In spite of the cold and wet weather, BMS had a fantastic start to 2nd Semester and to 2025! Students and teachers hit the ground running as we focus on challenging and growing our students everyday.

As January continues, we are looking forward to several opportunities for our parents and families to join their students on campus. This Monday night is the last game of the basketball season and we are having Parent Appreciation Night at the girls basketball games. In addition, Friday is the A and A/B Honor Roll Ceremony and January 29th is the BMS Course Selection Night. (See below for more information). We love seeing parents and families, so please join us. Stay tuned for more information and future events.

Reminder: Willis ISD will be closed on Monday, January 20th, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

#LetsGrow!

Attention BobKat Parents/Guardians:

Students who achieved A/AB Honor Roll for the 2nd Nine Weeks received invitations on Friday, 1/10/25 to the award ceremony scheduled for this Friday, 1/17/25. Please note that the award ceremony is by invitation ONLY. If your student did not receive an invitation and you believe they should be on the A/AB Honor Roll list, please reach out to Ms. Padilla or Ms. Allen. jallen@willisisd.org jpadilla@willisisd.org

Below are the times for the award ceremony, along with the pre-registration QR code and a link. If you plan to attend, please pre-register to avoid long lines the day of the ceremony. The cut-off for pre-registration will be Thursday at 10 AM.

Please Note: Students who are checked out after the awards ceremony will be counted absent.

https://bit.ly/4079XzH

Date: 1/17/25 (Friday)

Times:

• 6th grade - 8:30-9:15

• 8th grade - 9:45 - 10:30
• 7th grade - 1:30 - 2:15

MONDAY:

BOYS BASKETBALL VS MOORHEAD (AWAU) at 5:30/6:30 PM

GIRLS BASKETBALL VS MOORHEAD (HOME) at 5:30/6:30 PM

(PARENT APPRECIATION NIGHT)

BASKETBALL SEASON ENDS

SOCCER, TRACK, GOLF, and TENNIS UPCOMING

ATTENTION PARENTS OF 8TH GRADE STUDENTS

MESSAGE FROM WILLIS HIGH SCHOOL FOR NEXT YEAR'S INCOMING 9th GRADE STUDENTS

Dear Families of 8th Grade Brabham Students,

I hope this message finds you well. We are excited to inform you that our 8th graders will be visiting the high school on January 22, 2025. This trip aims to help students familiarize themselves with the high school environment and explore the various programs and opportunities available to them.

If you prefer that your student does not participate in this trip, please let us know by emailing Dyann Wilson at dwilson@willisisd.org.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in your child's education.

Best regards,

Anthony Roberts, BMS Principal

BMS COURSE SELECTION NIGHT

As a reminder, chronic absenteeism not only can contribute to academic struggles, but can also create attendance issues regarding state required attendance for promotion to the next grade level. Students are required to be in attendance a minimum of 90% to receive credit for attendance. Please help your student ensure that they are academically successful and that they meet the state requirement for attendance. The best way to ensure students get a great start to the new semester is to make sure they are in attendance everyday.

#LetsGrow!

In addition to the importance of attendance for academic and social development, BMS also has incentives for Perfect and Awesome Attendance (1-2 absences per 9 weeks)

OUR FABULOUS COUNSELORS!!!

Check out the December edition of the WISD Guidance & Counseling Newsletter by clicking the purple bar above. This newsletter has great information and resources for everyone!

Each month ONE student will be given the honor of being named the BMS EPIC Student Of The Month.

Our PTO does so many great things for our students and campus, and we couldn't do them without the awesome parents that make up the PTO. Please email our BMS PTO President Lisa Henderson, if you are interested in joining our fantastic PTO!!! Email: BMSPTO@willisisd.org.

SCHOOL SAFETY

🚨 EVACUATION DRILL THIS WEEK 🚨

Each year, BMS conducts required safety drills with our staff and students. We practice these drills so we can ensure that everyone knows how to respond in such an event and so we can ensure the safety of our school community.

Prior to each of the drills, we will communicate the date or date range and type of drill we will be practicing. We hope this communication will reduce anxiety and provide an opportunity for you to talk with your student about the importance of safety procedures.

WISD CHILD NUTRITION

PLEASE Complete the Application for Free and Reduced Lunch.

Even if you think you may not qualify, you just might! Any amount of assistance helps! In addition, to apply for school supply assistance and/or Christmas assistance, you must have this form on file. Here is the link to WISD Child Nutrition

We believe that parent communication and parent involvement in the educational process is not only important, but critical to the growth and success of our students. With that in mind, each week you will receive an email (WAG) from your student's teachers. That email will contain information detailing what they will be learning the next week, any upcoming important dates, and a weekly progress report. We look forward to working together to support our BobKats!

As we kick off the extra-curricular season and all the fun that comes with it, please take a moment to read the updated stadium/event policies by clicking here

BMS understands the expanding importance of technology in our world today. However, the use of electronic devices/cellphones at inappropriate times has a negative effect on the learning environment. While students will continue to be able to have and use their devices before school, during lunch, and at after school activities, electronic devices/cellphones will not be allowed in the hallways or classrooms during the school day.

• When an electronic device is observed in an area or at a time that it is not allowed, the student will receive one verbal warning from the teacher/staff to put the device away.
• If the student does not comply with the verbal redirection, we will obtain the device from the student and there will be a $5 fee to retrieve the device after school.
• On the second offense, the student will be charged a $15 fee to retrieve the device after school.
• On all subsequent offenses, the student will be charged a $15 fee and a parent will be required to retrieve the device.

The purpose of this policy is to help foster an environment that is safe and limits distractions to learning for all students. Information regarding this policy can be found on page 55 of the Willis ISD Student Handbook. I appreciate your understanding and support in this matter as we begin "Growing BobKats...Every Day!" #LetGrow!

Look Good. Feel Good. Do Good.

Please make sure that clothing worn to school follows the District Dress Code.

BUS RIDERS:

Keep track of daily transportation updates with the My Ride K-12 app!

Please download the My Ride K-12 app and register your children. This app will provide you with easy and fast access to your children’s bus route/pickup locations and times and allow the district to send you updates about early or late buses or other information related to your child’s bus.

To download the app: Visit the App Store or Google Play Store, type in "My Ride K-12" and select "Install/Download/Get," or click on the links below.

Download My Ride K-12 on iPhone

Download My Ride K-12 on Android

CAR RIDERS

We really appreciate the great job everyone is doing to keep the car rider line moving in the morning and the afternoon. There are only two quick reminders:

• Please drop students off in the curb lane (lane closest to the school). We want to avoid the potential for an accident occurring when students cross from the outside lane.
• When leaving from the drop off area, please maintain a slow speed. Again, we want to avoid the potential for an accident.

All athletes must have a completed/updated RANK ONE Form each school year with their physical. Click HERE to visit the link to your Rank One Parent Portal.

Parents the nurses clinic is open for medication drop offs. Please make sure that the 24-25 MEDICATION FORM is completed and turned in at the time of drop off.

If you need assistance with Llice, please contact Nurse Attaya for more information.

Mr. Anthony Roberts, Principal

Email: aroberts@willisisd.org

Website: https://www.willisisd.org/bms

Location: 10000 FM-830, Willis, TX 77318

Phone: 936.890.2312

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WISDBrabham

Twitter (X): https://x.com/WISDBrabham