Weekly Update -- January 20-24, 2020
Important Dates
Events and Activities:
Monday, January 20: MLK, Jr. Holiday / No School
Wednesday, January 22: BMS Track--Interest Meeting during Flex
Friday, January 24: BMS Soccer Parent Meeting @ 4:30p
Monday, January 27: How Wolves Rise Up during Flex
Thursday, January 30: Connections Family Engagement Night @ 5:30p
Friday, January 31: Mock General Assembly for Social Studies
BMS--8th Grade Basketball:
Saturday, January 25: Girls' Basketball @ Wesleyan
Saturday, February 1: Girls' Basketball @ Wesleyan
Tests/Projects:
January 22: Social Studies Test--Government Part 1
January 24: Social Studies Project -- Bills Due
January 31: Science Test; Language Arts--Survival Unit Test; Social Studies Mock General Assembly
February 5: Language Arts--Wordly Wise Lessons 1-10 Test
February 6: Social Studies Test--Government Part 2
Monday, January 20: MLK, Jr. Holiday / No School
Wednesday, January 22: BMS Track--Interest Meeting during Flex
Friday, January 24: BMS Soccer Parent Meeting @ 4:30p
Monday, January 27: How Wolves Rise Up during Flex
Thursday, January 30: Connections Family Engagement Night @ 5:30p
Friday, January 31: Mock General Assembly for Social Studies
BMS--8th Grade Basketball:
Saturday, January 25: Girls' Basketball @ Wesleyan
Saturday, February 1: Girls' Basketball @ Wesleyan
Tests/Projects:
January 22: Social Studies Test--Government Part 1
January 24: Social Studies Project -- Bills Due
January 31: Science Test; Language Arts--Survival Unit Test; Social Studies Mock General Assembly
February 5: Language Arts--Wordly Wise Lessons 1-10 Test
February 6: Social Studies Test--Government Part 2
Connections Family Engagement Night -- January 30
Buford Middle School presents our Connections Family Engagement Night. Join us on Thursday, January 30, 2020, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Our BMS families can enjoy a wide variety of activities and resources.
Parent resources will also be available about these hot topics!
Our BMS families can enjoy a wide variety of activities and resources.
- Art Show (Gym)
- FCCLA Chili Sampling begins at 5:30 (Gym)
- TSA Drone Obstacle Course $2.00 (Gym)
- FBLA Photo Booth $2.00 (Gym)
- FCCLA Chili Cook-Off winners announced at 6:50 (Gym)
- Spanish Bingo (Concession Stand)
- P.E. Just Dance (Gym)
- PTO Penny Wars and Spirit Wear Sales (Gym)
Parent resources will also be available about these hot topics!
- Learning Styles and Attendance
- Study Skills and Writing Assignments
- Test Taking Tips and Math Help
- Surviving Homework and Being Successful in Middle School
- The Essential 55 by Ron Clark
Spirit wear Friday, Jan. 31 -- Changed to Thursday, Jan. 30
Due to the Mock General Assembly in the Georgia Studies classes, students will be permitted to wear spirit wear on Thursday, January 31 instead of Friday. On Friday, students should "dress up" in business-casual or business-professional clothing or be in standardized dress code. Students who "dress up" do not have to be in dress code colors, but all other rules for dress code apply--including the length of skirts and dresses as well the cut/make of shirt. Nothing revealing or too short will be permitted that day.
General Information -- Second Semester Discipline
Students get a "fresh" start this semester with their discipline and organization infraction cards. For this semester, students do not get a written warning as the first step in discipline; they start with one silent lunch, then detention, a second detention, and then referral to the office. Please be aware of the discipline guidelines for field trips. Those guidelines are cumulative for the year. If you have any specific questions, please contact your child's first period teacher.
Savannah Payment #2
The second payment of $200 for the Savannah trip is due on Friday, February 7. You can send this payment to school via cash, money order, or check. Due to technical difficulties, we are no longer offering the option to pay online. We apologize for any inconvenience. All students who are attending the trip should be paid in full by Friday, February 7, or risk being removed from the trip.
Little Miss Buford / Miss Sweetheart of Georgia Pageants
Registration for Little Miss Buford and Miss Sweetheart of Georgia Pageant 2020 is now open!!!!
Girls may register on our website https://www.littlemissbufordpageant.com/register
The pageant will be held on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at our NEW LOCATION at Buford High School Performing Arts Center. The address is 2455 Buford Highway, Buford, GA 30518.
We have added more areas of competition to our pageant:
Thank you for your participation in past years. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email or the phone # listed above
Looking forward to seeing you all!
Myra Sharp--Pageant Director
***This event is a fundraiser for the band program at Buford High School. All proceeds directly support students of Buford City Schools.
Girls may register on our website https://www.littlemissbufordpageant.com/register
The pageant will be held on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at our NEW LOCATION at Buford High School Performing Arts Center. The address is 2455 Buford Highway, Buford, GA 30518.
We have added more areas of competition to our pageant:
- INTERVIEW: pageant girls from all systems are welcome to participate in Interview as practice for their pageants. Contestants competing in the Little Miss Buford and Miss Sweetheart of Georgia Pageant can compete in Interview as an Optional and the winner from each age division will be awarded with a plaque. Interview will be held on Friday, February 28, 2020 at Buford High School.
- JR. SUPREME AMBASSADOR: the title of Jr. Supreme Ambassador will be awarded to the contestant who sells the second most program ads over $350. There will be one winner awarded for both pageants. The winner will receive a large trophy, large crown and custom embroidered sash. The title of Supreme Ambassador remains the same as previous years and will be awarded to the contestant who sells the most program ads over $350.
- Contestant lineup is based upon the date in which the contestant's registration form and payment are submitted
- Registration is online only through our website
- Payment will be accepted through GoFan online system, cash, or checks made payable to Buford High School. To arrange for drop off of cash or checks, please contact Myra Sharp at littlemissbufordpageant.com or 770-277-3032
Thank you for your participation in past years. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email or the phone # listed above
Looking forward to seeing you all!
Myra Sharp--Pageant Director
***This event is a fundraiser for the band program at Buford High School. All proceeds directly support students of Buford City Schools.
BMS Yearbooks
Deadline to Order Personalized Yearbooks
Don’t wait — if you want to personalize your book, namestamping starts at $7 & must be purchased before Jan. 23, 2020!
Families can reserve their yearbooks in two ways:
Don’t wait — if you want to personalize your book, namestamping starts at $7 & must be purchased before Jan. 23, 2020!
Families can reserve their yearbooks in two ways:
- Order online. (Please Note: Online orders are until April 3 or until all books are sold. We suggest ordering early to ensure your student has a book)
- Bring payments to the media center (cash, check, or money order).
yearbook_order_info-bms_2019.20__1_.pdf | |
File Size: | 722 kb |
File Type: |
Curriculum OVerview
Language Arts
This week, each language arts class will continue the thematic literature unit on survival. Students will read and discuss a science article about the extinction of the dinosaurs and read/analyze the poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade."
During second semester, students will start the "Milestone Monday" activities. Each Monday of this semester, students will be participating in lessons and completing activities designed to help them on the language arts Milestone.
Students also have activities assigned in IXL each week. Check your child's agenda for specific activities and due dates.
All students will complete independent reading selections provided by the language arts teacher. Please check your child's agenda and the individual teacher's website for reading deadlines as well as quiz and testing dates.
All students are completing Wordly Wise vocabulary lessons during flex each day. The Lesson 10 quiz is scheduled on Thursday, January 30.
For Mrs. Duncan's advanced content language arts, please visit her website--bmskduncan.weebly.com/calendar-and-lesson-plans.html
During second semester, students will start the "Milestone Monday" activities. Each Monday of this semester, students will be participating in lessons and completing activities designed to help them on the language arts Milestone.
Students also have activities assigned in IXL each week. Check your child's agenda for specific activities and due dates.
All students will complete independent reading selections provided by the language arts teacher. Please check your child's agenda and the individual teacher's website for reading deadlines as well as quiz and testing dates.
All students are completing Wordly Wise vocabulary lessons during flex each day. The Lesson 10 quiz is scheduled on Thursday, January 30.
For Mrs. Duncan's advanced content language arts, please visit her website--bmskduncan.weebly.com/calendar-and-lesson-plans.html
Math
8th grade Math will be continuing our unit on interpreting graphs. We will have a quiz Thursday, January 23.
Several math classes work at the pace of the students who are in that class; therefore, these plans may not be accurate for all students. Please check the individual teacher's website for your student's class period for the best reflection of the weekly plans.
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
Several math classes work at the pace of the students who are in that class; therefore, these plans may not be accurate for all students. Please check the individual teacher's website for your student's class period for the best reflection of the weekly plans.
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 will continue our unit on government. Our first test over Georgia's government will be on Thursday, January, 23. This test will cover general government information, the legislative branch, and the executive branch. Please have students check teacher google classroom sites and websites for study tools.
Science
Science classes will be studying electromagnetic waves and their applications in daily life. The unit test will be given on Friday, January 31.
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/
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].
If you are interested in participating in our Very Important Parent (VIP) program, here are the Sign Up Genius options.
Duty-free Lunch Coverage:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080845AAAC2DA6FD0-duty1
VIP Spring Volunteers:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080845AAAC2DA6FD0-spring
If you are interested in participating in our Very Important Parent (VIP) program, here are the Sign Up Genius options.
Duty-free Lunch Coverage:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080845AAAC2DA6FD0-duty1
VIP Spring Volunteers:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080845AAAC2DA6FD0-spring
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: |
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 9:15-10:25am.
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