TOPICS INSIDE:

June 4, 2021

• (1)  Returning Materials to School

• (2)  What should I do with my HCPSS Chromebook?

• (3)  8th Grade Celebration - June 11 (*Rain Date June 14)

• (4)  Service Learning Hour Requirement 

• (5)  End of Year Dates & Early Dismissal Schedules - June 10, 11, 14, & 15

• (6)  Grades / Summer School

• (7) HCPSS Prep Courses - Math

• (8) BBMS Yearbooks have arrived!

Dear BBMS Families:

We hope you and your family are doing well as we get ready to wind down another year at Bonnie Branch Middle School.  We really miss seeing you at all of the traditional activities that normally happen this time of year.  We miss the spring musical, the music concerts, the trip to Hershey, our talent shows... the list goes on and on.  However, we continue to be uplifted by the energy our students exhibit as we get closer to the last day.  There is an excitement with the approach of summer and we know that our students have worked very hard through virtual, hybrid and in-person learning.  We are so proud of how our students are continuing to show up every day for their classes and that they see the value in trying their best.  We are confident our students are prepared to take the next step in their journey.

Knowing how different this year has been, we are also uplifted by the fact that we will see all of our 8th grade students and their families on June 11, 2021 for the 8th grade celebration.  I hope you are planning ideas for ways to decorate your car for the "parade"!  We are going with an Hawaiian theme if that helps spark your creativity!  We hope to make this a great day for our 8th graders as they truly deserve a big celebration.

Lastly, please start looking around the house for old textbooks, novels, and other school materials that should come back to Bonnie Branch.  You can drop those materials off at BBMS any day between 8:30am and 2:30pm.  Please come to the main office to drop off materials if you don't see a cardboard bin outside.  If you are returning a Chromebook, please hand deliver that to a staff member.  Do not leave Chromebooks in a collection bin.  Only students who are leaving HCPSS entirely need to return their Chromebook.  See below for more details.

After reading the important dates and notices, please call our office at 410-313-2580 if you have any questions that we can help you with.

Go Sharks!

Dr. Andrew Cockley, Principal

"NEWS-WORTHY" TOPICS

(1)  Returning Materials to School:

Now is the time to bring back materials that were issued to students.  Look for headphones, textbooks, novels, or other supplies.  We ask that materials be brought to school between 8:30am and 2:30pm to avoid bus arrival and dismissal times.  We will save a lot of money if you are able to bring back those supplies that we can use again next year.
 

(2)  What should I do with my HCPSS Chromebook?:

Subject: HCPSS Technology Device Usage, Summer 2021 

Access to technology devices that connect to the internet can open doors to many educational opportunities outside the traditional school setting. Students who will be returning to school for the 2021-2022 school year may keep their assigned HCPSS devices over the summer. HCPSS encourages continued learning during the summer months by using devices to access HCPSS applications like Lexia and Dreambox, and to take advantage of online opportunities, such as those offered by the Howard County Library System.

It is important that parents and guardians continue to monitor their child’s device use and remind students of the expectations around proper care and usage, and any family agreed upon limitations. While the Chromebooks have an internet content filter installed, parents/guardians may find it helpful to review their child’s web browsing history to learn more about how the device is being used.

Families who do not wish to keep their student’s assigned device over the summer may return it to their child’s school or an HCPSS Technology Support Center. Schools will distribute devices at the start of the 2021-2022 school year to students who returned their devices or who are new to the school system.

Student Technology Support:

Families can use the directions for connecting a Chromebook to Wi-Fi to connect a Chromebook to their home network. Students who forget their username or password can use the Account Self Service directions to retrieve their account credentials. A variety of common self-help resources can be found on the Student Technology Resources Canvas community. If you or your child has questions on how to use access instruction or is having technical issues, please email your child’s summer programs teacher or administrator.

Families should review the HCPSS Student Mobile Technology Duties and Obligations to learn more about the school system’s policies and guidelines that govern the devices. Should an HCPSS Chromebook become broken over the summer, students/parents should bring the broken device to an HCPSS Technology Support Center. A current list of sites and hours of operation can be found online. 

(3) 8th Grade Celebration - June 11:

View details here (taken from the BBMS Website):

https://bbms.hcpss.org/sites/default/files/library/8th%20Grade%20Promotion%20Parade%20Information%20%281%29_0.pdf

*This event will begin around 1:30pm due to dismissal times at Ilchester ES.  We need to ensure that buses are not impacted by our event.  The design of the 8th grade celebration will include a drive through process where parents and students drive from station to station (remaining in vehicles) to collect awards, promotion certificates, and have a chance to take selfies in a photo booth, collect mementos, and received recognition from teachers.  Students will be given an opportunity to walk through the parade early (as well as through the school hallways) before they go home if they are a bus rider and cannot get back to school at 1:30pm.  We will provide more details to you in a separate email explaining the route and instructions so you are prepared to have a great celebration.  Parents can decorate cars, students can dress up, and we will make this a festive parade through the BBMS campus one last time as BBMS Sharks!  *June 14 - RAIN DATE.

(4)  Student Service Learning (SSL) Hours:

Every student in HCPSS has a requirement to earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours in order to graduate from high school.  Most students will need to earn 75 hours (*please refer to the Approved Catalog of High School Courses for specific hour requirements for students who enter HCPSS after 6th grade).  Students at Bonnie Branch will earn 25 hours of service through activities designed in homeroom.  Homeroom meets every Wednesday at 10:30am.  Students must complete the required activities in their grade in order to earn the 25 hours of service for that year.  Teachers and Grade Level Team Leaders are tracking the hours students earn and there will be a makeup process for students who have fallen behind schedule.  Please check with your child's homeroom teacher if you want an update on those hours - thank you!  We want all students to leave BBMS with the SSL hours they need to graduate.

(5) IMPORTANT DATES:
 

• June 9 - 8th Grade students virtual high school visit day - Howard HS.
   
• June 10 - 8th Grade students virtual high school visit day - Long Reach HS.
   
• June 11 - 8th Grade Promotion "Ceremony"/Celebration at BBMS! 
  *This event will begin around 1:30pm due to dismissal times at Ilchester ES. *June 14 - RAIN DATE.
   
• June 10-11-14-15:  3 Hour Early Dismissal Days for Students.  BBMS students will dismiss at 12:15pm each day.
  • Period 1 = 8:30 to 9:15
  • Period 2 = 9:20 to 10:05
  • Period 3 = 10:10 to 10:55
  • Period 4 = 11:00 to 11:45
  • Grab and Go Lunch and Dismissal = 11:45 to 12:15

(6) Grades / Summer School:

• As we near the end of the school year, it is very important for students to continue to try their best and to keep working in each class.  We want students to pass their classes with the skills and concepts needed to be successful in the fall.  There may be times when students just need a little extra boost.  If you feel that your child would benefit from a summer program in English (ELA) or Math please contact a teacher, your counselor or one of the administrators. 
   
• 8TH GRADERS: 
  • There are two (2) summer school classes for 8th grade students.   
  • The first class runs from June 21 to July 9.  The second course runs from July 12 to July 30.
  • Students take one class at a time (ELA or MATH).
  • Classes run from 8am to 12:50pm.
  • Bus transportation is available.
  • Students will be Hybrid and Virtual and can earn 0.5 credits for high school.
  • Location:  Oakland Mills High School
     
• 6TH AND 7TH GRADERS:
  • Dates for summer school are July 6 to July 30.
  • Classes run from 8:30am to 12:00pm.
  • Students take two classes:  ELA and Math.
  • Bus transportation is available.
  • Location:  Bonnie Branch Middle School
     

(7) HCPSS Prep Courses - Math

• Are you looking for good resources to help your student in math class?
• Go to the HCPSS Family Math Page:  https://hcpssfamilymath.weebly.com/middle-school-math.html
• There are great classes titled "Get Ready For..." the next math class for your child. 
• These are great tools to help students strengthen their math skills.

(8) BBMS Yearbooks - pick up dates June 8-9-10:

• The 2020-2021 Bonnie Branch Yearbooks are here!! 
  • We have a few dates for yearbook distribution that we want you to be aware of:
    • June 8 to 10:  Virtual Students can come to BBMS and pick up their yearbook between 8:30am and 2:30pm.  Families can stop by BBMS, come to the main office, and we will have yearbooks ready for pick up.
    • June 8 to 10:   Students In-Person at BBMS will be able to pick up their yearbook during lunch at school.
• Did you miss the ordering deadline?  Do you want to order a yearbook now?  
  • We have about 70 extra books that are for sale.
  • Cost = $27.00
  • Online Ordering is Available:  https://osp.osmsinc.com/HowardMD/BVModules/CategoryTemplates/Detailed%20List%20with%20Properties/Category.aspx?categoryid=DA068