Bell Middle / High School -

Parents & Students: Just a friendly reminder about FAST Testing PM 2 begins on Thursday, 1/9. Please read important information below. The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is a progress monitoring system that is administered three times per year to track your student’s progress in learning the Benchmarks of Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards throughout this school year. Your student will participate in the second administration (PM2) of the Grades 6-10 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) ELA Reading and Grades 6-8 Mathematics assessments on the dates below. Your student’s results from PM2 are for informational purposes only, and you will be provided with information about how to access the results after testing is completed. Thursday, 1/9/25: Grade 6 Reading Friday, 1/10/25: Grade 7 Reading Monday, 1/13/25: Grade 8 Reading Tuesday, 1/14/25: Grade 9 Reading Wednesday, 1/15/25: Grade 10 Reading Thursday, 1/16/25: Grade 6 Math Friday, 1/17/25: Grade 7 Math Tuesday, 1/21/25: Grade 8 Math FAST assessments are computer-adaptive tests taken on a computer or tablet. The questions get easier or more difficult depending on how the student responds, and each student will see different questions from a common item bank. Each test attempt (PM1, PM2, and PM3) will present 35–40 items that will cover the entire test “blueprint,” meaning students will encounter items representative of the standards within the subject or grade level. For more information on the test design, please visit https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/best/. If you or your student would like to interact with the online testing platform or review FAST ELA Reading [and Mathematics] sample items at home, sample test materials are available at https://flfast.org/families.html. Please review the following policies with your student before testing: § Electronic Devices—Students are not permitted to access any electronic devices, including, but not limited to, cell phones, smartphones, and smartwatches, at any time during testing or during breaks (e.g., restroom). If your student is found with an electronic device or is found using Bluetooth/wireless headphones/earbuds during testing, his or her test may be invalidated. § Calculator Policy—For Grades 7–8 FAST Mathematics, approved handheld scientific calculators may be used. For Grade 6 FAST Mathematics, a handheld four-function calculator may be used. § Testing Rules Acknowledgment—All tests include a Testing Rules Acknowledgment that reads: “I understand the testing rules that were just read to me. If I do not follow these rules, my test score may be invalidated.” Prior to testing, test administrators read the rules to students, and students acknowledge that they understand the testing rules by clicking the box in the secure browser indicating they understand the testing rules. § Discussing Test Content after Testing—The last portion of the testing rules read to students before they click the box to accept the Testing Rules Acknowledgment states that because the content of all statewide assessments is secure, students may not discuss or reveal details about the test content (including test items and passages) after the test. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, or posting to social media sites. Please make sure your student understands this policy prior to testing and remind them that “discussing” test content includes any kind of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, posting to social media, or sharing online. While students may not share information about secure test content after testing, this policy is not intended to prevent students from discussing their testing experiences with their parents/families. § Working Independently—Students are responsible for doing their own work during the test and for protecting their answers from being seen by others. If students are caught cheating during testing, their tests will be invalidated. § Testing Accommodations—If your student has an Individual Education Plan (IEP), a Section 504 Plan, or is an English Language Learner (ELL) or a recently exited ELL, please contact the school to discuss any testing accommodations that will be provided for your student. If you have any questions related to this test administration, you may contact Lilian Weeks (High School) or Xina Leggett (Middle School) at 352-463-3232. For more information about the FAST program, please visit the portal at FLFAST.org. Thank you for supporting your student and encouraging him or her to do his or her best during this test administration!

Shout out to the girls JV basketball team for their big win over Chiefland last night and also to the middle school girls basketball for their win last night! 🙌🏀🙌

Congratulations to the Varsity Lady Bulldog Basketball Team for their win tonight over Hamilton County! 🏀🙌

Cap and Gown pictures will be 1/13/25! 🎓

Merry Christmas from our BHS family to yours! 🎄🎅🏻

Please help congratulation the following students who passed their Agriculture certifications on their first attempt in the makeup session this week! We are so proud of them! Jason "Ty" Burrow       Specialist in Agritechnology Mario Diaz-Cantero       Specialist in Agritechnology Elaina O'Steen          Specialist in Agritechnology Logan "Cross" Lunn       Specialist in Agritechnology

Congratulations to BHS Senior Maggie Pailthorpe for being accepted to the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston! This is one of the premiere music schools in the world with such alumni as Quincy Jones. Alan Silvestri, and John Mayer. When you see Maggie, give her a big congratulations!!! She is going to do great things!!!!

The Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) is a progress monitoring system that is administered three times per year to track your student’s progress in learning the Benchmarks of Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards throughout this school year. Your student will participate in the second administration (PM2) of the Grades 6-10 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) ELA Reading and Grades 6-8 Mathematics assessments on the dates below. Your student’s results from PM2 are for informational purposes only, and you will be provided with information about how to access the results after testing is completed. Thursday, 1/9/25: Grade 6 Reading Friday, 1/10/25: Grade 7 Reading Monday, 1/13/25: Grade 8 Reading Tuesday, 1/14/25: Grade 9 Reading Wednesday, 1/15/25: Grade 10 Reading Thursday, 1/16/25: Grade 6 Math Friday, 1/17/25: Grade 7 Math Tuesday, 1/21/25: Grade 8 Math FAST assessments are computer-adaptive tests taken on a computer or tablet. The questions get easier or more difficult depending on how the student responds, and each student will see different questions from a common item bank. Each test attempt (PM1, PM2, and PM3) will present 35–40 items that will cover the entire test “blueprint,” meaning students will encounter items representative of the standards within the subject or grade level. For more information on the test design, please visit https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/assessments/k-12-student-assessment/best/. If you or your student would like to interact with the online testing platform or review FAST ELA Reading [and Mathematics] sample items at home, sample test materials are available at https://flfast.org/families.html. Please review the following policies with your student before testing: § Electronic Devices—Students are not permitted to access any electronic devices, including, but not limited to, cell phones, smartphones, and smartwatches, at any time during testing or during breaks (e.g., restroom). If your student is found with an electronic device or is found using Bluetooth/wireless headphones/earbuds during testing, his or her test may be invalidated. § Calculator Policy—For Grades 7–8 FAST Mathematics, approved handheld scientific calculators may be used. For Grade 6 FAST Mathematics, a handheld four-function calculator may be used. § Testing Rules Acknowledgment—All tests include a Testing Rules Acknowledgment that reads: “I understand the testing rules that were just read to me. If I do not follow these rules, my test score may be invalidated.” Prior to testing, test administrators read the rules to students, and students acknowledge that they understand the testing rules by clicking the box in the secure browser indicating they understand the testing rules. § Discussing Test Content after Testing—The last portion of the testing rules read to students before they click the box to accept the Testing Rules Acknowledgment states that because the content of all statewide assessments is secure, students may not discuss or reveal details about the test content (including test items and passages) after the test. This includes any type of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, or posting to social media sites. Please make sure your student understands this policy prior to testing and remind them that “discussing” test content includes any kind of electronic communication, such as texting, emailing, posting to social media, or sharing online. While students may not share information about secure test content after testing, this policy is not intended to prevent students from discussing their testing experiences with their parents/families. § Working Independently—Students are responsible for doing their own work during the test and for protecting their answers from being seen by others. If students are caught cheating during testing, their tests will be invalidated. § Testing Accommodations—If your student has an Individual Education Plan (IEP), a Section 504 Plan, or is an English Language Learner (ELL) or a recently exited ELL, please contact the school to discuss any testing accommodations that will be provided for your student. If you have any questions related to this test administration, you may contact Lilian Weeks (High School) or Xina Leggett (Middle School) at 352-463-3232. For more information about the FAST program, please visit the portal at FLFAST.org. Thank you for supporting your student and encouraging him or her to do his or her best during this test administration!

Congratulations to these students who passed their Photoshop certification today! Great job! 👏🙌 Dominic Stewart Liam McCahill Donavan Stewart Karson Pinner Victoria Kilner Landin Williams Kaleb Williams Sophia Judson Christopher Riordan Jackson Ritchey Cali Vaes Annie Joiner Zekeil Lewis Lila Walker Brycen Martin Andy Bonilla-Martinez Abigail Dunn Liam Surrency Diana Carranza-Hernandez Tripp Dukette-Marcoux Savannah Corbin Braiden Cook Jackson Manders Kole Douglas Angelous Dixon Alexis Hellman

On Friday Mrs. Gregory’s 6th grade World History classes made terra cotta warriors as part of their study of ancient China.

The Lady Bulldog Weightlifting team competed at conference today and came in 3rd place overall!! Awesome job, ladies! Individual accolades - 1-6 get points 1-3 get medals 101 class Calista McGuigan - 3rd Meghan Little - 4th 110 class Gwen Banks - 3rd 119 class Victoria Iovinelli - 6th 154 class Winona Rawlins - 5th 183 class Carolann Keys - 1st 199 class Ryleigh Boyd - 2nd Seianna Godwin - 5th UNL class Kennedy Smith - 1st

Please see BHS mid-term exam schedule.

Ms. Blakey's 7th grade Science class made models this week to illustrate the structure of DNA using gummy bears and licorice. 🧬

Congratulations to our District Spelling Bee Winner Kip Whittington and Runner-Up Seianna Godwin!

Shout out to Mrs. Thomas and the BHS Health Academy for conducting an awesome Health Fair for Gilchrist County Schools 2nd graders! 🩺🩹🩻

BHS Prom Committee Meeting Information! Please contact Kristin Prill with questions at prillk@mygcsd.org. 😊

Please see information and resources provided by the Tri-County Community Resource Center.

Please see information for the Gilchrist County Prevention Coalition Farm Share Drive-Thru Distribution.

Paint Your Own Ornament Party! 🎉 🎄

Thanks to the generosity of the students and staff at Bell High School, we were able to provide Thanksgiving “baskets” to 25 community families! A special thank you goes out to Superintendent Gina Geiger, Sheriff Bobby Schultz, and Property Appraiser Damon Leggett for their generous monetary donations, as well as a big shout out to Sunstop Market in Bell for donating 2 cases of turkeys! We hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving holiday! 🦃🍁