Sept 7, 2018

Southern Middle

Bulldog Newsbites

WELCOME BACK

Everyone at Southern Middle hopes all our Southern families had a

great summer. We have been very busy preparing ourselves for our stu-

dents and for an excellent year. This newsletter will provide some key

information parents will need to know.

Please look for the newsbites to come out weekly or every other week.

It will be sent through our Connect Ed system to all families we have

emails for. Please make sure your contact information is provided.

We are excited about the new school year and committed to make

Southern Middle one of the best middle schools and one that the whole

community can be proud of.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Welcome Back .........................1

Back to School Night…………….2

Picture Day ………………………….2

School Policies ……………………..3

Calendar ....................................4

Counselor Corner ………………...4

PTA News …………………………...5

Pics of the Week………………….6

Introducing ..............................7

Attachments:

Fall Magnet Program

Back to School Agenda

Not My Child Information

CREATING CURIOUS

AND

JOYFUL LEARNERS

When teachers create “curiosity” in their classrooms, kids start to wonder….when they wonder, they want to learn. Rick Wormeli

Always sad to say good bye to good teachers who we en-

joyed working with. The following will not be at SMS

this year:

Jillian Mardesich; Karissa Brown; Jen Heller; Bob

Williamson; Tori Mason; Jenn Dixon; Olivia Mastran-

gelo, Matt Bieber.

We however get to welcome the following new staff

members!

Kayla Swift-Chorus; Margaret James-Math/LA;

Christina Green-Spec Ed; Matt Wojciechowski-PE; Ali-

cia August-Furman-Science; Melissa Smith-Science;

Lisa Thomas—Guidance; Richard Greene—

Administration

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

SOME GOODBYES...SOME HELLOS

Please mark your calendars

for Wednesday Sept 12 for

our annual Back to School

Night. The evening begins

at 5:30 PM for those par-

ents interested in hearing

about the new Healthy Life

curriculum in the gym. We

will then be having a differ-

ent format this year. In-

stead of all parents squeez-

ing into the cafeteria this

year, you will be directed to

go directly to your child’s

period 1 class. Important

information will be shared

on our video cast in each

room. Class visitations will

begin right after the tele-

cast.

Come on out and join us for

this very special evening.

PICTURE DAY On Tuesday Sept 18 we

will be having our Fall

Picture Day. All stu-

dents even if they are

not buying pictures will

be getting their pictures

taken that day. In order

to order pictures stu-

dents need to have

brought in their money

the day of pictures. All

students will receive an

order packet to bring

home this week.

2

Important School Policies to Know Below are some of the school policies we have shared with students this week.

• Drinks in school: We only allow students to have water. We encourage disposable plastic bottles but insist it is only water. NO glass.

• Lockers: This year students need to provide locks for both their hall lockers and gym locker. Securing their belongings is essential and responsibility of each stu-dent.

• Book bags: Students can use traditional large back packs going to and from school. During the school day the only book bags allowed are string backpacks. Size: It must fit in the space inside their desk.

• Hats/head coverings : AACPS policy is that unless there is a documented religious or medical need, no hats/head coverings are allowed. This includes hoods.

• Car riders: To ensure safety, all car riders need to meet with a designated teacher by café entrance so they can escort them pass the busses.

INTRODUCING….

New Cell Phone Policy:

Please encourage your

child to follow the county

approved policy of “off and

away”. All students should

have brought home a copy

of the new policy to share.

Couple main points:

1st Offense: Device taken

by teacher and returned at

end of day.

2nd Offense: Device taken

and picked up at end of

day.

3rd Offense: Device taken

and kept in office for stu-

dent to pick up at the end

of the day. Detention as-

signed.

4th offense: Device taken

and must be picked up in

the office and a meeting

with an administrator will

be held. Detention as-

signed to the student.

Further offenses: In addi-

tion to holding item for

parent additional actions

may occur with possible

suspension.

“Juicey “ welcoming our students on our first day!

3

Welcome SMS Students

Calendar of

Events:

Sept 10—Vision/

Hearing Screening

Sept 12—Back To

School Night—6:30

PM

Sept 13—PTA Meet-

ing—6:30 Media

Sept 14– Metal/

Honor Assembly

Sept 18—Fall Pictures

1st Day Activity Bus-

ses

Sept 19—No School-

Yom Kippur

THE BULLDOG PRIDE PLEDGE

I pledge to do my BULL-

DOG BEST.

I will be PREPARED, RE-

SPECTFUL and I

NDEPENDENT.

I will be DISCIPLINED

and do what’s right.

I will show EMPATHY for

all and make our school

No Place For Hate.

4

Student Schedules Every effort was made to place your student into courses they re-quested and parents approved on the Course Selection Form and Course Request Verification. Please note that, due to scheduling constraints, students may not have been placed in their top elec-tive choices. Once the school year has begun, schedules can ON-LY be changed to correct (1) incorrect scheduling (ex. missing a required class, scheduled for two of the same course) and/ or (2) improper placement (ex. student has not taken a required pre-requisite course, student is not in the correct level for a course). All course change requests must be submitted in writing by a stu-dent’s parent or legal guardian. All written requests must be re-ceived by your student’s grade level counselor no later than Fri-day, September 14, 2018. If you have any questions, please con-tact your child’s counselor prior to this date.

Attention 8th Grade Parents/Students:

Magnet Information Sessions: SAVE THE DATES!

Fall Information Sessions to learn about all Magnets:

October 3rd at Annapolis HS @ 6 PM AND October 6th at North County HS @ 9 AM

*For 8th grade students interested in attending a Magnet Pro-gram in 2019-2020, applications open October 15th, 2018 and

close at noon, November 30, 2018* (see flyer attached)

8th Grade CAT-South (Career and Technology) Field Trip

SAVE THE DATE: December 7th, 2018!

*More information to come*

1st PTA meeting will be Thursday, September 13 @ 6:30pm in the Media Center. ALL are welcome.

PTA membership and volunteer forms were sent home with students this week. All those who return their PTA membership form, with payment, by September 28 will be entered for a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card. The drawing will take place on October 4 at our monthly meeting.

Claire's Gourmet Fundraiser will start on Monday, September 17. Look for brochures to come home that day. We will have samples at Back to School Night on September 12.

PTA NEWS

5

Help Wanted!!

Interested in becoming a TSA? Southern Middle currently looking for a TSA to assist in the classrooms.

Please contact Patty Hiesener at 410-222-1659 or

Phiesener@aacps.org if you are interested in applying.

Sept 9—Grandparents Day

We want to recognize and thank all our grandparents for their working

supporting our students. They are an incredible positive influence and

support for our students. Thank You!!!

SOUTHERN MID-DLE’S

MISSION

TO PROVIDE QUALI-TY, AGE APPROPRI-ATE, CHALLENGING CURRICULUM AND ACTIVITIES THAT ALLOW EACH STU-DENT TO ACHIEVE HIS/HER MAXIMUM INDIVIDUAL POTEN-TIAL IN A SAFE AND ORDERLY ENVIRON-MENT.

PICS OF THE WEEK

Old Clothes Looking For New Home?

Since March of this year we have added a Clothes Collection Bin in the par-ent and bus parking lot. We encourage families as they are cleaning up and organizing that if they have useable clothes or shoes to please place them in the bin. The organization running this bin; Clothing to Cash; then sends our PTA a check after the clothes are collected and weighed. This is truly a Win (get to clean out clothes you no longer need) Win (PTA earns money for programs at school) and Win (people in need of clothes benefits from your generosity. Please keep this in mind and thanks to all who already donated!

LET ME INTRODUCE YOU

TO…...

Richard Greene—

Assistant Principal

SMS is very lucky to have Mr. Greene

I am responsi-

ble for the

entire sixth

grade class

and half of the

seventh.

I am a native Marylander, who grew up in Harford County. I graduated from North Harford High School in 1975. While at North Harford I partici-pated in Volleyball, Bas-ketball and Track. While at Towson University I majored in Physical Edu-cation, graduating in the spring of 1980.

I graduated from Temple University in 1982 with a degree in exercise physiol-ogy and then was offered a position as a PE teacher at Bel Air Middle School.

I taught for six years and then was given the opportunity to become an administrator.

In my 37 years as a public school educator I have held the following positions; physi-

cal education teacher, assistant principal, principal and supervisor.

I have a twin brother as well as two older sisters and a mother and father who I am

blessed to still have in my life.

I am the proud father of Shaylah and Stephen Greene who both reside in Boston,

Massachusetts.

I am also engaged to a wonderful woman who will join me someday on my dream vacation to Italy.

What is a Magnet Program? Magnet Programs, part of Anne Arundel County’s Programs of Choice, offer

motivated students the opportunity to engage in a specialized course of study that differs from the tradition-

al curriculum offered in AACPS. Eligible Magnet students will have the opportunity to gain rigorous and rel-

evant learning experiences in subject areas in which they have great interest.

• A student’s Magnet School is determined by their home middle school. (Exception: A student’s PVA High

School is determined by his or her Arts Major.) • These are public school programs and are offered at no cost

to students. (Some programs may have lab, field trip, or exam fees.) • Transportation is provided from con-

solidated bus stops.

AACPS Magnet Program Overview

What Middle School Programs are available? The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB

MYP) provides a student-centered education that challenges students to make connections between educa-

tion and the real-world as they consider their roles in both local and global communities.

The Performing Visual Arts Middle School (PVA) Magnet Program offers advanced arts instruction and per-

formance opportunities through a strong academic curriculum interwoven with the arts.

The Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math Middle School (STEM) Magnet Program immerses students

in an interdisciplinary, inquiry-based, and technology-rich curriculum where they will apply STEM subjects

to the world around them.

Students apply to these Middle School programs in the fall of Grade 5.

What High School Programs are available? The STEM Biomedical and Allied Health (BMAH) Magnet Pro-

gram offers students hands-on experience to learn and discuss relevant 21st century biomedical and allied

health issues. Students apply to this program in the fall of Grade 8.

The Centers of Applied Technology (CAT) Magnet Program offers students the opportunity to apply theory

and knowledge towards skills proficiency through hands-on technical experience similar to what they would

receive in the commercial/industrial workplace. Students apply to this program in the fall of Grade 9, 10, or

11.

The International Baccalaureate Middle Years/ Diploma Programme (IB MYP/DP) offers a broad and bal-

anced curriculum designed to promote student centered inquiry, creative and independent thinking, and

effective communication. Students apply to this program in the fall of Grade 8 or 10.

The Performing Visual Arts High School (PVA) Magnet Program immerses students in a cutting edge, arts

infused college and career preparatory curriculum designed to foster effective communication and creative-

critical thinking. Students apply to this program in the fall of Grade 8.

The Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math High School (STEM) Magnet Program uses problem/ project

-based learning and cutting-edge technology to expose students to the importance of STEM subjects in the

world today. Students apply to this program in the fall of Grade 8.

¿Qué es un programa Magnet? Los programas Magnet, parte de los Programas de elección del con-

dado de Anne Arundel, ofrecen a los estudiantes motivados la oportunidad de participar en cursos

especializados de estudio, diferentes a los del currículo regular de AACPS. Los estudiantes elegibles

para el programa Magnet podrán ganar experiencias de aprendizaje importantes en áreas acadé-

micas en las que tengan interés.

• La escuela Magnet de un estudiante se determina a partir de su escuela intermedia. (Excepción: la

secundaria PVA a la que asistirá un estudiante se determina por la rama artística.) • Estos son pro-

gramas de escuelas públicas y se ofrecen gratis a los estudiantes. (Algunos programas cobrarán por

laboratorio, excursiones y/o exámenes.) • Se provee transportación desde paradas determinadas.

¿Qué programas de escuela intermedia hay? El programa de Bachillerato internacional de interme-

dia (IB MYP) ofrece una educación centrada en el estudiante y retos para que descubran nuevos nex-

os entre la educación y la vida diaria, mientras consideran sus roles en las comunidades local y glob-

al.

El programa Magnet de Artes visuales y escénicas de intermedia (PVA) ofrece instrucción avanzada

en las artes visuales y escénicas mediante un currículo riguroso que combina artes con materias

académicas.

El programa Magnet de escuela intermedia Ciencia, Tecnología, Ingeniería y Matemáticas (STEM)

ofrece a los estudiantes un currículo interdisciplinario basado en la investigación y la tecnología para

que aprendan a aplicar las materias STEM al mundo que los rodea.

Este programa de escuela intermedia se solicita en el otoño de 5º grado.

© 2012 • AACPS • Department of Advanced Studies & Programs • DPS/SG • 2594/358a (Rev. 9/17)

Side 1

AACPS Resumen de los Programas Magnet Sólo son disponibles para los residentes de Anne Arundel

County.

¿Qué programas de escuela secundaria hay? El programa Magnet de STEM Biomedicina y materias

de salud (BMAH) ofrece a los estudiantes un aprendizaje práctico así como les instruye acerca de los

temas más relevantes de la biomedicina y la salud en el siglo XXI. Este programa se solicita en el

otoño del 8º grado.

El programa Magnet de Centros de tecnología aplicada (CAT) ofrece a los estudiantes la oportunidad

de aplicar conocimientos teóricos y prácticos para dominar las destrezas mediante experimentos

prácticos similares a los que encontrarían en un ambiente laboral industrial/comercial. Este pro-

grama se solicita en el otoño de los grados 9, 10 u 11.

El programa de Bachillerato internacional de intermedia/Diploma (IB MYP/DP) ofrece un currículo

amplio y balanceado, diseñado a promover la creatividad e independencia de pensamiento, así como

una comunicación efectiva. Este programa se solicita en el otoño de los grados 8 y 10.

El programa Magnet de Artes visuales y escénicas (PVA) ofrece un currículo de avanzada, combi-

nando materias artísticas con las académicas para fomentar el éxito artístico y académico y el pen-

samiento crítico y creativo. Este programa se solicita en el otoño del 8º grado.

El programa Magnet de escuela secundaria Ciencias, Tecnología, Ingeniería y Matemáticas (STEM)

ofrece un sistema de aprendizaje por proyectos y tecnología de punta para educar a los estudiantes

en la importancia de las materias STEM en el mundo actual. Este programa se solicita en el otoño del

8º grado.

Southern Middle School

September 12, 2018

Agenda

5:30 – 6:15 Healthy Living & Human Sexuality-Content Discussion - Gym

6:00 – 6:30 Café Lobby – Exhibits

6:30 – 6:50 Period 1 – Video Newscast

Welcome – Mr. Buckley

PTA News - Plans for the Year – How to Support

School-Wide Focus and New Programs

Begin Class Visitations

6:50 – 7:00 Period 1 –

7:05 – 7:15 Period 2

7:20 – 7:30 Period 3

7:35 – 7:45 Period 4

7:50 – 8:00 Period 5

8:05 – 8:15 Period 6

Thank you for sharing your evening and your child with us! We look forward to working together with you.