Barrington Middle School
BMS Connected Learning Newsletter 12.16.2019
The BMS Learning Community is Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed!
Mission
Barrington Middle School’s Mission is to empower all students to excel in character, citizenship, collaboration, creativity, communication, and critical thinking, so that they may positively impact the future.
Upcoming Events:
(Note: Please review the dates as dates are subject to change due to a number of factors from one newsletter to the next).
Wednesday, December 18, 2019: BMS Family Book Club at 6:30pm in the Student Union
Thursday, December 19, 2019: 8th grade field trip to Trinity Rep from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Monday, December 23 through and including Wednesday, January 1, 2020: No School, Winter Recess
Monday, January 13th-17th: BMS Book Fair (More information to follow)
Please visit our website to see all upcoming calendar events: https://www.barringtonschools.org/o/middle-school
Please see the link for our daily announcements:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jwaOwOZT5EgdBudGLs0_p0jomJmd6-ee1ifxFR2ySKo/edit?usp=sharing
BMS Spotlight on Learning:
This week we would like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Dr. Brian Fernandes, Mrs. Maureen Kelsey, Mrs. Diana Ouellette, Mrs. Dawn August and Mrs. Kelsey Carroll. Last week, these teachers presented Tier 2 Literacy Intervention strategies related to fluency, comprehension, vocabulary and writing. All of the sessions were informative and provided activities that could be integrated into the classroom to support students. Thank you all for sharing your expertise to improve student learning.
We would also like to shine our BMS Spotlight on a number of BMS volunteers who provided so much help in the creation of Task Cards for our Language Arts Department. Kristy Leicht, Leslie Ferrucci, Jill Josephson, Amy Hogarth, John Alessandro and Kathleen Gantz worked so hard and it is much appreciated!
We would also like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Mrs.Julie Gladding and Mr. Jeff Blanchet. Mrs. Gladding and Mr. Blanchet provided an overview of “The Ins and Outs of Freckle”. Thank you for sharing your knowledge of Freckle with BMS staff.
We would also like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Mrs. Melanie Roy and Mr. Mark Davis. Last week Mrs. Roy and Mr. Davis hosted an Hour of Code for the BMS Learning Community. Families had the opportunity to visit stations that were led by students and complete a variety of coding activities. Thank you Mrs. Roy and Mr. Davis for providing families the opportunity to experience the Hour of Code.
We would also like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Mr. Eric Altieri. Mr. Altieri hosted a film festival for students to showcase the projects they created in their TV Studio classes. Thank you Mr. Altieri for providing this opportunity for students to share their creativity with their families.
Finally, we would like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Mrs. Kerri Thurber. Last week, Mrs. Thurber and the BMS Chorus put on an amazing holiday concert for their families. Thank you Mrs. Thurber for all of your hard work preparing your students to showcase their talents. A special thank you to Mrs. Dail Bienkiewicz, Mrs. Connie Oswald and Mrs. Anita Dimatteo for helping at the concert.
BMS New Information
Mrs. Melanie Roy’s Library Blog:
Please take a look at Mrs. Roy’s Library Blog. Mrs. Roy will be regularly updating her blog and making it available to faculty/staff, students, and families. Thank you for sharing Mrs. Roy! www.mrsmelanieroy.com
8th Grade Washington, DC Pledge Update:
We are pleased to inform you that we are well on our way with pledges for our 8th Grade Washington, DC Trip. If you would like to make a pledge, please see the link below:
BMS Washington 2019 - 2020, DC Pledge Form
Robot Block Party:
Discover how robots and related technology are used in research, industry, and education during the Rhode Island Robot Block Party!
Saturday, April 4, 2020- 12pm-4pm at the Waterfire Arts Center
The Robot Block Party is presented by Rhode Island Students of the Future.
Get your tickets today!
Winter Workouts:
Cross-Country/Track & Field Coach, Lars Gunness, is offering his annual Winter Workouts again this year to all students who would like to improve their running, build core strength, get ready for a spring sport or are a beginner who wants to learn more about running and fitness. You do not have to be a member of the cross country or track and field teams to participate. Workouts are free, are on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school and start on January 14. Please click here for more information.
Volunteer Opportunity:
BMS Faculty/Staff Monthly Morning Meetup - Please consider supporting the BMS staff and faculty by contributing an item to a monthly morning meetup. Upcoming dates are 1/13 and 2/10. Click here for more information!
BMS Old Information
Trimester 1 Report Cards:
Trimester 1 Report Cards will be posted on Friday, December 13, 2019 by 3:30 pm. Parents/families will be able to access the report cards through Aspen.
Traffic Patterns:
By Thursday of this week members of our learning community (faculty/staff/families) will access our parking lot on the side of the building with our permanent driveway a few hundred feet away from the temporary driveway that has been in place since the start of school.
Tardy/Dismissal Policy Reminder:
In order to participate in sport practices, sport contests, extracurricular activities and school sponsored functions, students must be present in school during the whole day. Students missing school for reasons other than illness must request in writing to be excused in advance of the absence by a school administrator in order to participate in sport practices, sport contests, extracurricular activities and school sponsored functions.
Students are allowed six tardies to school per trimester. On the seventh and subsequent tardy to school the student will be assigned office detention.
Students absent or tardy to school on Friday or a day preceding a holiday and/or a weekend activity are ineligible to participate in the event unless the absence is excused in advance by an administrator.
Excessive tardiness may preclude students from participation in dances, Sports’ Nights, sports, and extracurricular activities. For more information, please see the BMS handbook.
Student Portfolios:
Every student in every class has a student binder/portfolio where they keep their work (classwork, assignments, assessments, reflections). They use these portfolios/binders on a daily basis as part of the continuous improvement process. Over the course of this coming month, teachers will be making these portfolios available to their families. When the portfolio goes home, we ask that you review the portfolio with your child focusing on the following: strengths, proudest accomplishments, assignment where your child demonstrated grit and perseverance, and opportunities for improvement. In addition, throughout the year, if you email your child’s teacher, they will send the portfolio home. The only thing we ask is that the portfolio is returned the next day as they are regularly used.
Richer Picture:
This trimester the BMS Technology Department (Digital Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Fab Lab, STEAM Studio, and TV Studio/Production) has begun to pilot a digital portfolio reporting system, Richer Picture. In the coming weeks, you will be receiving communication from the School Counseling department with your access information. At the end of the trimester, your students work will be available in Richer Picture. During Open House, I shared the department’s plans to connect the digital portfolio to our district initiatives. The attached letter provides additional insight about the benefits of this new initiative.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AmyB1NSv_dqoCzRQZ6eDfZQNxXrUg778/view?usp=sharing
12 Days to Winter Break!
As our winter break is quickly approaching, Ms. Silveira and I would like to add some extra fun to the month of December. Beginning on Thursday, December 5, 2019, we would like to invite the students to join our faculty/staff and participate in a different activity/event each day. Please join in on the winter fun! Please see the calendar linked below:
BMS Morning Student Access:
At BMS, safety is our number one priority. As mentioned in previous communications, students at BMS are more than welcome to visit the STAT Lab or Media Center before school. In order to do so, they first must obtain a pass from the front office. Students can visit the main office at 8:10am (when the doors open) to get a pass to visit the media center. Students without passes will not be allowed to gain access to the cluster/grade level wing. Students meeting with a teacher prior to 8:30 am, would need to secure a pass from the teacher the day before or print out an email from the teacher stating the student can go visit the teacher.
Our pass system is to ensure students are supervised at all times while they are in our building. In years past, students would say they were visiting with teachers and would end up roaming the hallways unsupervised.
Dismissal Procedures:
Last week we improved our BMS Dismissal Procedures. Now we are dismissing at the end of the day by grade level: 8th, 7th, and 6th grade. This change has greatly reduced the congestion and unintentional bumping in the halls at the end of the day creating a safe dismissal process. A few folks have inquired about the order for dismissal. It is important to note that 6th grade is coming from their allied art classes at the end of the day. If we dismissed them first, by the time they reached their lockers, the 8th/7th graders would be coming down the stairs recreating the same congestion we are trying to avoid. Over the next week we will continue to re-evaluate our dismissal process.
BMS Partners in Learning:
Join us and be a Barrington Public Schools Partner in Learning!
If you have a career or hobby that you would consider sharing, please let us know by clicking on the link below. https://forms.gle/2FPRfamJP7t7Ecu19
BMS Yearbook:
Ordering your 2019-2020 BMS Yearbook is open! Order online now here. Code: 1540720
Fitness Professionals:
Are you a health and wellness role model in our East Bay community? Our PE/Health initiative for the 2019-2020 school year is looking for volunteers to share their passion for fitness during “Fitness Fridays” at BMS! For more information, click here for details.
BMS Seeking Crossing Guards:
If you are interested in serving as a paid BMS Crossing Guard during the morning and/or afternoon, please contact Doug Fiore at 245-5000 or fiored@barringtonschools.org. Position entails approx. 10 hours per week at $15.45/hr. We are hopeful that the additional crossing guards will aid in the safety of our students coming and leaving campus. Thank you for considering.
BMS Office Information:
The BMS Office is open daily from 8:00 am until 3:45 pm. As always, students need a note from home given to the office before homeroom on days when they will be dismissed early. We are very impressed by the number of students, especially 6th graders, that have followed our procedure and come to the office on their own to meet their parents for dismissal! Well done!
Volunteering in the Barrington District & BCI Information:
Please see the links below for information about volunteering in the Barrington School District. We love our volunteers! For more information, please see the volunteer website at https://www.barringtonschools.org/o/barrington-schools/page/volunteer-office
Club/Advisor Opportunities:
BMS is seeking to fill our Robotics Coach and Science Olympiad coaching position. Please see the schoolspring link below for more information. In addition, please feel free to pass this link to your friends and colleagues.
Robotics: www.schoolspring.com Job ID: 3121096
Science Olympiad: www.schoolspring.com Job ID: 3112939
Standing Items
Bus and Transportation:
This year, bus routes were included on your child’s aspen account. If you have any questions about your child’s designated bus our route, please access the following website: e new handbook and bus stop change request form can be found on our new website transportation page: https://www.barringtonschools.org/o/barrington-schools/page/transportation--429
Bus schedules are also available online at Barrington Bus Schedules
News from PTO
PTO BMS Directory:
Please sign up for the PTO BMS Directory- instructions and link below:-
https://tools.ptoffice.com/reg/RI_BMS53C
BMS PTO Membership:
Please consider joining the BMS PTO visit
BMS Community News
Join the Barrington Scouts
Open to all youth 11-17 years old. Meetings every Tuesday from 7:00 to 8:30 pm at the Barrington Congregational Church (461 County Rd). For more information visit www.Troop6barrington.org or contact Jim Silveria at Troop6Leader@gmail.com. Click here for an informational flyer.
Volunteers Needed
Do you enjoy volunteering and working with students who are learning English? Do you speak a language other than English? Would you like to mentor an EL family? Please click here for more information!
December Events at the Barrington Public Library
There are lots of fun events for teens going on in December at the library! Click here for a link to a number of flyers outlining these events.