Parent & Student Weekly Email
Nitschmann Middle School Weekly Update
100 Years of Learning @ Home of the Nitschmann Nation
Sunday, December 5, 2021, to Sunday, December 12, 2021
Download the BASD App and select “Nitschmann” to receive all alerts to your phone.
- 2nd Q IPR Cutoff – Grades for the 2nd Quarter IPR are cut off on Friday 12/20. Students should make sure all assignments for grading are completed and submitted no later than Friday.
***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 | 12/6 | 2LEAD | Hanukkah Ends (Monday @ Sundown) |
| Tuesday | 12/7 | 3Lion’s Pride | |
| Wednesday | 12/8 | 4Team | Winter Orchestra and Jazz Concert 7:00 p.m. Auditorium |
| Thursday | 12/9 | 5LEAD | |
| Friday | 12/10 | 6Lion’s Pride | 2nd Quarter IPR Window Closes |
| Day | Date | Cycle Day | Notes |
| Monday | 12/13 | 1Activity | |
| Tuesday | 12/14 | 2LEAD | |
| Wednesday | 12/15 | 3Lion’s Pride | Nitschmann Winter Choral Concert 7:00 PM Auditorium2nd Quarter IPR Available Online & Distributed by US Mail |
| Thursday | 12/16 | 4Team | |
| Friday | 12/17 | 5LEAD |
| Day | Date | Cycle Day | Notes |
| Monday | 12/20 | 6Lion’s Pride | |
| Tuesday | 12/21 | 1Activity | |
| Wednesday | 12/22 | 2None | Elf Day11:30am Dismissal for Students/Afternoon Teacher In-Service |
| Thursday | 12/23 | No School for Students – Winter/Christmas Holiday | |
| Friday | 12/24 | No School for Students – Winter/Christmas Holiday |
***School-wide Announcements ************************************************************************
BASD eNews from Dr. Roy – This week’s BASD eNews contains:
Information on applying for the Superintendent’s full-tuition scholarship to Moravian University and East Stroudsburg University. Seniors apply today!
Highlighted BASD Staff and Students
-BASD Student of the Week from Northeast Middle School
-BASD Staff of the Week from Fountain Hill Elementary School
-Built by Bethlehem Graduate of Liberty High School Class of 1984
I hope you enjoy BASD eNews from Dr. Roy – December 3, 2021.
Schoolwide Library Services (Werkheiser) lwerkheiser@basdschools.org for help with books or services.
The library website is full of resources for students.
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: Elijah Marabel, Isabella Gonsalves Thank you to all family members who were able to learn from our students about their year so far during their student-led conference. The kids did great work in preparation for that event. We have begun our December project of learning about holidays that countries celebrate. We look forward to the presentations given by the groups that will let us know about cultures and traditions of countries from around the world. Ask your students about what countries they have chosen, and what they have learned so far!
Team Lehigh (6th) (Twitter @NMSTeamLehigh/ Facebook @NitschmannTeamLehigh Team Leader Mrs. Oliver) See our welcome letter on the NMS Website! Congratulations to our November Pride of Lions: Elianni Benitez and Quinn Pfeffer. These two students model consistent work habits and a positive attitude that all students should strive for. It was nice to see everyone back from the long break. For the most part students got right back into the routine of school and work very nicely. Just a reminder that Mid-Quarter Progress reports will be coming home shortly. Please go onto Schoology, look over your grade reports and see if there is anything that needs to be completed or remediated. If you need help you can come in before or after school to get your work completed. Let’s try to have everyone’s grades in good standing by the Mid Quarter.
Team Moravian (6th) – (Twitter @NMSTeam Moravian/Facebook@NMSTeamMoravian Team Leader Mrs. Roufakis) See our welcome letter on the NMS Website! Congratulations to our October Pride of the Lions: Mia Barket and Megan Shook! We are proud of you!
Let’s stay on top of our work this quarter! Make sure you are checking Schoology Grade Reports often to see if all work has been completed. Should you need any extra help, just check with one of your teachers to make arrangements to either come before school or stay after.
Team Kutztown (7th)(Twitter @TeamKutztown) – Science (Mr. Pearson) – This week students will learn how to write a hypothesis and identify the independent, dependent, and controlled variables in an experiment.
English (Mrs. Gómez) – This week we will continue working on the dramatized version of A Christmas Carol.
English (Mr. Falteich) – Quiz on Nominative and Objective case pronoun charts on Monday, 12/6. Final Pronoun test on Friday. 12/10 We will be discussing events, completing vocabulary, and studying the Victorian London era. Novel Overview Form #3 will be due on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. Social Studies (Mr. Danyi) – There will be a quiz on the map of South America on Friday. We will begin studying the culture of Latin America. Math (Mrs. Evancho) – On Monday we will be looking at a midtopic assessment for Pds. 2,3,6 and 9. This will cover Lessons 3.1 – 3.3. Period 8 will be finishing up Unit 4 with simple interest and ready for a test on Friday.
Team Penn State (7th) (Twitter @NMSPennState/Facebook @NMSTeamPennState/ Instagram pennstatenms Team Leader Mrs. Getz) UGLY SWEATER FRIDAYS 12/10 and 12/17 – students are encouraged to wear an ugly sweater. This can be a holiday sweater, but doesn’t have to be. Students can also be creative and “create” their own ugly sweater. Mrs. Markovic (social studies) – There will be a quiz on the map of South America on Friday. We will begin studying the culture of Latin America. Mr. Downey (ELA) – We are reading about the Triangle Fire of 1911. We are discussing fact vs. opinion, organization of Non fiction and main idea. Students are creating an 8 box summary of key events. Mrs. Getz (ELA) -Vocabulary Quiz 12/7. This week, students will complete a mini-artifact project, and we will prepare for our next story, The Walking Dance. Mrs Lafey (Math) – Periods 3,6 and 9 will have a quiz Monday on Sections 3-1 – 3-3. After that, they’ll start working with applications of the percent equation like percent change and percent error. Periods 2 & 8 will be learning about calculating simple interest and should be prepared for a unit test on Friday. Mr. Khalife (Science) – This week students will work with microscopes, learning how to draw a field of view and study and observe specimens under the microscope.
Team DeSales (8th) (Team Leader Mrs. Pogue): Instagram @NMSTeamDSU8
SUPPLIES: Please check with your student to see that they have necessary supplies: writing tool, notebooks, glue sticks, ear buds, extra mask. We’re starting to notice a lot of students do not have these items with them!
History: Your student should be well underway with their Oral History project. This project is DUE DECEMBER 16th at the start of class. The assignment is posted in schoology with the grading rubric. Mrs. Tannous and Mrs. Pogue’s ELA classes: We will finish Monster this week with a focus on the closing arguments. Get ready to provide your “verdict.” At the end of the week, we will do a class jigsaw where you will read non-fiction articles about issues in Monster. Our study of the book will culminate in a creative project. Science: We will continue our study of atoms; there will be a quiz midweek. Math: Algebra- working on linear equations. Math 8: introduction to Algebra.
Team Northampton (8th) (Twitter @TeamSpartanNMS Team Leader Mrs. Hood) See our welcome letter on the NMS Website! The Bethlehem Public Library offers FREE tutoring Monday through Friday from 4:00-6:00pm. This AWESOME opportunity is put on by Moravian University students! You can drop off your child for any length of time to get any help in any subject they may need! Please email Mrs Hood or call the BAPL if you would like more information. In Mrs. Wallach’s ELA class, we just started reading our new novel The Outsiders. Students have read chapter two and are working on character development and plot. Continue to check Schoology for grades and updates. In Mrs. Hinkel’s ELA class, we will start our first readings, “So Where are you from? and “Commencement Address to the Santa Fe Indian School,” in our new StudyStudy unit We will also start a new grammar unit on pronoun uses. Advanced Math students will continue to discuss / practice calculating Slope and will be introduced to the Slope Intercept Form. Math 8 students will continue to discuss / practice Equivalent Ratios, Unit Rate and Solving Proportions. Algebra 1 students will take their Unit 2 test on Wednesday, and will start Unit 3 Relations and Functions. In History, Students will be learning the connection between the Writs of Assistance of colonial time and the 4th Amendment today. We will also explore both perspectives of the Boston Massacre. Students will watch a clip from John Adams The Miniseries on this topic. In Science, the students will be continuing counting atoms and going right into balancing equations. Quiz on those topics will be on 12/1. Immediately following that will be the Element Fashion Show. More info to follow.
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!
Mr. Villani will begin health 12/3-12/10, Mrs. Long and Ms. Weinert’s classes will be in the gym. As of Dec 1st, all students are required to wear sneakers that tie for PE class. (No uggs, crocs, slides, slip on vans). If a student wears crocs, they will sit out and receive no credit due to the safety concern of themselves and other students around them.
Family Consumer Science (FCS) – Mrs. Woodring’s students will be starting the rotation in the sewing room. Sixth and seventh grade students should bring in $7 for fabric ASAP. We will need to finish our sewing projects before leaving for Christmas break. If any students from Rotation 2 need to complete their sewing projects, they may come after school to do so.
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 is Monday, December 13, in room 104 after school from 3:05-4:00. We will vote for our drawing contest. 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 ! Art Club will NOT meet on Monday Nov. 1, Nov. 22 and Nov. 29.
Artsmart @ Banana Factory (Advisor Mrs. Lare) No program this semester.
Environmental Club (Advisor Ms. Stewart) The Environmental Club will host its next meeting on Monday, December 6th after school in room 013. Anyone interested is welcome to attend. Our club is also hosting a holiday fundraiser with Boon Supply! 40% of all proceeds will fund our club initiatives. Please consider supporting our fundraiser by making a purchase via the following link: https://www.boonsupply.com/1194566 Thank you!
We hope to see you there!
French Club – (Advisor Mrs. Lare) In honor of Halloween, French Club learned about The Paris Catacombs and Cities of the Dead in New Orleans. Fun but not for the faint of heart! – French Club is filled.
German Club (Advisor Mrs. Sofka) German club will meet on Day 1 during Lion’s Pride. German club is full. Our next meeting is Monday, December 13th and we will be celebrating Skt. Nikolaus Tag!!! Did he bring treats or twigs???
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 ) Tee shirts are still available if you would like to purchase them. Please see Ms. Weinert if you would like one.
Leadership Council (Advisor Mr. Kocon) ALL Students need to Register for the Walk-A-Thon!!! (See flyer above)
Lion Service Club (Advisor Mrs. McLaughlin) Lion Service Club started this past week. We had a great kick off. Students still interested in joining the Lion Service Club should pick up a permission slip and information sheet in Mrs. McLaughlin’s room 209. Lion Service Club will be after school the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month until 3:45.We will be working on activities such as organizing our 2nd Annual Blood Drive, The Clothing Closet, cards for the elderly for the holidays, etc. Hope to see you there.
Lion’s Pride (online school newspaper) (Advisor TBA)None at this time.
Mathcounts (Advisor Mrs. Lafey)
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 ) The members are planning our next service project based on collection of items for the animal shelter. Listen for announcements and please donate! Please check Schoology for updates from the group.
Nitschmann Dramatics (Advisor Mrs. Hriniak) Monday Scenes 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9. Tuesday no rehearsal. Wednesday no rehearsal (orchestra/jazz concert). Thursday Crew & House. Friday all Cast. Check your email for schedule, 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 other Monday from 3:05- 4:05.
Have a great Thanksgiving break! Next meeting is December 6th.
Reading Olympics (Advisor – Mrs. Nonnemacher ) We will meet this Wednesday, December 8th and next Wednesday, December 15th. That will be it until we come back from our holiday break. Our first meeting once we are back is Wednesday January 12, 2022. Make sure the students are reading the Reading Olympics books and writing summaries over the holiday break! We will continue meeting Wednesdays 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 ) Day 1 / Period 1 meetings for new riders
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) -Passes were handed out on Friday. Our first meeting on the snow is 1/3/2022. Please email with any questions. I am looking forward to meeting you at the Lower Lodge. Think snow!
Spanish Club (Advisor Dra. Sierra)- We will meet during activity periods on Day 1 and Wednesdays until 4:15 pm.
Student Lighthouse ( Advisors Mr. Kocon / Mrs. McLaughlin / Mrs Markovitz)-.
Step Team (Advisor Dra. Sierra) – Shirt money must be turned in ASAP. Due to unforeseen circumstances, we can not participate in the BIA Christmas show this Sunday.
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)-Love to draw? Show off your artistic ability and creativity by entering the 2021-22 yearbook cover contest. Please include our theme of 100 years of Nitschmann in your artwork.
~The winner will not only see their artwork on the cover of this year’s book, but also win a free yearbook.
~Please submit your artwork to Mrs. Gómez or Mrs. Markovic in rooms 204 or 215.
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***Lions/Lady Lions Athletics Updates (Twitter @NMS_Athletics)*****************************************
Year-long
Cheerleading (Head Coach Mrs. Long kllong@basdschools.org)
Cheerleading tryouts for 7th and 8th graders for the winter sports season will be held Monday-Wednesday next week Nov. 15-17th from 3:05-4:30. Any cheerleader who makes the team will need to obtain a physical or get a recertification form signed by December 1st.
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)
Girls Field Hockey (Mr. Burzynski bburzynski@basdschools.org)
Winter
Dates below will be adjusted due to the changes on Monday 11/22 & 11/23. An updated list will be provided next Sunday or as soon as it is available.
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
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Monday, December 6
Early morning band 7:15am – *Students need their bell covers and playing masks
Tuesday, December 7
Early morning orchestra 7:15am
Wednesday, December 8
Early morning jazz band 7:15am *Students need their bell covers and playing masks
Thursday, December 9
Early morning band 7:15am – *Students need their bell covers and playing masks
Friday, December 10
NO early morning orchestra
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, December 8 – Winter Jazz band & orchestra concert
(For specific performer details go to http://www.nmsim.org/orchestra/orchestra-performance-schedule/ or http://www.nmsim.org/jazz/jazz-band-performance-schedule/)
Volunteers are needed to assist with the logistics of the Winter concert. You can sign up to volunteer using your Cut Time account.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC LESSONS
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.
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES – Next meeting TUESDAY, December 14 7:30pm
The general membership meeting minutes from November 17 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.
MARCHING BAND & COLOR GUARD GROUP PHOTOS
You can purchase the group marching band and color guard photos that were taken before the Bethlehem Halloween Parade from Christmas City Studios using the following link. Click Here to View/Order your Nitschmann Band Group Photos 21-22
NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK DRIVE
We are collecting new children’s books to donate to the Levar Burton literacy foundation in coordination with Mr. Zettlemoyer’s performance in the Tournament of Roses Parade. Levar Burton is the Grand Marshal of the parade this year and the service project the band directors marching band has chosen is to donate books to Levar Burton’s foundation. We are collecting books through Friday, December 17th.
Masks are required to enter any BASD building at this time. There is a growing number of music students arriving for rehearsal without a mask for school.
Band and jazz band students MUST have their blue performance mask for rehearsal. A replacement mask costs $12.
ALL wind players must have their instrument bell cover for rehearsal. Replacement costs for bell covers are listed below.
Replacement Bell Cover
- 3” (Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon) $11.25
- 5” (Trumpet, Alto Sax, Bass Clarinet) $11.75
- 6” (Tenor Sax) $14.25
- 8” (Trombone, Baritone Sax) $12.25
- 10” (Mellophone, Baritone, Euphonium, Bass Trombone) $16.25
FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES
- Delivery of coupons will occur by December 17.
Gertrude Hawk Candy Fundraiser – Click for details (OFFERED ALL YEAR)
Grocery store gift cards – GIANT, WEIS, SHOPRITE – Click for details (OFFERED ALL YEAR)
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
Wawa Shorti Hoagie Coupons – Click for details (OFFERED ALL YEAR)
$4 for each coupon
$1 of each coupon goes to your child’s fair share account.
Contact Jennifer Roan at 610-509-9776 or jenlroan15@gmail.com
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