Barrington Middle School
BMS Connected Learning Newsletter 4.27.2020 (BMS Distance Learning Special Edition)
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).
Last opportunity to order a yearbook Code: 1540720 (last day April 30)
Note: Activities that have been missed due to not being in school will be re-evaluated/re-scheduled once we return back to school.
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 all who made our BMS ELA book delivery possible! We would like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Mr. Messore and Dr. Dillon, for granting us permission to prepare and deliver the books. Our Spotlight on our, BMS ELA teachers, for working together to provide our students with instruction that is as close as possible to being in school. In addition we would like to shine our Spotlight on Mrs. Roy and Mrs. Van Leer, for checking the books out to all of the students and placing them in their bags with care. Thank you, Mrs.Resendes, for preparing the maps/routes for our district drivers and coordinating the delivery. Lastly, we would like to shine our Spotlight on our district drivers, who delivered the books to our students. Great work everyone!
This week we would also like to shine our BMS Spotlight on those who made it possible to send our Orange Cluster Alum their “future letters!” A big thank you to Mrs. Skadberg and Mrs. Nelson who were able to get the addresses for Mrs. Meystre so she could address the envelopes. And to Mr. Doug Fiore, Mrs. Nancy Gladney and Mrs. Mary Gibbs for organizing this special mailing to some of our former students. This is yet again another example of how our amazing learning community works together to best support our students.
On behalf of Mrs. Meystre, we all truly appreciate everyone's encouragement and effort!
BMS New Information
Distance Learning Special Edition
New Information:
Distance Learning Schedule Week of 4/19/2020
Date | Day | Specials |
Monday April 27, 2020 | Day 3 Block | 7th Grade Specials 6th/8th Grade Independent Practice |
Tuesday April 28, 2020 | Day 4 Block | 7th Grade Specials 6th/8th Grade Independent Practice |
Wednesday April 29, 2020 | PD Day No School Students | |
Thursday April 30, 2020 | Day 5 Block | 8th Grade Specials 7th/6th Grade Independent Practice |
Friday May 1, 2020 | Day 6 Block | 8th Grade Specials 7th/6th Grade Independent Practice |
BMS Reads:
In honor April being RI Reads at Home month we encourage our students to read for a minimum of 30 minutes each day. The video below contains some words of encouragement and what our teachers are currently reading!
Reading Messages from BMS Teachers
Student Schedule Video’s and Student Communication:
Ms. Silveira and I have been using our BMS Homeroom Google Classroom as means of communicating to our students on a daily basis. We have found this platform to be successful due to all of the students needing to access this page to sign in for the day.
Included in Monday’s message, we will be including the following videos that Becky recorded to help students strengthen their understanding of our distance learning schedule. Great work Becky for putting these videos together!
Message from our Nurse, Mrs. Johnson
Message from our nurse, Mrs. Johnson
BMS Survey Works:
Our SurveyWorks window will be open for families until April 30, 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 Thursday, April 30, 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 during the week of April 27th.
Information from District Communication on 4/21/22 (BMS Specific):
BMS Screen-Lite Wednesdays (Cluster Classes)
All cluster teachers will be posting assignments for students to complete throughout the day on screen-lite Wednesdays by 7:00 pm Tuesday evening. The expectation would be that students will complete assignments throughout the day and turn them in by the next day or at a later date assigned by the teacher. Although students will need to check-in to each google classroom, activities planned will be technology lite. Activities may include hands-on activities, project-based learning activities, and/or independent/group practice.
Students will check into the BMS Homeroom google classroom for daily attendance as they would on any other day. For class attendance, students will be checking into google classroom to complete a google form.
BMS Screen-Lite Wednesdays (Allied Art Teachers)
Screen-lite Wednesdays will be designated as odd or even (they will rotate) for student’s special classes. Teachers will post assignments and instruction on Tuesday evening by 7 PM for students to complete throughout the day. For example: If it is an ODD screen-lite Wednesday, teachers will post assignments for students they see in class on Days 1, 3, or 5. An assignment should be posted for each grade.
Students will check into the BMS Homeroom google classroom for daily attendance as they would on any other day. For class attendance, students will be checking into google classroom to complete a google form.
BMS FAST Cluster and FAST Special:
Each day, students will check into their FAST Cluster at 11:05 to complete a google form and FAST Special at 2:35 indicating what they will be working on that day during that specific block of time. Students might need to check in with their teachers, work on independent classwork/projects, or have the opportunity to complete some activities (FAST 5) deemed appropriate by the cluster to build skills (ex: Freckle, Journal writing, Reading, etc.).
Checking in with a teacher- Teachers will request students to show up to their FAST block if they need to provide more instruction or to check-in with a student on an assignment. Students may come to your FAST block if they have questions related to an assignment or need some extra support. Students will indicate this on the FAST google form.
Independent classwork/projects- Students will have the opportunity to work on any assignments that are owed or need to continue working on. Students will indicate this on the FAST google form.
FAST 5- Clusters may consider creating a menu/playlist of independent activities that students could work on to build skills. Activities could include working on Freckle, Journal writing, Reading, science activities, Newsela, etc. Students that have completed all of their assignments and do not need to meet with a teacher during FAST will indicate this on the FAST google form. (note: the 5 in FAST 5 means 5 activities to choose from)
Please note that students in the morning FAST may be required to attend a special FAST class for extra support, and/or may be required to attend additional services (PLP, PMP, Academic Support, etc.) and students in the afternoon FAST may be required to attend a cluster FAST class for extra support, and/or may be required to attend additional services (PLP, PMP, Academic Support, etc.)
BMS Expectations for Independent Work (Core Classes):
The Distance Learning schedule provides time for Live (Synchronous ) Instruction and Independent Learning (Asynchronous) Instruction.
Live Instruction for core classes occurs from 8:45 to 10:55 each day. It is expected that students will be assigned an additional 30 - 60 mins of independent learning assignments/activities per instructional core class. Students are encouraged to complete these assignments during FAST open office times from 11:05 - 11:45, and from 2:35 - 3:15. Students may need time beyond the school day to complete long-term assignments.
BMS Expectations for Independent Work (Specials):
Now that students will have two days with their allied art teachers and two or four days of independent practice/activity, our goal is to make sure that those activities are robust, engaging, and rigorous. Below are strategies our teachers will be implementing to increase engagement and rigor:
Strategy 1:
On the days that students do not have direct contact with their allied art teacher, teachers post an instructional video with accompanying activities.
Strategy 2:
Teachers create opportunities for students to engage in partner/group activities during the days that students who do not have direct contact with their allied art teachers. Note: this strategy will be expected for all students in all allied art classes. This can be accomplished through:
Zoom breakout/office hours with supervision from the instructor
Students in hangouts collaborating together
Strategy 3:
Teachers can create a choice board/bing board with various activities that students can work through at their own pace.
BMS Open Office Hours:
Every teacher has posted their Open Office Hours and Zoom Link in their google classroom. Teachers will communicate with all of their students where this information is located.
Students are encouraged to contact their teachers during their office hours (FAST or Screen-Lite) if they have any questions about content, assignments, and/or activities. In addition, students may be requested to attend office hours if a student may need extra support or assistance on a particular subject matter/assignment by their teacher. Students who are requested to attend office hours through direct email from teacher to student.
Old Information:
Distance Learning Schedule and Plan (Revised 4/13/202):
When Barrington Middle School started this journey, we knew that after a few weeks we would likely need to reassess our plan and modify it to best meet the needs of our students. Based on feedback from students, families, and staff, we have modified our distance learning plan to place emphasis on balancing screen time, quality of instruction vs. quantity of instruction, and to meet the academic/social-emotional needs of the middle school-aged student.
The shifts at BMS will occur in two phases to allow teachers time to communicate with their families.
Phase 1:
Starting on Monday, 4/13, BMS will begin their distance learning block schedule. Students will continue to check-in to the homeroom google classroom by 8:42 am for attendance, and then follow-their distance learning block schedule for the day.
Each morning, BMS will be posting the daily schedule to the homeroom google classroom.
Phase 2:
Beginning the week of April 20th, BMS will be implementing “Screen-Lite” Wednesdays on all five-day weeks. The purpose of “Screen-Lite” Wednesdays is to reduce screen time, while still providing students with learning opportunities and time to connect with their teachers. On Wednesday, students will check-in to the homeroom google classroom by 8:42 am for attendance and then complete their assignments throughout the day.
Calling all “Distance Learning” Photos:
We have a unique opportunity to commemorate “Distance Learning 2020” in this year’s yearbook. If you have a picture you would like to include, please email it to Mr. Kearns at kearnsb@barringtonschools.org by the end of this school week. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
RI Reads at Home!- April Reading Challenge:
One of the most important activities that we can encourage students to do is read.
Governor Raimondo and Commissioner Infante-Green have challenged all students in Rhode Island to read for at least 20-60 minutes every single day in the month of April.
Here are the guidelines for the amount of uninterrupted reading students should strive to reach each day in April:
Pre-K and Kindergarteners read or are read to at least 20 minutes
Grades 1-3 read at least 30 minutes
Grades 4-5 read at least 45 minutes
Grades 6-12 at least 60 minutes
Visit the RIDE Reading Log to submit the minutes and books read each day!
We encourage families and educators to get creative and help us band together as a community to promote reading as a daily habit for our students. We are hoping you will help make sure this is a fun activity for students.
Send pictures of your BMS students reading and/or showcasing what they are reading to silveirar@barringtonschools.org
Student Attendance:
Students are expected to check in to the BMS Homeroom Google Classroom by 8:40 am each day and to attend all of their classes throughout the day. Attendance will be taken each period. We understand that there may be times when students are participating and completing their work, but cannot attend a session. In this instance, they will receive credit but will need to email the teacher before the end of the day. If your child is tardy please help to remind them they should check into the BMS Homeroom Google Classroom before they log-in to their scheduled classroom.
If your child will be absent or tardy, please send an email to bmsattendance@barringtonschools.org to report this. In the subject line please put your student(s) First and Last Name. Please report absences or tardies by 8:30am. The attendance email will be monitored daily by the office staff. Please see the linked document for our complete Daily Attendance protocol.
BMS Family/Student Distance Learning Questions:
We have provided you with an abundance of information related to Distance Learning. As questions come up please submit them using the BMS Family/Student Distance Distance Learning Questions form. Please check the BMS Family/Student Distance Learning Questions and Answers document for updates and answers to your questions.
IEP, 504 and Parent Meetings:
If you had a previously scheduled IEP, 504 or Parent Meeting we will be rescheduling these with you soon. Mrs. Bulman will begin reaching out to parents to reschedule IEP and parent meetings starting this week. Meetings will take place with parents via Zoom. If you have questions about IEP or parent meetings please reach out to Mrs. Kathy Bulman: bulmank@barringtonschools.org. Mrs. Nelson will be reaching out to reschedule 504 meetings starting this week. Meetings will also take place via Zoom. If you have questions about 504 meetings please reach out to Mrs. Kelly Nelson: nelsonk@barringtonschools.org.