BWMS Family Update

Greetings MS Families,

The countdown to the 2024-25 school year is on. We are excited for another great adventure with all students growing in the areas of Scholarship, Ownership, Awareness and Respect. United we will S.O.A.R. in 2024.

Mark your calendars for the BWMS Open House on Monday, 8/12/24 with last names A-K from 4:30-5:30 and last names L-Z from 5:30-6:30. Students will be able to come walk their schedule and meet their teachers during this time. We will have an area that you can pick up a paper copy of your schedule in the atrium or you can choose to utilize the PowerSchool App to find your classroom locations. Overall, we can not wait to meet all of you.

Schedules were posted online for students on Wednesday 8/7/24 in PowerSchool. As you review your child's school schedule online, all students will follow the prescribed schedule in PowerSchool to begin the year. Although many related arts classes are at capacity, students may pick up a schedule change request form from the School Counselor Office or use the Online Schedule Change Request Form to communicate with the grade-level counselor. As time permits, the school counselor will review the request and make any available adjustments during the first weeks of school. Thank you for your patience and support as we work through these individual requests.

In the meantime, please reach out to the school with any needs.

Sincerely,

~Mr. Josh Frame

• The 2024-25 Student Supply List can be found Here.
• The Online PowerSchool Portal was made available on Wednesday August 7th. This included student schedules. *Note: bus route information is only available via the web/computer portal and is not available in the phone app. Also, there may continue to be adjustments to bus schedules as we get closer to school. If you have a question about your bus route, you can call Transportation at 740-965-8967. In the event you need to request a schedule change, you can either complete the paper copy form available in the office or go to this online request form.
• We invite all of our Parents and Students to our BWMS Open House on Monday, August 12th. Last Names A-K will be from 4:30-5:30 and Last Names L-Z will report from 5:30-6:30. Signs will be posted to help your student find your teachers. Students are also more than happy to walk the school but no teachers will be in their classrooms. Students are more than happy to walk the school, meet their teachers and check out the learning spaces in the Library or Extended Learning Areas. We look forward to meeting all of you.
• BWMS will have a "Not Seen, Not Heard" policy for cell phones and electronic devices for the 2024-25 school year. Please reference this document for additional details.
• BWMS will review building and team procedures and begin building relationships during the Staggered Start the week of August 16th according to the following schedule:
  

• Wednesday 8-14-24 - Student Last Names A-K

  Thursday 8-15-24 - Student Last Names L-Z

  Friday 8-16-24 - Eagle Pride Day - 1st Day with All Students

• STAR assessments will be given in Reading and Math during the week of 8/19/24. All students participate in the STAR universal screener to help our staff personalize instruction and supports. Language Arts and Math Teachers will give the assessment during the normal class schedule and teachers will review results next week.

Other Opening of School Details

• BWMS cannot provide supervision of students until 7:05 AM each morning so we ask that parents arrange drop off schedules accordingly. At that time, Bus Riders will report to the Atrium and Cafeteria while Car Riders report to the Auditorium until released to go to their 1st period class. Breakfast is available in our cafeteria beginning at 7:10 AM.
• Although most students at the MS have traditionally selected not to use a locker, we do have some lockers that are available upon request. Please CLICK HERE to request a locker for your student. Please complete the form to request a locker and someone from the office will connect with your student to assign a locker and provide the passcode.
  
• If your child will be absent, please call the school by 8:20 AM on the day of the absence.
• Student pick up will be different this year and we appreciate your patience and support. Parent Drop Off and Pick Up should use Letts Ave entrance and the loop in front of the school to exit using the same road. Only buses should enter and leave using S Old 3C Rd path for transportation and safety reasons. For parent drop off, we ask that you pull into the front loop and all the way to the Orange Cones as students will enter the main entrance. This will allow for safe exits from cars. Please see the image and directions below.

PowerSchool is the main system of communication for the middle school about Attendance, Grades and Assignments. Teachers use PowerTeacher to communicate upcoming and missing assignments about each course.

As a general overview, BWMS holds the perspective that we care more about the Learning and less about the Grade in that we want to focus on developing student knowledge and skills without an overburdensome focus on maintaining marks. The learning in and of itself should be the primary motivation based on relevant and engaging activities rather than an extrinsic grade. Overall, we believe in multiple opportunities for success and will provide reteaching strategies to help your student reach mastery. Thank you for your patience as our students learn about the value of hard work and perseverance.

Parents also have view access into each Schoology Page as before. The primary use of PowerSchool is a learning management system which supports communication from the teacher to each student about learning and assignments.

All 7th grade students are required to have an updated Tdap and meningitis vaccine. We would ask that parents provide written proof of immunization or a letter of objection to the school within the first two weeks of school. Please contact our School Nurse at MeganTruax@bwls.net or the office with any questions.

August

7 Schedule Posting for Students

12 BWMS Open House 4:30-6:30

14-15 Staggered Starts

16 1st Day with All Students

19 W STAR Assessments (6-8 Reading & Math)

September

2 Labor Day (no school)

6 STAR reports sent Home

10 BWMS PTO Meeting, 7:00

16 Teacher PD Day / Fair Day

20 Grade Update Day

20 7th & 8th Grade Dance 6PM-8PM

24 Picture Day 7:45-2:20

24 Conferences, 3:00-7:00

27 6th Grade Dance 6PM-8PM

30 Art Contest for Yearbook begins

Month View Calendar Link

iCalendar Link

BWMS is excited to welcome the following school counselors in the 2024-25 School Year.

• 6th Grade - AnnieDemith@bwls.net
• 7th Grade - AlysonLyle@bwls.net
• 8th Grade - LaurenGreenspan@bwls.net

As we prepare to release school schedules online, all students will follow the prescribed schedule in PowerSchool to begin the year. Although many related arts classes are at capacity, students may pick up a schedule change request form from the School Counselor Office and return to their grade-level counselor or submit the request using this online form. As time permits, the school counselor will review the request and make any available adjustments during the first weeks of school. Thank you for your patience and support.

Reminder that all athletes should have their final forms complete and hard copy of the physical submitted prior to participation.

All information for BWMS athletics can be found at bigwalnutathletics.net and on Schoology.

We are committed to seeking out our military connected families and assisting those families as needed. Should an immediate family member currently be serving in the military, please complete this form.

Military Connected Families

The SOARing Staff Award and used to recognize a Big Walnut Middle School Staff Member who goes above and beyond to support the mission of BWLS to inspire and guide each student to his or her maximum potential. If you would love to recognize a staff member, please submit their name and reason on the following form... HERE.

Email: JoshFrame@bwls.net
Website: bwls.net
Location: 555 S Old 3C Road, Sunbury, OH, United States
Phone: (740)965-3006
Twitter: @Josh_Frame