Hilltopper Highlights

Please share with all friends and families who have 5th grade students about our Magnet Open House! Prospective families can tour our building while meeting staff and students. This is a drop-in event. We will offer limited school tours in December for those who cannot make this event.

MPORTANT- These items are NOT allowed:

• Sharpie markers/permanent markers

• 3-ring binders

• Trapper Keeper style binder organizers

• Any organizer that has a carrying strap

• Metal water bottles/cups

• Squeeze-type water bottles

• Cups without lids

• Full-sized bags of chips/food

• Candy/Gum

• Energy Drinks

• Airpods/Wireless Headphones

• Over the ear headphones

**Please be aware that staff will take these items and they may be subject to disposal and may not be returned.**

Beta Club members, check out the flyer for upcoming service opportunities happening in November! Make sure to sign up on the Sign-Up Genius

Do you have coats and jackets that your family has out grown? Beta Club is sponsoring a school-wide Winter Wear drive starting November 16th. Please considering donating if you are able to. We want everyone in our community to have what they need to be warm this winter. See the graphic below for more details.

Any student interested in becoming a member of Beta Club should turn in their membership agreement and $30 payment to Mrs. Fields no later than Thursday, November 12th. Students in good standing who were members last year need not reapply.

Interested in joining the Barret Ski/Snowboarding Club? Students and families would purchase a season pass which would allow them to visit Perfect North throughout the season, and attend special Barret nights. Click on the graphic to see the google form for more information.

Dear Barret Families,

As we continue a busy and exciting school year with our athletics, clubs, and extracurricular activities, we want to share an important reminder regarding student supervision after dismissal.

Student safety is always our highest priority. Because BTMS staff are not available to supervise students between dismissal and late-afternoon events, Barret Traditional Middle School maintains a strict policy regarding after-school attendance:

> Activities Starting After 2:45 PM: Students involved in sports, practices, clubs, or events that begin after 2:45 PM are not permitted to remain on campus after the school day ends.

> Dismissal Procedure: All students must leave campus at dismissal using their standard mode of transportation (bikes, car rider line, or walking) and return to school at the scheduled start time for their activity or game.

> Supervision Requirement: We cannot have students remaining on school property unsupervised.

Please note that adherence to this policy is mandatory for participation. If a student repeatedly stays on campus unsupervised prior to a late-starting activity, they may be removed from that team, sport, or extracurricular group.

We appreciate your partnership and cooperation in arranging timely transportation for your student-athletes and club participants. Keeping our campus safe and orderly requires all of us working together.

If you have any questions regarding practice schedules or activity start times, please reach out directly to your student's coach or club sponsor.

Thank you for your continued support! Go Hilltoppers!

Election season brings non-stop news coverage, campaign ads, social media commentary, and lively discussions. For middle school students—roughly ages 11 to 14—this dynamic environment coincides with a critical developmental window. Middle schoolers are beginning to process abstract concepts, form independent opinions, and notice current events around them.

As parents and guardians, election season presents a powerful teachable moment to cultivate civic literacy, critical thinking, and respectful dialogue. Here are practical and appropriate strategies to guide your middle school student through the upcoming election.

1. Focus on Core Civics and Big Picture Concepts

At the middle school level, partisan rhetoric and campaign drama can be overwhelming or confusing. Shift the focus toward foundational civic principles rather than candidate personalities:

• Explain How Government Works: Use the election as a real-time lesson on the branches of government, checks and balances, and the role of elected officials at national, state, and local levels.

• Highlight Local Elections: Remind your student that local government—city councils, school boards, and county commissioners—often has the most direct impact on daily community life, such as local parks, school funding, and public safety.

• Explore Issues, Not Just Parties: Discuss key issues (like environmental conservation, public education, technology regulation, or community infrastructure) in neutral terms to help them understand why people care deeply about government policy.

2. Encourage Media Literacy and Critical Thinking

Middle school students consume a significant amount of media online and on social media platforms. Campaign season is an ideal opportunity to build sharp media literacy skills:

• Evaluate Sources Together: Teach your child to ask: Who created this content? What is their goal? Is this stating facts or expressing an opinion?

• Identify Bias and Misinformation: Help them recognize sensationalism, clickbait, and political memes. Explain that algorithms often show content designed to trigger strong emotional reactions.

• Compare Multiple Perspectives: Encourage them to look at coverage from different reputable news outlets to see how identical events can be framed differently.

3. Ask Open-Ended Questions and Practice Active Listening

Rather than telling your middle schooler what to think, focus on teaching them how to think. Middle schoolers appreciate having their voices heard and being treated as developing thinkers:

• Start with Curious Prompts: Ask questions like:

• "What issues do you hear kids at school talking about?"

• "What qualities do you think make a effective leader?"

• "If you could change one thing in our community or country, what would it be?"

• Create a Safe Space for Questions: Reassure them that it is okay not to have all the answers and that complex problems rarely have simple solutions.

• Model Intellectual Humility: If your student asks a question you cannot answer, look up the facts together using credible, neutral reference tools.

4. Model Respectful Dialogue and Civil Discourse

Middle school students absorb how adults handle disagreement. In a polarized political environment, showing how to disagree constructively is one of the most valuable lessons you can provide:

• Demonstrate Healthy Disagreement: Show that reasonable people can disagree on policy solutions while still respecting one another's humanity.

• Avoid Inflammatory Language: Avoid demonizing political opponents or using dismissive generalizations. Emphasize that civic debate is about ideas, not personal attacks.

• Discuss Peer Dynamics: Acknowledge that political opinions might come up among friends or classmates. Remind your student that differing views do not have to destroy friendships, and that listening with empathy is a sign of maturity.

5. Provide Age-Appropriate Ways to Get Involved

Even though middle schoolers are not yet eligible to vote, hands-on civic participation makes the process tangible and meaningful:

• Take Them to the Polls: If permitted in your area, bring your child along on Election Day or during early voting so they can see the process in action.

• Research Sample Ballots: Print or view a sample ballot together before voting. Walk through the measures and candidates so your student understands what voters evaluate.

• Engage in School and Community Leadership: Encourage participation in student council elections, volunteer work, youth advisory boards, or local community service projects.

• Watch Debates or Speeches Together: Select key excerpts of candidate debates or public forums to watch together, followed by a debrief on the arguments presented.

6. Keep Anxiety in Check

The constant influx of political commentary can sometimes induce stress or anxiety in young people:

• Set Healthy Media Boundaries: Establish periods during the day, such as mealtimes or before bed, that are free from political news and social media notifications.

• Offer Reassurance: Remind your child that our democratic system has systems of checks, balances, and long-standing legal structures designed to handle transitions of power and debate.

• Focus on Hope and Community Action: Emphasize that civic responsibility extends far beyond voting once every few years—it involves daily acts of kindness, community care, and staying informed.

Conclusion

Elections come and go, but the habits of mind we foster in our children last a lifetime. By keeping conversations grounded in civics, encouraging media literacy, and modeling civil discourse, you can help your middle schooler navigate election season with curiosity, confidence, and a growing commitment to informed citizenship.

Email: amy.strite@jefferson.kyschools.us
Website: https://www.barretmiddle.com/
Location: 2561 Grinstead Drive, Louisville, KY, USA
Phone: (502) 485-8207
Twitter: @barretjcps