Timberwolf News & Notes
John Poole Middle School
March 13, 2016
Principal’s Message
Upcoming Dates:
Good Evening Timberwolf Families!
We have gone from winter to early summer in a week and the weather has
been beautiful. I hope you and your families have had the time and
opportunity to enjoy it. We are moving into a very busy season for us. We
will kick off our spring with our book fair next week along with our awesome
Humanities Night on the 17th. I would encourage you to join us for dinner,
learning, and fun as we celebrate the humanities! We also began our spring
sports this week with our soccer players out and about trying to secure places
on our team.
It is also quickly becoming our busy testing season, as we get ready for our 8th
grade Science MSA (March 16 & 18, more inside this issue), followed by
PARCC for all three grade levels (PARCC testing will take place between
May 9 and May 25, more details to follow) in mathematics and literacy. We
had a great discussion about testing this week at the PTSA meeting and you
can find more information just below this message!








3/14-18 – Book Fair
3/16 & 3/18 – 8th Grade Science
MSA
3/17 – Humanities Night (Don’t
Miss the Fun!)
3/24 – No School, Prof. Day
3/25&28 – HOLIDAY, No
School
3/29-4/1 – No School, Spring
Break
4/8 – 3rd Marking Period Ends
4/11 – 4th Marking Period
Begins
I would also like to take a minute to congratulate Ms. Smith who successfully
defended her doctoral dissertation this week and has now earned the right to
be called Dr. Smith!
Make it a great week!
Respectfully,
Mr. Robert Sinclair Jr, Principal
Testing Resources for Parents
This past week we had our PTSA meeting and one of the presentations we were asked to give was regarding testing in
the middle school. We had a great discussion about the various levels and forms of testing that students take part in at
the middle school level. We used an interactive, online info-graphic to provide links and details about the varied
assessments. You can view that item by going here https://www.thinglink.com/scene/761582964084572161 . There are
links in the document that provide you with information and details about that assessment.
We also had questions regarding the format of the PARCC, PARCC preparation, and things students can do at home to
prepare for the PARCC assessment. As we shared at the meeting, our curriculum is aligned with PARCC, so in terms of
preparing for the content our teachers are taking care of that. There is also concern over students getting used to the
online nature of the assessment. We are working through plans to have students revisit, review, and become more
comfortable with those features of the testing.
In addition, here are some good resources you can check out:
 Parent Resources from PARCC. This includes links to practice tests, information on accommodations,
information on what the scores mean and so much all. You can access this site here.
 The Maryland State Department of Education also provides a great resource site for parents in terms of PARCC
testing. It includes documents, videos, and links to practice assessments online and can be accessed here.
Humanities Night
We have been busily planning a wonderful HUMANITIES NIGHT for the community to be held on
Thursday, March 17! Look forward to a sneak peek at the spring musical, student artwork and literacy
projects, an art fair, “street-style” musicians, games… and so much more! You will leave the evening with a
renewed understanding of what middle school students do in their reading, social studies, art, and music
classes!
Science MSA Schedule – Grade 8 only
On March 16th and March 18th, 8th grade students will be taking the Science MSA. Please make sure your
student gets a good night’s rest, eats breakfast and attends school that day. Thank you!
Day 1 Science MSA -- 3.16.16 (Schedule 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
6th and 7th Grade Schedule
PERIOD
TIME
Period 1
7:55 – 8:45
Period 2
Announcements/
Snack Per 3
8:49 – 9:38
9:42 – 9:47
Period 3
Period 4
Lunch A
Period 5
11:32 – 12:02
12:06 – 12:55
Period 6
Period 7
Day 2 Science MSA – 3.18.16 (Schedule 3, 4, 1, 2, 5, 6, 7)
6th and 7th Grade Schedule
PERIOD
TIME
Period 3
7:55 – 8:45
Period 4
Announcements/
Snack Per 1
8:49 – 9:38
9:42 – 9:47
Period 1
Period 2
Lunch A
Period 5
11:32 – 12:02
12:06 – 12:55
Period 6
Period 7
8th Grade Schedule
PERIOD
TIME
Science MSA
7:55 – 9:38
Grade 8
Announcements/
9:42 – 9:47
Snack Per 3
9:47 – 10:35
10:39 – 11:28
Period 5
11:32 – 12:21
Lunch B
12:25 – 12:55
12:59 – 1:48
1:52 – 2:40
8th Grade Schedule
PERIOD
TIME
Science MSA
7:55 – 9:38
Grade 8
Announcements/
9:42 – 9:47
Snack Per 1
9:47 – 10:35
10:39 – 11:28
Period 5
11:32 – 12:21
Lunch B
12:25 – 12:55
12:59 – 1:48
1:52 – 2:40
Hallway Heroes
Hallway Heroes are students we honor for demonstrating exemplary PRIDE behaviors as they move from class
to class, helping to keep our hallways safe and comfortable for everyone. The students recognized below
consistently demonstrate Purpose, Respect, Integrity, Dedication and Effort everywhere they go
at JPMS. They are Hallway Heroes and we are proud to celebrate their high expectations and their Timberwolf
PRIDE! Congratulations to last week’s winners:
Oriol Guitart
Thomas J. Kovacs
Olivia Paksima
Terrence Pierce
Kaeli Potts
Aiden Wittwer
Extension of 3rd Marking Period
Due to the number of snow days this marking period, MCPS has moved the end of the 3rd marking period from
Wednesday, March 23 to Friday, April 8. The 3rd marking period professional day for teachers will remain on
Thursday, March 24, which is the first day of spring break for students. Report card distribution for 3rd
marking period will now occur on Friday, April 22.
Hershey Park Trip for 8th Graders
Planning is already underway for John Poole Middle School’s annual 8th Grade end-of-the-year trip on
Thursday, June 16, 2016, to Hershey Park.
Eighth graders and their teachers will travel to Hershey Park via video coach buses using Atlantic Coast
Charters for a great day of fun and adventure. Buses will leave John Poole Middle School at 7:45 AM and
return at 7:45 PM.
Information about the trip was given out March 1st in social studies classes. Students need to return the
permission slip/medical form to their social studies teacher with a check for $53.00 payable to John Poole
Middle School. Payment may also be made on-line via the JPMS website. This price includes transportation to
Hershey Park and all rides and admissions in the park.
Payment is due no later than March 17, 2016; any outstanding financial obligations also need to be paid
before March 17th. Funds are available to students who need financial support. Please contact Mrs. Eisenberg,
your child’s counselor, for more information. Economic concerns should not keep any student from enjoying
this celebration!
Counseling Corner
Parents, as you navigate the world of technology, make sure you stay up to date with app options for your kids,
what they are, the advantages and the dangers involved. For example, there are apps that allow students to
create avatars and interact in conversations with others through that app. Movie Star Planet is one app that
allows for this type of interaction. Be sure to discuss their choice of apps and have them show these to you so
you can understand them better. Some of these are educational and some open the door for unwanted contact.
There are also many tech monitoring systems that control websites, control phone time, allow you to find your
child’s phone and more. Check with your cell phone and WiFi providers to see what is available. Common
Sense Media has many parental resources from cell phone contracts and conversations about responsible cell
phone use to specific apps about things to watch for and how to help your child avoid dangerous situations.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/snapchat-kik-and-6-more-iffy-messaging-apps-teenslove?utm_source=030416+Default&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly
8th Grade Dance
The 8th Grade Dance will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at the Poolesville Baptist Church. The dance will
be from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. and the theme will be “An Evening Under the Big Top.”
Needed: Volunteers to help with the event. If interested, please contact either Dreama Hemingway at
[email protected] or Jennifer Kasten at [email protected].
Attention 8th Grade Parents!
It’s that time of year! We are preparing for the 2016 Career Day for our 8th grade students. We have many
wonderful things planned for them but still need your help. Parents can help by being a presenter and sharing
with our students your personal career path. You will share for about 15 minutes with 4 different small groups
of 10-15 students. Students sign up for this day 10 days in advance, so we need your commitment by April 14th
OR we always need help with refreshments for our presenters. You can help with this by signing up on
Sign Up Genius www.SignUpGenius.com/go/60B0E4DAFAF23A02-jpms1/7690200
In case you do not have access to Sign Up Genius, please click on the link to get a hard copy of the signup
sheet CareerDaySignup.pdf
If you have questions, feel free to contact [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected] See attached form for more details!
Attention 6th Grade Parents
BE PREPARED! The Maryland mandatory immunization requirements will change next year when your child
enters 7th grade. The new requirements for 7th grade are: Meningococcal (MCV) & Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria,
pertussis/whooping cough). Visit your child’s health care provider for required immunizations. Please provide
proof of immunizations to your school’s health room as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please
call the nurse or health tech at 301-407-1029.
Soccer Schedule
Soccer start times are 3:15 at home and 3:30 away
Boys' Soccer





4/7 at King
4/12 vs Kingsview at Home
4/20 at Neelsville
5/3 at Clemente
5/5 vs Rocky Hill at Home
Girls' Soccer





4/7 vs King at Home
4/12 at Kingsview
4/20 vs Neelsville at Home
5/3 vs Clemente at Home
5/5 at Rocky Hill