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Fall 2013

Each year the James E Bazzell Middle School Library is named after our top AR reader. In May of this year, the James E Bazzell Library was renamed in honor of our Top AR Reader, Faith Elizabeth Murley, for 2012-2013 school year.

From the Locker Room

A look at Patriot athletics from

Assistant Principal Brandon Prunty

Resources

Common Sense Media



Would you like to know more about the book or movie your child is interested in purchasing? Check out this site for reviews on kids' media, technology, and health. .

AR Book Finder



We may not have the book in our library, but we have access to all quiz titles available through Renaissance Learning.

What Should You Read Next?



Visit this website to find book suggestions based your interests.

As I pen this message, I find it difficult to believe that we have already finished a quarter of our school year! We have had an excellent start to 2013-14 year. Our 8th graders have stepped up to be excellent leaders and our 7th graders have made the adjustment to middle school life very well. Both groups are accepting the rigorous, thought provoking challenges their teachers are providing in their daily lessons, pushing themselves to be exceptional learners. Having high expectations of our students has proven time and again to produce excellent results.

As we embark on this year, we have impressive plans as a school community.

❖ We want to continue to increase individual student growth in all academic areas.

❖ Make sure that students are adequately prepared for the high school curriculum and have an idea of the direction he/she wishes to go in a post-secondary college/career program.

❖ Have students demonstrate PRIDE (Preparedness, Respectfulness, Involvement , Dependability and Ethical behavior )

These plans will require extensive work by all involved but we feel very confident that we are up to the challenge!! This monthly newsletter will keep you informed of the steps involved to help our students be the best they can be.

This last quarter of 2013 will be a busy time for us at JEBMS. Please check out below some of the events scheduled over the next couple of months. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call, 270-622-7140 or check out our website.

The seventh grade boys basketball team includes, Jordan Blankenship, Tristen Brooks, Bryce Carter, Camden Carver, Hunter Foster, Yancy Gardner, Aaron Howell, Bryce Johnson, Jacob Lightfoot, Brett Rippy, Cayden Ross, Hayden Sadler, Jason Sikes, Tate Stinson and Chase Ward.

Members of the eighth grade Patriots are Aaron Borth, Andrew Borth, Brandon Bow, Marcus Carter, Sean Carter, Sam Clarke, Seth Davis, Brock Meador, Silas Newton, Jake Stovall, and Josh Ward.

Members of the seventh grade Lady Patriots are Jenna Alexander, Abby Ausbrooks, Karley Burchett, Katilyn Driver, Alexus King, Erin Shelton, Raeghan Spencer, Mason Towery, Macayla Vernon, Jaylee Woods, and Makayla York.

Eighth grade Lady Patriots include Bailee Alderson, Kassi Bullington, Alex Coleman (Team Manager), Baylea Cook, Sydney Day, Rayleigh Huntsman, Kali Mutter, Kris-Anne Pardue, Jaclyn Saylors and KaeLee Stafford.

Congratulations

Softball

on a

Great

Season

38-9-1

Special Presentation

Students learned about cyber bullying and Internet safety earlier this year as part of a program presented by the Hope Harbor organization.

“Cyber-bullying is bullying through technology,” explained Megan Talcott, community educator with Hope Harbor. “We used to only see bullying in the hallways, now we see bullying in a new way through technology. It can be over a cell phone or over the Internet on sites like Facebook or Instagram.”

According to the website, , cyber bullying is defined as a young person tormenting, threatening, harassing, or embarrassing another young person using the Internet or other technologies, like cell phones. Statists provided by the website show that nearly 43% of kids have been bullied online with one in four indicating that cyber bullying has happened more than once. Additional stats show that 70% of students report seeing frequent bullying online, 68% of teens agree that cyber bullying is a serious problem, and 81% of young people think bullying online is easier to get away with than bullying in person.

In the United States, about 17 million teens use the Internet daily to engage in everything from research to communication to gaming. With that being the case and cyber bullying on the increase, Talcott offered tips and suggestions on ways to avoid cyber bullying and what to do is a student became a victim.

Students were reminded to never respond to an e-mail or chat comments that are hostile or inappropriate and to always share with an adult any information they see that makes them feel uncomfortable.

The presentation also included videos teaching Internet safety principles through real life stories told by teens. One video showed students just how much information someone could discover about another on-line---even when the victim feels as if he has taken steps to keep his identity a secret. The video was followed with a reminder to the students about the importance of never giving out identifying information online---such as a name, age, address, phone number, school name, or pictures.

The Hope Harbor presentation was part of the Netsmartz program workshop---an interactive educational safety resource from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children designed for children ages five through 17. The goal of the program is to help children become more aware of Internet dangers and help prevent the child from becoming a victim in any way. For more information on the program, visit .

Hope Harbor is a local sexual trauma recovery center based in Bowling Green. Their work includes conducting educational programs for children and adults in a 10-county area in South Central Kentucky.

Reminders

Scholastic Book Fair

October 17- October 28

7:15 - 3:00

Extended hours for Student Showcase

October 24

Online Book Fair: October 17 – November 7, 2013



Library Named for AR Reader

Eeighth graders join Coach Anthony Druen in presenting the lineup card to the umpire prior to the start of play on the second day of action at the middle school state tournament. Bazzell placed fourth in the event and finished the season with a 38-9-1 record.

Patriot Basketball Schedule

Monday, November 4   @ Barren County 5:00

Tuesday, November 5 Glasgow 5:30

Saturday, November 9          @ Barren Co. Tournament (7th) TBA

Monday, November 11 @ Westmoreland ** 3:45

Thursday, November 14  South Warren 5:30

Saturday, November 16      @ Barren Co.Tournament (8th) TBA

Monday, November 18   Franklin-Simpson 5:30

Tuesday, November 19   Warren East 5:30

Monday, November 25  @ South Warren 5:30

Tuesday, November 26    @ Drakes Creek 5:30

Monday, December 2 Bowling Green  5:30

Tuesday, December 3  Westmoreland (8th) 5:30

Thursday, December 5 Drakes Creek 5:30

Monday, December 9 @ Franklin-Simpson 5:30

Thursday, December 12 Monroe County 5:30

Monday, December 16 Barren County 5:00

Thursday, January 2 @ Moss 5:30

Monday, January 6 @ Bowling Green 5:30

Thursday, January 9 Moss 5:30

Monday, January 13 @ Warren East 5:30

Saturday, January 18 7th Grade Tournament TBA

Saturday, January 25 8th Grade Tournament TBA

**Part of a seventh/eighth grade boy-girl doubleheader at Westmoreland.

The Blueprint for Success

By Pat Jackson

Guidance Counselor

In Case You Missed It…Highlights from the Past Months at the Middle School

Top Ten AR for

1st Quarter 2013-2014

• Tyler Hunt

• Jerica Eaton

• Haley Helmes

• Antonio Lopez

• Corinna Flemming

• McKenzie Stout

• Olivia Hawkins

• Grace Jones

• Koren Hamilton

• Sydney Hendrix

School and District News Can Be Found

On the web at Allen County Schools

kyschools.us

on Twitter at

Allen Co. Schools@allencoschools

Library Corner

From the desk of

Cynthia Stovall

Library Media Educator

Book Suggestions from James E Bazzell Students

Beautiful Creatures – Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Things Not Seen – Andrew Clements

Hatchet – Gary Paulsen

Found – Margaret Haddix (The Missing Series)

Blindsided – Priscilla Cummings

The False Prince – Jennefer Nielsen

Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life – James Patterson

Game Changers – Mike Lupica

The Maze Runner – James Dashner

The newsletter for the James E. Bazzell Middle School

The late summer and early fall months are very busy for athletics at JEBMS. In addition to our own middle school level teams, we have had several students competing at the high school level in volleyball, cross country, and golf.

Our JEBMS girls’ softball team just wrapped up a very successful season, compiling an incredible record of 38-9-1. Included in that record are wins against outstanding local teams from South Warren, Drakes Creek, Warren East, and Glasgow. The girls also picked up impressive tournament wins against Christian County, Daviess County, Paducah Tillman, Union County, and Webster County. To end their season, the girls finished 4th in the middle school softball state tournament, with their only losses coming to the first and third place finishers. Coach Vanous Brown was extremely happy with the accomplishments of the team.

“I would put my girls up against anyone and feel we had a great chance to win,” coach Brown said. “I could not be prouder of my girls, as a 38-9-1 record is fantastic by any standard. They represented Allen County with such pride, honor, and respect. It was a very special season.”

The JEBMS football teams recently completed their seasons as well. The seventh grade team finished the season at 6-2. Head coach Les Little said he was pleasantly surprised with how well the seventh grade team played this year.

“They came out and worked hard,’ coach Little noted. “They accomplished something that hasn’t been done in a long time here by winning six games.”

The eighth grade team finished with a 2-6 record, coming up with victories against Barren County Middle and Moss Middle.

“The team was riddled with injuries all year long and had a tough season,’ coach Little explained. “I’m still very proud of how they competed.”

Boys’ basketball head coach Trevor Carver and girls’ basketball head coach Anthony Druen held tryouts for boys’ and girls’ basketball in late September and early October. After careful consideration, the seventh and eighth grade boys and girls rosters have been set. Both coaches are excited about the groups they have to work with this year and practices have already started. Their first games are November 4, with the girls hosting Barren County and the boys travelling to Barren County.

JEBMS students are encouraged to show their PRIDE and attend games to cheer on the Patriots and Lady Patriots. See you at the games!

New Teachers at Bazzell This Year

The new school year brings three new faces to classrooms at the James E. Bazzell Middle School. Leslie Carver, Stephen Allen and Josh Bewley are beginning their first year in the Allen County School District.

Leslie Carver will be teaching computer literacy at the middle school. Carver is a 1991 graduate of Allen County-Scottsville High School. In 1998, she received her college degree in Accounting from Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin Tennessee. Carver will be introducing her students to the fundamentals of computer technology.

“In my classroom, the students can expect to learn keyboarding and become more proficient in word processing, spreadsheets, and PowerPoint,” Carver explained. “I expect my students to become digital citizens as well. I also would like for my students to be able to do an end-of-the- nine weeks project that will incorporate all the skills they learn throughout the nine week course.”

Away from school, Carver enjoys “being crafty.” She spends time scrapbooking and making cards as well as time with her family---husband Trevor and children, Cullen and Camden.

Stephen Allen---a 2008 graduate of Allen County-Scottsville High School---steps into the math classroom after his graduation from Western Kentucky University in May. Allen earned his undergraduate degree in Middle Grades Education with a math minor.

“Educating children is the most important job a person can have,” Allen said. “Being in charge of educating children and their cognitive development is the most rewarding role a person can have in life. It’s also an extremely responsible role.”

Students in Allen’s classroom will be asked to push themselves to learn all they can.

“My classroom will have a philosophy of working through struggles,” Allen explained. “If a student is not struggling then learning is not occurring. New concepts should cause confusion and struggle but persevering past the struggle is the goal and in the classroom we will work to persevere.”

Allen is married (Cassie) and his interests include God, basketball, weight training and classic cars.

New Special Education teacher Josh Bewley was born in the Philippines before moving to Scottsville as a youngster. He graduated from Allen County-Scottsville High School in 2007. While in high school, Bewley became involved with the Special Education program through a career mentoring class---an involvement which has led to a career. Bewley attended WKU where he earned a degree in MSD (Moderate-Severe Disabilities) and LBD (Learning-Behavior Disorders) earlier this year.

“I enjoyed the interactions I had with students when I went to help out at the Primary Center,” Bewley said. “I knew then that I wanted to do something in education. This year, my students can expect to learn in a positive learning environment in which they all will learn to respect their teachers and peers.”

Bewley will also work with the middle school football team---an opportunity that goes along with his hobbies and interests.

“My interests include watching sports and spending time with my family and friends,” Bewley pointed out. “I am glad to get back into football because I enjoy coaching. I am also a big fan of University of Kentucky basketball.”

The new teachers join approximately 50 faculty and staff members who serve the approximate 500 students in seventh and eighth grade at the middle school.

Lady Patriot Basketball Schedule

Monday, November 4   Barren County 5:00

Thursday, November 7 @ Metcalfe County 5:00

Saturday, November 9          @ Barren Co.Tournament (7th) TBA

Monday, November 11 @ Westmoreland ** 3:45

Thursday, November 14  @ South Warren 5:30

Saturday, November 16      @ Barren Co.Tournament (8th) TBA

Monday, November 18   @ Franklin-Simpson 5:30

Tuesday, November 19   @ Warren East 5:30

Monday, November 25  South Warren 5:30

Tuesday, November 26    Drakes Creek 5:30

Monday, December 2 @ Bowling Green  5:30

Tuesday, December 3  Westmoreland (8th) 5:30

Thursday, December 5 @ Drakes Creek 5:30

Monday, December 9 Franklin-Simpson 5:30

Thursday, December 12 @ Monroe County 5:30

Monday, December 16 @ Barren County 5:00

Thursday, January 2 Moss 5:30

Monday, January 6 Bowling Green 5:30

Thursday, January 9 @ Moss 5:30

Monday, January 13 Warren East 5:30

Saturday, January 18 7th Grade Tournament TBA

Saturday, January 25 8th Grade Tournament TBA

**Part of a seventh/eighth grade boy-girl doubleheader at Westmoreland.

• Oct. 24---Student Showcase- 3-6 p.m.-- a great opportunity for you to see your child’s work and meet with teachers

• Oct. 25 ---1st Quarterly Assessment- Benchmark test to monitor the progress of our students.

• Oct. 25- Oct. 31---Red Ribbon Week – Students take a stand against drugs.

• Oct. 31---Halloween Parade.

• Nov. 4---JEBMS Basketball seasons begins.

• Nov. 7---Senator Givens will be speaking to the 8th grades about the role of Government-1:30 p.m.

• Nov. 8---Veterans’ Day Program-9:30 a.m.

• Nov. 18---Teacher Professional Development Day – No school for students

• Nov. 27-29---Thanksgiving Holiday

• Christmas Choral and Band Concert-Times to be announced.

• Dec. 18- Jan. 1---Winter Break

From the Principal’s Office

By Melissa Towery

Principal

Middle school students, by nature, are changing daily, making important decisions on the fly, and generally trying to survive today because tomorrow is too far away to think about.

As adults, we too struggle with this new creature who greets us each morning. Sometimes it’s hard to keep up with whether our child is now a sophisticated adult who understands the world better than we do, or still a little kid who depends on us to make decisions for him or her. Add to this teen blitz the 24 hour television access with the unreal Hollywood expectations, Facebook, and texting, and it’s hard to know what to even talk to your teen about, let alone guide him or her to make important life decisions. Yet, we all know that in most cases, our life paths are made based on decisions we make in our teen years. Scary isn’t it? Why are some students able to overcome adversity, while others simply wallow around just trying to survive?

Studies show that the most successful young adults learn to master a few critical skills, and one of the most important is being proactive, both in their thoughts and actions. We are working, through conversations in morning gym before classes, classroom guidance session, and teacher discussions, to bring this thought process in front of your teen constantly.

The idea is simple; proactive people train ourselves to think purposefully, take charge of our lives, and responsibility for our choices. We know that we alone hold the key to our own future, and no one can keep us from succeeding at our goals, except our own thoughts and actions. Obviously, this doesn’t always come naturally to most of us, so we have to train ourselves to think this way.

It’s human nature to feel that we really don’t have choices because we are all expected to follow rules, rise to others’ expectations, and complete tasks when we are told. However, in all these situations, we must decide how we are going to react to the event at hand. Proactive people make purposeful choices based on our values and goals, rather than what we feel or want to do at the moment. Adversely, reactive people react with emotions, feel sorry for ourselves, blame others for our situations, and refuse to take responsibility for our decisions. Our goal is to teach students to assess their own thinking and actions, working constantly toward being proactive and in control of our lives.

The middle years are a wonderful, important, and often scary time in a teen’s life. Let’s work together to help them create their own blueprint for success, to attain proactive skills that will enable them take charge of their lives. We must teach them to accept responsibility for their actions, think through choices based on their values and goals, and plan for a rewarding life. Most of all, we must recognize that our teens will make mistakes, but we can never waver in our belief that they all deserve to become a happy, productive, and successful adult. Their future depends on it.

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