Happy Sunday, BobKats! It has been a busy week at BMS and this upcoming week will be just as busy. It was great seeing all our incoming students and parents at the BMS Course Selection Night. We hope that all of your questions were answered. If they weren't, please don't hesitate to reach out to us or watch the videos links we have listed in this week's newsletter. We also had the opportunity to send our current 8th graders to Willis High School so that they could experience all the engaging programs that WHS has to offer them next year. The Principal, Mr. King, commented that our BobKats were awesome during their visit! In addition, our 8th graders have started meeting with the WHS counselors to start building their high school plans. Our BMS Cheerkats won the Showmanship Award and finished 2nd at the NCA National Cheerleading Championship! We are super proud of them for all their hard work and their stellar performance. Track season is under way with our first meet this past Thursday night, where our BobKat runners won numerous events. Finally, we had great attendance at our Sweetheart Dance for 7th and 8th graders on Friday night, which was hosted by our fantastic BMS PTO. They made sure our BobKats had a night to remember!

This week we have STAAR Interim Testing on February 4th and February 6th. It will continue next week on February 11th and 12th. Please make sure your students are at school and encourage them to do their best. These assessments help us gauge where the students are and how we can best help them grow. Our 8th graders will continue to visit with the counselors from WHS to complete their high school plans. Finally, BMS will be hosting a track meet on Thursday night, starting at 4:00 PM.

This week is also National School Counseling Week. See our flyer below for the Dress Up Day Schedule. Show your spirit!

February is Black History Month. During this month BMS will highlight and celebrate the contributions and achievements of African Americans throughout history.

Reminder: If you student is absent, please make sure you send a medical or parent note with them when they return. Failure to do so can lead to excessive unexcused absences and possible truancy charges.

#LetsGrow!

February 4th - Reading (6th, 7th, 8th Grade)

February 6th - Social Studies (8th)

February 11th - Math (6th, 7th, 8th, Algebra)

February 12th - Science (8th, Biology)

Please make sure that your student gets a good night's sleep the night before each test! Also, encourage them to take their time and give their best effort!

THURSDAY - BOYS and GIRLS TRACK - Brabham - 4:00 PM

SOCCER, GOLF, and TENNIS UPCOMING

NO EVENTS THIS WEEK

DON'T FORGET TO ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK!!!

ORDER EARLY AND SAVE!!!

Incoming 7th and 8th Graders will be bringing home their course selection cards for the upcoming school year on Thursday 1/23, please complete the course selection and return to campus counselors no later than 2/5. If you attend the BMS Course Selection Night, you are welcome to turn it in then. For more information regarding the courses that will be offered please view the videos below!

Incoming 6th Grader Course Selection Video

Incoming 7th Grader Course Selection Video

Incoming 8th Grader Course Selection Video

National School Counseling Week - Dress Up Days!

Show our AMAZING Counselor how much you appreciate them by dressing up!

DADDY DAUGHTER SWEETHEART BALL

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

🚨 NO 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