Baldwin Middle Senior High School Newsletter

MAY 2017 volume 3 ISSUE 5

Baldwin Middle-Senior High School 291 Mill Street West Jacksonville, FL 32234 PH: 904-266-1200 FX: 904-266-1220 www.duvalschools.org/bmsh

Principal

Dr. Denise D. Hall Principal’s Secretary Mrs. Kaye Hodges, ext. 1102

Assistant Principals Mrs. Jennifer Bridwell Mr. Seth Happel

Middle School Office Middle School Dean Ms. Tanisha Larkins Middle School Secretary Ms. Dana Young, ext. 1107

High School Office

High School Dean Mr. Steven Shields High School Secretary Mrs. Ann Jacobs, ext. 1103

“Baldwin Drumbeat” May 2017 Published Five Times Per Year Duval County Public Schools 1701 Prudential Drive Jacksonville, FL 32207 Volume 3 Issue 5

Principal’s Message The 2016-2017 school year is wrapping up and we will soon see the Class of 2017 graduate. This senior class has been Baldwin Strong all year and we can’t wait to see the impact they make on the world and what they are able to accomplish!! I am also excited as we begin planning for the 2017-2018 school year. The new Senior class has big shoes to fill, but I am confident the Class of 2018 will show all of our underclassman how We Are Baldwin.

The summer is time to rest, rejuvenate, and regroup before the new school year. Summer is time to rest, but can also be a great time to read for pleasure and take a chance on a book you have wanted to read all year. Please also review the High School and Middle School summer reading list. The list will be posted on our website once it is finalized. The teachers and instructional coaches have worked hard to make this year’s summer reading enjoyable and connected to next year’s instructional themes.

I want everyone to have a safe and memorable summer, but to come back ready to make the 2017-2018 school the best year ever at Baldwin.

Sincerely, Dr. Hall

LOGICAL • DETERMINED • ETHICAL HONEST • COMPASSIONATE • CONFIDENT

TRUSTWORTHY • DISCIPLINED COMMITTED • RESPONSIBLE • INNOVATIVE

For the parents, students, staff, and community of Baldwin Middle-Senior High School

2

Baldwin Middle - Senior High School BMSH 2017-2018 High School Summer Reading

Our online summer reading blog was so much fun last year, we’ve brought it back again! The English Department had a great time last summer joining in on the discussion with students about their reading, and they can’t wait to comment and encourage them as they share their thoughts and reactions to their books again this summer. Here is an example of what it looks like: 9th Grade Student: Week 3 – The Highwayman While encountering and having a conversation with Molly Figgs, Molly starts making assumptions to Kit about His Master on page twenty-six, “Unless I was much mistaken, she suspected my master was-

incredibly enough-a highwayman. And it hadn’t occurred to me until that moment that I could furbish no proof otherwise”. This small thought process Kit had made him doubt his self and his master.

It gave him the idea to fit the puzzle together. The puzzle of why his master was out all night, was skilled with a pistol and sword.

“I think you know my secret” master Rattle continued, ignoring the encouraging words.” I’m Whistling Jack the highwayman.”. This sentence that Master Rattle said on page thirty-eight finally gives Kit the answer he’s been trying not to believe. It’s the honest truth he tried to hide from since he talked to Molly. The truth that he wanted not believe but instead defended the false idea he had of his Master. “But James Rattle, alias Whistling Jack, was dead”. This quote on page thirtynine basically what starts the actual plot of the book. Not only that It’s also sad because Master Rattle was the only family Kit ever had and Kit knew Rattle for two years, served him, was taught from him and even when Kit knew his masters secret he still defended him.

Teacher’s Response: I don’t think there’s much I can pick on here. Great response! Keep up the good work!

Remember, whether you’re joining us online or working on paper at

home, summer reading assignments will be due no later than Friday, September 1st.

To join us online, go to bmsh2017sr.weebly.com and join in on the discussion. The assignments will be given out in English classes the 2nd week of May, and the blog will be up and running May 15, 2017, so students can get started before the school year even ends.

We can’t wait to hear from you.

Happy reading!! If you have any questions, you may contact the English teacher you had in the 2016-2017 school year, or you may contact Mrs. Norris. Our emails are listed below: Mrs. Black – wagnerk@duvalschools.org Mrs. Norris – norrisk@duvalschools.org Mr. Mulvey – mulveyj@duvalschools.org Mr. Saucer – saucerc@duvalschools.org Mrs. Ladson – ladsona@duvalschools.org Mrs. Flow – flowh1@duvalschools.org

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3 Rude Vs. Mean Vs. Bullying: Defining The Differences

By Signe Whitson A few weeks ago, I had the terrific fortune of getting to present some of the bullying prevention work that I do to a group of children at a local bookstore.

As if interacting with smiling, exuberant young people was not gift enough, a reporter also attended the event a wrote a lovely article about my book and the work I do with kids, parents, educators and youth care professionals. All in all, it was dream publicity and since then, has sparked many conversations with people in my town who saw my photo in the newspaper and immediately related to the examples of bullying that were discussed.

I have been brought to tears more than once since the article ran while listening to parents share their feelings of outrage and helplessness over their kids’ experiences with bullying in school. One gifted but socially awkward middle school student blew me away with his articulate, poised, yet searingly painful accounts of relentless physical and verbal bullying on his school bus. An elementary school-aged girl described how she had to learn to shed her Australian accent within a month of entering U.S. schools because of how she was shunned by her classmates. The commonness of it all routinely astounds me with every new account; the pervasive cruelty makes my jaw drop every time.

It is important for me to begin this article by establishing that without doubt,

many of the stories of bullying that are shared with me are horrifying and some are unspeakably cruel. But now, I also want to be honest and share that some of the stories are... well... really not so bad.

Take this story recently shared with me by an acquaintance who read about my professional work: Signe, I saw your picture in the paper last week. Congratulations! I didn’t know you worked with bullied students. It’s so important that you do — things have gotten so bad! Last week, my daughter was bullied really badly after school! She was getting off of her bus when this kid from our neighborhood threw a fistful of leaves right in her face! When she got home, she still had leaves in the hood of her coat. It’s just awful! I don’t know what to do about these bullies.

“Was she very upset when she got home?” I empathized.

“No. She just brushed the leaves off and told me they were having fun together,” she said.

“Oh,” I answered knowingly, aware that oftentimes kids try to downplay victimization by bullies from their parents, due to the embarrassment and shame they feel. “Did you get the sense she was covering for the boy?”

“No, no. She really seemed to think it was fun. She said that she threw leaves back at him, which I told her NEVER to do again! The nerve of those kids.”

“Those ‘kids,’ I clarified. “Was it just the one boy throwing leaves or were there a bunch of kids all ganging up on her?”

“No, it was just this one boy that lives about a block from us,” she assured me.

“Is he usually mean to her? Has he bothered her after school before?”

I asked, eager at this point to figure out what the bullying issue was.

No. I don’t think so at least. That was the first time she ever said anything about him. It was definitely the first time that I noticed the leaves all over her coat. But it better be the last time! I won’t stand for her being bullied by that kid. Next time, I am going to make sure the principal knows what is going on after school lets out!

While I always want to be careful not to minimize anyone’s experience (it’s the social worker in me!) and a part of me suspects that the sharing of this particular story may have been simply this parent’s spontaneous way of making conversation with me in a store aisle, I hear these “alarming” (read: benign) stories often enough to conclude that there is a real need to draw a distinction between behavior that is rude, behavior that is mean and behavior that is characteristic of bullying. I first heard bestselling children’s author, Trudy Ludwig, talk about these distinguishing terms and, finding them so helpful, have gone on to use them as follows: Rude = Inadvertently saying or doing something that hurts someone else.

A particular relative of mine (whose name it would be rude of me to mention) often looks my curly red hair up and down before inquiring in a sweet tone, “Have you ever thought about coloring your hair?” or “I think you look so much more sophisticated when you straighten your hair, Signe.” This doting family member thinks she is helping me. The rest of the people in the room cringe at her boldness and I am left to wonder if being a brunette would suit me. Her comments can sting, but remembering that they continued on next page...

4 ...continued from previous page come from a place of love — in her mind — helps me to remember what to do with the advice...

From kids, rudeness might look more like burping in someone’s face, jumping ahead in line, bragging about achieving the highest grade or even throwing a crushed up pile of leaves in someone’s face. On their own, any of these behaviors could appear as elements of bullying, but when looked at in context, incidents of rudeness are usually spontaneous, unplanned inconsideration, based on thoughtlessness, poor manners or narcissism, but not meant to actually hurt someone.

Mean = Purposefully saying or doing something to hurt someone once (or maybe twice).

The main distinction between “rude” and “mean” behavior has to do with intention; while rudeness is often unintentional, mean behavior very much aims to hurt or depreciate someone.

Kids are mean to each other when they criticize clothing, appearance, intelligence, coolness or just about anything else they can find to denigrate.

Meanness also sounds like words spoken in anger — impulsive cruelty that is often regretted in short order. Very often, mean behavior in kids is motivated by angry feelings and/or the misguided goal of propping themselves up in comparison to the person they are putting down.

Commonly, meanness in kids sounds an awful lot like: • “Are you seriously wearing that sweater again? Didn’t you just wear it, like, last week? Get a life.”

• “You are so fat/ugly/stupid/gay.”

• “I hate you!”

Make no mistake; mean behaviors can wound deeply and adults can make a huge difference in the lives of young people when they hold kids accountable for being mean. Yet, meanness is different from bullying in important ways that should be understood and differentiated when it comes to intervention.

Bullying = Intentionally aggressive behavior, repeated over time, that involves an imbalance of power.

Experts agree that bullying entails three key elements: an intent to harm, a power imbalance and repeated acts or threats of aggressive behavior.

Kids who bully say or do something intentionally hurtful to others and they keep doing it, with no sense of regret or remorse — even when targets of bullying show or express their hurt or tell the aggressors to stop.

Bullying may be physical, verbal, relational or carried out via technology: • Physical aggression was once the gold standard of bullying— the “sticks and stones” that made adults in charge stand up and take notice. This kind of bullying includes hitting, punching, kicking, spitting, tripping, hair pulling, slamming a child into a locker and a range of other behaviors that involve physical aggression.

• Verbal aggression is what our parents used to advise us to “just ignore.” We now know that despite the old adage, words and threats can, indeed, hurt and can even cause profound, lasting harm.

• Relational aggression is a form of bullying in which kids use their friendship—or the threat of taking their friendship away—to hurt someone. Social exclusion, shunning, hazing, and rumor spreading are all forms of this pervasive type of bullying that can be especially beguiling and crushing to kids.

• Cyberbullying is a specific form of bullying that involves technology. According to Hinduja and Patchin of the Cyberbullying Research Center, it is the “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.” Notably, the likelihood of repeated harm is especially high with cyberbullying because electronic messages can be accessed by multiple parties,

resulting in repeated exposure and repeated harm.

So, why is it so important to make the distinction between rude, mean and bullying? Can’t I just let parents share with me stories about their kids?

Here’s the thing; in our culture of 24/7 news cycles and social media sound bites, we have a better opportunity than ever before to bring attention to important issues. In the last few years, Americans have collectively paid attention to the issue of bullying like never before; millions of school children have been given a voice, 49 states in the U.S. have passed anti-bullying legislation, and thousands of adults have been trained in important strategies to keep kids safe and dignified in schools and communities.

These are significant achievements.

At the same time, however, I have already begun to see that gratuitous references to bullying are creating a bit of a “little boy who cried wolf” phenomena. In other words, if kids and parents improperly classify rudeness and mean behavior as bullying — whether to simply make conversation or to bring attention to their short-term discomfort — we all run the risk of becoming so sick and tired of hearing the word that this actual life-and-death issue among young people loses its urgency as quickly as it rose to prominence.

It is important to distinguish between rude, mean and bullying so that teachers, school administrators, police, youth workers, parents and kids all know what to pay attention to and when to intervene. As we have heard too often in the news, a child’s future may depend on a non-jaded adult’s ability to discern between rudeness at the bus stop and life-altering bullying.

Signe Whitson is a licensed therapist, national educator on bullying, and author of three books including Friendship & Other Weapons: Group Activities to Help Young Girls Cope with Bullying. For more information or workshop inquiries, please visit www.signewhitson.com.

5 JTA’s “Beyond School Walls” Technology in Transportation

Throughout this school year, Baldwin’s communication students have been learning through a work place partnership with the Jacksonville Transit Authority. Recently, student session has been focused on learning about the technology infrastructure within JTA. Students have received the opportunity to learn about the technology that is necessary to operate the downtown skyway and the necessary training simulators required for all JTA drivers.

JTA mentors have graciously donated their time to the students answering questions and explaining all the aspect of digital technology needed for the entire city of Jacksonville.

A JTA representative stated: “The company has truly enjoyed working with Baldwin’s students. As new technology advances are implemented throughout Jacksonville, it will allow us to provide the students with more diverse real-world learning experiences. It has been an amazing opportunity to give back to the community and to have a positive impact on the students’ education.”

Baldwin Communication Students and JTA have thoroughly enjoyed the program throughout the year and look forward to continuing this fantastic community partnership in the upcoming school years. It is truly taking Baldwin’s Communication magnet program “Beyond School Walls”.

Senior Information Future seniors class of 2018: Make sure you are at your senior orientation. We will have our first senior meeting and you can start earning extra graduation tickets.

Things to take care before next year: 1. Order your cap and gowns: All caps and gowns MUST be ordered from Herff Jones online @ www.herffjonesnorthflorida.com.

2. Take your senior pictures for the yearbook. Senior pictures for the yearbook must be taken

by Cady studios. Book your appointment for the summer the appointments will fill up fast.

You can make appointments online at www.cadystudios.com.

Summer Testing: Class of 2018 and Class of 2019 it is never too early to start thinking about testing. Below are the testing dates: do not wait until the last minute to register for either test. Students are encouraged to both the ACT and the SAT. ACT Testing schedule 2017-2018 Test Dates (National) Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required) September 9, 2017 August 4, 2017 August 5-18, 2017 October 28, 2017 September 22, 2017 September 23 - Oct. 6, 2017 December 9, 2017 November 3, 2017 November 4-17, 2017 February 10, 2018* January 12, 2018 January 13-19, 2018 April 14, 2018 March 9, 2018 March 10-23, 2018 June 9, 2018 May 4, 2018 May 5-18, 2018 July 14, 2018* June 15, 2018 June 16-22, 2018 SAT Test Dates 2017-2018 Deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, U.S.

2017-18 SAT Administration Dates and Deadlines SAT Date

SAT Subject Tests Available

August 26, 2017

See SAT Subject Tests available on this date: https:// collegereadiness. collegeboard. org/sat-subjecttests/register/testdates-deadlines

See SAT Subject Tests available on this date: https:// October 7, collegereadiness. collegeboard.

2017 org/sat-subjecttests/register/testdates-deadlines

Registration Deadline

Late Registration Deadline

Deadline for Changes

July 28, 2017

August 8, 2017 (for mailed registrations) August 15, 2017 (for registrations made online or by phone)

August 15, 2017

September 19, 2017 (for mailed registrations) September 27, September 8, September 2017 2017 27, 2017 (for registrations made online or by phone) continued on next page...

6 ...continued from previous page SAT Test Dates 2017-2018 Deadlines expire at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, U.S. 2017-18 SAT Administration Dates and Deadlines (...continued) SAT Date

SAT Subject Tests Available

Registration Deadline

Late Registration Deadline

October 17, 2017 (for mailed See SAT Subject Tests available on registrations) November this date: https://collegereadiness. October 5, October 25, 2017 (for 4, 2017 collegeboard.org/sat-subject-tests/ 2017 registrations made online or by register/test-dates-deadlines phone) November 14, 2017 (for mailed See SAT Subject Tests available on registrations) December this date: https://collegereadiness. November 2, 2017 collegeboard.org/sat-subject-tests/ 2, 2017 November 21, 2017 (for registrations made online or by register/test-dates-deadlines phone) February 20, 2018 (for mailed registrations) March 10, SAT Subject Tests not offered on February 9, February 28, 2018 (for 2018 this date.

2018 registrations made online or by phone) April 17, 2018 (for mailed See SAT Subject Tests available on registrations) May 5, this date: https://collegereadiness.

April 6, 2018 collegeboard.org/sat-subject-tests/ 2018 April 25, 2018 (for registrations register/test-dates-deadlines made online or by phone) May 15, 2018 (for mailed See SAT Subject Tests available on registrations) June 2, this date: https://collegereadiness.

May 3, 2018 collegeboard.org/sat-subject-tests/ 2018 May 23, 2018 (for registrations register/test-dates-deadlines made online or by phone)

Deadline for Changes

October 25, 2017

November 21, 2017

February 28, 2018

April 25, 2018

May 23, 2018

BAldwin SPORTS

High School Athletics

Baldwin Indian fans: We are proud of our student athletes for all their hard work and dedication in 2016-2017 school year. Our entire athletic coaching staff would like to commend our student athletes for aspiring to be best they can be. This summer our athletic teams will be working even hard here at the school and away at camps. Coaches will be providing spring/ summer schedules. All of our coaches and student athletes at Baldwin Middle Senior High will approach their sport with great intensity and a desire to succeed.

Our coaching staff has dedicated themselves to working as hard as possible, in order to reach or exceed expectations on and off the field for Baldwin and its athletes. Next year’s athletics season will filled dreams and promises of a season to be remembered. The dedication from our coaches will be there to make every effort to make our athletes the best they can be. This year’s entire coaching staff is going to be tenacious in every athletic endeavor that they approach with Indian athletes. Giving our best effort for the student athletes

here at Baldwin Middle/Senior High School is our number one priority. I would like to thank every student, parent, and fan for showing your support and Indian pride for our athletes this yea. I hope that next year you are ready for another great year and ready to come cheer your Indians on.

Summer Football: We will be holding workouts for any rising 9-12th grade boys interested in playing football in the fall. Workouts will be from 8-11 am unless otherwise noted.

The dates are as follows.

June 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14(4:30 pm), 15, 19, 20, 21(4:30 pm), 22, 26, 27, 28(4:30 pm), 29 July 10,11,12(4:30 pm),13,17 • Team camp July 18,19.

• Fall practice will begin July 31st at 8 am.

Breakfast and Lunch will be serve each day in the cafeteria from 7am-8am and 11am-12 noon.

Please contact Coach Shields at: shields@duvalschools.org

7 ...continued from previous page Summer Volleyball: Volleyball summer workouts are open to 6-12 grade students who are interested in playing volleyball for Baldwin.

Workouts will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00 am– 11:00 am during the following weeks: • June 12-15 • June 19-22 • June 26-29

• July 10-13 • July 17-20

*You must have a physical packet on file to participate in workouts.

Tryouts for the Junior Varsity and Varsity volleyball teams are open to all incoming 9-12 graders. They will be held on Monday, July 31 and Tuesday, August 1, 5:30 - 7:30 pm.

You MUST be at BOTH days of tryouts to be considered for the team. Middle school tryouts will be held at a later date.

Please see Coach Murfin for more information.

Can Brains Really Sync Up? Believe it or not, brains can really be on the same wavelength.

“Researchers have found that the brainwaves of people who are engaged in the same activity really do ‘sync up.’” Why is this important? It’s important because this data has huge implications for the classroom. According to Princeton University neuroscientist Uri Hasson, “Using knowledge gathered at the lab to develop real-life applications that can enhance the communication among people in the classroom is a great achievement.” He believes that this new research will lead to better ways to assess, as well as improve, the way teachers and students interact.

What do researchers know so far? They know several factors play into whether or not a students’ brain syncs up in class, like personality and perceived acceptance by classmates.

Additionally, researchers have found that results are similar whether students are engaged in a live lesson or a virtual one. Researchers are hoping that continued work in this area will reveal in which environments “each of our brains functions at its best—and that kind of performance-boosting road map would be welcomed by students and the rest of us alike.”

Take Pride in the Tribe: PTSA – Please Join We would like to invite you to join the PTSA at Baldwin. We need officers and motivated parents to get involved. Research indicates that students who attend schools with vibrant PTSA partnerships have a better rate of completion and sense of community pride and volunteerism. Membership cost is $5. We will have tables available at Orientation and Open House. Please come see how you can make a difference at Baldwin!!

Earn your Associate in Arts degree from FSCJ and guarantee your admission to the University of North Florida.

 fscj.edu/connect

 (904) 646-2300

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Duval County Public Schools Baldwin Middle-Senior High School 291 Mill Street West Jacksonville, FL 32234

8 Middle School English Middle-School Summer Reading

Last year for the first time, our middle-school students simulated blogging about a book they read over the summer. This year, students will be tackling actual blogging. Students will be provided with a suggested book list, along with login information for the blog.

Students will choose a book and start reading. Once a week or so, they will log on to the blog and tell about their book!

Why blogging you may ask. According to Alice Chen, a teacher in California, blogging is a “game-changer.� Blogging enables writers to discover their own voices and a true love of writing. It is an expressive, creative outlet that sets the stage for improved academics, as well as higher self-esteem. Blogs also act as a conduit for students to write for their peers vs. their teachers, while generating their own ideas and topics. Ultimately, blogging helps students become more independent learners.

There are several ways for students to learn through blogging. One of which is by responding to specific prompts, which is how we will begin this venture. Once logged on to the blog, students will reflect on the literature they are reading. As next school year progresses, students will be encouraged to explore topics that are meaningful to them personally, as they relate to the literature they are reading.

Please look for information regarding this summer-reading assignment, as it will be sent home with students in the coming weeks. Feel free to contact Mrs. Ballard, the middle school reading coach, with questions.

Student Activities Students who plan on driving to school need to make sure they purchase a parking pass at the beginning of the year. Next year we will have a new parking pass policy and ALL spots will be numbered. Spots will be first come first serve and once all paved spots are purchased students will have to purchase a spot in the gravel lot which will also be numbered.