Library News  

 We are proud to announce that Dundalk Middle School has won the Baltimore County Public Library Summer Reading Contest again this year. This is two years in a row that Dundalk Middle has won by having the highest middle school participation percentage based on school enrollment. Baltimore’s County Executive, Jim Smith, visited Dundalk Middle on October 18^th and presented a trophy to the school and a certificate to each student who participated.

                                                                                                              Canned Food Drive

Kids Helping Kids is in full swing at DMS.  Please donate  your  non-perishable foods during Mod 1 by using the green box located in each homeroom.  The homeroom with the most donations by November 9 will receive a pizza lunch or donut breakfast.  Every little bit helps, even one can.

PTSA Meetings

              PTSA meets the last Tuesday of each month in the conference room.  PTSA is a place to voice your opinions and concerns, to help plan and implement fundraisers, to assist in school-wide programs and events.  Some of the programs include American Education Week and Teacher Appreciation Day.  In addition, the PTSA meeting provides you with an opportunity to hear from school administrators firsthand and discuss the programs and developments that impact the school building.  Please consider joining us.  We currently have several dedicated parents running the PTSA who would love to have others join them. 

The next meeting is on Tuesday, November 27  at 6:00 p.m.  We would love to see you there.

Red Ribbon Week and

Project Wisdom  Announcements

              During Red Ribbon Week, Project Wisdom provided a series of five announcements focusing on the impact of drugs and the importance of choosing to live a drug free life.  In addition to listening to these morning announcements, students participated in extended homeroom activities that focused on drug awareness.  Students participated in teacher-led discussions about the impact of drugs in our country and in our lives, the decision to refrain from drug use, and the power of our choices and thoughts to positively impact others.  Students then wrote journal entries about the power of one individual to make a difference in our world.  In addition, red ribbons and stickers were given to students to wear.  Wearing a red symbol indicated that he/she wants to remain drug free or that drug use had somehow impacted him/her or his/her family in some way.

Please consider discussing these activities with your child.

Winter Wonderland

              Winter Wonderland is a school-sponsored event run by our Positive Behavior and Interventions (PBIS) committee where students use the HOOTS they have collected to “purchase” holiday gifts for family members.  Items available for “purchase” are donated from a variety of sources including: staff and community members, area businesses or churches, and school resources.  The DMS PTSA is working with the PBIS committee this year to help collect items and volunteer to staff the event.

This year’s Winter Wonderland will run from Monday, December 17-Thursday, December 20.  Special blue Winter Wonderland HOOTS will begin to be distributed to students who earn them starting November 1.  Students will have the event made available to them through their social studies classes and their lunch shifts.

If you are interested in donating item(s), gift bags, tissue paper, or gift tags, please contact the school at 410-887-7018.

Magnet School Applications Due November 30!

8^th Grade Students!  If you are interested in applying to a magnet program for next year, do not forget the deadline date.  ALL magnet applications MUST be received in the Office of Magnet Programs or postmarked by NOVEMBER 30^th, 2007 in order to be considered.  Do not be late!

Assessment Guidelines and Audition Packets will be available by mid-October.  Please visit http://www.bcps.org/offices/omp/high/apply.asp or attend an open house to obtain the Assessment Guidelines for each program to which you apply.  Open house information can be found on the back of the Magnet Program Brochure given to each 8^th grade student or at http://www.bcps.org/offices/omp/.

Applicants must obtain the Assessment Guideline and Audition Packets for each program to which they apply.

If you need more information about the magnet application, please see Ms. Soto-Coleman in the School Counseling Office or log onto http://www.bcps.org/offices/omp/.

Remember, ALL magnet applications MUST be received or postmarked by November 30^th in order to be considered.  Applications that are post marked after November 30^th will not be considered. 

Green School

              Dundalk Middle School was awarded the status of Green School in May of 2006.  Green Schools have a general, school-wide focus on the environment around us.  At Dundalk Middle our Green School activities include can, paper, and computer ink cartridge recycling, environmental clean-ups, horseshoe crab raise and release program, school yard habitat restoration, storm drain stenciling and the environmental field trip to Merritt Park.  With our proximity to the water as well as the revitalization of the Dundalk area, it is important to have our students, faculty and community become actively involved in environmental issues.  Ms. Knight oversees our Green School activities.

Early Dismissal Requests

              If your child should need to be dismissed from school during the school day, the emergency cards you completed are an important verification document we use.  Students will not be dismissed to leave with anyone other than the parent/guardian (the individuals  listed on the front of the emergency card) unless that person is identified in a note, which is signed by the parent/guardian.  Additionally, the school requires a photo ID of any individual picking up students. 

BULLYING

              Bullying is a national concern as well as a local one.  Dundalk Middle School is intent on being proactive in addressing bullying.  Listed below are supports for students who feel they are being bullied:

¨  School counselors

¨  Speaking to teachers

¨  Student “What Happened”            forms

¨  Bullying Forms

              Please encourage your child to seek the support of the school counselor or any adult in the school if he or she feels bullied.  Please also feel free to call the school counselor or any school administrator for information and support.  We are very proud of our students and the work they are doing in the classroom.  We do not want the behavior of a few students to interfere with the learning of others.

MARKET DAY

                  Market Day is a PTA fundraising effort.  The Market Day flier comes home with your child monthly.  DMS receives 10% of the total sales. If you haven’t received one, they are also available on the counter in the school office.  If you are computer savvy, you can also set up your own online account by accessing www.marketday.com.  Please call Mrs. Bishop at 410-887-7018 if you have questions about the program.  The pick-up for Market Day is at Dundalk Elementary School.

Attendance      

              In order to maintain good scholastic performance, students must attend school regularly.  The State of Maryland sets the standards for attendance at 94% for satisfactory (absent no more than 11 days per school year) and 96% for excellent (absent no more than 7 days ).  We are striving to raise the DMS attendance from unsatisfactory (93%) to excellent (96%). 

              All absences must be accounted for on the day the student returns.  Students are required to present a note to their homeroom teacher upon their return to school.  The note must include dates(s) absent, reason for absence, and parent/guardian signature.

If a student is ill and absent for more than 5 days, he/she may be asked to present a doctor’s certificate.  Absence notes and certificates are kept on file.  Absences without notes (within 5 school days) will be coded as “unlawful.”  Vacations should be avoided if possible, and according to BCPS policy, will be coded as “unlawful absences.” As stated in the BCPS Student Handbook, “Students absent for lawful reasons will be allowed to make up missed work whenever possible.  This responsibility rests with the student!”

As Winter Approaches...Before School

              The school day officially begins at 8:15 AM and students are required to be in homeroom by that time.  DMS opens its doors for students at 8:05 AM  Students eating breakfast should arrive by 7:50 AM and enter through the cafeteria entrance.  We have made arrangements for teacher supervision of students who arrive between 7:50 AM and 8:05 AM  Students should not arrive prior to 7:50 AM unless they have made arrangements to work with a teacher.  Students arriving before 8:05 AM are expected to wait outside (unless it is raining).  Therefore, students should act responsibly and dress appropriately for the weather.  If it is cold, students should wear a coat and possibly even a hat and gloves. 

Attention parents of students who are enrolled in Algebra 1!

All BCPS students must take and pass the Algebra / Data Analysis HSA to graduate from high school.  Seventh and eighth graders who are currently taking Algebra 1 will take the Algebra / Data Analysis HSA in May.  A parent newsletter was sent home recently through homeroom with information about the HSA test.  You can also visit www.hsaexam.org for sample tests and practice problems.  If you have any questions about the HSA, please feel free to contact Mrs. Laura Potter at lpotter@bcps.org or 410-887-7018.

24 Club at DMS

Use the four numbers on the card to make 24 in three steps. 

Step 1: ______________________

Step 2: ______________________

Step 3: ______________________ = 24!

Join Mr. Dennison and Ms. Thomas after school on Thursdays from 3-4 pm to learn about the rules and regulations of the 24 Challenge competition.  Students will practice to compete in the school-wide 24 Challenge and the BCPS competition, which is held in the spring! 

After School Activities

Dundalk Middle has a wide range of after school activities open for all students. Below is a list of current activities with their sponsors. Students are encouraged to see the sponsor and sign-up for an activity. These activities represent an expenditure of over $25,000 in salaries, supplies, and materials. Please have you child take advantage of these activities:

Art Portfolio Club         Ms. Felter

Artistic Owls – Junior Optimist Club         Ms. Felter

Black Saga         Mr. Parker

Challenge 24         Ms. Thomas & Mr. Dennison

Drama         Ms. Tarr & Ms. Sperling

Environmental / Green School Group         Ms. Knight

Forensics         Ms. Mullin & Mr. Blizzard

Intramurals         Mr. Ingle

Math Counts         Ms. MacCubbin & Ms. Sperling

SADD         Ms. Clarkson & Ms. Mullin

School Store         Ms. Loss

Spanish Club         Ms. Murphy

Student Council         Ms. Mullin & Ms. Sylvester

Technical Theater         Mr. Wojcik

Yearbook        Ms. Himes & Ms. Sabol 

Mapping Your High School Path

Calling parents of 7^th, 8^th & 9^th grade GT students

 Wednesday, November 7

7:00pm

Loch Raven High School Auditorium

1212 Cowpens Avenue ▪ 21286

You will not want to miss this opportunity to learn more about the choices and challenges facing college bound GT Middle and High School Students including:

· Learn how your student can achieve academic success as well as balance in their life;

· Discover great strategies from middle and high school counselors and teachers;

· Gain valuable course selection information – what is AP, GT, Honors, and what is right for your student;

· Explore information on activities that fulfill your student's giftedness;

Take home great resources: timelines, planning charts and contact information.

(No, it’s not too early.  This information will help you and your student now.)

Presenters and Guest Speakers:

Dr. Lynne Muller, Coordinator, BCPS Office of School Counseling

Dr. Kevin Ensor, School College Counselor, Hereford High School

Ms. Deborah Franklin, School Counseling Department Chair, Sudbrook Magnet Middle School

Ms. Diana Eastman, BCPS Office of Gifted and Talented Education

Students are welcome and encouraged to attend

 Please Register

by telephone at 410-494-0387 or email at  mpease@comcast.net

This Program is Sponsored by…

Citizens' Advisory Committee
for Gifted and Talented Education

The CAC for GT is a parent and community advocacy group supporting Gifted and Talented Education K-12 in Baltimore County Public Schools. The CAC is committed to…

staying abreast of  important information that impacts our GT students;

actively engaging the parent/guardian community in exchanging information that positively impacts GT students;

advocating on behalf of GT students by sharing their voices and views.

Travel through amazing places and

stations at

Literacy:  Passport

to the World!

(English/ Reading night)

Dundalk Middle School cafeteria

Wednesday, November 14

       5:00 -7:00 PM

A pizza dinner will be provided.

Come experience:

Reader’s theatre, student poetry, student work

The Language! program in action

Book Fair

Technology games and learning opportunities in Language Arts

The DARE program

Come visit:

the many places found in our novels

Baltimore County Public Library station

MSA information station

GT station

The PTA station

Representatives from BCPS Office of Reading/ Language Arts

Your souvenirs may include: 

bookmarks (Make your own!)

pizza/ drinks

door prizes

Students will be receiving more information the week of October 29.  Be sure to return the form to book your journey!

(Forms should be returned to your student’s Language Arts teacher.)

Book your journey now!

To prepare all of the stations for your journey and to be sure we have enough pizza, we need to know how many will be joining us! For questions or more information, please contact Mrs. Shanks at ashanks@bcps.org or 410-887-7018.

Feel free to bring the entire family!

Complete this form and return to your Language Arts teacher by Wednesday, November 7, 2007.

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To make your reservations, please fill out this slip, and return this cut-off to your Language Arts teacher.

Student name: _______________________

Grade level:  ________________________

 Language Arts teacher:  _______________

         Yes, ____ people plan on attending!

Coach Classes at DMS

Coach class is an opportunity for your child to stay after school and work with a teacher for extra help, to make up work, or to complete a project.  Coach class is an excellent opportunity for students to receive extra instruction, to work in small groups, and to build a rapport with his/her teacher.  Each teacher selects an afternoon where he/she will be available to provide this assistance.  The following list indicates which afternoons teachers are available.

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