The Boeckman Buzz

BMS Families,

As Spring Break nears, it’s a great time to pause and appreciate all we’ve achieved together this school year. I’m incredibly grateful for the dedication and effort of our entire BMS school community. This was especially evident during our Celebration of Learning and at spring conferences—thank you to everyone who joined us! Our students continue to grow in remarkable ways, not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well. We are grateful for our learners and the incredible staff at BMS.

When we return from Spring Break, MCA testing will begin and dates can be found below. Testing will be on the following dates:

Specific Dates of Testing:

• April 3 & 4 - 8th grade only - MCA Science in regular science class
• April 16 & April 17 – Math MCA: we will follow MCA Alternate Schedule
• April 23 & April 24 – Reading MCA: we will follow MCA Alternate Schedule

Our Parent Ambassadors are hosting a night of bowling at the Farmington Lanes on April 11th! A portion of the event will be donated back to our school to support teacher appreciation week. $10 per person includes an hour of bowling and a pair of shoes.

Sign up today to secure your spot! 5 students per lane max and one adult per lane requested. This is not a drop off event, supervision is required. Here is the link to sign up! Thank you to everyone for supporting BMS!

There will be no Boeckman Buzz until the first week of April.

Have a great weekend and wonderful Spring Break!

-Joe Sage, Principal

Congratulations to our Tiger Stripe Winners for the Week! We are proud of these learners for being recognized for demonstrating the BMS core values! #WeAre192 #BMSPride

Congratulations to Ms. Freeman, the BMS Staff Member of the Week!

Ms. Freeman supports the office team and leads our Academic Coaching program for learners. She is a true advocate and champion for our learners, always building strong relationships and creating a supportive environment at BMS.

Thank you, Ms. Freeman, for your dedication to our school community!

#BMSPride #WeAre192

Farmington Area Public Schools students in grades 3-8 take state standardized tests each spring called the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) or the alternate Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS). The MCA (or MTAS) assessment is designed to test students against the state academic standards in reading, math and science. To read more about the MCA/MTAS test, please visit the district website, linked here. There is a link to the Opt Out information for both the MCA tests on the left side of the webpage, or for convenience, there is a direct link here.

Specific Dates of Testing:

• April 3 & 4 - 8th grade only - MCA Science in regular science class
• April 16 & April 17 – Math MCA: we will follow MCA Alternate Schedule
• April 23 & April 24 – Reading MCA: we will follow MCA Alternate Schedule

Step into a Candyland Wonderland at Farmington Community Ed’s 2nd annual Family Dance! Dress your best and enjoy an evening of dancing, sweet treats, and a special take-home favor. Capture the memories at our fun photo booth!

The Instructional Program Review (IPR) committee will meet on Tuesday, March 18th at 5:30pm at Farmington High School in the Large Lecture Hall. (Please enter Door 16 on the lower level by the flag poles). We will be discussing our Federal Title Programming. If your child is part of the Title I programs that serve our elementary students needing additional reading instruction in the elementary, or if your child is part of our Title III programs for Multi-Lingual Learners K-12, please feel free to attend to learn more about these programs, ask questions and give additional input.

Please contact Lisa Edwards, Director of Elementary Learning, if you are unable to attend but still wish to give input. You can reach her by email at ledwards@farmington.k12.mn.us or by phone, 651-463-5016.

Curricular Literacy Resource Review Opportunity

Over the past few years, teachers in our district have been learning about the Science of Reading. The Science of Reading is a large body of scientific research which guides how to teach reading. We are excited about the changes this will bring, including a new curricular resource. We invite you to an opportunity to review Arts and Letters, a knowledge building curricular resource for literacy.

From March 10 to 14, we will have a display set up in the main office with sample materials available to preview.

You may also find information at the following website that includes a great introduction video.

https://greatminds.org/english/artsletters. If you have any questions or would like to provide feedback, please fill out this form here.

You are also invited to attend our Instructional Program Review (IPR) committee meeting on March 18th at 5:30pm at the Farmington High School Large Lecture Hall. We will have a presentation, be available to answer questions and have materials available to view.

Farmington Area Public School learners recently had the opportunity to visit Porky's Sugarbush, a seasonal culture camp near Maple Plain, Minnesota, dedicated to preserving Anishnaabe traditions of maple sugaring. For over 40 years, this all-volunteer camp has welcomed visitors to experience the process of making maple syrup and sugar firsthand.

During the visit, learners participated in the time-honored practice of collecting sap from sugar maple trees and boiling it over an open fire to create syrup. They gained insight into how weather conditions, such as cold nights and warm days, influence the sugaring season. The teachings of Walter "Porky" White, founder of the camp and a respected elder from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, were shared by his wife, Deb, who carries on the traditions at the sugar camp.

This hands-on learning opportunity provided a deeper appreciation for Anishnaabe culture and the importance of passing down traditional knowledge.

The Parent Ambassadors are hosting a night of bowling to support teachers at BMS! It is $10 per person for one hour of bowling, including shoe rental. The Parent Ambassadors will receive a portion of the funds for both bowling and food sales to support initiatives throughout the school year! Here is a link to sign up:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F044BADA928A46-55067758-boeckman

Please see below:

Please see below

The 2025 Community Resource Guide for Children and Families in Dakota County has been published. Please see the links below for the English, Spanish and Somali versions.

English:

https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/HealthFamily/HealthServices/MoreLowCostServices/Documents/CommunityResourceGuide.pdf

Spanish:

https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/HealthFamily/HealthServices/MoreLowCostServices/Documents/CommunityResourceGuideSpanish.pdf

Somali:

https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/HealthFamily/HealthServices/Documents/CommunityResourceGuideSomali.pdf

If your child - or a child you know - is ready to start kindergarten in fall 2025, now is the time to enroll! Enrolling now ensures you’re in the loop for all upcoming events and communications and it gives schools a chance to plan so they are fully prepared to give your child the best start possible. Enroll today at bit.ly/kindergarten-enrollment. We can’t wait to welcome our new learners this fall!

March 10................................................Band Jubilee - 8th Grade Only

March 18................................................6th Grade Band Ensemble Concert

March 24-28..........................................Spring Break

April 16...................................................End of Quinmester 4

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Email: Jsage@farmington.k12.mn.us
Website: https://bms.farmington.k12.mn.us/
Location: 800 Denmark Avenue, Farmington, MN, USA
Phone: 651-460-1400
Facebook: facebook.com/boeckmantigers
Twitter: @BoeckmanTigers