Barrington Middle School

BMS Upcoming Events: 

• April 9 & 12th - Grade 6 ELA RICAS testing (In person and distance learners)

• April 13 & 14 - Grade 8 ELA RICAS testing (Blue group A-K in person and distance learners)

• April 15 & 16 - Grade 8 ELA RICAS testing (Gold group L-Z in person and distance learners)

• April 19 - April 23 - NO SCHOOL- Spring Break

Week of April 12, 2021:

BMS Spotlight on Learning: 

This week, we would like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Mrs. Kristen White. Mrs. Kristen White has been reading and discussing Being the Change: Lessons and Strategies to Teach Social Comprehension as part of our faculty professional growth book club. She took what she learned about identity webs and had her 7th and 8th grade students create self-portrait identity art. It is hanging in the front hallway and the student work is amazing and honest. (Nominated by a BMS Faculty/Staff Member)

This week, we would also like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Mrs. Connie Oswald. Mrs. Connie Oswald leads the Eagle-Gazette school newspaper every Friday afternoon, mentoring incredible student writers. She is caring and supportive and provides them the opportunity to use and hone their writing skills for a real purpose and audience. Bravo, Mrs. Oswald! (Nominated by a BMS Faculty/Staff Member). 

This week, we would also like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Luke Weller. Every morning, the Razz teachers welcome students as they enter the building and head to their first class. It has taken some time, but more students say hello each day. Luke has been saying hello to us every day. He enthusiastically comes into the building and wishes us a good day before we can even get the words out. This is such a wonderful way to start our day and we want to shine some light on Luke who brings us such joy in the morning. (Nominated by Razz Cluster Teachers). 

Do you know of a BMS Faculty/Staff member that is shining bright! If you do, please complete the form below and we can include the nomination in an upcoming newsletter. 

BMS Spotlight Nomination 

Seeking Lunch Monitors: 

Barrington Middle School is ready to return to full in-person learning on April 26. However, an important component to the reopening of our secondary schools is the supervision of our students during their lunch periods. We need a total of 6 lunch monitors to help us achieve this goal. Currently, 3 individuals have applied. Please apply on https://www.schoolspring.com/job.cfm?jid=3490394 or email Nancy Gladney at gladneyn@barringtonschools.org  to obtain an application.

Barrington Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As a District employee, you would be eligible to receive a RI COVID vaccination.

Kids Read Across RI: 

Join us for the Kids Read Across RI book club where we will discuss Becoming Muhammad Ali by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander. The first 16 students to sign up will receive a free book courtesy of RI Center for the Book. We will meet through Zoom on Tuesday, May 4 at 4 pm. You can sign up for the book club here. Be sure to also sign up for the virtual author visit generously provided through RI Center for the Book on Thursday, April 29 at 1 pm. If you cannot attend the live visit, you will get a link to watch the recorded presentation. 

Climate Change Month: 

During the month of April, Climate Change Month will take place. The purpose of Climate Change Month is to learn about the impacts of climate change and what we can do to help ensure that we have a brighter future. 

There will be many events taking place during this time:

• A marine biologist from URI will host a webinar explaining how climate change affects Rhode Island directly - link to learn more about her.

• Students will learn about climate change in their classes. 

• There will be a fundraiser. Proceeds will be sent to the Coalition for Rainforest Nations, which is widely considered to be one of the most impactful charities in helping combat climate change. A donation of just 10 dollars to the Coalition for Rainforest Nations will avert approximately 85 metric tons of CO2 (or the equivalent in other greenhouse gases). 

Thank you for your help,

Members of  the Youth for Climate Action club

DEI Art Show: 

April 16 is the last day to send a submission for the DEI  Arts Show that will be livestreamed on April 29th to the entire Barrington School Community!

Submissions can be any form of art:  visual, music, dance, words, etc.  Any art that is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-themed and school appropriate is welcome and encouraged!!!

Please submit your completed art by email to:  Mrs. Grieco, Emmett Van Leer, Sarah Catani, or Aquinnah Crosby by April 16th to be included in the show!!

We can't wait to have your submissions!!!

Afternoon Pickup: 

In order for our pickup procedures to run smoothly, it is important that families plan accordingly and arrive to BMS at the times of dismissal. We have noticed, as of late, a number of cars arriving to school before 3:00pm to pick up their children who are dismissed at the last dismissal time. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. 

Dismissal Times: 

• 3:00pm: Yellow, Aqua, Purple 

• 3:07: Razz, Blue, Green 

• 3:14: Lime, Orange, Red 

Book Fair:

The Book Fair will end on April 14, 2021. We will continue to be running our virtual book fair this year, meaning all sales will be conducted through the BMS Scholastic Book Fair page and the books will be shipped directly to your home.  We’ll have over 6,000 titles from which to choose, including books for younger children.  For book-only orders totaling $25 or more, shipping is free!

Click here for the BMS Book Fair Online Link to set up your family’s e-wallet.  The fair is open from March 22-April 14.  Any questions? Please contact Book Fair Parent Chair, Jodi Multer, at  JodiHelman@gmail.com or text at 917-623-7652.  Help support BMS with a purchase at the book fair!

Upcoming BMS Zoom Events for 5th Grade Families:

In order to prepare families for their students’ transition to the middle school next year, BMS administration and faculty will be hosting a few informational open houses on Zoom.  Click here for specific topics and dates.

BMS Yearbook:

Students are working hard on producing a yearbook this year!  For ordering information please click here!

BMS After School Track & Field:

Sprinters!  Jumpers! Throwers!  Hurdlers!  Distance Runners!  Or kids who have never done track and want to learn!  Sign up for Spring Track & Field! 

It will be a lot of fun, and the season is later this year, so the weather should be awesome.

BPS Volunteers:

BPS volunteers, do you want to be ready to volunteer?  Make sure that you have an updated BCI on file with the Volunteer Office every two years.  Need a BCI?  Visit the RI Attorney General’s Office.  A copy of the completed BCI should be emailed to the BPS volunteer office.  Questions?  Contact BPS Volunteer Coordinator, Anita DiMatteo, DiMatteoA@barringtonschools.org.

Barrington Public Library - April Vacation Programs:

For grades 6 thru 12 outside!  Programs on 4/20, 4/21 & 4/22.  Click here for the informational flyer.

BHS Unified Theater “Game Night”

BHS Unified Theater is presenting “Game Night” this Wednesday, April 14 at 7:00 pm.  Tune in for a night of classic game shows with a crazy twist!  Watch the show at https://www.ennsunrise.com/unifiedtheater.html.

Upcoming BMS Zoom Events for 5th Grade Families:

In order to prepare families for their students’ transition to the middle school next year, BMS administration and faculty will be hosting a few informational open houses on Zoom.  Click here for specific topics and dates.

State Assessment Information: 

General Information: 

This week we will be starting our RICAS ELA assessment. Please see the document with some important information and the RICAS schedule.  It is important to note: on days that 7th & 8th grade students are tested we will have a building schedule change.  This schedule will be communicated to students by their teachers.  

To help ensure student success:

• Please be sure that your child arrives at school by 8:40 am 

• Please be sure students have a healthy breakfast

• Please help to ensure students have a fully charged chromebook each day

Distance Learners:

Distance learners at the middle school will be taking the assessments on the same day as their in-person peers.  Please see the document with the schedule. Distance learners will be testing in our gymnasium to ensure we can keep all students safe and maintain social distancing during testing. The assessment will begin at approximately 9:00 am.  Students need to make sure they arrive at school by 8:40 am.  Upon completion of the assessment, we will contact a parent/guardian so that you may pick up your child.  Each assessment takes approximately 90-120 minutes to complete.

Safety protocols will be put in place to ensure our students remain safe and healthy.  Before the distance learners come into the schools and upon completion of the assessment, we will disinfect the assessment location.  Tables will be cleaned and sanitized.  Students will sit apart from each other, minimally six feet of separation between students.  All students will be required to wear a mask while taking the assessment.  

Students will need to bring their school-issued Chromebooks with them to the assessment.  Please be sure that your students have completed all updates on their chromebooks prior to their scheduled assessment dates.  If your child is having any issues with their device please submit a tech request as soon as possible so that we can be sure their device is working properly for testing.  

If your child is sick on their scheduled assessment date, the state assessment will need to be made up.  The school will work with you to set up a mutually convenient time before the assessment window closes. 

Grade 7 & 8 in person learners:

Students in grade 7 & 8 that attend in person learning 5 days a week will be taking the assessment on their designated days (Blue A-K, or Gold L-Z days).  On days students are not tested, they will be monitored in the BMS Student Union.  During this time they will be responsible for completing their assigned work in Canvas.  When the testing block is completed students will resume their normal schedule. 

Grade 7 & 8- Blue group students:

When the Blue group (A-K) students are testing, the Gold group (L-Z) students learning at home will be working on independent assignments in Canvas.  They will not be zooming during the testing block.  Clusters will provide students with the time that they should be logging into zoom each day.  

Grade 7 & 8- Gold group students:

When the Gold group (L-Z) students are testing, the Blue group (A-K) students learning at home will be working on independent assignments in Canvas.  They will not be zooming during the testing block.  Clusters will provide students that are learning at home with the time that they should be logging into zoom each day they are testing.  

News from our BMS Media Center: 

BMS Weekly Trivia:

4/12 BMS Trivia

4/13 BMS Trivia

4/14 BMS Trivia

4/15 BMS Trivia

4/16 BMS Trivia

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 

BMS Media Center Newsletter:

Click here for the monthly BMS Media Center newsletter!

Stay Connected with BMS! 

https://www.barringtonschools.org/o/middle-school

BMS Morning Announcements

Twitter: @bms_ri #bmsshines