Dear Parents and Community Members,
Buhl Middle School has started its second semester for the year and we are pleased that we have so many students names up on our tribe pride board. The BMS staff have given out over 760 tribe pride tickets to students for being prepared, respectful, showing integrity, determination and excellence in our school during the first semester.
Our robotics club attended a qualifying tournament on Saturday, December 14th. The students involved were: Nick Hollon, Ashley Engbaum, Jonathan Zamora, David Garcia, Cynthia Jones, Jazmine Young, Jack Palos, and Brooklynn Cantrell. They won the Innovation Project Award and will be competing at state next month. The theme this year was city shapers and students were asked to observe how cities and buildings grow, thrive, and change. They then worked to create new, innovative solutions to help shape an optimal future, using our environment and modern-day tools and technology to make it last. Our student's innovative idea is to create an app for drone users and people who have a project that might benefit from the use of a drone without having to go out and buy one.
We had two student activities last week to meet one of GEAR UP's objectives which is financial literacy. On January 21st, our 7th and 8th grade students participated in a Reality Town activity in our gym. Reality Town provides students with a hands-on simulation in which they make lifestyle and budget decisions as they take on careers, salaries, families, and the associated responsibilities of the adult world. Each student took on the role of a 30-year-old with family, career and money obligations. They balanced a checking account throughout the activity and learned to pay for insurance, groceries and other life events. Many students were surprised by the cost of child care, taxes and car insurance. Several also learned that paying for utilities and taxes may be more important than having fifteen pets. It was a great learning activity! We want to thank all of our parents and high school students who helped with this activity.
On January 22nd, our 8th graders were able to participate in an “Interstellar Investor" game to help them understand why investing is important. This was facilitated by Luke Erickson who is a Personal Finance Specialist and Associate Professor with the University of Idaho. His interest is in personal finance with an emphasis on youth education. Mr. Erickson also facilitated a "His Pirate Loot" presentation to 7th graders encouraged them to begin saving early and the importance of balancing saving and spending.
Our students who earned every Fun Friday will be participating in our skiing Super Fun Friday at Magic Mountain on January 31st. We have 43 students who qualified by making every Fun Friday. Two hundred and forty-two students also participated in the end of the quarter reward movie party. These students all demonstrated outstanding behaviors and respect for others during the second quarter to earn the reward.
Audrey Swayze
Principal