Barrington Middle School
BMS Connected Learning Newsletter 4.13.2020 (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).
Friday, April 17, 2020: No School- Teacher Prep/PD Day (State Wide)
Friday, April 17, 2020: Deadline for ordering BMS Yearbook (email Mr. Kearns at kearnsb@barringtonschools.org for information)
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 our BMS Curriculum Chairs Mr. Jeffry Blanchet, Mrs. Marianne Combies, Mr. Peter McFarland, Mrs. Mary Roberts, and Ms. Dusty Ryan! Over the past weeks they have met with their respective departments on a number of occasions and gathered feedback to best create a plan for moving forward that places an emphasis on quality of instruction and balancing screen/non screen activities. Thank you for your leadership and all of your hard work!
BMS New Information
Distance Learning Special Edition
New 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.
Distance Learning Schedule Week of 4/12/2020
Date | Day | Specials |
Monday April 13, 2020 | Day 1 Block | 6th Grade Specials 7th/8th Grade Independent Practice |
Tuesday April 14, 2020 | Day 2 Block | 6th Grade Specials 7th/8th Grade Independent Practice |
Wednesday April 15, 2020 | Day 3 Block | 7th Grade Specials 6th/8th Grade Independent Practice |
Thursday April 16, 2020 | Day 4 Block | 7th Grade Specials 6th/8th Grade Independent Practice |
Friday April 17, 2020 | Teacher PD Day No School | Teacher PD Day No School |
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.
Old Information:
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.