Weekly Update -- August 7-16, 2019
Important Dates
Events and Activities:
August 7: First Day of School
August 9: Grade-Level Meeting During Flex (Boys)
August 12: Grade-Level Meeting During Flex (Girls)
August 12-14: BMS Cross Country Tryouts
August 15: Curriculum Night; 5:30p
August 17: Buford Night at the Gwinnett Stripers; BMS Band Performance at Game
August 25-29: BMS Sideline Cheerleading Tryouts
Tests/Projects:
August 7: First Day of School
August 9: Grade-Level Meeting During Flex (Boys)
August 12: Grade-Level Meeting During Flex (Girls)
August 12-14: BMS Cross Country Tryouts
August 15: Curriculum Night; 5:30p
August 17: Buford Night at the Gwinnett Stripers; BMS Band Performance at Game
August 25-29: BMS Sideline Cheerleading Tryouts
Tests/Projects:
Announcements
1. Summer reading articles must be completed and ready to use on Thursday, August 8. If possible, students should print the articles at home or in the BMS Media Center prior to language arts that day. Please see the Summer Reading page on this website for access to the articles.
2. Please plan to attend Curriculum Night at BMS on Thursday, August 15, at 5:30pm. This is a great opportunity to visit with each of your child's teachers and learn more about classroom expectations and curriculum standards.
3. Teachers will discuss the three field trip options for eighth grade during FLEX on August 13, and students will bring home an informational form for parents to sign. This signed acknowledgement must be returned to your student's first period teacher no later than Friday, August 23.
2. Please plan to attend Curriculum Night at BMS on Thursday, August 15, at 5:30pm. This is a great opportunity to visit with each of your child's teachers and learn more about classroom expectations and curriculum standards.
3. Teachers will discuss the three field trip options for eighth grade during FLEX on August 13, and students will bring home an informational form for parents to sign. This signed acknowledgement must be returned to your student's first period teacher no later than Friday, August 23.
Curriculum Night -- August 15
Please join us for BMS Curriculum Night to learn more about what's happening in your child's classroom.
Schedule
5:30 - 5:45 Pick up a copy of your child's schedule if you do not have access to it on Power School and find the 1st period teacher's classroom.
5:45 - 6:05 1st Academic Period Teacher presentation
6:10 - 6:30 2nd Academic Period Teacher presentation (for 8th graders, this is 3rd period)
6:35 - 6:55 3rd Academic Period Teacher presentation (for 6th & 8th graders, this is 4th period)
7:00 - 7:20 4th Academic Period Teacher presentation (for 6th & 8th graders, this is 5th period)
There are no "dress-down" bands this year. We are happy to have you visit the building, meet your student's academic teachers, and learn about ways to help your student at home.
**There will be NO Savannah field trip parent meeting on Curriculum Night this year. Please see the "Field Trips" tab on this page for more information about that opportunity.
Schedule
5:30 - 5:45 Pick up a copy of your child's schedule if you do not have access to it on Power School and find the 1st period teacher's classroom.
5:45 - 6:05 1st Academic Period Teacher presentation
6:10 - 6:30 2nd Academic Period Teacher presentation (for 8th graders, this is 3rd period)
6:35 - 6:55 3rd Academic Period Teacher presentation (for 6th & 8th graders, this is 4th period)
7:00 - 7:20 4th Academic Period Teacher presentation (for 6th & 8th graders, this is 5th period)
There are no "dress-down" bands this year. We are happy to have you visit the building, meet your student's academic teachers, and learn about ways to help your student at home.
**There will be NO Savannah field trip parent meeting on Curriculum Night this year. Please see the "Field Trips" tab on this page for more information about that opportunity.
Curriculum OVerview
Language Arts
Students will begin writing an essay based on the articles for summer reading. The majority of this essay will be completed during class.
Students also have activities assigned in IXL each week. Check your child's agenda for specific activities and due dates.
All students are completing Wordly Wise vocabulary lessons during flex beginning August 15. We will quiz over these words in language arts approximately every two weeks.
All language arts classes are assigned one independent reading book per quarter. Please check the individual teacher websites for more specific details.
For Mrs. Duncan's advanced content language arts, please visit her website--bmskduncan.weebly.com/calendar-and-lesson-plans.html
Students also have activities assigned in IXL each week. Check your child's agenda for specific activities and due dates.
All students are completing Wordly Wise vocabulary lessons during flex beginning August 15. We will quiz over these words in language arts approximately every two weeks.
All language arts classes are assigned one independent reading book per quarter. Please check the individual teacher websites for more specific details.
For Mrs. Duncan's advanced content language arts, please visit her website--bmskduncan.weebly.com/calendar-and-lesson-plans.html
Math
For math, students will begin a unit of study on solving equations. We will begin with simple one-step equations as a review and work through multi-step equations with variable on both sides. Our first test is scheduled for August 20th. .
For Mrs. Shirley's and Mrs. McGee's accelerated/high school math class, please visit her website--bmsshirley.weebly.com/acc-coord-alg--analytic-geo-class.html
For Mrs. Shirley's and Mrs. McGee's accelerated/high school math class, please visit her website--bmsshirley.weebly.com/acc-coord-alg--analytic-geo-class.html
Social Studies
In Georgia Studies we are starting our units on Georgia's Geography. Students will be completing various assignments and projects in regards to the regions, land forms and cities in our state. Please check Google Classroom for specific assignments.
Science
Science classes will concentrate on physical properties of matter and will complete activities involving density.
For information on Physical Science, please check the website: https://bmsphysicalscience.weebly.com/
For information on Physical Science, please check the website: https://bmsphysicalscience.weebly.com/
BMS Counseling Information
Parents, please see the following link to our Counseling Department website for relevant resources, articles, and tips for parenting in this digital age.
https://bufordmiddleguidance.weebly.com/index.html
https://bufordmiddleguidance.weebly.com/index.html
Say Something--A Program to Prevent Youth Violence
The BMS Counseling Department is presenting Say Something, a program to prevent youth violence from the Sandy Hook Promise, to all grade levels over the next two weeks. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
shp_say_something_parent_brochure_2016.pdf | |
File Size: | 1587 kb |
File Type: |
Parent Involvement Opportunities--VIP Program
Are you looking for a way to help at school but don't have a lot of time? Have you considered the PTO's VIP Program. This is a great way for our PTO and parents to help our teachers focus more on the classroom and students and less on making copies, etc. We have opportunities twice a week for parents to stop by for an hour, make some quick copies, and be out and on with the rest of their day. It's a great way to make a huge impact in a short amount of time. If you have further questions, please feel free to email our PTO at [email protected].
General Reminders for Eighth Grade students and Parents
Discipline--
Students receive new discipline and organizational mark cards each semester. The discipline cards are blue and should be stapled in the BACK of the student agenda. The organizational mark cards are yellow and should be stapled in the FRONT of the agenda.
Please Note:
1. The discipline card has more rigorous consequences for 8th graders. Students will receive a written warning for the first behavior infraction. Students will get one silent lunch for the second behavior violation. Subsequent violations will result in a detention and finally office referrals for any further infractions, which will start with a minimum of a half-day of ISS.
2. The organizational mark cards monitor behaviors that do not interfere with classroom instruction. ANY infraction with organization will result in a mark on the card. Students should come to class prepared each day and not need to return to their lockers for supplies.
Late Work--
In the student agenda on page 4, the policy for 8th grade is that assignments may be accepted for ONE day with the highest grade of a seventy (70). Assignments will not be accepted on or after the second day.
Students receive new discipline and organizational mark cards each semester. The discipline cards are blue and should be stapled in the BACK of the student agenda. The organizational mark cards are yellow and should be stapled in the FRONT of the agenda.
Please Note:
1. The discipline card has more rigorous consequences for 8th graders. Students will receive a written warning for the first behavior infraction. Students will get one silent lunch for the second behavior violation. Subsequent violations will result in a detention and finally office referrals for any further infractions, which will start with a minimum of a half-day of ISS.
2. The organizational mark cards monitor behaviors that do not interfere with classroom instruction. ANY infraction with organization will result in a mark on the card. Students should come to class prepared each day and not need to return to their lockers for supplies.
Late Work--
In the student agenda on page 4, the policy for 8th grade is that assignments may be accepted for ONE day with the highest grade of a seventy (70). Assignments will not be accepted on or after the second day.
BMS Field Trip Guidelines
Students must be in good standing with discipline and attendance for the school year. The following guidelines--as posted in the BMS agenda--will be enforced for this field trip.
Students who are unable to attend due to these guidelines will remain at school that day with an alternative assignment. Attending field trips is a privilege, not a right, and at BMS, we hold our students to the highest expectations.
- Any student who has been in ISS or Isolation for three days or more will not be permitted to attend the field trip.
- Any student who has been suspended from school will not participate.
- Any student with 15 or more absences (excused or unexcused) will not participate.
Students who are unable to attend due to these guidelines will remain at school that day with an alternative assignment. Attending field trips is a privilege, not a right, and at BMS, we hold our students to the highest expectations.
Digital Citizenship
Throughout the school year, the BMS faculty and staff work diligently to educate our students about the importance of digital citizenship. Students often do not realize the risks or dangers associated with the Internet and social media or the impact of the information they post. Parents should also be diligent in monitoring their student's access to the Internet and to social media sites. Please do not assume that your student would never access any sites that were inappropriate or post anything inappropriate to social media. All parents want to think the best of their children; however, it is important to also be realistic and help teach our children what they should and should not do regarding the Internet.
Below are two links to EXCELLENT articles/videos for parents about helpful apps that allow parents to monitor their student's activity. Please take a look. There are apps that your student can download that appear completely innocent (looks like a calculator app), but students use these to hide their activity from their parents. As parents, it's essential that you are informed.
Below are two links to EXCELLENT articles/videos for parents about helpful apps that allow parents to monitor their student's activity. Please take a look. There are apps that your student can download that appear completely innocent (looks like a calculator app), but students use these to hide their activity from their parents. As parents, it's essential that you are informed.
Cell Phones at BMS
The BMS policy requires students to leave their cell phones in their lockers unless a teacher specifically requests that the students have them to use in the classroom. With the amount of technology we now have in each classroom, that would be very rare for a teacher to make this request. That being said, students are repeatedly reminded about this policy, and strict consequences will be enforced for students who continue to defy this policy.
PLEASE discuss this policy with your student to ensure that he/she understands that cell phones should not be in the classrooms OR in their lunchboxes.
PLEASE discuss this policy with your student to ensure that he/she understands that cell phones should not be in the classrooms OR in their lunchboxes.
Additional Information
Using teacher Websites to Study
Each year in middle school, the curriculum gets more rigorous, and students may need to spend more time studying and reviewing the content outside of school. Each classroom teacher and sometimes the subject areas have websites available for students and parents to use to assist with additional study. Students are expected to complete their work by the posted deadlines, and these websites are beneficial for students as they work.
OverTime/Afterschool
Each year, BMS hosts OverTime sessions after school for students who need additional time and assistance with their coursework. Students who qualify for OverTime will receive invitations before the sessions begin. For Buford City residents, bus transportation is available. Students who attend must have a permission slip on file at BMS. Please contact your student’s first period teacher if you have any questions.
Flex & Independent reading
For most eighth graders, flex is used to complete independent or group reading assignments as well as the Wordly Wise vocabulary study. However, students are expected to read and study outside of class as well. All language arts teachers assign independent reading, and students often have questions or review packets to complete for these texts. Please check with your student or check the language arts teacher's website for more information about outside reading.
Absences & Excuse Notes
If your student is absent from school for any amount of time--even if it's just to check out for a doctor or dentist appointment, please don't forget to send in the excuse note. Parents can email Bhruk Patel directly with their parent notes for absences at [email protected]
Contacting Your student's teachers
We encourage you to contact your student's teachers if/when you have any questions or concerns. Our planning period (the best time to reach us by phone) is from 7:35-8:45am.
BMS Phone: 770-904-3690
Email Contacts: www.bufordms.org/8th-grade-team.html
BMS Phone: 770-904-3690
Email Contacts: www.bufordms.org/8th-grade-team.html
KRoger community Rewards
Register your Kroger Plus Card with Buford Middle School to help us receive community rewards.
Buford Middle School #17240
Buford Middle School #17240
Publix Partnership--$$$ for BMS
Over the years, the Publix Partners program has contributed more than $30 million to over 4,500 schools giving back to support education. Since the campaign started, BMS has received $4,512.60. It's easy to join the program and every little bit helps. Please click the link below to register.
http://corporate.publix.com/community/corporate-campaigns/publix-partners
http://corporate.publix.com/community/corporate-campaigns/publix-partners