Barrington Middle School

Note from our Social Worker: 

Dear Families,

As we move into the holiday season, all of us at BPS want to take a moment to remind you that our school community is here to support one another. This time of year can bring joy, but it can also bring added stress and challenges for many families. If your family could use some extra support—whether it’s accessing assistance with meals, resources for gifts, or other needs related to the season—please don’t hesitate to reach out.

School social workers can help connect you with community programs and local support to make sure every family feels cared for during this time. All conversations are confidential and handled with respect and sensitivity.

You can contact your school social worker at 401-247-3160.  Wishing you and your family peace, warmth, and connection this holiday season.

In partnership,

Dr. Anderson and Courtney Canario

Sports Nights: 

Our first Sports Night of the year is scheduled for Friday, November 14, 2025, from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

We are excited to inform you that BMS will continue our longstanding tradition of hosting Sports Nights for our BMS students. Please see the helpful hints below. Looking forward to a fun evening! 

What are Sports Nights?

• Sports Nights are opportunities for students to socialize outside of school hours. 

• A DJ provides music in the student union and the large gymnasium is open for basketball and other games. In addition, we will have board games, organized games, and quiet areas for students to play and relax. Proceeds from ticket sales and snack sales go to the student council and clubs/clusters that are hosting the event. 

• Sports Nights are chaperoned by the Principal, Assistant Principal, Teachers, and Staff.

What are Sports Nights Procedures/Expectations: 

• Only BMS students may attend.

• Students need to be present all day during the day of a Sports Night to attend.

• Tickets are $5 at the door. It is helpful for students to have exact change. 

• Students may bring additional money for snacks.  

• Drop off: Front loop or side parking lot; not before 5:50pm.

• Pick up: Students are dismissed at 8:00pm. Parents may pick up in the front loop or side of the building. 

• Cell phone rules: No cell phone use in Sports Night. If students need to make a call, please have your child see one of the chaperones. 

• If for some reason a student needs to leave early, the student may only be picked up by his/her family member. Students will not be able to go home early from a Sports Night with another parent. 

Sports Night Support: 

Inclusive Event: Sports Nights are inclusive events. If your child needs additional accommodations for Sports Night, please email me (andersona@barringtonschools.org) by Wednesday, November 12, 2025 to ensure we have plenty of time to secure accommodations. 

Donations/Chaperoning: Be on the lookout for a Signup Genius  to donate food/snacks/beverages, board games for our quiet room, and to sign up for an opportunity to assist at our snack table. 

Volunteers Needed for 8th Grade Shark Tank Presentations:

Students in the 8th Grade Entrepreneurship class have been busy developing business ideas and conducting research to create their initial business proposals. They are now in the final stages of their projects and preparing for their “Shark Tank” inspired presentations and we are looking for volunteer “Sharks”!

As a Shark, you will watch student presentations and use a simple rubric to provide teams with constructive feedback. No business experience is required, just enthusiasm and a willingness to support our students’ creativity and learning.

The Shark Tank presentations will take place on November 24th from 10:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. in the Student Union. If you are able to volunteer, please sign up using this SignUpGenius link. Contact Kellie Polando with any questions. polandok@barringtonschools.org

Kellie Polando, MBA

Business and Technology

Barrington Middle School

BMS Community Service Club’s Food Drive (Final Week):

The BMS Thanksgiving Food Drive continues this week!  There is a designated basket for each cluster, and each grade is responsible for collecting the items listed below (the winning grade will win a prize).  Any donations are greatly appreciated and are for a great cause. Thank you for all of your help!

Grade 6: Boxed stuffing, brownie, and bread mix

Grade 7: Canned vegetables and cranberry sauce

Grade 8: Boxed mashed potatoes, gravy, and boxed mac and cheese

BMS Library Newsletter:

Click here for the latest information from the BMS Media Center!  October Newsletter

Supporting Families During the Anticipated SNAP Benefit Interruption:

Dear Families,

Our school social work team understands that the government shutdown and the potential resulting delay or interruption of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits may create stress and uncertainty for many families. We want you to know that you are not alone.

We are committed to helping connect families with local community resources that can provide support with food, financial needs, and other essentials during this time. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your school’s social worker or counselor for confidential assistance and information about food pantries, meal programs, emergency services, and community organizations that can help bridge the gap.

Together, we can ensure that every student and family has the support they need.

Click here for a list of local food banks and community agencies serving the East Bay

~ BMS Current and Relevant News ~

BMS Picture Retake Day:

BMS school picture retake day is scheduled for the morning of Monday, November 17, 2025.  Picture packages were distributed to students two weeks ago.

There is no need to sign up for picture retake day.  If you are unhappy with your student’s first picture, simply have your student bring the picture package with them to the picture retake.  We will be calling students down by general cluster so no need to register ahead of time.  Students who were absent for the first picture day should just head to the retake location when their cluster is called.

If you have any questions about your pictures, please reach out to the Coffee Pond “lifeguards” at email lifeguards@coffeepond.com or call them at (508) 907-6633 ext. 0.

Join BMS’s School Improvement Team

BMS is seeking family members to join our School Improvement Team. The purpose of the SIT is to provide input on and monitoring of SMART Goals (School Improvement Plan) for continuous improvement based on the District Strategic Goals (Scorecard), data, and feedback provided by the school and district-based teams such as the data teams, the Health and Wellness Committee, Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) teams, and the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support teams.

Teams will provide voice and an avenue for communication from each building to their school community and the larger district community regarding progress toward our strategic goals and objectives. Teams will also be integral to the participatory governance of the school.  Student representatives are needed as well!

2025 - 2026: BMS School Improvement Team (SIT) Task Force

BMS Yearbook:

Time to order your BMS Yearbook!  Only $40!

1. Visit www.coffeepond.com

2. Click on tab “Yearbook”, then Yearbook Order.

3. Password:  BMS26

(Just do it now so you can check it off the to-do list!)

BMS Yearbook - 8th Grade Baby Pictures:

It’s tradition!  See how much the 8th graders have grown! Each year we have pages in the yearbook dedicated to 8th grade baby/toddler pictures and it’s always fun to see how far they’ve come.  Please complete this form and upload your child's baby/toddler photo directly. To avoid confusion, please ensure only one photo is uploaded per student.

PLEASE NOTE: You need to be signed into your or your child's gmail account. If not, you will not be able to upload the photo.

BMS PTO News:

Do you want to help the PTO but just don't have the time, don't worry! 

Paying PTO Dues for the year ($20) helps the PTO tremendously and is just a click away...

There will also be a cluster competition for the most PTO dues paid so help your kid's cluster today!

BMS PTO Dues

From time to time, it will be helpful to allow our Cluster Parent(s) to contact you by email regarding topics specific to the cluster. If you DO NOT wish to have your information shared with cluster parents or to be included in the PTO Directory, please complete this form no later than Wed, Nov. 26, 2025. Thank you! Opt Out

Latest 8th Grade Field Trip News Blast:

Click here!

~ BMS Student Activities ~

BMS Wrestling:

Any student interested in joining the BMS Wrestling team this year, please come to a meet and greet the coaches this Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 6 pm in the BMS Student Union.

BMS Boys & Girls Basketball:

There will be a mandatory meeting for all students and their parents who are interested in trying out for the BMS basketball team on Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 6:00 pm in the BMS Student Union.

~ Spotlight on Learning ~ 

This week, we would like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Mrs. Pomeranz. I am very thankful for Mrs. Pom. She is really kind and sweet. She always helps you with your work but she doesn't just tell you to do it. She explains every single question and never leaves you high and dry. Mrs. Pomeranz is super sweet. Also if you did all your work then she gives you jolly ranchers and hi-chews. Mrs. Pom is so nice and I think we all know that. On Fridays she also lets us have munchkins if we're good. In general, Ms. Pom is super kind and the reason I even wanted to write a shout-out. (Nominated by a BMS Student)

This week, we would like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Nate Amaral and Andreas Dokos. These two students were exemplary in including a student who has physical disabilities on their badminton team in PE, and they won the tournament! (nominated by Dr. Spohn)

This week, we would like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Ms. Spillane. Great work organizing our first community service/school spirit week of the year. It was awesome to see all of the food donations come in, as well as students showing their spirit by participating in the various dress-up days. Great work, Riley. 

This week, we would like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Mrs. Oswald. Mrs. Oswald's last day as our long-term sub was on Friday, October 31, 2025. Thank you, Mrs. Oswald, for starting the year out on Purple Cluster for Mrs. Garrepy. Thank you for providing support and stability while Mrs. Garrepy enjoyed her maternity leave. 

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

BMS Spotlight Nomination 

~ Community News ~

News from the Barrington Farm School:

Why compost?

Methane is a greenhouse gas 28 times more potent than CO2. According to the EPA, 58% of landfill methane emissions are caused by food waste! Composting food reduces those methane emissions by approximately 50%!

-           Contributed by Barrington Farm School

Barrington Community Flu Clinics:

Coming soon!  Get your seasonal protection against the flu

• Barrington Middle School, Wednesday, November 19, 2025 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Click here for the flier and registration information.

Barrington Public Library:

The Barrington Public Library is hosting a Fall Book Sale on November 14 & 15 from 10 AM to 4 PM and November 16 from 12 PM to 3 PM.  

Bayside YMCA Jr. Celtics Youth Basketball League:

Youth Basketball League Information