Middle School
Weekly Update
Week of June 16th
01
Due to the anticipated heat forecasted for Tuesday, June 18th through Friday, June 21st, we have made the decision to dismiss all students early at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Additionally, please be informed that the school will be closed on Wednesday, June 19th for Juneteenth.
Alternative off-site education programs will operate as usual during this time.
With limited cooling systems in some of our classrooms at the ES & HS, we must prioritize the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Therefore, these measures are necessary to ensure a comfortable and safe environment for everyone.
Breakfast and lunch will still be provided, with a shift in serving times to ensure all students receive adequate nourishment. Please note that all field trips scheduled during this period will be canceled or rescheduled.
Students scheduled to take Regents exams should still report for their exams at the scheduled times. We have arranged for alternative classrooms to ensure comfortable testing conditions. The High School has also coordinated transportation for students who require it.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Should you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the school administration.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Kimberly Bell/Superintendent of Schools
Friday is an A Day
Calendar
Wednesday, June 19: no school (Juneteenth)
Friday, June 21: Yearbook distribution during lunch periods
Monday, June 24: 5th & 7th grades field trips to Taughannock
Tuesday, June 25: 6th & 8th grade field trips
Wednesday, June 26: Dismissal at 11:30
Do you want to unsubscribe? email gbrisson@tburg.k12.ny.us
Office Updates
From Ms. Lomax
Last week's 8th grade trip to Washington DC was an enormous success. Students spent time at the National Zoo, enjoyed dinner and dancing on a cruise on the Potomac, toured the White House and Capital Building, and visited many monuments and museums. Despite the heat, we had a great time. A huge THANK YOU to Mr. Begeal for planning this special opportunity for our students, and thank you, also, to all of the chaperones for keeping everyone safe and organized.
The 8th Grade Moving-Up Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 25th, at 6:30pm in the High School Auditorium. The parent-organized graduation party will take place in the middle school gym immediately following the ceremony.
Please join us on Wednesday, June 26th, at 11:10am for the 8th Grade Parade! The parade will begin and end in front of the middle school, where we will take a class picture. Wear your blue & gold! School dismisses immediately after the parade at 11:30.
Chromebook Return
This year the Middle School Chromebook returns will happen on Monday, June 24th for 6th and 8th grade, and Tuesday, June 25th for 5th and 7th grade.. 7th and 8th graders are keeping their Chromebooks and chargers in homerooms until the end of the school year. Returning Middle School students will be reissued the same Chromebook for the 24-25 school year. Students will be asked to complete a short Google Form allowing them to share any problems with their Chromebooks with the Technology Department to resolve before they are returned to students in the Fall.
5th Grade
5th Grade Daily Planner (Please bookmark for your use).
ELA: This week we wrapped up our 4th Grade Letter unit and completed our final end of the year writing assessment to be sent along to the 6th grade ELA teachers. Students had an opportunity to show what they know about determining theme of two stories.
Science: We have completed our last lab, had our final notebook check, done our last homework. On Tuesday we will have our Living Systems assessment. There will be hungry aliens.
Health: We have goals! Ask your child to share their physical activity or nutrition focused goal – inquire how they are doing to meet it.
Students learned about important hygiene practices as well as details about what to expect during puberty. Please check out Amaze.org for free animated videos to support conversations at home about various health topics. Next week will continue a few lessons on body changes and give students a chance to ask questions &/or learn from supplemental texts.
WINN: Congratulations to Ms. Brisson & Mr. Buck’s WINN group for winning the New York Agriculture in the Classroom Ice Cream Challenge. Jane Warner, Aubriella Reid, Bradley Anderson, Noah Carroll, Dylan Hayhurst, and Chase Thompson entered two different ice cream recipes, Triple Berry Fudge Swirl and Apple Pie Ice Cream. The Apple Pie Ice Cream, a brown sugar & cinnamon ice cream with sauteed apples and a swirl of homemade caramel, took 1st place in the Intermediate Grade category.
Band: 5th grade band members should keep their instruments for the summer and try to play and practice whenever they can to keep their skills sharp. To encourage this here are some Summer Music Offerings: Summer Lessons with Mrs. P ♫ Camps and lessons available at Opus Ithaca ♫ Summer Band with the Ithaca Youth Bureau MS Theater Camp with Mrs. Lewis and HS Drama Club
6th Grade
Sixth grade is starting to wind down the year. We have two field trips planned. On Thursday June 20th, in the afternoon, had planned to take students to Taughannock Creek to release the trout they have been raising. Stay tuned for news about this field trip! On Tuesday, June 25th we will be hiking Treman gorge and having a picnic at Stewart Park.
Band: Here are some Summer Music Offerings: Summer Lessons with Mrs. P ♫ Camps and lessons available at Opus Ithaca ♫ Summer Band with the Ithaca Youth Bureau MS Theater Camp with Mrs. Lewis and HS Drama Club
7th Grade
7th Grade Digital Planner (Please bookmark this link.)
Science: We reviewed cells and microscopes this week. The final test was on Friday (6/14). Next week we will be preparing for the Floating Classroom (part of the Taughannock field trip). The class will talk about ecosystems, ospreys and watersheds.
Math 7 & Pre-Algebra: This week we took our IXL diagnostic test. I’ll work with students next week in their study halls and CAS periods to finish if they need more time to complete it. I added a spin to how we took this. Each group had a bin of legos on their desks and each time they got a problem correct they could take a lego and work on building a creation. Since the test was a two day experience, they saved it in-progress to finish the next day. The kids had a good time with this little diversion as it gave them a nice visual to see that they were getting things right while also giving them something tactile. The Pre-Algebra classes are also working on wrapping up surface area and volume with a performance assessment involving cakes. As part of this they got to try some black fondant so the pictures with open mouths are to see our tongues after eating it. View all the pictures.
8th Grade
Parents: Reminder--Students should be emailing their teachers when absent -- that way they can know what was covered in class. Also please follow the below steps to check assignments in your child’s Google Classrooms.
Science 8: We have been studying waves of light and how we see color. Students used a spectroscope to study the spectrum of colors that are made from different light sources. Students used different colored filters to make a picture change.
Regents Earth Science: We have finished the first part of the Regents (lab exam). The written test will be Thursday, June 20th at 8:00 am. There is no make-up for this exam. Please be to school on time. No student is admitted into the exam after 9:00 am. We have been studying hard - I know your students will do well, but they should continue to take a little time each day to review.
Kotler’s ELA 8: This week, students performed a select scene from Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet in small groups during class. We also read a little bit about Washington DC and explored the Washington Mall via Google Earth.
Clubs & Activities
Student Council
End of year dance will be on Friday June 21st from 7-9pm. The dance is open to all students in grades 5-8. There will be a DJ, and concessions sold. Presale tickets will be $5 sold at lunch during the week of the dance. Tickets at the door will be $7. Come and celebrate the end of the school year with your friends. Hope to see you there.
Looking ahead to next year we are looking for current 7th graders who are energetic, organized, and have a vision for what can make our school even more awesome to run for president and vice-president of Student Council for the ‘24-’25 school year. Interested candidates should see Mr. Begeal or Ms. Salib for an election packet. We will have voting in the first week of next year’s school year.
You must sign up for the late bus with Mr. Begeal or Ms. Salib by 1:00 PM on Tuesday.
Volleyball Camp
Coach McLennan will be running a volleyball camp from July 15-18. Ages 10-14 3:30-5:30, Ages 15-18 5:30-7:30. $50. Use link to sign up! https://cayugalakers.sportngin.com/register/form/634783704
Summer Reading Camp
Yearbook
Students in all grades will be receiving their 2023-2024 Middle School Yearbook during their lunch period in the Cafeteria on June 21, 2024.
Community
Community
Community
Town of Ulysses Youth Services
The Town of Ulysses Youth Services Department has a survey form for middle school students and their families. The feedback we receive from this survey will be valuable in directing where we put effort towards creating appropriate activities during the summers ahead.
Community
Primitive Pursuits Overnight Camps
Overnight camps offer a distinctive set of benefits, providing young people with opportunities for self-discovery, skill development, and lasting connections. Join us in the expansive Arnot Forest with historic lodge, cabins and over 4,200 acres of wilderness to explore!
Back to the Earth for Ages 9-12:
Embrace the Adventure!
Gain foundational outdoor skills to last a lifetime. Overcome challenges with creativity, while playing hard, eating well, gaining independence, finding new interests and building self-confidence.
Campers will make a home base around the comforts of wilderness cabins and venture into the surrounding forests and waterways to practice outdoor living skills with new friends and reconnect with the wild earth. For campers looking for more adventure, there will be opportunities to sleep under the stars and go on a wilderness overnight trip.
Forest Awakens for Ages 13-16:
Ignite your inner spark!
Awaken to the sounds of birds and rustling leaves in a forest base camp made of tents, tarps and natural shelters. Campers will base their activities out of this home in the forest, cooking meals together and forming a community of nature-inspired leaders.
Camp leaders will offer advanced skill development and opportunities for more independent challenges and leadership development, as well as deep relaxation and rejuvenation. They’ll guide campers in making choices with intention and purpose, crafting meaningful stories and relationships, and mastering skills of self-reliance.
Full Moon Camp for Ages 13-16:
The Forest Awakens at night! This will be a specialized week for night time adventures under the light of the full moon. Playfulness and creativity will light our way as we craft stories and dream big together. Time for reflection, personal discovery and rejuvenation (think, sleeping in!) will abound.
Register at primitivepursuits.com
Building Contacts
Main Office: Brenda Everhart, 607-387-2825
Attendance: Lauren Conners, 607-387-7551, x1425
Nurse's Office: 607-387-2827
Student Services Team: 607-387-7551 ext. 1449
Bryce DeSantis, School Psychologist
Lisa Magee, Administrative Assistant
Brian Cobb, LCSW, Social Worker
Claire Valletta, Guidance Counselor
IT Help: help@tburgschools.on.spiceworks.com or 607-288-2821 (Monday - Friday 8 am to 4pm)
Newsletter items/help/unsubscribe: Gail Brisson, gbrisson@tburg.k12.ny.us