January 20, 2023
Middle School Parent Message
Good Afternoon,
Here are the updates from the middle school:
Extended Learning Schedule Update: We have reviewed the feedback provided by staff and students to prepare for the next practice days of the extended learning schedule. This feedback suggested implementing 4 consecutive days in the next phase of practice. This will be implemented February 28, March 1, 2 and 3.
Door Decorating: The week of February 6, our students will be participating in a door decorating contest as part of our observance of Black History Month by our Students Taking Action Together (STAT) club and the No Place for Hate club. We will run the extended homeroom schedule that week and each homeroom class will plan and decorate their classroom door to honor an African American who made contributions related to that class’s subject areas. While participation is optional, we look forward to our students in each class contributing their particular skills to make the best possible final product.
Spirit Week: The week of February 13 will be our school’s annual spirit week where our students celebrate being part of the middle school student body. The week will involve a Blue/Grey competition with all students assigned to a team based on their last name. Names that begin with the letters A-K are on the Blue Team and names that begin with the letters L-Z are on the Grey Team. There will be in class competitions as well as dress themes for each day. These will be published as soon as the student government has finished its planning.
Part of the week will be a FOOD DRIVE where the Blue and the Grey teams will compete to bring in the most number of nonperishable food items and win points for their respective teams. That week, donations should be dropped off at the cafetorium and placed in the respective area (Blue or Grey).
FFA Week: February is a busy month in the middle school. National FFA Week is the week of February 21. The club will be organizing different dress themes to celebrate the FFA as well as the role of agriculture in the United States. Details for the different dress themes will be published shortly.
Yearbook PHOTO DONATIONS: The past few years, we have had so many people generously donate photos from their lives at home. Submissions this year are much lower than we anticipated. We would love to have you share photos with us from life outside of the school building (July 2022-present). We are especially in need of photos of summer vacation, pets, celebrations (birthdays, holidays), and free time activities (hobbies, sports), but would appreciate all photos. Deadline: February 1, 2023. https://images.jostens.com/0SZ...
Yearbook ORDERS: January 27, 2023 is the final date to order a yearbook with a personalized cover and/or accessories. https://jostensyearbooks.com/?...
Yearbook PARENT ADS: Good news! Parent Ad sales have been extended until February 8, 2023! This is the final deadline! Recognize your child to commemorate their achievements and important milestones. Purchase and design your ad at the link below.
https://www.jostens.com/apps/s...
High School Program of Studies and Course Selection for 2023-2024: The 2023-2024 High School Program of Studies is available on the High School Counseling Department Web Page. Course selection will occur electronically via PowerSchool. 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:
Current HS students (Grades 9-11): Monday, January 9 - Sunday, January 22
Students in Grade 8: Monday, January 30 – Sunday, February 12
Students in Grades 7 will select courses at a later date
The district academic directors are visiting all of the 8th grade science classes on January 25 to talk about the different high school offerings.
High School Counselors will meet with students in Grades 11, 10, and 9 to confirm their course selections starting in February. The counselors will start with rising seniors and then meet with rising juniors and sophomores. High School counselors will meet with students in grade 8, in the middle school, in March to confirm their choices for freshman year.
The video recording of the presentation from the High School Academic Planning Night, hosted by the Offices of Curriculum & Instruction and Counseling on Thursday, January 5th, is now available on Northern TV. It is posted on the HS Counseling page of the website. The video series for each department has been updated for 2023-2024.
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.
PTSC News:. The PTSC will be holding their monthly meeting on January 26 at 6:30 pm in the high school media center. All are welcome.
Check our website (www.nburlington.com/page/ptsc) for more information.
Clinical Corner: It’s just enough time after New Year’s has passed to have broken those resolutions or veered off from the goals you or your child/student may have set! Change takes time, effort and commitment and understanding how the stages of change work may help you keep on track or re-commit. According to VeryWellMind, the keys to achieving and maintaining your goals are to try new techniques and find ways to stay motivated”. Being ready to change, getting rid of barriers, and knowing what might cause you to fall back into old habits can also be helpful. The article includes characteristics and strategies for each stage discussed below.. The stages of change even apply when one wants to buy a car or make a career jump.. Figuring out where you are at in the cycle, whether by writing or drawing it out, can help the process along.
If you are in the pre-contemplation stage where it is hard to recognize that there is a problem you might want to ask yourself if you have tried to change this behavior before.The next stage is contemplation and the article states that some people never make it past this stage, or that it can last months or years.. Again, asking yourself questions about why the change is important to you or how you would benefit would help. The preparation stage comes next and if you make it this far, you are gathering new information such as looking up consumer reports or downloading a marathon training program. The action stage then takes place and with it can come relief that you have made a decision or even just started following up your words. Maintenance stage has its own challenges and you might really need to reward yourself for resisting temptation in order to stay focused. Almost certainly you may relapse, it’s so common that it is even listed as one of the stages! That’s ok, remind yourself/your child/student how far you have come and the benefits that came along with it and jump back on track to one of the other stages. Don’t be too hard on yourself. You are a work in progress! Click here for the article.
A Message from your Northern Nurses: Following data from the Burlington County Health Department, trends show we may expect an increase in the number of Flu, COVID and all respiratory infections.
Please 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.
Burlington County continues to offer both the single COVID-19 test as well as a combined COVID-19/Flu test at the testing site at Willingboro Towne Center, 4390 Rt 130 North, Willingboro. Test results are generally back within 48 hours. Insurance information is collected, but people without insurance are still eligible for testing. Please see attached flyer
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!!!!
We have had several meetings so far and have selected the theme of “Countries - United for a Cure”. Thank you for helping us reach our goal of $10,000 by December 31, 2022.
Our next organization/information meeting will be January 30th in room 110 of the High School at 5:30pm. Additional meetings are:
February 9, 2023 (Kick-Off) - 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
February 15, 2023 - 6:00 PM (Room 110)
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 and posted on our website www.nburlington.com. Please follow me at @NBC_MSPrincipal and our Superintendent, Dr. Andrew Zuckerman, at @azuck1
Middle School Buddy Club Fundraiser: The middle school buddy club is selling Autism Awareness T-shirts this month for $16 each. Orders need to be placed by Friday, January 20th via the following link: T-shirts
Important Dates:
Jan. 25: End of Second Marking Period
Jan. 25: PTSC General Meeting, 6:30 pm, High School Media Center
Jan. 26: Marking Period 3 Begins
Feb. 13: Middle School Spirit Week Begins
Feb. 17: No School for Students/Staff Professional Day
Feb. 20: School Closed for President’s Day
Feb: 21: FFA Week Begins
Feb. 28: Extended Learning/Block Schedule Practice Day
Mar. 1: Extended Learning/Block Schedule Practice Day
Mar. 2: Extended Learning/Block Schedule Practice Day
Mar. 3: Extended Learning/Block Schedule Practice Day
Have a good weekend.
Andrew Kearns, Ed.D.
Principal