NMS_September 6 Parent & Guardian Weekly Email Information

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

2020_9_6_Parent Weekly Email (1)

Link to .pdf of Sunday Email:

This Week’s Major Headlines:

 

• Labor Day: There is no school, Zoom meetings, etc.  on Monday, September 7, 2020 for the Labor Day Holiday  

• Patriot Day: We encourage all students & staff to wear red, white, & blue on Friday in honor of our celebration of Patriot Day to remember the  9/11 tragedy. 

• NMS Back to School Night: Nitschmann’s Back to School Night will be held virtually this year on Monday, September 21, 2020 from 6pm-8pm. Please watch next week’s Sunday Email for details!

• Core & Encore Assignments: A reminder for all students that all assignments in core and encore classes are required & graded as normal. 

• Attendance Assignment DAILY!: Students MUST complete the attendance assignment in Citizenship Monday-Friday by 3pm daily to be marked present when @ Home! 

 

Parent & Student Weekly Email

Nitschmann Middle School Weekly Update, Home of the Nitschmann Nation!

Sunday, September 6, 2020, to Sunday, September 13, 2020

All of this information can be viewed at our NMS Website at Weekly Announcements (Click Here!)

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Links to Review

Schoology Directions for Parents

BASD Parent Portals Link (Schoology, Home Access Center, SchoolCafe, etc.)

BASD Dashboard & Internet Provider Resources at this link.  

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Upcoming Dates to Be Proactive! Weekly Schedule & Highlights

All dates are listed from our NMS Website, BASD Event Calendar, & BASD Academic Calendar 

 

Day	Date	Cycle Day	Notes	Hybrid A-L	Hybrid M-Z	e-Classroom
Monday	9/7	None	No School for Students or Staff (No Zoom Mtgs for e-Classroom) Labor Day Holiday
Tuesday	9/8	Day 3/Odd Day	8th Grade Math Testing  Hybrid A-L – In-School	@ School	@ Home HR 8:15am	@ Home HR 8:15am
Wednesday	9/9	Day 3/Odd Day	8th Grade Math Testing  Hybrid M-Z – In-School e-Classroom 3:30-4:30pm Cafeteria (Use Main Entrance)	@ Home HR 8:15am	@ School	@ Home HR 8:15am
Thursday	9/10	Day 4/Even Day		@ School	@ Home HR 8:15am	@ Home HR 8:15am
Friday	9/11	Day 4/Even Day	NMS Patriot Day Wear Red/White/& Blue	@ Home HR 8:15am	@ School	@ Home HR 8:15am

 

Day	Date	Cycle Day	Notes	Hybrid A-L	Hybrid M-Z	e-Classroom
Monday	9/14	None		@ Home No HR	@ Home No HR	@ Home No HR PM Zooms
Tuesday	9/15	Day 5/Odd Day		@ School	@ Home HR 8:15am	@ Home HR 8:15am
Wednesday	9/16	Day 5/Odd Day	Full Day of School  The ½ Day schedule has been changed.	@ Home HR 8:15am	@ School	@ Home HR 8:15am
Thursday	9/17	Day 6/Even Day		@ School	@ Home HR 8:15am	@ Home HR 8:15am
Friday	9/18	Day 6/Even Day	Founders Day -Birthday of David Nitschmann Wear Blue & White!	@ Home HR 8:15am	@ School	@ Home HR 8:15am

 

Day	Date	Cycle Day	Notes	Hybrid A-L	Hybrid M-Z	e-Classroom
Monday	9/21	None	NMS Back to School Night (Virtual – Watch for Information) 6pm-8pm	@ Home No HR	@ Home No HR	@ Home No HR PM Zooms
Tuesday	9/22	Day 1/Odd Day	School Picture Day A-L Hybrid – During School E-Classroom 3:30pm-5:30pm	@ School	@ Home HR 8:15am	@ Home HR 8:15am
Wednesday	9/23	Day 1/Odd Day	School Picture Day M-Z Hybrid – During School E-Classroom 3:30pm-5:30pm	@ Home HR 8:15am	@ School	@ Home HR 8:15am
Thursday	9/24	Day 2/Even Day		@ School	@ Home HR 8:15am	@ Home HR 8:15am
Friday	9/25	Day 2/Even Day		@ Home HR 8:15am	@ School	@ Home HR 8:15am

 

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School-wide Announcements (All Hybrid & e-Classroom Students)

 

Labor Day: There is no school, Zoom meetings, etc.  on Monday, September 7, 2020 for the Labor Day Holiday  

 

Patriot Day: We encourage all students & staff to wear red, white, & blue on Friday in honor of our celebration of Patriot Day to remember 9/11. 

 

NMS Back to School Night: Nitschmann’s Back to School Night will be held virtually this year on Monday, September 21, 2020. Please watch the Sunday Email for details!

 

Student Chromebooks: All students should charge their laptops and check them for updates daily. If a student has an issue, enter a request for help on the NMS Website. 

 

Schoolwide Library Services (Werkheiser) 

Email Mrs. Werkheiser at lwerkheiser@basdschools.org for help with books or services! 

 

Library Services will open this week with appointments by English teachers. Students – please check with your 

English teachers for your time to borrow library books!

 

e-Classroom students can check out library books! Email Mrs. Werkheiser for help and to pull the books you want 

to borrow. They will be available for pickup at the Main Entrance during normal office hours. 

 

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Hybrid Only Announcements

ALL Students MUST complete their attendance assignments daily M-F in their Schoology Citizenship Course!

@ Home Students MAY attend Homeroom on Zoom daily Tuesday-Friday to check in with their homeroom teacher!

Students have assignments every day to compete in Schoology Monday-Friday. 

 

Hybrid 8th Grade Math Testing (Mayes) 8th Grade hybrid students will participate in 8th Grade Math Algebra Testing on Tuesday & Wednesday next week during school. 

 

School Picture Days (Mayes) School picture days will be held on Tuesday 9/22 and Wednesday 9/23 during the school day. Students will wear their mask, except when their photo is taken. 

 

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e-Classroom Only Announcements

ALL Students MUST complete their attendance assignments daily M-F in their Schoology Citizenship Course!

@ Home Students MAY attend Homeroom on Zoom daily Tuesday-Friday to check in with their homeroom teacher!

Students have assignments every day to compete in Schoology Monday-Friday. 

Office Hours will be posted by teachers in their Schoology courses. 

 

e-Classroom 8th Grade Math Testing (Mayes) 8th Grade e-Classroom students are encouraged to participate in 8th Grade Math Algebra Testing on Wednesday, September 9 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. This is not required, but encouraged to confirm math placement. Masks are required. 

 

School Picture Days (Mayes) School picture days will be held on Tuesday 9/22 and Wednesday 9/23 from 3:30pm-5:30pm in the Auditorium. Only students may enter and must wear a mask, except when their photo is taken. 

 

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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

Schoology Directions for Parents

https://www.safe2saypa.org/ 

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. 

 

 

Welcome Nitschmann Nation!  

 

We are thrilled to start a new school year.  As a school counseling department, we are here to help students navigate through the wonderful and sometimes challenging, middle school years.  Each counselor is fully invested in their class of students and follows that class for the three years of middle school. Our mission is to support and advocate for students, while collaborating with parents, teachers, administrators, and other key members of our community. Throughout the year, we will be available to assist students with the following:

 

• Educational and personal goal planning
• Academic strategies and support
• Problem-solving and decision making 
• Stress and anxiety
• Organization and study skills
• Peer relationships and conflict resolution 
• Anger management  
• Grief and loss
• Crisis intervention
• Career exploration

 

Please feel free to reach out to your grade level school counselor through email or schoology with any questions or concerns throughout the year. We are looking forward to working together to support our students. 

 

Guidance Welcome Letter ENGLISH SPANISH

 

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BASD Dining Services 

 https://www.basdschools.org/dining

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**************************************************************************** Nitschmann Parent Group (NPG) (Twitter!@NitschmannPG)

nitschmannparentgroup@gmail.com

Executive Committee President 

PAC Representatives 

 

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Core & Encore Team Updates 

Team Lafayette (6th) (Twitter @NMSLafayette Team Leader Mrs. Hackman) We had a great start last week. It was great meeting everyone. Make sure you are completing your daily attendance on Schoology every day. Also, make sure you are checking for new assignments in every class on Schoology. An email was sent to e-Classroom students with information on future zoom check-ins. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us through email. 

 

Team Lehigh (6th) (Twitter @NMSTeamLehigh/ Facebook @NitschmannTeamLehigh Team Leader Mrs. Oliver)  Welcome to Team Lehigh!  Week 1 is in the books.  We enjoyed meeting you and think we have some really nice groups of decent human beings this year.   Hopefully you have already settled into a good routine of school work each day whether you are here or at home.  We want to remind you that you should do the daily attendance log every day (here or at home) and get in the habit of checking your email and schoology for updates and assignments. We are here to help as we navigate through these unusual times. The best way to reach us is through email. From there we can direct you to when our office hours are or set one up for you if need be. Please do not hesitate to ask. We can not help you if we do not know you need help!!  We are in this together; We will succeed together!!!  Go Mountain Hawks

 

Team Moravian (6th) – (Twitter @NMSTeam Moravian/Facebook@NMSTeamMoravian Team Leader Mrs. Roufakis)  Team Moravian…what a great week we had! We are excited for week two.  Make sure that you are completing your attendance assignments everyday and checking Schoology for your assignments. E-Classroom students…we will be having office hours on Tuesdays from 1:35 to 2:18. Check your Schoology course or the calendar for the link.

 

Team Kutztown (7th)(Twitter @TeamKutztown Team Leader Mr. Falteich) We enjoyed seeing many of you back at NMS.

All students – Please remember to answer the attendance question all days that you are working from home; this way you will not be marked absent.

Hybrid students MUST complete all Schoology assignments on days that you are working at home.

Team Kutztown’s teachers understand that there are many new procedures this year, so please email any teachers that you may have questions for, and they will respond promptly.

E-Classroom students should continue to check Schoology each day to see if teachers have added additional material.  Be sure to attend the required Zoom sessions with each of your teachers on Monday and check in with us during our Zoom Office Hours if you have any questions.

Social Studies:  Next week we will be analyzing the data from the article on expected salaries based on education/skill level.  We will also begin studying the 5 Themes of Geography and how they relate to major cities in the USA.

Math: We will take a look at integers and rational numbers as well as where we see them in real life examples.

Science (Mr. Pearson): The “Common Equipment in the Science Laboratory” assignment is due on Monday (A – L & E-Classroom) and Tuesday (M – Z).  This week we will be discussing laboratory safety procedures.  Students will then be given an assessment on lab equipment and safety on Tuesday, September 15th (A- L) and Wednesday, September 16th (M – Z & E-Classroom) of the following week.  Study guides for the assessment will be given out this week.  The format of the assessment will be discussed in class for hybrid students and during our required Zoom sessions on Mondays for E-Classroom students.  This information will also be posted to Schoology.

 

Team Penn State (7th) (Twitter @NMSPennState/Facebook @NMSTeamPennState/ Instagram pennstatenms Team Leader Mrs. Getz)  Team Penn State is off to a great start. We held a virtual zoom meeting Teacher Trivia where students got to learn interesting facts about their teachers. We also had a “This or That” team activity outside where students learned about making individual choices while still being part of a team. E-Classroom students met with each other and took a photo based on their interpretation of the word “Team”. Students should be comfortable working in Schoology and accessing assignments. Please make sure that students are checking Schoology for assignments every @ home day!! 

E-Classroom Students: Zoom office hours on Friday afternoon. Check Schoology courses for times. Make sure you are doing the attendance every school day between 8:00am – 3:00pm. 

Hybrid Students – Check Schoology courses every @ home day and complete your daily attendance each @ home day. 

 

Team DeSales (8th) (Team Leader Mrs. Pogue): We really enjoyed getting to know all of our students this week- hybrid and e-learning- through flip grid and our zoom kahoot! Please remember to bring your supplies daily to school: laptop, charger, dry erase marker, pencil, notebooks, hand sanitizer, etc. A planner would also be helpful to keep yourself organized this year. In Language Arts, students will continue to discover the importance of their identities as they relate to language. We will also begin our first unit: Everyone Loves a Mystery. For Social Studies, please begin to follow developments in the upcoming Presidential election, find reliable and unbiased  sources of information. Parents please join the conversation, ask your student about discussions in history class. The National Constitution Center website has unbiased and nonpartisan information. 

 

Team Northampton (8th) (Twitter @TeamSpartanNMS Team Leader Mrs. Hood)   It was GREAT to meet all of our students this week, whether through Hybrid or E-Classroom Learning!  Make sure you have all your regular school and personal supplies(headphones, folders, planner, hand sanitizer, wipes, water bottle, laptop charger and case, bookbag, etc), ready to go for  next week.  Don’t forget no planners this year, so make sure you have a system in place to keep track of assignments and stay organized. In History, we will be focusing on the essential question: How the unique experiences of the colonists shaped the future political and social ideas in the New World?  Immigration and early voting rights will be part of the discussion. We will also take a look at the significance of September 11th and connect that to our Iconic Image Google Slide Project.  Mondays will be set aside for “Hot Topics” discussing issues related to race and identity, social justice and equality, environmental justice, the 2020 election, among others.   Communication is KEY!  Reach out to your teachers if you have any questions with assignments.  Stay on track when working from home, this will reduce stress and anxiety.  

 

Team Pitt (Encore) (Twitter @NMSTeamPitt Team Leader Mrs. Hoffman) We are excited to see everyone, please make sure to wear your gym clothes to school; athletic clothes and sneakers that tie! Make sure to complete your online assignments. All assignments due every Friday at 11:59pm. 

 

Team Bloomsburg (Encore World Language and Library) (Twitter @NMSBloomsburg / Team Leader Dr. Sierra)- Awesome first week! Continue to complete your online assignments by the due dates as noted on Schoology.  If you have any questions, email your teacher.  Office hours (zoom) are noted on Schoology.  You will be able to visit the library soon~ listen for announcements.

 

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Extracurricular Activities

Is your child interested in an after-school club or activity? Email the advisor for more information!

 

Activities will begin in mid-September, 2020. 

 

AM Basketball (Mayes) 

 

Anime Club (Advisors Ms. Fehr/Mrs. Wallach)  None at this time. 

 

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

  

Artsmart @ Banana Factory (Advisor Mrs. Lare) None at this time. 

 

Dance Team (Advisor Dr. Sierra) Will not begin until the end of Sep/ beginning of Oct.  Announcements will be made.  Contact me w/ any questions. 

 

French Club – (Advisor Mrs. Lare)  None at this time. 

 

German Club (Advisor Mrs. Sofka) None at this time. 

 

Fitness Club ( Advisor Mrs. Oliver)  None at this time. 

 

FCS/DIY Club (Advisor Mrs. Hoffman) None at this time. 

 

Intramurals (Advisor Mr. Ortwein)  None at this time. 

 

Leadership Council (Advisor Mr. Kocon) None at this time. 

 

Lion Service Club (Advisor Mrs. McLaughlin) None at this time. 

 

Lion’s Pride (online school newspaper)  (Advisor Ms. Bouhana) None at this time. 

 

Mathcounts (Advisor Mrs. Novatnak Lafey) None at this time. 

 

National Junior Honor Society  (Advisors Mrs. Wallach/Mrs. Druckenmiller) (Twitter-@Njhs_Nitschmann; Instagram- @Njhs_Nistchmann ) None at this time. 

 

Nitschmann Dramatics (Advisor Mrs. Hriniak)  Nitschmann Dramatics is proud to announce this year’s show is Hairspray Jr.!  Information is available on Mrs. Hriniak’s website.  We will update information as we receive more details. https://sites.google.com/a/basdschools.org/mrs-hriniak/dramatics

 

Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) (Advisor TBA) None at this time. 

 

Reading Olympics (Advisor – Mrs. Nonnemacher) The 2020-2021 Reading Olympics book list is available online on Nitschmann’s website under library. They are also available in the library. Information coming soon on when and how we will begin meeting. T-shirts from last year will be coming this week or next. We will make sure that all students from last year’s Reading Olympics receive them. 

 

Riding for Focus (Advisors Mr. Miller & Mr. Bellucci) 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)  None at this time. 

 

Ski & Snowboard Club (Advisors Mr. Downey and Mrs. Druckenmiller) None at this time. 

 

Spanish Club (Advisor Ms. Bouhana) None at this time. 

 

Step Team (Advisor Dr. Sierra) Will not begin until the end of Sep/ beginning of Oct.  Announcements will be made.  Contact me w/ any questions.  

 

Strategy Club (Advisor Mr. Kehler) None at this time. 

 

Yearbook (Advisor TBA) None at this time. 

 

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Nitschmann Middle School Performing Arts Department Updates

Nitschmann Middle School Instrumental Music Website (Click Here!)

Mr. Daniel Zettlemoyer, Instrumental Music 

 

Parents– Check your Cut Time profile for the weekly news.

 

Jazz band audition recordings are due on September 7 at 9pm.  

 

School instrumental music lessons begin on Tuesday. Check your email for your date and time.

 

October 14, 15, 16 – Dine to donate SMILE at Pat’s Pizza & Bistro. Help support small business and NIMAS all at the same time. DETAILS

AMAZON SMILE

The Nitschmann Instrumental Music Association is 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.

You shop. Amazon gives.

• Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice.

• AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service.

• Support your charitable organization by starting your shopping at smile.amazon.com

• Questions? Learn more about AmazonSmile

DIRECTIONS:

• Log on to Amazon Smile.  https://smile.amazon.com/

• If you can search for a charity from your home page type in:  Nitschmann Instrumental Music Association.

• If you cannot search from the home page click on YOUR ACCOUNT.

• Under Settings, look for Change your Charity.

• Click on Change your Charity.

• In the search box type Nitschmann Instrumental Music Association.

• Click on the select button to the right of NIMA.

• Create a bookmark, CTRL D, and shop away.

 

Color Guard Updates:  You should be working on the following at home every day:

1. March for at least 10 minutes (your choice of music)
2. Review basic skills, spins, and routines (YouTube playlist is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMBPh7pCik7MnNmg7B44KMw)
3. Check for updates on Cut Time

 

Choral Music (Twitter @ldevriesmusic)  Mrs. Linda de Vries, Choral Music Director    

Mrs. Jody Parris, Choral Music Director

 

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Lions/Lady Lions Athletics Updates (Twitter @NMS_Athletics)

Mr. Jon Ortwein, NMS Athletic Director

 

2020-2021 Sports Physicals (Ortwein)  BASD Physical Forms must be completed. Please submit completed forms to the Student Services Office.  The forms are available at this link. 

 

Year-long

Cheerleading (Head Coach Mrs. Long kllong@basdschools.org)

 

Fall

Boys Football (Head Coach Mr. Shemanski  mshemanski@basdschools.org)

 

Co-Ed Cross Country (Head Coach Miss Schwartz lschwartz@basdschools.org)

 

Girls Volleyball (Head Coach Mrs. Hinkel ahinkel@basdschools.org)

Mrs. Hinkel and Mrs. Van Woert are looking forward to meeting our future Lady Lions later this month.  Please make sure you have a completed physical form prior to the start of practice and continue getting in shape.  As we start school, please check your email and listen to the morning announcements for details about tryout times and locations.

 

Girls Field Hockey (Mr. Burzynski bburzynski@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)

 

Spring

Girls MS Softball (Head Coach Mr. Kocon ekocon@basdschools.org)

 

Co-Ed MS Soccer (Head Coach Mr. Rodenbach srodenbach@basdschools.org )

 

Intramurals

 

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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.