Weekly Email 10/2/16

Walk-A-Thon Letter, October Middle Years Newsletter, eSchoolPLUS Family App Directions

Upcoming Dates (All dates are listed on our NMS website)

8th Grade Rotational Schedule – Week E Schedule

All Fridays in October are PINK OUT FRIDAYS!
 10/3 Faculty Meeting; 10/6 IPR Electronic Distribution; 10/10 BASD American Education Week; 10/12 School Closed Yom Kippur; 10/14 NMS Alumni Day 9am; 10/15 NMS Marching Band Nazareth Halloween Parade; 10/19 NIMAS Meeting 7:30pm;  10/23 NMS Marching Band Saucon Valley Spirit Parade;  10/25 NMS Walk-A-Thon;  10/28 City of Bethlehem Trick or Treat 6-8pm; 10/29 Liberty vs. Freedom Football Game; 10/30 City of Bethlehem Halloween Parade; 10/31-11/4 NMS Spirit Week; 11/1 End of 1st Quarterl 11/3 Night Middle School Football Game vs. EHMS; 11/7 Faculty Meeting; 11/8Teacher In-Service/Election Day; 11/10 Picture Retake Day; 11/16 NIMAS Meeting 7:30pm; 11/18-22 Book Fair; 11/21 Student-Led Conferences (Evening); 11/22 Student-Led Conferences (Afternoon); 11/23-28 School Closed/Fall Break

Student Council Walk-A-Thon! – It’s time for our NMS Walk-a-Thon! Student Council has planned a fun and fit activity for the Nitschmann students. Your Nitschmann lion will walk around the magnificent Rose Garden Park during school hours on Tuesday, October 25th.   We need everyone’s help in achieving our goal of $10,000. The funds we raise will help student council offset the cost of grade level field trips, assembly programs, grade-level and school wide activities, as well as recognition and rewards programs.  These funds are critical to provide the “Nitschmann experience” to each child!  Your child will bring home information regarding the walk and incentive prizes this week.  Your participation in obtaining sponsors for this event is crucial to our success. See attached flyer & this will be sent home with all students this week.

NMS Wears Pink on Fridays in October – Every October, Nitschmann turns pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We strongly encourage all students & staff to wear pink on Fridays in October and join our fundraising activities to make a school donation for breast cancer research.

Interim Progress Reports (IPR) – IPR’s will be available online this Thursday, October 6, 2016. For our new students, an IPR is a mid-quarter update on your child’s grades. Paper copies will not be sent home with students at any of the 4 BASD middle schools this year. Please look online at the Home Access Center or download the eSchoolPLUS Family app for your smartphone for Apple iOS or Android. All families received this information by mail this school year. If you do not have your login information, contact your child’s counselor.  If you do not have computer access, a paper copy may be provided to you by contacting the Guidance Office at Nitschmann Middle School. Students will be reviewing their grades in an extended homeroom period this Thursday as a part of preparing for Student-Led Conferences this November 21 (Evening) & November 22 (Afternoon). You can watch this video for help on using the app!

American Education Week (10/10-10/15) – Each fall, the Bethlehem Area School District makes a special effort to recognize the special part that public education has in our community. Please review the schedule and join us for special activities & visitations during the week of American Education Week. A flyer will be distributed later this week. A reminder please do not bring younger children to Classroom Visitations, as classes are going on during this time.

NMS Classroom Visitation Schedule for American Education Week

Monday, 10/10 Day 5 – Periods 4-5-6

Grade 6 Periods 5 & 6 (11:32am-1:16pm)

Grade 7 Period 4 & 6 (11:02am-11:54am; 12:24pm-1:16pm)

Grade 8 Periods 4 & 5 (11:02am-12:46pm)

Tuesday, 10/11 Day 6 – Periods 1-2-3 (8:30am to 11:02am)

Wednesday, 10/12 School & Offices Closed, Yom Kippur

Thursday, 10/13 Day 1 – Periods 7-8 ( 1:26pm-3:00pm)

Friday, 10/14 Nitschmann Alumni Day, Nitschmann Junior High & Nitschmann Middle School Alumni welcome & school tour at 9am in the Auditorium

#BASD Magnets –The BASD has decided to display BASD spirit across the Lehigh Valley with #BASDproud car magnets.  Our goal is for parents, students, teachers and staff to make a visible statement of support by displaying the magnets on their cars.  Magnets can be purchased for $2 at the main office of each of our schools as well as at the Ed Center. All proceeds will benefit the Foundation for the Bethlehem Area School District. By joining together, we can send a powerful message in support of our district and public education.

Trip to Quebec in June 2017 – Parents who were unable to attend the “2017 Trip to Quebec” informational meeting last week should contact Mrs. Lare if they are interested in the trip or if they have questions.  Madame Lare can be reached at: alare@basdschools.org.

After School Clubs & Activities – Is your child involved in a club or activity? Make sure you take a look at the growing list below, including the kick-off meeting for our Ski Club this week!

Anime Club (Advisors Mrs. Getz/Mrs. Wallach) We will hold our first meeting in room 205 on October 17 from 3:10-4:00. Please come with ideas, books, drawings, etc.

Art Club (Advisors Mrs. Kozero/Mrs. Lund)  None at this time

BSmart/Banana Factory (Advisor – Mrs. Nonnemacher) We  started the classes this past week on Tuesdays and Thursdays and all went smoothly. The students are enjoying the various art classes. A form was sent home with  every student  to be signed by the student and parent / guardian regarding behavior expectations. Please sign and return it this week. We are looking forward to a great 10 weeks! Thank you for picking your child up promptly.

Cheerleading (Advisor Mrs. Guerrieri) Practice after school Wed., 10/5. Next game, Sat., 10/8, vs. Easton @ 10:00 am @ Shawnee Middle School.  (Cheerleaders should be @ the field by 9:30 am that day.)

Chess & Strategy Club (Advisor Mr. Kehler)Strategy Club continues to meet after school on Tuesdays in room 100.  All are invited to enjoy and learn.  Students that have played Pokemon (card game, not the app) are invited to bring decks this Tuesday.  If there are any parents that happen to out and about on weekends looking over various yard and garage sales, please sent me a quick email if you come across someone selling board games as I am looking for replacements/parts to further our inventory and enjoyment.

Drama Club (Advisor Mrs. Hriniak) Monday no rehearsal (faculty meeting), Tuesday Winkies & Winged Monkeys 3:05-4:30, Wednesday Optimistic Voices 3:05-4:30, Thursday Crew 3:05-5:00, FridayJitterbugs & Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion 3:05-4:30

German Club (Advisor Mrs. Spaihts) German Club will begin Monday, September 26 in Room 202.

French Club (Advisor Mrs. Lare)  Parents who were unable to attend the “2017 Trip to Quebec” informational meeting last week should contact Mrs. Lare if they are interested in the trip or if they have questions.  Madame Lare can be reached at: alare@basdschools.org.

International Travelers! – Yes, That’s right!  We will be visiting the Harry Potter studios on the last day of the trip.  There are still a few spaces left on the Capitals of the British Isles 10 day trip set to depart in June of 2018.  Join up now and get the price while its at its lowest.  Here’s what you get: Airfare, Hotels, local cuisine breakfast and dinner, transportation, event tickets, tour guides, insurance, and on-line support and personal sites for Fundraising and Learning.  Travelers will come away with a greater appreciation for the world we live in, a confidence in themselves and improved self-awareness, an experience the memories of which will last a lifetime, And a documentable international experience for applications…. all for what amounts to just over $360 a day.  Parents, Family, and Alumni are welcome to come along and share in the adventure.  Visit the enrollment site at:

Intramurals (Advisor Mr. Ortwein) None at this time

History Day (Advisor Mrs. Mendez) History Day students will meet Day 1 or Wednesday after school, as schedules permit, in room 122.

Majorettes/Band Front (Advisor Mrs. Hriniak) Regular rehearsals Monday and Thursday this week.  Remember to practice your routines at home!

Mathcounts (Advisor Ms. Novatnak)  We held our first meeting on Thursday and I saw a lot of new and familiar faces.  If you’re interested, it’s still not too late to join!  This week, we will be meeting at 7:35 am on Wednesday and after school on Thursday until 3:50.  Students have been asked to have their parents complete a google form to collect contact information.  I had given them the url and a QR code on the back of the first problem set and also promised this clickable link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScktJYHLRDjFdUhbu7lSNl7hch5hCnd2STftbVhPGS8whNQ4w/viewform?usp=send_form We will be working individually and in groups on challenging problems during the fall.  Around the holidays, we will hold a school competition to determine which students will represent Nitschmann at the Chapter Competition to be held on a Saturday in February (date TBA).  Last year, we came in second out of all the schools in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos!  The top performers will move on to compete at the State level in March.  We also had an opportunity to participate in a competition at Allen HS last year, which our 7th graders won!  If you have any questions, please email Miss Novatnak, nnovatnak@basdschools.org. We will be working individually and in groups on challenging problems during the fall.  Around the holidays, we will hold a school competition to determine which students will represent Nitschmann at the Chapter Competition to be held on a Saturday in February (date TBA).  Last year, we came in second out of all the schools in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos!  The top performers will move on to compete at the State level in March.  If you have any questions, please email Miss Novatnak, nnovatnak@basdschools.org.

National Junior Honor Society  (Advisors Mrs. Wallach/Mrs. Lanzetta) (Twitter  @nms_njhs ) We will have a mandatory meeting this Wednesday, October 5, both before (7:45) and after (3:05) school. Members must attend ONE of the meetings. We will discuss our sidewalk clean up on October 8 from 10-11:30am. Please sign up at the meeting to attend and gain service hours!

Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) (Advisor Mr. Durante)  PJAS (Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science) will have their first informational meeting in room 224 on Thursday, October 13th at 3:05PM.  All 7th and 8th grade students with a strong interest in Science are welcome to attend.  See Mr. Durante with any questions.

Reading Olympics (Advisor – Mrs. Nonnemacher) Reading Olympics is a reading competition for 6th , 7th, and 8th grade students from across the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas held at Easton High School each year. This year it will be held on Tuesday, March 28th, 2017.  (Note this is a date change, prior date was May 4. Updated information will be handed out at our first meeting) We meet all year in the library to check out / read pre-selected Reading Olympics books and prepare for the competition. If you think this is something for your child, have them come to the library and pick up a permission form. We have had a wonderful response and have received many permission forms! Thank you! Our first meeting is on Wednesday, October 5th after school in the library until 4:00 P.M. We are looking forward to a great year!!

Ski Club (Advisors Mr. Downey/Mr. Durante) Sign up is beginning.  You can register your family at http://bit.ly/2dz9QsL.  We will have a student meeting on Tuesday during activity time.  Information will also be available on the Nitschmann website.

Spanish Club (Advisor Ms. Bouhana) Meets Mondays after school (except the first Monday of the month) and day 1 during activity period. Updates will be sent out to members via Remind.

Step Team (Advisor Ms. Sierra) New member practice tryout Start Oct. 11! (10/11, 10/13: 3-5pm;…. 10/18, 10/20: 3-4pm)- tryout 10/25, 10/26, 10/27. STUDENTS MUST WEAR SNEAKERS ALL PRACTICE AND TRYOUT DAYS.

Yearbook (Advisor Mrs. Ellis)None at this time

Student Council (Advisors Mrs. Ellis)It’s time for our NMS Walk-a-Thon! Student Council has planned a fun and fit activity for the Nitschmann students. Your Nitschmann lion will walk around the magnificent Rose Garden Park during school hours on Tuesday, October 25th.  We need everyone’s help in achieving our goal of $10,000. The funds we raise will help student council offset the cost of grade level field trips, assembly programs, grade-level and school wide activities, as well as recognition and rewards programs.  These funds are critical to provide the “Nitschmann experience” to each child!  Your child will bring home information regarding the walk and incentive prizes this week.  Your participation in obtaining sponsors for this event is crucial to our success.

George Samuelson, NPG President (nitschmannparentgroup@gmail.com)

George Samuelson – President

Donna Young – Vice President

Rita Smith – Treasurer

Suzanne Bezas – Secretary

Kimberly Marcantonio

Erin Coughlin

George Samuelson (alternate)

10/3  Monday – Band

10/4  Tuesday – Orchestra

          – DAY 1 Jazz Band 8:30 – 9:00 AM

10/5   Wednesday – Jazz Band

10/6   Thursday – Band

10/7  Friday – Orchestra

October 15     Nazareth Halloween Parade

October 19     First Spring Trip payment is due

October 19     NIMAS General Membership Meeting 7:30 PM Cafeteria

October 20     Mandatory Marching Band LHS/FHS Game rehearsal at BASD

Stadium 6-9 PM

October 23     Saucon Valley Harvest Parade

October 29     LHS/FHS Football Game

October 30     Bethlehem Halloween Parade

November 3   Middle School Night Football Game at BASD Stadium

Monday-No rehearsal

Tuesday-7:15 AM Glee rehearsal for those not in orchestra

               8:30 AM Activity period rehearsal for all in Glee, Nitschmann Singers and Lion’s Mane

               3:05-4:00 Nitschmann Singers rehearsal

Wednesday-7:15 AM Glee rehearsal for those not in jazz band

Thursday-7:15 AM Glee rehearsal for those not in concert band

                 3:05-4:00 Nitschmann Singers rehearsal

Friday-No rehearsa

Team Moravian (6th) – (Twitter @NMSTeam Moravian) We would like to congratulate our Pride of the Lions for the Month of September – Rebecca Young, Colin Wycherley and Reva Singh.  We celebrated our monthly oreo reward with a Minute to Win It competition and ice cream social. See Twitter for pictures. Our Moravian kickoff celebration with be this Friday with administrators and students from Moravian visiting us here at Nitschmann.  With flu season approaching, tissue donations are always welcome!

Team Lehigh (6th) (Twitter @NMSTeamLehigh) We had our monthly team reward celebration on Friday.  The students started with their first ‘Random Act of Kindness’ activity making friendship bracelets.  Congratulations to Anyeli Velazquez, Nico Sciarra, Christian Smith-Perez for winning the Mountain Hawk Award.  Also, congratulations to Kunal Jwaleshan, Ritvik Singh, and Kalayah Nobles for winning Pride of the Lions in September.

Team Lafayette (6th) (Twitter @NMSLafayette) Team Lafayette is taking a field trip to Lafayette College on October 18. More information to follow.  On October 19, PPL will be talking to students about ways to save energy.  Mrs. Hackman’s social studies classes are working on an Island Project, which is due October 10. In science students are learning about classifying.

Please send in empty shoe boxes for a community project for Team Lafayette. Also, please keep sending in Boxtops with your child. Keep checking those planners!

Team Kutztown (7th) (Twitter @TeamKutztown) No team announcements at this time. Science (Mr. Pearson): Students will continue to learn how to conduct experiments like a scientist by implementing the scientific method.  This week students will  examine and learn how to apply each step of the scientific method.  In addition, all periods will have a Scientific Method vocabulary quiz on Wednesday, October 5th.  English (Mr. Falteich) – All classes will begin an Author Study Unit. After reading several stories by H.H. Munro, the students will learn to apply and discuss relevant literary terms. (irony, setting, theme, plot, foreshadowing,tone, etc.)

Team Penn State (7th) (Twitter @NMSPennState)   In science, we will be learning how to write a formal lab report and having an investigation on m and m’s at the end of the week. ELA – vocabulary quiz on Tuesday; Reading – Book reviews are due this Monday, 10/3, for students reading a book that is less than 300 pages.  If it is more than 300 the review is due 11/1

Team East Stroudsburg (8th) (Twitter @NMSTeamESU) In ELA next week, we will be introducing our historical fiction narrative account and will start brainstorming for our stories.  We will also finish our novel and begin preparing for the test, which will be given the week of Oct. 10.  We will also introduce our new word crime, which will be subject pronouns. Literacy classes will continue to read Chasing Lincoln’s Killer or Manhunt. The 2nd book report should be completed by the end of the week. Science class will begin their next unit learning about the different states of matter and parts of an atom. Math classes will continue working on negative exponents. Social Studies classes will be having a test on the Native American Unit and will be watching a video on life in the Sioux Nation.

Team Villanova (8th) In reading class we just finished up figurative language and periods 1,2,7 will have a quiz on Prologue to Chapter 2 from Chasing Lincoln’s Killer on Monday. Period 5 has now begun current events Friday. Five students are assigned each week to present an interesting and engaging news-worthy article to the class for discussion. So far we had 5 excellent news stories with great discussion and debate. Period 8 will be receiving their Chasing Lincoln’s Killer novel next week. Students in period 8 did a great job on a reader’s theater about Harriet Tubman. ELA quiz Wednesday on our Adventures in Grammar!  We will also be learning about why we need to cite our sources and how to research like a scholar. History classes will be discussing Native Americans and how their environment shaped their culture.  We will also be looking at current issues of concern for Native Americans today by region.

Lions/Lady Lions Athletics Updates (Twitter @NMS_Athletics)

Coach: Mr. Burzynski

Email: bburzynski@basdschools.org

Website: www.tinyurl.com/nitschmannfieldhockey

Schedule: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-GsW8mhyYaKVEZyUklhellIczh0VURraHhrcW9TRWwtakhj/view?usp=sharing

Practice location:

Coach: Mr. Villani

Email: mvillani@basdschools.org

Practice location:

King’s Mansion Park

Behind 2123 Allwood Dr.

Bethlehem, PA 18018

Twitter @basd_nmsVball

Coach: Mrs. Van Woert

Email: lvanwoert@basdschools.org

Practice location: Nitschmann Middle School Gym

Coach: Mrs. Frank

Email: coachfranknms@gmail.com

All team schedules, video, photos, documents, weekly running education for youth runners by youth runners and all other information can be found at any time on our Team Snap site.  https://go.teamsnap.com/2035723/home Runners must bring water, towel and running watches (if they have one) to every practice and they should be keeping a running log at home.

Upcoming Practices: Coach Frank will be away from the 3^rd until the 7^th. The coach listed after the practice schedule will be in charge of practice next week:

·  Monday, October 3rd @3:15 to 5pm at Nitschmann Middle School. Coach Phillips.

·  Tuesday, October 4th @3:15 to 5pm at Nitschmann Middle School. Coach Hess.

·  Wednesday, October 5th- NO TEAM PRACTICE/REST DAY 

·  Thursday, October 6th @ XC MEET at FREEDOM 4pm. Coach Lanzetta.

·  Friday, October 7th- NO TEAM PRACTICE. RUN ON YOUR OWN 1-2 MILES.

·  Saturday, October 8^th: 7am Registration/8am Start Time. OPTIONAL- BASD Mini Thon Colors for the Kids 5K Fun Color Run instead of normal practice. Join BASD for their 4^th annual 5k where all proceed benefit pediatric cancer patients being treated at Hershey Medical Center. Freedom High School. Click on the Sports Team Discount for 20 or more members: The cost to participate is $20. To sign up, click this link and note that you are from Nitschmann:  https://goo.gl/forms/DTjEdVETAQce4BsE2

·  Sunday, October 9^th Team Potluck Pasta Party at Hanover Township Community Center from 5pm to 6:30pm. Please sign up to bring something at: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/4090F4AACAC28A6FE3-team

Nitschmann Cross Country Race Schedule: Please come support your Nitschmann XC Lions at their upcoming races:

·  Thursday, October 6^th: at Freedom 4pm vs. Easton, Raub, Trexler, Harrison Morton.

·  Monday, October 10^th: Freedom Invitational – 4:15pm. *This is a medal meet for Top 15.

·  Thursday, October 20^th:  Hurricane Invitational at Home (Steelers Field) 4pm. *This is a medal meet for Top 25.

·         Post-race drinks and snacks: We still have slots available for our last few races. If you would like to sign up and help our team after each race, please sign up at:  www.SignUpGenius.com/go/4090F4AACAC28A6FE3-2016. 

Video of the Week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiAalrujjyA Comfort Zone.

·         Boys Varsity Awards:

o    Cole Frank – 2^nd overall. 11:41 with a 5:34 min/mile pace.

o    Graham Phillips- 10^th overall.  12:38 with a 6:01 min/mile pace.

o    Brandyn D’Amico- 11^th overall.12:41 with a 6:02 min/mile pace.

o    Philip Bezas- 22nd overall. 13:15 with a 6:18 min/mile pace.

o    Ben Service- 24^th overall. 13:26 with a 6:24 min/mile pace.

o    Nick Fritz- 28^th overall.  13:41 with a 6:31 min/mile pace.

o    Caden Hosfeld-31^st overall. 13:44 with a 6:32 min/mile pace.

·         Girls Varsity Awards:

o    Kristen Rommens- 24th overall. 14:52 with a 7:05 minute/mile pace.

o    Madi Drager-30th overall. 15:22 with a 7:19 min/mile pace.

o    Kayla Lazorik- 39th overall.15:48 with a 7:31 min/mile pace.

o    Sara Neiman- 52^nd overall. 16:59 with an 8:05 min/mile pace.

o    Madelyn Pham- 55^th overall. 17:11 with an 8:11 min/mile pace.

o    Angela Rhee- 57^th overall. 17:18 with an 8:11 min/mile pace.

o    McKenna Valencia- 58^th overall. 17:34 with an 8:22 min/mile pace.

·         Boys Top 3 7th Grade Finishes: Hayden Shiban, Jacob Orrico, JoseIgnacio Rozas

·      Girls Top 3 7th Grade Finishes: Kayla Lazorik, Sarah Neiman, and Madelyn Pham

·         Greater than 15 seconds minute per mile improvements included: Cole Frank, Graham Phillips, Brandyn D’Amico, Caden Hosfeld, Onur Alici,

·         Greater than 30 second minute per mile improvements included: Chris Matz, Madison Drager, Matt Schlegel, Dennis Rusakov, Ethan Sowinski, Hayden Shiban, Jesse Kolb, Kristen Rommens.

·         Greater than 45 second minute per mile improvements included: Liam Burke, John Fuehrer, Jack Donchez, Angela Rhee, McKenna Valencia

·         Greater than 60 second minute per mile improvements included: Ben Service, Sarah Neiman, Madelyn Pham, Denise Cano, and Kevin Conklin.