NB Wall

September 9, 20022

Middle School Parent Message

Welcome Back:  It was great to have our hallways and classrooms full of students again.  This week, the members of the class of 2027 returned for eighth grade and we welcomed the class of 2028 as they began seventh grade.  We are looking forward to a great 2022-23 school year!

Back to School Night:  This year, the middle school Back to School Night will be on Thursday, September 22.  This is a night for parents to visit with the teachers who are working with their children this year and learn about the different courses and programs offered at Northern.  This year, we invite you to attend a special meet and greet session with our new Superintendent, Dr. Andrew Zuckerman.  This event will provide families with the opportunity to get to meet the leader of our school district.

The schedule for the evening will be as follows:

5:45 pm to 6:30 pm:  Meet & Greet with the Superintendent, Dr. Andrew Zuckerman, in the media center

6:30 pm to 7:00 pm:  Welcome and program overview in the cafetorium

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm: Classroom visits

We look forward to welcoming the parents of our students at Back to School Night.  Please note that this is a program for parents.  To ensure enough space in the classes, we prefer that students remain at home.

Lunches:  As you know, lunches are no longer free for all students.  We are concerned that students who might qualify for free or reduced lunch have not submitted an application to receive this assistance.  We do not want any children who might need this service to have any difficulties in getting their lunch.  If there is any doubt, please be sure to complete the application.  The application can be found on our webpage under parent/student resources and at this LINK.

Chromebooks:  Technology plays a growing role in our society (try to imagine what would happen if you did not have your cell phone for an extended period of time).  Of course, school is no exception.  As we begin the year, we appreciate the efforts at home to make sure your children arrive at school with their charged Chromebooks.  We encourage them to bring their charger as well.  

While we can understand that occasionally a Chromebook might be left at home, we are not equipped to lend extras out to anyone who forgets one.  So students who do forget it will be directed to call home.  

Thanks in advance for working with your student to develop a system so the Chromebook gets charged nightly and comes to school everyday.  

After School Activities:  The after school clubs, activities, and sports are underway.  We encourage all of our students to find something to get involved with as they begin the school year.  The primary method of communication for club and activity meetings is through the morning announcements and these same announcements are posted on PowerSchool in the Daily Bulletin.  Students should listen carefully to the daily announcements for information on these events.

For students participating in a fall sport, they need to have submitted the sports participation information and physical online and been cleared by our school doctor.  Parents should have received an email indicating their child has been cleared.  Unless students are cleared, they cannot stay for an athletic practice or play in a game.  Any questions, please contact the respective coach. 

COVID:  As we mentioned in the opening message to parents, COVID is still with us, but we have changed our precautions significantly since 2020.  Most importantly, students who are ill should stay home.  That was true in 2019, and it is still true in 2022.

For those students who have symptoms that might indicate the potential of COVID, they will need to be tested before returning to school.  COVID Testing can be done in a Doctor’s office, community testing site or an at-home test with results provided to the School Nurse.  If negative, students may return when feeling well and symptoms free. In cases where students do test positive for COVID, they will need to remain home for a minimum of five days. Students who test positive for COVID and return to school after five days are to wear a well fitting mask around others through the tenth day.  Please contact our school nurse with any questions.

PowerSchool Forms:  If you have not done so already, be sure to complete the opening of school forms.   Please log on to your Parent PowerSchool account and complete two electronic forms.  These can be found by selecting the “Forms'' tab once logged into PowerSchool.

  1. Emergency Information & Trip/Activity Medical Form

  2. Parent Consent Form

 

Clinical Corner:  Transitioning back to school can be anxiety provoking.  A new environment, new responsibilities, and new people can be overwhelming to your child at this time.    This can mean more unknowns, which can be scary.   However, using some positive affirmations to keep you and your child calm and feeling more confident such as ¨This is hard, and I am getting through it¨ or ¨I am capable enough to handle anything that comes my way¨ can be helpful.  Another antidote to anxiety is staying in the moment and focusing on just the task at hand.  An example of this would be to say to yourself, “Right now I just have to get to my locker or Right now, I just have to make my lunch for tomorrow." This article explains the benefits of mindfulness in more detail.  : verywellmind.com

 

Start Strong:  This school year, the New Jersey Department of Education is again requiring school districts to administer the Start Strong Assessments.  According to the NJDOE, “As a result of the disruption to education due to the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities to deliver instruction and supports for learning acceleration remain a critical priority at the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE). Pursuant to the Commissioner's regulatory authority, local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to administer the Start Strong assessments as part of the overall Statewide assessment system.”

The NJDOE believes that the Start Strong Assessments will provide teachers, students, parents and schools with meaningful data at the beginning of the school year that complements the data our teachers are already collecting, so that we may best educate our students in the 2022-2023 school year.  

The Start Strong Assessments will measure the prior grade level standards. The following grades/subjects will be tested October 12-14 with make up testing to follow.

  • Grade 7 ELA 07, Math 07

  • Grade 8 ELA 08, Math 08, (ALG or GEO if applicable)

  • Grade 9 ELA 09, Math (ALG, GEO,ALG2), Science 09

  • Grade 10 ELA 09, Math (ALG,GEO, ALG2)

  • Grade 11 (only Math if enrolled in ALG, GEO, ALG2)

  • Grade 12 Science 12

The district will administer these tests in the first 90 minutes of the morning on October 12-14 and then will follow a modified schedule for the remainder of the school day.  The assessments are digital and can be completed within 60 minutes.   Students must bring their district issued charged chromebooks to complete the assessments.  Students who are testing are encouraged to get a full night’s rest, eat breakfast and arrive promptly at the start of the school day.  

Please click on the link for further information about the Start Strong Assessments: New Jersey | Start Strong (mypearsonsupport.com)

 

COMING SOON in October 2022:  Group Counseling for Students After School.  Northern Burlington School District has collaborated with First Children Services (FCS) to provide therapeutic mental health services in-person to our students via group counseling.  This is a free 8-week group in-person after school support group for students to engage with a licensed clinician and their peers to discuss various topics in a safe space setting. The main topics will include mental health concerns, emotional regulation, gaining self-awareness, communication skills, and coping skills.  If you are interested in having your child participate or have questions about the group, please contact your child’s School Counselor. Spaces are limited.  Dates to be determined.

 

Important Dates:

Week of September 12:  Activity Fair during Lunch Periods

September 22:  Middle School Back to School Night

September 28:  PTSC General Meeting, 6:30 pm, HS Media Center

October 6:  Mid Marking Period

October 10:  No School for Students/Staff Development Day

October 18;  Middle School Picture Day

 

 

Have a great weekend.

 

Andrew Kearns, Ed.D.

Principal