April 6, 2023
Middle School Parent Message
Good Afternoon,
Here are the updates from the middle school:
Spring Break: We have reached another milestone in the 2022-23 school year, spring break. As we all head home for the time away from school, we wish all of our students and their families a safe and restful break. We look forward to welcoming them back on Monday, April 17.
Community Service Project: We had a successful community service project today at the middle school. Were able to put together several hundred bagged lunches to deliver to TASK. Thank you to our students, their families, and our staff for supporting this effort.
2021-2022 School Performance Reports: This week the New Jersey Department of
Education (NJDOE) made publicly available the state's School Performance Reports for the 2021-2022 school year. This letter includes additional details as well as the link to access the reports.
Clinical Corner: While we covered anxiety at the beginning of the school year we did not discuss teen depression. Since they are so often enmeshed I thought I would bring this scary topic into the light. Seven common symptoms of adolescent depression are listed below, some explained in more detail than others because some of these can be confused with normal teenage behavior.
Loss of interest: Losing interest in activities your teen/student used to enjoy.
Long term mood change: Long term mood changes are not normal for teens.
Sleep disturbance: When teens are depressed, they tend to have hypersomnia and sleep more but even with the extra sleep they still report to be tired.
Weight loss or gain.
Movement disturbance: Either very lethargic or fidget often, agitated.
Excessive unnecessary guilt: From “bad” things they believe they have done to embarrassing scenarios all in their head, they will feel excessively guilty. Some other signs of this are withdrawal from others, sadness or obsessive conversation.
Suicidal tendencies: Making reference to death/suicide or being preoccupied with it.
The first step is being able to identify the symptoms, and even if you are suspicious of it, you should refer your student or find a professional to evaluate your child. A lot of the information in this week’s entry was taken from the book High Times/Low Times: The Many Faces of Adolescent Depression by John E. Meeks, MD, as well as an article by the Mayo Clinic. The link for that is here and I will include it in the next entry as it is so extensive. In the next blog entry we will discuss the different causes, risk factors and treatments for adolescent depression.
IN-PERSON WORKSHOP: YOUR MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
Presenter: Dr. Bobbie Downs
Target Audience: All School Staff, Parents/Guardians
PARENT/GUARDIAN/COMMUNITY TRAINING: May 16, 2023 5:00-9:00 pm
About the Workshop: Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health of addiction challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 50 step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance abuse, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.
All participants that attend will receive a nationally recognized certification and will be registered in the Youth Mental Health First Aid national database.
About the Presenter: Dr. Bobbie Downs is currently the Director of the Child Study Team, Related Services, and Educational Services Unit of the Burlington County Special Services School District. She also facilitates the Burlington County Professional Development Institute and Burlington County School Crisis Response Team. Dr. Downs decided to pursue a career in education after serving as a teacher and administrator in a school for Sudanese refugees in Cairo, Egypt. Since that time, Dr. Downs served in the role of teacher and administrator at the Burlington County Alternative School before being named Director of the ESU. Dr. Downs received her Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Master's Degree in Teaching from Drew University. Later, Dr. Downs earned her Master degree in School Leadership and her Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Rowan University. Dr. Downs also holds a Graduate Certificate of Autism Education. She is a certified mindfulness instructor for Mindful Schools and an instructor for Youth Mental Health First Aid. Dr. Downs is an active member of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association and the Council for Exceptional Children. She also works for the Korean War Legacy Foundation and the World History Digital Education Foundation with the goal of helping educators teach more about the war and the past, present, and future development of Korea.
PARENT/GUARDIAN/STAFF TRAINING: May 16, 2023 5:00-9:00 pm
BCSSSD Media Center
Offered at no cost to parents/guardians in Burlington County
Please click here to register.
A Message from your Northern Nurses: The Medicaid continuous coverage policy, enacted as part of the 2020 Families First Coronavirus Response Act expired March 31.
If your family/student is/was enrolled, please see these critical steps to ensure continued Health Care coverage:
Families, especially those who have relocated during the pandemic, should contact their state Medicaid offices(See below) to ensure their contact information is up to date.
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.
With the onset of Spring, hopefully we will continue to see declining numbers of sickness in our community. Please continue to carefully monitor your student and keep him/her home for any sick symptoms.
Please do not send students with sick symptoms to school.
Even though the community incidence rates are lower, the state requires that we track the number of COVID and Flu cases in our community and we will work with you and Administration to ensure students that are home sick have excused absences.
The Burlington County Health Department has announced their next round of immunization clinics. Please see the information HERE for times and location.
Contact our school nurse with any questions, tpugliese@nburlington.com.
PTSC: Registration is now open for our first annual Family Color Blast Run on Saturday, April 29 at 10am (check in starts at 9am). All are welcome to join in the fun! We will have two courses, 1 mile and 5k, for all walkers and runners, of all ages! DJ, Food trucks (Gita, Kona, Lexylicious), and corn hole boards
Students can fundraise or just register. All other participants just register and click I want to participate.
Fundraising letter for parents: https://drive.google.com/file/... Register at: shop.schoolathon.org/198176
We are still looking for volunteers for planning the Color Run (scheduled for April 29) and the Senior Citizen Prom (scheduled for May 6). The sign up genius link for activities is on our website or email us at nburlingtonPTSC@gmail.com and check out our website (www.nburlington.com/page/ptsc) for more information.
Northern FFA Spring Plant Sale: The Northern FFA Chapter will be holding its annual Spring Plant Sale days during the month of May. Horticulture students have been hard at work seeding, planting and transplanting in the greenhouse. This year we are happy to offer an expanded selection of plants to our customers. We look forward to seeing you again during this year's plant sale days!
Click HERE for more details.
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:
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.
From the Athletic Department: Online registration is now open for the Summer Fitness Club. Any student, grades 9 through 12 in the 2023-24 school year, wishing to participate in Summer Conditioning must complete the online registration form. https://northernburlington-ar.rschooltoday.com/
Please contact Mrs. O’Neill in the Athletic Office at moneill@nburlington.com if you have any questions.
Important Dates:
Apr. 7 to Apr. 14: School Closed for Spring Break
Apr. 17: School Resumes
Apr. 20: Wear Purple to Support Month of the Military Child
Apr. 21: Middle School Student Talent Show, Details to follow
Apr. 27: Wear Purple to Support Month of the Military Child
Apr 29: Band Booster Designer Bag Bingo Flyer
Apr 29: PTSC Color Run
May 2, 3, & 4: NJSLA/Early Dismissal of Students
May 8 through 22: PTSC Clothing Drive
May 11: Middle School Choral Concert
May 17: Middle School Instrumental Concert
Enjoy Spring Break!.
Andrew Kearns, Ed.D.
Principal