Blue Ridge MS
October 2, 2020
BRMS Message
We hope the first few weeks of school have gone well and that students are settling in to distance learning routines. We really miss the kids and are thrilled at how hard they are working. We also appreciate your patience as the grade synching functionality is worked out between Phoenix and Schoology.
A note about our smore newsletters going forward...we want to communicate important information in a timely manner, without inundating your email. To that end, please anticipate a weekly smore update toward the end of each week. Newer information will be toward the top of the smore, while older (yet relevant) information will be toward the bottom. We added a new banner to the smore as a "divide" between the new and old. Occasionally, we will need to send other connectEd messages, depending on content. Thank you for reading our communications home and for supporting our Bulldog Learners!
Bucks for Bulldogs Fundraiser Update
We are excited about the progress of our joint PTO/BRMS “Bucks for Bulldogs” fundraiser! We are making good progress towards our goal and appreciate the many families who have already donation; however, additional support from the BRMS community is needed to reach the $15,000 mark. To make a donation, please access the Bucks for Bulldogs Information page which can be printed to send in a donation or make a donation via PayPal via the link that is on the BRMS webpage.
Unlike product based fundraisers, all donations from this “no-sale fundraiser” support BRMS directly! The picture below outlines some of the many programs and activities supported by your donations.
We appreciate your support of this fundraising campaign! Questions? Contact our PTO President Danielle Kabban @ blueridgepto.president@gmail.com or Dean Megan Baird @ megan.baird@lcps.org
BRMS Spirit Night
Join us for our Spirit Night. This is a fun and easy way to meet other Blue Ridge families while fundraising for our school. All you have to do is what you normally do…EAT DINNER! You can eat in or take out, as long as you mention Blue Ridge MS PTO when you are ordering your food!
DON’T FORGET TO BRING YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR, and EVERYONE ELSE YOU CAN THINK OF!
Next Spirit Night
October 6: Manhattan Pizza in Purcellville 4-9pm (must mention BRMS)
-BRMS PTO
School Pictures Update
Picture Pick Up Plan: If your child was photographed on Sept. 16, 17, or 18, we anticipate their pictures arriving to Blue Ridge in the next couple of weeks. We plan to offer a curbside drive-thru pick up. More details in our next Smore.
Makeup Picture Day: Monday, November 9, 2020 will be makeup picture day. Makeup pictures will be taken using the same safety protocols that were implemented during our September picture days. Please follow these makeup picture day directions:
1. Report for pictures between the hours of 12:00PM - 3:00PM or 3:30PM- 6:00PM.
2. Parents will use the Kiss-and-Go lane to drop off students at door B-7. Then parents will proceed around behind the school and wait for their student at the covered basketball court.
3. Students will enter door B-7, be screened by the school nurse, then follow cones to the check-in table in the main gym.
3. Students will wear face coverings at all times (except during photograph) and stand at designated cones (approx 10 ft apart) while waiting in line.
4. Students will be photographed in the main gym.
5. Students will then exit the main gym door and walk across the covered basketball court to meet their parent.
Academies of Loudoun
8th Grade Students only-Academies Application Updates:
The Office of Admissions will host several live stream information sessions in October for students. (15-20 minutes). Students will have the opportunity to submit questions beforehand that may be addressed during the sessions. The deadline to submit questions will be October 12, 2020.
The dates for the events are:
October 9, 2020 8:50 - 9:10
October 15, 2020 8:30 – 8:50
October 13, 2020 8:35 – 8:55
October 16, 2020 8:40 – 9:00
October 19, 2020 2:00 – 2:20
To access the live stream:
https://live.myvrspot.com/player?udi=bG91ZG91bg%3D%3D&c=QUNM .
Please know the Office of Admissions will not be able to see or interact with the students during this meet.
Here is the form to submit questions: https://forms.gle/t6DTC1nnALF5sBSg6
Please visit the Academies of Loudoun webpage for more information. https://www.lcps.org/acl
MAP Testing
LCPS is invested in helping students access rigorous instruction during the 2020-2021 school year; therefore, identifying students’ instructional readiness levels as early as possible is an essential requirement. Blue Ridge will be administering NWEA’s MAP Reading and Math Growth assessments to students through Advisory class on the following dates:
Monday, October 5 - Reading MAP - 9:00am
Monday, October 19 - Math MAP - 9:00am
Linked here is a helpful document called A Parent's Guide to Remote MAP Test Support.
The MAP Reading and Math growth test are designed to find your child’s instructional readiness level. This level is reached when a student answers approximately 50% of the answers incorrectly and 50% correctly. Since MAP growth tests can extend above the student’s current grade level, some students may test for more than 50 minutes per test while other students may finish their test a bit earlier. Additionally, your student will likely indicate that many of the questions were “hard” and/or may feel frustrated at the level of difficulty required to select an answer. Some students may wish to quit rather than continue and/or may ask for help answering the questions. It’s important that you encourage your student to do their best and finish the test. Please do not help them as this will result in a much higher score, leading the teacher to assign work that may be above your student’s readiness level. There is no benefit to a high score on these tests. For example, due to the challenges inherent in a remote test administration, LCPS will not be using the MAP data obtained during the 2020-2021 school year for math placement.
While we will do everything we can to ensure a smooth test administration, there will likely be one or more interruptions during testing. The MAP test requires a large amount of bandwidth and is susceptible to freezing or shutting down. If your student experiences multiple interruptions/technical issues during testing and is unable to meaningfully continue with the test, please use the Google Meet chat to communicate immediately with their Teacher/Proctor.
If you do NOT wish for your child to participate in one or both of the assessments, please email Assistant Principal Matt Bolen at matt.bolen@lcps.org your decision.
Blue Ridge Library News
Library News
Hey, Bulldogs! Can you believe it’s already October?! The library is moving right along with so many reading opportunities for students. We hope you are taking advantage of MackinVia (digital media/text), the book bus and curbside pickup at Blue Ridge. We also hope you’ve joined your grade level library Schoology course so you can access all kinds of additional information and activities!
Now for something even more exciting! Do you like a challenge? Do you like the thought of winning prizes? Then look no further!
Try the Bulldog 5 Star Reading Challenge!
Complete the 5 activities each month (5 Star activities) and be entered into a drawing to win some great prizes!
Check out the video below for more details.
Contact Mrs. Duke (sandra.duke@lcps.org ) for any questions!
For Book Bus pickup, orders must be placed by noon on Wednesday. For Curbside pickup, orders must be placed by 3:30 on Friday, giving students some extra time to make their choices. Students will then pick up their books the following Monday (unless it’s a holiday).
Students can find the link to the order form on LCPS GO. The tab looks like the picture to the right:
We look forward to seeing our students!
Reading gives us some place to go when we have to stay where we are.
-Mason Cooley
Navigating ParentVUE
English & Spanish Virtual Room: http://bit.ly/familyroom-1007-es
English & Arabic Virtual Room: http://bit.ly/familyroom-1007-es
2021 Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition
Is your child looking for a way to get involved and ready to make an impact? The 2021 Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition is now open. Last year alone, 263 Loudoun County teens participated in the competition. 4,890 hours were spent on projects, impacting 8,116 people with caring ideas and had an economic impact of $134,475 to Loudoun County.
To register, please visit us at Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition or email us at info@loudounyouth.org for additional information.
- Come up with your Project Plan and fill out the Project Registration Form.
- Once you complete the Project Registration Form, you will receive an email with the Team Member Registration Form.
- Each team member pays their registration fee here
Important Dates regarding the Step Up Youth Competition:
Registration Closes December 18
Video project submittal deadline: March 1
Competition Round 1 Judging: March 8 - 12
Top 10 Finals and Awards: March 25
BRMS Distance Learning Survey
We appreciate your thoughts through answering this survey. We strive to serve our students at the highest level. Your feedback helps us improve. Staff have worked extremely hard to make our unique opening accessible by all students. We are Bulldog Strong! Thank you in advance for all your support during our academic year.
A Message from the PBIS Team
PBIS Team Update
During the 2020-2021 school year, Blue Ridge has partnered with the Positivity Project to deliver social emotional lessons to students during morning Advisory time. You can learn more about the Positivity Project here. We encourage you to have great conversations at home around the positive character strengths and how to model the Other People Matter mindset.
Keep an eye out for more information on specific character strengths as we highlight them each week during Advisory.
BRMS PTO
Officers
President: Danielle Kabban: president@brmspto.org
First VP: Christine Bartlett: firstvp@brmspto.org
Second VP: Hibah Salah: secondvp@brmspto.org
Secretary: Kathi Reich: secretary@brmspto.org
Treasurer: Karyna Tarbox: treasurer@brmspto.org
Coordinators
Theater: Jennifer Zisk and Kelly Schober: drama@brmspto.org
Volunteer & Events: Amelia Hertzberg: volunteer@brmspto.org
Hospitality: Megan Nugent: hospitality@brmspto.org
MSAAC Volunteer: Susan Swayzem: saac@brmspto.org
Important PTO Information
PTO Welcome Letter
Please click the link to read our PTO cover letter. This letter contains important information about upcoming PTO meetings, opportunities to connect, and ways to support the PTO and Blue Ridge MS.PTO Newsletter
Learn how to sign up for the PTO newsletter, Bulldog Bytes, by clicking HERE.
School Fundraiser
Please click the link to learn about our school fundraiser. To make a donation, click the following link: Bucks for Bulldogs
Business Partnerships
If you are interested in learning more about BRMS Business Partnerships, click HERE.
Yearbook Information
Distance Learning Schedule
Want to Order Spirit Wear?
Order some awesome Bulldog spirit wear here! Check out our NEW shirt designs below!!
Technical Support for Students
If a Chromebook fails in some way, which impedes access, please use another device to access Google and/or try one of the following troubleshooting tips: 1) In Settings, click on About Chrome and check for updates, 2) Clear Cache from All Time, 3) Turn off your Chromebook, then turn it back on.
Students may receive technical support through one of the following methods:
Call the Technology Support Center at (571) 252-2112
The Technology Support Center will be staffed from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., M-F (excluding holidays).
A Message from our School Nurse
Welcome to the 2020-21 School Year at Blue Ridge Middle School!
I hope this message finds you healthy and excited to begin the new school year.
With the majority of our students starting the school year with distance learning, I would still like to keep your child’s health info up to date. If your child has a health concern, I still want to know so that teachers can be aware in the event there is an emergency while online. I also want to be ready for when schools do reopen. While you may not be bringing medications to school at this time, you can begin sending in action plans and doctor’s orders when you have them. If your child has a new health concern, I want to know about that as well.
Loudoun County Public Schools requires a new provider/physician orders each school year for the medication or specialized care which your child receives at school. If your child will continue to need medication or specialized health care at school, you and your child’s physician must complete and sign the proper form(s). The required forms are available online at www.lcps.org. Click on the “Families” tab and the forms will be found under Medication at School. The forms should be returned to me via email (MaryAnn.stetter@lcps.org) or fax (540-338-6823). Below is a list of health conditions with information about the required medical form:
· Medical Condition
· Severe Allergy and Epinephrine auto-injector
· Seizures
· Asthma with Inhaler and/or Nebulizer
· Diabetes
· Current Medical Procedures, i.e. tube feeding, catheterizations
· New Health Concerns or Medical Procedures
· Authorization for Medication Administration
Please contact me if I can be of any further assistance to you. I hope to see you and your child back at school soon.
MaryAnn Stetter RN
540-751-2520
Breakfast and Lunch Service
TJHSST - Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
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BRMS Statement on Equity
The Unified Mental Health Team at Blue Ridge wants to acknowledge the many incidents involving race and social injustices that have occurred nationally over the past several weeks.
These incidents are not only unjust but they can have a traumatic impact on students and staff during these challenging times.
Blue Ridge Middle School rejects racism and all forms of hateful behavior and language in our school community. We pledge to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all our students and families. This will continue to be important work as we move into next school year, and we are committed to continuing this conversation with staff, students and families.
We are pleased to announce our Blue Ridge Equity Team Co-leads: 8th grade counselor Ms. Savastano and Civics teacher - Mrs. Benalayat.
We hope that the below resources will be helpful in talking with your children and families about these issues.