Newsletter

This will be our final edition of the Bulldog Newsletter for the 2007-2008 school year. This edition is extended to our feeder school community. We are delighted to welcome our rising 5^th graders from Brock Bridge, Jessup and Van Bokkelen elementary schools to the Meade Middle School family. You are an important member of our learning community. We would like you to mark your calendars for our annual 6^th grade summer orientation session on Wednesday, July 23, from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Should you have a question or are in need of additional information please feel free to call Ms. Margaret Haacke, Guidance Department Chairperson and 6^th grade guidance counselor for 2008-2009 at 410-674-2355.

As we approach the remaining rapidly fleeting days of this school year, we aim to maintain an instructional focus. For 6^th and 7^th graders the fourth marking period is important because often summer scheduling and placement decisions for the upcoming school year are determined from report card progress. Eighth grade students should not only focus on promotion to high school, but earning a GPA that will allow participation in extracurricular activities in high school. The current school system policy requires a student to have a 2.0 GPA when entering high school to participate in extracurricular sports. As a parent your continual reinforcement of expectations for completing class work and homework assignments is appreciated.

On Tuesday, May 20, sixteen of our current 7^th graders were inducted into the National Junior society. I would like thank each parent that attended this year’s ceremony. I would like to especially thank Mrs. Gabrielle Walsh. Mrs. Walsh’s daughter, Sarah, is one of our 7^th graders. This coordination of this year’s NJHS induction was conducted by Ms. Shane Towne-Splitt and Ms. Maria Bucher.

Meade Middle School’s Instrumental Band and Chorus will showcase their magnificent skills at our performing arts program. The Instrumental Band will perform on Tuesday, June 3. The Chorus concert is on Wednesday, June 4. Both performances will be at 7:00 p.m. in our school’s Cafetorium. Please consider joining us for our annual spring concerts. This year’s 8^th grade dance will be held Thursday, June 5.

By Monday, June 2, students are expected to have returned all classroom textbooks and books on loan from our Media Center. Please assist in collecting all books by checking your child’s belongings for school issued books. June 6 will be the last day for students. Also, on June 6 at 1 p.m., we will host our 8^th grade promotion exercise at Meade High School. The promotion exercise will be held in the auditorium. This year’s keynote speaker will be Colonel Kenneth McCreedy. Each participating 8^th grade student will receive two tickets for family and friends. Our promotion exercise is a formal event. Students are expected to wear their Sunday best. However, tuxedos and prom dresses are not encouraged.

Finally thank you for your ongoing support this school year. I wish you a safe and enjoyable summer. Our next newsletter will be published in August and will be mailed directly to your home. Should you have a change in residency, please contact our guidance office. I ask that you feel free to give me call (410-674-2355) or send me an email (edscott@aacps.org) if I can be of assistance.

Nominations for next year’s PTSA Executive Board Members

will take place on

Tuesday, May 27

6:30 p.m.

at Meade Middle

PTSA Skate Party

Skate Zone in Crofton

Friday, May 30

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Office Summer Hours

begins Tuesday, June 17, 2008

from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Congratulations to Gennifer Duncan, grade 8, for making the honor roll for the third marking period.

Congratulations to the newly inducted members of the National Junior Honor Society. They have proven through thought and deed that they have character, scholarship, leadership, service, and citizenship. The new members are Adnan Ajanah, Mekah Baker, Aaron Broennimann, Georgia Bussink, Phylesia Fralin, Mary Gad, Lily Gomez, Jenny Kintaro, Pricilla Polanco, Stephen Reading, Alex Roldan, Taylor Savannah, Patrick Shepard, Danielle Villeneuve, Sarah Walsh, and Selina Williams.

Congratulations to the following 6A students for making Students of the Month for April:

Ariel Ayala-Delgado, Michael Booth, DJ Butler, Trishna Chowdhury, Amanda Clevinger, Langston Craft, Nicole DeVos, Neicco Howard, Samuel Jackson, Connor Jones, Nicole Krug, Horizon Logan, Diana Lucas, Franklin Mai, Ashly Pineda, Megan Reyeda, Jannell Robinson, Jonathan Smith, Elizabeth Thomas, Valencia Tynes, Kellianne Venit, and Tanaiti Vera-Vera

Eighth Grade News

The teachers of eighth grade would like to take this opportunity to recognize our students’ many accomplishments during the third marking period.

Students of the Marking Period

We had many students who stood out in January, February, and March as positive role models for their fellow students. These Students of the Month successfully displayed the characteristics of B.A.R.K. – Being prepared and ready to learn, Acting responsibly, Respecting others and themselves, and Keeping safe by sometimes re-thinking through situations that would be wrong choices! These nominated students are: Ms. Espinas – Najah Broadway, Leslie Webster, and Nomair Alam; Mr. Sullivan – Nomair Alam, Taylor Williams, and Andrew Butler; Ms. Swiggett’s classroom – Tatiuna Carroll, Jezreel Coleman, and Lyasha Johnson; Ms. Thon – Palak Patel, Alex Perepechko, Christian Unkenholz, and Nina West; Ms. McCallister – Lytease Industrious, Coldon Viator, and Brady Rock; Ms. Harris – Imani White, April Byers, and Paris Coates; Ms. Sayers – Karim Dilday, Juan Concepcion-Rodriguez and Trenell Turner; Ms. Rousseaux – Adam Raymonds, Sara Constantine and Matthew Jacobsen; Ms. Ruchti – Michelle Shipp, Mark Scarlas, and Heather Biesel; Ms. Lentz – Leslie Webster, Kailey Muffley and Waltron Moody; Ms. Lunney – Jesse Thompson and Lytease Industrious; Ms. Towne – Alyssa Cruz, Karen Million, Tyree Clark and Anthony Parker; Ms. Beynon – Antoine Wright, Tiffane Smith, and Darius Samsingh; Ms. Bradshaw – Anthony Parker and Georgina Sorto; and Ms. Gilbertson – Sarah Daniels, Kaan Balimtas, and Gabrielle Moleski. Congratulations to these students!

Perfect Attendance

Many of the eighth grade students achieved perfect attendance in the third marking period. The students were: Alonzo Abraham, Raven Anan, Ya-Maila Bangura, Aminata Barrie, Kurtis Boulter, Desiree Bruce, April Byers, Chad Byron, William Cooke, Desirae Corry, Sarah Daniels, Justin DeSouza, Gennifer Duncan, Natalie Eubanks, Greg Fields, Victoria Gambrah, Kevin Gamez-Rodriguez, Shannon Gierl, Morgan Hall, Briana Hamlett, Colleen Harrison, Sarah Hunley, Lytease Industrious, Matthew Jacobsen, Rosa Johnson, Spencer Johnson, Amina Khan, Larry Lowery, Darnell Lynch, Karen Million, Gabrielle Moleski, Maxim Mouzannar, Naimah Muhammad, Buban Ndeta, Whitney Parham, Anthony Parker, Palak Patel, Imani Peterson, Justin Poland, Tyler Puccella, Breyonna Queen, Asia Randolph, Brady Rock, Darius Samsingh, Hailey Sekula, William Smith, Jung Hwa Song, Mariah Stevenson, Alec Sweatman, Andrew Taylor, Jazmine Thomas, Zachary VanAcker, Ashley Ward, Shaquille Welch, Imani White, Kenton Woodard, and Caitlyn Youse-Reese. Good attendance is essential to be successful in school especially during MSA in March! What an outstanding accomplishment being here every day!

Honor Roll

Many eighth grade students earned their way onto the Principal’s and Honor Roll Lists in the third marking period. What an accomplishment to earn all A’s and/or B’s! The 8^th Grade Team is very proud of these students whose names were listed in the previous newsletter.

The 8^th Grade will be having its Farewell and Awards Ceremony on Friday, June 6, 2008 in Meade High School’s auditorium beginning promptly at 1:00 p.m. With the exception of handicapped parking, please plan to park at Meade Middle and walk over to the high school. Guests will not be able to enter the high school until 12:45 p.m. The students should report to Meade Middle School by 8:00 a.m. as usual to check in and prepare for the ceremony. There will not be bus transportation provided after the ceremony. Students must ride home with a designated adult from their emergency notification card. Students are reminded to wear their Sunday best for the occasion, which means no denim, T-shirts, sneakers, or Timberlands.

In order to accommodate seating for all of our students’ guests, each student being promoted will receive 2 tickets on June 5th to invite his or her guests, (exception, siblings will receive 2 tickets per family).

· Parents, please do not plan to arrive at the school before 12:40 for the ceremony as both schools will need to accommodate the bus departures for the early dismissal day.

· Parents, please remind your children to prepare for their final exams from May 19^th – May 30th. Foreign language exams begin the week before in some cases.

Reminder to all 8^th grade students and parents: Any student failing two (2) or more classes for the year, or has failed the same subject in 6^th or 7^th grade, will not be invited to attend the Farewell and Awards Ceremony. Also, all textbooks and library books must be returned and financial obligations must be taken care of by May 30th in order to attend the ceremony and Eighth Grade Farewell dance.

· The Eighth Grade Farewell Dance will be held at Meade Middle School on June 5^th from 7:00 – 10:00 pm. More information will be sent at a later date concerning the dance.

On Tuesday, June 3, at 6:30 p.m., eighth grade students will have a final art show in collaboration with the band and instrumental concert. Each eighth grade student who enrolled in studio art for the second semester will have an art piece displayed. Media includes: pencil, charcoal, collage, watercolor and oil pastel. All are welcome.

Parents, the end of the school year is approaching. Please remember to pick up your child’s medications by June 9, 2008.

· Cover your skin when you are in the sun. Wear a hat, a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and sunglasses.

· Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.

School Health Services is interviewing for registered nurses for full time School Nurse positions for the upcoming school year. Current RN licensure in Maryland and two years of recent clinical experience is required. Positions include health benefits, limited leave, and summers off. For more information and an application, please call 410-222-6838. Resumes may be faxed to 410-222-6840. EOE.

We are collecting Campbell Labels and General Mills “Box Tops for Education” coupons. With your help the school can purchase educational equipment and/or items for the children. Please have your child drop off the labels and coupons in the Campbell Soup box located in the Volunteer Coordinator’s office. Mr. Bob loves to give out bulldog bucks to students for the labels and coupons.

Friday, Jun. 6 – 8^th Grade Promotion Exercise, 1:00 p.m., Meade High School Auditorium