Dear Parents & Guardians,
Attached is our Weekly Sunday Update, which can be found at the link or text below.
Thank you.
Dr. Mayes & Mr. Horlick
This Week’s Major Headlines
- Have you checked your child’s Schoology account for the upcoming week? Schoology Directions for Parents
- 5th & 8th grade parents, please note the addition of transition information below.
- Please make sure you have downloaded the Bethlehem Area School District app for closings & emergency information. This is the first system we use to alert students & parents to any information.
Parent & Student Weekly Email
Nitschmann Middle School Weekly Update, Home of the Nitschmann Nation!
Sunday, January 5, 2020, to Sunday, January 12, 2020
All of this information can be viewed at our
Nitschmann Middle School Website under Weekly Announcements (Click Here!)
****************************************************************************
Links to Review
Schoology Directions for Parents
****************************************************************************
Upcoming Dates to Be Proactive!
All dates are listed from our NMS Website, BASD Event Calendar, & BASD Academic Calendar
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, 1/6/20 Day 6
Tuesday, 1/7/20 Day 1 Wear Orange & Jeans Day! Phantoms Fit Challenge for 6th Graders (8th/9th Period)
Wednesday, 1/8/20 Day 2
Thursday, 1/9/20 Day 3
Friday, 1/10/20 Day 4 PIAA Athletic Grade Check 3pm
Saturday, 1/11/20
Sunday, 1/12/20
Upcoming Weekly Schedules & Highlights
Monday, 1/13/20 Day 5
Tuesday 1/14/20 Day 6 LHS Scheduling for 8th Graders, School Spelling Bee 6pm
Wednesday, 1/15/20 Day 1 New 6th Grade for 2020 Transition Meeting 7pm
Thursday, 1/16/20 Day 2 New 6th Grade for 2020 Transition Meeting 2pm or 7pm
Friday, 1/17/20 Day 3
Saturday, 1/18/20
Sunday, 1/19/20
Monday, 1/20/20 No School, MLK Holiday, MLK Annual Observance @ City Hall 1pm
Tuesday 1/21/20 Day 4 LHS Scheduling for 8th Graders
Wednesday, 1/22/20 Day 5 LHS Freshman Orientation 7pm LHS Auditorium
Thursday, 1/23/20 Day 6 End of the 2nd Quarter, School Geography Bee (8th period)
Friday, 1/24/20 Day 1 Start of the 3nd Quarter, Pride of the Lions, School Blood Drive, PIAA Athletic Grade Check 3pm
Saturday, 1/25/20
Sunday, 1/26/20
****************************************************************************
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!
****************************************************************************
Transition Information
8th Grade (NMS to LHS)
Liberty High School Website Link
1/14 & 21/20 Freshman Course Scheduling for all 8th Graders (2nd & 5th periods) at NMS with counselors
1/22/20 Incoming Freshman Parent Orientation at Liberty High School 7:00 p.m. in LHS Auditorium
5th Grade (Elementary Schools to NMS)
5th Grade Parent Meeting & tour for an introduction at Nitschmann Middle School
You may attend any of the following meetings at Nitschmann Middle School in the Auditorium
1/15 Transition Meeting & Tour for New Students 7pm (all schools)
1/16/20 Transition Meeting & Tour for New Students 2pm (all schools)
1/16/20 Transition Meeting & Tour for New Students 7pm (all schools)
****************************************************************************
School-wide Announcements
BASD E-News (Dr. Roy) None at this time.
Nitschmann Blood Drive (Bouhana & McLaughlin) We will be hosting our first annual blood drive on January 24 between 12:30 and 5:30pm. We will be honoring Lara Ellis and Dawn Mendez. The link below will take you to the search page. Interested donors can search for the event by date and it will come up. You will be able to see the available times and sign up to donate. Blood Drive Search and search for the drive at Nitschmann on the 1/24. The Red Cross is giving donors a T-shirt and coupon for Dunkin.
****************************************************************************
Counseling Corner (Stewart, Kehler, Hipp)
Contact your child’s counselor by email: 6th Grade Mrs. Stewart; 7th Grade Mr. Kehler; 8th Grade Mrs. Hipp
Vaping Resources (Counselors) The popularity of e-cigarettes and vaping among students has ballooned almost out of control. The number of teens vaping grew 900 percent from 2011 to 2015. Surgeon General Jerome Adams has called it an “epidemic of youth e-cigarette use.” To address these concerns, view this new guide that covers the dangers of vaping, is vaping safer than smoking, and what parents can do. You can check it out here: www.consumernotice.org/products/e-cigarettes/students-and-vaping/
****************************************************************************
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
Schoology Directions for Parents
**************************************************************************** Nitschmann Parent Group (NPG) (Twitter!@NitschmannPG)
nitschmannparentgroup@gmail.com
Executive Committee President Erin Coughlin
PAC Representatives (Erin Coughlin, Therese Gyauch, Amy Wuertel, Cara Pyle)
****************************************************************************
Academic Team Updates
Team Lafayette (6th) (Twitter @NMSLafayette Team Leader Mrs. Hackman) Team Lafayette hopes everyone had an enjoyable break with family and friends! We look forward to seeing everyone back and ready to go this week as we finish the last two weeks of the 2nd Quarter. Let’s start the new year out on the right foot!
Team Lehigh (6th) (Twitter @NMSTeamLehigh Team Leader Mrs. Oliver) Christmas time is here!!! Next week Santa will be coming down the chimney delivering pencils, notebooks and folders to all the good girls and boys.. This is a good time to check on Schoology, Pearson, and Study Synch to be sure that your child is caught up on all their work and is in good standing. The goal is to hit the new year on level ground and make resolutions to reinforce good study and work habits. We are looking forward to a wonderful 2020.
Team Moravian (6th) – (Twitter @NMSTeam Moravian/Facebook@NMSTeamMoravian Team Leader Mrs. Roufakis)
Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a nice break. We are looking forward to seeing everyone on Monday!
Team Kutztown (7th) (Twitter @TeamKutztown Team Leader Mr. Hess) – Social Studies (Mr. Hess) – Project presentations will take place this week. English (Mr. Falteich & Mrs. Gomez) – Students will finish the reading and discussion of “A Christmas Carol” with emphasis on its themes. Students will also compete in class spelling bees to select finalists for the upcoming all-school spelling bee in January. The final Unit 2 Study Sync assessment will be given on Tuesday, 12/17. This unit test will include, but is not limited to the following terms: allusion, theme, foreshadowing, internal rhyme, verse, stanza, rhyme scheme, figures of speech, simile, hyperbole, personification, metaphor, poetic sound devices, alliteration, assonance, repetition, onomatopoeia, text structure, and types of sentences/clauses. As always, extra help is available after school. Science (Mr. Pearson) – Students will have a test on the scientific method on Tuesday, December 17th.
Team Penn State (7th) (Twitter @NMSPennState/Facebook @NMSTeamPennState/ Instagram pennstatenms Team Leader Mrs. Miller) Mandatory after school help (of students/parents notified) will continue on Tuesdays and Wednesdays after school. Students are expected to immediately go to Mrs. Miller’s room after the 3:05 bell. English (Getz) – Students will review for the Unit #2 assessment. The assessment will begin on Monday, December 16th for period 8/9 and on Tuesday, December 17th for period 2/3. The Christmas Carol – Interview Project is due on Tuesday, December 17th by 10pm. Honors English – Students will review for the Unit #2 assessment. The assessment will begin on Tuesday, December 17th. The Christmas Carol – Interview Project is due on Tuesday, December 17th by 10pm. Science: We will begin a unit on cell transport and complete a lab using gummi bears to demonstrate osmosis this week. Social Studies: ABC projects will be due this week. Math: Students in Periods 2,3,and 9 have a quiz on sections 3-4 and 3-5 (percent change, percent error, markups, markdowns). Periods 6 and 8 are continuing to simplify expressions and will have a quiz on sections 5-1 through 5-5 on Friday.
Team East Stroudsburg (8th) (Twitter @@nmsteamesu Team Leader Mr. Amen Instagram @nmsteamesu8) Oral History Assignments are due Monday at the start of class. The assignment was given 26 days ago. Students will be sharing their experience in class this week. English classes will have the Unit 2 test on Monday and Tuesday. We will also continue reading the novel Soldier X. The 2nd book report is due on December 20.
Team Northampton (8th) (Twitter @TeamSpartanNMS Team Leader Mrs. Hood) Hershey PARK forms will be given out Monday, January 6th. PLEASE ask to see them. If you have any questions about the Hershey Park trip, please feel free to email Mrs. Hood. In History class, students will inquiry into whether the Boston Tea Party was an act of Vandalism or Activism. Students will create their own authentic products using a variety of media. This historical event continues to tie into the importance of understanding different historical perspectives and their interpretations. Clips from the History Channel’s Sons of Liberty and John Adams Documentary Mini Series will continue to supplement the curriculum. In Science class, we will be Counting Atoms and Elements. Quiz on Tues. In Math 8 classes, Unit 3 Test on Wednesday. In Algebra class, Unit 3 Test on Tuesday.. In Advance Math class, Unit 3 Test on Wednesday. In English class (Hinkel and Wallach) we are working on unit 2 of StudySync. Please be sure to check StudySync daily for any missed or incomplete assignments. We are also starting to infuse a novel study with our curriculum. Block classes are continuing to read The Contender by Robert Lipsyte and the other class is reading You Don’t Know Me by David Klass. We are working on figurative language in text and literary elements. Students have been writing short essays in preparation for our formal metaphor analysis writing assignment. Please be sure students have their own set of earbuds so they can listen to the text online and watch the content-related videos! Please encourage your child to check Schoology for grades, assignments and future events. It is their responsibility to communicate with teachers for clarification and if an absence occurs.
****************************************************************************
Team Pitt (Health and PE/FCS) (Twitter @NMSTeamPitt )
All classes will be in the gym this week. Bring your gym clothes Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. You will not need to change Thursday and Friday.
****************************************************************************
Extracurricular Activities
Is your child interested in an after-school club or activity? Email the advisor for more information!
AM Basketball (Mayes) Tuesdays & Thursdays from 7:15am to 7:45am. All students are required to attend breakfast after practice. Doors only open at 7:15am, so do not come late!
Anime Club (Advisors Ms. Fehr/Mrs. Wallach) None at this time.
Art Club (Advisors Mrs. Kozero/Mrs. Lund) None at this time.
Artsmart @ Banana Factory (Advisor Mrs. Lare) None at this time.
Dance Team (Advisor Dr. Sierra) None at this time.
German Club (Advisor Mrs. Sofka) German club meets every day 1 during 1st period in Mrs. Sofka’s room 313. Our next meeting is Monday, 12/16. We will be learning about and celebrating Skt. Nikolaus Tag. German club is currently full due to space and is limited to Mrs. Sofka and Ms. Schwartz’s students only. Please see Mrs. Sofka if you are still interested in joining.
Heart & Sole Club (Advisor TBA) None at this time.
Fitness Club ( Advisor Mrs. Oliver) Fitness club this week will be on Wednesday and Thursday until 4pm
FCS/DIY Club (Advisor Mrs. Hoffman) None at this time.
French Club (Advisor Mrs. Lare) None at this time.
Intramurals (Advisor Mr. Ortwein) None at this time.
Leadership Council (Advisor Mr. Kocon)
Lion Service Club (Advisor Mrs. McLaughlin) None at this time.
Lion’s Pride (online school newspaper) (Advisor Ms. Bouhana) We will meet after school in room 201.We will start working on our second edition. The last articles and stories have been added to our first edition. Click on the following link to access it. Newspaper Link
Mathcounts (Advisor Ms. Novatnak) We have a great group of kids, but new students are still welcome to join. Just come to room 213 after school on Thursday! In the fall, MathCounts is an enrichment activity. Students will be working together and helping each other. We meet every Thursday from 3:05 – 4:00, and everyone is welcome. We will hold our school level competition on Monday, January 13th to determine which students will be representing Nitschmann at the Lehigh Valley Chapter Competition on Saturday, February 8th at Trexler Middle School in Allentown. Students who don’t qualify can still come to practices to get stronger for next year. Congratulations to our newly elected officers, President Neil R, Treasurer Owen L, and Secretary Hadi A. Students will be getting information this week about our annual Wawa fundraiser. This fundraiser is crucial to pay competition registration fees in order to continue the program.
National Junior Honor Society (Advisors Mrs. Wallach/Mrs. Druckenmiller) (Twitter-@Njhs_Nitschmann; Instagram- @Njhs_Nistchmann ) We updated some important dates and reminders on Schoology. Please check for our President’s and Vice President’s ideas for this upcoming winter service learning project and our LLS campaign.
Nitschmann Dramatics (Advisor Mrs. Hriniak) Monday and Tuesday Theatrical Makeup Clinic in Mrs. Hriniak’s classroom, Wednesday no rehearsal, Thursday all cast and crew, Friday no rehearsal. See the email from Mrs. Hriniak for updates, calendar, and information.
Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) (Advisor Mr. Amen) PJAS students are to come after school whenever they need help on their projects. Students are encouraged to use pjas.net. Please review your email and bring in all documentation so experimentation can begin.
Reading Olympics (Advisor – Mrs. Nonnemacher) Our first meeting in the new year will be on Wednesday, January 15th, 2020. Please encourage your child to read over the break. The competition is on Thursday, April 16th, 2020. We continue to meet every Wednesday after school until 4 P.M. through the end of February to read, discuss, and write summaries about the books to help us prepare for the competition. We will be meeting until 5 P.M. in March and April up until the competition. A schedule will be sent home for the last few weeks.
Riding for Focus (Advisors Mr. Miller & Mr. Hess) None at this time.
The Lion’s Den School Store (Advisors Ms. Roufakis & Mrs. Evancho)
Application for 6th graders
Online order form….click here. Orders will not be processed until payment is received!
Save the Sea Turtles Club (Advisor Mrs. Oliver) Thanks to a group of very ambitious 7th graders we are continuing our Save the Sea Turtles Club this year! We will meet Fridays after school until 4pm in room 307. Guess what? Nitschmann Middle School adopted a sea turtle this summer. His name is Gerry and he is a resident sea turtle that lives in South Padre Island, Texas. We will have the opportunity to do a virtual field trip and check in on Gerry and the other resident sea turtles. This club is open to grades 6, 7, & 8. We look forward to a great year full of lots of ideas and putting things in action to do our part in saving sea turtles!!
Ski & Snowboard Club (Advisors Mr. Downey) Students were given a form to ask your preference pertaining to bussing. Please fill out the form and return to Mr. Downey ASAP. If you did not see this form, have your child get one from Mr. Downey.
Spanish Club (Advisor Ms. Bouhana) We will meet after school in room 201.
Step Team (Advisor Dr. Sierra) None at this time.
Strategy Club (Advisor Mr. Kehler) None at this time.
Yearbook (Advisor Mrs. Ellis) None at this time.
Nitschmann Middle School Performing Arts Department Updates
****************************************************************************
Nitschmann Middle School Instrumental Music Website (Click Here!)
Mr. Daniel Zettlemoyer, Instrumental Music
Rehearsal Schedule:
1/6 MONDAY Early morning band 7:15 AM (doors open at 7am)
1/7 TUESDAY Early morning orchestra 7:15 AM (doors open at 7am)
Day 1 jazz band 8:25 AM
1/8 WEDNESDAY Early morning jazz band 7:15 AM (doors open at 7am)
1/9 THURSDAY Early morning band 7:15 AM (doors open at 7am)
LHS Auditions for 8th grade students
1/10 FRIDAY Early morning orchestra 7:15 AM (doors open at 7am)
PMEA Elementary Band & Orchestra Festival
SPRING TRIP INFORMATION
- The spring trip this year is for students who are in the orchestra, jazz band, and Nitschmann singers.
- The third payment of $60 is due on Wednesday, January 15. (2nd payment of $60.00 for chaperones)
- Complete details of the trip are on the website at http://www.nmsim.org/spring-trip/
8th GRADE MUSIC AND DRAMA TRIP TO NYC
- The next payment of $50 is on Friday, January 10, 2020
- Complete details regarding the trip can be found at http://www.nmsim.org/8th-grade-trip/
School Instrumental Lesson Information
The lesson groups and schedule information is located HERE.
Fundraising – http://www.nmsim.org/nimas/fundraising/
- Gertrude Hawk Candy Boxes
- Wawa Shortie Hoagie Coupons
- Weis gift cards
- ShopRite gift cards
- Giant gift cards
News of Note
- Take a look at all the fundraising opportunities we currently have going on HERE
- Stay up to date on the latest by following the instrumental music groups on Twitter. @NMSBandOrch
Do not forget to check the Instrumental Music Website www.nmsim.org for everything dealing with instrumental music.
- 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: http://www.nmsim.org/nimas/fundraising/
Calendar at a Glance:
January 9 8th Grade LHS band and orchestra auditions All day
January 10 PMEA Elementary Band & Orchestra Festival (select students) All day
January 10 NYC music and drama trip 2nd payment is due
January 15 NIMAS general membership meeting 7:30 PM
January 15 Spring trip payment #3 for students and payment #2 for chaperones is due.
February 4 All-City Band rehearsal at Northeast M.S.(select students) 7:15 AM
February 5 All-City Band rehearsal at Northeast M.S.(select students) 7:15 AM
February 5 All-City band concert at Northeast 7:30 PM
February 19 NIMAS general membership meeting 7:30 PM
February 19 Winter color guard performance 8:15 PM
Color Guard: Early morning rehearsal on Monday and Thursday at 7:15am.
See the email updates from Mr. Z for specific details and reminders.
Upcoming Events
December 17 String Ensemble to retirement homes (during the school day)
December 17 NIMAS General Membership Meeting 7:30 PM
****************************************************************************
Choral Music (Twitter @ldevriesmusic) Mrs. Linda de Vries, Choral Music Director
Mrs. Jody Parris, Choral Music Director
Important Dates
April 8 8th Grade optional music and drama trip to NYC $140
April 18 Cops and Kids performance
May 6 7:00 PM Glee/Singers Spring Choral Concert at Nitschmann
May 8-9 Optional Music Department Spring Trip to Boston for Nitschmann Singers $310
May 27 7:00 PM Nitschmann Talent Show for Glee and Singers
****************************************************************************
Lions/Lady Lions Athletics Updates (Twitter @NMS_Athletics)
Mr. Jon Ortwein, NMS Athletic Director
A reminder for all students who participate in athletics that keeping your grades up is a requirement of participating at Nitschmann Middle School and Liberty High School. Grades are check bi-weekly by Student Services.
After-School Bus Transportation for Student-Athletes (5:15pm Pickup @ NMS)
Bus Run Stops for NMS Students West: (Stops are as assigned based off the ridership) – Students MUST already receive BASD Bus Transportation home from school.
- W Broad Street (West from 10th Ave to Pennsylvania Ave)
- Pennsylvania Ave (North to Catty Road)
- Catty Road (East to Jacksonville Road)
- Jacksonville Road (North to Hanoverville Road)
- Hanoverville Road (East to 512)
Year-long
Cheerleading (Head Coach Mrs. Long kllong@basdschools.org)
Winter
Boys MS Basketball (Head Coach Mr. Wills)
Girls MS Basketball (Head Coach Mr. Ortwein jortwein@basdschools.org)
Boys & Girls LHS HS Wrestling (Head Coach Mr. Hall)
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)
Girls Field Hockey (Mr. Burzynski bburzynski@basdschools.org)
Intramurals
****************************************************************************
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.