Barrington Middle School
BMS Connected Learning Newsletter 1.21.2020
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).
Thursday, January 23, 2020: BMS Band Concert, BMS Auditorium beginning at 7:00 pm.
Monday, January 27, 2020: BMS PTO Meeting, BMS 1202 beginning at 7:00 pm.
Monday, February 3, 2020: Orientation at BHS for the parents/guardians of current 8th graders, John Gray Auditorium, BHS, 7:00 pm
Friday, February 7, 2020: Sports Night at 7:00 pm
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. Mary Ellen Tillotson. Last week, Dr. Tillotson began to provide our faculty with an overview of the current research on the Adolescent Brain and its implications to teaching and learning. This up-to-date research on the Adolescent Brain is incredibly helpful for our teachers and for our interactions with the middle school aged child. Over the next few weeks, Dr. Tillotson will continue to provide an overview to our teachers and teacher assistants. Great work Dr. Tillotson!
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
BMS Book Fair:
A BIG thank you goes out to Mrs. Gantz and all of the parent volunteers for a very successful book fair last week. The students and staff at BMS appreciate all of your hard work!
Parent/Guardian 8th Grade Orientation at HIgh School:
Please see information regarding the upcoming Parent/Guardian 8th Grade Orientation at Barrington High School for Monday, February 3, 2020.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O3oaYpoDu069aNPGNsSLbxH-MWGaMKwN/view?usp=sharing
Aspen Assessment Side Tab:
Located in the “Assessment” side tab in Aspen, families will be able to see their child’s assessment scores. Assessments scores found in this tab include FastBridge (universal screener), RICAS scores, and Proficiency Scores.
Family Satisfaction Survey:
Recently you received the Studder Family Satisfaction survey from Mr. Messore’s Office. This year our School Improvement goal is to increase our overall score on the Family Satisfaction Survey from 3.84 to 3.94. We really value your feedback and would greatly appreciate if everyone could spend a few moments in completing the survey. It is important to note that your feedback on the first set of questions is solely based on the BMS/BMS Administration. Below are a few items we put in place over the past year, based on last year’s results/feedback:
Weekly Connected Learning Newsletters highlighting news/information from Barrington Middle School.
Daily morning announcements posted online.
Daily events/calendar posted online.
Each trimester teachers sending home 10 positive notes from school.
Throughout the year, teachers systematically making student portfolios available to families.
Providing families with various opportunities to engage in the learning process by coming in and being guest panelists, guest speakers, and partners in learning.
Providing families opportunities to participate in learning walks focused on Deep Learning.
Frequent posts on social media (Facebook, Twitter, #bmsshines).
Thank you again for all that you do and for taking the time to complete the survey. Your feedback means a lot to us and we will always continue to work hard to make BMS the best place possible!
New BMS Winter Enrichment Classes 2020
Feb 10-April 10* Dates vary
Monday mornings 7:30am
-Advanced Stock Market- Must have taken our stock market class before -Mr. De la Torre
-Volleyball Ms. Scanlon
-Drawing Techniques Mr. Dizio
-Strength and Conditioning Ms. Gower -Will include but is not limited to: dynamic warm up, muscular strength, and muscular endurance exercises, functional fitness movements incorporating TRX, BOSU, medicine balls, dumbbells, resistance bands, and much more.
Tuesday afternoons 3:20-4:20pm- late bus available
- Photography Ms. Meredith Brower https://www.facebook.com/MeredithBrowerPhotography/
- Jewelry Design Ms. Christine Keene https://www.facebook.com/christinekeeneartworks/ projects such as a bracelet, earrings, necklace
- Make Your Own Graphic Novel Mr. Paricio RISD professor Class description
Thursday mornings 7:30am
- Volleyball
Register on www.myschoolbucks.com
Questions? texeiraj@barringtonschools.org
From our nurse, Mrs. Johnson:
Unfortunately, this is the time of year that we see an increase in illnesses; colds, ear infections, strep throat, stomach bugs and the flu. Please be aware that although we rarely see “outbreaks”, there have been several cases of reported flu and often there’s a little bit of everything going around. At school we do our best to encourage good health habits, particularly hand washing and hope that you will do the same at home.
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. The next morning meetup is on 2/10. Click here for more information and to sign up!
BMS Old Information
Traffic Patterns:
We are still waiting for a date for our new entrance to the parking lot to open up. When it does, 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. Please note that during the morning and afternoon drop off hours, the exit out of the driveway will be a right hand turn only. Please stay tuned for the date when the new driveway will be open.
Volunteer Opportunities:
BMS Volunteers Needed to support and monitor students during BMS Peer Tutoring and ZAP
Starting in late January
Time Commitment: Flexible
BMS Peer Tutoring Volunteer- Volunteer will monitor students (walk around, make sure students are on task and answer questions).
Tuesdays, 2:25- 3:15: beginning January 21st
Library Media Center
BMS ZAP Volunteer- Volunteer will monitor students (walk around, make sure students are on task and answer questions).
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 2:25- 3:15: beginning January 22nd
Library Media Center
Click on the link to sign up:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E084CADAD2AA2F94-bmszap
New After-School Club for Students:
All students are invited to join the Creative Writing Club! The BMS Creative Writing Club is being run by AP Language Students from Barrington High School. During meetings, students can work on writing projects, collaborate and write with prompts provided to them. If your student is interested in creative writing, we encourage them to try it out! Meetings are every other Thursday after school in the 8th grade breakout space with the next meeting this Thursday, January 23.
Enrichment Class Instructors Needed:
Do you have a special talent or hobby you can share with our students? Classes Monday or Thursday mornings 7:30am or Tuesday afternoons 3:15. For more information, please contact Julia Texeira texeiraj@barringtonschools.org
Eyeglasses Recycling Available at BMS:
The Barrington Lions Club is collecting eyeglasses that you no longer need in the BMS nurse’s office. The Lions Club is an international organization supporting humanitarian efforts all over the world. One of their global causes is vision; having a long history of serving to prevent avoidable blindness and improve the quality of life for those that are blind and visually impaired.
If you or your family members have any glasses that they would like to recycle, please have your student drop them off in the nurse’s office.
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.
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.
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 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
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
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
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
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!
East Bay Lacrosse:
East Bay Lacrosse offers girls and boys programs for players in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Registration for East Bay Lacrosse will close on Friday, February 15th. If you would like to learn more or to register, please visit www.eastbaylax.org.
Barrington Little League:
Little League Registration is open! Please click here for the informational flyer.