Barrington Middle School 

BMS Connected Learning Newsletter 2.24.2020

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).

  • Tuesday, February 25, 2020: BMS Family Internet Safety/Awareness Discussion, BMS Auditorium, BMS, 7:00 pm. 

  • Thursday, February 27, 2020:  BMS Variety Show - Showcase of talented BMS students in the BMS Auditorium starting at 7:00 pm; more information to come

  • Monday, March 2, 2020:  PTO meeting at 7:00 pm in Room 1202 ; agenda includes presentation by our Student Assistance Counselor, Katie Hamel and members of East Bay Tobacco Youth Council on the dangers of vaping

  • Monday, March 9, 2020:  No School 

  • Monday, March 16, 2020:  Trimester 3 begins

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 our BMS Buddies! Last week, our very own BMS Buddies was highlighted in the Barrington Times for their recent hat project. Students with all abilities came together to decorate hats that they donated to Hasbro Children’s Hospital. We would especially like to thank Ms. Cami DeMarco, Mrs. Gail Robinson, and Mrs. Maisey Morey for your leadership and bringing this amazing experience to our students. 

This week would also like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Mr. Brett Kearns, Grant Culton, and Maddox Godwin for organizing last week’s first ever BMS Winter Carnival. Clusters had an opportunity to compete head-to-head in “minute-to-win it” type games. It was a great event that showcased our BMS School Spirit! We would also like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Ms. Annemarie Gower, Ms. Kara Scanlon, and Mr. Bill Letizia for being our “official” judges for the events. We could not have done this without you! 

Finally, we would like to shine our BMS Spotlight on 7th grade students Emma Pautz, Gigi Case, Phoebe Terrell, Avery Cannon, and Abby Goblick for presenting to our entire faculty on the topic of Climate Change. As a result of this presentation, faculty and students began to co-plan lessons and activities around Climate Change that will take place later on in March. Great work students! 

BMS New Information

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

 

Internet Safety Night: 

On Tuesday, February 25, 2020, our School Counselors, School Administration, and Resource Officer will be providing our families with an Internet Safety / Awareness Presentation beginning at 7:00 pm in our school’s auditorium.  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PRm9cWiGOXBDlZOGUrzzFpRJgDb4p-KC/view?usp=sharing

 

BMS Variety Show: 

On Thursday, February 27, 2020 we will be having our annual BMS Variety Show beginning at 7:00 pm in our school’s auditorium. Our talented students have been working hard and are excited to put on a great show. We will be having a day performance for our students on March 6, 2020. Optional donations at the door to benefit the Australian Red Cross.

 

BMS Winter Band Concert Photos: 

A parent volunteer, Mr. Bill Dwyer, took a number of amazing photos from last month’s BMS Winter Band Concert. Please see a link to the wonderful photos and enjoy! Thank you Mr. Dwyer for your service! 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PxyLFxD47c7Sx4fr9

 

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

 

8th Grade Washington DC Update February 24, 2020: 

As many of you are aware, this year, we were in need to change our funding procedures for our field trips. Please see a link to a recent email that was sent to our 8th grade families regarding the status of our 8th Grade Washington, DC trip. In addition to our 8th grade families, we would welcome any donations from our greater community to help fund the trip. Thank you in advance for your consideration. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PuFoHcQsTgt7oSEBkKBF5unglWAaPjMN/view?usp=sharing

 

 

BMS Old Information

 Reminder from the BMS Office:

If your student will be absent from school, please call the BMS office starting at 8:00 am to let us know.  If your student needs to be dismissed from school, please have the student bring a note from home to the office before they go to homeroom.  The note should specify the date, time and pickup person of the dismissal. Unfortunately, per school policy, the office cannot accept emails excusing a student’s absence or dismissal.  

 

BMS Library Hedgehog Craft:

Come build an adorable book hedgehog!  Monday, Feb 24 and Monday, March 2. Free- This is an outreach by the Public Library HELD AT BMS. Students must sign up in the BMS Office by Feb 20.

 

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 2 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.

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.

From our nurse, Mrs. Johnson:

Unfortunately, this is the time of year that we see an increase in illnesses; colds, ear infections, strep throat, stomach bugs and the flu.  Please be aware that although we rarely see “outbreaks”, there have been several cases of reported flu and often there’s a little bit of everything going around.  At school we do our best to encourage good health habits, particularly hand washing and hope that you will do the same at home.

 

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. 

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

BMS Volunteers Needed to support and monitor students during BMS Peer Tutoring and ZAP

Starting in late January 

  • Time Commitment: Flexible

  • BMS Peer Tutoring Volunteer- Volunteer will monitor students (walk around, make sure students are on task and answer questions).

            Tuesdays, 2:25- 3:15: beginning January 21st

            Library Media Center

  • BMS ZAP Volunteer- Volunteer will monitor students (walk around, make sure students are on task and answer questions). 

            Wednesdays and Thursdays, 2:25- 3:15: beginning January 22nd

            Library Media Center

Click on the link to sign up:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E084CADAD2AA2F94-bmszap

New After-School Club for Students:

All students are invited to join the Creative Writing Club!  The BMS Creative Writing Club is being run by AP Language Students from Barrington High School.  During meetings, students can work on writing projects, collaborate and write with prompts provided to them.  If your student is interested in creative writing, we encourage them to try it out! Meetings are every other Thursday after school in the 8th grade breakout space with the next meeting on Thursday, February 6. 

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.  

 

Tardy/Dismissal Policy Reminder:

In order to participate in sport practices, sport contests, extracurricular activities and school sponsored functions, students must be present in school during the whole day. Students missing school for reasons other than illness must request in writing to be excused in advance of the absence by a school administrator in order to participate in sport practices, sport contests, extracurricular activities and school sponsored functions.  

 

Students are allowed six tardies to school per trimester. On the seventh and subsequent tardy to school the student will be assigned office detention.   

 

Students absent or tardy to school on Friday or a day preceding a holiday and/or a weekend activity are ineligible to participate in the event unless the absence is excused in advance by an administrator.  

 

Excessive tardiness may preclude students from participation in dances, Sports’ Nights, sports, and extracurricular activities. For more information, please see the BMS handbook.

BMS Yearbook:

Ordering your 2019-2020 BMS Yearbook is open!  Order online now here.  Code:  1540720

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. 

 

BMS Office Information:

The BMS Office is open daily from 8:00 am until 3:45 pm.  As always, students need a note from home given to the office before homeroom on days when they will be dismissed early.  We are very impressed by the number of students, especially 6th graders, that have followed our procedure and come to the office on their own to meet their parents for dismissal!  Well done! 

 

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

How to Get a BCI

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. 

Standing Items

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 

www.barringtonmiddlepto.org

 

BMS Community News

Volunteers Needed:

Do you enjoy volunteering and working with students who are learning English?  Do you speak a language other than English? Would you like to mentor an EL family?  Please click here for more information!

East Bay Lacrosse:

East Bay Lacrosse offers girls and boys programs for players in Kindergarten through 8th grade.  Registration for East Bay Lacrosse will close on Friday, February 15th. If you would like to learn more or to register, please visit www.eastbaylax.org.

Barrington Little League:

Little League Registration is open!  Please click here for the informational flyer.