Barker Bulletin

Barker Upcoming Events

December 11 One City One Sound

December 22 Winter Break Begins

January 5 eLearning Day (Asynchronous Instruction)

January 6 In-Person School Resumes

January 9 End of the 1st Semester

January 19 MLK jr Day (No School)

February 16 President's Day (No School)

February 26 Early Release and Student-Led Conferences

MCAS District Calendar

Barker Important Dates

Please join us at Five Guys on December 17th!

10 am - 10 pm

20% of sales w/flyer and $1 from each milkshake will go to Barker Student Welfare!

Tech Corner, Charge Chromebooks and Check your grades!

Students are expected to bring their Chromebooks home every day after school. They are also expected to charge them at home each night! Also, stay updated to PowerSchool! Please check grades with your students.

ILearn Checkpoint 2

In January, Barker students will be taking ILearn Checkpoint 2. It is imperative that students complete their IXLs in preparation for this assessment, as they are designed to mimic ILearn. Also, our teachers are hard at work implementing cross-curricular assignments, to show students these high priority standards are found across all classes.

Absent Work

When a student is absent, it is up to the student to make sure they find out and complete what they miss. Email is the best way to ask a teacher, but at appropriate times during the school day students can directly ask. Exclusions from assignments are not automatic, please have your student check in with their teachers!

Dress Code

Please review the Dress Code found within the MCAS Middle School Student Handbook:

Students must dress appropriately for school.

The following dress code rules will apply:

1. Clothing signifying gang-related activities, slogans, colors, etc. is prohibited.

2. T-shirts, other attire, or jewelry that advertise or promote alcoholic beverages, drugs, cigarettes, vaping, profanity, or the disregard for others are unacceptable.

3. Hats, bandanas, and other headgear are not to be worn in the building. This includes extracurricular activities.

4. Mesh tops, see-through tops, spaghetti tops, or tank tops with enlarged sleeve openings are prohibited.

5. Hoodies are acceptable but must be worn with hoods down.

6. Skirts and shorts shall be no less than mid-thigh length.

7. Jackets, coats, gloves, or other forms of outerwear are not to be worn in the classroom.

8. Shoes must be worn at all times. No open toes, flip flops, slides, heels above 2”, slippers.

9. Beachwear and pajamas are prohibited.

10. All pants must be worn at the waistline.

11. Leggings are not acceptable as pants unless worn with a long shirt or dress.

12. Straps that are unbuckled and belts that are unfastened or anything dangling from the waist or pockets such as chains, ropes, rags, etc are prohibited.

13. Tops and pants that reveal the midriff or undergarments are prohibited.

14. Any clothing or appearance that is disruptive to the educational process is prohibited.

2nd Quarter Incentive Trip

The team has set the date and location for the 2nd Quarter Incentive Trip! We will be seeing a movie at the Emagine Movie Theater in Portage. We will be going on Friday, January 23rd. The cost is $7 for a ticket, additional money may be brought by students who wish to purchase concessions. In order to be eligible to attend, students must meet the following conditions:

-No more than 1 F

-No in-school or out-of-school suspensions (including those earned with tardies)

-No more than 3 exclusions

We will be tracking specifically from December 1 to January 23rd.

Thank you!

Team 7B

Happy Holidays M Team families! With our second ILEARN checkpoint coming in January and first semester ending January 9th, now is the time for students to show their best effort. Our teachers are working together to help every student succeed, but we need your support at home. Please encourage your student to: arrive to class on time and ready to learn, check grades weekly and communicate with teachers about missing assignments, and establish a consistent homework routine during these final weeks. Students who stay organized and focused now will feel confident heading into second semester. If you have questions about your student's progress, don't hesitate to reach out to any M Team teacher - we're here to help your student finish strong!

Team S students recently completed the first ILEARN checkpoints for math and ELA. We will be following up with intervention activities based on the results, and some students will have the chance to re-take the first checkpoint.

Our new tardy policy has been in effect for the past few weeks. Students are being assessed consequences, including lunch detentions and ISS, for excessive tardies. It looks like the new policy is working and that we have more students getting to class on time. Please encourage your student to get to class on time, and get in touch with any questions about the policy or the consequences.

We have five weeks remaining in the second quarter. Please encourage your students to pay attention to their grades in PowerSchool, and to contact teachers about missing assignments. In general, teachers will not give last-minute extra credit work to students whose grades are low due to missing assignments.

Band

Congratulations to Jasmine Anderson, Alisia Fisher, Dallas Washington, and Maycie White for a successful performance in the All-Region Honor Band on Sunday, November 16th. The students performed at Portage High School alongside other students from nearby schools.

The bands are hard at work preparing for One City One Sound on December 11th at 7:00 pm. The concert will be held at the Michigan City High School Gym. See you there!

Chorus

Congratulations to Lily Schlabach and Gabriella Benjamin for being selected to the IMEA Middle School All-State Honor Choir! They will represent Barker Middle School at the IMEA Convention in Fort Wayne on January 15-16, 2026!

Our 8th graders performed a Patriotic Veteran's Day program on November 11th for the residents of The Elms (Rittenhouse) and their guests! It was a very moving and entertaining program that celebrated the spirit of America and the sacrifice of our veterans.

Several of our 7th graders participated in the Ensemble of the Michigan City High School production of Mean Girls. Congratulations to Jayna Shaw, Addison Moore, Bethany Steinman, Myla Taylor, Eva Stachowiak, Aria Mclemore, and Nariah Triplett.

We are now preparing for One City One Sound, which will be performed on December 11, 2025, at Michigan City High School. We are also working to advance our knowledge of Music Theory and written music to include key identification, multi-step navigation, and complex rhythms.

Digital Art

As the semester comes to a close, students are channeling their creativity into a final work of art that showcases their individuality and artistic growth. Using either digital art tools or traditional drawing techniques, each student is crafting a piece that reflects their personal expression, style, and imagination. This project highlights not only the skills they’ve developed throughout the term but also their unique voices as emerging artists.

Gateway (Project Lead the Way)

We will begin to wrap up our semester in Gateway this month. Seventh graders will be finishing energy and the environment with working on the wind mill blades and eighth graders will be wrapping up Automation and robotics. Both grades will continue working on Inventor until the end of the semester.

Computer Science

The Students will continue their learning about computer coding and problem-solving. Computing Foundations is learning python and how to make functions and parameters to simplify code. Gateway has been discussing loops and how they can work together to troubleshoot code. Coding and the internet will be a strong focus for the classes until the end of the semester.

STEM – Engineering

Students will continue our 3D printing unit, utilizing the Tinkercad (Computer-Aided Design) program to design ORIGINAL holiday ornaments and keychains to print to take home! Student original ornament designs will involve the use of 5-10 or more different shapes in Tinkercad to develop their ornaments. Students will put creativity and critical thinking skills to work! Students will also learn the many ways 3D printing is utilized in the real world and career options within the field.

8th grade STEM students will visit the Engineering Department and classes at Michigan City High School on December 3rd to begin thinking about elective class options within the engineering pathway.

STEM – Environmental

Wellness

As we return to school, we will begin to wrap up our Wellness semester. In the classroom, we will focus on our final health unit, which is Chapter 14-Drugs. Students will learn effective strategies for saying no to drugs, as well as the dangers and consequences of drug misuse. Our goal is to help them make safe and healthy choices. We will also be having a few whole-group presentations. They will be on CPR and Body Safety.

In the gym, we are looking forward to starting our floor hockey unit using our brand-new equipment. Students will have the opportunity to develop their skills while engaging in a fun activity.

We are looking forward to a successful and productive three weeks in Wellness as we head into Winter Break.

Newspaper Club

• Mrs. Colvin Room 300 ecolvin@mcas.k12.in.us

• This group typically meets monthly after school

Yearbook Club

• Mrs. Parsons Room 304 cparsons@mcas.k12.in.us

• Yearbook Cover Submissions

Student Council

• Mrs. Summers-Pipkin Room 300 kpipkin@mcas.k12.in.us

• Officer elections will occur in the next quarter

• Our student council is currently running Red Ribbon Week and preparing for the canned food drive

Art Club

• Mrs. Tepavcevich a.tepavcevich@mcas.k12.in.us
• Small art projects and painting murals in the building

eSports

• Mr. Amour LGI/Room 414 t.amour@mcas.k12.in.us

• Semester 1= Minecraft (Tuesday) and Mariokart (Thursday)

• Semester 2= Smash Bros (Tuesday) and Rocket League (Thursday)

Cooking Club

• Call-out meeting Monday, November 3
• The meeting schedule will be released after we create groups from the call-out meeting
• Questions? Contact Joyce Murphy at jmurphy02@mcas.k12.in.us

Jazz Band Club

• This club meets Tuesday and Thursday
• Questions? Contact Jacen Smith at j.smith@mcas.k12.in.us

ELA and ELA Lab

7th Grade Language Arts

• Seventh grade readers and writers are beginning a new module that focuses on informational texts about Epidemics over the years. Students will analyze text structures, determine central ideas, determine the meaning of unfamiliar words, and write objective summaries about the texts. Students should be reading their library books at home on a regular basis. Our next ILearn checkpoint in January will focus on informational texts, so any additional reading in that genre will help improve their scores.

7th Grade ELA Lab

• Students will be soaring through many IXL lessons in preparation for ILearn Checkpoint 2 next month. Our class novel will be finished next month, as we are balancing IXL work with novel work. We are enjoying seeing how setting affects characterization, and how different time periods in a story can help make connections within the plot.

8th Grade Language Arts

• In Language Arts, students have started Module 3, which relates to the Holocaust. We have started reading our anchor text, “Maus.” We are currently reading texts relating to the Holocaust and working on Holocaust vocabulary. Advanced Literacy students will also be reading the book “The Devil’s Arithmetic.”
• In English 9 Honors, we are working on Unit 2 of the Pre-AP English curriculum. Our focus is on pivotal words and phrases in the context of poetry and the revision process. Our most recent lesson was based on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s performance of “The Hamilton Mixtape” at the White House in 2009.

Math

Mrs. Parsons - 7th - Ext. 7347 cparsons@mcas.k12.in.us

Ms. McCray - 7th & 8th - Ext. 7317 jmccray01@mcas.k12.in.us

Mr. Masson - 8th & Algebra - Ext. 7327 smasson@mcas.k12.in.us

ILEARN

Our students have taken the first ILEARN Checkpoint in November.

(See email about NEXTPATH to see your child’s score!)

7th Grade Checkpoint 1 - Above Proficiency, At Proficiency, Approaching Proficiency, Below Proficiency

Checkpoint 2 will take place in January! Please talk about percents and discounts at home!

IXL Quarter 2

Math teachers will not accept Weekly IXL lessons after the due date.

Your child should be completing IXL assignments at home weekly for Math class. Please encourage them to stay on top of their work — these lessons really challenge students’ learning and help them succeed!

7th Grade

• Students will start to learn about circles. Some words you hear at home are: radius, diameter, area, circumference, pi.
• Continue with our learning of Integers (Negative & Positive Numbers)
• Add, Subtract, Multiply, Divide Fractions & Decimals
• Proportional Relationship - equations, balance, proportions, unit rate
• 7th Grade Indiana State Standards
• 8th Grade Indiana State Standards

8th Grade

• Linear equations
• Solving equations
• Systems of Equations
• Graphing Equations
• 8th Grade Indiana State Standards
• Algebra Indiana State Standards

Science

Team 7B - In December, students will be building on their knowledge of geologic processes that shape the Earth’s surface. In class students have been utilizing our new SAVVAS science curriculum. These discussions and activities prepare students for making scientific claims, using evidence to support their claims.

Team 8S - Students will finish working on the Weather and Climate Unit. We will be completing a Severe Weather project. This will be included in the book we are publishing. Be on the lookout for ordering forms to come home.

Social Studies

7th Grade - All 7th-grade students are currently exploring Asia, moving from East to West, focusing on how Ancient River Valley Civilizations thrived under similar conditions across the world.

Please ensure that your students are staying on top of their homework assignments and submitting them on time. This will help reinforce their understanding of these important historical concepts.

Thank you for your support!

8th Grade - In November, 8th grade spent time learning about all the reasons why the colonists wanted freedom from England, and spent time studying the people, events, and battles of the American Revolution! Towards the end of November/December, they will begin learning about the struggles to form our own government once independence was won, and break down the articles of the Constitution and Bill of Rights to understand why we have the rights we have today.

This December 3rd marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a meaningful opportunity to celebrate the unique strengths and contributions of all our students. At our school, we believe every student brings special talents to our community, and this month we're focusing on empathy, acceptance, and inclusion. Encourage your middle schooler to practice kindness by getting to know someone new, offering help when needed, and celebrating what makes each person special. Research shows that students in inclusive environments develop stronger social skills, greater empathy, and better problem-solving abilities - skills that benefit everyone. Let's work together to ensure every student feels valued and supported as we head into the holiday season.

If you have any questions please reach out to Mrs. Smith at asmith25@mcas.k12.in.us

Barker Beacons are recognized for extraordinary efforts to promote the following habits of character in our building: Integrity, Flexibility, Empathy, and Accountability.

• Week 13: Carson Gallas, Jonathan Oviatt, Joshephin Valdez
• Week 14: Maxsim Schmidt, Maliyah Singh
• Week 15: Kushpreet Rathore, Chloe Squzert

Winter Sports

• Barker Boys Basketball: Games are underway!
• Barker Girls Basketball: Tryouts in January
• Barker Cheerleading: Our cheer teams have been at our home basketball games!
• MC Wrestling: Wrestling meets have started!
• MC Swimming: Practices will begin late January/early February

Remember, in order to participate:

• Complete your information profile on Final Forms: https://michigancity-in.finalforms.com/
• Submit a current physical to the school office

Attendance is important for student success on the ILEARN assessment!

Consistent Learning and Preparation:

Regular attendance ensures students don't miss critical instruction and review sessions. In the lead-up to state testing, teachers often focus on reinforcing key concepts and providing targeted test preparation. Students who attend consistently are more likely to benefit from this focused instruction, filling in any knowledge gaps and feeling more confident about the material that will be covered on the tests.

Reduced Test Anxiety:

Students who attend school regularly tend to feel more prepared and less anxious about upcoming tests. Familiarity with the classroom environment, testing procedures, and content can significantly reduce stress levels. When students are present for practice tests and discussions about test-taking strategies, they develop a better understanding of what to expect, which can lead to improved performance during the actual state tests.

Building Stamina and Routine:

State tests often require extended periods of focus and concentration. Regular school attendance helps students build the mental stamina needed for these lengthy assessment sessions. Additionally, maintaining a consistent daily routine in the weeks leading up to the tests can help students establish healthy sleep patterns and reduce fatigue, ensuring they are at their best on test days.

Attend Today, Achieve tomorrow: Attendance Matters!!!

Website: https://www.mcas.k12.in.us/barker
Location: 319 Barker Road, Michigan City, IN, USA
Phone: (219) 873-2057
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarkerMCAS/
Twitter: @BarkerWolves