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The Weekly Update
February 7, 2025
![The Weekly Update February 7, 2025](https://cdn.smore.com/u/thumbs/22fb/thumb-ffe88704b2397d82a1a44ddc9eac5766.jpeg)
Mark Your Calendars for Important Dates
Feb 14: School Closed, Staff Professional Development (Main Offices will be closed, too)
Feb 17: School Closed, President’s Day
Feb 19: PTSC Meeting
Feb 20: Jazz Band Concert (at the High School)Blue-Grey Week
Next week, the middle school will be holding our annual Blue Grey Competition. Our student body will be divided into a Blue Team (last names starting with the letters A-K) and a Grey Team (last names starting with the letters L-Z). During the course of the week, the students will engage in various competitions school wide and in classes to earn points for their team. There will be dress themes (see picture) for each day.
In addition, students can earn points for their team by bringing in non-perishable food items. Each item will earn them points for their team and the food will be donated to a local food bank. Students have the opportunity to help their team and help those in need.
We will conclude the week with a Blue-Grey competition at the end of the day on Thursday, February 13. Students will get to compete in small games and/or cheer on their classmates as they compete.
We look forward to a fun week.
Change to Network Acceptable Use Agreement
The Acceptable Use Agreement is a document all families acknowledge annually for their students to use the district’s computer network. This was part of the form families had to complete at the start of the year before they could access PowerSchool. Beginning in March of 2025, the Acceptable Use Agreement will be modified as a result of a change to Google’s user agreement. Specifically, the change is to include the following Google applications and that parents are consenting for their children to possibly use them as part of our school computer network. These are applications that students may currently be using as part of our school computer network. See the chart for the list of applications:
If there are any questions, please contact me.
High School Program of Studies and Course Selection for 2025-2026
The school counseling time is excited to begin the 2025-2026 course selection process in February for all current 8th graders. Course selection will occur electronically. Please review these instructions and contact your student’s counselor if you have any questions. The 2025-2026 High School Program of Studies, Career Cluster Alignment to Courses at NBC High School Guide, Department Sequence Charts, High School Program of Studies Video Series and the Four-Year Planning Tool are available on the High School Counseling Department Web Page to assist students and parents as they make course selections.
The academic directors will be conducting group presentations with all current 8th graders before February 28, 2025. During this time, they will briefly discuss career pathways, the course selection process, start the four-year planning process, and assist the students in beginning a preliminary schedule. The school counselors will conduct individual meetings with all 8th graders to confirm their course selections starting in March.
The timeline below indicates the dates that the PowerSchool Parent Portal will be accessible for course selection and dates for student/counselor scheduling meetings. Please feel free to reach out to your son/daughter’s school counselor with any questions or concerns.
Grade 8 NJ CAN setup - Counselors- Social Studies February 3 -February 15 Grade 8 Presentations by Directors February 18 -21 Open portal for online course selections - MS February 28 - March 16 (midnight) Scheduling meetings with 8th graders March 17 - March 28
Free program to support student Nicotine Use and Vaping Recovery
RWJ Barnabas Health free Nicotine and Tobacco Recovery Program open to all New Jersey residents.
They offer the following:
Free 8-week counseling, no insurance required
Free treatment, including nicotine patches, gum, and lozenge (over 18 for NRT)
Treatment for Vapes, JUULs or other e-cig devices
Evidence-based practices and assessments
Telehealth, phone or in-person appointments with a Tobacco Treatment Specialist (Spanish speaking specialists available)
Open to anyone of any age with a nicotine and tobacco addiction
Referrals –self-referral by calling or requesting an appointment via the website
Basic Dental Screening
Northern Burlington County Regional Middle School has been selected by the New Jersey Children’s Oral Health Program to participate in a basic Dental Screening survey on Thursday, February 27. Students who participate will have an approximately 5 minute screening during their physical education class. Participation is completely optional and requires written parental consent. If parents wish to have their child participate, this parental consent document, linked HERE, needs to be printed, signed, and returned to the main office. Your student’s participation will help the state build local oral health programs and increase Dental services for children in New Jersey. Parents will also receive a letter indicating the results of the screening and information on where to obtain free or reduced cost dental services, and the student will receive a dental kit including a toothbrush. The last day to submit the consent forms is February 13, 2025. For any questions or additional information, please contact The Middle School Nurse, Mrs. Pugliese, 609-298-3900 x 4030 or tpugliese@nburlington.com
Pictures from the Week
Congratulations to our NB3 honorees for the week for being Ready, Respectful, and Responsible.
Our second FLL robotics team was recognized for excellence in engineering and advanced to the regional finals at Rowan University. Great work!
Opportunities for Information and Training Related to Military Families
The following training opportunity from the Department of Education provides an overview of updated enrollment data for military-connected students in New Jersey, along with resources to support schools and families. Participants will also learn about updates to the state website, New Jersey-specific code not mandated by IDEA, and MIC3 (Military Interstate Compact Commission) information to ensure support for military families and schools.
Clinical Corner
What’s love got to do with it??? An article in Verywellmind titled ”10 Ways to Enjoy Valentine’s Day Solo”, by Arlin Cuncic, discusses how Valentine’s Day, if you are single, can really make you feel like you are missing out on something amazing. You might even be feeling like you are the only person without a partner. The article has good news: “There are plenty of ways to distract yourself (and maybe even forget about the holiday altogether!)” Teens especially might need a reality check that certainly it just feels like everyone has someone but you, and there are even good reasons to not be in a relationship sometimes. But here are some tips to make the day easier to bear:
Ignore Valentine’s Day-it’s just one day out of the whole year
Be Kind to Yourself-make it a day to treat yourself extra special
Be Your Own Secret Admirer-buy your own favorite candy
Avoid Love Triggers-like love songs and romantic movies
Make Other Plans-play your favorite video game or order out, go for a hike
Plan a Date with Other Single Friends-play games, watch a good movie
Reach out to someone-you never know who else might be feeling a little lonely
Brighten Someone Else’s Day-you could even become a secret admirer
Keep Up Your Daily Routine-this helps it feel like any other day
This article could be a springboard for discussion with your students or teens. For the full article visit verywellmind.com.
PTSC News
See our website at https://sites.google.com/view/nbptsc for more information about all of these events.
Relay for Life
https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?pg=entry&fr_id=109671
Please join us in the fight against cancer and register for Northern Burlington Relay for Life 2025 (link above)! You can create a team or join a team! To find out more, please contact Lori Nadolny (Lnadolny@nburlington.com) or Shelley Guevara (sguevara@nburlington.com). Please also consider joining us at one of our meetings at 6:00 pm in Room 110 in the high school on the following dates:
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
The High School Store is selling pink t-shirts, hoodies, and PJs. All proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society. They can be purchased in the store or online at: https://nbhsstore.square.site/
Spring Sports Registration
Spring sports registration is now open.
Please use the link below to register your child for the spring sport season.
https://northernburlington-ar.rschooltoday.com/
If you already have an account, please use your current username and password – DO NOT CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT.
If you need assistance, please contact Mrs. O’Neill in the Athletic Office at moneill@nburlington.com or by calling 609-298-3900, ext. 2093.