Barrington Middle School
BMS Connected Learning Newsletter 3.2.2020
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).
Monday, March 2, 2020: PTO meeting Rescheduled to Monday, March 30
Monday, March 9, 2020: No School
Monday, March 16, 2020: Trimester 3 begins
Monday, March 30, 2020: PTO meeting at 7:00 pm in Room 1202; agenda includes presentation by our Student Assistance Counselor, Katie Hamel and members of the East Bay Tobacco Youth Council on the dangers of vaping
Friday, April 17, 2020: Deadline for ordering BMS Yearbook (info below)
Thursday, April 23, 2020: BPS Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast for all district volunteers from 9:00 am to 11:00 am upstairs in Barrington Town Hall
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 Mrs. Van Leer and Ms. Stephanie Turner for directing this year’s Variety Show. This past Thursday night, our talented BMS students performed to a packed house. Great work Mrs. Van Leer, Ms. Turner, and students!
This week we would also like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Ms. Becky Trahan! Ms. Trahan is a member of our BPS Technology team, and an important member to our very own BMS Learning Community. On any given day, Ms. Trahan is responding to our student and faculty/staff technology needs, setting up for presentations and events, and making sure BMS has everything they need to be successful. Thank you Becky for all that you do. You are appreciated more than you know!
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
Volunteers needed for BMS Career Day:
BMS Career Day for 8th grade students is right around the corner. We are in need of 15 parent volunteers to chaperone students in classrooms on March 27, 2020 from 10:00 am to 1:00pm where career day speakers will be presenting. Chaperone volunteers will meet in the library at 10am for a brief overview. Please click on this link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/bmscareerday2020. Thank you!
Internet Safety Night:
This past week, BMS hosted an Internet Safety Night. I would like to thank our BMS Counseling Team, School Resource Officer, BMS Administration, and Barrington Police Department Detectives for their knowledge and support for that event. Linked below you will find the slide presentation that was used, as well as additional related resources/links.
BMS Social Media Presentation for Families
BMS Cell Phone Practice:
At BMS we require all students to have their personal phones and devices shut off and locked in their lockers. This practice is in place to ensure the safety of all of our students. If we see students using their cell phone that is not in line with our BMS Handbook then will enforce our expectations. This also includes, if we see/learn of students posting videos/pictures while at Barrington Middle School to social media during the school day. Please see our Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices practice as outlined in our handbook below:
CELL PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES
(iPods, Cell phones etc.) are not to be operated during class time, unless encouraged by the classroom teacher. All electronic devices are to be kept in the student’s locker during the school day. Their use is not only considered a disruption of the educational process but also is a safety concern. For a student’s first offense, the equipment will be confiscated and returned at the end of the day. For the second and each subsequent offense, the equipment will be confiscated and returned only after a parent conference has occurred. In case of emergency, students may use their cell phones in the main office or guidance with the supervision of an adult.
SUGGESTED GUIDELINES FOR NATURAL CONSEQUENCES
Electronic Devices: | Use of cell phones, video games, IPODS, etc. without the authorization of a teacher. | Informal Talk, Confiscation, Conference, Teacher Detention, Office Detention, Loss of Privilege |
8th Grade Washington DC Update March 3, 2020:
We are happy to report with the donation money in hand, pledge money in hand, and promised pledge money, our 8th graders now have a gap that is under $4,000. We are confident that through continued contributions and fundraising the class of 2024 will be enjoying their 8th Grade Washington DC experience!
This week we will be sending an email home to individual families who have not yet paid their pledge, as well as to our 6th/7th grade families as well asking for contributions for the trip. In addition, our BMS 8th Grade Fundraising Student Group will be meeting to plan for the following student-led fundraising efforts:
Student/Faculty Basketball Game (anticipated $1,000)
Washington DC Sport’s Night (anticipated $1,000)
Pancake Dinner (anticipated $1,000)
Spring Car Wash (anticipated $500)
and Any Additional Fundraising Efforts (anticipated $500)
(note: this is what is anticipated, not guaranteed)
Donations in Hand | $21,963 |
Pledges in Hand | $67,612 |
Pledges that are Outstanding | $24,473 |
Donations + Pledges in Hand + Pledges Outstanding = Promised Money Altogether | $114,048 |
Remaining Amount to Fundraise | $3,977 |
Promised Money + Remaining Amount = Total Cost of the Trip |
$118,025 |
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Meg Snyder (snyderm@barringtonschools.org) or Andy Anderson (andersona@barringtonscools.org).
RICAS Testing:
BMS students will be taking RICAS testing on the following dates:
ELA: Math:
Grade 6- April 23 & 24 Grade 6- May 14 & 15
Grade 7- April 21 & 22 Grade 7- May 6 & 7
Grade 8- April 7 & 8 Grade 8- May 12 & 13
8th grade Science testing:
Grade 8- May 19 & 20
BMS Old Information
Reminder from the BMS Office:
If your student will be absent from school, please call the BMS office starting at 8:00 am to let us know. If your student needs to be dismissed from school, please have the student bring a note from home to the office before they go to homeroom. The note should specify the date, time and pickup person of the dismissal. Unfortunately, per school policy, the office cannot accept emails excusing a student’s absence or dismissal.
BMS Winter Band Concert Photos:
A parent volunteer, Mr. Bill Dwyer, took a number of amazing photos from last month’s BMS Winter Band Concert. Please see a link to the wonderful photos and enjoy! Thank you Mr. Dwyer for your service!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/PxyLFxD47c7Sx4fr9
BMS Garden Project:
BMS is seeking garden-loving volunteers to support our NEW BMS Garden project!
Please click below for how you can help.
https://forms.gle/SWmv9wcmKiej1p5E6
Vaping Presentation:
Parents/Guardians/Community members are invited to attend and learn about the risks and dangers of vaping for teens at a presentation during the next BMS PTO meeting on Monday, March 30 at 7:00 pm in Room 1202. Katie Hamel, the BMS Student Assistance Counselor, and members of the East Bay Tobacco Youth Council will be presenting followed by a question and answer session.
Monday Morning Music:
Does your child like to sing or play musical instruments and perform for others? If they do, we have the gig for them. Each Monday Morning, we will be turning our “Eagle’s Nest '' into a live stage. Students and Teachers will be able to perform for students entering the school from 8:10 am to 8:35 am. Please feel free to encourage them to sign up in the main office for an upcoming gig. Performers will have to be ready to perform by 8:10 am.
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.
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 on Thursday, February 6.
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.
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 Deadline to order is April 17, 2020.
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
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!