DUNDALK MIDDLE SCHOOL

 

Newsletter

December 19, 2007

 

  Text Box: December 19, 2007    

 

³Calendar ³

 

Jan. 7 & 8—High School Registration for DHS

Jan. 16—Math Night

Jan. 21—Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

                Schools Closed

Jan. 25—Second quarter ends

Jan. 28—Professional Development Day for

               teachers; schools closed to students

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Text Box:   ³Calendar ³   Jan. 7 & 8—High School Registration for DHS Jan. 16—Math Night Jan. 21—Martin Luther King, Jr. Day                 Schools Closed Jan. 25—Second quarter ends Jan. 28—Professional Development Day for                teachers; schools closed to students                   

                                                          

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box:  Principal’s Message Dear Parents,   As we move through the winter months, our focus continues to be on high–quality, rigorous instruction — instruction that will lead students to be successful on MSA and HSA.  With HSA, it is easy to see why our Algebra I students need to be successful.  It is a high school graduation requirement. With MSA, students do not easily see the connection between doing well on MSA and their futures.  What we do know is that students who are proficient on MSA also generally pass HSA on the first try.  Students who are not successful on MSA are routinely placed in entry-level or remedial-level courses in middle and high school regardless of their ability.  MSA is the “gatekeeper” for students as they move on to high school.  HSA is the “gatekeeper” for graduation. Please encourage your child to attend the extra coach and test prep sessions that we are providing in math and reading (language) so they will be prepared for  MSA. Tip for Parents:  “A discouraged child is a misbehaving child.” Often we see the signs of a discouraged child in his/her misbehavior.  Children who are displaying attention-getting behavior, power struggles, revenge, or displays of inadequacy may be discouraged.  Several strategies to counteract discouragement are: · *Give children limited choices · *Use “before” or “as soon as” rather than “later” or “after” · *Don’t ask questions to which you know the answer *Hold children accountable Give logical consequences (learning) rather than punishment (penance).  You may not be able to control many aspects of your teenager’s behavior; you are in control of your own behavior. Have a great winter break!  Encourage your child to read a good book during the holiday. Tom Shouldice   TS      

 

 

WALK-INS WELCOME!!!

PTSA SEEKS PARENT VOLUNTEERS

 

¨ Would you like to hear from administrators firsthand?

¨ Would you like to hear how testing and new programs impact students and scheduling?

¨ Do you need a place to voice your opinion or concern?

¨ Are you interested in bringing new ideas or activities to your child’s school through fundraising?

¨ Do you have an hour a month to dedicate your child’s school?

We hope so!  Please join us on the last Tuesday of each month in the conference room.  The next meetings are Tuesday, January 29 and Tuesday, February 26 at 6:00 p.m. We would love to see you there

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Text Box:   WALK-INS WELCOME!!! PTSA SEEKS PARENT VOLUNTEERS   ¨ Would you like to hear from administrators firsthand? ¨ Would you like to hear how testing and new programs impact students and scheduling? ¨ Do you need a place to voice your opinion or concern? ¨ Are you interested in bringing new ideas or activities to your child’s school through fundraising? ¨ Do you have an hour a month to dedicate your child’s school? We hope so!  Please join us on the last Tuesday of each month in the conference room.  The next meetings are Tuesday, January 29 and Tuesday, February 26 at 6:00 p.m. We would love to see you there                            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note to Parents:

REPORT CARD DISTRIBUTION

 

Students are scheduled to receive report cards for the second quarter on February 11.

Students will report to homeroom at 2:35 p.m.

Please mark this date on your calendar.

 

NEED TO TALK TO A TEACHER???

     Teachers can be reached in two ways.  As always, you can call the school at 410-887-7018 and leave a message with the secretary.  Or, you can access teacher e-mail addresses via our school website at http://dundalkms.bcps.org/.

Teachers generally reply within 24 hours.

 

Early College Awareness

 

Confused?                            Not sure if college is for you?

 

                Thinking about options?                                          Looking for a direction?

 

Join us for

Early College Awareness

 

For 8th grade middle school students and their parents

 

Thursday, January 10, 2008

5:30 - 8:00 PM

 

CCBC Dundalk, 7200 Sollers Point Road, Dundalk, MD 21222

(Snow date - January 15th)

 

¨ Hear current college students talk about their experience

¨ Learn about preparing for college during high school

¨ Learn about financial aid

¨ Enjoy a free “kid friendly” dinner!

 

A parent/guardian must be able to attend this event with the student.

 

If you are interested and would like an invitation, please contact your counselor at 410 887-7187.

 

Seats are limited

 

Students of the Month

Congratulations to the students of the month for December.  Students are chosen by their team of teachers for

demonstrating our school code SR2 (safe, responsible, and

respectful).  Congratulations, students!!!!

Grade 6

Dimitri Tsapalas

Gary Center

Leslie Harrah

Kathryn Mattson

 

Grade 7

Brittany Carneal

Sara Miller

Jeff Boswell

David Kratochvil

 

Grade 8

Terrance Peay

Thomas Simmont

Nancy Santos

Michaela Hyde

 

Math Night at DMS

     The math teachers will host Family Math Night on Wednesday, January 16 from 5-7:00 p.m.  Students and their parents are welcome to attend to participate in family-oriented math activities.  The BCPS Parent Mobile will be available to provide parents with resources to help their children be successful in school.  Refreshments will be served.  Come and do some mathematics - it will be a fun night for everyone! 

     Please contact Laura Potter at 410-887-7018 or lpotter@bcps.org for more information.

 

 

Parent Information Night: 

College Savings Plans of Maryland

     All are welcome to come and learn about the College Savings Plans of Maryland.  Did you know that you can use your benefits at nearly any accredited college in the country?  Find out more by attending an information seminar on January 14 at 7:00 PM at the White Marsh branch of the Baltimore County Public Library located at 8133 Sandpiper Circle, White Marsh, MD  21236.

 

Grade 8 Registration for Dundalk High School

     Registration for DHS will be January 7 & 8 through students’ science classes.  Parents will want to be on the lookout for the registration forms to review with their students. Be sure to turn the completed forms back the School Counseling Office to ensure appropriate placement at DHS.

 

Upcoming MSA Preparation Classes

     On Saturday, January 20, there will be an MSA Saturday where students can come to school from 9:00-11:30 a.m. to participate in activities designed to help build skills and to increase students knowledge of the MSA.  Look for information to come home regarding these classes!

 

Art News     

     The Lions Club International sponsored a poster contest with the theme of Peace Around the World. There were three winners from Dundalk Middle School at the local level of competition, Chrisielle Pagarigan and Iris Valerio, both eighth graders, and Katherine Sublett a seventh grader. Chrisielle’s poster has won several more awards and has moved on to the international competition! Good luck Chrisielle! Many beautiful peace posters created by our seventh and eighth graders are on display at the North Point Public Library through the end of December. Stop by to check them out!

 

BE WHAT I WANT TO BE.COM:

A PLACE FOR STUDENTS TO CREATE THEMSELVES

Want to get your child thinking about his or her future?  Wish there was a resource available that spoke to young people in their own language about careers? That’s the idea behind BeWhatIWantToBe.com, a fun, interactive website designed for, and by teens.  It was created and is run by the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT), a nonprofit group supporting strong public education.  It’s the online place to be for students who want to have fun exploring possible futures.  Here’s why:

Be What I Want To Be is the real deal.  Be What I want To Be offers students well-researched, rock-solid information about a variety of careers, and real advice from the men and women who actually do those jobs.  MBRT is supported by the Maryland State Department of Education and major employers in Maryland, though the site does not promote any particular company or line of work.  BeWhatIWantToBe.com exists to enable young people to explore the unlimited range of career choices available to them.  It focuses students on questions such as “What Do I Want To Be?”  “How Can I Start Preparing Now?”  It’s all about helping young people find their answers.

 Be What I Want To Be shows students what success looks like.  At the heart of BeWhatIWantToBe.com are dozens of career profiles, in which successful young working people explain why they chose their careers, the rewards and challenges of their lines of work, and how they prepared in school to succeed.  Student users get the straight story on careers as told by those who are living it:  engineers, teachers, writers, technicians, administrators, artists, medical professionals, scientists, mechanics, and many, many others.

 BeWhatIWantToBe.com gives students advice on what to do now to prepare for the future.  With advice and information on everything from choosing classes and taking the High School Assessments (HSAs), to applying to career schools and colleges, BeWhatIWantToBe.com gives students actionable steps to take toward achieving their goals.

Be What I Want To Be Is Fun.  On this interactive website, young people can, but do not have to, sign up as users with nicknames, set goals, and answer quizzes and polls which can make them eligible to win prizes such as gift certificates, tickets to local events, job shadowing days, and links to internships.

 Visit www.BeWhatIWantToBe.com and see for yourself.  Then, let your child discover what is has to offer!

 

College Gateway Partnership

Baltimore County Public Schools in conjunction with the Community College of  Baltimore County offers the opportunity to eighth grade students to spend the day on a college campus. Dundalk Middle is one of nine schools participating in this innovative collaborative venture.  While on campus students learn how college can prepare you for a career, how to develop a college schedule, review a college placement test and offers tips on academic success.  Additionally, students are given a tour of the campus and spend time in the computer lab researching personal career interests.  The majority of our eight graders have participated in the College Gateway Partnership while the others are looking forward to their visit.  The next scheduled visit is on January 9th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the Faculty and Staff of Dundalk Middle School

 

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