Barrington Middle School

BMS Upcoming Events: 

• No In-Person School:  Monday, May 17, 2021, is a professional development day for our faculty and staff.  Students will have a non-virtual day of school.  The work they will do on this day will be posted on your child’s classroom teacher’s Canvas page.

• Year in Review Family Feedback Session 2, May 18, 2021 at 6:00 pm. 

• Middle School Math Progression Night, May 19, 2021 at 6:00pm. 

Week of May 16, 2021:

Cluster Preference Form and Program Form (incoming 7th Grade): 

This week, we will be emailing our incoming 7th grade families the Cluster Preference and Program Form for the 2021 - 2022 academic school year. Preference/Program form will be due by Tuesday, June 1, 2021 by 4:00pm. 

Program Preference Form (incoming 8th Grade): 

This school year, our incoming 8th graders will be provided time during the first week of June to select their 8th grade allied art experiences through aspen. 

8th Grade Year End Celebration Planning Update: 

Over the past few months, a sub-committee of PTO members and 8th Grade teachers has been hard at work planning our year-end activities. 

On a typical year, our end of the year activities includes our Bridge Ceremony (parent/students) held at the high school followed by a dinner/dance (students only); field day, and a march/clap out for our 8th graders on the last day of school.  

This year, we are working hard on planning similar experiences. All plans have to be approved by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) and developed based on their guidelines. Working plans include an 8th Grade Legacy Project, Bridge Ceremony (still exploring in-person options), an exciting and creative “Field Day” experience, and our traditional 8th-grade march/clap out.  Of course, we will be providing a number of gifts to our students as well. 

It is important to provide context to our Bridge Ceremony. Nearly 10 years ago, we introduced the Bridge Ceremony as an event where the three 8th grade clusters could come together as one united group and officially begin the bridge from middle school to high school. We included parents/guardians in this ceremony as we know family support plays a pivotal role in the success and development of students. A challenge we are working through is determining location and space. It is important to note that to hold a typical Bridge Ceremony, we would need a place to hold 925 individuals (300 students, 2 additional tickets per student, and 25 faculty/staff members). Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity in our school gymnasium/high school gymnasium or school grounds (as our grounds are not yet available for use), and collectively, the 8th Grade Planning Committee feels an outdoor option at BHS Victory Field would not be appropriate as that is the place for High School Graduation. 

For planning purposes, 8th Grade celebrations will happen during the last week of school. 

Please stay tuned for more information on our end-of-the-year activities. 

Mental Health Awareness Month Led by Student Council:

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and BMS has some exciting plans! These plans include (but are not limited to) bringing in speakers to talk to each grade about mental health, holding a fundraiser, a whiteboard decorating contest, and spirit days. This month, Relax and Rewind Day will also be introduced to students. Our Student Council hopes R&R can take place during FAST. It is suggested to plan a brief R&R activity on Wednesdays and Fridays during FAST for students to settle down. Each week has a theme: week one is arts and crafts, week two is puzzles and board games, week three is physical activity, and week four is movies and decoration. Student Council will provide you with a list of creative ideas for R&R activities that can be incorporated into FAST. 

In addition, to support mental health awareness, the Student Council is asking students/faculty to wear green throughout the month:  Wednesday, May 5th; Friday, May 14th; Tuesday, May 18th; and Friday, May 28th.

Book Drive! 

There is currently a book drive being held from now until May 30th. All donations will go to Books Are Wings, which supplies books to children in need, or Books Through Bars, which donates books to inmates across the country. Paperback books are preferred, and no spiral bound books. Please drop off donations in the designated box on each floor. 

Year in Review Family Feedback Opportunities: 

BMS will continue to provide families with an opportunity in May to provide feedback on what went well this year and opportunities for improvement. The goal of these meetings is to hear from families on what worked well as we navigated learning over this past year and what strategies/practices we want to continue next school year. 

• Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 6:00 pm (zoom link: will be sent to families the day prior)

Seasonal Allergies vs. COVID-19?  News from the Nurse:

Please click here for a summary of how to identify whether symptoms are related to seasonal allergies or COVID-19.

RICAS Update: 

Grade 7:

Grade 7 Math RICAS testing, will be administered on Thursday, May 20th and Friday, May 21st.  Grade 7 distance learners will also be taking the assessments on these dates.  

Grade 8:

The Next Generation Science Assessment (NGSA) will be administered on Thursday, May 27th and Friday, May 28th.  Grade 8 distance learners will also be taking the assessments on these dates.  

Make-Ups for RICAS will be held this week and next week for students that missed a session(s).  Students that are distance learners,  please be on the lookout for an email from your school counselor with a makeup date.  

News from our BMS Media Center: 

BMS Weekly Trivia:

5/18 BMS Trivia

5/19 BMS Trivia

5/20 BMS Trivia

5/21 BMS Trivia

Reading Week Opportunity for BMS Students:

Are you interested in reading a picture book to Barrington Elementary students during their reading week? Sign up to be a BMS Reader to get more information on how we will create videos for students at Primrose, Sowams, and Nayatt. Fill out this form to let us Mrs. Roy and Mrs. Van Leer know that you are interested.

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