BMS Newsletter

"Quality Learning and Positive Personal Development for All" is BRUNSWICK MIDDLE SCHOOL'S mission. Envisioning a high-achieving, low-stress school, we work to ensure academic excellence and to maintain a healthy, inviting school environment. Believing communication is vital, we consult with and survey teachers, parents, students, staff and community members in determining where to place our efforts in school improvement and student achievement.

Please check out the FCPS Calendar for additional information about upcoming events

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this letter finds you and your families in good health and enjoying a wonderful summer break. As we gear up for the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year, I wanted to take a moment to share some important updates about our school.

First and foremost, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support and trust in our school. At BMS, we are dedicated to creating a safe, nurturing, and intellectually stimulating environment for your children, and we are genuinely excited about the possibilities that the upcoming school year holds.

One of our main objectives for this year is to continue fostering a strong sense of belonging and community among our students. To achieve this, our dedicated staff will be introducing enhanced Social-Emotional Learning programs with strategies that will empower our students to navigate the middle school years with confidence. We remain committed to ensuring that all students benefit from a safe and supportive school environment, guided by the systemwide Student Code of Conduct implemented by FCPS. This document outlines our commitment, how we will address challenges, and the consistent support we offer across all our schools. We will share more details about the Student Code of Conduct during the first week of school.

Our team is thrilled about the updates to the middle school elective course offerings. Now, students can choose from both year-long and semesterized options, ensuring that they get at least one of their top three elective choices. This flexibility has opened up opportunities for mixed grade level electives, something we've been successfully implementing at BMS for several years, particularly in Chorus, Art, and World Language classes. Our students can expect even more exciting mixed grade level elective options this year, allowing them to explore subjects that truly interest them.

Throughout the summer months, we have been busy working on school improvement and hiring staff. I am happy to introduce the following new BMS staff members:

• Chuck Thatcher: School Psychologist

• Joe Thompson: User Support Specialist

• Derek Frazer: Special Education

• Marcie Clagett: Special Education

• Marilyn Greenfield: School Counselor

• Katelyn Parker: Mathematics

• Kaitlin Stevens: Mathematics

• Kendra Blatzheim: Special Education Instructional Assistant

• Megan Wolfe: Special Education Instructional Assistant

At BMS, we firmly believe that a strong partnership between home and school is fundamental to your child's academic success and personal growth. To keep you well-informed, we will continue using Find-Out-First, Schoology, email, and our monthly newsletters to share important updates and upcoming events at BMS.

Additionally, please take note of the following key dates and events for the start of the school year:

• By 8/7, student schedules will be available electronically in Schoology. Be on the lookout for an email from FCPS with information about the Schoology password. Your schedule is based on your preferences as indicated on your registration sheet. Schedule changes will only be possible where an error has occurred with academic placement. Students are assigned to counselors as follows:

• 6th grade: Ms. Greenfield

• 8th grade: Ms. Pearre

• 7th grade: Ms. Greenfield (last names A-K) and Ms. Pearre (last names L-Z)

• On 8/14, we will be holding our Open House with two time slots: 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM for 7th and 8th-grade students, and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM for 6th-grade students only. Students are welcome to pick up a hard copy of their schedule and school map and take a self-guided tour to locate classes and walk through their daily schedule. Please note that teachers will not be present during this event.

• Mark your calendars for Back-to-School Night on 8/19 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Families can drop in anytime between these hours for the opportunity to informally tour our building and "meet and greet" with teachers and other staff members. It would be helpful if you bring a copy (paper or electronic) of your child's schedule for reference.

• Finally, we are excited to welcome everyone on 8/21 for the first day of the 2024-2025 school year! We are looking forward to embarking on this educational journey together and creating a year full of learning and growth.

FCPS provides a Chromebook to all students and there is no fee for its usage. All FCPS students are required to use the Chromebook provided by FCPS. Chromebooks will be distributed to our incoming 6th graders and those new to our school during the first few days of school. It is important to note that the previous FCPS BYOD program has ended. All FCPS students are required to use the Chromebook provided by FCPS.

For parents who require bus information, on 8/10, initial bus details will be available on the FCPS website. Simply use your child's ID number to look up the bus information.

Thank you for your continuous support of our school community. We eagerly look forward to collaborating with you to ensure a memorable and successful year for your child. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me or any member of our staff.

As the summer days wind down, we eagerly anticipate welcoming you back to BMS. Enjoy the remaining days of this beautiful season, and we can't wait to see you soon!

Principal Warren

Welcome back BMS Railroader Families! Please read the information below to familiarize your child with first day directions:

• Students will start school on Wednesday, August 21st.

• Students may enter the building at 7:30 AM.

• Eighth and seventh graders will report to the gym.

• Sixth graders will report to the cafeteria.

• School begins at 8:00 AM and dismisses at 3:00 PM.

• During the first three days of school, all students will attend their Advisory Time class at the start of each school day where they will receive valuable information to help them have a successful year. Students will begin reporting directly to their first period class on Monday, August 26th.

• Advisory Time will be on your student's schedule (listed as period 8)and all staff will be available to help students locate their classes.

• FCPS will provide a Chromebook for your student to use throughout the school year. As a reminder, the FCPS Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program ended on June 10, 2024.

(See our Student and Family Handbook for additional information)

Beginning on July 1, 2024, Brunswick Middle School's phone number changed to a new telecommunications system.

Brunswick Middle School's new phone number for the main office is (227) 203-2200.

School based staff can be reached by calling the school's main number and choosing the appropriate option from the call menu or by dialing a staff member's extension at any time:

1. Front Office
2. Attendance
3. Counseling Office
4. Health Room
5. Cafeteria

Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) is thrilled to partner with family and community members who are interested in joining efforts to support our students and schools with their time and talents by way of volunteering. Last year, we welcomed over 13,000 volunteers into our school system contributing over 93,750 volunteer hours. THANK YOU!

This year, FCPS has enhanced the volunteer process to prioritize the safety and security of our students, staff and community. As a result, we have added additional training to be completed by all volunteers across the county. These trainings will ensure our volunteers are equipped with the necessary information they need to partner with our schools.

Effective Monday, July 15, 2024, family and community members interested in volunteering should begin the volunteer process by visiting our new FCPS Volunteer Webpage. Applicants will be directed to:

1. Register for a guest account on Unified Talent (instructions available online)
2. Complete and pass two training modules on Unified Talent.
3. Complete the registration application in the Volunteer Center.
4. Await school approval on application.
5. Sign-up for volunteer opportunities facilitated by individual schools.

The volunteer training and registration process is completed annually for each school year. Volunteers must complete the process before being signed up for volunteer opportunities. FCPS encourages family and community members interested in volunteering to complete the process early as processing times have increased.

For technical support in Unified Talent, volunteer applicants may contact unifiedtalent@fcps.org. For all other volunteer related questions, volunteer applicants may contact: FCPSVolunteers@fcps.org. FCPS is grateful for the generous support from our

family and community volunteers.

Ms. Marilyn Greenfield

6th Grade & & 7th Grade Last Names Beginning with A-K

Marilyn.Greenfield@fcps.org

Ms. Amy Pearre

8th Grade & 7th Grade Last Names Beginning with L-Z

Amy.Pearre@fcps.org

Ms. Daniele Richmond

Registrar

Daniele.Richmond@fcps.org

All required community service hours are built into the FCPS Essential Curriculum, but if a student has completed additional service hours that extended beyond class requirements, those hours may be documented on the FCPS Volunteer Hours and Community Service Form . The form details the types of activities that qualify for recognized service hours. Completed forms may be returned to the School Counseling office or emailed directly to the School Counselor:

PREPARING FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR

Medication/Treatment Orders from your Health Care Provider

The medication/treatment authorization form(s) specific to your child's health/medication needs must be renewed at the beginning of each school year. Forms are available online at www.fcps.org or at your child's school.

Maryland regulation dictates that we determine expiration dates as follows: (1) one year from the dispensing date on the pharmacy label or, (2) the expiration date on the medication package, whichever comes first.

To ensure your child's medication/treatment needs are met at the start of the school year submit medications/supplies, and completed forms to the health room. Please contact the health room in advance to ensure availability of School Health staff.

School health staff will review physician orders/medications. It is the parent/guardian responsibility to ensure that medications/orders are compliant with state regulation. Please do not send your child to school with medications. Per FCPS Reg 400-23, it is the parent/guardian responsibility to deliver physician orders/medications directly to School Health staff.

IMMUNIZATION

REMINDER: Parents and guardians are responsible for their children being up-to-date on their school required immunizations. Per Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), beginning on the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, FCPS will EXCLUDE ANY STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED IMMUNIZATIONS unless they present evidence of an appointment for the missing immunizations scheduled within the next 20 calendar days. This includes students enrolled in the Virtual School program.

What vaccines are needed? View the complete immunization schedule here.

Email: BMS.Attendance@fcps.org
Website: https://edu.fcps.org/bms/
Location: Brunswick Middle School, Cummings Drive, Brunswick, MD, USA
Phone: 227-203-2200