Parent & Student Weekly Email
Nitschmann Middle School Weekly Update
100 Years of Learning @ Home of the Nitschmann Nation
Sunday, January 2, 2022, to Sunday, January 9, 2022
Download the BASD App and select “Nitschmann” to receive all alerts to your phone.
- School Reopens as Usual- School will reopen as usual on Monday @ 8:05am. Masks are still required for all people inside of school. See Dr. Roy’s email & video for more information at this link.
- Charge Those Chromebooks! – Chromebooks should be charged and ready for Monday morning.
- Review Includement Weather Directions from BASD @ 2022 BASD Weather Plan The possibility of snow and ice related issues increases during the months of January & February!
- 2021-2022 NMS Yearbooks now on sale! Cost: $30.00–NOW through January 14th–DISCOUNT $36.00–January 15-28. Due Date: Orders must be submitted by Friday, January 28, 2022. Two Ways to Order:
1. Online: Go to: yearbookordercenter.com Enter NMS Code: 5049 OR 2. In-School Order Form: Fill out the bottom portion of this form, and place the money and order form in an envelope labeled with the student name and homeroom. Turn in all forms to your homeroom teacher by Friday, January 28, 2022. Make checks to Nitschmann Middle 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 | 1/3 | 3 | Schools Reopen, Bring Charged Chromebooks!Monthly Computer & Locker ChecksAcadeince Middle of the Year Testing Begins to Assess Reading Skills**NO AM BAND REHEARSAL!** |
| Tuesday | 1/4 | 4 | |
| Wednesday | 1/5 | 5 | No After-School Clubs or Tutoring – January Faculty Meeting |
| Thursday | 1/6 | 6 | |
| Friday | 1/7 | 1 | January Pride of the Lions Celebration |
| Day | Date | Cycle Day | Notes |
| Monday | 1/10 | 2 | Math IXL Diagnostic Middle of Year Window Opens to Assess Math Skills |
| Tuesday | 1/11 | 3 | 2022-2023 6th Grader Family Welcome Night 7pm Auditorium AM Basketball for 6th Graders begins @ 7:15am (see notes below) |
| Wednesday | 1/12 | 4 | AM Basketball for 7th/8th Graders begins @ 7:15am (see notes below) |
| Thursday | 1/13 | 5 | 8th Graders LHS Course Selection Day 1 – Meet Counselors & Review Plan |
| Friday | 1/14 | 6 | NMS Yearbook Sale Ends! |
***School-wide Announcements ************************************************************************
BASD eNews from Dr. Roy – See Dr. Roy’s email & video for more information at this link.
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! We hope all current and former Team Lafayette students and families enjoyed the holiday season with family and friends, and were able to rest and re-energize in preparation for 2022!
Team Lehigh (6th) (Twitter @NMSTeamLehigh/ Facebook @NitschmannTeamLehigh Team Leader Mrs. Oliver) See our welcome letter on the NMS Website! Hope everyone enjoyed the Winter break. Let’s try to start the new year off right. Please check your grade reports and come back Monday being all caught up and up to date with your assignments!! The end of the second quarter is only a couple of weeks away. Get those grades in good standing!!
Team Moravian (6th) – (Twitter @NMSTeam Moravian/Facebook@NMSTeamMoravian Team Leader Mrs. Roufakis) See our welcome letter on the NMS Website! Congratulations to Izabella G. and Ekansh G. for making it to the final round of the spelling bee. Team Moravian wishes all of our families a restful holiday break. Make sure to check Schoology for any missing assignments. Should you need any extra help, just check with one of your teachers to make arrangements to either come before school or stay after. Sniffle season is starting. If you would like to send tissue donations in, it would be greatly appreciated. Also, please make sure your child has a supply of pencils and other everyday items. Many students are coming unprepared without supplies. PLEASE make sure your child has a scientific calculator. Many of my personal ones have gone missing and I don’t have many extras left to share. Every student needs their own calculator. He/She will use it every year through high school.
Team Kutztown (7th)(Twitter @TeamKutztown) – Science (Mr. Pearson) – This week we will continue to look at how scientists record, organize, and analyze data. English (Mrs. Gómez) – Please continue to read everyday, and remember that Novel Overview Form #3 will be due on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. English (Mr. Falteich) – Students will continue their study of O.Henry. We will be reading and discussing the themes and irony in the story, “A Retrieved Reformation.” Social Studies (Mr. Danyi) – We will continue to work on the Caribbean Vacation Planning Project. Math (Mrs. Evancho) – Welcome back! Hope everyone had a happy and healthy holiday and is ready to go for 2022!
Team Penn State (7th) (Twitter @NMSPennState/Facebook @NMSTeamPennState/ Instagram pennstatenms Team Leader Mrs. Getz) HAPPY NEW YEAR! Mrs. Markovic (social studies) – We will begin our unit on Europe. Mr. Downey (ELA) – Mrs. Getz (ELA) – This week, students will begin a new novel, “We Beat the Street”. Mrs Lafey (Math) – Students in all classes will be participating in an Escape Room activity about markups and markdowns. Mr. Khalife (Science) – We will continue discussing the scientific method this week, and complete a webquest before break starts.
Team DeSales (8th) (Team Leader Mrs. Pogue): Instagram @NMSTeamDSU8
History: We will be designing and constructing a walking tour of Historic Bethlehem. Take a walk in downtown Bethlehem, snap some selfies with a building that is more than 150 years old for extra credit. Mrs. Tannous and Mrs. Pogue’s ELA classes: Monster test on Monday! Use your study resources that are posted on Schoology. For the rest of the week, we will do a nonfiction article jigsaw and start your creative project on Monster. 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! In Mrs. Wallach’s ELA class, we are continuing to read our novel The Outsiders. Students finished their plot comic strip project. Continue to check Schoology for grades and updates. In Mrs. Hinkel’s ELA class, we will wrap up our discussion of “Abuela Invents the Zero” and read “So where are you from?” We have a quiz on pronoun uses scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 15. Advanced Math students will finalize Unit 2 – Slope and Y-Intercept. Math 8 students will continue to discuss / practice Slope. Algebra 1 students will continue to discuss / practice Relations and Functions. In History, upon return from break, we will head into the Declaration of Independence with our throwback version of the Declaration Dating Game! While learning about the Revolutionary war – we will take a look specifically at the following topics: Women’s roles, African Americans in the War, Washington’s strategic plans. Students will continue to work on a community art project focusing on Immigrants to Bethlehem over the last 250 years – this project will be part of the Rose Garden Renovation. In Science, students will be starting a unit on Motion.
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! 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. Ms. Weinerts class begins health on Jan.7th. Until then, all classes will be in the gym!
Family Consumer Science (FCS) – Mrs. Woodring’s students will be moving into the cooking room and Mrs. Hoffman’s students will move to the sewing room when we return to school on January 3rd.
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) Morning Basketball will begin NEXT week. Students MUST report to the gym doors at 7:!5am. Late arrivals will not be allowed to enter.
6th Graders will be on Tuesdays 7:15am-7:45am, then report to breakfast.
7th & 8th Graders will be on Wednesday 7:15am-7:45am, then report to breakfast. This is for students who are
not playing on the NMS basketball team.
Anime Club (Advisors Ms. Fehr/Mrs. Wallach) Our next club meeting is Monday, January 10 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. No more applications will be accepted …the spaces are filled ! Our next meeting will be Monday, January 3, 2022
Artsmart @ Banana Factory (Advisor Mrs. Lare) No program this semester.
Environmental Club (Advisor Ms. Stewart) Happy New Year! The Environmental Club will host its next meeting on Monday, January 10 in room 013 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. German club will meet Friday, 1/7. We will be watching a film in German to test our listening and vocabulary skills.
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)
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 (school newspaper) (Advisor Mrs. Werkheiser) Student journalists chose their topics for our second issue. They are developing questions and conducting interviews. Next step: Writing articles
Mathcounts (Advisor Mrs. Lafey)
Students should be taking the practice competitions in their AOPS accounts over break. This is part of the criteria that will be used to determine which students will be representing Nitschmann at the virtual Chapter Competition on 2/17. I’ll see everyone on Thursday, January 6th.
National Junior Honor Society (Advisors Mrs. Wallach/Mrs. Druckenmiller) (Twitter-@Njhs_Nitschmann; Instagram- @Njhs_Nistchmann ) The donations for the animal shelter are completed and we have a wonderful amount of boxes of food and supplies to donate to The Center for Animal Health and Welfare. Kudos to all members who made this a success. Our next tutoring session will be Thursday, January 13 in room 305.
Nitschmann Dramatics (Advisor Mrs. Hriniak) 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) Happy New Year! No photography on January 3rd, we will have our meeting starting on January 10th instead after school until 4:05 pm.
Reading Olympics (Advisor – Mrs. Nonnemacher ) Our first meeting once we are back is Wednesday January 12, 2022. We DO NOT meet on Wednesday, January 5, 2022. We hope the students were 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. The competition is April 7, 2022 at Easton High School.
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) – Our first meeting on the snow is 1/3/2022. I am looking forward to meeting you at the Lower Lodge. I will put some tables and chairs together, and I will have a sign. I generally get there around 5 and begin skiing before 6. Think snow! Please email with any questions.
Spanish Club (Advisor Dra. Sierra)- Feliz Navidad! No meeting this week.
Student Lighthouse ( Advisors Mr. Kocon / Mrs. McLaughlin / Mrs Markovitz)-.
Step Team (Advisor Dra. Sierra) – Shirts will be ordered this week. Steppers must have black boots. First show is tentatively set for Feb. 4..
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.
.
***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)
Monday, December 20th – Home vs. Raub
Girls MS Basketball (Head Coach Mr. Ortwein jortwein@basdschools.org)
Monday, December 20th – Away @ Raub
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, January 3
NO REHEARSAL – NO LESSONS
Tuesday, January 4
Early morning orchestra 7:15am
Wednesday, January 5
Early morning jazz band 7:15am *Students need their bell covers and playing masks
Thursday, January 6
Early morning band 7:15am – *Students need their bell covers and playing masks
Friday, January 7
Early morning orchestra 7:15am
Day 1 Jazz band rehearsal 8:30am
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 10-14: Band chair auditions during lessons
Wednesday, January 19: NIMAS general membership meeting 7:30pm
February 1 & 2: All-City Band rehearsal (Selected students only)
Wednesday, February 16: NIMAS general membership meeting 7pm
Winter color guard performance 8pm NMS gymnasium
LHS BAND AND ORCHESTRA AUDITIONS
I have received the audition information for the Liberty band and orchestra. The auditions will occur near the end of January. The information is being distributed to the 8th grade students this weekend.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC LESSONS
ALL students need to bring their chromebook to 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 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022
The general membership meeting minutes from DECEMBER 14 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
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
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
It’s that time of year again!
Place your order for a 2021-2022 Nitschmann Middle School yearbook.
Cost: $30.00–NOW through January 14th–DISCOUNT
$36.00–January 15-28–Make checks to Nitschmann Middle
School.
Due Date: Orders must be submitted by Friday, January 28, 2022.
Two Ways to Order:
1. Online:
Go to: yearbookordercenter.com
Enter NMS Code: 5049
2. In-School Order Form: Fill out the bottom portion of this form, and place the money and order form in an envelope labeled with the student name and homeroom. Turn in all forms to your homeroom teacher by Friday, January 28, 2022.
———In School Order Form———
Student Name: ____________________________________________
Homeroom teacher: ________________________________________
Homeroom number: __________________
# of yearbooks: _______________________
Check #___________
Total Amount Paid: ___________