Barrington Middle School
BMS Connected Learning Newsletter 3.9.2020
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 9, 2020-March 27, 2020: SurveyWorks window open for families (information below on how to access the survey)
Monday, March 16, 2020: Trimester 3 begins
Monday, March 23, 2020: BMS Math Information Night for grades 5,6,7 (more info to come)
Tuesday, March 24, 2020: Report cards posted in Aspen
Friday, March 27, 2020: Sports Night sponsored by the 8th Grade Field Trip from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the Student Union
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
Wednesday, April 1, 2020: Cluster Picture Day (more information to come)
Friday, April 10, 2020: No School - Good Friday
Monday, April 13, 2020 - Friday, April 17, 2020: No School - Spring Recess
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. Stephanie Bannon, and students, Luciano Jacques, Lily Cuzner, Lyam Renaud, and Grace Deschenes for raising nearly $1,000.00 to support the Australian Red Cross efforts. This was accomplished through raising money for “Pie Throwing” and an epic Student and Faculty Dodgeball Tournament. Great work students turning your passion of helping others into a reality.
This week we would also like to shine the BMS Spotlight on Mr. Stu Moran. Not only is Stu the most friendly, funniest, guy out there, but he also has a heart of Irish gold! Stu shows each and every one of his students how important they are and makes learning fun. When a particular student in sixth grade was struggling in Health, his content teachers reached out to Stu for advice. He did not think twice. He gave up his prep period to catch the student up, check in on his understanding and help build his confidence. Whether it’s dressing up as a leprechaun, hosting the cluster Olympics, or making us all laugh, he most definitely is a great example of what an exceptional educator does. Thank you for all you do Stu!
Finally, this week we would like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Mr. Peter Blasi. Last week, former BMS Student, Eli Terrell was asked on the televised RI Quiz Bowl Show who his most inspirational teacher is/was. Eli informed the host, audience, and home viewers across RI, that his most inspirational teacher was our very own Mr. Peter Blasi. Great work Peter for inspiring your students!
BMS New Information
BMS School Improvement Plan:
Over the past year our BMS Leadership Council and BMS School Improvement Team has been hard at work crafting and implementing our BMS School Improvement Plan. One of our goals in the district is to continue to improve our communication and increase transparency. If you have not yet read the plan, please see a link below:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YMPxMu-GY6pU6AK3BU9EldAsFxaCzCqgPDKUk6BfiKA/edit?usp=sharing
BMS Sunrise Show:
Over the next couple of weeks, Mr. Altieri and Dr. Anderson will be asking interested students to apply to what will become our Morning Sunrise Show! Initially, the show itself will be broadcast every Friday and will include the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence, and the morning announcements. More details about the show, including the production schedule as well as where and how to watch, will come in a few weeks.
If your child is interested in working on the Morning Sunrise Show we ask that they pick up an application from the Main Office and submit a resume which details their experience making videos. If your child is interested in being on camera as an Anchor, we also ask that they submit a 1 minute audition tape. This may be shared with Mr. Altieri via Google Drive.
Students will not have needed to take TV Studio class in order to work on the show.
Please feel free to reach out to Mr. Altieri (altierie@barringtonschools.org) or Dr. Anderson (andersona@barringtonschools.org) if you have any questions.
Trimester 2 Grades:
Trimester 2 Grades will be closing on March 13, 2020 and will be posted on March 24, 2020.
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.
Survey Works:
Our SurveyWorks window will be open for families from Monday, March 9, 2020 through Friday, March 27, 2020. We greatly value your feedback as it helps us identify steps for continuous improvement at Barrington Middle School. Please complete the survey prior to Friday, March 27, 2020. Please use this link surveys.panoramaed.com/ride and enter the family access code 01108family. Please see if you have any questions please reach out to Becky Silveira, silveirar@barringtonschools.org.
Students will have the opportunity to take the survey in school during the week of March 23, 2020.
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!
Unified Basketball:
Mrs. Nozaki is coaching the Unified Basketball team this season. If you would like to purchase a t-shirt to show your support on game days use the order form link. Please return order forms and payments by Tuesday, March 10th.
Unified home game schedule is:
Thursday, 3/12- 4pm at BMS vs. Tiverton
Thursday, 3/26- 4pm at BMS vs. Jamestown
Thursday, 4/9- 4pm at BMS vs. Thompson
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 Yearbook:
Ordering your 2019-2020 BMS Yearbook is open! Order online here. Code: 1540720 Deadline to order is April 17, 2020.
BMS Lost and Found:
The lost and found is overflowing! Thank you to a wonderful parent volunteer for organizing them and taking photos. Please click here for pictures!! Something might look familiar! Our lost and found is located in the front of the Student Union.
BMS Standing Information
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 |
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Community News
East Bay Lacross Boy’s Grade 5 and 6:
East Bay Lacrosse is hoping to field a Boys Grade 5/6 Division II team this season. This is a great opportunity to start playing lacrosse for the first time or to gain additional experience (and friends!). If interested in registering, please visit www.eastbaylax.org or e-mail eastbaylacrosse@gmail.com for more information. Registrations will close on Friday, March 13th for this age group.