Barrington Middle School BMS Connected learning Newsletter 9.4.2018 The BMS Learning Community is Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed! Upcoming Events: (Note: Please review the dates as dates are subjected to change due to a number of factors from one newsletter to the next).
Note from Dr. Anderson One of my favorite times of the year is the start of a new school year. Quickly we get back into the swing of things and the school year resumes its rhythm! Students arriving to school, enthusiasm and energy throughout the day, and an eagerness to begin after school activities are a few of the sights and sounds that make up a typical day. BMS is mindful to try to provide our families with authentic opportunities to become part of this rhythm as well! Over the next coming month we have a few different opportunities for families to become involved with Barrington Middle School. We encourage you to attend our Open House scheduled for Thursday, September 20, 2018, attend our PTO meeting scheduled for Monday, September 24, 2018, and attend our Principal’s Coffee Hour set for Thursday, October 4, 2018. In addition to these events, throughout the year there will be a number of different opportunities to volunteer at school. It is important to note that each volunteer have a BCI and new volunteer’s attend the orientation. BMS Spotlight on Learning This week we would like to shine our BMS Spotlight on Mrs. Kellie Polando for going out of her way to ensure a smooth transition for one particular 6th grader! Mrs. Polando was observed kneeling down comforting a 6th grader who appeared to be lost. The small gesture of kneeling and getting on the same level of the 6th grade communicated comfort and empathy to a student who clearly was a bit overwhelmed with his new surroundings. Although, as simple gesture, I am sure it meant the world to that student. Thank you Mrs. Polando for helping make that boy’s day that much better! BMS News you can Use BMS Building Update: The new building construction is well underway. To help with communication, each week I have been releasing the BMS Building Project Blog. You can access the blog by visiting the BMS Building Project Homepage or the direct link to the BMS Building Project Blog. In addition, each Tuesday morning we will have a student volunteer give updates to our student body during morning announcements. BMS Home-To-School Communication (Frequently Asked Questions): Last week, I provided our readers with a general overview of the various methods BMS communicates with home. This week I would like to focus specifically on our BMS FAQ page. Located on our website, our FAQ page provides families with a number of answers to questions they may have about our learning community. I encourage you to visit this link to learn more about our procedures: BMS Family FAQ Page Updates 2018-2019 BMS School Improvement Team and/or BPS Health and Wellness Parent Membership: Please see the link below with important information regarding our School Improvement Team, as well as the parent application. Based on our district’s guidelines, we are seeking 3 BMS Parents to serve on the School Improvement Team. SIT meetings will be the second to last Tuesday of every month from 2:30pm - 3:30pm in our school’s presentation room (dates can be found on our school’s website). In addition to 3 parents, membership will also include 3 students, 3 teachers, 1 community member, and 1 administrator. This structure is consistent among all schools. BPS SIT Information BMS SIT and Health Wellness Application (Parent) (note: applications will be due by September 7, 2018) BMS in the News! This past Friday, August 31, 2018, BMS was featured during the Channel 12 Back to School segment. Channel 12 was interested in Barrington Public Schools/Middle Schools approach to personalized learning. During the interview, I had an opportunity to touch upon Deeper Learning at our school. Please see the following link: https://www.wpri.com/back-to-school/ri-schools-reinventing-classroom-through-personalized-learning/1409013166 BMS PTO Meeting: Our first PTO meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 24, 2018 at 7:00pm in the school’s library. During this PTO meeting I will be providing an update on the district’s strategic improvement plan. In addition, Mr. Blanchet (BMS Math Curriculum Chair), Dr. Dillon (Assistant Superintendent), and I will be providing an overview of BMS’s math curriculum and scope and sequences. BMS Big Focus Updates: Teachable Moment: Scheduling a Parent Meeting: From time to time I am asked about the process of setting up a parent/teacher meeting. Our teachers have parent/teacher meeting times built into their common planning time schedule. Step One: The first step to setting up a meeting is through direct communication with your child’s teacher. Often issues/concerns can be resolved over the phone or through email. Step Two: Once you spoke with your child’s teacher, and a meeting is warranted, the next step would be to call our school’s guidance office at 401-247-3160. At Barrington Middle School we prefer to have a parent meeting that includes the school counselor as well as your child’s cluster teachers. What we have learned from in the past is that if something is working well in one class that can often be applied to another setting. The beauty of the cluster model is to have and share multiple perspectives to help best support individual learners. Step Three: Once a meeting has been established the following rational/process/outcome will be followed. Rational: Parent teacher meetings are an important component to home school communication. In order to ensure time is used efficiently and effectively, it is recommended that every parent teacher meeting follows the same meeting norms. The below norms are meant to keep the focus on what is best for the student, keep conversations from becoming adversarial, and keep meetings moving along in timely and effective manner. In order for the norms to be adhered to, it is recommended that during each meeting, roles and responsibilities are assumed and communicated to all members of the meeting. Assuming particular roles and responsibilities will ensure the meeting is focused on the determined purpose for the meeting, timelines are adhered to, and that notes for the meeting are kept. Purpose/Process: Parent Meeting Norms:
Parent Meeting Roles and Responsibilities: Sample Parent Meeting Agenda:
Outcome: The outcome for the establishment of norms, roles, and responsibilities for parent teacher meetings is to maximize time, keep meeting focused on what is best for students, and to avoid the potential of adversarial conversations. Barrington Middle School Parent Newsletter
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