December 2023
BFA Fairfax Middle School
Family Newsletter
Embedded Files
From the Principal:
We’ve been busy in the middle school since Thanksgiving break! In addition to our academic work, we’ve engaged in activities to give back to our community, including a food drive and writing letters to residents in a memory care facility. We’ve also showcased and celebrated our hard work during our band and chorus concerts. And we’ve had some fun along the way during our door decorating contest (theme: Hawaiian Holiday).
As you know, the middle school implemented an advisory program this year. Students in grades 5-8 start the day in a morning meeting with their advisory group. In January we are looking to start grade-level Community Meetings once a month. These meetings are designed to build community, celebrate successes, and discuss issues of emerging importance within a grade. Stay tuned for more information!
As we approach the last two weeks of December and 2023, we want to wish you Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year!
Warmly,
Heather Baron, Middle School Principal
STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Jonathan Brigham
STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Jonathan Brigham
Jonathan Brigham is a paraeducator on the 7th and 8th grade teams. He’s worked at BFA for 23 years. For the first few years he worked in the high school before moving to the middle school. Mr. Brigham attended Castleton College and studied art. After he graduated from Castleton he began substitute teaching at BFA and then was asked to stay here full time. Mr. Brigham is a lifelong artist and is never far away from his sketch pad. He loves to share his drawings with students and support students in their artistic work.
What’s the best thing about BFA Middle School?
The staff! The staff, regardless of grade levels, all work together and get along. The kids are great, too, because they are just starting to develop their sense of humor and it’s great to see their sense of humor emerge and see the person they are going to be.
What’s the best and worst things about being a middle school educator?
Best: The ah-ha moments where you see the light bulb go on for kids and you see them really getting it.
Worst: The drama that comes with this age group!
Would you rather… (this is a game we love to play during morning advisory)
First day of school or last day of school? That’s a toughie! But probably last because that’s when the kids are at their happiest.
Lunch duty or recess duty? Recess duty, definitely
If you could get on a plane today and go anywhere for two weeks, where would you go?
Someplace warm or Montana because it’s beautiful
If you weren’t an educator, what would you be?
A comic book artist
What’s something you enjoy doing outside of school?
Kayaking, snowshoeing, wood carving, drawing
Fun Fact about you…
I was dropped on my head twice as a child….
Mr. Brigham using his artistic talents to decorate holiday card to go to residents of a memory care facility.
Classroom Corner
TEAM VOYAGER (Grade 5):
During the month of November, fifth graders focused on the theme, COURAGE. Students learned about ways to show courage in all aspects of their days. Team Voyager celebrated the success of our students at our monthly assembly by recognizing students for courageous behavior and their efforts in Unified Arts classes and Content areas.
They had a great time reading postcards that came from all over the United States from the Postcard Challenge- we have received half a dozen postcards so far! They are displayed on a U.S. map in Mrs. Brislin’s classroom.
5th Graders also claimed victory in the Middle School Coin Challenge to support the Susan G. Komen fund! They raised $143.26. We are so proud of all of them!
We are looking forward to our next assembly for all 5th graders and their families on January 5 where we will celebrate the students who have shown great accomplishments in the area of Responsibility!
TEAM ODYSSEY (Grade 6):
This month in advisory Odyssey students have been focusing on communication and peer pressure.
In science we wrapped up our first unit: Matter and its interactions. Here are some students using the reaction of vinegar and baking soda to create gas and blow up a balloon. They were determining if mass remains the same after a chemical reaction. We are now back to social studies and are traveling back in time again, this time to Ancient Egypt!
In mathematics, students continued their study of two-dimensional geometry, focusing on perimeter and area of shapes. This week we will be moving into an intensive study of fractions and their place in the real world.
In literacy class, we are finishing our class read aloud of the novel Hatchet by Gary Paulsen. Students have been working on understanding multiple examples of figurative language and why Gary Paulsen and other authors use them throughout their writing. The 6th grade team is looking forward to finishing Brian’s story and seeing where we’re headed after!
TEAM HORIZON (Grade 7):
In advisory morning meetings, team Horizon is focusing on empathy. We’ve had some great discussions around what empathy is and how we show empathy.
In science class, we’re learning about genetics and how traits are inherited and passed down from generation to generation. Each student is taking what they’ve learned over the last few weeks and applying it to some hypothetical monster generations. Each student is building a multi-generational family tree (think Monsters, Inc. movie characters over many generations). We’re creating punnett squares, pedigrees, and family portraits for these monster families and seeing genetic probabilities play out and impact the genotypes and phenotypes of our monsters. We’ll continue learning more about genetics as we move toward our next school break. When we return, we’ll embark on long-term project in both Science and ELA classes involving current event topics in genetics.
In ELA class, students are reading The Giver by Lois Lowry. This is our first whole class novel and students are doing a lot of work with small group discussions, examining quotes, and analyzing aspects of this dystopian/science-fiction based society that can seem helpful—but can actually be harmful. If you have read the book…students have enjoyed a mock Ceremony of Twelve and continue to be engaged with this classic novel. Feel free to continue the discussion at home or pick up a copy from the local library and read along with us!
In Social Studies class, we have just wrapped up our unit on Asia Geography. Students individually researched about one country’s geography, language, and culture, then wrote up a short report. We are now starting a winter holiday unit where students will learn about different winter holidays celebrated around the world. At the end of the unit the students are going to make an infographic comparing and contrasting two holidays. Along the way, we will read, watch, and listen to various sources about each holiday (and play some games as well!).
In Math class, we are wrapping up the unit on scale factor this week. Before the upcoming break, we’ll start a unit on Integers. We’re mixing things up in class a bit trying to engage students in multiple ways and with multiple student groupings.
TEAM ENDEAVOR (Grade 8):
In US History students are wrapping up a unit about the American Revolution. We are working on writing skills including describing historical events from different perspectives, developing claims about historical events, and writing with authority and voice.
Students are wrapping up their weather unit by synthesizing their understanding to develop a final model for why some storms produce hail and others don’t. Finally, students will be asked to apply their final models to explain a new weather phenomenon, a hurricane.
In math, students are just finishing learning about exponents and all the ways we can calculate with them. We explored exponent rules and wrote really really big and small numbers using scientific notation. We even played a scientific notation memory game to practice our understanding (shown here). After break we will be investigating the pythagorean theorem and all its applications.
Counseling Connections
Topic of the month: How to be there for my Middle Schooler and how to help them manage stress, anxiety and other big emotions.
Does your Middle Schooler seem irritable? Do you suspect they’re stressed at school with friends or school work? Does it seem like they’re caught up in all kinds of “drama”? Are they not opening up to you? It might sound surprising, but many middle school students (and high school students as a matter of fact) don’t always confide in their parents. But here’s how you can encourage them to by keeping the door open:
When they’re ready to talk (don’t force it), engage in active listening:
Put your phone down and give them eye contact.
Take the conversation slowly, letting your child’s words sink in.
Offer what’s called a “reflection statement.” Repeat back exactly what your child said without trying to interpret their words. This shows you are really paying attention.
Try not to downplay your child's concerns. Instead of, “Oh, you’ll do fine on that test,” try saying, “You sound stressed about your test. Math is really hard. What can I do to help?”
Above all, don’t judge. If you’re reflecting back what you hear, it doesn’t necessarily mean you agree or you like it. You are trying to develop a sense of empathy so your child can walk away knowing, “My parent understood where I am coming from.”
You could then offer help. Ask your child’s permission to share your thoughts (I.e. “Would you like to hear what I think?” If they say no, try to respect their wishes. Unless of course it’s something that puts your child at safety risk, then let them know it’s your job to protect them and you need to take action. One possible way to help might be to suggest, model and practice some healthy coping skills. Here’s a list of activities you could do together or your child could do by themselves: Coping Skills
High School Transition: Info for 8th Grade Families:
In the new year we will begin planning for your 8th grader’s transition to high school. Please know you are welcome to reach out to the high school counselors (Linnea & Katherine’s contact info is below) at any time with any questions.
Save the Date for High School Course Fair January 23rd 6:30pm
Other upcoming transition related events:
Jan 11: Burlington Tech Center & Center for Technology Essex will present to 8th graders about high
school tech center opportunities.
January & February:
-High School Counselors visit 8th graders during the school day to go over what to expect in high
school and course selection.
-Students and families have opportunities to book a meeting with high school counselors to discuss
course selection and high school planning.
Athletics and Activities
Thank you to everyone who attended the Middle School Winter Sports Night on December 6. It was great to see so many people in attendance, and feel the excitement for the winter season! All of our winter sports teams for students in grades 7 and 8 have begun practices and are preparing for the start of games after the holiday break. A great resource to find athletics information including game schedules, weekly practices schedules, coach contact information, and our online school apparel store is our athletics section of the BFA Fairfax webpage, which can be accessed by clicking the following link:
BFA Fairfax Athletics Information
Good luck to all!
Geri Witalec-Krupa, Director of Activities
Student Leadership Committee (SLC) News:
Coin Drop Update:
The SLC would like to thank our middle school community for participating in the recent coin drop for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. We were able to donate $460.49! Thank you all!
The SLC has concluded their Holiday Food drive with success! The middle school collected a record number of non-perishable food items for the community of Fairfax. On Wednesday, 12/13, some members of the SLC will collect the food and bring it to the Fairfax Community Center to be sorted for distribution to families. Thank you so much for your support and generosity!
The SLC is also hosting our second annual door decorating contest with the theme of Hawaiian Holiday! Middle school advisors are invited to participate in decorating a seasonal door, the advisory with the best use of theme, color, and originality will win a small prize!
Nurse's Office
Winter weather has arrived!
Please help your child remember to pack or wear items that will help keep them warm during recess and throughout the day.
Here are a few items we highly recommendation:
Winter Hat
Gloves
Winter Jacket
Snow Pants
Winter Boots (with sneaker in backpack)
Extra pants, shirts and socks
We have officially entered the inevitable cold and flu season.
The arrival of cold and flu season has inevitably started. While we can never completely prevent illness from occurring, there are a few ways we can do our part to help decrease the spread of germs.
Cold and Flu Prevention:
- Encourage your child to wash their hands frequently with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.
- Teach your child to cover their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze, using a tissue or their elbow
- Make sure your child gets plenty of rest, maintains a healthy diet and is hydrated to help boost their immune system
- Consider getting a flu shot for yourself and your family members who are eligible.
When to Contact a Doctor:
- If your child has a fever over 100.4℉ or is experiencing severe symptoms (such as difficulty breathing, persistent vomiting, or chest pain)
- If your child has been sick for more than a few days without improvement
- If your child has a chronic medical condition, such as asthma, that may complicate their illness
Thinking about keeping your sick child home? The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests considering the follow questions:
Does the child’s illness keep him/her from comfortably taking part in school activities?
Does the sick child need more care, attention or extra rest?
Could other children/adults get sick from being near your child?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then the child should not go to school and please let the school know our child will be out sick.
Additional Resources:
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx
https://www.healthvermont.gov/disease-control/flu/preventing-flu
Thank you,
Courtney LaCasses, BFA Middle School, clacasse@fwsu.org
From the Land of Music, Art, Physical Education, and World Language
ART: In art class, 5th and 6th graders have been learning about printmaking. They wrote a short story and created a design to go along with their story. They transferred their design to a styrofoam plate by pressing into it and creating a relief, with raised and indented areas. This week, they are using several techniques to print their designs on paper. It is always very exciting to peel back their styrofoam plates and see the prints!
7th and 8th graders have been working on stop motion videos. We watched a variety of examples to help inspire creative ideas. Then students worked on their own or in groups to brainstorm and come up with a plan for their own videos. Students have been working hard on preparing props with paper, clay, wire, and other materials and are beginning to use the Stop Motion app on their iPads to begin filming. We can’t wait to see how they all turn out!
Last month, students completed their Fall Observation and Value Hobby projects. A couple of the classes’ works are now displayed in the school hallway.
Spanish: Since Thanksgiving break, students in Spanish class have been given the opportunity to remind themselves of classroom norms and expectations. This includes expectations during “do now” warm ups, how to sign out if they need to leave the room, and what they are expected to bring to class to be as successful as possible in Spanish! Additionally, our language learners are working hard to understand the difference in sentence structure when we share the date in Spanish versus in English. Before December break, we will be finishing our calendar unit and will be moving on to animals! If you have any questions or concerns please reach out via email at flenahan@fwsu.org
MANDARIN: This month, students in Mandarin class learned a chant about Thanksgiving in Mandarin and we learned many vocabulary words about food. We read the Chinese version of the very hungry caterpillar. Also, students enjoyed learning how to 跳皮筋, which is a funny Chinese game similar to jumping rope.
TECHNOLOGY: In the makerspace, students have been designing layered scenes using vector design software and we will be engraving those designs onto wood. Students are also beginning to become acquainted with the Swift programming language, which is used to create apps and programs for all Apple products. After break we will be diving more into different coding languages.
CHORUS and BAND: Middle school band and chorus students worked diligently on the music for our December 13th concerts! We are proud of our musicians.
GENERAL MUSIC: General Music students have been working on their music reading skills and playing instruments called Boomwhackers. They are fun and very kid-friendly. Boomwhackers are plastic tubes that are pitched. We’ve learned how to make the best sound and also be safe with the instruments. Ukulele is an upcoming unit for after break! Here is a link to a fun performance by a college Boomwhacker ensemble! Take On Me but it's on Boomwhackers
News from the Library
Over the next few weeks I will be helping students get access to our wonderful selection of resources which include the Vermont Online Library research databases, Grolier Online Encyclopedia, our Destiny Library system and Sora, our audio and ebook collection.
Joy Mercer
School Librarian
jmercer@fwsu.org
Upcoming Events and Dates
IMPORTANT DATES:
December Break: December 22 - January 1
Team Voyager (Grade 5) Assembly: Friday, January 5 (8:35am)
No School (Martin Luther King Jr. Day): Monday, January 15
Early Release: Wednesday, January 24 (students dismissed 12:50pm)
SAVE THE DATE:
Grade 5-6 Dance: February 16th (more info to come)
Grade 7-8 Dance: May 17th (more info to come)
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