John

T. B

aker

Mid

dle

Sch

ool

• L

ouis

e W

orth

ingt

on, E

d.D

., P

rinci

pal

• 2

5400

Oak

Driv

e, D

amas

cus,

MD

208

72 •

240

-207

-244

0 •

FA

X: 3

01-2

53-7

020

• w

ww

.bak

erm

s.or

g

PR

INC

IPA

L’S

NE

WS

LE

TT

ER

• F

EB

RU

AR

Y 1

1, 2

018

COMING EVENTS February —

African American Heritage Month

February 12-16 — All A & Honor Roll Recognition Week

Tuesday, February 13 – Activity Buses

Baker PTA 8th Grade Committee Meeting, 6:00 p.m., Media Center

Baker PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m., Media Center; “Financial Planning for College Readiness” with guest speaker

Wed, February 14 – Activity Buses

Lifetouch MP2 All A photos during lunches

Lifetouch NJHS, SGA, and Music Group photos throughout the day

Thursday, February 15 – Activity Buses

Damascus Cluster Strings Concert – Feeder Elementary Grades 5-12, BMS, and DHS, 7:00 p.m. at DHS

Dr. Worthington’s Message Twitter: DrLouise Worthington@BAKERprincipal

As you know, we have already had three snow days this year. The school year is now due to end on Wednesday, June 13, 2018. Please see the letter from Dr. Jack Smith (page 4) regarding possible extension of the school year if we have any more snow days.

Extending the school year impacts Baker’s end-of-year activities, including 8th Grade Promotion and Orientation for Incoming 6th Graders. Baker will hold its 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony on the last day of the school year. The Incoming 6th Grade Orientation will take place two days after the last day of school.

Parents/Guardians — if your child needs to be dismissed before the end of the school day or if you are giving your child permission to ride a different bus, please send a note in with him/her. The note is to be turned in at the Main Office as early in the day as possible. Your child will be given a pass to leave class at a certain time (so that he/she can be waiting for you in the Main Office) or a Bus Pass that will allow him/her to board the other bus. The note must be signed by you and is to include the information shown on the sample below. The Note to School can be found on the Baker website — go to www.bakerms.org, click on the Parents tab, scroll down to Other Links, and click on Note to School.

Looking Ahead Monday, February 19

Presidents’ Day – schools and offices closed

Tuesday, February 20 – Activity Buses

PTA sponsored Paint Night Out for Parents and Staff, 6:30-8:00 p.m., The Music Café

Wed, February 21 – Activity Buses

Damascus Cluster Band Concert, Baker MS and DHS perform, 7:00-9:00 p.m., DHS

Thursday, February 22 – Activity Buses

Outdoor Ed Parent Meeting, 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, February 27 – Activity Buses

PTA sponsored Snow Tubing 8th Grade Fundraiser, 4:00-10:00 p.m., Liberty Mountain Boulder Ridge

Wed, February 28 – Activity Buses

March — Women’s History Month

Thursday, March 1 – Activity Buses

Friday, March 2

Early Release K-12, Baker Middle School dismisses at 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 6

8th Grade Panoramic Class Picture

Friday, March 9

Baker MS Story Time production, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Cafeteria

Yearbook Deadline Approaching Wednesday, February 28th is the last day to order your 2017/2018 Baker Yearbook.

No extra yearbooks will be ordered for later sale. Yearbooks can only be ordered online at jostensyearbooks.com

MCPS COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE #11 MCPS Holds United We Learn Student Contest for Second Year For the second year, MCPS is sponsoring the systemwide student contest, United We Learn: All Means All. Students are being asked to use visual art and the written word to celebrate diversity while exploring the matter of equity for all. The contest challenges students to think critically about what equity means and how attitudes, traditions, systemic practices and/or legal matters impede or support the concept that “All Means All.” The contest is open to students from all grade levels. Submissions will be judged by level (elementary, middle and high) and by medium. Entries must be created by groups of two students or more. More details are available on the contest website http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/events/unitedwelearn/. The contest will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 16. Summer Opportunities Fair Set for Feb. 28 Parents can explore a multitude of summer opportunities for school-age children at a fair on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Local and regional providers will be available to talk about summer camps, programs and volunteer activities. Parents can meet program staff, pick up applications, and get information on financial assistance. The fair will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. Register for the fair or call 240-314-4825. Deadline to Submit Change of School Assignment Applications is April 4 Parents/guardians who wish to request a Change of School Assignment (COSA) for their child from their home school can submit an application until April 4, 2018. The transfer process begins in the home school, where parents and guardians may pick up an information booklet that contains the COSA form, describes the process, and provides useful information. The COSA booklet is available in schools and online: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/transfers/.Contact the principal at your home school if you have any questions about the transfer process. Language assistance for non-English speaking parents and guardians is available by calling ASK MCPS at 240-740-3000.

HBCU Fair Set for Feb. 9 The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Fair will be held from 6–8 p.m. on Feb. 9 at Albert Einstein High School, 11135 Newport Mill Road in Kensington. All high school students and their parents are invited to participate. Dozens of colleges and universities will be present to talk to parents and students about their programs and several will conduct on-the-spot admissions interviews for high school seniors. Register here: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/familysupport/hbcu/ Public Comment Sought on Early Childhood and Elementary Education Policy The Montgomery County Board of Education tentatively approved revisions to Board Policy IEA, Framework and Structure of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, on Dec. 5, 2017. The revised policy includes concepts and language that reflect the current priorities of Board Policy IEF, Early Childhood Education, which will be rescinded upon adoption of revised Board Policy IEA. The proposed amendments to Board Policy IEA affirm the Board’s commitment to promoting the intellectual, social, emotional and physical growth and development of children in their early learning years through high quality, developmentally appropriate, challenging and comprehensive early childhood and elementary programs. The revised policy updates language to highlight Montgomery County Public Schools’ commitment to vertical integration of the curriculum, allowing each student to attain key educational and developmental milestones in each successive grade as they progress from elementary grades to middle and high school, then a lifetime of academic and personal achievements. This approach allows for the natural variability in the pace of development from child to child in the prekindergarten and elementary years. The revised policy reinforces the Board’s commitment to utilizing county, state and federal resources effectively, in coordination with community partners, to establish a continuum of essential services needed by young children and their families. Revised language highlights MCPS’ role to identify children in need of services, and to facilitate student development, transition, placement and program continuity at each stage of a child’s development from home, child care or preschool, to pre-K, as appropriate, and from one elementary grade to another. Revised Policy IEA includes concepts and language that reflect current priorities. The crosswalk between the two policies demonstrates where language from Policy IEF has been incorporated into Policy IEA. When the Board takes Final Action on revised Policy IEA, it also is recommended that the Board rescind Policy IEF. Read the tentatively approved revisions http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/policy/1712105%20iea%20COMMITTEE%20RECOMMENDED%20DRAFT.pdf. Comment on the policy https://mcpsweb.wufoo.com/forms/board-of-education-policy-iea/.

MP2 6th 7th 8th School

Students 291 288 295 874

All A 93 72 63 228

All A % 32% 25% 21% 26%

Honor Roll 212 203 176 591

HR % 73% 70% 60% 68%

Kudos to Baker Students! As you can see from the table below, many of our students were quite successful academically during MP2. Let’s keep up the good work and strive to improve during the remaining marking periods

AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES Including Intramurals and Athletics

Montgomery County Public Schools Weather

Make-Up Day Plan

January 24, 2018 Dear MCPS Community: I want to provide you with an update on the school calendar for the remainder of the school year. As you know, recent inclement weather forced Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to close schools on two days (January 4 and January 17). The 2017-2018 MCPS school calendar includes 182 instruction days, two above the minimum required in the state of Maryland. Therefore, our two weather closures can be absorbed without a modification to the calendar. However, any additional school closures for emergency weather will result in the need to use one or all of the designated make-up days in the MCPS school calendar to ensure we meet the State-required number of days. Below is the order in which days will be used:

If there is one more emergency weather closure, then the school year will be extended by one day on June 13, 2018.

If there are two more emergency weather closures, then the school year will be extended to June

14, 2018.

If there are three more emergency weather closures, then the school year will be extended to

June 15, 2018. (Note: By State law, MCPS cannot extend the school year past June 15).

If there are four more emergency weather closures, then March 26, 2018 will be used as a make-

up day (the first day of Spring Break).

If there are five more emergency weather closures, then March 27, 2018 will be used as a make-

up day (the second day of Spring Break). If the school year extends beyond June 12, then June 12 will become a full day of instruction and the new last day of school will be an early release day for students. Please Note: Given that MCPS still m eets the State m inimum number for instructional days and the proximity to the designated snow make-up day of Friday, January 26, 2018, this Friday MCPS will remain closed for students and continue to serve as a professional day for staff. In the unfortunate event that we receive additional inclement weather and additional closures are required, MCPS may request a waiver from the state minimum of 180 school days. To be eligible for the waiver, school systems must not only add make-up days at the end of the year, they must also modify the school calendar during the student instructional year to demonstrate a good faith effort to make up lost time. While our mission is student learning, our first priority must be the safety of our students and staff. MCPS will continue to closely monitor for severe weather and provide updates on any impact it may have to the school calendar. For more information on the MCPS school calendar, visit our website http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org Sincerely, Jack R. Smith, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools

8th Grade Planning Committee Meeting (8th Grade Parents) When: Tuesday, February 13, 2018 from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Where: Baker Middle School Media Center Please attend and sign up to be part of the 8th grade planning committee! February PTA Meeting – Guest Speaker “Financial Planning for College Readiness” When: Tuesday, February 13, 2018 from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Where: Baker Middle School Media Center Please join us for our February PTA Meeting which will include a special presentation on “Financial Planning for College Readiness” with a guest speaker from the Foundation for Financial Education (F3e) a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

College planning strategies Need-based vs. non-need-based The MYTH about financial aid College funding vs. financial aid Sources of money Advice

Paint Night Fundraising Event When: Tuesday, February 20, 2018 from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Where: The Music Café The Baker PTA invites you to uncork your creativity at a fun adult only PTA fundraiser coming up soon. We are hosting a paint night at Music Café on Tues, Feb 20th from 6:30-8:30. Come hungry and get dinner while painting a unique painting. Baker parent, and former art teacher LeAnn Burke will walk us through how to paint this piece, so no prior experience is necessary. Just a need to have fun with other people from your community! There are only 25 seats so get your seat now for $25! You can either pay online at AtoZ directory store, or send a check made to the Baker PTA into the main office. Please include your name, phone number and email and memo for paint night. For more info contact Shannon Fleischer at johntbakermiddleschoolpta@gmail.com

8th Grade Snow Tubing Fundraiser (Open to all Baker Families) When: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 from 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm Where: Liberty Mountain's Boulder Ridge Winter blues? Cabin fever? Need a Family Night? Come join us for a fun night at Liberty Mountain's Boulder Ridge SNOW TUBING on Tuesday, February 27th. The cost is only $25 per person and you can tube from 4pm-10pm! Wow, what a deal! Present the attached coupon located in Paw Prints to receive the special pricing. The coupon is also available from Ms. Pennington, Ms. Shipmon-Friedli, or in the Main Office. This is a fundraiser for our 8th graders that is open to all so share the coupon with friends and family. Color Me Spring Fashion Show Fundraising Event When: Friday, March 16, 2018 Where: Baker Middle School The Baker PTA has a special night out for Baker Moms and Daughters this March. Join us for the big spring PTA fundraiser at Color Me Spring, a complete Italian dinner from Carrabbas, fashion show featuring spring and summer fashions modeled by Baker students, moms and staff provided by local vendors, dessert buffet, silent auction and vendor show. All proceeds to support our school community. Tickets for this event are $15 per person. Available online at AtoZ Directory store with PayPal, with check to the main office (checks to Baker PTA and names of all attending), or during select lunches prior to the event. For more info contact Shannon Fleischer at johntbakermiddleschoolpta@gmail.com. Would you like a Baker Student Directory? We have extra copies of the directories available. If you would like a copy, all you need to do is sign up and join the PTA. Visit https://johntbakermiddlesc.wixsite.com/bmspta for info on how to join.

Please support the PTA! For More Information about these events and others:

Please Visit https://johntbakermiddlesc.wixsite.com/bmspta or contact Aimee Ibacache at aimee1000@yahoo.com

UPCOMING PTA EVENTS

Who?

MCPS students, at all levels (elementary,

middle, and high schools) in groups of

two or more.

What?

Creative art projects that show the

importance of values such as respect,

diversity, and civility. Submissions can be

written or visual art. (See the rules for

details about what can be submitted)

Timing?

Contest opens January 29, 2018.

Submissions are due March 16 and

winners will be announced April 12.

All Means All MCPS celebrates its diversity while being committed to ensuring that every student has access to the opportunities and resources needed to be successful in their futures. Superintendent of Schools Jack Smith has stated that “we will celebrate diversity and a commitment to equity making sure that All Means All when it comes to equity and excellence in learning, progress, achievement and opportunity.” This year’s contest, United We Learn: All Means All, challenges students to think critically about what equity means and how attitudes, traditions, systemic practices and/or legal matters impede or support the concept that “All Means All.” This contest is directly aligned with our core values of Learning, Respect, Relationships, Equity and Excellence.

Contest Rules:

To be eligible, all members of the team must be enrolled in

Montgomery County Public Schools.

Entries must be an original product.

Entries must be created groups of two to eight students.

Entries must be submitted by 5 p.m. on March 16, 2018.

Written entries must be submitted via the online submis-

sion form. Visual arts entries may be dropped off at the

Public Information Office, 850 Hungerford Dr., Room 137,

Rockville, MD 20850, or in the main office of the students’

school. Students must include their names, grade levels and

school name on the back of the entry.

Submissions will be judged by a panel comprised of repre-

sentatives from Montgomery County Public Schools and the

participating partner organizations.

More Information

Contact the MCPS Public Information Office by sending an email to pio@mcpsmd.org.

Contest winners will have their works published, printed and/or broadcast through MCPS media platforms. The top winners in each

category and at each level will receive a prize.