September 30, 2022
Middle School Parent Message
Week of Respect: The week of October 3, next week, is the state wide observance of Week of Respect. This is a time when all schools have activities during the week that focus attention on how we can limit bullying behavior and focus on treating one another with kindness. This is reflected in our school wide expectations to Be Ready, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible. The planned activities can be found on the SLIDE SHOW and will take place during homeroom. We will follow a special schedule during the week where the homeroom will be longer than normal, and it is referred to as “extended homeroom.” As part of the Week of Respect’s conclusion, students will have the option to sign the No Place for Hate Pledge during lunches the following week and a copy of the pledge can be found here.. This is optional, but we certainly encourage all of the students to participate.
High School Open House, October 6 (6:30 pm to 8:30 pm): All of our students have been invited to the high school open house. If your schedule permits, I would encourage you and your child to attend. It is an opportunity for both of you to learn about the high school program and meet many of the teachers.
Winter Sports: Athletic registration for the winter season is now open. For middle school, these are basketball, wrestling, and cheerleading. Please refer to the link below.
**If you created an account for the fall season, you DO NOT need to create a new account. Simply log in with your username and password that you used for the fall.
https://northernburlington-ar.rschooltoday.com/
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. O’Neill in the Athletic Office by emailing moneill@nburlington.com or calling 609-298-3900, ext. 2093.
Homecoming 2022…. A Night at the Movies: The Homecoming Carnival and game are scheduled for Saturday, October 8th. The carnival will be held from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and the football game starts at 2:00 pm. This is open to the entire community. Carnival only tickets are $10. They can be purchased at the event and will be on sale during student lunches next week. Please note that the carnival tickets do not include admission to the football game. Tickets for the football game must be purchased separately ($3 students/$5 adults).
Middle School Yearbook: The 2023 Polaris Yearbook is now accepting pre-orders! Take advantage of our Back-to-School special: $10 off (full price is $55) and FOUR FREE icons when you purchase personalization ($10). The Back-to-School special ends October 28, 2022. Payments are made online via credit card or PayPal and can be split into three installments, if preferred. Additional options such as a Parent Ad, plastic cover, and other accessories are also available on the website. https://linktr.ee/nbcrmsyearbook
Start Strong: 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 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 in the Middle School, October 12-13 with make-up testing.
Grade 7: ELA 7, Math 7
Grade 8: ELA 8, Math 8, (ALG or GEO if applicable)
We will administer these tests in the first 90 minutes of the morning on October 12 and October 13 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 a healthy 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)
Clinical Corner Spotlight: In an article in the NYTimes about managing anxiety through simple meditation practices, Dr. Brewer, a neuroscientist at Brown University recommends Five Finger Breathing. It is a simple multisensory task that some of you might do already. If you are new to it, the directions are easy to teach/follow: Hold one hand in front of you(or in your lap) and slowly trace the outside of your hand with the index finger of your other hand. Breathe in when you trace up a finger and breathe out when you trace down each finger. When you have traced your whole hand, reverse direction and do it again. You are engaging your sight, sense of touch, and with concentrating on your breathing, it doesn’t leave much room for negative thoughts to enter your mind. You and your child can do this anytime, anywhere. However, a good time to recommend it might be before a test, or even before bedtime. THIS LINK is a quick video with a demonstration.
As a reminder, a free 8 week in person after-school support group will be starting soon in both the Middle School and High School to provide students with a safe space to discuss various topics with their peers and a licensed clinician from First Children Services(FCS). The main topics will include mental health concerns, emotion regulation, gaining self-awareness, communication and coping skills. If you think your child would benefit from this service or have any questions, please contact their school counselor. Limited spaces available, students must register. Deadline is October 3rd. Transportation is provided.
High School - Thursdays from October 6-December 1 from 2:30-3:25.
Middle School - Tuesdays from October 4- November 22 from 2:40-3:35.
PTSC: The Homecoming carnival is just 3 weeks away! Pre-order your white greyhound shirt now for the tie dye event! If you can't make it to Homecoming but want a tie dye shirt, we can dye it for you! Sale ends 9/30!
https://forms.gle/edeZBfpnYHAL...
PTSC A&M Holiday Dessert Fundraiser, featuring over 40 pies, cakes, cheesecakes, and donuts. Order by 11/14. Pick up will be 11/22 from 4-7 at the Middle School. https://forms.gle/8L8F7wUVKCbA...
COVID: We have seen an increase in COVID cases, the last week or so. As a reminder, students who are ill should stay home.
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, tpugliese@nburlington.com.
Class Fundraisers
Both the 7th and 8th grade classes have chosen Charleston Wrap as their fundraiser. There are separate codes for each grade level. The money raised by each class is to fund class activities and travels with them to the high school as well.
8th grade students: Class of 2027
7th grade students: Class of 2028
Important Dates:
October 6: Mid Marking Period
October 10: No School for Students/Staff Development Day
October 12: Middle School NJ Start Strong Assessments: First 90 minutes of the School Day
October 13: Middle School NJ Start Strong Assessments: First 90 minutes of the School Day
October 18: Middle School Picture Day
October 21: Early Dismissal of Students/Staff Development Day
Have a great weekend.
Andrew Kearns, Ed.D.
Principal