DUNDALK MIDDLE SCHOOL
Newsletter
May 2009
Calendar
May
6 Honor Roll Breakfast Grades 6 & 7
7 Honor Roll Breakfast Grade 8
8 Distribution of Interims
12 MSA Science Testing Ends
14 Spring Fling
18 Algebra HSA Testing
18 PTSA Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
19 Instrumental Concert 7:00 p.m. Auditorium
21 Choral Concert, 7:00 p.m. Auditorium
25 Memorial Day-Schools and Offices Closed
26 Algebra HSA Make-Up Testing
26-27 Spanish Finals-Speaking
28-29 Math Finals
29 Field Day-Grade 6
June
1 Field Day-Grade 6 Rain Date
1 Algebra HSA Make-Up Testing
2-3 Spanish Exams-Multiple Choice
5 End-of-Year PBIS Incentive Activity
9 End-of-Year Assembly
Grade 6 at 2:00 pm & Grade 7 at 1:00 pm
10 Grade 8 Farewell Assembly 11:15 (see letter enclosed)
11 Schools Close 3 Hours Early for Students
12 Schools Close 3 Hours Early for Students
Last Day of School!
Principal’s Corner
As the weather warms, it is natural to begin to look toward summer and vacation. While this is normal, we must not lose sight of the fact that we have one more critical marking period and much learning that needs to take place. This is the time of year that our teachers are preparing students for the skills and challenges they will face in the next grade. Success in May and June will help to create a smooth transition for students to the next grade level. Many of our eighth graders will be taking the HSA in Algebra I which is a high school graduation requirement. Students with Spanish will be taking their final for high school credit. The fourth quarter is just as important to student success in school as the first three. It is the responsibility of parents to continue to insist on school attendance. Every skill learned in the next seven weeks will pay dividends in the fall.
Attendance and Grades
On January 13, the Board of Education of Baltimore County approved a revision to the school attendance policy number 5120. This policy has always connected attendance and absenteeism to quarterly grades for high school students. This policy now will apply to all students and we will be implementing it during the fourth marking period. This means that students who have more than 5 unlawful (unexcused) absences in a marking period can automatically fail the quarter. In addition, students who miss 20 % (10 days) for lawful or unlawful reasons may also receive failing grades. Baltimore County believes that attendance is an important component of success in school. Parents need to send notes in to school explaining each absence. Failure to provide a note will have the child’s attendance coded as unlawful (unexcused). This could impact your child’s quarter grade.
The PTSA Needs You
Next year we will need to fill some PTSA vacancies. An active PTSA is an important component of a successful school. Please consider joining us by becoming an officer or committee chair. We only meet once a month for about an hour. Certainly we have many parents who could spare this amount of time to support our school and our children.
Thank a Teacher
The first week of May is National Teacher Appreciation Week. This is a great time for parents to send in a word of thanks to our teachers. Consider sending a note, e-mail, or have your child write a letter of thanks to one or more of their teachers. Parents can use this as an opportunity to teach children about the importance of being grateful for the work others do for them.
Attention Grade 6 and 7 Parents
PLEASE HELP! We will be in need of 6th & 7th grade parents to volunteer at the 8th grade farewell party held after the assembly on June 10. If you have 2-3 hours to give please call Maxine @ 410-499-2008.
Transition Year Residency Verification
All resident families with students currently enrolled in grade 8 are required to provide photo identification for the parent/guardian and new residency documentation prior to the start of the school year. Your child will not be able to attend high school unless residency verification has been completed. Parents will receive a letter in May with more details.
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Dundalk Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Teacher Award
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We are proud to announce that the Dundalk Chamber of Commerce has chosen to award this year’s outstanding teacher to our Ms. Knight. This is a prestigious award and is reflective of the excellent science instruction Ms. Knight has provided our students for the past nine years. As a proud Dundalk resident, Ms. Knight exemplifies the best in her profession. She is not only committed to her students but to her community as well. Congratulations on this award of excellence!
Students of the Month
6th
Octavia Johnson
Marcellus Mitchell
7th
Jimmy Davis
Crystal Richardson
8th
Michael Hansen
Shantia Long
Spring Fling Dance
May 14, Mod 10
The Spring Fling Dance will cost students 20 HOOTS! If they have been on the honor roll all three quarters, they are admitted at no charge. Any student who makes the honor roll for quarter 3, will get in half price. Third quarter office referrals automatically disqualify a student from going to the dance. Please Contact Mr. Williams if you have any concerns.
ATTENTION ALGEBRA I
PARENTS AND STUDENTS
On May 18, the High School Assessment in Algebra/Data Analysis will be administered to all students currently enrolled in Algebra I.
Passing this test is a requirement for graduation from all public schools in the state of Maryland! You can see public release items from past tests by going to www.mdk12.org, and then clicking on either the Assessments or User Guide links.
In addition to regular classroom instruction Dundalk Middle School is hosting an HSA review class on Tuesdays and Thursdays in room 110. There is a bus available for students to take after the session is over. We will be holding sessions until May 14.
Please contact Mrs. Rybczynski at srybczynski@bcps.org if you would like your child to stay.
ATTENTION ALGEBRA I AND II
PARENTS
At the end of the semester, Algebra 1 and 2 students will be taking the appropriate High School Final. Students who meet county requirements for passing the course will be awarded a high school credit!
Are you planning on playing sports at DHS next year?
If so, here’s something you need to know. . .
Dundalk High School’s policy is that you need to receive passing grades for fourth quarter in order to participate in any sports in the fall of 9th grade. Even if you pass for the year, a fourth quarter E will keep you “benched.” Don’t let your dreams of athletic success slip away. . . pass your classes!!
To Grade 7 students and parents:
Do you dream of a magnet school in your future? If so, keep in mind that the magnet schools consider your grades from 7th grade to determine if you are qualified to be in their programs. If you want to go to a magnet school for high school, it is critical that you get good grades this quarter. If you haven’t done as well as you would have liked this year, its not too late to turn things around and prove to the magnet schools that you are magnet school material!
PTSA NEWS
I want to
thank everyone who participated in the past few fundraisers.
Home Interior Candle Sales
While we
didn't do as well as previous years, it was still a great success! Thanks to
everyone who placed an order!
The top 3 sellers and winners of the $50 gift card were:
Tate Erickson
Kyle Bosley
Cierra Blake
Congratulations! Madagascar 2 was the movie shown at the Popcorn/Movie event, held Friday April 17, 2009. A great time was had by all. The five $10 winners drawn that day were:
Ryan Bishop
Alex Idzi
Brandon Burgess
Donna Natal
Jared Shinaberry
Congratulations to them as well!
Friendly's Fun Night
This was a
huge success!! A BIG thank you goes out to manager Debbie for all of her help!!
She told us we had the biggest sales yet, so look forward to another Friendly's
night in the future! Friendly's was also kind enough to donate a raffle prize of
a watering can with gardening gloves and a $30 gift card inside for anyone who
donated $1 to our PTSA. The winner was Friendly's patron, Brooke Filletti.
Anyone who knows Brooke, please congratulate her and thank her for her support.
The
Clothing Drive
We
collected 870 pounds!!! We will definitely do this drive again, so continue to
save those bags of gently used clothing and "soft" household items. We would
LOVE to have more drop off times & dates but will need a few more volunteers.
Please keep this in mind, if you want to help our students/ school but are short
on money.
Our next meeting will be held Monday May 18,
2009 @
6:00. We will be discussing the Grade 8 Farewell Assembly and other end of year
activities. Hope to see you there!
Maxine Erickson
PTSA President 2008-09
Teacher Appreciation Week
The week of May 3-9 is Teacher Appreciation week. A great idea to show them how much we appreciate all their tireless efforts is for you and/or your child to write a quick "thank you" note. Hand deliver it or send it via e-mail. Maybe even think about sending a letter to the Editor of the Eagle to be printed for all to see!
Maxine Erickson
PTSA President
2008-09
Maryland
Black-Eyed Susan Lunch
Nine students read three or more of the ten books that have been nominated for this year’s Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award by the MEMO organization. The students had a pizza lunch with Mrs. Gibson in the library on Monday, April 20, 2009. During the lunch, all ten books were discussed and the students got to vote for the book that they liked the best. I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter was voted to be the favorite at Dundalk Middle. Mrs.Gibson sent everyone’s votes into MEMO. The statewide favorite should be announced next week. The students who read three or more nominated books were:
Cashae Butler
Eric Cegielski
Chloe Cosentino
Bronte Goldsmith
Michael Highsmith
Tabatha Liban
Gavin Reil
D’era Washington
William Yates
Honor Roll Quarter 3
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GRADE 6 |
GRADE 7 | GRADE 8 |
| Bailon, Andy Barron, Destiny Blake, Cierra Brinegar, Seth Butler, Cashae Carver, Celisa Casper, Breanna Cegielski, Eric Cook, Gavin Davis, Shelby Dorsey, Ezra Eckard, Steven Garcia, Ana Goldsmith, Bronte Griffin, Asia Harrison, Sterlin Harry, Sharde Johnson, Octavia Lamb, Kassandra Livingston, Devon Membreno, Brandy Minutelli, Madison Nevins, Summer Ober, Renee Owens, Jordan Pender, Shaniqua Potter, Brittany Rogers, D'asia Shell, William Shinaberry, Jared Simmont, Priscilla Waller, Jessie Washington, D'era Weber, Julie Williams, Samantha Willis, Austin Wilson, Richard Yates, Mahryna |
Adams, Deja Bartucci, Blaise Baskette, Bryanne Center, Javier Chiveral, Ian Clayton, Rachael Clement, Melissa Clinton, Olivia Cypress, Shermyka Davis, Jimmy Dudley, Taylor Gilchrist, Shantice Goins, Jamielynn Hackett, Lewis Harris, Mandell Idzi, Alex Jones, Miranda Kasoff, Rebecca Kennedy, Kandis Logan, Samantha Marshall, Emily O'Neill, Kyle Richardson, Crystal Schulter, Brandi Scott, Jospeh Sensibaugh, Steven Sparks, Chantanee Swearingen, Destiny Timchula, John Tsapalas, Dimitriet Wolferman, Margaret
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Airey, Micheal Alston, Larry Aversa, Brandi Buschmann, Prema Byas, Diaza Center, Jocelyn Chapin, Raven Chaplinski, Morgan Coley, Duval Cook, Chelsey Curtis, Melonie Davis, Alexander Deese, Robert Dixon, Brittany Dorsey, Eboni Driscoll, Alexander Fabian, Alvaro Ford, Heather Fowler, Gage Hansen, Michael Hunter, Simone James, Akeem Kratochvil, David Lewis, Shyan Long, Shantia Merchant, Marjorie Miller, Sara Mosby, Elijah Scott-Pack, Tayshon Serrano, Tiffany Turansky, Sarah Watson, Destini Weber, Kelly Winchester, Amber Woods, Nyonna
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