Welcome Note from Principal González
My name is Mr. Mike González. This is my 4th year as Principal of Bessie Allen Middle School. This newsletter is designed to introduce and update parents about the Oriole Way at BAMS. It also will provide school, district, and community information on a monthly basis. Please take the time to read the contents and let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or feedback. Thank you!
What is PBIS and The Oriole Way? Why are we getting this Newsletter?
Welcome to the second edition of the 2019-20 BAMS Oriole Way Parent Newsletter. In addition to providing the latest information on the happenings at BAMS, this newsletter will give parents monthly updates about the Oriole Way at our school. The Oriole Way is the name given to the School District of North Fond du Lac’s PBIS program. PBIS is the school wide behavior system that we use at BAMS. PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. The philosophy of this program emphasizes an instructional approach to discipline that acknowledges students for positive behavior through tickets (i.e. BAMS Bucks), constructive praise, and rewards so that they will begin to build intrinsic motivation to behave in a way which will help create a safe learning environment in all areas of the school.
Important Dates to Note: January/February 2020
1/28/20: 7th/8th Gr. Band Trip - Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
1/29/20: BAMS Band Student at Flyway Conference Concert (hosted by NFdL Schools) (5pm)
1/29/20: 8th Grade Night at HMHS (6pm-7pm)
2/7: Grade 7 - Ski Trip
2/8: VEX Robotics Middle School Tournament in Appleton
2/12: 6th Grade Field Trip - Pettit Center
2/17: President’s Day Inservice - NO SCHOOL
2/18: VB vs. Springs (4:15pm)
2/20: VB at Waupun (4:15pm)
2/21: 7th Grade Vision Screening and 8th Grade Ski Trip
2/24: Parent-Teacher Conferences (3:30pm-7:30pm) and BOE Meeting (7:00pm)
2/25: VB @ Kewaskum (4:15pm)
2/26: Parent Teacher Conferences (3:30pm-7:00pm)
2/27: VB vs. Campbellsport (4:15pm)
2/28: NO SCHOOL Inservice Day
BE READY. BE RESPECTFUL. BE SAFE.
These are the three basic expectations of all BAMS students while in hallways, bathrooms, in the cafeteria, on the playground and during assemblies
We have been living the “Oriole Way” for the last 6 years. Every classroom has a behavior matrix based on our three big goals. These behavior matrices are posted in each classroom as well as in common areas such as the cafeteria. See below for our 2019-20 BAMS Matrix.
Oriole Way Foundation at BAMS
- We directly TEACH all of our students how we expect them to behave and PRACTICE those behaviors on a consistent basis, just like academics.
- We recognize all students in various POSITIVE ways for doing what we expect them to do to make sure they keep showing us the behaviors we expect them to display!
- We want to recognize the GOOD choices are students are making to increase the chances that those choices will keep happening!
- Through the PBIS program, BAMS has developed a common language for behavior expectations in each area of the school.
- As our teachers instruct our students on the expectations, we see how our students respond.
- We collect data from disciplinary referrals to see how our behavioral expectations are or are not being met
- We make decisions on how we run BAMS and what we can do to make things better for our school climate.
- We expect our teachers to be daily role models for our students and to demonstrate the values we want our students to have.
- We will keep revisiting our expectations and how our students are meeting those expectations to make BAMS the best it can possibly be!
- We value support from home and the community! It’s important for these values to be discussed, displayed and reinforced at home, too!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Parents:
Q: If we’re recognizing the positive choices students make, are there still consequences for negative behaviors?
A:Yes, we have positive and negative consequences for the choices that students make.
Q: How will this benefit my child in the classroom academically?
A: Research has shown that students who meet behavioral expectations and are positively reinforced do better in the classroom. The teachers are also able to spend more time teaching and less time dealing with discipline issues.
Q: How can I help or get involved?
A: By reinforcing the same values at home. Role model respect, responsibility and honesty and make those words part of frequent family discussions. Follow through with positive reinforcement when your child shows those values.
Orange Frog Celebrations and BAMS Announcements
STAR Math and Reading Growth: FALL 2019 TO WINTER 2020 - Students Meeting State Requirements have gone up in all categories. For Math by: 35% - 6th Grade; 35% - 7th Grade; 32% - 6th Grade. For Reading by: 23% - 6th Grade; 7% - 7th Grade; 29% - 8th Grade.
Career and College Readiness at BAMS: 113 8th Grade and 111 7th Grade Students attended the annual MPTC Career Connections Academy sponsored by FdL Envision.
Robotics: Update from All Teams:
Team 1021Z BAMS Techno Lizards
Members: Ty Vander Pas, Brooke Peterson, Khloe Youwer, Lincoln Bangart
Tournament Champions, State and US Open qualifiers
Team 1021M BAMS Reapers
Members: Adler Meyer, Cayden King, Matt Lechner, Elliott Clark
2 time tournament champions, State/US Open qualifiers
Team 1021G BAMS Oriole Glitches
Members: Ella Goetsch, Mason Matezevich, Jose Mondragon, Lucas Morgan, Kayle Vossekuil
Tournament Finalist, Skills Champion, Judges Award Winner, State and US Open Qualifiers
Team 1021S BAMS Bionic Riots
Members: Carson Hopp, Brody Henning, Ian Martin, Silas Mortensen
Tournament Finalist and State Qualifiers
Here are Some Interesting Facts about BAMS . . .
STUDENT DISCIPLINE AND RECOGNITION:
151 Major Referrals
269 Minor Referrals
70% of students with NO ODR (Referrals)
85.01% 0-1 ODRs (Referrals)
8.36% 2-5 ODRs (Referrals)
6.63% 6+ ODRs (Referrals)
527 Positive Oriole Referrals for 237 Students (69% of students)
262 Positive Oriole Referrals for ALL Staff.
789 total instances of positive acknowledgement at BAMS!
420 Discipline Referrals overall (more data on slides below)
2:1 Positive to Negative Acknowledgement Ratio
ATTENDANCE:
64 students with 5+ Tardies
141 students with NO TARDIES (39 - 8th; 49-7th; 53-6th)
60 students with PERFECT ATTENDANCE (16-8th; 25-7th; 24-6th)
84 students with 5+ Excused Absences
14 students with 1+ Unexcused Absences
95.39% Rate
ENROLLMENT:
345 Students as of 1/27/20 (+17 from previous year)
Bessie Allen Middle School:
Email: bams@nfdlschools.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/nfdlschools.org/nfdltest/hmhs/bams
Location: 305 McKinley Street, North Fond du Lac, WI, United States
Phone: (920) 929-3754
Facebook: facebook.com/nfdl.schools
Twitter: @nfdlschools
