Boring Middle School
Not So Boring News 
Upcoming Events
Jan/Feb, 2014
UPCOMING EVENTS
Jan. 30th...Band Concert-8:20am 
Jan. 31st...No School-Grading Day for Students 
Feb. 3rd...First Day of the Second Semester 
Feb. 6th...Report Cards mailed home 
Feb. 7th...Student of the Month Assembly-1:35pm 
Feb. 17th...No School-Presidents Day Holiday 
Feb. 28th...BMS Talent Show-6:00pm 
March 19th...8th Grade Family Information Night-7:00pm at SHS 
March 20th...Activity Day-1:15pm 
March 21st...No School-Furlough Day 
March 24-28th...Spring Break  

 
Immunization News  
Exclusion day is February 19, 2014.  Students who have an incomplete immunization status were reported to the Clackamas County Health Dept. on January 15.  Exclusion letters will be mailed out on February 5th.  If your student is not in compliance by February 18th, state law requires students to be excluded starting February 19th until proof of immunizations has been has been turned in to the school office. 

Students and their parent/guardians who need immunizations at BMS have been contacted. 

If you have questions or concerns, call the BMS office, 503-668-9393.

NEW IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENT
Hepatitis A vaccine will be required for all students in 2014.  Now
is the time to get your child vaccinated against Hepatitis A.  Hepatitis A is a viral infection that can result in liver disease.  If you have already had your child immunized, turn in the dates to the school office.  The vaccine is administered in two doses given 6 months apart. 
Call your doctor or the Clackamas County Health Dept. at 503-655-8799. 
Free immunizations are available to Oregon Trail students at the School Based Health Clinic located at Sandy High School.  To make an appointment call the clinic at 503-668-3483.

8th Grade Family Information Night  

 

8th Grade Family Information Night is Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 7:00pm at Sandy High School.   Formerly known as "Freshman Orientation", this evening will be a good introduction to Sandy High School for 8th grade students and their parents.  Keep an eye out for a flier coming home in early March with more information

 

 

MATH HELP

 

Does your student need extra help with math? BMS has some online resources for you! Information may be found on the BMS website under the Academics drop down or you can use the links provided to find online resources for your student.

 

Khan Acadamy

 

Oregon Focus Online Textbook

 

Math Help

 

       

 

 


New system in place for volunteer ID 

As you've probably noticed, OTSD schools have begun implementing new security procedures for school visitors and volunteers. 

Beginning this month, our volunteer ID badge system has changed.  Volunteers will no longer be assigned personal badges, with names and photos.  All volunteer badges will include only the school name and logo.  Numbered badges will be assigned as volunteers check in at the school office and will be returned to the office when the volunteer is done for the day.  Badges will not be taken off campus.

Thank you for your patience and support as we implement these new security procedures.  Please visit our volunteer webpage for more information about volunteering in our schools. 

Nutrition News 

Nutrition services is excited to announce the addition of healthy snacks, water, and juices to our school lunch program.  Students may now purchase these items in addition to lunch.   
-Baked chips...$1.50
-Rice Krispy Treats...$1.00
-Fruit Roll ups...75 cents
-Fruit Drinks...$1.50
-Bottled Water...$1.00 

If you would like to add money to your student's account, track their lunch purchases, or check your student's lunch account balance, you can go to My School Bucks online and sign up.
   lunch  
Library News

We have so many students who are avid readers that we don't have enough copies of the really popular books!  Students can put holds on books, but 3 weeks is a long time to wait.  Double that if you are 2nd in the hold line, and so on.  If you have any copies of the following books and would like to donate them, we would greatly appreciate it!

Several students want to read the following books before the movies come out... 
The Maze Runner by James Dasner 
Divergent by Veronica Roth

We only have 1 copy and several students on the hold list for Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.

We would, also, appreciate any of the children's books by
Rick Riordan and
James Patterson.  Their books are very popular this year.

Donated books can be dropped into the Library Return Box in the hall or given to Ms. Bush on Tuesday or Thursday.  Thank you for supporting our library.

   

 

A Message From Our Principal

I hope your New Year is off to a great start.  As we approach the end of January, it is hard to believe that we are halfway through the school year.  Report cards will be mailed home February 6th.  Our goal in the middle school years is to prepare our students for the rigors of high school.  Our academic standards, behavior standards, grading policies and PBIS program are all geared toward teaching our students what will be expected of them now and in the future.  We appreciate all your work and efforts at home in supporting us in this task.

I am extremely proud of our students this year.  In reviewing our discipline data for the first half of the year, our strikes and referrals are the lowest on record in over 5 years.  Our staff works hard at teaching and re-teaching expectations to our students and holding them accountable to those expectations.  Overall, our students have done a great job with that.  Your support in holding our students accountable to these high standards is important.  Less time on behavior means more time on academics.

Have a great February!
Tim Werner, Principal
Dress Code
                   
Below is the updated dress code.  It remains similar to what we have always had in place but we are emphasizing an item that has become more of an issue particularly the last year or two.  Tights, leggings, spandex, yoga pants, etc. have become very popular.  Because these types of pants are extremely tight and form
fitting, the tops that are worn with these types of pants need to cover the behind to make sure it's appropriate for a school setting.  Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Updated School Dress Code 
Appropriate clothing must be worn during school hours and school related activities.  Students will be expected to dress in a manner that is appropriate for a school setting.  Students will be asked to change their clothing if it does not meet the basic dress code standards.
-Clothing or items that display or reference drugs, alcohol, obscenities, sexual innuendos, weapons, or vulgarity will not be allowed.
-An adequate coverage of the body and undergarments is required.  Bare midriffs, strapless or backless tops, spaghetti straps, low necklines or other revealing tops, 
exposed underwear, holes or tears in clothing in the thigh or behind are not allowed.
-Dress, shorts and skirt lengths need to be mid-thigh or longer.  (At least as long as the longest finger when arms are hanging naturally to the sides of the body)
-Tops worn with leggings/tights/yoga pants, ect. must cover the student's behind.
-Pajamas and slippers are not allowed.
-Sagging pants/shorts are not allowed.
-Any garments or items that may be considered gang related, interferes with the learning process or school climate, ridicule a person or group, or which may threaten the health or safety of students or staff are not allowed.
-Trench coats, chains or spikes are not allowed.
Hats:  Hats (and hoodies) may be worn to school but must be removed when entering the building.  Hats should be stored in the student's locker.  Hats or hoodies may be worn outside during recess but not in the cafeteria, gym or school buildings. 
Student of the Month-Trustworthy

   

Students were asked to nominate fellow students who demonstrate the qualities of respect. Those qualities include:

-Being honest (don't lie, cheat or steal)

-Being reliable (keep your promises and follow through on your commitments)

-Searches to accept what is true and avoids accepting what is false

-Being a good friend and not betraying a trust

 

                    Congratulations to the following students:  

                          

      6th Grade Winners:  Souvanny Carpenter & Carsyn Meyers

                           

            7th Grade Winners:  Zach Hutchings & Hannah Visan

                          

          8th Grade Winners:  Iosefa Polamalu & Brittany Ross  

 

 

Happy New Year From the PBIS Team
         

To begin with, we here at Boring Middle School hope you and yours had a very happy holiday break and have a wonderful year to come.

 

We are nearing the halfway point in our year, so the PBIS Team decided it would be a good time to reteach some of our lessons on school behavior.  After analyzing the information where students are struggling the most with behavior we were able to put together an important list of areas where students seemed to be receiving the most strikes at this time.

 

We took time the first week back in January to go over rules on how to act during passing time in the halls that specifically deal with issues on rough- housing.  Secondly, there seems to be a higher percentage of students who are coming to class after the bell has already rung.  Disruptions like these can cost a loss of valuable instruction time for both the teacher and students. Problems listening, and following directions also seem to be on the rise with many teachers having to repeat multiple instructions to their students.  (Please discuss with your child the importance of being on task and not talking, or distracting those around them).

 

Lastly, we reviewed all lunchroom rules in order to keep the cafeteria picked up and neat for the next group of students coming in to eat.  

 

It is the desire of the PBIS Team to see students cooperate, and follow the rules of conduct that will ensure the safety of our school community.  Each student has the responsibility to be respectful to one another as we traverse the halls and classrooms of Boring Middle School.

          

 

Notes from Leadership class

The canned food drive was a huge success this year! As a school we collected 1583 cans!! It was a close competition for the class pizza party. Mrs. Vance's class collected 7.96 cans per student, Mr. Zielke collected 13.77 cans per student and the class that collected the most cans and will win a pizza lunch party is...Mrs. McG with 14.10 cans per student. Thank you for helping our community members in need!!

 

Leadership students have been feverishly working on preparing for our Pennies for Patients Fundraiser, which will begin on January 27th and end on February 14th. Pennies for Patients is sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and ALL proceeds go to researching blood cancers, or helping patients pay for the cost of treatment. Our school goal is to raise $1160, and if every student at BMS brings in $3.00, we will reach our goal. If we meet this goal, Mr. Werner will be getting a pie in the face during our February Student of the Month assembly!!  The winning grade will also win a prize, still to be determined.

                  

 

Click.Buy.Help
                            
Boring Middle School is excited to participate in a simple, but very innovative fundraising program: Click. Buy. Help. We have joined Click. Buy. Help. to earn commissions when you shop online. Funds raised through this program will help us purchase technology equipment.
This program is unique in that it allows you to support Boring Middle year-round, and we're hoping you'll think of us every time you shop online and Click.Buy.Help through the Boring Middle page.

 

HOW IT WORKS
Click. Buy. Help. has created a very easy process for schools to earn commissions on supporters' online purchases - purchases already being made every day.
  1. When shopping online, begin at the Boring Middle page on Click. Buy. Help. at CLICK.BUY.HELP
  2. Click your favorite retailer's icon to visit their site
  3. Make your regular purchases
  4. Click. Buy. Help earns a commission from your purchase, then donates 50% to Boring Middle
That's all there is to it! The prices are the same!  NO SELLING - JUST BUYING
Remember, we're not selling anything with this service. These are purchases that you make every day anyway at the same price. The only requirement: you must start your shopping from our page EVERY TIME you shop online.

 

TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY - HERE AND OUT OF TOWN Anyone can help Boring Middle through this program - and they don't even need to live in Oregon. Do you have a sister in Montana? Tell her. Do you have a brother in Texas? Email him. What about grandma and grandpa in San Francisco? Show them how they can help. Have a friend who buys supplies for their small business? Perfect! It doesn't matter where they live - only that they begin their shopping from our page every time they shop online.

 

You can see the potential for this program and why Boring Middle is excited to be a part of it. The next time you shop online, please be sure to CLICK through to your favorite retailer from our page, BUY online as you would normally, and HELP Boring Middle.  We've started the program with just a few major retailers, but if you have a favorite on-line store you'd like us to add, please let me know.
      
                   

Update from the Boring Middle School PTC

 

Thanks to all of our students, families and friends who participated in our computer fundraiser. With your help we were able to raise $1,374.  Congratulations to the winners!!

 

With the money raised, the PTC has been able to allocate to all of our teachers at BMS $100 to help with their classroom expenses, $500 to our library for the purchase of OBOB books & additional materials, scholarships for athletics & music, transportation for students, sponsorship of BMS families during the Holidays, and our PBIS program. 

 

 

We have been busy and have been having a great time supporting our school. Our next meeting is February 11th at 6pm in the library at BMS.  We would love to see some new faces, so make sure you mark the date on your calendar.  The PTC makes a difference, and it all starts with you.    
 

 

Boring Middle PTC

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A note from the Athletic Director: Garet Luebbert

Wrestling - Practice started Monday, January 13th.  All practices are held at the Pioneer Building (old SHS) from 2:45-4:30pm.  Athletes will ride the bus over to practice, but parents will need to arrange rides home.  So far we have 19 BMS wrestlers competing this year.  The word is out, so come support the wrestlers at their four home meets at the Pioneer Building on Feb. 4, Feb. 11, Feb. 20, and Feb. 25.

 

Girls Basketball - The girls basketball season is getting started this month as well.  We are planning on having A and B teams for both 7th and 8th grade levels.  The league consists of teams as far east as The Dalles, and as far west as David Douglas School District. 

Upcoming important dates and information:

 

Girls Basketball Schedule 

 

·         Track Start Date - April 1st 

·         Necessary paperwork to compete in a sport for BMS:

o   Code of Conduct

o   Sports Physical (with the school's form)

o   $55 fee

o   Insurance/Clearance Form

·         All forms and schedules are available on the BMS website www.oregontrailschools.com/domain/202

 

            Thanks for helping make this another great year of middle school sports!  Please contact me with any questions or concerns you may have regarding BMS Athletics. 

 

garet.luebbert@ortrail.k12.or.us

503-668-9393 x6405

 

 

 

 

         2014-15 Variance Requests

 

The Oregon Trail School District considers requests for students to transfer to other schools within our district.  Although most of these requests are granted, some are not, due to inadequate space, resources, and other circumstances. 

 

It is important to remember that:

  • The district will try to honor your request if possible.
  • Variances are granted for one year only.  All parents must reapply for variances each year.
  • Parents provide home-to-school and school-to-home transportation.
  • Each school has unique educational features.

We ask that parents requesting a variance from their neighborhood school attendance area for any reason submit a variance form to their neighborhood/sending school by March 1st.  The variance requests will be reviewed and decisions communicated to parents by the first week in May.

 

Copies of the variance form can be found on our district web page, are available at school offices, or on our district web page (www.oregontrailschools.com).