Friday, September 29, 2017

BCMS Students and Parents;

End of Week Notes and Updates

IMPORTANT – for All Students & Parents - PAC – Student Leadership Committee Update

All BCMS students were asked how they would like to “Make BCMS better” and they suggested the 9 domains referenced in the diagram below.



You can also see that our students’ interest in the importance of these domains is spread somewhat evenly and impressively.

Our next step in developing each of these areas is to connect our students to the clubs and committees that take up these charges.

Examples:
  • Mr. Reilly’s “Helping Hands” club is a phenomenal model of helping others who are less fortunate
  • Ms. Sanders’ “No Place 4 Hate” celebrates diversity, tolerance & acceptance of all and works to create this in our school
In the coming week we will announce when these committees meet and we will be encouraging students to join those that are their passions!  Students will be allowed to take on whatever amount of leadership they are ready for and they WILL CHANGE OUR SCHOOL FOR THE BETTER!

We encourage all of our students (6th, 7th and 8th graders!) to participate.

So look for email about each committee throughout next week.


A Fundamental Leadership Skill … we are beginning to Teach NOW
Effective Leaders (at any age) are great communicators.  Middle School students typically have not developed the habit of checking email.  We will be working on this with them because we will share more and more information with them through this medium.  Meeting times of our Leadership Committees, their agendas, and our action planning will all be communicated through email so we ask that parents be patient with us as we copy these messages to you to help your student develop the habit of checking email at least once each day.  (We will also work on this during the school day).


Players Tribune – A Great Reading Resource for Athletes & Stories about Resilience
As a young science teacher a number of years ago I realized that LITERACY was both a key and an impediment to my students’ success.  My wife was teaching 3rd grade and I was teaching 8th and I began to use many of her reading and writing strategies in my classes.

Later in my career, as I began to study great teachers and as I took on more responsibility to plan professional development for and with teachers, I learned that great schools get their students to read and write well.  This lesson has never left me.

So here’s one of the most valuable lessons I’ve ever learned as a parent; if you want your kids to be great readers, let them read what they love.  BC teachers from Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade will continue to push students toward finding authors and genres they love.  With this in mind I’m sharing a great resource that I would have devoured as a Tween and Teen.

The Player’s Tribune was begun by Derek Jeter (yes, that Derek Jeter) as an e-magazine by athletes (they are the authors) and for everyone.  This week’s article has a great story about the New York Knicks recent draft pick.

Caution – all content may not be appropriate for readers younger than Middle School.


Farm to You Fest … All Next Week!
BCMS celebrates our local farming community once again through “Farm to You Fest 2017.”
  • Mon – Fri our AM announcements feature agricultural questions for prizes each day
  • Wednesday is our Guess the Weight of the Pumpkin
  • Wednesday is also Walk / Ride to School Day – help save the planet by getting yourself to school!
  • Friday is our “Salads for Kids Day” where any student who would like one can get a salad with produce grown organically in the BCMS Gardens thanks to Mr. Warford and Garden Club
  • Saturday is Scavenger Hunt at the Delmar Farmer’s market


A reminder that “BC Meals Night” runs through Tuesdays in October @ “Garden Bistro 24” (look for SNN’s to see the menu each week and you can call ahead and take-out)  The menu each week features more organic produce that was grown in the BCMS Gardens!



Friday, October 6, is our “Go Home Early Drill”
We ask that all parents allow their child to go home via district transportation on this date to allow students the practice of understanding how we proceed through this drill.  All students, including students who do NOT have a bus route because of how close they live to Middle School are assigned to a bus and will be given a ride home on district transportation.  Our dismissal is 2:30 PM and we ask parents not to pick up students unless for a previously scheduled appointment.  A reminder that this drill is a mandate by New York State of all Public Schools.

From our PTO

Thanks to everyone for supporting our PTO

Remember you have until 10/6 to join & be included in the directory; easiest way is to go to our PTO website, bcmspto.org and do online.  Also, you can pay for the agenda book, there if you haven’t already done so.

Volunteer Opportunities:


Upcoming Events
  • 10/2@ 7:00pm  BCMS PTO Meeting: LMC
  • featuring presentations on the various MCMS clubs & activities



Please remember to bring in your Box Tops (receptacle box in lobby)



Have a Great Weekend!







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