BMS Newsletter
"Quality Learning and Positive Personal Development for All"
Up-"Dates"
- January 17th - Schools Closed: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- January 19th - BMS Current 8th Grade Virtual Planning Information Night
- January 25th- Grade 8-9 Registration Night, 7PM at Brunswick High School
- January 27th-Report Cards for Term 2 distributed
- February 4th - 2 hour early dismissal
- February 10th - PTO Meeting 7pm
- February 18th - 2 hour early dismissal
- February 21st - School Closed Presidents Day
Administrative Announcements
Railroader Nation,
Happy birthday to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who stood for peace, justice, and equity. Dr. King's incredible legacy lives on through all of us. We honor him by continuing his life's work - ensuring that our students are focused on learning and our environment is positive for all.
As we start a new term and semester, it is a great time for our students to reflect on how the first half of the school year has gone. We greatly appreciate your unwavering support and collaboration as we continue to navigate through this school year. Below are a few reminders for the second half of the school year.
- In an effort to ensure appropriate use of cell phones for students, we encourage parents/guardians to review safe cellphone usage frequently, maintain open communication, and utilize appropriate parental controls.
- Please remind your child that cell phones and ear pods are to be kept out and out of sight unless under the direction of a staff member.
- Students need to be prepared for learning every day by bringing a fully charged Chromebook/laptop to school every day and they should have their charger.
- Please make sure students are bringing/wearing their masks (over the nose) and bringing a water bottle to school. Bringing a water bottle to school will help us cut down on our environmental waste because students are required to use a cup at the water fountains due to FCPS guidelines. This would also decrease the number of trips students are making to the water fountains and help them stay in class.
- If a student needs help completing their assignments, they need to contact their teacher directly through Schoology. The teacher will sign them up for ELT when available.
While these recent days have been far from ideal, we know that this is temporary and things will get better. Thank you for partnering with us.
Mr. Warren & Mrs. Hale
TutorMe
TutorMe is an online tutoring platform that connects students to live tutors, 24 hours a day in over 300 subjects, right from their home.
Their network of over 10,000 verified tutors has helped more than half a million students improve their grades, understand difficult concepts, or just get help with simple questions. Students can even have their papers reviewed using TutorMe’s Writing Lab, which provides detailed feedback on their essays or reports in less than 12 hours.
FCPS Dress Code Policy
Face Coverings
We ask that families reinforce the importance of proper mask wearing and fit of face coverings. Guidelines and expectations are not only at BMS but are the expectations in all FCPS schools.
Face Coverings/Masks
BMS Current 8th Grade Virtual Planning Information Night January 19th at 5:30 pm
As we've been preparing 8th grade students for high school, we've fielded a number of really great questions from parents, guardians, and students about what kinds of courses are mandatory and which are available during the high school years. As a supplement to the dialogue from our classroom guidance and small group meetings, you are invited to attend our very own BMS virtual 4 Year Plan Night on Wednesday, January 19th at 5:30. We will have a brief presentation about graduation requirements, resources for accessing the FCPS Course and Planning Guides, Completer Options, and how to access the High School Course Planner in Naviance followed by an opportunity to ask questions. This evening is completely optional and there will be many opportunities for additional information-gathering during the remainder of the school year.
If you are interested in attending this event, please complete the form linked below. The Google Meet code will be sent to those that RSVP.
Virtual Planning Information Night RSVP
In preparation for the evening, please visit the BHS Registration Information website for more information and useful resources. As a note, Brunswick High School will be having an orientation for all incoming 9th graders. Information about this event can also be found at the link below.
It is that time of year again--Yearbook Sales are Now Open!
If you are interested in one of our fantastic yearbooks you must order it online. The online ordering process is now open. Please use this link: https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/ and the BMS code is 29301. We are offering softcover books and hardcover books. PRE-SALE: From now through Feb. 13, softcover are $28 and hardcover are $33. Starting Feb. 14th, each book increases in price $5 - softcover will be $33 and hardcover will be $38. The prices for both types of books include a digital name imprint on the front cover of the yearbook. Your child’s given name is the default for the imprint, and you will have the option to change it during the ordering process. All orders must be placed by April 10th to guarantee a copy of the yearbook. Please do not wait to order as we will only have a small amount of books to sell when they arrive. Any extra yearbooks that we receive will be on a first come, first serve basis. We anticipate the arrival of our yearbooks and distribution to be before students leave school in June.
Yearbook Information and Updates - Please go to the BMS Yearbook Hub for any information regarding this year’s yearbook. You will find information on the following topics below and more:
Portrait Information - Additionally, you may choose to send in a picture of your child if they were unable to get their school portrait taken in October. Directions for how to do this are also on the BMS yearbook Hub under the “portrait information” tab.
8th Grade ONLY - There will be a section in the yearbook for 8th grade baby pictures/optional message to your 8th grader. Participation in this special opportunity is voluntary and will make the yearbook extra memorable for your child.
Please note: Your child’s given name will be listed in the yearbook. If you have a preferred name for your child we ask that you make that request on the BMS Yearbook Hub (Name Change Request).
Again we are very excited to get the opportunity to produce another great yearbook and look forward to seeing lots of photos from you to include in this year's edition.
Thank you,
Ms. Clark & Ms. Innocenti
(Yearbook Advisors)
Vote for the Student Member of the Board of Education
Each year the students of FCPS select a representative to serve as the Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB). The selected student is the voice of all students in FCPS on the Board. The voting poll is open now through 4 pm on Thursday, January 27th to select the SMOB for the 2022-2023 school year. All OMS students are eligible to cast a vote. Students must be signed into their FCPS account to access the Voting Ballot. On Thursday, February 3rd, the FCASC General Assembly will make the vote official through its Electoral College system.
There are 5 candidates from schools across the county. Their speeches and candidate information are available on the FCPS SMOB Webpage. The voting link can also be found on the FCPS webpage.
Please take this opportunity to vote and to help effectuate your influence on policy as we move forward into the 2022-2023 school year.
PTO
We encourage all parents to join and support the teachers and students this year! Visit our website to learn what were all about. Sign up and help us support all teachers and students.
Tom Robinson,
PTO President
Website: http://brunswickms.my-pto.org/
Donations: http://brunswickms.my-pto.org/content.asp?PageID=15
Join PTO - Membership: http://brunswickms.my-pto.org/content.asp?PageID=15
Buses
Currently, FCPS is in the need of bus drivers. Due to the numerous openings in transportation, FCPS is trying its best to have all route fulfilled. However, at times, there are delays in pick ups and drop offs. Please continue checking out https://apps.fcps.org/transportation/delay for any delays.
IMPORTANT REMINDER FROM TRANSPORTATION OF PREVIOUS PROCEDURE
IMPORTANT Reminder From Transportation of Previous Procedure
NOTE: Due to current COVID19 protocols this practice is currently suspended.
My student needs to ride home on a different bus or be dropped off at an alternate location for one day. What do I need to do?
If your student on occasion will be riding home on a bus other than the one to which he/she is assigned (i.e., riding home with a friend in an emergency or to an alternate stop), before boarding the bus the student MUST give the bus driver a signed note from the parents/guardians of all students concerned AND written administrator approval from the school.
NOTE: Due to current COVID19 protocols this practice is currently suspended.
Communication regarding COVID-19
Please communicate any COVID-19 symptoms, diagnosis, or close contact with the front office. This will ensure that we can correctly code any absences and provide tutoring. Please feel free to email Mrs. Gardner at Julie.Gardner@FCPS.ORG or the school health room.
FCPS has Updated Guidelines (COVID-19) Spanish Version
FCPS is changing our COVID-19 quarantine and isolation procedures to reflect new guidance from the Maryland Department of Health published on Jan 6, 2022. This change in guidance may have an impact on the quarantine or isolation information that was shared by the school previously. The new FCPS guidance (Spanish Version) can be accessed HERE.
The substantive changes include, but are not limited to the following:
ISOLATION
Isolation period for individuals with a positive case of COVID-19 has been reduced from 10 days to 5 days. Isolation is the period of time an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 must stay at home.
New Guidance 1.12.22
All individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 must isolate for 5 days. Individuals can return to school on Day 6 if the following conditions are met:
Asymptomatic OR if symptoms have improved
Fever-free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication
Wear a well-fitting mask for an additional 5 days.
If an individual cannot wear a well-fitting mask, then they must isolate for 10 days.
QUARANTINE
Quarantine - is the period of time an individual identified as a close contact must stay at home.
New Guidance 1.12.22
Fully Vaccinated individuals or individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days do not have to quarantine.
Adults 18 or older: Non-boosted individuals who completed primary series of Pfizer or Moderna greater than 5 months ago or primary J&J vaccine greater than 2 months ago.
All Unvaccinated Individuals
All individuals identified as a close contact must quarantine for 5 days. Individuals can return to school on Day 6 if the following conditions are met:
Asymptomatic
Wear a well-fitting mask for an additional 5 days
Testing is recommended on the 5th day or later
If an individual cannot wear a well-fitting mask, then they must quarantine for 10 days.
*Fully vaccinated individuals age 18 or older who have either received a booster shot or have received the second dose of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine within the past 5 months or Johnson and Johnson vaccine in the past 2 months OR children 5-17 years old who have completed the Pfizer vaccine series
Attendance
For early dismissals:
- Parent/Guardian will come to the office to sign student out
- Please bring your ID & wear a mask
- Allow adequate time to locate student for an early dismissal
- If you allow someone else to sign your student out, please note the name you authorize in your note to the school. They will be required to show ID to pick up student.
Don’t forget, when going to the Doctor, Dentist or Orthodontics, remember to get an attendance slip. We will code accordingly.
Community Service Hours
All required community service hours are built into the FCPS Essential Curriculum, but if a student has completed additional service hours that extended beyond class requirements, those hours may be documented on the FCPS Volunteer Hours and Community Service Form . The form details the types of activities that qualify for recognized service hours. Completed forms may be returned to the School Counseling office or emailed directly to the School Counselor:
Mrs. Mahn
6th Grade & & 7th Grade Last Names Beginning with A-K
Mr. LoRusso
8th Grade & 7th Grade Last Names Beginning with L-Z
Project Lead the Way
PLTW Engineering empowers students to step into the role of an engineer, adopt a problem-solving mindset, and make the leap from dreamers to doers. The program's courses engage students in compelling, real-world challenges that help them become better collaborators and thinkers. Students gain knowledge and skills from these courses that they will not only use in high school but in their future careers as well. This accelerated 5-course program is weighted as honors, and students have the opportunity to earn college credit as well through exams at the end of each course. The PLTW program is open to all Linganore students. If you live outside of Linganore High School's district, you can apply to be in the program and come to Linganore High School. To apply, go to the Linganore webpage https://education.fcps.org/lhs/ and go to Lancer Quick Links. Select the link PLTW/Out of District Application and complete the application. We are accepting forms until February 4, 2022.
You can visit PLTW.org to find out more about the Engineering Program or you can contact one of the PLTW teachers here at Linganore, Mr. Lastova (mark.lastova@fcps.org) or Mr. Greene (patrick.greene@fcps.org).
Technical Support
Weather Related Closings and Delays
Occasionally, inclement weather and other safety or health conditions require FCPS to close, delay opening or dismiss early.
Closing and delay decisions involve careful evaluation of a variety of factors in a short time period. Whenever possible, decisions are made by 5 a.m. for morning closings and delays (with communications by 5:30 a.m. posted on the web, FCPS TV channel 18, and via FindOutFirst to Facebook and Twitter) and by 10 a.m. for early closings, announced soon after.
Email and text message delivery typically take longer than the FOF posts to Facebook and Twitter take, though the FCPS FindOutFirst service publishes them all--email, texts, Facebook and Twitter content--at the same time. Notification on other media's stations may be later; always check to see that the reference on other media is to FCPS MARYLAND, as there is also a Frederick County Public Schools district in Virginia!
Because weather can change quickly and forecasts aren't always certain, it's rarely possible to determine delays or closings the night before. But we always make the decision as soon as we can be sure of the weather and travel conditions, and we begin communicating the decision right away.
FCPS doesn't usually announce that schools are open or operating on schedule, only that they are closed, delayed or dismissing early. If we haven't announced otherwise, schools are open on time.
- www.fcps.org
- Social Media: FCPS on Twitter and FCPS on Facebook (usually posted via FindOutFirst)
- Email/Text Messages: FindOutFirst email and emergency-only text messages (published the same time as the Facebook and Twitter notices)
- FCPS TV: Comcast Channel 18 (Frederick area)
Transit- Free Rides
“To further protect the health and safety of our employees and passengers, TransIT Services of Frederick County will be providing free rides on all services including TransIT-plus and Connector and shuttle service until further notice in response to COVID-19.”
https://www.frederickcountymd.gov/105/TransIT
Ongoing Announcements
Stay Up To Date
Here are ways to ensure you're getting the latest news and updates from BMS:
- Find Out First E-mails - We use the email addresses that you provide us when your student enrolls to send out information. If that email address changes, please notify us so that we can update your information.
- PTA Website - This provides information about upcoming PTA events and activities, membership and volunteer opportunities, current and previous editions of this newsletter, and more. Bookmark it today!
- PTA Facebook Page - Stay informed about PTA events, activities, and school information by liking the Brunswick Middle School PTA Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/BrunswickMiddlePTO/
Need Help?
Need Help?
- Child Protective Services (CPS): 301-600-2464
- To get help for physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect.
- Crisis Services: Dial 211
- To get help when you feel really anxious or really depressed and need someone to talk with so that you can stay safe.
- Maryland Anonymous Tip Line: 1-833-632-7233
- To report threats or situations that put your safety, or others’ safety, at risk.
- Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
- To get help if you are thinking about suicide.
Community Resources
Food and Meal Assistance
Frederick Rescue Mission ( 419 South Street)
Food Distribution
- Tues, Wed, and Fri 1:30-3:30 pm & Thurs 5:00-7:00 pm.
- Breakfast... Mon-Sunday 7:00-8:00 am
- Lunch...Mon-Sat 12:00-1:30 & Sundays 1:00-2:00.
Frederick Community Action Agency's (14 E. All Saints Street)
- Food Bank hours are Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri 2:00-4:00 pm. T
- Soup Kitchen is having DINNER CARRY OUT from 5:30-6:30.
Mental Health Resources
Guide to Mental Health and Community Support Services
Virtual Walk-in Behavioral Health Services (crisis support)
- Click on the link to schedule a virtual appointment : https://fcmha.org/coronavirus
- Phone 211 or 301-663-0011
Substance Abuse -All ages
- https://health.frederickcountymd.gov/131/Behavioral-Health-Services
- Phone 301-600-1755
Income and Housing
Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs
- Phone 240-446-9649. This number is different from their general number of 301-631-2670.
- info@shipfrederick.com
- 240-415-8971
- 301-662-2311
American Red Cross
- 301-739-0117
Frederick Police Offer Run Away Child Prevention Resources for Parents
Reliable Resources
Frederick County Health Department
Maryland Department of Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Governor's COVID-19 Pandemic: Orders and Guidance
Brunswick Middle School
Website: https://education.fcps.org/bms/
Location: Brunswick Middle School, Cummings Drive, Brunswick, MD, USA
Phone: 240-236-5400
Stay Up-to-Date
Here are ways to ensure you're getting the latest news and updates from GVES:
- Find Out First E-mails - We use the email address you provided when your student enrolled to send out information. If that email address changes, please notify the school at the email below to update your information.
- PTA Website - This provides information about upcoming PTA events and activities, membership and volunteer opportunities,, and more. Bookmark it today! http://brunswickms.my-pto.org/
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award
- Congratulations go out to 8th grader, Angelina Roberts, who was chosen as Brunswick’s MLK, Jr. Award Recipient for 2022.
- Angelina consistently exhibits the characteristics of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and was chosen by our staff to represent Brunswick Middle!
- Congratulations, Angelina!