MIDDLE SCHOOL MATTERS - Bellingham Public Schools

[Pages:14]MIDDLE SCHOOL MATTERS

Office Hours:

Main Office 8:45-4:15 Attendance 8:45-4:15 Counseling 8:45-4:00

Contact us:

Attendance 676-6460, option 1 Athletics 676-6460, option 2 Student Services 676-6460, option 3 Main Office 676-6460, option 4

In This Issue:

Athletics

8, 9

Bell Schedule

5

Common Threads

3

Communication

11

Counseling

2

Extracurricular Activities 4

FAQ's

12

Free Dinner Program 3

Harvest of the Month 5

Online Food Payments 6

PTSA

10

Safe Schools Reporting 6

School Lunch Info

5

Staff Extensions

7

Upcoming Dates

2

Volunteering

6

810 Halleck Street, Bellingham, WA 98225



May 2018

FROM THE WILDCATS' DEN......

Well...after 21 years, it is going to happen Ann Buswell is retiring.

Technically, she's just resigning, but, out of respect for the rest of us, we like to say she's retiring. The thought of her just up and leaving us is beyond anyone's ability to take in. I mean, really, how could she leave Whatcom?

She started here about 30 years ago as a parent volunteer when her three kids were in school. Then she got hired as an Instructional Assistant & Playground Supervisor, went to Shuksan as a highly successful teacher, and came back as the Assistant Principal sometime around 1997 (about five years before I was hired). To say she goes back a long way is pretty much an understatement. There are only a couple teachers here that pre-date her - one of them was a student. Straight up truth!

There isn't much good news in losing a valued member of our school team. I've tried all sorts of ploys to get her to reconsider: faked a couple of terminal illnesses, tried guilt trips, bribery, tears, tantrums, and outright bawling. I even tried just plain forgetting. Nothing seems to work. I think she's serious about it. She actually wrote a letter and tried to resign. I'm still a bit worried that she's going to go through with it.

Ann and I have been an administrative team for 16 years. We joke and say our working relationship has lasted longer than most marriages. Shouldn't have said that - turned out to be a big jinx. We can still predict how each other will react in just about every work situation, even when I nominated her as 2014 Washington State Assistant Principal of the Year (SHE WON!), I knew better. You would have thought winning was a bad thing. I guess humility is a pretty strong virtue in her family. Those Iowa roots run deep.

Ann will be missed in the same sort of way that a person misses their brain or their heart. I would guess that some folks are worried that Whatcom won't be the same without her. They'd be right. Whatcom's heart and brains for over 20 years will be enjoying the fruits of her labors, all the while we'll be trying to replace the person that we've all come to love and rely upon. She won't like me saying that, but it's the truth.

But, like she signs off every morning after announcements, "Make it great day, everyone", we'll just have to figure out how to make the best of it.

Tell her congratulations when you see her. She'll love it.

Wishing you all good learning (and retiring). Jeff

Excellence Compassion

Tenacity

Stewardship

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Upcoming Dates

5/14-15 Puma Team to Environmental Site

5/16-18 Edventure Team to Environmental Site

5/17

5th Grade Parent Night

5/18

Bike to School Day

5/18

Cascade Team walking to WWU

5/21 & 25 Lynx Team--Law Day

5/23 & 29 Wildcat Relays

5/24

Orchestra Concert, 7:00 pm

5/25

Edventure to Pickford--Lightning Thief

5/28

No School--Memorial Day

5/29

PTSA Meeting, 7:00 in WMS Library

6/1

Talent Show, 9:30 am

6/4

Puma Team to Pickford--Lightning Thief

6/6

Band Concert, 7:00 pm

6/7

12:00 dismissal

6/7

Swing Dance

6/8

No School Day

6/12

6th gr. Greek Olympics

6/12

All School BBQ

6/13

Puma Team to 20th Century Bowling

6/13

8th gr. Celebration, 10:00 am

6/13

8th gr. Dance, 2:00 pm

6/14

Last day of school--12:00 dismissal

6/14

Edventure Team to 20th Century Bowling

6/14

8th gr trip to WWU Rec Center, 9:30 am

Check the WMS Calendar for updated events and sports schedules.

From the Counseling Office...

Happy May! It's so nice to see the sun. The end-ofthe year excitement is palpable in the classrooms, hallways, and out on the playground! We've finished our 5th grade visits and it was great to see their enthusiasm for middle school; many of them told me they were ready to start tomorrow! And, there's something bittersweet about watching the 8th graders get ready to head to high school, some are ready to start tomorrow, others are asking if they can please stay here! I'm working on my summer reading list, some light, some professional; I'll probably have a whole list of recommended parenting books in the Fall! Here's wishing everyone an enjoyable, sunny, and adventurous summer; see you in August!

Thank you to our wonderful PTSA and parent volunteers who treated the WMS Staff to fabulous lunches and treats all last week. We are all truly grateful and appreciate your thoughtfulness.

College Bound Scholarship Program

The counseling office would like to remind all 7th and 8th grade students who have enrolled in the College Bound Scholarship Program to please turn in your signature page to the counseling office. If you have any questions or need a brochure or new signature page, please see Ms. Foote.

Whatcom Middle School 5th Grade Parent Night

May 17, 2018, 6:30 ? 7:45pm

Parents and Guardians of incoming 6th graders are invited to our parent orientation on May 17, 6:30 pm. Staff, administrators, PTSA reps and current students will be on hand to answer questions and parents will have a chance to check out the school.

This event is for parents/guardians only. 6th grade orientation (C.A.T. Day) is set for August 23, 2018.

2

Common Threads Garden

We are seeking volunteers to help with summer garden care so that the garden will continue to grow and thrive throughout the summer months, and students can return to a well-tended, bountiful garden in the fall. Volunteers sign up to water, weed, harvest, and sow new crops June 1st through August 31st. Please contact me at anna@ if you are interested in helping with summer garden care, and let me know your availability. You can also sign up through the our web page: summergardencare/ (click on Whatcom) Near the end of May, I'll invite all summer garden volunteers to a training in our Whatcom school garden. You'll learn about the summer garden care plan and garden care details, such as how to access irrigation water and how to share in the harvest. I'll be happy to answer your questions! As you may know, Common Threads is a volunteer- and community-supported local nonprofit organization with a mission to connect kids to healthy food through seed-to-table education. If you like our mission, our programs, our community, we'd love to hear from you! Hope to see you in the garden, Anna Beebe

After-School Dinner Program Free for All Students 18 and Under

Bellingham Public Schools currently offers free hot dinner to all children 18 and under in the community. These meals are offered daily Mondays through Thursdays through June 6, 2018. Dinner is served from 5 to 6 p.m. at Shuksan Middle School, located at 2717 Alderwood Avenue (at the corner of Northwest and Alderwood). Please note: Accompanying adults are charged $4. All meals must be eaten onsite in the Shuksan cafeteria and to go options are not available. Dinner will not be served on the following Thursdays that are middle school early dismissal days: Oct. 19, Nov. 2, 9, & 22 (Wed.), Dec. 7, Jan. 11, Feb. 8, March 8, April 26.

Congratulations to our 6th grade Math Olympiad Team!

Brandon Swiackey, Ethan Rockwell, Slava Gofman and Ruarc O'Malley took 1st place in the 2018 Whatcom County Math Championships! And, Ethan Rockwell and Wesley Sluys placed 1st in the individual competition. Way to go!

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ATTENTION ALL 8th GRADERS AND THE ADULTS WHO LOVE THEM:

You are cordially invited to attend the 8th GRADE CELEBRATION on Wednesday, June 13th from 10am to noon in the WMS auditorium. Students are encouraged to dress nicely. However, this is NOT a formal event that requires a trip to the couturier. A student dance will follow from 2-3:45 in the commons. We are still in need of parents to volunteer to bring snacks--more info to follow.

8th grade parents:

Please email pictures of your 8th grader to Leanne Durfee at leannedurfee79@ ASAP to be included in the 8th grade celebration slideshow. Send 3-5 pictures, primarily middle school years, and 1 younger picture as well for fun. Thank you! Email Leanne if you have any questions.

8th Graders:

High School Athletics Registration & Clearance (including Summer 2018 Camps)

Step 1: REGISTER ONLINE ONLINE ONLY for HIGH SCHOOL--no paper forms are accepted.

Register through Skyward Family Access as a Whatcom Middle School student. (System switches students to high school in July.) Students and parents must complete an Online Registration each year through the Skyward Family Access. You must log in under Family 1's - Parent Access login & password. Click on the "Online Forms" tab to the left of the screen and complete the Activities/Athletics Registration. For assistance with your login, please contact Nancy Howell 360.676.6460.

Step 2: CLEARANCE

The student/parent must contact your high school Athletic Office to be CLEARED for each individual sport. The Athletic Office will check that the Online Registration is complete and that there is a current sports physical on file. (Physicals are good for 2 years.) For questions about Clearance, contact your high school Athletic/Activities Secretary: Bellingham Athletic/Activities Secretary: Ann Vallee 360.676.6400 ext. 7168 Squalicum Athletic/Activities Secretary: LeAnn Young 360.676.6400 ext. 7634

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WMS Extracurricular Activities

Below is a listing of clubs that are currently happening at Whatcom. Please email the advisor for more information.

Also found online at

Activity

Dungeons and Dragons Club

Advisor

Matt Tremaine Matthew.tremaine@

TSA = Technology Students Association = STEM projects and leadership skills

Kristen Schlegel Kristen.schlegel@

Photo-Journalism Club

Lee Krancus Leland.krancus@

Drone Club

Grace Meloy Grace.meloy @

Leadership

Shelby Ziels Erica.Ziels@

ASB = Associated Student Body

Beth Schille-O'Connor Elizabeth.schilleoconnor@

Improv Club Math Club

Bike Club

WWU Theater Students

Ned Hannah Phillip.hannah@

Jeff Coulter Jeffrey.coulter@

QSA = Gay, Straight Alliance Discuss issues and plan activities related to diversity.

Darilyn Sigel, Patrisia Kulaas, Mark Heimer Darilyn.sigel@ Patrisia.kulaas@ Mark.heimer@

Day & Time/Location

Thursday @ 8:15 am Library & Art Room

Tues or Wed -whichever is a B day for the week Room S1

Tues. week 1 & Thurs. week 2 and alternating every other Room 102 @ 3:50 ? 5:15 pm Wed. @ 8:15 am Room 203

Thurs. @ 8:15 am Room 19

Every other Friday @ 8:15 am Counseling Office Conference Room

TBA in Spring of 2018

Fridays at 8:15 am Rm. 219

Friday 8:00 am Bike Shop

Friday 8:30 am Library

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WMS Hours 2017-18

School Lunch

8:30 ? Common's doors open for breakfast 8:45 ? Offices open 9:00 ? Students in the Commons may now go to their lockers 9:10 ? Warning bell ? students need to make their way to class 9:15 ? Late bell ? students not seated before the bell are late

Regular lunch schedule: 6th grade 11:17--11:47 8th grade 11:47--12:17 7th grade 12:17--12:47

3:45 - Dismissal bell ? students leave campus unless they are in a classroom with a teacher or participating in a school sponsored activity

4:00 ? Counseling office closes 4:15 ? Doors are locked ? Main Off. and Attendance Off. closes

Early Dismissal 12:00 day ELECTIVES: Periods 1,2,3

7th grade 9:15--10:10 8th grade 11:05--12:00

Periods 4,5,6 8th grade 9:15-10:10 7th grade 10:10-11:05 6th grade 11:05-12:00

Early Dismissal 12:00 GRAB N GO LUNCHES: 8th grade 11:45 lunch 6th grade 11:50 lunch 7th grade 11:55 lunch

"Grab & Go" Lunches:

If you feel that you qualify for free or reduced meals for your child, please complete the application form in the Family Handbook and return it to your child's school. Families may fill out the Free and Reduced meal application online. Applications can be accessed through Family Access with a log-in and password. Paper applications will still be accepted. One application per family.

A new application must be filled out each year. If your family qualified at the close of last year, your child may continue to receive free or reduced meals for the first 30 days of school or until the new application is processed.

Families that did not participate in free or reduced meals last year and are completing an application this year, must pay the full price for meals until the application has been entered into the computer system. A determination letter is sent to all families who apply and will be processed within 10 meal service days after receipt of the application.

Students receiving free or reduced meals are not treated differently or singled out from those paying full price. All students have PIN numbers and account balances show on the computer.

Middle School Breakfast...$1.75 Middle School Lunch........$3.00 Adults..........................$4.00

To maximize the shortened instructional time on 12:00 pm Early Dismissal Days, school lunches will be a "Grab and Go" sack lunch. Students wishing to have a school lunch on early dismissal mornings will be dismissed from class a few minutes early so they can go "grab" their lunch and return to their classroom. Students may not eat their lunch at that time or on the bus; it is really a `grab and go.'

Click here for Monthly Lunch Menus

Harvest of the Month Family Lunch

The April Harvest of the Month will be and will be served on Wednesday, May 30th in school cafeterias. It's a great day to try our school lunch! Families are welcome to join their students for lunch. Please remember to sign in at the office and get your visitor sticker before meeting your child at their appropriate lunch time. Cost for adults is $4.00.

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A Message from Food Services

Bellingham Public Schools has changed its online payment system for school meals from E~Funds to MyPaymentsPlus. If your child eats school meals (reduced price or full price) and you want to use online payments, visit foodonlinepayment and follow the steps to create an account in the new system. Meal account balances from last school year will be automatically uploaded to your new meal account in MyPaymentsPlus.

Online payments eliminate the need to send checks to school or worry about lost or forgotten lunch money. Non-cash transactions also speed up serving lines in the cafeteria and increase the time to eat. With the new system, you can prepay into student meal accounts using a check, credit card or debit card, check your student's current account balance, monitor the items your student purchases in the cafeteria and create settings to receive email notifications when the account reaches a low balance or to automatically replenish the account when it is low.

With this system, you can also download the MyPaymentsPlus App (available for iPhone, Android, iPad & PC) to view account balances, make payments, etc. App available at . NOTE: There is a processing free of $1.95 for check, debit or credit card transactions in the new system. Questions? Email BPS.MealPayments@ or call 360-676-6540.

Consider Becoming a Volunteer with Bellingham Public Schools

All volunteers, including parents, guardians and grandparents who plan to volunteer in classrooms and on field trips, are required to complete an online application prior to starting their service.

The application can be found on the volunteer page under the "Families" tab on the district's homepage or click here: .

? The application requires all volunteers to upload photo identification to be processed through the Washington State Patrol check (WATCH) system. If you have having difficulty with uploading, school secretaries can scan a copy of your ID and send to the volunteer coordinator for uploading.

? It takes on average one week to process and be approved so please plan accordingly. ? If you require assistance with the application or require access to a computer, please contact the volunteer coordi-

nator at 360-647-6848 or email Jennifer.Gaer@

Safe Schools Anonymous Reporting

Bellingham Public Schools is now using Safe Schools Alert to allow students to anonymously report safety concerns including bullying, harassment, intimidation and more.

Students may report anonymously via: Web: safe Text or phone call: 844-310-9560 Email: 1491@alert1.us

The safety of our students is a top priority. If you have questions about Safe Schools Alert or safety in our schools, contact the Director of School Safety and Emergency Management, Jonah Stinson at 360676-6470 ext. 6533 or emergency.

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676-6460, option 7

Enter the 4 digit extension number of the staff you wish to leave a message for.

Name Coulter, Jeff Buswell, Ann Adams, Meri Kate Aldrich, Jennifer Barker, Jason Brown, Nicole Buys, Sonia Cassidy, Brian Chambers, Tiffany Chung, Fred Claire, Therese Ferrier, Dana Foote, Molly Gfroerer, Nadine Hannah, Ned Heimer, Mark Holmes, Randy Holtorf, Amy Jones, David Kenagy, Matt Kirkland, Mishon Kish-Kirkman, Melanie Knickrehm, Robert Krancus, Leland Kulaas, Patrisia

Makela De Rosales, Carol

Marsee, Bobby McReynolds, Lisa Meese, Josh Meloy, Grace Morton, Lisa

Nuckles-Flinn, Karen

Ostlund, David Owens, Michael Petronella, Ashley Pitalo, Julee Runyan, Megan Russell, Kristy

Schille-O'Connor, Beth

Schlegel, Kristen

2017-18 WMS STAFF EXTENSION LIST

Phone Position 4300 Principal 4361 Asst. Principal 4320 Read 180 4318 6th LA/SS 4386 7th LA/SS

Room #

Main Office Main Office

B20 B18 216

Name Sherwood, Penny Sigel, Darilyn Stoner, Sam Swanson, David Tremaine, Matt

Phone Position 4344 6th LA/SS 4380 Librarian 4313 7th Science 4332 8th LA/SS 4311 7th Math/SS

4322 6th Math/Sci

B22

Walsh, James

4309 Bridges

B9

Wertz, Chad

4381 Special Ed

211

Ziels, Shelby

4342 6th Special Ed 4390 8th Science 4319 6th LA/SS

4319 6th LA/SS

B19

Zeller, Sarah

4383 7th Math/SS

213

Zurcher, Jim

4346 6th Math/Sci

116

Secretaries

4377 Special Ed 4371 8th LA/SS

4318 6th LA/SS 4353 Counselor 4314 7th LA/SS 4389 8th Math 4374 Art 4384 Tech Tosa

B18

Couns. Off.

B14 219 204 Library

Erickson, Linda Howell, Nancy Behee, Pam Walton, Aileen

Paraeducators Adamson, Marilyn

4356 4351 4348 4355

Attend. Sec. Regist/Couns.

Curr/Athl. Sec.

Princ. Sec.

4334 Bridges

4326 Spanish 4392 Orchestra 4391 Band

Port. A M2 M1

Gunn, Amber James, Deborah McEachern, Erin

Student Sup. 4380 Library Asst. 4309 Bridges

4321 6th Math/Sci

B21

Rabener-Justice, Linda

Student Sup.

4387 7th LA/SS

217

Reid, Carol

4334 Bridges

4345 6th Math/Sci

115

Steensland, Liz

Student Sup.

4331 8th Math 4315 7th LA/SS 4326 Spanish

101 B15 Port. B

Custodians Booth, Ken Bliznyuk, Anna

4341 Head Cust. 4341 Custodian

4385 7th Science 4353 Counselor 4304 PE

215

Couns. Off.

Gym

Hammett, Jim Tarasenko, Laurel

Cafeteria

4341 Custodian 4341 Custodian

4373 8th LA/SS 4334 Bridges 4314 7th LA/SS

203

Baldovinos, Veronica 4301 Cook

104

Finnigan, Lora

4301 Cook

B14

Kimmel, Marjorie

4301 Lead Cook

4333 8th LA/SS 4347 6th LA/SS

103

Pelto-Fishbeck, Beth

4301 Cook

117

Itinerant

4396 Technology

S1

Brice, Jenny

4382 OT

4308 PE 4308 PE 4366 8th Science 4352 Counselor 4396 Technology

Gym Gym 136

Couns. Off.

S1

Deburgo, Juliana Fransen, Lori Perrin, Cory Spitzer, Sarah

4382 SLP 201-9178 Nurse

4354 Psychologist 4349 ELL

Room #

114 Library

B13 102 B11 112 220 B19 202 201

Main Office Couns. Off. Workroom Main Office

104

Library

B9

104

212 212 Couns. Off. Couns. Off. Couns. Off.

Email addresses for staff are as follows: Firstname.lastname@

Note: Email information is not considered confidential.

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(Staff list is subject to change at any time)

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