An important message from MCPS regarding

“ Further Restrictions of Field Trips and Athletics Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, all out-of-state field trips and athletic events are suspended until further notice. This guidance will be updated no later than the week of April 20, 2020. All scheduled trips and athletic events within Maryland will continue as planned. ”

These next two weeks are filled with Orchestra and Band Festivals, a visit to DHS by 8th Grade students, MISA for all 8th Grade students, and SOS presentations to all grades. Marking Period 3 end on Friday, March 274, 2020. There’s still time to turn in that last assignment or study for that final assessment before report card grades are submitted. Please be sure to ask your children if they are missing any assignments or assessments. You may check the Parent Portal, or your child’s planner, for updates.

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SEE SOMETHING? HEAR SOMETHING? SAY SOMETHING!

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

This Week Monday, March 16

Pi Day Celebration

Tuesday, March 17 — Activity Buses

Orchestra Festival at Gaithersburg High School for Advanced Orchestra

Wednesday, March 18 — Activity Buses

Thursday, March 19 — Activity Buses

8th Grade Students visit DHS

Friday, March 20

SGA Green & Gold Spirit Day

March — Women’s History Month and Pennies for Patients Fundraiser

Monday, March 23

MISA for 8th Grade Students

Tuesday, March 24 — Activity Buses

Band Festival at Damascus High School for Concert Band

Wednesday, March 25 — Activity Buses

MISA for 8th Grade Students

Thursday, March 26 — Activity Buses

MISA for 8th Grade Students

SOS Lessons conducted by Counselors

Bird Treat Craft with Dr. Worthington during lunches

Friday, March 27

SOS Lessons conducted by Counselors

End of Marking Period 3

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

Tuesday, March 31

MISA for 8th Grade Students

Lifetouch Spring Portraits

Looking Ahead

MCPS has created a Coronavirus Information webpage that is updated daily with links to resources, Frequently Asked Questions, and other critical information.

For more information, go to: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/coronavirus/

Maryland Integrated Science Assessment Attention 8th Grade Parents: The Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA), a measure of student achievement in science in grade 8 (testing content from grades 6, 7, and 8), meeting testing requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) by the US Department of Education, will be administered on Monday, March 23; Wednesday, March 25; Thursday, March 26; and Tuesday, March 31. All 8th grade students will take the four unit assessment over the four days in their regular science classes. Please make sure that your child is present each day, especially for their science class. Please also ensure students have a good night’s sleep before each day of testing.

Please direct any questions you may have to Ms. Melanie Pique, Assistant Principal, or Mrs. Shelia Shipmon-Friedli, Science Department Chair.

Superintendent’s Student Service Learning Award Students who complete the 75 SSL hours MCPS requires for graduation and submit required paperwork by Friday, April 3, 2020 are eligible for special recognition. The Superintendent’s Student Service Learning Award is presented to eligible students at the Baker MS Awards Night. Check the current number of total number of SSL hours earned through the myMCPS Student/Parent Portal.

MARCH 17–26 AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Including Intramurals and Athletics

Here are some reminders about submitting SSL forms to ensure approval so your form is not returned for correction or denied altogether:

• Be sure to use the most recent version of the Verification Form (Sept. 2018 version) https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/forms/pdf/560-51.pdf

• Be sure to complete the form in blue or black ink or typed (no pencil).

• Be sure to complete all requested information on the form (especially student ID number, dates of service) legibly.

• Be sure the student reflection section is complete (this means answering all 5 parts of the prompt).

• Be sure to get a parent signature (the form labels the signature line as “Parent/Guardian/Eligible Student Signature.” Only students who are 18 years of age or older are “eligible” to sign their own forms. Middle school students still require a parent/guardian signature.

• Be sure the organization is pre-approved for MCPS SSL. Check the MCVC website for the MCPS SSL Banner. https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/agency/

• If the organization is not pre-approved for MCPS SSL hours, but is certified non-profit (https://www.guidestar.org/search), you may complete and submit an Individual SSL Request form (https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/forms/pdf/560-50.pdf) at least 2 weeks prior to any service with the organization.

• Be sure the service meets all required criteria according to the SSL Guidebook (https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/ssl/homepage/SSL_Guidebook_ENG_18-19.pdf).

• All forms for SSL hours from June 15, 2019 through May 31, 2020 must be submitted by June 5, 2020.

SSL News

Go to mylifetouch.com to see Special Offers from Lifetouch + Shutterfly

March 11, 2020 Dear Parents/Guardians: The Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) remains committed to sharing information and resources about mental health topics that could potentially impact students. During the 2017-2018 school year MCPS reviewed programs and activities that support the physical, social, and psychological well-being of students. A variety of initiatives (e.g. mindfulness, individual and group counseling, wellness initiatives, etc.) are available for students to participate in at each school. We know that the teenage years are marked by a roller-coaster ride of emotions—challenging for teens, their parents/guardians, and educators. It is easy to misread depression as normal adolescent turmoil; however, depression (which is one of the most common of mental illnesses) appears to be occurring at a much earlier age than before. The prevalence of depression in adolescents and young adults increased from 8.7 percent in 2006 to 11.3 percent in 2014 (Mojtabai, et. al, 2016). Suicide also is the second leading cause of death among 11–18 year old youth in the United States (Centers for Disease Control, 2015). To proactively address this issue, MCPS is enhancing its suicide prevention curriculum using the Signs of Suicide ® (SOS ® ) Prevention Program. Currently, MCPS uses the Red Flags suicide prevention curriculum to discuss this topic in Health courses. The SOS ® Program is a youth suicide prevention program that has demonstrated an improvement in students’ knowledge and adaptive attitudes towards suicide risk and depression, as well as a reduction in actual suicide attempts. Listed on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices, the SOS ® Program showed a reduction in selfreported suicide attempts by 40 to 64 percent in randomized control studies (Aseltine, et al., 2007; Schilling, et al., 2016). Our goals for participating in this program are straightforward: • To help students understand that depression is a treatable illness, • To explain that suicide is a preventable tragedy that often occurs as a result of untreated depression, • To provide students with the education and skills to recognize the signs of serious depression and potential

suicidality in a friend, and • To impress upon teens that they can help themselves or a friend by taking the simple step of talking to a

responsible adult about their concerns. All students in Grade 6 through 12 will participate in the Signs of Suicide ® (SOS ® ) Prevention Program. The program will be implemented between March 26-27, 2020. Students also will receive handouts that include the Act to Save a Life student newsletter and a list of school, local, and national resources that are available on mental health needs. A copy of the resource list is attached. If you have any questions or concerns about this program, please do not hesitate to contact Lori Headdings between 8:00 and 3:00, Monday through Friday. Sincerely, Dr. Louise Worthington Principal

JOHN T. BAKER MIDDLE SCHOOL 25400 Oak Drive, Damascus, Maryland 20872

240-207-2440

11 de marzo de 2020 Estimados Padres/Guardianes: Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) mantiene su compromiso de compartir información y recursos sobre temas relacionados con la salud mental que podrían potencialmente afectar a los estudiantes. Durante el ciclo escolar 2017–2018, MCPS revisó programas y actividades que apoyan el bienestar físico, social y psicológico de los estudiantes. Hay una variedad de iniciativas disponibles (por ejemplo, concienciación, consejería individual y grupal, iniciativas de bienestar, etc.) en las que los estudiantes pueden participar en cada escuela. Nosotros sabemos que los años de la adolescencia se caracterizan por una cantidad de turbulentas emociones—difíciles de manejar para los jóvenes, sus padres/guardianes y educadores. Es fácil malinterpretar la depresión como uno de los estados de confusión normal de un/a adolescente; sin embargo, la depresión (que es una de las enfermedades mentales más comunes) parece estar ocurriendo a una edad mucho más temprana que antes. La prevalencia de la depresión en los adolescentes y jóvenes adultos aumentó del 8.7 por ciento en 2006 al 11.3 por ciento en 2014 (Mojtabai, et al., 2016). El suicidio también es la segunda causa principal de mortalidad entre los jóvenes de 11 a 18 años de edad en los Estados Unidos (Centros para Control de Enfermedades, 2015). Para abordar este problema de manera proactiva, MCPS está mejorando su currículum de prevención del suicidio usando el Programa de Prevención Signs of Suicide® (SOS®) (Señales de Suicidio). Actualmente, MCPS usa el currículum de prevención del suicidio denominado Red Flags (Señales de Peligro) para tratar este tema en los cursos de Salud. El Programa SOS® es un programa de prevención del suicidio en los jóvenes, que ha demostrado una mejora en los conocimientos y actitudes de adaptación de los estudiantes con respecto al riesgo de suicidio y la depresión, así como una reducción de intentos reales de suicidio. Listado en el Registro Nacional de Programas Basados en Evidencia y Prácticas de la Administración de Abuso de Sustancias y Servicios de Salud Mental (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), el Programa SOS® mostró una reducción en los intentos de suicidio auto-reportados, del 40 al 64 por ciento en estudios de control aleatorios (Aseltine, et al., 2007; Schilling, et al., 2016). Nuestras metas al participar en este programa son claras: • Ayudar a los estudiantes a entender que la depresión es una enfermedad tratable, • Explicar que el suicidio es una tragedia evitable que a menudo ocurre como consecuencia de una depresión

no tratada, • Proveer a los estudiantes con la educación y las destrezas para reconocer las señales de depresión grave y la

propensión al suicidio en un amigo/a, y • Recalcarles a los adolescentes que ellos pueden ayudarse a sí mismos o ayudar a un amigo/a tomando el

simple paso de hablar con un adulto responsable sobre sus preocupaciones. Todos los estudiantes en los Grados 6 al 12 participarán en el Programa de Prevención Signs of Suicide® (SOS®). El programa será implementado entre el 26 y 27 de marzo, 2020. Los estudiantes recibirán además materiales de información que incluyen el boletín informativo para los estudiantes titulado Act to Save a Life (Actúe para Salvar Una Vida) y una lista de recursos escolares, locales y nacionales que están disponibles para necesidades de salud mental. Adjunto encontrarán una copia de la lista de recursos. Si tienen cualquier pregunta o inquietud sobre este programa, por favor no duden en contactar a Lori Headdings entre las 8:00 y las 3:00, de lunes a viernes. Atentamente, Dr. Louise Worthington Directora

JOHN T. BAKER MIDDLE SCHOOL 25400 Oak Drive, Damascus, Maryland 20872

240-207-2440