Barrington Middle School
BMS Connected Learning Newsletter: November 8, 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.
Common Commitments:
To empower ALL students to excel, The BMS Learning Community will provide:
A safe, caring, and supportive learning environment;
A challenging curriculum supported by current technology;
The best research-based strategies to meet the unique educational, physical, emotional, and social needs of the 10 to the 14-year-old learner; and
A deliberate and specific approach to meet the individual needs/abilities for each performance subgroup of our student body.
BMS Spotlight on Learning:
This week we would like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Ms. Melinda Germano. Melinda has been a substitute Teacher Assistant in Lime Cluster since the beginning of the school year. Melinda is a team player and is ready to help where needed throughout the building, whether it be in the main office answering phones or covering a class for a teacher working from home. Her positive attitude and flexibility does not go unnoticed. Thank you Melinda for continuing to be an asset to the Barrington Middle School Learning Community.
BMS Upcoming Events
Tuesday, November 10, 2020: BMS Virtual Book Club at 5:00 pm (see below for more info)
Wednesday, November 11, 2020: No School due to Veteran’s Day.
Monday, November 16, 2020: Virtual Learning Day for all students due to State Professional Development Day.
Wednesday, November 17, 2020: Best Buddies Student Orientation from 3:45pm - 4:45pm
Wednesday, November 25, 2020 - Friday, November 27, 2020: No School due to Thanksgiving Break.
BMS Standing Items
Student Daily Attestation Weekly Reminder:
This is just a weekly reminder that you must screen your child for temperature, other symptoms, and risk factors for COVID-19 each day before sending them to the bus or building.
If the student has any signs of illness or risk factors, they will remain at home, and the parent/guardian will contact the school nurse.
Barrington Public Schools requires you to use the Student attestation form daily to screen your child.
Please see this link for additional information. Student Attestation
Change from Distance Learning to In-Person Learning:
We ask that if you decide to switch learning models, that you continue to email me but I also request that you complete linked form: Student Learning Model Change Request
In-Person Participating in Distance Learning:
An in-person student should only be participating in distance learning under two conditions. The first condition is your child is sick and not able to come to school in-person but is still able to participate in class. The second condition is if your child is quarantined due to a household member having Covid-19 symptoms or has tested positive for Covid-19. Distance learning should not be used as a tool for your child not to come to school “just because”. If your child fits one of the two conditions above, please call the school to notify them of the circumstance, and it is also recommended to email the teachers before the start of the school day so they can make sure they are prepared for an additional distance learning student.
Masks:
We are asking families to send in two masks with your students daily. This is helpful in case the mask breaks or becomes soiled throughout the day. It is also helpful to have a spare mask in your student’s backpack in case a student gets out of the car and realizes they have forgotten their mask. We appreciate your help with this.
BMS Daily Announcements:
Below you will find some exciting information regarding our student groups at BMS! In addition to being featured in our weekly Connected Learning Newsletters, you can also find important student information in our BMS Morning Announcement spreadsheet linked below:
BMS New Information
Students are Encouraged to Join in on the Fun!
Through a given week, your child’s teachers may be seen wearing a positive motivational message, their alma mater’s colors, and Blue and Gold to show their school pride. We would like to formally invite our students to join in on the fun:
Motivational Message Monday- We encourage you to wear your favorite motivational message proudly!
Wednesday College and Career Day- Students are encouraged to wear their favorite universities colors/names and/or support different careers and occupations.
Friday School Color Day (Formally known as Blue and Gold Day)- Students are encouraged to wear blue and gold on Fridays to show our school pride.
#BMSShines:
Over the past year, BMS has adopted the hashtag: #BMSShines. Throughout a given week our faculty/staff capture the great things that are happening at BMS by taking a picture, offering a caption/description, and tagging it with #BMSShines. If you are on Twitter, we encourage you to follow along as well.
Monday, November 16, 2020 Distance Learning Day for All:
Monday, November 16, 2020 will be a distance learning day for all Barrington Public School students due to it being a Professional Development day for our teachers. Teachers will be posting assignments/activities on Canvas to be complete independently. Teachers will not be engaging in live instruction on this day due to them attending various Professional Development activities.
Best Buddies Student Orientation:
We will be having a Best Buddies student orientation scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, 2020 from 3:45pm - 4:45pm on Zoom for all those interested in joining Best Buddies. Please check your email for a zoom link from Dr. Anderson. Best Buddies in a national organization that promotes inclusivity in schools. In the Best Buddies school friendship program, students with and without disabilities spend time with each other on a monthly basis virtually, to engage in fun, inclusive activities that promote and foster acceptance and friendship within the school and community. Students have the option to be matched in a mutually enriching one-to-one friendship and/or participate in group activities. Through the program and the friendships created, members will grow in their leadership skills, gain greater independence, self-confidence as well as improved communication and social skills.
BMS Special Education Advisory Committee:
Last week, we had our first BMS Special Education Advisory Committee meeting! Over the next month, the team will be breaking up into two groups. One group focusing on the topic of “inclusivity” and the other focusing on “parents as partners.” As sub groups, we will begin to identify what the school is already doing with these two topic areas, and then begin to identify what else we can do to promote inclusivity, and improve our partnership with parents.
Barrington Schools Grab & Go Local Harvest Lunch Pre-Order Program:
Chartwells is offering a 4 day meal box which includes roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, apples, rolls, breakfast packs and milk, vegetables and fruit from local RI farmers featuring Young Family Farm, Confreda Farms, Steere Orchards and Calise Bakery. Please see the order form here for more information and to complete if interested. Form due by Friday, November 13.
Calling all 8th graders - your baby/toddler pictures wanted for the yearbook!
As is customary for our 8th graders at BMS, we are asking ALL 8th grade families to virtually upload a baby picture of your son or daughter for the BMS Yearbook. The deadline for the baby photos to be uploaded is MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2020. Please use this Google Form to upload your pictures. Please contact Mr. Kearns, BMS Yearbook Advisor, at kearnsb@barringtonschools.org with any questions.
BMS Spirit Wear Store is NOW OPEN for a limited time:
Get some cozy gear and show your BMS Spirit!
Shop closes on November 23rd with an estimated ship date of December 16th. All items will be shipped directly to your home.
Please log on to https://bms.gamedaygear.store
Questions? email: barringtonmiddleschoolpto@gmail.com
BMS PTO Membership Drive
When you join the BMS PTO you join a community that encourages student achievement and enriches their learning environment.
We believe in building partnerships between our families and our school.
We believe that together we can help our children be successful.
Please show your support and get involved with the PTO
The BMS PTO Directory and Membership site is now open:
To join the BMS PTO:
• Go to barringtonmiddlepto.org
• Click on “JOIN US BECOME A PTO MEMBER”
• Follow the prompts in the BMS Store to purchase membership
*$20 per family
To add your information to the BMS PTO Directory*:
• Go to barringtonmiddlepto.org
• Click on “Add your name to the BMS directory” and please use
the password: BMS2020 (case sensitive)
• You will be asked to put in your name and email address and
choose a password then check the “terms of use” checkbox.
• Click on “Create a new family unit”. (Unless you see someone
from your household already registered – then select that
household).
• Fill out the form with your Contact Info and Household Info.
Once you have entered all your information, hit SAVE. Note:
DO NOT PRESS CONTINUE.
• Expand the “Family info” section and click “Add a Child”. Here
you can enter your child’s first and last name and select your
child’s grade and classroom. You can leave email blank; then
click “SAVE CONTACT” at the top.
• Repeat step 9 for any additional children.
• When finished adding all children, select “SAVE” and then
“CONTINUE”.
*6th Grader Directory information did not transfer from HMS and will need to be re-entered
BMS Library Newsletter:
BMS October Library Newsletter
Book Bites:
Need a book to read? Our awesome BMS Media Center staff recommends 6 books each week! The recommended book list is available through blog form at http://www.mrsmelanieroy.com/ and also at our virtual bookshelf form: https://bit.ly/3lW9Q5e
MS Virtual Family Book Club:
This year we decided to go with an "Un-Book Club" theme for a virtual family book club series. Instead of choosing a single title that everyone reads, we will choose our own books based on a common genre or format and explore the aspects of that genre/format through our personal choices.
Meetings will be hosted by:
Ms. Tanya, Teen Librarian of Barrington Public Library
Ms. August, BMS Reading Specialist
Dr. Fernandes, BMS Reading Specialist
Mrs. Roy, BMS Librarian
Meeting Dates:
Tuesday, November 10 at 5pm - Kick-Off (nothing required but your presence)
Wednesday, January 20 at 5pm - Fantasy genre
Wednesday, March 24 at 5pm - Graphic Novel format (any genre)
Wednesday, May 19 at 5pm - Realistic Fiction genre
If you would like to sign up for the book club, please have your BMS student fill out this form. We will send you the Zoom link through the student and adult emails you put in the sign-up form.
Hope to see you there!
BMS Old Information
Trimester 2 Lunch and Dismissal Rotation:
With each Trimester, we will be rotating our lunch and dismissal rotation. For long term planning purposes, please see the schedule below.
Trimester 1 (9/15 - 12/15) | Trimester 2 (12/16 - 3/25) | Trimester 3 (3/26 - 6/25) | |
Lunch Rotation | 7th grade 11:18- Red 11:50- Orange 12:20- Razz 8th grade 12:48- Green 1:18- Purple 1:48- Blue | 7th grade 11:18- Razz 11:50- Red 12:20- Orange 8th grade 12:48- Blue 1:18- Green 1:48- Purple | 7th grade 11:18- Orange 11:50- Razz 12:20- Red 8th grade 12:48- Purple 1:18- Blue 1:48- Green |
Dismissal Rotation | 3:00 Lime Orange Red 3:07 Yellow Aqua Purple 3:14 Razz Blue Green | 3:00 Razz Blue Green 3:07 Lime Orange Red 3:14 Yellow Aqua Purple | 3:00 Yellow Aqua Purple 3:07 Razz Blue Green 3:14 Lime Orange Red |
Individual Learning Plans:
BMS students, in conjunction with their school counselor, have been using Richer Picture to create an Individual Learning Plan (ILP). Students will be creating an ILP each year from 6th to 12th grade. The ILP is a student-directed planning and monitoring tool that customizes learning opportunities throughout their school experience, broadens their perspectives, and supports the attainment of goals. Richer Picture has created an interactive and dynamic tool that hosts the ILP and maps each student's unique set of interests, needs, learning goals and a plan for meeting graduation requirements.
Please see a link below with additional login information:
BMS Adjusted November Schedule:
Over the course of November, our weekly schedule becomes interrupted due to days off for Election Day, Veterans' Day and Thanksgiving. In order to ensure that students have a balanced schedule, and to decrease loss of learning time in person and hybrid learning during each week, we made one adjustment to Monday schedule for the month of November. Specifically, Monday 11/2 is now a Blue Day. All other Mondays adhere to the original schedule. In order to accomplish this, the following changes will be made:
BMS Best Buddies!
Barrington Middle School has started an official Best Buddies chapter! Best Buddies International is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendship, leadership development, integrated employment and inclusive living for individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
In the Best Buddies school friendship program, students with and without disabilities spend time with each other on a monthly basis virtually, to engage in fun, inclusive activities that promote and foster acceptance and friendship within the school and community. Students have the option to be matched in a mutually enriching one-to-one friendship and/or participate in group activities. Through the program and the friendships created, members will grow in their leadership skills, gain greater independence, self-confidence as well as improved communication and social skills.
The Best Buddies Friendship program is open and free to students of ALL abilities within the school! If you are interested in learning more, please join us for an upcoming informational meeting during the week of November 15, 2020. Stay tuned for a specific date and time. You can also visit www.bestbuddies.org/mari to learn more about Best Buddies and it's other programs.
We hope that you will consider joining the Best Buddies chapter at Barrington Middle School! We are excited to offer this program to create a more inclusive and accepting school and community that acknowledges and values all abilities and fosters impactful new friendships!
Mask Breaks:
Just a reminder, classes will continue to take mask breaks throughout the day even during inclement weather. As the temperatures get colder, please be sure your child comes to school with a jacket, hats/gloves, etc so they are prepared to take a walk around the building or to be outside for a period of time during these breaks. We appreciate your help with this.
Canvas Tips for Parents:
Please see the link below with Canvas helpful tips for parents.
The Literarians Creative Writing Club:
Are you interested in creative writing, music, film-making, storytelling, marketing, public speaking, journalism, or all of the above?
The Literarians is a creative writing club that is welcome to all students, regardless of their academic or personal interests! The Literarians participate in a variety of fun activities and projects that help students develop their skills in writing, communication, collaboration, and creative thinking. Even if you are unsure about joining, we encourage all students to come and see what the club is all about!
If you are interested in learning more about The Literarians, the first meeting will be held on Monday, November 2nd, at 4PM. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!
In order to access the zoom link to our first meeting, please join our google classroom: nvomozk
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to shoot us an email:
Emilee Souza, club founder: Souzae21@barringtonschools.org
Mrs. Bannon, club advisor: Bannons@barringtonschools.org
We hope to see you all there!
Sincerely,
Emilee Souza and Mrs. Bannon
BMS Student Council:
Any student who is interested in being part of the student council here at BMS should contact Mr. Kearns via email (kearnsb@barringtonschools.org) or stop and see him in room 2221. Those who have contacted Mr. Kearns about their interest will be provided with the Zoom link to the virtual meeting. Please contact Mr. Kearns with any questions.
BMS Yearbook Committee:
Any student who is interested in being part of BMS yearbook committee should first, contact Mr. Kearns via email (kearnsb@barringtonschools.org) or stop and see him in room 2221. The first yearbook meeting will be held virtually on Monday, November 9th from 7:30-8:00 A.M. Those who have contacted Mr. Kearns about their interest will be provided with the Zoom link to the virtual meeting. Please contact Mr. Kearns with any questions.
BMS Community Service Club:
If you are interested in joining the Community Service Club please email Mrs. Oswald (oswaldc@barringtonschools.org) We will meet every other Friday and our first meeting is November 6th. We will meet via Zoom and after you contact Mrs. Oswald you will be provided with the Zoom link for the meeting. We have a lot of fun finding ways to help others and all students are invited to join us!
BMS Math Counts:
If you are interested in joining MathCounts, please email Mrs. Orrall (orralls@barringtonschools.org) or stop by Room 2223. When you contact Mrs. Orrall, you will be provided with the Zoom link for the meeting. All students are welcome to join, the first meeting will be Monday, November 2, 2020!
Eagles Gazette:
If you enjoy writing or creating comics and like knowing what's going on you may want to join The Eagle Gazette Newspaper staff. If you are interested, please email Mrs. Oswald (oswaldc@barringtonschools.org) The first meeting will be held via Zoom on Friday, November 13th from 3:45 - 4:45. When you contact Mrs. Oswald, you will be provided with the Zoom link for the meeting. All students are welcome to join!
Message from BMS Science Olympiad:
Hello! I am the coach of the BMS Science Olympiad team, known as Coach Steve by parents and as Captain Planet by the students on the team. This year's Science Olympiad events are taking place, but they will be entirely virtual and remote. There are two competitions we will compete in.
One is an invitational through Harvard and Brown, in January. You can find out more about that event here: https://www.sciolyharvard.org/divb and here: https://www.facebook.com/sciolyharvard/
The other is the RI State event, which will take place but a date has not been set just yet (most likely will be mid-to-late March or early April). For more information on RI State SciOly, go here: http://www.ric.edu/faculty/organic/ScienceOlympiad/
Both events will follow the remote MiniSO format, which you can find out more about here: https://www.soinc.org/play/tournaments. We have 20 students on the team right now who are continuing from last year, which leaves over a dozen slots still open on the team for the Harvard-Brown event. For the RI State event, our top 15 Olympians and 4 alternates will compete.
We have weekly (alternating Wednesdays and Thursdays) team meetings by Zoom. Our next Zoom meeting is Thursday 22nd October at 4:00-4:45.
If your BMS student is interested in becoming an Olympian, please send me an email at bmsso@barringtonschools.org and I'll add them to the team!
Thanks and all the best!
-Steve Gaurin
BMS Science Fair Club!
We’re excited to announce that we’ll be bringing back the BMS science fair club! While the fair isn’t mandatory, it will give the students a chance to explore areas of science they’re interested in, reach out to professors in those fields, and learn how to professionally present their scientific research.
The club will prepare the students to present in front of judges at the statewide fair where they’ll get the opportunity to win various prizes and awards, including scholarship money. While the club is new, the club will be run by international science fair finalists from the high school and the high school’s current science fair teacher, along with a few other award-winning science fair students.
If your student is interested in learning more about the fair, please have him or her attend the introductory Zoom meeting on Wednesday, October 28th at 4 PM. The Zoom link may be found here: https://zoom.us/j/93201950216?pwd=Z2IrSCtaaDNGSStaNEpQVDJSQW1kdz09
The password for the meeting is: 2D17iZ
If you have any other questions about the meeting or science fair in general, please contact Josh Guertler at guertlerj21@barringtonschools.org.
Thanks to the great science teachers and passionate faculty, Barrington Middle School has done quite well at the state fair in past years, and we know that this year will be no exception. Thank you!
BMS Cluster Ambassadors:
This week, as part of our Start with Hello Week, we will also be speaking with our students (7th and 8th grade students during Lunch) about becoming Cluster Ambassadors. The concept of being an ambassador will be for students to promote inclusion in the classroom setting.
Interested students will receive specific training on how to include others in conversation, how to work with students with varying abilities in group work, and how to be a friend to all students. If your child would be interested in being a Cluster Ambassador, please pass your child’s name along to your child’s school counselor (6th grade: Mrs. Poirier at poirierj@barringtonschools.org, 7th grade: Ms. Sleboda at slebodak@barringtonschools.org and 8th grade: Mrs. Nary at narys@barringtonschools.org ).
Updated BMS Blue/Gold Calendar:
Please see our updated BMS Blue/Gold Calendar. In order to help with clarity, we alternated each day to either be Odd or Even. As you will notice, due to the number of days off in November, there will now be 3 Even Mondays in a row, followed by 2 Odd Mondays in a row.
BMS Daily Calendar 2020 - 2021
Student Attendance/early dismissal:
If your child is going to be absent from in-person learning or distance learning we ask that you contact the main office to let them know. If your child needs to be dismissed from school (distance learning) we ask you to follow the same procedure.If your child needs to be dismissed from In-person learning, we ask that you send us a note indicating who is picking up your child and at what time. It is important that we have accurate attendance records.
Canvas:
We are moving away from Google Classroom and beginning to use Canvas this year. We will be sending out specific directions to login and use Canvas. For now, we wanted to provide you with these introduction videos.
Unlike Google Classroom, you and your children will only have to log in to 1 Canvas Account to see all of your child's teachers at the elementary level and your child's courses at the secondary level.
Students’ Canvas Overview
https://community.canvaslms.co...
Parents’ Canvas Overview
https://community.canvaslms.co...
Notes about Screening Students:
Families and caregivers will screen students at home using a self-attestation form.
Fever is defined at 100° F or above related to this self-attestation form.
If a student has a low-grade fever, less than 100℉ before school, do not send your child to school and monitor at home for symptoms of illness or if increasing fever develops.
Remain in close contact with the school nurse or principal
If feeling well enough to learn, students monitored at home may engage in distance learning.
All students must stay home if they answer “Yes” to any screening questions before school.
If a student screens positive for any COVID-19 symptoms, the student’s parent/guardian should seek medical advice from the student’s healthcare provider and inform the school of the student’s absence and inform the school nurse (COVID-19 point of contact) at the school.
School staff (and bus drivers) should observe students throughout the day and refer students who may show signs of being symptomatic to the school nurse for assessment.
Nursing staff will monitor students who are symptomatic in isolation rooms until parents arrive and provide instructions for the next steps. Parents must pick up their children within one hour for the safety of all members of the community.
Barrington Community Information
Barrington AfterProm Closet Cleanout:
Donate your clothing, shoes, bedding, towels, hats, mittens, scarves, ties, belts, jewelry, handbags and backpacks to the Barrington AfterProm Closet Cleanout drive on Saturday, December 5 from 8AM - 2PM. Click here for the informational flyer.
Virtual Family Bingo Night:
The Friends of Barrington Public Library are hosting a Virtual Family Bingo Night on Wednesday, November 4 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. For more information, click here for the flyer. Register here!
Become a Library Card owner!
Barrington Public Library (BPL) and Barrington School Libraries have teamed up to make sure all students have a BPL card! "Get a Library Card" Flyer
Here is a link to the printable application. The application may be returned to Mrs. Roy during the month of October.
If you would prefer to apply online or need to replace a lost BPL card, please apply here.
Join the Adventure of Scouting with Troop 2 Barrington
Join us on Wednesdays at 5:00pm
Haines Memorial State Park (picnic site #20 -adjacent to boat ramp parking lot) Rte 103, East Providence, RI