Dear Parents & Guardians,
Attached is our Weekly Sunday Update, which can be found at the link or text below.
Thank you.
Mr. Mayes & Mr. Horlick
This Week’s Major Headlines
- Please update your phone & email information on the Registration Gateway before the window closes on September 30! This is the way you complete all of the “start of year” paperwork & update your contact information! Please use your Home Access Center login & password. Contact your child’s counselor if you did not receive your letter by US mail before school.
- 8th Grade parents & guardians should review the information students brought home on Friday about their new #BASDEmpower laptops. We strongly recommend the optional insurance plan. Information to sign up online BEFORE September 30th at https://www.beth.k12.pa.us/Empower/.
Parent & Student Weekly Email
Nitschmann Middle School Weekly Update, Home of the Nitschmann Nation!
Sunday, September 1, 2019, to Sunday, September 8, 2019
All of this information can be viewed at our
Nitschmann Middle School Website under Weekly Announcements (Click Here!)
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Attachments to Review
None
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Upcoming Dates to Be Proactive!
All dates are listed from our NMS Website, BASD Event Calendar, & BASD Academic Calendar
9/2 Labor Day/No School; 9/16 NMS Back to School Night 6pm; 9/19 School Photo Day; 9/23 11:30 Dismissal/Teacher In-Service; 10/9 Yom Kippur/No School; 10/14 Teacher In-Service/No School; 10/15-18 BASD Education Week 10/29 11:30 Dismissal/Teacher In-Service; 10/30 End of 1st Quarter/School Photo Make-Up Day; 11/3 Daylight Savings Time Ends; 11/5 Election Day/Teacher In-Service/No School; 11/18 11:30 Dismissal Student Conferences; 11/11 Veteran’s Day; 11/19 11:30 Dismissal Student Conferences; 11/27-12/2 Thanksgiving Holiday/No School; 12/23-1/3/20 Christmas/Winter Break/No School; 1/20 MLK Day/No School; 1/23 End of 2nd Quarter; 2/14 Teacher In-Service/No School; 2/17 Presidents’ Day/No School; 3/8 Daylight Savings Time Begins; 3/11 11:30 Dismissal/Teacher In-Service; 3/27 End of 3rd Quarter; 4/7 11:30 Dismissal/Teacher In-Service; 4/8 11:30 Dismissal/Teacher In-Service;4/9-4/13 Easter/Spring Break/No School; 5/TBA Primary Election Day/No School 5/25 Memorial Day/No School; 5/29 8th Grade Dance 6pm @ Ice House; 6/4 8th Grade Moving Up Ceremony 6pm; 6/8 8th Grade HersheyPark Trip; 6/9 Last Day of School/End of 4th Quarter
Weekly Schedule & Highlights
Monday, 9/2/19 No School Labor Day
Tuesday, 9/3/19 Day 6
Wednesday, 9/4/19 Day 1
Thursday, 9/5/19 Day 2 LEAD Classes Begin
Friday, 9/6/19 Day 3
Saturday, 9/7/19
Sunday, 9/8/19
Next Week Weekly Schedule & Highlights
Monday, 9/9/19 Day 4 Faculty Meeting 3:15pm
Tuesday, 9/10/19 Day 5 Fall Picture Day
Wednesday, 9/11/19 Day 6 Patriot Day (Wear Red/Whte/Blue); Parent “Crash Course” in NMS Tech 101 1pm & 7pm Auditorium
Thursday, 9/12/19 Day 1
Friday, 9/13/19 Day 2
Saturday, 9/14/19
Sunday, 9/15/19
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Important Links
BASD Dining Services Menu & Website
Recent Nitschmann News! (Always posted on our Social Media sites too!)
Twitter @NitschmannMS; Facebook @NitschmannMiddleSchool; Instagram@BASDNitschmannMS; NMS School Website; YouTube
Is your child sick? You can submit your child’s sick note by email to ni-attendance@basdschools.org, as long as the email on your child’s account matches the email address. Please note: If you are submitting a written or doctor’s note do not submit an email. It should be one or the other. Please email Mrs. Falcone at mfalcone@basdschools.org with any questions or concerns. Please note that this is ONLY for sick notes, not for early release or any other questions!
Do you need help with BASD Transportation? Call 610-861-0360
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School-wide Announcements
BASD E-News (Dr. Roy) See what is happening in the BASD and the Bethlehem Community in the BASD e-News. This week’s edition highlights the Education Center Staff who are #builtbybethlehem. View the BASD e-News August 30, 2019 Edition here.
Registration Gateway (Mayes) Please complete the Registration Gateway to update phone and email information before the system closes on September 30, 2019. Use your Home Access Center password at https://www.beth.k12.pa.us/ParentsStudents/
8th Chromebook Optional Insurance (Mayes) If you want to purchase optional insurance it is critical that parents/guardians purchase it within 30 days of your child/children receiving it. More information is posted here.
Go-Guardian (Mayes) A reminder for all students & families that your child’s BASD account is monitored for usage and should only be used for appropriate use, as per our BASD policy. Alerts are sent to administration about inappropriate use or suicidal searches.
Crash Course for Parents Nitschmann Technology 101(Mayes) Parents & Guardians! Want to learn how to keep an eye on your child’s grades & assignments? Want to learn how all of your child’s tech systems work together? Dr. Mayes will be reviewing Schoology, eSchool, our NMS Website, Social Media, BASD App, and more! Come in to the Auditorium on Wednesday, 9/11 at 1pm or 7pm to learn how to stay ahead of your Lion! Facebook Event Page
Back to School Night (Mayes) Back to School Night will be held on Monday, September 16, 2019 at 6pm. Please join us to learn about our new school year & programs, help your child sign up for activities, and learn about supports for you and your family.
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Counseling Corner (Stewart, Kehler, Hipp)
Contact your child’s counselor by email: 6th Grade Mrs. Stewart; 7th Grade Mr. Kehler; 8th Grade Mrs. Hipp
None at this time.
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Student Services Updates (Mr. Horlick)
Contact Members of the Student Services Team by email: Mr. Horlick, Assistant Principal; Mrs. Scott, SSC Guidance Secretary; Mrs. Falcone, SSC Attendance Secretary
Cell Phones (Horlick) A reminder for all students & families students are permitted to have cell phones. We strongly recommend that cell phones be stored in your child’s locker. With the new Chromebook initiative, there is very little reason for students to have them throughout the day. If a cell phone is seen by a staff member or a child is found to have used it without permission throughout the day, the cell phone will be confiscated & Mr. Horlick will contact you directly.
Dress Code (Horlick) Please review the NMS dress code on our website. This will be enforced from the first day of school. The one thing we often help students with immediately is slides/sandals. Make sure your child has on the correct footwear for school. The 2019-2020 NMS dress code has been posted at http://basdwpweb.beth.k12.pa.us/nitschmann/parent-resources/.
**************************************************************************** Nitschmann Parent Group (NPG) (Twitter!@NitschmannPG)
nitschmannparentgroup@gmail.com
Executive Committee
PAC Representatives
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Academic Team Updates
Team Lafayette (6th) (Twitter @NMSLafayette Team Leader Mrs. Hackman) We had a great first week and are looking forward to moving into content areas this week. Ask your child how to access all of their online resources from home. Please make sure students have all needed supplies for the start of this week.
Team Lehigh (6th) (Twitter @NMSTeamLehigh Team Leader Mrs. Oliver) We had an exciting first week of school that culminated with our monthly team celebration on Friday afternoon! Hopefully your child is getting used to their locker and schedule (we know we still have some that have trouble getting in their lockers – we will work on it and it will come; No worries). As we move more into the content areas this week it is going to be important that both you and your child can log onto Schoology to access homework assignments and check on grades. Virtually everything you and the students need to use on the computer should be accessed through the Clever app. This can be found by accessing the BASD G Suite for Education (https://sites.google.com/a/basdschools.org/google/)and clicking on Clever or by going to the BASD district home page and clicking on parents/students (https://www.beth.k12.pa.us/ParentsStudents/). We strongly suggest you bookmark these links. We hope everyone is off to a good start in middle school.
Team Moravian (6th) – (Twitter @NMSTeam Moravian/Facebook@NMSTeamMoravian Team Leader Mrs. Roufakis) We look forward to your child starting school this week!
Team Kutztown (7th) (Twitter @TeamKutztown Team Leader Mr. Hess) Welcome to the 2019 – 2020 school year! We are looking forward to meeting our new 7th graders on Monday and having a fun and exciting school year! Please check this email weekly for updates, news, and announcements from the team.
Team Penn State (7th) (Twitter @NMSPennState/Facebook @NMSTeamPennState/ Instagram pennstatenms Team Leader Mrs. Miller) We had a great first week with your children!!! Permission form and Code of Conduct form(sent home the first day of school) need to be returned to the homeroom teacher ASAP. There will be an order form coming home Tuesday for purchasing a “team PENN STATE” T-shirt which will be used for a team tie dye activity. These need to be returned by Friday, Sept. 6 to homeroom teacher. Science:Students will be rotating around stations to practice with lab equipment and review lab safety rules.
Team East Stroudsburg (8th) (Twitter @NMSTeamESU Team Leader Mr. Amen Instagram @nmsteamesu8) Please have earbuds for our video projects. Students may want to begin thinking about computer usage, charging, routines, and space. Students may want to get a feel for Schoology for planning and StudySync for English class. English classes will begin the SudySync program. The first lessons will be centered around The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe. Science Class will be all about matter. There will be a series of experiments helping students distinguish between atoms, molecules, compounds, and types of mixtures. History classes will be completing a study of the 5 C’s of history, ask your student about the assignment. We will begin our study of American history with the founding of Jamestown in 1607.
Team Northampton (8th) (Twitter @TeamSpartanNMS Team Leader Mrs. Hood) History classes will continue to discuss immigration and how it connects to the beginning of our colonization unit. Students will be introduced to and navigate through the Discovery Ed. Techbook. We also will venture into the mystery surrounding The Lost Colony of Roanoke! In ELA classes this week (Wallach and Hinkel), students will begin working with the StudySync program. We will start our first unit on mysteries by reading “The Tell-Tale Heart” and learning how to navigate the program. Students will be working on group presentations as well! With all class textbooks online this year, it is ESSENTIAL that your child has a pair or two of earbuds with them daily! Students will be able to use the text to speech feature, be able to watch videos as part of the curriculum, and create their own WeVideo projects. Earbuds are sold at the school store if needed.
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Extracurricular Activities
Is your child interested in an after-school club or activity? Email the advisor for more information!
AM Basketball Open Field/ Gym (TBA) None at this time.
Anime Club (Advisors Ms. Fehr/Mrs. Wallach) Our first meeting will take place mid-September. Please listen for announcements and updates to follow.
Art Club (Advisors Mrs. Kozero/Mrs. Lund) None at this time.
Artsmart @ Banana Factory (Advisor Mrs. Lare) The Banana Factory is once again offering FREE after school classes to Nitschmann students on Tuesdays and Thursdays for eight weeks, from October 1 to November 21. Classes include: acrylic painting, needle felting, cartooning & animé, mosaics, mask making, weaving, crocheting, wheel thrown pottery, and digital illustration. Students may sign up for one or both days. Students will be served a light snack. Bus transportation to and from the Banana Factory is provided. Parents must be able to pick up their child from the Nitschmann parking lot promptly at 6 p.m. Spaces are very limited – only 5 students per class. Students must commit to attending all 8 weeks of classes. Spaces will be allotted on a first come first served basis. Students may pick up a class schedule and registration form from Mrs. Lare in Room 317.
Dance Team (Advisor Ms. Sierra) Returning dancers practice continues during activity pd. Day 1 (Sep. 4 in room 217) and after school until 5 in the Cafeteria. Back to school night is Sep. 16: 6-8pm. Sign ups for tryouts will be during activity pd. Day 1 (Sep. 4) in room 217.
German Club (Advisor Ms. Schwartz) None at this time
Heart & Sole Club (Advisor TBA) None at this time.
Fitness Club ( Advisor Mrs. Oliver) None at this time.
FCS/DIY Club (Advisor Mrs. Hoffman) None at this time.
French Club (Advisor Mrs. Lare) The first meeting of French Club will be on September 20 during the activity period in Mme Lare’s classroom.
Intramurals (Advisor Mr. Ortwein) None at this time
Leadership Council (Advisor Mrs. Ellis) None at this time.
Lion Service Club (Advisor Mrs. McLaughlin) None at this time.
Lion’s Pride (online school newspaper) (Advisor Ms. Bouhana) Current members will meet during activity period on Day 1 in room 201 for a short meeting regarding Back to school night.
Mathcounts (Advisor Ms. Novatnak) We’re hoping for another successful year! Our first meeting of the year will be after school on Thursday, September 19th. Information will be distributed through math teachers, on announcements, and here in the weekly email.
National Junior Honor Society (Advisors Mrs. Wallach/Mrs. Druckenmiller) (Twitter-@Njhs_Nitschmann; Instagram- @Njhs_Nistchmann ) We look forward to another great year! Please listen for updates via announcements and Schoology. Our first meeting will take place after school in room 104 on Wednesday, September 4. Service hours are due September 6.
Nitschmann Dramatics (Advisor Mrs. Hriniak) Sign up NOW to join Nitschmann Dramatics! The deadline to sign up is WEDNESDAY 9/4. https://forms.gle/Q4UfswXNQBnsPbkW8 Rehearsals this week are Wednesday 9/4 and Friday 9/6 after school until 4:30. You must sign up in order to attend rehearsals.
This year’s show is Alice in Wonderland Jr. Check Mrs. Hriniak’s website for updates, calendar, and information.
Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) (Advisor Mr. Amen) None at this time.
Reading Olympics (Advisor – Mrs. Nonnemacher) We are looking forward to another great year! Permission forms will be available mid September. We begin meeting officially on Wednesday, October 16th. However, 2019 – 2020 book lists are available in the library and books can be checked out. Please only check out 1 to 2 books at a time.
Riding for Focus (Advisors Mr. Miller & Mr. Hess) None at this time.
The Lion’s Den School Store (Advisors Ms. Roufakis & Mrs. Evancho)
Online order form….click here. Orders will not be processed until payment is received!
Ski Club (Advisors Mr. Downey) None at this time.
Spanish Club (Advisor Ms. Bouhana) Current members will meet during activity period on Day 1 in room 201 for a short meeting regarding Back to school night.
Step Team (Advisor Ms. Sierra) Returning Stepper practice continues and after school Tuesday and Thursday until 5 in the Cafeteria. Back to school night is Sep. 16: 6-8pm. Sign ups for tryouts will be during activity pd. Day 1 (Sep. 4) in room 217.
Strategy Club (Advisor Mr. Kehler) Welcome Back!! Get your Game On! Strategy Club will resume on Mondays and Tuesdays again for this year beginning on Monday Sept 16th. Hours will be extended on Mondays from 3:00 to 5:00 so plan accordingly and make necessary travel arrangements. Tuesday’s Strategy Club will remain from 3:00 to 4:00. Yes, I’m still working on making an e-Sports type league thing happen… more to follow.
Yearbook (Advisor Mrs. Ellis) None at this time.
Nitschmann Middle School Performing Arts Department Updates
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Nitschmann Middle School Instrumental Music Website (Click Here!)
Mr. Dan Zettlemoyer, Instrumental Music
Rehearsal Schedule:
9/2 MONDAY No early morning band
9/3 TUESDAY Early Morning Orchestra 7:15a, (doors open at 7 am)
9/4 WEDNESDAY Early Morning Jazz band 7:15am (doors open at 7 am)
9/5 THURSDAY Early Morning Band 7:15am (doors open at 7am)
9/6 FRIDAY Early Morning Orchestra 7:15a, (doors open at 7 am)
Make-up Uniform Distribution Night
Tuesday, September 3 from 6-7:30 pm is our make-up uniform distribution night for anyone who was not able to attend the one in August. Anyone who did not attend the first night is expected to pick up their items and make payments during this time.
Instrumental Music Lessons
Instrumental music lessons will begin on Wednesday, September 4 once we have completed 1 full 6 day cycle. Lessons schedules and calendars will be available online Monday, September 2. Lesson information can be found HERE.
19-20 Performance Calendar
The performance calendar for this year has been updated. Please go to www.nmsim.org to view the changes.
Student Drop Off
Drop off procedures will be the same as they were during summer music camp. When you drop off your child in the morning please keep the line moving, drop your child off and have them walk down the sidewalk of the parking lot and then cross the driveway, there should be no traffic in the driveway next to the school, and enter through the auditorium entrance. The auditorium entrance will be open and monitored by a staff member at 7 am. Parents should not enter the building, unless you have a prearranged meeting with Mr. Zettlemoyer.
News of Note
- Take a look at all the fundraising opportunities we currently have going to HERE
- Stay up to date on the latest by following the instrumental music groups on Twitter. @NMSBandOrch
- Don’t forget to check the Instrumental Music Website for everything dealing with instrumental music. www.nmsim.org
- The Nitschmann Instrumental Music Association is now part of the Amazon Smile program. Now you can shop at Amazon, get great deals and support the Nitschmann Instrumental Music Association all at the same time. Please share this with your friends and family. Go here for more information.
Color Guard: No rehearsal Monday. Early morning rehearsal Thursday at 7:15am.
It’s not too late to join Color Guard! We are still looking for students to join Honor Guard to march with the band and color guard and carry honor equipment like the American flag, Pennsylvania flag, City of Bethlehem flag, and Nitschmann Banner. Contact Mrs. Hriniak for more information shriniak@basdschools.org
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Choral Music (Twitter @ldevriesmusic) Mrs. Linda de Vries, Choral Music Director
Mrs. Jody Parris, Choral Music Director
Do you love to sing? Then get involved in Glee Club or Nitschmann Singers! Interested students should attend an open Glee Club rehearsal on Wednesday, September 4 during our school-wide activity period (8:25-9:01AM). Come and find out more about our Nitschmann Singing groups!
Specifics: Glee Club is open to all students without an audition. Glee rehearses every Tue., Wed. and Thurs. at 7:15 AM. Instrumental students go to their scheduled rehearsals and join us on days they are free. Glee also rehearses during activity period every day 1. Nitschmann Singers is a smaller, auditioned group. Selected members rehearse every Tues. and Thurs. From 3-4:00 PM. They are also required to participate in Glee Club every Wednesday morning and activity period.
Nitschmann Singer auditions: 9/4, 9/5 and 9/6 at 3:05 PM in room 141. Also at 7:15 AM on Friday, 9/6. No preparation is necessary. I will teach you a song at the audition. See Mrs. de Vries with questions.
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Lions/Lady Lions Athletics Updates (Twitter @NMS_Athletics)
Mr. Jon Ortwein, NMS Athletic Director
Year-long
Cheerleading (Head Coach Mrs. Long kllong@basdschools.org)
Practice Tuesday and Thursday until 5pm!
Fall
Boys Football (Head Coach Mr. Villiani mvillani@basdschools.org)
Co-Ed Cross Country (Head Coach Miss Schwartz lschwartz@basdschools.org)
Girls Volleyball (Head Coach Mrs. Hinkel ahinkel@basdschools.org)
There will not be practice on Monday, Sept. 2. Please take the long weekend to rest up! We have been working hard! We have our first game this week on Friday, Sept. 6 at Northampton Middle School. The game starts at 4 pm. We hope to see everyone there as we begin our season!
Girls Field Hockey (Mr. Burzynski bburzynski@basdschools.org)
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Nitschmann Middle School
A LEAD School, partnering with The Leader in Me
“Lions Lead the Way!”
Our Collective Vision Nitschmann Middle School is committed to cultivating a respectful community of innovative learners who are socially competent citizens ready to meet the challenges of their future.
Twitter @NitschmannMS
Facebook @NitschmannMiddleSchool
Instagram @BASDNitschmannMS,
Web http://basdwpweb.beth.k12.pa.us/nitschmann/
1002 West Union Blvd
Bethlehem, Pa 18018
Main Office (610) 866-5781
Fax (610) 866-1435
IMPORTANT/CONFIDENTIAL: This communication is intended solely for the confidential use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and the privileges are not waived by virtue of this having been sent by electronic mail. If the reader of this email is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify me immediately & permanently delete this message including all attachments. Thank you.