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:
- 6th Grade Student Scheduling for 7th Grade: All 6th grade students received three emails in their BASD Google email this week to select world languages for next year and declare if they are interested in playing a sport this fall. All 6th grade students need to reply to both surveys. If a student does not reply to the world language survey, a world language will be selected for them after this Friday, May 1.
- 7th Grade Student Scheduling for 8th Grade: All 7th grade students received three emails in their BASD Google email this week to select a specialized encore course for next year and declare if they are interested in playing a sport this fall. All 7th grade students need to reply to both surveys. If a student does not reply to the specialized encore survey, they will not have the opportunity to select one after this Friday, May 1.
- 8th Grade Online Moving Up Ceremony: All 8th grade students received an invitation to submit to serve as one of our student speakers in their BASD Google email. In addition, students will receive direction from their homeroom teachers this week to create a personal slide for the video presentation. The ceremony will still be held on Thursday, June 4, 2020.
- Need Chromebook or Schoology help? Any BASD students needing Chromebook or Technology Help should fill out this form https://forms.gle/ZJE6SJNaX6RSSd927 Once submitted, a BASD Information Services Department team member will contact you via email (the email will come from “ISD Service Desk”). The Service Desk will then help you resolve the issue at home or direct you to go to Nitschmann to pick up the needed supplies.
- Do You Want to Recognize an amazing BASD Teacher? This year, The Foundation partnered with the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation to host the award selection process. We are hopeful that with our relationship with you and the community, that we will have far more nominations than ever before. Anyone can nominate a teacher: staff, students, parents/guardians, and/or community members. Nomination Forms are due to The Foundation by Friday, May 8th. The Foundation’s Website – the homepage has all the information about the B.E.S.T. Awards and the Nomination form.
- Week 5 Assignments: All new assignments in Core & Encore classes are posted every Monday at 9am. Don’t forget to encourage your child to complete both sets of assignments, especially in encore classes which provide opportunities to explore and enrich their studies! Week 4 assignments are due on Monday at 12pm.
Parent & Student Weekly Email
Nitschmann Middle School Weekly Update, Home of the Nitschmann Nation!
Sunday, April 26, 2020, to Sunday, May 3, 2020
All of this information can be viewed at our
Nitschmann Middle School Website under Weekly Announcements (Click Here!)
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Links to Review
Schoology Directions for Parents
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Upcoming Dates to Be Proactive!
All dates are listed from our NMS Website, BASD Event Calendar, & BASD Academic Calendar
Weekly Schedule & Highlights
Monday, 4/27/20 Online Day; Week 4 Remote Learning Core & Encore Assignments Due 12pm; Week 5 Remote Learning Begins 9am; Food & Supplies Distribution 10am-1pm
Tuesday 4/28/20 Online Day
Wednesday, 4/29/20 Online Day; Food & Supplies Distribution 10am-1pm
Thursday, 4/30/20 Online Day
Friday, 5/1/20 Online Day, 6th & 7th Scheduling Surveys Due!
Saturday, 5/2/20
Sunday, 5/3/20
Monday, 4/27/20 Online Day; Week 5 Remote Learning Core & Encore Assignments Due 12pm; Week 6 Remote Learning Begins 9am
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Academic Information
Weekly Assignments (Mayes) All students should be working on their weekly core & encore assignments on Schoology. If you have a wifi issue, please email your child’s teacher or guidance counselor (information below).
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School-wide Announcements
BASD E-News (Dr. Roy) This week’s edition of the BASD e-News contains updated COVID-19 information including Dr. Roy’s recent video to BASD Senior Class of 2020. It also contains information regarding Graduation Ceremonies reschedule dates. Did you know that the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley can help you if you are in need of baby and infant essentials? Details can be found in this edition of the BASD e-News.As always we also recognize students and provide details of events in the area. Check out this week’s latest edition. BASD e-News from Dr. Roy
National Junior Honor Society (Wallach) Students should please hold on to their applications until the fall. We will have a new application process when we return to school in the fall and will induct our new members in September.
ADL- NPFH essay contest (Sierra) With the continued spread of COVID-19, and the school closings that have followed, we have made a few changes to the Anti-Defamation League’s Spring 2020 Student Essay Contest, generously sponsored by TD Bank. First place winners receive a $250 Visa gift card. The ADL created an online submission form for students and parents, which can be found here: https://philadelphia.adl.org/npfh-essay-contest The online form can easily be completed by parents, and a PDF or Word/text file of the essay can be uploaded before submission. All essays must be uploaded by Friday, June 12, 2020. (Information is also found in LEAD classes located in Schoology). Students may have already written an essay in LEAD but couldn’t turn them in for the contest. If they saved the work in their google docs, instructions to make a PDF are found in the LEAD class materials. Yes, there are weekly assignments posted in LEAD classes.
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Teacher Updates
Assistant Principal – Mr. Horlick
Student Services:
Each grade level school counselor has OFFICE HOURS where they can share concerns or just talk. Please log on to their schoology group for the Zoom Meeting link or email to arrange a time.
Mrs. Hipp / 8th grade: Tuesdays 9:00-10:00am & Thursdays 11:00am-12:00pm
Mrs. Cenci/ 7th grade: Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:00-10:00am
Ms. Stewart/ 6th grade: Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:00-10:00am
If you have a concern, or you or someone you know is experiencing cyberbullying, please make a SAFE2SAY referral. If it is an immediate safety matter, please contact the Police first.
Team Lafayette (6th) (Twitter @NMSLafayette Team Leader Mrs. Hackman) Hello Team Moravian students and parents! Keep up the great work completing your assignments and putting forth your best effort. We will start office hours this week following the schedule below. No one is required to attend office hours. They are for anyone who might have a question or wants to talk to a certain teacher. Please remember to fill out the language selection form that was sent to your school email by Dr. Mayes ASAP. Have a great week, stay healthy, and be kind to each other.
Team Lehigh (6th) (Twitter @NMSTeamLehigh Team Leader Mrs. Oliver) We are seeing a lot of great work coming out of Team Lehigh. Students are not only completing the required work, we are seeing many students doing enrichment work in various classes and continuing on through the math book. Way to go team!!! We enjoyed reading about you on this week’s Lead lesson for those of you who completed it. If you did not you still have time we would love to read them.
Also check out Mr. Horlick’s Lion Challenge that he posted this past week on Schoology. Everyone needs to get outside!! Again it was nice seeing several of you during our office hours this week. We will continue with them next week as well
The schedule for the “Office Hours” is below. Look for the link to join on Schoology.
Mrs. Druckenmiller Monday 10:00 am to 11:00 pm
Mrsl Hriniak Wednesday 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Mrs. Oliver Thursday 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Mr. Fritzinger Friday 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Hope to see you this week; Stay Healthy!!
Team Moravian (6th) – (Twitter @NMSTeam Moravian/Facebook@NMSTeamMoravian Team Leader Mrs. Roufakis)
Hi Team Moravian students and parents! Hope you are doing well. Please remember to keep checking Schoology for your assignments and announcements. Ms. Roufakis has added Office Hours on Fridays from 1-2. Please check Schoology for the link. You can ask for help or just stop in to say hello. Be patient as she will only be allowing a few students in at a time. If you need another time slot, please email her and she will work with you. Language surveys have been sent out by Dr. Mayes…please make sure to complete the survey as soon as possible. Stay safe!
Mrs. Evancho Tuesday 9-10 AM
Mr. Ortwein Tuesday 10-11 AM
Mrs. Hackman Wednesday 10-11 AM
Team Kutztown (7th) (Twitter @TeamKutztown Team Leader Mr. Hess) Team Kutztown Teachers wish all of our students good health and happiness. ELA (Mr. Falteich and Mrs. Gomez) – This week’s lesson involves reading 7 short fables and recognizing their themes. The assignment is the “First Read – Aesop’s Fables” on Studysync. This MATH (Van Woert) – Make sure you are using ALL the resources given to you in the Weekly folder. Watch the videos THEY WILL HELP YOU. And of Course Email me with questions you have BEFORE you hand in your assignment. Thank you to all students who are trying their best. SCIENCE (Mr. Pearson) – Please make sure that you completed and SUBMITTED THROUGH SCHOOLOGY the “Remote Learning Week #3 Assignments” by Monday, April 20th at 12 noon. This includes the required LEAD assignment that is posted to your Schoology class page. The “Remote Learning Week #4 Assignments” will be posted to Schoology and activated as of Monday, April 20th at 9 AM and are due the following Monday, April 27th at 12 noon. I will post in Schoology an announcement, as well as, a document with specific instructions on how to complete and submit the assignment. As always, keep checking Schoology and email regularly for updates and email me if you have any questions, problems, or just want to keep in touch. Stay safe and healthy! Make sure your child has filled out the specialized encore form ASAP. This is for next year. This form was sent by Dr. Mayes to students’ BASD google email accounts.
Team Penn State (7th) (Twitter @NMSPennState/Facebook @NMSTeamPennState/ Instagram pennstatenms Team Leader Mrs. Miller) Team PSU students are doing an outstanding job completing their course work. Parents and students, please continue to email us (through Schoology or district email) with any assignment that needs clarification or any other difficulty you may be experiencing. Please keep us informed….we are here to help! The team meets weekly with Mrs. Cenci, our guidance counselor, to review any issues that students may be experiencing. Make sure your child has filled out the specialized encore form ASAP. This is for next year. This form was sent by Dr. Mayes to students’ BASD google email accounts. GETZ – Need ELA help? Mrs. Getz is starting “virtual extra help” every Wednesday from 10am – 11am. You can drop in anytime during that hour with a question or just if you’d like to work through some of the assignments together. Check your email for the details. Need Math Help? Mrs. Lafey is going to have “virtual extra help” every Wednesday from 11:30am-12:30pm. You can stop in anytime during that hour if you need help. Find the link in the “Read This Before Starting” letter in this week’s Schoology folder. Please make sure that you’re using all the resources in the weekly folder. The lesson and videos will help you understand the material. If you go directly to the graded assignment without preparing, it will be very difficult for you.
Team East Stroudsburg (8th) (Twitter @@nmsteamesu Team Leader Mr. Amen Instagram @nmsteamesu8)
History students: I have posted MANY videos that are OPTIONAL, they are meant to bridge the gap in the chapters or topics that were not covered. The videos are short, and OPTIONAL. Crash course videos on Youtube are great reviews for various history topics, again OPTIONAL.Honors History Students can challenge themselves with Khan Academy History Lessons. ELA students should check Schoology Monday morning for your weekly Study Sync assignments. Two of the assignments are mandatory and graded and two are optional/enrichment activities.. As always, Mrs. Pogue and Mr. Danyi are available to answer any of your questions. Look for the information onCurrent Events Zoom Meetings on Tuesday afternoons. The format for how you will be submitting math work might be changing. Mr. Vajda and Mrs. Jarosz are looking into other options, such as MathXL, that you are already familiar with and that will help provide you with more feedback. PLEASE UTILIZE OFFICE HOURS for help with math. It is so much easier to show you how to do the work than it is to explain via email. But any contact is welcome when you need help. IF you have any ideas as to how to celebrate the end of the year – taking the place of an in-person ceremony, feel free to forward those ideas to Mr. Amen.
Team Northampton (8th) (Twitter @TeamSpartanNMS Team Leader Mrs. Hood) Thank you to our students who are putting in the time and effort into completing the online assignments. We greatly appreciate this:) It is about making yourself proud – which we talked about on Day 1. Continue to reach out via email if you have any questions or need help with any assignments! We have and will always be here for you. In ELA classes (Hinkel and Wallach), we are posting 3 ELA StudySync assignments each Monday morning. Two are extension/enrichment activities and one is a mandatory and graded assignment. Please look on Schoology for complete updates and directions and email us with any questions and/or concerns. We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Mrs. Hinkel has started holding virtual office hours on Wednesdays from 2-3 pm. If you need any assistance with your ELA work, please use the link provided in the email every Wednesday morning to visit during those office hours. Math students should check Schoology Monday morning for your weekly assignment. I have also posted additional materials to help with the assignment (guided notes / formula sheets, video tutorials, practice worksheets (with answers) and additional Math XL and IXL sections (all optional).
History – as per the District Assignment – Week 5’s lesson will answer the question, “How did various social reform movements alter United States society, and lead to the abolition movement in the antebellum United States?” If you are interested the National Constitution Center is a fantastic resource to check out for virtual town halls, live constitutional classes, interactive website activities, and much more. https://constitutioncenter.org/ In Science we will be continuing the study of Waves.
Encore (All Grades): There are weekly assignments for ALL Encore classes.
From Mr. Carlstrom. Thanks for everyone’s hard work. For week 5 I will include in the assignment some additional tutorials produced by my friend and a teacher at NEMS. Please follow the instructions and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Kocon & Burzynski:
Music (de Vries): I’d like to extend a huge “thank you” to all of the parents and siblings who have been helping and encouraging students with their music assignments! I’m impressed with the work everyone is doing. Students, you taught me a lot of new things with your Google slides this week. Ready for the week 5 lesson? This week, you will interview an older person to discover how their taste in music differs from your own. Did you miss some of the past assignments? All lessons will be open until the rotation ends on May 5. Jump in and earn some cool new badges for your profile. I will give personalized feedback on every single lesson submitted. Please message me if you need help with anything.
Spanish (Bouhana & Sierra): ¡Gracias! To all those who have been completing the weekly assignments. Make sure to check Schoology for your weekly assignments. If you have any questions, feel free to message me directly on Schoology or email me. Email if you want to meet outside of posted zoom times. (If there are no times noted, just send an email- an appointment will be made and the link will be sent to you).
French (Lare): Bonjour à tous et vous me manquez! Hello everyone – I miss you all! Thanks to most of you who are keeping up with the French assignments posted in Schoology. I’m especially impressed with your recorded responses! A special message to 8th grade students – letters from France are here! If you’d like to get a letter (or two) from one of the middle school students in France, please let me know via email. (Please don’t request a letter unless you are committed to writing a thoughtful response.) The French students will be thrilled to hear from you!
German (Sofka u. Schwarz): Hallo alle!! We are bummed that we won’t be able to see most of you until next year, but we want to make sure you have access to awesome German review activities! Coming soon… Have you ever wondered who first settled this area of PA? Tune in to next week’s assignment to find out! As always, check Schoology for your weekly assignments and announcements from us. We are thrilled with the hard work you are putting into the assignments! If you have any questions, feel free to message us on Schoology or email us.
Team PITT (Hoffman/Villani/Long/Weinert):
Library (Pohlidal) Hello from the online library! Are you ready to try some engineering, coding or mindfulness activities? I’ve added some fun challenges called “INNOVATION HOUR” to the library web page. Take a look and give them a try! Send me an email and let me know how you did. I hope you are continuing to read. I’ve added a few more options for eBooks so you have lots more from which to choose. Mrs. Pohlidal
ESL (Bartolacci)
Art (Lund/Kozero) Check Schoology for your weekly assignment. Fun at-home projects!! Don’t be afraid to challenge
yourself with the Enrichment Extensions!! Check out the Nitschmann Virtual Art Show #1 highlighting student work at https://vimeo.com/408694439. We are already putting together a 2nd show!
Gifted Seminar ( Sukanick/Kozero) Make sure to keep up with assignments on Schoology. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact us by email or on Schoology. Stay well.
Nitschmann Middle School Performing Arts Department Updates
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Nitschmann Middle School Instrumental Music Website (Click Here!)
Mr. Daniel Zettlemoyer, Instrumental Music
- Parent links and resources are posted on WWW.NMSIM.ORG
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- I am moving forward with the traditional scheduling of all our events for next year. All dates are subject to change pending federal, state, and local directives due to the pandemic.
- NIMAS is working on a process with the LHSGB&OP to roll over 8th grade fair share funds for students who will be participating in the high school instrumental program. While you may have questions, we are asking that you hold them for the time being as there we have many ourselves. Once we have a plan in place we will distribute the information and we can begin to move forward specifics and answer your questions,
8th GRADE MUSIC AND DRAMA TRIP UPDATE
We have begun the processing refunds for the 8th grade trip. You will receive an invoice with your financial details. If you have not done so, please go to the 8th grade trip website to submit your request for a refund
Complete details are on the website at http://www.nmsim.org/8th-grade-trip/
FUNDRAISERS
- NEW Fun Pasta – March 7 – April 30 (Click here for information)
- 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/
SPRING TRIP TO BOSTON
We are waiting for the last of the vendors to get back to us. Once that occurs we will follow a similar process for refunds as we did for the 8th grade trip.
Complete details of the trip are on the website at http://www.nmsim.org/spring-trip/
COLOR GUARD:
LHS MAJORETTES & BAGPIPES
- Any individuals who are interested in auditioning for or joining any of our auxiliary units (majorettes, bagpipes and colour guard) to please be patient. Realistically, auditions may not occur until summertime or early fall. I know many of our rising 8th graders would like a definitive answer but at this time we have none and it would be irresponsible for me to give one. Stay well and stay safe. Mr. Long
PRACTICE INFORMATION
- Each week your child receives an email via Schoology with the assignments for the week. I will mirror that email to parents through our NIMAS parent email account.
We are all experiencing a substantial disruption in our lives. The assignments are created to provide your child with a basic level of instruction to keep them engaged and to help them maintain their performance level. Encourage your child to practice and complete the worksheets. If they are getting upset because they have hit a performance roadblock, send me an email and I will do what I can to help them. I am working on additional resources to assist your child.
ONLINE LISTENING
- Jazz for Kids – Featuring Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
- Army Field Band Virtual Concerts – The US Army Field Band will program daily content, to include live, interactive performances..
- List of live virtual concerts during the Coronavirus shutdown.
- Jazz at Lincoln Center – Schedule of weekly online events and performances
NEWS OF NOTE:
- LHS bagpipe information – If you are interested in receiving information regarding playing the bagpipes at Liberty text @piping2020 to the number 81010.
- Any individuals who are interested in auditioning for or joining any of our auxiliary units (majorettes, bagpipes and colour guard) to please be patient. Realistically, auditions may not occur until summertime or early fall. I know many of our rising 8th graders would like a definitive answer but at this time we have none and it would be irresponsible for me to give one.
Stay well and stay safe
Mr. Long
- 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.
CALENDAR AT A GLANCE:
ALL DATES ARE TENTATIVE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
August 10-14 Summer Music Camp
August 17-21 Summer Music Camp
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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.