Broad Meadows Middle School

Broad Meadows Middle School Community,

After some inclement weather this weekend, we really look ahead to warming temperatures next week and hope that this trend continues with beautiful sun through the remaining weeks of the school year. With many outdoor activities and field trips upcoming, we will be crossing our fingers that we see good weather through the end of June. We remind our families that as temps look to reach the mid-80's by the middle of the week, we want to encourage our students to stay hydrated. Students are welcome to bring a water bottle with water in to school each day.

As we previously mentioned, our staff has planned some wonderful year-end culminating activities and we appreciate the support of our PTO who have worked hard this year to fundraise to defray the cost. That said, our goal is to have all students participate in these activities and events. All three grades will be participating in field trips, with grade 8 holding a weeklong celebration. We do ask that you make sure to return payments and permission slips as soon as you can and if you need a scholarship to support some or all of the cost of the end of years events that you reach out to Mr. Ahearn or Mrs. Bucci in the main office. Also if you would like to make a donation to help support our goal of having all of our students participating in the end of the year events you are welcome to make a donation to the PTO either by check or through Venmo.

This past week saw the completion of our grade 6 and 7 Math MCAS as we look ahead to Science MCAS for our grade 8 students this week. Year end MAP Testing will occur during the week of June 3rd for all students in grades 6-8.

We also want to acknowledge and celebrate our BMMS Robotics Team who competed in the city championship this past week. The team did a great job and we appreciate Mr. Pavao for serving as a team mentor at the competition. We were also sorry to have to postpone our Citywide Track Championship, but look ahead to the re-scheduled date of Thursday, May 23rd. Come out and cheer on our Breakers at Faxon Track at 3:00 PM as they compete for a city championship!

Looking ahead, we will hold our final fire drill of the year on Monday and remind grade 8 students interested in playing QHS Football in the fall that new head coach Ed Dewitt will be at Broad Meadows on Monday, May 20th at 2:30 PM to meet with any students interested in playing in the fall.

We were also chosen to host the Bruins BFit Program on Thursday, May 30th at 1:00 PM. This will be a great culmination to all of the hard work our students have done on MCAS this year and will be a schoolwide assembly in our gymnasium. We do ask that all of our students complete a picture release and waiver by clicking here and using the information below to complete attached form. Please list the organization as BMMS and event type as "school assembly". Students and staff will also be participating in a 10 vs. 10 street hockey shootout. Only students who have completed the waiver will be eligible to be chosen to participate in the event.

Please also note that we continue to accept donations of gently used books for middle school students through our BMMS Media Center. Any donations can be dropped off at the school during school hours and please remind your students to check out our new outdoor library by the school main entrance if they are looking for a good read!

Finally, we want to ask students and families to travel to and from Broad Meadows with care as construction continues on Sea Street. Please remind students to cross at crosswalks only and to follow the directions of crossing guards. We encourage parents and guardians to travel slowly and keep an eye out for signage related to changing traffic patterns.

Have a great Sunday and let's make it a great week at Meadows!

Nicholas Ahearn

Principal

Stacey Bucci

Assistant Principal

As we move closer to the end of the year, we also look ahead to an exciting time for our Grade 8 students who will be leaving us and heading off to high school. Please check out the following information below. We will continue to update this section with more information in the upcoming days and weeks as we get closer to the end of the year.

1) We want to encourage our students to purchase a copy of our 2023-2024 Grade 8 Class Picture as a remembrance of their time at BMMS. Please see the order form for the class picture below and note that pictures can be purchased online or by returning the order form below to Hayward Photography. A paper copy of the order form is available in the main office and went home with students last week.

2) Our graduation ceremony date is set. We look forward to celebrating some wonderful events with our 8th graders in the month of June, but specifically will be hosting our graduation ceremony on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 9:45 AM.

3) We have now released our calendar to our 8th grade students for our year end celebrations (see below). The cost of the year end experiences was $175.00 per student, but our PTO has raised almost $6,500.00 to offset the cost of the year end celebration, so each student will need to pay $110.00 to participate in all the events. Please make sure to get payment in to participate by June 3rd if not before. You are welcome to pay with cash or check (made out to Broad Meadows Middle School) or pay by Venmo. The Venmo code was given out to grade 8 students, but please feel free to reach out to the main office if you need it.

4) If the cost of the year end experiences is a challenge, please reach out to Mr. Ahearn in the main office and we will work with any families that need financial support. If you would like to make a donation to support students who need assistance with paying for these events, we also ask that you submit a donation to the main office or pay by Venmo. Our goal with every class is to include all students in year end activities.

5)We also reviewed grade level expectations with grade 8 students about attendance, schoolwork and behavior through the end of the year. If students are not completing schoolwork, not attending school with consistency, or who exhibit negative behavior at Broad Meadows Middle School, then they may lose the privilege of attending any or all of these trips. In these cases, parents and guardians will be notified and no refund will be available. Please feel free to reach out to Mr. Ahearn or Mrs. Bucci with any additional questions.

Grade 6: ELA - April 11,12 (Completed) Math - May 16,17 (Completed)

Grade 7: ELA - April 8,9 (Completed) Math - May 14,15 (Completed)

Grade 8: ELA - April 3,4 (Completed) Math - May 6,7 (Completed) Science - May 21,22 Civics Field Test - Week of May 28th

MAP testing will occur for all grades during the weeks of June 3rd.

We are grateful for all the support and all those who attended our April 11th PTO meeting. Please keep in mind that all meetings will be in-person at Broad Meadows, but you are welcome to observe and listen in on the meeting through Zoom.

A sincere thank you to all who donated to the Teacher Appreciation Celebration this week and we look ahead to discussing upcoming year end events for grades 6 to 8 at our last PTO meeting of the year on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Our Calendar Raffle is also now complete and we thank all those who supported.

Topic: BMMS May PTO Meeting

Time: May 23, 2024 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://quincypublicschools.zoom.us/j/81869695151

pwd=VnU4MEZVOHlKbG5EWjRSZWg0UXlkZz09

Meeting ID: 818 6969 5151

Passcode: 530973

October 5 (Completed)

November 16 (Completed)

January 11 (Completed)

February 15 (Completed)

March 21 (Completed)

April 11 (Completed)

May 23

The Broad Meadows Middle School Swag Store is now closed but will reopen on June 1st. Please click here to access the online store to see what is offered.

If your child is going to be absent, please call our main school line and select option 6 from the main menu or email our school secretary at niamhdibona@quincypublicschools.com. In order for an absence to be considered excused, we must receive a note from a medical doctor with a reason for the absence and the date or dates that should be excused. If you contact the classroom teacher about an absence, please make sure to include Mrs. DiBona on the email as well at the email address above so that the office staff are aware of the absence.

Thanks to our partnership with Arbella Insurance and the Celtics All-Star Program we are also able to acknowledge students for perfect attendance each month. Up to this point we have been excited to celebrate the following achievement:

Perfect Attendance by Month

November - 181 students

December 185 students

January - 155 Students

February - 189 students

March - 191 students

April - 186 students

All students who achieved perfect attendance in April will receive their poster from the Celtics in the upcoming days.

We will also look to support students who struggle with chronic absenteeism. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education defines chronic absenteeism as missing more than 10% of the school days in a year due to either excused or unexcused absences. Students who have been absent 15 days or more days to this point in the year are on pace for chronic absenteeism. Please click here to view the most recent release from our Massachusetts Department of Education on absenteeism at school.

If we can support you or your student with school attendance, please feel free to reach out to us during school hours. Students who are on pace to be chronically absent have been invited to attend our Accelerated Academy Program which will hold it's final day on Saturday, June 1, 2024. If you are interested in learning more about this program please reach out to our main office during school hours.

Last Fire Drill of the Year - Monday, May 20, 2024

Meeting for all Gr. 8 students interested in playing football at QHS with Head Coach Ed Dewitt - Monday, May 20, 2024 at 2:30 PM in the BMMS auditorium

Grade 8 MCAS Science - Tuesday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 22

Early Release Day - May 22, 2024

May PTO Meeting - May 23, 2024 at 6:00 PM

Memorial Day - Monday, May 27, 2024 ( No School)

Bruins BFit School Wide Assembly - Thursday, May 30 at 1:00 PM

Olindy's Field Trip Grade 6 - Friday, May 31, 2024

Camp Everwood Grade 7 Field Trip - Monday, June 3

Fly Up Day for Grade 5 Incoming to Broad Meadows - Tuesday, June 4

Third Round of MAP Testing - Wednesday to Friday, June 5-7 (More information on a schedule to come)

BMMS Honor's Night and Art Celebration - June 6, Beginning at 5:30 PM (invitations will follow for individual students)

Specialists Student of the Trimester Celebration - Monday, June 10

BMMS Grade 8 Graduation - Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 9:45 AM

Juneteenth ( No School) - Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Last Day of School for students (Early Release Day) - Thursday, June 20, 2021

Website: Broad Meadows Middle School Website

Principal: Nicholas Ahearn – nicholasahearn@quincypublicschools.com

Asst. Principal: Stacey Bucci – staceybucci@quincypublicschools.com

Secretary: Niamh DiBona – niamhdibona@quincypublicschools.com

School Nurse: Danielle Bonczar – daniellebonczar@quincypublicschools.com

Grade 6 and LDC School Counselor: Nicole DeMong – nicoledemong@quincypublicschools.com

Grade 7 and 8 School Counselor: Joseph Boss- josephboss@quincypublicschools.com

Location: 50 Calvin Rd, Quincy, MA. 02169

Phone – (617) 984-8723

After school Homework Club - Homework Club will be held this week meeting only on Mondays and Thursdays, but times will be from 2:30 PM - 3:45 PM. We are also happy to welcome several QHS students who will be serving as mentors and tutors during this time. Please feel free to drop in for academic support any Monday or Thursday afternoon. Homework club will end on Thursday, June 30, 2024.

ODW (Operation Days Work) - Will be held on Friday afternoons from 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM in Mr. Phelan's classroom.

BOKS - Please see Mr. Bloomer or Mrs. McBride for a permission slip if you would like to join us each Monday and Wednesday morning before school! Students should enter through the gym door which will open at 7:10 AM.

Art Club: Broad Meadows Art Club will run until May 28th from 2:30 - 4:00 PM each Tuesday afternoon in our Art Room.

Robotics Grade 6- 8 Robotics: We want to congratulate our BMMS Robotics Team for all their success at our City-Championship on Saturday. Our robotics program is now complete for the year and we look ahead to the program picking back up in the fall.

Spring Track - We were sad to have our City Championship postponed last week due to weather, but look ahead to the make-up date of Thursday, May 23, 2024. Track will meet for a practice on Monday, May 20th to prepare for the meet on Thursday. Come out to our City Championship at 3:00 PM at Faxon Track and cheer on our Breakers!

All students in grades 6-8 should have a school assigned Chromebook. To support us at school we ask that you work with your student to find a place where they can charge their Chromebook every evening so that it is ready to use every morning. Students should bring their Chromebook to school each day.

If a Chromebook breaks we would ask your student to return it to the main office and we will provide your student a replacement. If a Chromebook is lost, please work with your student to locate it. If it is not found, families may incur the charge of a replacement Chromebook per the user agreement. The same holds true if a Chromebook is damaged due to improper care. Chromebooks can cost up to $300.00 to be replaced. Please remind your student to take care in handling them.

The Broad Meadows Middle School lost and found is located just inside the main door on the first floor. If any items are found at school they will be placed in our lost and found. Please encourage your student to check this space if they are missing any items. If you place your student's name inside of clothing, lunch boxes or on water bottles, we will work to see that they are returned to their owner. This picture is from Friday, May 17, 2024. All clothing items not picked up by the last day of school will be donated to Goodwill.

Quincy Public Schools Student Personal Electronic Device Policy -

The use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices during the school day negatively impacts student engagement with learning activities and is often a source of disciplinary interventions. This Quincy Public Schools Student Electronic Device Policy is intended to remove this source of distraction by eliminating the use of personal electronic devices (including, but not limited to, cell phones, tablets, smart watches, earbuds, and headphones) during academic instructional time. All Quincy Public Schools students in Grades 4-12 have been issued a Chromebook to be used during instructional time when online access is required.

Therefore, for high school students:

1. Cell phones and other personal electronic devices may not be used for any purpose during classes, but are allowed during study or lunch periods and while passing between classes.

2. All cell phones and personal electronic devices must be turned off (not simply on silent or vibrate mode) during class time.

3. Cell phones and other personal electronic devices should be put away and not be visible during class time. Staff members may request to have students place their device in a designated storage location within the classroom.

4. Exceptions to this Policy may be made by the Principal or designee and by individual teachers to accommodate a student’s IEP or 504 plan.

For elementary and middle school students, cell phones and other personal electronic devices should be turned off and safely secured in a locker or backpack during the school day.

DISCIPLINE

Students who do not comply with the terms of the Policy will be subject to progressive discipline as follows:

First offense: The student will be required to turn over their personal electronic device(s) in the main office. The device(s) will be returned to the student at the end of the school day.

Second offense: The student will be required to turn over their personal electronic device(s) in the main office. The student’s parent/guardian will be called and the device(s) will be returned to parent/guardian.

Third offense: Same as the second offense above. In addition, the student will be prohibited from bringing any personal electronic devices to school for the remainder of the school year.

Students committing repeated violations of this policy may be subject to additional disciplinary actions, consistent with the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook.

Please feel free to use the link below to access important dates along with the School Year Calendar for the 2023-2024 school year.

2023-2024 School Calendar

Students are given the opportunity to receive breakfast, lunch and/or milk as part of their daily schedule. Breakfast and lunch will be free for all students again this year and snack will be available for purchase at all lunches. Please click here for the Quincy Public Schools Food Services website which will include weekly menus as well as nutrition information. Snack prices vary between $1.00 and $2.00.

Breakfast is available for all students beginning at 7:45 AM. Any students interested in joining us for breakfast are welcome to enter the building through the side cafeteria door.

Please feel free to reach out to our school nurse Ms. Danielle Bonczar at daniellebonczar@quincypublicschools.com with any medical questions or updates relating to school. If students takes medication during the school day, please make sure that when you drop off medication at school that it is accompanied by a order from a doctor. Please click here for the Quincy Public Schools Health Services Newsletter with great information to keep your student healthy this year! Please also click below for a copy of our BMMS Health and Safety Notice.

MBTA student CharlieCards are available to all students at lunches or in the main office. CharlieCards can be used by students to receive a discounted rate on MBTA busses going to and from Broad Meadows. If students are in need of a ChalieCard they are welcome to pick one up before or after school in the main office. Students are welcome to pay the MBTA fares either in cash or by adding value to their CharlieCard online through the mbta.com site. MBTA busses have been arriving in front of Broad Meadows between 2:40 PM and 2:50 PM each day (12:15 PM on half days). The 214 MBTA bus will travel to Germantown and the 216 MBTA bus will travel to Houghs Neck.

For any questions related specifically to Quincy Public School transportation and bussing we would encourage you to call directly to the Quincy Public Schools Transportation Office at (617) 984-8964.