THE BEAR CREEK SCHOOL - MIDDLE SCHOOL ABCS A GUIDE FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS
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THE BEAR CREEK SCHOOL
MIDDLE SCHOOL ABCS
A GUIDE FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS
2010 — 2011
Cover art by the Middle School Journalism Class
May, 2010 Dear Parents and Students, Welcome to the Middle School at Bear Creek! Whether you are a current student or new to The Bear Creek School, the Middle School experience is, in many ways, quite different from Lower School. If you are transitioning from 6th to 7th grade, or entering Bear Creek for the first time in 8th grade, it is important that you are prepared for the changes that await you. This Middle School ABCs is designed to provide you with some of the essential information needed to make that transition. Please take some time to read through this guide and familiarize yourself with our policies and procedures. As the items are arranged alphabetically, you should find it quite easy to navigate your way around the guide. The Middle School ABCs is a supplement to, and not a replacement of, the current Bear Creek Family Handbook. After consulting with parents about what we could do to improve the transition process into Middle School, we realized that additional information was needed to help incoming 7th grade and new 8th grade families better understand life in the Middle School. The Bear Creek Family Handbook remains the "official" school-wide handbook for all policies. This resource is accessible on the website for parents of all students Prekindergarten through grade 12. If you have any questions about the Middle School, please contact me at jwoollard@tbcs.org. If your question refers to something specific in the guide and an alternate contact is listed, please contact that person directly. We hope that the contents of this guide will assist you as you make the transition into Middle School. Yours sincerely, James Woollard Middle School Division Head
Table of Contents Tips for helping your child thrive in the Middle School ......................................................................... i Absences ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Academic Awards .................................................................................................................................. 2 Academic Probation .............................................................................................................................. 2 Activity Period ........................................................................................................................................ 3 Administrative Assistant to Middle School Head ................................................................................ 3 Advisory.................................................................................................................................................. 3 Art ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 ASB (Associated Student Body) Student Council ................................................................................ 4 ASB Cards .............................................................................................................................................. 4 Athletics Program .................................................................................................................................. 4 Athletic Probation .................................................................................................................................. 5 Backpack/Universal Binder Policy ....................................................................................................... 5 Band ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 Bear Facts ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Beginning Guitar ................................................................................................................................... 6 Biblical Worldview Integration .............................................................................................................. 6 Birthdays ................................................................................................................................................ 6 Bulletin ................................................................................................................................................... 6 Bullying .................................................................................................................................................. 7 Calendar ................................................................................................................................................ 7 Carpool................................................................................................................................................... 7 Chapel .................................................................................................................................................... 7 Choir ....................................................................................................................................................... 8 Christian Studies .................................................................................................................................. 8 Class Pages ........................................................................................................................................... 8 Classical Education ............................................................................................................................... 9 Clubs ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 Communication ................................................................................................................................... 10 Coffee Connections ............................................................................................................................. 10 Community Service ............................................................................................................................. 10 Core Classes ........................................................................................................................................ 11 CTP4 ..................................................................................................................................................... 11 CTY Program ........................................................................................................................................ 11
Culinary Skills ...................................................................................................................................... 11 Curriculum Night ................................................................................................................................. 12 Detention ............................................................................................................................................. 12 Digital Media ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Discipline ............................................................................................................................................. 13 Drama .................................................................................................................................................. 13 Dress Code .......................................................................................................................................... 13 Drop-Off/Pick-up Procedures ............................................................................................................. 14 Eighth Grade Curriculum .................................................................................................................... 16 Eighth Grade Trip ................................................................................................................................ 16 Electives............................................................................................................................................... 16 Electronics Policy ................................................................................................................................ 17 E-mail ................................................................................................................................................... 17 English ................................................................................................................................................. 17 Faculty.................................................................................................................................................. 18 Field Trips ............................................................................................................................................ 18 Finals.................................................................................................................................................... 18 Front desk hours ................................................................................................................................. 18 Gender Separation .............................................................................................................................. 18 Geography ........................................................................................................................................... 19 Grades ................................................................................................................................................. 19 Grizzly Galley........................................................................................................................................ 19 Grizzly Middle ...................................................................................................................................... 20 Health .................................................................................................................................................. 20 History .................................................................................................................................................. 21 Homework............................................................................................................................................ 21 Honor Roll ............................................................................................................................................ 21 Hours.................................................................................................................................................... 21 Icebreaker............................................................................................................................................ 22 Internet/Computer Lab usage policies .............................................................................................. 22 Jan Term .............................................................................................................................................. 22 Journalism ........................................................................................................................................... 23 Late Work Policy .................................................................................................................................. 23 Latin ..................................................................................................................................................... 23 Library .................................................................................................................................................. 24 Lockers ................................................................................................................................................ 24
Lost and Found…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 24 Lunch ................................................................................................................................................... 24 Make-Up Work ..................................................................................................................................... 24 Math ..................................................................................................................................................... 24 Math Packet ........................................................................................................................................ 25 Math Placement Testing ..................................................................................................................... 25 Musicale .............................................................................................................................................. 25 Nurse.................................................................................................................................................... 25 Office Hours ......................................................................................................................................... 26 Open House ......................................................................................................................................... 26 ParentNet ............................................................................................................................................ 26 Parent-Teacher Conferences .............................................................................................................. 26 Parking ................................................................................................................................................. 27 Passing Time ....................................................................................................................................... 27 Physical Education .............................................................................................................................. 27 Planners ............................................................................................................................................... 27 Plays ..................................................................................................................................................... 27 Progress Reports ................................................................................................................................. 28 PTF (Parent Teacher Fellowship) ........................................................................................................ 28 Registration Packet/Back to School Packet ..................................................................................... 28 Report Cards........................................................................................................................................ 28 Schedule .............................................................................................................................................. 29 School Closures................................................................................................................................... 30 School Pictures.................................................................................................................................... 30 Science ................................................................................................................................................ 30 Search and Seizure Policy .................................................................................................................. 31 Seventh Grade Curriculum ................................................................................................................. 31 Ski/Snowboard Program .................................................................................................................... 31 Socials.................................................................................................................................................. 32 Sports ................................................................................................................................................... 32 Stained Glass ...................................................................................................................................... 32 Standardized Testing .......................................................................................................................... 32 Strength Training ................................................................................................................................. 33 Student Store ...................................................................................................................................... 33 Study Hall............................................................................................................................................. 33 Summer Reading Program ................................................................................................................. 33
Supply List ........................................................................................................................................... 34 Surveys ................................................................................................................................................ 34 Tardy Policy .......................................................................................................................................... 34 Textbooks ............................................................................................................................................ 34 Timetable ............................................................................................................................................. 35 Uniforms .............................................................................................................................................. 35 Uniform Violations ............................................................................................................................... 35 Upper School Credit ............................................................................................................................ 35 USA Today ............................................................................................................................................ 36 Visitors Policy....................................................................................................................................... 36 Volunteers............................................................................................................................................ 36 Washington State History ................................................................................................................... 37 Weapons Policy ................................................................................................................................... 37 Website ................................................................................................................................................ 37 Yearbook .............................................................................................................................................. 37 Appendix A: Administrative Faculty 2009-10 .................................................................................... 38 Appendix B: Middle School Faculty 2009-10 .................................................................................... 39 Appendix C: Middle School Faculty Profiles 2009-10....................................................................... 41
Tips for helping your child thrive in the Middle School:
A message from the Middle School Head (adapted from The Grizzly Middle, November 2009)
“Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
The role of the parent in Middle School is crucially important. Contrary to what some might say,
Middle School is not the time to back off and leave your child in a ‗sink or swim‘ mode. With that in
mind, here are some practical things you can do to help your child:
1. Help monitor what homework has been set and check whether it has been completed and handed
in. Check your child‘s planner and keep a regular eye on the school website, where assignments are
posted. Ask your son or daughter in the evening: ―What homework is due tomorrow?‖ Then ask
them in the morning, before they go to school: ―Do you have the homework completed?‖ ―Is it in
your binder?‖ Simple questions like these can keep your child on his/her toes.
2. Help your daughter or son to manage her/his time. Sit down with your children and discuss how
they fill their evenings. How much time should be devoted to extra-curricular activities? How much
time is family time? How much time is downtime? How much time is required for homework? Help
them decide what homework should be done earlier in the week and when to find time to study for
a test, etc. When reviewing for a test, a little each night is often better than cramming the night
before. Note: for parents of students with perfectionist tendencies, your role may be limiting how
much time your child spends on homework. Be prepared to set boundaries on the amount of time
devoted to homework and ensure that he/she gets plenty of quality sleep.
3. Make sure your son or daughter has a place to do his/her homework and help minimize potential
distractions (e.g., computers, video games, cell phones, TV, distracting brothers and sisters!). Help
create a designated workspace for your child to do her/his work. I do not recommend that students
have access to a computer, TV, video games or cell phone during prescribed study time as these
can be unnecessarily distracting. Contrary to popular belief, most of us are pretty awful at multi-
tasking!
4. Be available to answer questions and provide basic assistance where required. As a teacher, I used
to remind students that parents can be a great source of helpful information. For some, this was a
total revelation! Sometimes I feel that parents may also underestimate the wealth of knowledge
they can contribute to their children‘s education. Don‘t let homework be a chore – make it a fun
learning experience for the whole family!
5. Affirm your son or daughter: Offer praise where praise is due. Encourage your child by reminding
him or her that effort matters more than attainment and that character matters more than grades.
Note: praising a child just for being smart is generally ineffective; it‘s a student‘s effort that really
makes the difference. When students do well and we praise them for their hard work, they will make
the connection in their minds between effort and achievement.
6. Pray for and with your son or daughter. By turning to God in your child‘s hour of need, you are
demonstrating faith and reliance on God and, therefore, modeling how he or she should respond to
difficulties faced throughout life. More importantly, God promises to answers our prayers, so your
prayers will make a difference.
i
Middle School ABCs – Companion to the Bear Creek Family HandbookTips from a Bear Creek Parent:
―We all have pre-conceived ideas of what Middle School will be like for our kids. We have hopes
and dreams…and worries… about what is ahead. You will be surprised at how God can grow your
student through all types of experiences. ―Growing up‖ in Middle School can mean many things—
learning to be more responsible, compassionate, confident, humble, joyous, introspective,
organized, brave, cautious… God knows your child intimately, and asks you to walk alongside them
through the next two years. Whether you are new to Bear Creek, or have been here awhile, here‘s
just a few of the things I‘ve learned as a Bear Creek MS parent:
Have great expectations for your student, but be willing to hold those expectations loosely
as your child is adjusting to multiple classes and teachers, multiple demands, one universal
binder, a planner, relationships with friends, homework, etc., etc.
Encourage them to go to the Middle School Socials. They are a great way to have fun, get to
know people, and to be a part of the ‗identity‘ that is Bear Creek Middle School.
Keeping track of assignments and tests and planning what to do when will be easier for
some, and challenging for others. Writing things down in the provided planner, or using
another written system, is invaluable. If their way of organizing themselves doesn‘t seem to
be working, help them figure something else out.
Bear Creek teachers want your students to learn…their subjects, more about God and His
love for us, and how to be a person who thinks, analyzes, creates, and delves. Encourage
your student to ask the teacher questions if they are confused. This is hard for some of
them. If you need to step in and help, do so, but always in the way your child feels
comfortable with. There have been times I wanted to step in and talk to a teacher, but my
student wanted to deal with it alone. There may be other times when they‘re in over their
heads and it‘s okay to check in and help with communication. My advice—don‘t react too
quickly. Take a little time to gauge the situation and listen to your child.
Support the uniform policy. If possible, have TWO sweaters for dress uniform day. We went
through Middle School with one sweater and spent too much time being stressed out
looking for the sweater the morning of… the night before… it seemed to find its way into
hiding in many different and strange places.
Go to the Coffee Connections with the Head of Middle School. There are 4 per year, and you
can ask questions, talk about anything pertaining to Middle School, get to know some other
parents…or not say anything and listen. They are a great resource.
If you can, volunteer to chaperone a social. It‘s fun to be around the kids in these settings.
Finally, while your Middle Schooler is growing up, so will you. The following is from the book,
How Children Raise Parents: The Art of Listening to Your Family, by Dr. Dan Allender. These
are great goals for parents as you enter the Middle School years with your child:
“Change your focus from doing everything right to being thankful, loving your kids
unconditionally, and setting needed boundaries.
Develop the skill of truly listening to your child.
Navigate the gray areas of parenting by shifting your focus from applying rules to
reading your child.
Give your children a glimpse of God‟s character, especially His mercy and strength.
Supply what your children need most—the confidence that they are truly loved,
treasured, and delighted in.”
ii
Middle School ABCs – Companion to the Bear Creek Family HandbookMiddle School ABCs
A…
Absences
Success in school is dependent to a large extent on regular school attendance. Excessive
absences disrupt the continuity of the learning process, are troublesome to students and
teachers, and contribute to poor academic performance. Whenever possible, please try and
schedule vacations and appointments for school breaks and holidays. While limited
opportunities may be offered for makeup work, the loss of opportunity for class discussion,
class dynamism, student-teacher interaction, and explanation cannot be made up. Depending
on the circumstances, Middle School students who are absent from any course for more than
ten days in a semester may need to appeal for credit. See also: Late Work Policy, Tardy Policy
Absences fall into two categories; Planned and Unplanned:
Absences, Planned (e.g., vacation):
Notifying the Middle School Head: the pre-arranged absence form
If parents are aware in advance that a student will not be in school for at least a whole day or
more, a pre-arranged absence form should be completed and turned in to the MS Division Head
at least one week (five school days) ahead of the planned departure date. The form is in the
resource section of the Bear Creek members secure website (see forms). A failure to submit a
pre-arranged absence form on time may result in the absence being counted as unexcused.
Notifying the teacher in advance
For any pre-arranged absence, students are required to notify the teacher at least 24 hours
prior to their absence and turn in any assignments due before departure. For absences of 1-2
days, scheduled quizzes or tests must also be completed prior to leaving. Loss of credit may
result if assignments are not turned in and quizzes/tests are not completed prior to the
student‘s absence. Students will also be responsible for any work assigned in classes on the
day of their absence. For short-term absences, students should get their teachers to complete
page 2 of the pre-arranged absence form. For very lengthy, planned absences, it is helpful for
parents and students to sit down with teachers and work out a unique ‗plan of action‘.
Planned, partial day absences
If a student has a scheduled appointment (such as an orthodontist visit) and is arriving
late/departing early or is involved in athletics/extra-curricular activities and needs to leave mid-
day, teachers must be notified at least 24 hours before departure from school, and any
assignments turned in before the missed class. Any scheduled quizzes or tests must also be
completed prior to departure. Students will also be responsible for any work assigned in missed
classes.
1
Middle School ABCs – Companion to the Bear Creek Family HandbookAbsences, Unplanned (e.g., sickness, family emergency)
Notification of an unplanned absence
For unplanned absences, please try to email the attendance coordinator at
attendancered@tbcs.org by 9:00 am. You can also call and speak to someone at the Redmond
front desk if e-mail access is not available. In emergency situations, a note of explanation the
next day will suffice. Such unplanned absences will be excused only if Bear Creek receives an e-
mail, a phone call or a note from a parent/guardian. It is also helpful to e-mail all teachers and
confirm any missed work. If a student misses more than three days due to an illness, a medical
excuse from a doctor must be provided for the absence to be excused.
Catching up after an unplanned absence
For excused, unplanned absences, a homework extension will automatically be given. The
homework extension will not exceed the number of class days missed during the absence.
Failure to turn in makeup work by the due date will result in loss of credit for that/those
assignment(s). In the event of an unexcused absence (the absence was unplanned and the
school was not notified as to the reason why) students will usually lose credit for any
assignment/quiz/test/project that was completed in class or due on the day of the absence.
The student may still be required to complete the assignment if the teacher deems the content
necessary as a building block for continued learning in the class.
Academic Awards
Bear Creek recognizes exceptional academic achievement through a system of formal honors
and awards. We do this for several reasons:
The recognition of good work is endorsed in the Scriptures, from the writings of Solomon
(Proverbs), to those of Paul (Romans, Ephesians, I Timothy, etc.)
We hope to encourage and motivate good work among all students by demonstrating that
such work is not overlooked or taken for granted.
We hope to draw attention to the high quality of our students‘ work, to the glory of God and
their parents.
Students who qualify for either the Dean‘s or Head‘s list will be recognized at the end of the
year, after final semester grades are posted. Academic Awards for Middle and Upper School are
determined by averaging both semester grades, and will be based upon the following criteria:
Dean‘s List: 3.0-3.49 GPA
Head‘s List: 3.5-4.0 GPA
Academic Probation
Students who get less than 70% in any core subject at the end of each semester will be placed
on academic probation. At the end of the next semester, if the student‘s grade in any core class
falls below 70%, that student may not be allowed to enroll for the following academic year. The
Division Head will use discretion in this decision.
2
Middle School ABCs – Companion to the Bear Creek Family HandbookActivity Period
Activity Period refers to the short morning break that MS students get on Mondays, Thursdays
and Fridays. Students have an opportunity to play in the gym during this time. In addition, every
‗D‘ Day, students get an extended activity period in the gym just prior to lunch.
Administrative Assistant to Middle School Head
Shelly Casale is the Administrative Assistant to Mr. Woollard, MS Head. Among other things,
Shelly looks after Mr. Woollard‘s calendar and is the person to contact if you would like to book
an appointment to meet with him. She also has her finger on the pulse of all the upcoming
events in MS, so if you have any questions about these, or other questions/needs related to
MS, please contact her. She can be contacted at scasale@tbcs.org or through the front desk at
425-898-1720, x116. Shelly's office (116) is next door to the LS Head's office. Shelly grew up
all over the United States and abroad, the child of an Army chaplain. She received a B.A. in
Elementary Education, with a specialization in Language Arts, from Seattle Pacific University.
She worked several years for Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California, and also locally, at
Fuller‘s Seattle campus. In addition to being a long-time Bear Creek parent, Shelly feels other
experiences have qualified her to work in Middle School, some of which include … living with Jr.
Higher‘s as a camp counselor at Mt. Hermon in the Santa Cruz Mountains; living and working in
the remotest part of Alaska at a salmon cannery with other crazy people; and being a winning
contestant on two game shows. She and Paul, who is a marriage and family therapist, have two
sons, Jake and Jonah, and the best dog in the world, Logan.
Advisory
Advisories are organized to help meet the academic, social, spiritual, and physical needs of
students in the Middle School. Each Middle School student is assigned an advisory group with
10-12 fellow students of the same gender and under the direction of a Middle School faculty
member. Faculty advisors serve as Christian role models, provide guidance on relationships,
and function as advocates and academic mentors for their groups. Advisories create an
environment that fosters bonding within the group so that students feel accepted and valued by
both their teachers and their peers. The goals for advisory are to establish a sense of
community within the Middle School, provide individual student recognition, build individual
character, and teach students organizational skills—all presented with a faith perspective and
biblical support. A typical advisory may include an activity or game and a biblical lesson on a
relevant tween/teen issue. Issues such as social hierarchies, conflict resolution, self image,
anger, gossip, jealousy, friendship, and others are covered both in individual and larger group
advisories. The main curriculum used in advisory for both Middle School and Upper School is
Tim Elmore‘s Habitudes program. This 4-book series uses visual images to communicate a
specific idea and help develop positive leadership Habits and Attitudes, hence the term
Habitudes. If you have any questions about Advisory, please contact Jeff Gephart, Dean of
Students, at jgephart@tbcs.org.
3
Middle School ABCs – Companion to the Bear Creek Family HandbookArt
Do you love to draw and paint? Do you enjoy being creative? Then Art is the class for you!
Students will focus on creativity, originality, effort, and perseverance while exploring various
media such as drawing, painting, printmaking, collage and 2-D visual art. Students will develop
craftsmanship, skill, consistency and correct terminology, while learning the basic elements and
principles of art. There is a $35 materials fee for this course and a maximum enrollment of 18
students. For further details, please contact Kailee Blankenship at kblankenship@tbcs.org.
See also: Electives.
ASB (Associated Student Body) Student Council
The move up to Middle School presents students with the opportunity to participate in student
leadership through the Associated Student Body (ASB). The ASB Cabinet consists of a faculty
advisor and six representatives chosen by their peers from both the 7th and 8th grade. These
students are dedicated to the leadership of the student body in decisions regarding students‘
needs with the intent to glorify God by being responsible, reliable, respectful of peers, faculty
and the Bear Creek community, and enthusiastic in their support of Bear Creek. The Middle
School ASB assists in planning socials and student activities for the Middle School, including
operating the student store, and provides a representative voice for the 7th and 8th grade.
Students chosen to represent the Middle School in ASB must receive positive teacher
evaluations and be exemplary in meeting the standards of Bear Creek‘s Guiding Principles. In
addition, they must demonstrate strong leadership qualities, have a vigorous moral character, a
willingness to work hard in partnership with students, faculty and staff, display a strong
commitment to Bear Creek and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (83%). For additional information
about ASB, please contact Scott Moe (Middle School ASB Advisor) at: smoe@tbcs.org.
ASB Cards
Each student enrolled in the Bear Creek Middle School is a regular member of the Associated
Student Body (ASB). The purchase of an ASB card makes students an active and participating
member of the ASB, and provides the funds necessary to maintain student activities. Funds
collected from the sale of ASB cards are used to reduce the cost of Bear Creek sponsored social
and athletic events as well as community service, mission trips and fundraisers. ASB cards also
provide additional discounts at businesses and services within the community (e.g. theaters,
sporting events, etc). Students can demonstrate their school spirit and save money on school
events by purchasing an ASB card at the beginning of the school year, or through the Back to
School Packet sent out in the summer.
Athletics Program
Participation in Middle School athletics allows students to develop physical skills, learn game
strategies, and most importantly, put into practice the concepts of commitment, teamwork and
good sportsmanship. The Bear Creek School is a member of the Cross-Town Middle School
League. The Bear Creek Grizzlies build school spirit as students and parents enjoy supporting
our teams. Middle School students may participate in soccer, cross country, basketball,
volleyball, golf, and track. Bear Creek provides a quality program that encourages participation
of a large population of our student body and at the same time is able to emphasize the
importance of self-discipline, commitment, and competition as parts of the athletic arena. As
students spend more time in athletic programs, there is an increased awareness of the
importance of doing one‘s best in order to successfully compete and represent our school in
extracurricular programs. Bear Creek operates a no-cut policy in Middle School, meaning that all
4
Middle School ABCs – Companion to the Bear Creek Family Handbookstudents who are willing to make a commitment to the team can participate, barring injury or
athletic probation (see below). For more information about our program, visit the Athletics
section of the website.
Athletic Probation
Bear Creek requires that all Middle School/Upper School students participating in athletics
maintain at least a 73% (C) overall average, with no course grade below 70% (C-). The Bear
Creek athletic probation policy states that students with a grade below 70% in any class may be
placed on athletic probation, and may only be eligible to resume athletic competition when the
grade has been rectified. Students who are placed on athletic probation will be ineligible to
participate in sports and extracurricular activities. A student will remain on athletic probation for
at least two weeks, depending upon the grade performance. If implementation of this policy
would be counter-productive to the student, the Middle School or Upper School Head may
decide not to place a student on probation. A written record explaining this decision will be
signed and placed in the student‘s file. See also: Grades
B…
Backpack/Universal Binder policy
In MS, we require that students keep their backpacks in their lockers during the school day and
carry essential supplies in universal binders. There are a number of reasons for this policy,
including:
Organization is improved because students are forced to use binders as filing systems
instead of throwing papers in the backpack, (a.k.a. ―the black hole‖ ).
Carrying one, albeit large, universal binder is a healthy alternative to carrying around a very
heavy backpack.
Potential distractions are removed from the classroom.
Tripping over backpacks in halls and classrooms is reduced.
Backpacks cannot be used as intentional or unintentional ‗weapons‘ when walking through
halls and they cannot be hidden by mischievous students!
Band
Music provides the accompaniment to many areas of our lives: worship, study, relaxation, praise
and reflection. The Middle School Band program provides an opportunity for students to explore
this God-given gift through the development of musical and technical ability, performance skills
and discipline. Band is offered as a one or two-semester elective. Band students have the
opportunity to develop teamwork, improve ability with their chosen instrument, and perform
concerts for the school and community. Students are highly encouraged to further their skill by
attending private lessons in addition to their participation in Band. In 2010-11, all students will
be required to take a minimum of one semester of fine or performing arts (Band, Choir, Art or
Drama) within their elective block. For additional information about the Band program, please
contact Scott Higbee (Middle School Band Director) at shigbee@tbcs.org. See also: Electives
5
Middle School ABCs – Companion to the Bear Creek Family HandbookBear Facts
The Bear Facts is the primary conduit of information for the entire Bear Creek community. The
Bear Facts is sent via e-mail each Monday to all parents, faculty, and staff and contains current
information for all students. Information found in The Bear Facts includes all-school news,
division specific news, athletics information (game schedules), school calendars, upcoming
events and more. Past and current editions may be found on the school website. To submit
events or news to The Bear Facts, please e-mail bearfacts@tbcs.org.
Beginning Guitar
If you‘ve never picked up a guitar before but have always wanted to learn how to play, here‘s
your chance! In this elective class, students will learn the basics of chords, how to read both
guitar tablature and regular music notation, learn songs and create some of their own.
Students will need to provide their own guitar. For additional information, please contact Scott
Higbee at: shigbee@tbcs.org. See also: Electives
Biblical Worldview Integration
Each subject at Bear Creek is taught from an overtly Christian perspective or worldview. By
incorporating the essential truths of the Bible (about the nature of God, Mankind, Creation,
Purpose and Moral order), into daily teaching and the life of the school, we help students to see
things through God‘s eyes. For a helpful read on this topic, see this article written by Dr. Glen
Schultz, Headmaster of Sherwood Christian Academy in Georgia and posted on the website of
the Biblical Worldview Institute (www.biblicalworldviewinstitute.org).
Birthdays
We enjoy acknowledging birthdays with our students, and want their day to be special. To help
ensure that no students feel left out and that classroom learning time is not disrupted,
birthdays are celebrated during the weekly advisory period only, and the student receives a
birthday gift-bag. If you would like to provide birthday treats for your student‘s advisory group,
please arrange this in advance with their advisor. Students must provide all necessary paper
goods, and no gifts should be exchanged. Private invitations to birthday parties may only be
distributed at school if every boy or girl in the student‘s grade is invited; Otherwise, please
distribute invitations off-campus. Students may decorate lockers, but we ask that no more than
50% of the locker is covered for fire-safety reasons.
Bulletin
To keep Middle School students aware of important news and upcoming events, a weekly
bulletin is prepared by the Middle School Head. The bulletin is distributed to the Middle School
faculty and students, and is read over the intercom during 1st period on Tuesday mornings.
6
Middle School ABCs – Companion to the Bear Creek Family HandbookBullying
The school desires a physically and emotionally safe environment for all students that will
enable them to learn and mature. While we desire the environment be a positive experience,
bullying may occur, and when this occurs at Bear Creek, these occasions are taken seriously by
the administration. Every effort is made to redeem the occurrence into a learning situation, and
to administer appropriate consequences for the good of the community. Bullying occurs when a
student is repeatedly exposed to aggressive and intentional negative actions over a period of
time by the same student or students. Bullying can take many forms such as physical bullying,
verbal bullying, emotional bullying, or cyber-bullying. There are various degrees of bullying
ranging from behavior that repeatedly and intentionally bothers another student to behavior
that is threatening or creates an environment where a student no longer feels physically and/or
emotionally safe at school.
Bullying Discipline Procedure: The bullying discipline procedure involves three steps. First, an
incident is reported by a student or other adult witness to a teacher or aide. Second,
administration will work with the parties involved to determine the severity of the incident. Third,
consequences will be administered to the student consistent with our disciplinary process. A
student‗s developmental level will be considered when deciding appropriate consequences.
Students who feel they are being bullied or recognize another student is being bullied need to
report this to a teacher or administrator. Students who report such behavior can rest assured
that they are safe to report these occurrences. The administrator will make every effort to
protect the confidentiality of the student making the report. Please contact Middle School Head
James Woollard at jwoollard@tbcs.org if you have any questions about the bullying policy
C…
Calendar
School calendars are located on the website, and provide up-to-date information about school
holidays, vacations and upcoming school events. To view the Middle School calendar please log
in to the Bear Creek members secure site using your username and password. You can also
customize the calendars you would like to view on a regular basis.
Carpool – please see Drop-off/Pickup Procedures
Chapel
The Middle School/Upper School Chapel service is held every Tuesday morning in the
Commons, and provides a time of worship, praise, teaching and reflection for the Middle
School/Upper School student community. Staff and faculty also attend weekly Chapel with
students. Parents, guardians and family members are always welcome to participate. Chapel
attendance is mandatory for all Bear Creek students, and dress uniform is required for Chapel
days. Weekly services include a variety of speakers and topics, and prayer and praise by our
student-led worship team. For further information about the Chapel program, or if you are
interested in volunteering as a Chapel speaker, please contact Dean of Students, Jeff Gephart,
at jgephart@tbcs.org.
7
Middle School ABCs – Companion to the Bear Creek Family HandbookChoir
Choir is a place where students can be creative in an environment full of encouragement.
Students will learn and practice basic choral techniques while being exposed to different types
of music. Though there is certainly an independent element to singing, much of what is
accomplished in Choir is done as a team. The experience together culminates in a spring
concert and a day trip to the ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) Musicale,
where the choir performs for judges and participates in a large choral group. In 2010-11, all
students will be required to take a minimum of one semester of fine or performing arts (Band,
Choir, Art or Drama) within their elective block. For additional information about the Choir
program, please contact Judy Loudenback (Middle School Choir Director and Chair of the Fine &
Performing Arts Department) at: jloudenback@tbcs.org. See also: Electives
Christian Studies (7th and 8th)
Guided instruction in God‘s Word encourages students toward a life-long love of the scriptures.
For 7th and 8th grade students, Christian Studies is taken as a core class. The goal of the
Christian Studies department is to structure Middle School classes so that upon completion,
students will understand the essential facts and structure of the Bible. This will be implemented
through a four-track approach:
1. Academic: understanding facts and ideas
2. Research: concentrated focus on some aspect of their study
3. Devotional: personal application to their lives
4. Service: application through service to others
The mission statement of the Christian Studies department is: To provide the student with a
biblical, theological and philosophical perspective against which to view and understand
his/her world and culture, and to help the student develop those tools and disciplines
necessary for spiritual growth and interaction with the world. For more information about
Middle School Christian Studies, please contact Betty Freeland (MS Girls‘ Christian Studies) at
bfreeland@tbcs.org, or Kevin Davison (MS Boys‘ Christian Studies) at kdavison@tbcs.org.
For more information about the 7th and 8th grade Christian Studies curriculum, see: Seventh
Grade Curriculum, Eighth Grade Curriculum
Class Pages
Class Pages are online class information pages, accessed via the school‘s website. Each Class Page
contains a welcome message/class overview, a bulletin board (used for posting information
updates for students and parents), a resources section (for posting specific documents, such as the
class syllabus) and a discussion board (for having online class discussions if teachers opt to do this)
plus some additional features.
If you would like to view your son or daughter‘s Class Pages, please follow these 4, easy steps:
1. Log in on the members section of the school website, www.tbcs.org/members, using your
username and password.
2. Select Parent Portal from the left side navigation on the screen.
3. Your student and his/her classes are listed under My Groups on the right.
4. Select the name of the class you wish to view and the Class Page will open.
8
Middle School ABCs – Companion to the Bear Creek Family HandbookClassical Education
Classical education encompasses three primary things:
What we learn: ―We are concerned with classics where the classics mean anything of
enduring value.‖ (Mortimer Adler, The Paideia Proposal). Our focus is on the study of
traditional, classical subject material. For example, students are exposed to the great works
of Western literature to help them understand and think with greater depth about the world
around them.
How we learn: Bear Creek is concerned that a student genuinely learns to think and actively
engages in the learning process; that he/she learns to reason as well as gain knowledge
and skills in the various disciplines. The middle school years represent the middle stage of
the Trivium. At this time, students continue to learn facts (the ―grammar‖ stage of learning)
but reasoning skills will have a more predominant role in learning. Students spend an
increasing amount of time and effort in the understanding of facts and the relationships
between those facts (the ―logic‖ or ―dialectic‖ stage of learning). Discussion, debate and
argument figure highly in the middle school classroom, corresponding well with what
Dorothy Sayers called the ―pert‖ developmental stage of students in grades 7 and 8.
Why we learn: Many education systems have a utilitarian goal (good grades = good college =
well-paid job). By contrast, a classical education is designed to develop wisdom and virtue.
Our goal is to nurture the students to become the people that God intends. Put simply, at
Bear Creek, character matters more than grades. Ultimately, of course, a truly classical,
Christian education points to the gospel message that we can only be ―made perfect‖
through Christ.
Clubs
Bear Creek Middle School offers a variety of clubs to meet the interests of students. These
clubs include Geography Club (open to grades 4-8), Karate Club, Art Club, Robotics Club,
and the Middle School Math Team. If students have a particular interest, they are
encouraged to speak with the Middle School Head about organizing a club. Club details are
as follows:
Karate Club
Meets every Monday and Wednesday, 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Multi-Purpose Room (MPR),
Valley Campus. Contact: Millie Snook millie@voyage.com
Geography Club
Meets every other Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Room 212, Redmond Campus. Contact:
James Woollard jwoollard@tbcs.org
Grizzlies Robotics Club
Meets every Wednesday, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Room 201, Redmond Campus. Contact:
Linda Graham lgraham@tbcs.org
9
Middle School ABCs – Companion to the Bear Creek Family HandbookYou can also read
