As we move through the 3rd marking period, I wanted to ensure that you were aware that AACPS has shared information with families to remind them to review their student’s current overall class grades in PowerSchool as we are at the midpoint of the marking period. This is also a great time to remind students to take advantage of our academic support time. Help Days are Tuesday and Thursday mornings during our advisory time block. Every Friday, students review their grades and determine a Help Day schedule for the following week that meets their needs. Please take time to talk with your student about their grades and weekly help day plans.

This past Friday, we had a schoolwide event, Teachers vs. Students Basketball Game. We had loads of fun playing and watching and now the teachers are using this weekend to recover! Enjoy some pics below.

National School Social Work Week is celebrated 03/04 - 03/08. This week-long celebration shines a spotlight on the dedicated professionals who play a pivotal role in enhancing the well-being and success of students across the nation. National School Social Work Week is an annual event designed to honor and recognize the tireless efforts of school social workers, whose commitment to fostering positive school environments directly impacts students, administrators, teachers, educators, parents, and the community at large.

The theme for National School Social Work Week 2024 is “Pearls of Wisdom.” We are highlighting the pearls of wisdom that each School Social Worker brings to their campus and community. School social workers are exceptionally skilled in providing services to students who face serious challenges to school success, including disability, poverty, discrimination, abuse, neglect, mental illness, homelessness, bullying, familial stressors, and other barriers to learning.

Please see below as we highlight and thank our school social worker for all she does!

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We would like to acknowledge our wonderful Wiley H. Bates Social Worker who has helped many of our students this year. Ms. Rykiel's commitment to fostering inclusive learning environments and addressing students' needs makes a world of difference here at Wiley H. Bates Middle School. Thank you for being the guiding light in our school! #ImpactInTheMaking #PearlsOfWisdom.

When you see Ms. Rykiel this week, please thank her for all she has done!

On Thursday, March 7th, we will have Madi Allbright, LCSW-C, from Thrive Behavioral Health Substance Use Prevention and Intervention Team visiting Bates Middle School during our students' lunch periods. Ms. Allbright along with our school nurse, Nurse Hannah, will have a table display to encourage discussions with our students and help them to better understand the dangers of smoking and vaping.

I have attached two links to help you continue this discussion at home.

https://www.aahealth.org/nicotinefreeweek/

https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/helping-teens-quit/talk-about-vaping/conversation-guide

It is time for our next Wiley H. Bates community event, ARTSFEST! Come explore arts activities/stations led by local artists and teachers as well as enjoying live student performances! Food trucks will be available for food purchases. School support tables will also be available. Please read below for more information. We hope to see you there!

Wiley H. Bates Family (students, staff, and family members), be sure to mark this event in your calendar! We had a HUGE turnout last year and we are ready for another incredible evening celebrating the arts!

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) seeking an out of area transfer for the school year 2024-2025 must complete and submit the Out of Area form along with supporting documentation to the principal for review between March 1 and May 1, 2024. This includes ALL CURRENT out-of-area students as they too must be competed and submitted along with the supporting documentation each year.

If your child is an 8th grader and you are considering submitting an Out of Area Request for a high school other than your zoned high school, you will need to submit an Out of Area request to the high school principal of the requested school. *The daycare option is not valid at the high school level.

Fillable forms and full details regarding requirements for a request for Out of Area are available on the website: www.aacps.org/outofarea. (click “View All” tab).

**Please keep in mind that incomplete Out of Area requests & those lacking accompanying documents will not be accepted**

The Bates PTA invites you to join us for Dessert Fest on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center following Arts Fest. Please come and enjoy some tasty treats, help us celebrate our PTA Reflections finalists, and enjoy an informative presentation by our Bates guidance department: "Social Media: The apps our students are using, how to monitor them, and the effect social media has on kids."

The Bates PTA is excited to celebrate our PTA Reflections contest finalists! We hope you will join us as we honor our Reflections entrants at the Bates PTA Dessert Reception following Arts Fest on March 14, 2024.

Three entries from Bates students have won awards at Anne Arundel County Council of PTA's Reflections contest in the Middle School Literature category:

1st Place - Rayah Smith, Bates MS

2nd Place - Aiden Meade, Bates MS
3rd Place - Ellis Kennard, Bates MS

All three entries are now moving on to the Free State PTA's contest next! Good luck! We are so proud of our talented Cougars!

If interested in learning more about our Student Food Pantry please have your student go to the counseling department to speak to Shauna Rykiel, our school social worker, or you may contact her through email at srykiel@aacps.org. Our pantry is currently open Mondays from 3:30-3:55 pm and Fridays from arrival through the end of advisory.

Reminder: If you have lost your charger or would like an extra one for home, please use the below link to order.

Do you have questions about transportation?

Please forward any questions to our administrator, Mr. Walker at jewalker1@aacps.org

Do you have questions about your student's attendance?

Please contact Christine Clark at cclark3@aacps.org.

Do you have specific student concerns, ie. behavior, scheduling, academic performance, etc. please contact your grade level administrator or counselor:

6th Grade

Administrator: Mr. Walker jewalker1@aacps.org

Counselor: Ms. Weiss dweiss@aacps.org

7th Grade

Administrator: Mr. Lustgarten jlustgarten@aacps.org

Counselor: Ms. Barnett cmbarnett@aacps.org

8th Grade

Administrator: Ms. Adkins ktadkins@aacps.org

Counselor: Ms. McFadden cmcfadden@aacps.org

Do you have an emergency concern (after hours)?

Please contact our Principal, Ms. Hicks, at 302-314-6146.

Continuing his promise to be transparent and provide access to residents across Anne Arundel County, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Bedell today announced a series of community conversations during which attendees will receive updated information on the performance of Anne Arundel County Public Schools and have the opportunity to speak with key school system leaders.

Each of the one-hour events will begin with remarks from Dr. Bedell and culminate with time for attendees to speak with members of Dr. Bedell’s Cabinet about topics of interest to them.

“I have said since I got here that we were going to build a culture of trust and accountability in the school district,” Dr. Bedell said. “Making ourselves available at sites across the county where it is easier for our families, students, staff, and community members to have access and get answers to questions is another way to do that.”

Cabinet members in attendance will be: Chief of Staff Mychael Dickerson, Deputy Superintendent Monique Jackson, Chief Operating Officer Dr. Bill Heiser, Chief Academic Officer Dr. Marquis Dwarte, Chief Equity Officer Dr. Maisha Gillins, Chief Communications Officer Bob Mosier, Chief Information Officer Mike Borkoski, Chief Financial Officer Matt Stanski, Chief Human Resources Officer Jessica Cuches, and Chief Accountability Officer Jason Dykstra. Members of the Board of Education may also be in attendance.

Attendees who do not have a chance to have their questions answered at events will be provided with an avenue to record them and receive an email response.

Events are scheduled as follows:

• Monday, March 4, 2024: Broadneck High School, 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 6, 2024: Wiley H. Bates Middle School, 5 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 13, 2024: Northeast High School, 6 p.m.
• Monday, April 22, 2024: Glen Burnie High School, 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 24, 2024: South River High School, 6 p.m.
• Monday, May 6, 2024: North County High School, 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 8, 2024: Meade Middle School, 6 p.m.

Anyone who requires interpretative services, including American Sign Language, for any of the events is asked to call 410-266-3454 or send email to interpreter@aacps.org so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

For those who cannot attend any session, a video of Dr. Bedell’s remarks from one of the sessions will be posted online.

The 2024 application window for summer camp and learning enhancement programs will be open February 9, 2024 through March 15, 2024.

Please note that students are eligible to apply for programs based on their current grade level for the 2023-2024 school year.

Please click HERE to see the summer programs offered by AACPS.

"Pip" Moyer Rec Center is hosting the Girl PLAY Initiative event on Friday, April 5th from 12pm to 5pm. This is a great opportunity for our girls! Registration is at the front desk at "Pip" Moyer Rec Center and this event is FREE! Please come join us!

(En Español: Dispositivos Conectados Chromebook Sorteo)

As part of AACPL's commitment to help close the digital divide, through a grant provided by Anne Arundel County and the State of Maryland, we are proud to participate in a free Chromebook giveaway for eligible Anne Arundel County residents. Distribution events will be held starting in January 2024.

Please click on this link for more information.

AACPS is hiring for all positions. Click HERE to apply.

Christine Clark, Editor

We are better together!

Email: cclark3@aacps.org
Website: www.aacps.org/bates
Location: 701 Chase Street, Annapolis, MD, USA
Phone: 410 263-0270