Parent & Student Weekly Email
Nitschmann Middle School Weekly Update
100 Years of Learning @ Home of the Nitschmann Nation
Sunday, October 10, 2021, to Sunday, October 17, 2021
Download the BASD App and select “Nitschmann” to receive all alerts to your phone.
- Kick off of our 2021 Walk-A-Thon! Our annual Walk-A-Thon raises nearly all of the money for student activities & trips throughout the year. Register your child at www.getmovinfundhub.com with the School Identifier code 5f885baf4d3fa and make a donation, then spread the word to families and friends. That’s all it takes to get started to help us reach our school goal to support our Student Activities Fund for activities & trips! See the information here! Students will be provided a free t-shirt for Walk-A-Thon day on Friday, 10/22!
- Masks – A reminder to all students to carry a spare mask in their bookbag. We’ve had an increase in students asking for replacement masks at the doors and when inexpensive ones break. We do not have an unlimited supply!
- American Education Week – Open visitations will not be held district-wide during BASD American Education Week this week.
- Boys Volleyball – Students who are interested in playing boys volleyball intramural inbetween the fall & sports seasons should email Mr. Rodenbach at srodenbach@basdschools.org this week to get on the list & prepare for the November 4th tournament at Liberty High School.
***Links to Review ******************************************************************************
BASD Parent Portals Link (Schoology, Home Access Center, SchoolCafe, etc.)
***Weekly Schedule & Highlights @ BASD NMS Event Calendar*****************************************
See all long-term events on our BASD NMS Event Calendar on the BASD Website
| Day | Date | Cycle Day | Notes |
| Monday | 10/11 | 5 | |
| Tuesday | 10/12 | 6 | |
| Wednesday | 10/13 | 1 | |
| Thursday | 10/14 | 2 | |
| Friday | 10/15 | 3 | Friday “Pink-Out” for students & staff |
***School-wide Announcements ************************************************************************
BASD eNews from Dr. Roy – This week’s edition of the BASD eNews features…
-TheThree Air Products Diversity in Education Winners
-Student Spotlight highlighting a Freedom High School Senior
-LHS Walk-a-Thon – October 9
-Drive through Flu/COVID Vaccine on November 14 at Freedom High School
BASD eNews from Dr. Roy – October 8, 2021
Schoolwide Library Services (Werkheiser) lwerkheiser@basdschools.org for help with books or services.
The library website is full of resources for students.
Book suggestions for the coming week
🧠🧠Wednesday, October 13 is TRAIN YOUR BRAIN DAY! Feed your brain by reading a book!🧠🧠
👐👐GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY is October 15. Read about viruses and why washing hands is so important.👐👐
The Lion’s Den School Store (Roufakis & Evancho) – The school store is selling 100th Birthday shirts to celebrate Nitschmann’s birthday. They are $10. Be sure to get yours and your child’s to wear to all of this year’s special events. Help us celebrate 100 years of Lion’s pride!
***Student Services Updates ************************************************************************
Contact Members of the Student Services Team by email: Mrs. Woodson, Assistant Principal; Mrs. Scott, SSC Guidance Secretary; Mrs. Falcone, SSC Attendance Secretary
6th Grade: Mr. Kehler’s Counseling Google Site for Students Donate:Library Equity, A Quiet Place, Hanging around
7th Grade: Mrs. Hipp’s Counseling Google Site for Students
8th Grade: Ms. Stewart’s Counseling Google Site for Students
Tutoring Opportunity through Bethlehem Area Public Library
***Core & Encore Team Updates *********************************************************************
Team Lafayette (6th) (Twitter @NMSLafayette Team Leader Mrs. Hackman) See our welcome letter on the NMS Website! Congratulations to our Pride of the Lions winners for the month: Abiola Adeyemo, Mabel Makovsky, and Ethan Santee. Please be sure to visit the NMS website to register your child for the Walk-a-thon. Donations help us to fund many things at NMS, but at the very least, we are asking that you login to register every student on our team. Remember that all of October we will have Pink Out Friday’s… wear your pink to show your support for all in the battle with breast cancer.
Team Lehigh (6th) (Twitter @NMSTeamLehigh/ Facebook @NitschmannTeamLehigh Team Leader Mrs. Oliver) See our welcome letter on the NMS Website! Interim Progress Reports should have arrived home in the mail or will be in the next day or two. We encourage you to have a discussion with your child about their progress. Keep in mind that these grades were as of last Friday or early this past week. Grades change on a daily basis. Please go on to your child’s schoology grade reports, check current grades and for missing assignments and/or assignments that can be re-done or remediate and get these done as soon as possible. We are all here for extra help if your child needs it.
Team Moravian (6th) – (Twitter @NMSTeam Moravian/Facebook@NMSTeamMoravian Team Leader Mrs. Roufakis) See our welcome letter on the NMS Website! Mid-Quarter will be mailed home soon. Please know the most up-to-date grade is in Schoology. That is the best place to find your child’s current grade. Continue to have your child show you his/her grades on a frequent basis and encourage him/her to complete any missing assignments. We are halfway through the first quarter and students will start to lose points for late work. The team is available for extra help before and after school. Please talk to your teacher about availability. Lastly, please make sure computers are being charged every night and the chargers are being brought to school.
Team Kutztown (7th)(Twitter @TeamKutztown) – English (Mr. Falteich) –This week we will continue our author study (H.H. Munro). There will be a quiz on Monday on the first 4 stories that we read. (“The Interlopers,” “Gabriel Ernest,” “The Storyteller,” and “The Lumber Room.”) For Monday’s quiz, students must know the terms irony, conflict, theme, setting, foreshadowing, and inference. Social Studies (Mr. Danyi) – We will finish Unit 2 section 2.2 and focus on the Human-Environment Interactions in the USA and Canada. We will begin section 2.3 on the People and Culture of North America. Students should be studying the States locations by region on a daily basis. Math (Mrs. Evancho) – Period 8 students will be starting Unit3 this week. The remaining classes will be wrapping up Unit 1 and our basic introduction to integers. English (Mrs. Gómez)~We finished reading the teleplay for The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street. Students will have a vocabulary test on the words from the story on Tuesday, 1012, and a comprehension test on Wednesday, 10/13. Please also note that “Novel Overview #1” is due on Wednesday (this was assigned in the first week of school).
Science (Mr. Pearson) – This week students will learn how to measure length/distance and mass in the metric system.
Team Penn State (7th) (Twitter @NMSPennState/Facebook @NMSTeamPennState/ Instagram pennstatenms Team Leader Mrs. Getz) Congratulations to Nathan S. and Teagan E. for earning Pride of the Lions for Team PSU!!! Mrs. Markovic (social studies) – We will finish Unit 2 section 2.2 and focus on the Human-Environment Interactions in the USA and Canada. We will begin section 2.3 on the People and Culture of North America. Students should be studying the States locations by region on a daily basis. Mr. Downey (ELA) -We will be discussing Non-fiction reading strategies as we begin out next reading selection. Mrs. Getz (ELA) – On Monday, students will have a one day lesson on how to properly write an email. Students have their Playbill assignment due on Tuesday (10/12). We will then move into the pom “Annabel Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe. Students should also be reading at least 20 minutes a day. They should log this onto their October Book Log (due 11/1). Mrs Lafey (Math) – Students in periods 3,6 and 9 are wrapping up our first unit and should expect a test early next week. Students in periods 2 and 8 have just started our new unit on proportional relationships and are learning about unit rates. Mr. Khalife (Science) – This week, we will continue to work on conversions and discuss a few instances where incorrect conversions ended in disaster.
Team DeSales (8th) (Team Leader Mrs. Pogue): Instagram @NMSTeamDSU8 See our welcome letter on the NMS Website! History: We will conclude our study of Jamestown, the foundation of America. Colonization moves north with Plimoth and Massachusetts. ELA: We will finish any remaining “10 Days in Madhouse” presentations to complete our jigsaw. We will then head to the end of Unit 1 with a study of “The Graveyard Book,” “Phineas Gage,” and finish the week with prereading for “The Monkey’s Paw.” Get ready to evaluate how you are progressing with our target skills!
Team Northampton (8th) (Twitter @TeamSpartanNMS Team Leader Mrs. Hood) See our welcome letter on the NMS Website! THANK YOU to all those who attended the Open House in person and virtually! If you have any gift cards/monetary donations for our next team celebration, please forward them to Mrs. Hood. In Mrs. Wallach’s ELA class, we reviewed literary elements in literature and completed a station activity reinforcing these key concepts. We are now starting our next mystery short story titled “The Monkey’s Paw.” Continue to check Schoology for any updates and assignments. In Mrs. Hinkel’s ELA class, we will finalize the plots of our stories and begin drafting by the end of the week. We will also continue learning about the uses of the noun this week. Advanced Math / Math 8 students will review / prepare for their Unit 1 Test (Thursday / Friday). Algebra 1 students will review / prepare for their Unit 1 Test. In History, students will learn about the early New England colonies of Plymouth and debunk myths about our nation’s first Thanksgiving as well as visit Salem, Massachusetts to investigate the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials! In Science, the students are learning about the difference between Chemical and Physical Changes. Students will be completing stations lab as well as other review activities to prepare for the quiz. There will be a quiz on Thursday 10/14.
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Team Pitt: (Encore Health and PE, and All 30 day rotation classes) (Team Leader Mrs. Long) (Twitter @NMSTeamPitt) See our welcome letter on the NMS Website!
Weinert will start Health classes on Tuesday October 5th. Students who have Weinert for health should go to the health classroom 012 instead of reporting to the gym. Students were notified of their health teacher via email or schoology message. IT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE TEACHER ON THEIR SCHEDULE.
Family Consumer Science (FCS) – Fabric Money
Our new rotation begins on Wednesday, October 13. Mrs. Hoffman’s students will begin in the sewing room and Mrs. Woodring’s students will begin in the cooking room. Students in 6th and 7th grades should send in $7 for fabric ASAP. Please send it in an envelope labeled with the student’s name. We look forward to seeing all of you soon.
Team Bloomsburg (Encore World Language and Library) (Twitter @NMSBloomsburg / Team Leader Dr. Sierra)- Remember to check Schoology for any missing assignments and to email your teacher w/ any questions. Six grade students do not switch languages until Dec. Grade 7 and 8 are in their language for 2 years (all year long).
***Extracurricular Activities************************************************************************
Is your child interested in an after-school club or activity? Email the advisor for more information!
AM Basketball (Advisor Dr. Mayes) None at this time.
Anime Club (Advisors Ms. Fehr/Mrs. Wallach) Our next club meeting will be Monday, October 11, in room 104 after school from 3:05-4:00. New members are always welcome!
Art Club (Advisor Mrs. Lund). Art Club will be held afterschool on Mondays from 3:05-4:05 starting October 4. No more applications will be accepted …the spaces are filled !!!
Artsmart @ Banana Factory (Advisor Mrs. Lare) We were just informed that Art Smart classes at the Banana Factory are being cancelled for this fall. We will reach out individually to those students/parents who have already registered. Thank you.
Environmental Club (Advisor Ms. Stewart) The Environmental Club will host its next meeting on Monday, October 25th after school in room 013. Anyone interested is welcome to attend. We hope to see you there!
French Club – (Advisor Mrs. Lare) French Club starts this MONDAY, September 27 during the Lions’ Pride activity period. Each Day One we’ll explore French and francophone cultures through films, art, festivals, special projects, games, and food. French Club is open to all 6th graders as well as 7th and 8th graders in French. Space is limited. If interested, send an email to Madame Lare at alare@basdschools.org or sign up in Room 317.
German Club (Advisor Mrs. Sofka) Willkommen Zurück! (Welcome Back!) German club will meet every other Day 1 during Lion’s Pride. All are welcome, but space is limited! Please see Frau Sofka in room 313 to sign-up or message me on Schoology. Our first meeting will be on Monday, September 27.
Fitness Club ( Advisor Mrs. Oliver) None at this time.
FCS/DIY Club (Advisor Mrs. Hoffman) None at this time.
Glee Club (Advisor Mrs. de Vries) (@ldevriesmusic) | Twitter Now accepting new members! No audition needed. Contact Mrs. de Vries. Please scroll down to the very bottom of the newsletter for more information and current schedules. Click here to see our choral groups in action!
Intramurals (Advisor Mr. Ortwein) None at this time.
Lacrosse Intramurals: (Advisor Ms. Weinert ) None at this time.
Leadership Council (Advisor Mr. Kocon) ALL Students need to Register for the Walk-A-Thon!!! (See flyer above)
Lion Service Club (Advisor Mrs. McLaughlin) None at this time.
Lion’s Pride (online school newspaper) (Advisor TBA)None at this time.
Mathcounts (Advisor Mrs. Lafey) We will not be meeting this Thursday, 10/14. Meetings will resume next week.
MathCounts is a nationwide mathematics enrichment and competition program. Students in grades 6,7, and 8 are welcome to participate. Students involved in MathCounts will have the opportunity to work both independently and with other students on challenging problems. Our top students will earn the right to represent Nitschmann at the chapter competition in February where we face off against lots of other schools in the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos and have the opportunity to win awards like college scholarships.
We meet on Thursdays after school in room 213 until 4:00. New students are welcome!
This is the link to the information form (it can also be submitted on the paper students brought home). https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBcDyBIlx9O4QlCOTgOXQB798KU8j_yrv-xLFHjU6NITE_sw/viewform?usp=sf_link
National Junior Honor Society (Advisors Mrs. Wallach/Mrs. Druckenmiller) (Twitter-@Njhs_Nitschmann; Instagram- @Njhs_Nistchmann ) Our election results are in! Congratulations to the following elected officers: President: Morgan Hughes; Vice-President: Julianna Zumas; Secretary: Violet Mitchell; Treasurer: Alayna Issa. Our sidewalk clean-up is scheduled for 10/16 and we will need members and parent volunteers to help out. Our next meeting will be this week on Wednesday after school in room 104. Check Schoology for updates.
Nitschmann Dramatics (Advisor Mrs. Hriniak) Rehearsals are until 5:00 unless otherwise noted. Monday Feature Dancers. Tuesday principal characters & understudies. Wednesday whole cast for Scenes 2 & 5. Thursday House until 4:00 and Crew until 5:00. Friday whole cast for Scenes 2 & 5. Check your email for details and updates!
Nitschmann Singers (Advisor Mrs. de Vries) (@ldevriesmusic) | Twitter Please scroll down to the very bottom of the newsletter for more information and current schedules.
Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) (Advisor TBA) None at this time.
Photography Club (Advisor Ms. Krause) Photography Club will meet after school every Monday from 3:05- 4:05. We need 4 photography club members to volunteer to help photograph the 100th Bethlehem Halloween Parade with NMS. Parent permission is required. Contact Ms. Krause for details. We will not meet November 1st, 22nd or 29th.
Reading Olympics (Advisor – Mrs. Nonnemacher ) If you love to read and love a friendly reading competition in the Spring about the books you have read, then Reading Olympics is for you! There is still time to sign up! Information, permission forms and the books for the 2021-2022 competition are in the library! You can begin reading the books now and write summaries about what you read. We will begin meeting as a group on Wednesdays, beginning this Wednesday, October 13th! We will meet after school until 4:00 P.M. in the library. See Mrs. Nonnemacher, Mr. Pearson or Mrs Wekheiser in the library if you have any questions.
Riding for Focus (Advisors Mr. Miller, Mr. Bellucci, and Mrs. Getz ) Join us and ride in the Halloween Parade on October 31st to celebrate Nitschmann turning 100!!!. The parade is at 2pm. We will meet at NMS, ride in the parade, and then ride back to NMS. Exact meeting time to be announced.
The Lion’s Den School Store (Advisors Ms. Roufakis & Mrs. Evancho) If you are interested in working at the school store, please fill in this application https://forms.gle/47drkQ2612wpD6CE8 We will be opening the store soon.
**Ski & Snowboard Club (Advisors Mr. Downey and Mrs. Druckenmiller) –You can register for your group and purchase passes until October 31st at the link below. Lessons may be purchased throughout the season, but must be purchased at least 48 hours in advance. **Please note that All Access Season Passes will have special rates through 9/30 only**
https://group.shopskibluemt.com/group/register/0336ea6b-d3b3-4107-9f31-2fbd8de6a66e
Spanish Club (Advisor Dra. Sierra)- We will meet during activity periods on Day 1 and Wednesdays until 4:15 pm. Congrats to Giada (Gigi)- Communications officer, Jayliana- Secretary, Andrea- Vice President. We will choose president next meeting.
Student Lighthouse ( Advisors Mr. Kocon / Mrs. McLaughlin / Mrs Markovitz)-.
Step Team (Advisor Dra. Sierra) – Practices are Monday and Tuesday in front of the Auditorium from 3:05- 4:15. Congratulations to the 2021-2022 Step Team. Turn in your permission slips.
Strategy Club (Advisor Mr. Kehler) Strategy Club has started!! We meet Mondays after school in the Large Group room by the Cafeteria. Join us for Play and/or Discussions of Board Games both Classic and New; RPG, Card, and any other games. Teachers, you are welcome to join us to enjoy a level playing field interaction with your students.
Yearbook (Advisor Mrs. Markovic & Mrs. Gomez) None at this time.
***Lions/Lady Lions Athletics Updates (Twitter @NMS_Athletics)*****************************************
Year-long
Cheerleading (Head Coach Mrs. Long kllong@basdschools.org)
Practice Tuesday and Wednesday 3:05-4:30.
Fall
Boys Football (Head Coach Mr. Shemanski mshemanski@basdschools.org; Asst. Coach Mr. Villani, mvillani@basdschools.org)
Co-Ed Cross Country (Head Coach Miss Schwartz lschwartz@basdschools.org)
Girls Volleyball (Head Coach Mrs. Hinkel ahinkel@basdschools.org)
- Schedule Updates:
- Our game against East Hills on Oct. 12 is AT EAST HILLS, not Easton. It was a printing error.
- Middle School Night at Liberty High School has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 12. High school games are scheduled for 5:30 pm and 7 pm. All the middle schools’ players will be recognized, and there will be games with prizes in which the girls can participate. Please consider joining us. Coaches will be there to chaperone if you would like to drop your player off at the high school.
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 )
***Nitschmann Middle School Performing Arts Department Updates**************************************
Nitschmann Middle School Instrumental Music Website (Click Here!)
Mr. Daniel Zettlemoyer, Instrumental Music
Carl’s Corner
Pep Rally
Night football game
FHS/LHS rehearsal
FHS/LHS Game
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Monday, October 11
Early morning band 7:15am – *Students need their bell covers and playing masks
Tuesday, October 12
Early morning orchestra 7:15am
Wednesday, October 13
Early morning jazz band 7:15am *Students need their bell covers and playing masks
Day 1 jazz band
Thursday, October 14
Early morning band 7:15am – *Students need their bell covers and playing masks
Friday, October 15
Early morning orchestra 7:15am
Saturday, October 16
Nazareth Halloween Parade – Click for details
UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, October 16 – Nazareth Parade (Click for more details)
Wednesday, October 20 – 7:30pm NIMAS general membership meeting
Thursday, October 21 – NMS night football game (Click for more details)
Fri. – Sun., October 22 – 24 – Pat’s Bistro Dine to Donate Fundraiser
Sunday, October 24 – Saucon Valley Parade (Click for more details)
Wednesday, October 27 – FHS/LHS performance rehearsal
(Thursday, Oct. 28 7:30am – Raindate for FHS/LHS rehearsal)
Saturday, October 30 – FHS/LHS football game performance
Sunday, October 31 – Bethlehem Halloween Parade (Raindate – November 7) (Click for more details)
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC LESSONS
SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK
Groups ASX 19, PRC 20, & FLT 18 have been moved to a different day for this week only
NIMAS INFORMATION
Parent Volunteers:
Parents, we are in need of volunteers for upcoming events during October and the remainder of the year. YOU MUST HAVE YOUR BACKGROUND CHECKS on file in the Nitschmann office in order to volunteer.
Click on the following link to find information on what clearances you need and how to apply for them.
https://www.basdschools.org/volunteering
Parents and Guardians of students in the instrumental music program and Nitschmann Singers were sent a survey regarding the annual music department spring trip.
If you have already completed the survey, “Thank you.” If you have not completed the survey yet, please take a minute to complete the survey.
Survey responses are due by October 18. You can access the survey at the link below:
https://forms.gle/29WdtmY7hoDKdzpu6
The general membership meeting minutes from September 22 have been posted to your Cut Time profile under the FILES/DOCS tab, NIMAS General Membership Meeting Minutes, and then find the month you are looking for.
FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES
Gertrude Hawk Candy Fundraiser – Click for details
Grocery store gift cards – GIANT, WEIS, SHOPRITE – Click for details
Gift cards are sold in $100 increments. $4 of every $100 purchased goes to your child’s fair share account. Contact Jennifer Roan at 610-509-9776 or jenlroan15@gmail.com
Matey’s Pizza Sale – Click for details Orders due October 26. Delivery is November 6 from 10-11am.
Wawa Shorti Hoagie Coupons – Click for details
$4 each
$1 of each coupon goes to your child’s fair share account.
Contact Jennifer Roan at 610-509-9776 or jenlroan15@gmail.com
Winter flower and wreath sale – Click for details. Orders due November 12. Delivery is December 1
Pat’s Pizza & Bistro General Fund Fundraiser – Click for details Dine to donate days are October 22-24.
AMAZON SMILE PROGRAM
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.
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 on how to sign up can be found at http://www.nmsim.org/nimas/fundraising/
Nitschmann Choral Music Mrs. de Vries, Glee Club & Nitschmann Singers director (@ldevriesmusic) | Twitter
Do you or someone you know love to sing? Would you like to learn how to become a better singer to participate in things like Nitschmann dramatics? Would you like to make new friends? Then join the Nitschmann Glee Club! Click here to see our choral groups in action! Glee Club rehearses every Tues.,Wed. and Thurs .at 7:15 AM in room 141. Instrumental students are excused to attend their rehearsals. We also rehearse during Lion’s Pride time, every day 1. Nitschmann Singers is our smaller, auditioned ensemble that sings more challenging repertoire.They have their own rehearsals every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00-4:00 PM. All Nitschmann Singers are also Glee Club members. Nitschmann Singers attend Glee Club rehearsal every Wednesday morning at 7:15 AM and also during Lion’s Pride on day 1. See this week’s schedule below.
WEEKLY CHORAL SCHEDULE
Monday, October 4
No rehearsal
Tuesday, October 5
Glee Club 7:15am (All Glee members unless in orchestra)
No Nitschmann Singers due to early dismissal
Wednesday, October 6
Glee Club 7:15am (All Nitschmann Singers and Glee members unless in jazz)
Thursday, October 7
Glee Club 7:15am (All Glee members unless in band)
Nitschmann Singers 3-4pm
Friday, October 1
No rehearsals