DMS 8Th Grade Students When: Friday, May 26Th Where: Baltimore Inner Harbor

Dumbarton Middle School 300 Dumbarton Road Baltimore, MD 21212 410-887-3176

Sue Harris, Principal Liz Heil, Assistant Principal Grade 6 Cheryl Scott, Assistant Principal Grade 7 Jennifer Burch, Assistant Principal Grade 8 APRIL 2017

From the Principal’s Desk….

Three quarters of the school year has been completed and we are proud of all Dumbarton students have accomplished. Over spring break our new library, new nurse’s suite and seven new classrooms will open. We are excited about this transition and look forward to showing parents the library when you visit for our May music concerts. I also wanted to commend your children for their patience and willingness to adjust as they transitioned to the use of different hallways and bathroom locations during this renovations process. Students have been wonderful and are appreciative of the beautiful areas that are being created for their educational benefit. It is exciting to see so much construction occurring so quickly!

As always, safety is our first concern and we want to remind parents that drop off or pick up students on our property that busses have the right of way. There will be times when cars will not be permitted on site as we need to make room for busses to enter and exit our bus loop safely. Feel free to coordinate pick-up and drop-off locations with your children on Dumbarton Road instead of trying to access our site during these busy times. We also ask that you reinforce that your child take the time to use their lock on their gym lockers or hall locks. Lockers that aren’t locked enable curious peers to access other’s belongings without permission. Thank you for reinforcing that locks only work when they are used effectively.

PARCC testing will begin for DMS students after spring break. Our sixth and seventh graders will be testing utilizing their devices so they need to be charged well each evening. Below are tentative dates. Additional dates will be planned for extra time accommodations. Please do your best to have students present these testing days. 4/25 -4/27: Sixth Grade PARCC testing on-line with laptop computers 5/3 – 5/5: Eighth Grade PARCC testing on paper 5/8 – 5/10: Seventh Grade PARCC testing on-line with laptop computers I wish you and your family a sunny, restful spring break!

Dumbarton Middle School is committed to fostering the development of every student to be global citizens and life-long learners through (P.R.I.D.E.) Perseverance, Respect, Intellectual growth, Diligence, and Empathy. “OUR PRIDE IS OUR FUTURE”

School Counselor News

6th grade counselor CORNER

During the month of April, sixth grade students will participate in a counseling lesson about goal setting and early college awareness. Students will identify and analyze their individual skills for success which assist them in developing a personal improvement plan. The career manual My Future, My Way will be used as an introduction to the first steps toward college and life after middle and high school. Please ask your child to show you this manual and begin a discussion about goals, jobs and future careers.

I look forward to working with your child during the career exploration process.

Please contact Dr. Laurent in the School Counseling Office at any time. 410-887-5654 [email protected]

From the 8th Grade Counselor

The year is flying by! Students in 8th grade Language Arts classes have begun to explore their strengths by using the Family Connection website and taking the “Strengths Explorer” survey. Ms. Campbell has been visiting LA classes to work with students on this program. Students have discovered their top 3 strengths and how these can assist them in achieving their academic goals. As a parent, you can log into Family Connection to view your child’s results. Simply go to: https://connection.naviance.com/family-connection/auth/login/?hsid=dumbarton And enter your login and password. Not sure what they are? Contact Ms. Campbell in Guidance to be given access. [email protected]

7th Grade School Counseling Updates

Six Year Plans Six year planning continues for grade 7! Students are being introduced to information about high school magnet programs and how to process service learning hours. For your reference please visit the following websites: 1) Service Learning Program: http://dumbartonms.bcps.org/students/service_learning http://dumbartonms.bcps.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_3702361/File/Guidance/ Independent-Project-Forms.pdf 2) Magnet Programs: http://www.bcps.org/offices/omp/

Social Media Tips from CommonSenseMedia.org:

By age 13, millions of kids have created accounts on social-networking sites such as Facebook. Here are the essential safety guidelines for middle schoolers:

 Follow the rules. Many social sites have an age minimum of 13 for both legal and safety/privacy reasons. Encourage kids to stick with age-appropriate sites.  Tell your kids to think before they post. Remind them that everything can be seen by a vast, invisible audience (otherwise known as friends-of-friends- of-friends). Each family will have different rules, but, for middle school kids, it's a good idea for parents to have access to what their kids are doing online, at least at first, to be sure that what's being posted is appropriate. Parents can help keep kids from doing something they'll regret later.  Make sure kids set their privacy settings. Privacy settings aren't foolproof, but they can be helpful. Take the time to learn about default settings and how to change privacy settings on your kids' favorite sites, and teach your kids how to control their privacy.  Kindness counts. Lots of sites have anonymous applications such as "bathroom walls" or "honesty boxes" that allow users to tell their friends what they think of them. Rule of thumb: If your kids wouldn't say it to someone's face, they shouldn't post it.

*Family Connection (Naviance)

 Seventh graders are continuing to gain familiarity with the Family Connection website. Students can access this resource from home at the following URL: connection.naviance.com/dumbarton. *Students who were with us last year will use their BCPS student username and their 8 digit birthday (ex. MMDDYYYY- 09012004) as their password to log on. *Students new to BCPS will use their BCPS student username and their external password.

Just Checking In

It is that time of year! The fourth quarter is beginning and students will be excited for the end of the year! Please make sure to take the time to clean out those binders and file away any important or helpful papers in a safe location at home. The sixth grade students are really excited about the STEM Day at the end of the year!

Looking Ahead and Striving for Success

◊ The fourth quarter is full of fun and exciting events. Students can’t wait for summer vacation, but it is important to make sure they are still focused and ready for school every day to learn and grow so they are prepared for seventh grade.

◊ Teachers still hold coach classes to help students finish the year strong, and encourage students and parents to check BCPS One daily to ensure students are not falling behind.

◊ PARCC testing will be here before we know it and we need to make sure students are charging their devices nightly and bringing them to school each day.

DMS SGA Review and Upcoming Events

March Review

◊The SGA has been working hard to help teachers with the upcoming move into newly renovated areas of the building over Spring Break. Their team work is amazing and the teachers really appreciated all of their help.

◊ Several 6th grade students traveled to Goucher College on March 17th to attend the BCSC Spring General Assembly Meeting. Students had the chance to engage in team building activities with other Baltimore County Student Government Associations.

◊The SGA was been planning some fun events for the 4th quarter and the end of the year. Stay tuned!

April Events

◊ The SGA will have a grade level competition to help Finish Sarcoma! Students from each grade will get to make their favorite teachers into ice cream sundaes based on how much money they raise! The collection will begin after spring break and run through May 11th!

◊ Several students will take a trip to Goucher College on April 21st to attend the BCSC 2nd Spring General Assembly Meeting.

◊ The SGA is helping to plan the 8th grade end of the year dance with the PTSA.

In the Middle of the Middle- 7th Grade

Greetings from Dumbarton's team of grade 7 teachers! So many rigorous lessons and activities were undertaken this past month!

In Families and Consumer Sciences with Mrs. Evans, students are wrapping up their child development/childcare unit, where they are learning how to become effective babysitters. For the unit two project, the students are working in pairs/groups of three to design weekly lesson plans, menus, and supply lists (within a given budget) for their “pretend” Daycare Center. In Ms. Chesser’s Health class students are completing a Nutrition Project. Students are able to research, create, and present the topic of their choice (nutrition or fitness based) through a class gallery walk. One option students could choose from includes a recipe analysis. Students who complete the recipe analysis will make and provide samples of their favorite foods to defend if their recipe is a healthy snack of choice. Yum! In Algebra with Mr. Wood students, have been flapping their arms to demonstrate quadratic function shapes. What a fun way to learn! Mr. Silcott’s Spanish 1 class sounds delicious as students have created authentic menus for their own restaurant in a Spanish-speaking country. Groups of students are writing and performing skits of a Mexican restaurant scene where one person is the server and the other 4 or 5 people are the customers. They have to create a realistic dialogue with typical greetings, questions/answers and meal orders. In PE, Miss Morrison’s students have conquered the obstacles on their very own traverse climbing wall as well as gotten themselves into and out of double Dutch ropes. In Science classes, Mr. Pettit’s students will be creating MagLev transporters while in Ms. Damon’s class students used Oreo cookies to create the phases of the moon (see picture below).

PTSA NEWS AND INFORMATION PTSA President Mrs. Freeman

Mark your calendars for our next DMS PTSA Parent Education Night! Gender Identity: Supporting Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Students

Guest speakers: Dr. Elyse Pine- Pediatric Endocrinologist at Chase Braxton Health Care Joanne W.- PFLAG mom- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), is the nation’s largest organization for parents, families, friends, and allies united with people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ). When: Tuesday, April 25th at 7:00 PM Where: Woodbrook Church , 25 Stevenson Lane, Baltimore, MD 21212

Families for a New Towson High School Towson High School is the most overcrowded high school in Baltimore County (currently at 120% capacity and growing), and Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) has no plan in place at all for this high school. On top of the overcrowding, the building is falling apart. Built in 1949, there are persistent facility issues, such as flooding and failing mechanical systems. These are but a few examples of why it is time to start the planning for a new Towson High School. Families for a New Towson High School is a community group dedicated to advocating for this. Their goal is to secure Baltimore County planning money in the FY2019 Capital Budget, and construction funding in FY2020 and FY2021. Their website (www.thsnewin22.org) has more information on their advocacy efforts, as well as what you can do to help support these efforts. Follow them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/THSNewIn22/).

DMS PTSA officers needed for the next school year!! The terms for all of our current elected officers (president, VPs, secretary, treasurer, etc.) will end this year. Please email [email protected] (or use the contact us section of our website (www.dmsptsa.org) if you are interested in serving on the DMS PTSA Board next year.

Lastly, we are planning a special Teacher Appreciation Week for May 1-5. Please email [email protected] if you can help.

Thank you for your continued support! Aimee Freeman DMS PTSA President Dumbarton Middle School is committed to fostering the development of every student to be global citizens and life-long learners through (P.R.I.D.E.) Perseverance, Respect, Intellectual growth, Diligence, and Empathy. “OUR PRIDE IS OUR FUTURE”

Welcome Spring and Welcome to Allergy Season!! It is likely our spring allergy season may arrive a little early with our milder temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns! If your children struggle with seasonal allergies, please consider giving them allergy medicine prior to school and start soon. The only medication we can offer for school use with your permission is Benadryl which has the potential to make students sluggish and our supply is limited.

Also with the onset of warmer weather comes a wardrobe change as kids switch to shorts and lighter weight clothing. Please remember our dress code and ensure that students come to school in appropriate clothing suitable for our academic setting. Especially for our female students this means shorts of appropriate length, and tops properly covering the upper chest, shoulder and midriff areas. Please direct any questions about dress code to the student handbook or contact us at Dumbarton for clarification.

The end of March was Poison Prevention Week sponsored by the Maryland Poison Center. Key tips to help keep you and your family poison-safe include: Taking special care with storing of medicines and household cleaners, staying safe outdoors by avoiding plants in wooded areas and snakes and spiders. Encourage your children to always ask or tell an adult if they think a friend has eaten or drank something they shouldn’t have—it could save a life. Be prepared for a poison emergency—enter the poison center phone number in your cell phone so it’s always handy if needed: 1-800-222-1222.

6th grade parents: Keep those up-dated vaccine forms coming!! I am happy to accept them until the last day of school in June. Feel free to contact me at any time for concerns that popup with your fabulous children. Stay focused as we head down the home stretch. Nurse Donna Donna Miedusiewski, RN (Met-a-shes-ski) [email protected]

National Junior Honor Society

The newest members of the National Junior Honor Society will be inducted on the evening of May 31st. Many people have asked about the requirements and the process of being inducted, so we wanted to review the requirements set by the National Junior Honor Society.

Students who are academically eligible will receive an invitation to attend a short, informational meeting, where they are given an application to complete. The meeting will occur on Thursday, April 20th at 3PM. A team of teachers will meet to review student applications and also to discuss their leadership skills, character, and citizenship. Finally, students receive letters in homeroom stating that they do or do not meet the requirements.

In the February, current NJHS students collected school supplies, toiletries, and clothing for “Helping Up Mission”. Thank you to all homerooms who collected and participated. We were able to donate numerous items. NJHS hospitality committee members have been writing thank-you notes to visitors and welcoming them to our school, including our upcoming 6th graders from West Towson Elementary. NJHS teacher appreciate/hospitality committee members have been a huge help in assisting teachers who are moving their classrooms before spring break due to renovations. In addition, the NJHS mentoring committee has partnered with Rodger’s Forge Elementary School’s mentor group. A group of DMS NJHS students visited RFES to speak with the mentor group about middle school and answer any questions that they have. In April, we will begin our application process of selecting the newest 7th and 8th grades to be inducted into NJHS on May 31st. Members from Towson High School’s chapter of National Honor Society (NHS) will also be visiting to speak with our upcoming members about how this is the first step in their journey as a member of the honor societies and how many opportunities lie ahead for these new prospective members.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Damon, the advisor of the NJHS. [email protected]

Congratulations to the following mathletes who represented Dumbarton Middle School at the Maryland MathCounts State competition on March 18, 2017:

Team: Lucas L., Nancy A., Alan M., and Henry C.

The team placed 10th overall (out of 31 teams) at the State competition, and was the only team from Baltimore County Public Schools to compete. Congratulations!

These students will also be recognized at the BCPS Board of Education Recognition Ceremony on April 19, 2017 for their outstanding achievement. – Mrs. Ninos, coach.

Corinne A. Justin L. Luke B. Ellie L. Kristin C. Priya M. Megan D. Gabe M. Laura F. Max O. Clara G. Anna S. Jane K. Noah S. Carter K. Ryan T. For March 2017 Sophie Z.

Ms. Sharbonda would like to congratulate the above students for working especially hard in Algebra & Geometry.

Rays of Sunshine at DMS

In March, the Kindness Committee sponsored an activity that we call Rays of Sunshine. In homeroom all of our students anonymously completed a sun by describing why they are grateful for one of their classmates. At DMS, everyone deserves to know why they are a valuable member of our community.

8th Grade Ship Trip

Who: DMS 8th Grade Students When: Friday, May 26th Where: Baltimore Inner Harbor

Our 8th grade students will board the Spirit Cruises Ship and sail around the Inner Harbor to review historical sights related to our US History program. The students will be served lunch.

The permission slip and money due Friday, April 7th.

The permission slip needs to be turned in to your child’s science teacher. You may pay for the trip online (see the directions below) or turn the money in to your child’s science teacher.

Directions for using the Online School Payments System 1. Go to the DMS website (https://dumbartonms.bcps.org/) 2. Click on the “Online Payments” icon 3. Click on “Middle” in the left-hand column. 4. Click on “Dumbarton MS” in the left-hand column. 5. Select the “Ship Trip” Activity from the list of items on the screen. 6. Click “Add to Cart”. 7. Click “Checkout” & follow the directions to enter your payment information. 8. Initial on the permission slip that you paid online.

Please direct questions to Mrs. Kosewicz (8th Grade Level Coordinator) at [email protected]

Lost and Found

Please remind your child to check the Lost and Found if they are missing items. The Lost and Found is located in the DMS cafeteria. Unclaimed items will be cleared out and donated on the 2nd Friday and last Friday of each month. So, please encourage your student to visit the Lost and Found to retrieve their belongings.

DMS SPIRIT WEAR

How would you like to show off your Dumbarton pride? Let people know what school you proudly attend. How about a birthday or holiday gift for a student? DMS now has a 24/7 online spirit wear shop for purchases. Here are the easy steps to follow: 1. Click on the link 2. Place your order 3. Pay online 4. Items arrive at your home in about 3 weeks from purchase date! 5. Click the link to order: http://aresteamstore.com/Showroom/DumbartonMiddle2016/433043

DUMBARTON MIDDLE SCHOOL

Spring 2017

April 3 PTSA Executive Board Meeting: 6 PM 7 Spring Break Begins at the End of the School Day; no after school activities 18 School re-opens today 20 Report Cards distributed 24 PARCC testing Window Opens and extends into June

May 5 PTA Sponsored Eighth Grade Dance in Gym 7 PM 8 PTSA Executive Board Meeting: 6 PM 11 Interims go home 11 DMS School Play at Rodger’s Forge Elementary at 6:30PM 15 7th Grade Spring Concert 7 PM at DMS 17 6th Grade Spring Concert 7 PM at DMS th 22 8 Grade Spring Concert 7 PM at DMS 24 Spring Honors Concert 7 PM at DMS 26 Eighth Grade Ship Trip to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor 29 Memorial Day: Schools closed 31 National Junior Honor Society Induction 7PM at DMS

June 2 8th Grade Field Trip to Towson High (tentative) 7 Tentative: Eighth Grade Awards & Farewell if BCPS closes earlier than 6/14 14 Eighth Grade Awards & Farewell Evening Assembly at Loch Raven High School at 7PM 16 Schools Close 3 Hours Early 19 ** Last Day of School: Schools Close 3 Hours Early ***(note the Board of Education determines the final day of school based on the number of snow days used so this date could change)

Note: Spring Concerts will be held at DMS however the 8th Grade Farewell Assembly will be held at Loch Raven High because our 8th grade class is so large that we need additional seats accommodate all of our students and two additional seats for guests per child.