from your Northern Nurses:  The Medicaid continuous coverage policy, enacted as part of the 2020 Families First Coronavirus Response Act is set to expire March 31.

 If your family/student is enrolled, please see these critical steps to ensure continued Health Care coverage:

New Jersey Department of Human Services

https://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/

☎ 800-701-0710

 

  • Families should watch their mail for letters about Medicaid and the state Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, status. (This program serves children in families that are low-income but fall above the Medicaid threshold.)

  • Recipients must submit any renewal forms they receive to maintain coverage, which states could mail at any point in the next year, between March 2023 and February 2024.

  • Families who no longer qualify for Medicaid after the review may qualify for coverage through their state’s health insurance exchange.

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. 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. 

Andrew Kearns, Ed.D.

Principal