BHMS EBlast
September 8, 2017
Dear BHMS Families,
We are wrapping up a high-energy week of school and it is a great time to be a Falcon! As we settle into the school year routines, I want to take a moment to share some thoughts on how to keep our kids safe outside of school hours and in the community.
If you have students walking to school , we encourage the following:
If possible, have a trusted adult walk with you students to school.
Have students walk in pairs or groups to and from school.
When possible, work with trusted neighbors and friends to coordinate carpools.
Use the school bus or resources such as RTD Call-n-Ride, when appropriate and available.
Talk to your families about strategies and build their confidence to take action if they feel uncomfortable in any way. Please always encourage your kids to report any concerning incidents to trusted adults or school personnel immediately.
Know that we have staff in place to supervise students, while on school grounds, starting 15 minutes before school starts and until 3:55, 15 minutes after the school day ends. Due to lack of supervision, we discourage students from being on campus outside of these timeframes unless they have a prearranged and supervised purpose to be on campus.
Lastly, I want to once again encourage all drivers to be sure to obey traffic laws and be safe while dropping off and picking up our kids. We are confident that students are safe when they are dropped off in designated areas and on the curb-side that abuts to the sidewalk on school property. We know there was a bit of confusion with Broomfield PD this past week and we have been in communication regarding clarification. Please be patient and follow these expectations when dropping off and picking up you students.
Thank you and please let me know if you have any thoughts or questions!
Chris Meyer
Principal
Broomfield Heights Middle School
On Twitter: @bhmprincipal
What Is Our Cell Phone policy?
We have updated our cell phone policy this year to honor our student’s desires and experiences while also proactively teaching them how use these devices as effective “digital citizens.” Students are expected to demonstrate Determination, Respect, Equity, Achievement, and Mindfulness with cell phone use.
Cell phones may be used in classrooms, only with permission by the teacher(s), for educational use.
Cell phones may be used at lunch, at the discretion of the supervising staff members.
Cell phones may be taken if there is a distraction or disruption, at the discretion of staff members. If the phone is taken, it will be returned at the end of the day in Ms. Tice’s office. If it is taken more than once, the phone will only be released to parents or guardians.
Cell phones shall not be used to make or receive any phone calls at school.
If students need to contact parents due to illness or other purpose, they must always do so through the Health Clinic in the Main Office. Likewise, if a caregiver needs to contact a student, they must go through the front office, using our number at 720-561-8400.
Individual Student Reports from Spring 2017 State Testing Now Available
Last spring, elementary, middle and high school students participated in the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, or CMAS state-mandated tests. Third through ninth graders took mathematics and English language arts tests that were developed by a multi-state consortium, the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers or PARCC. Fifth, eighth and eleventh graders also took a science test. Additionally, fourth and seventh graders took a social studies test if their school was selected to participate. This was the third time the students took the new math and English language arts tests and the fourth time for science and social studies, based on new content standards.
These reports are available in hard-copy for current BHMS students. Your student’s results will be available at Student -Led Conferences on October 19, 24th and 26th. If you are unable to attend Conferences, please stop by the school office for a paper copy of results if your student took the tests last year. It is possible that individual student reports will become available in the Infinite Campus parent portal later this fall. If and when results become available in the parent portal, a message from the district will be sent directly to parents.
Reach for the Height Fundraiser
Thank you for supporting BHMS.
SPIRIT WEEK 9/11-9/15
Monday-Neon day
Tuesday-Fancy Day (Picture Day)
Wednesday-Crazy Hair Day
Thursday-Hat Day
Friday-School Spirit Day
Picture Day-Sept. 12
Retakes will be Oct. 17
BLAZE PIZZA
The first fundraising night will be Sept. 21.
*October's Blaze night will be Oct. 12.
Check us out on Facebook
No Place for Hate Coalition
No Place for Hate Coalition is designed to rally an entire school around the goal of creating an inclusive school community committed to stopping all forms of bias and bullying. We are looking for a group of students to lead BHMS is becoming a No Place for Hate designated school for the second year in a row. Anyone can join the Coalition. We will be meeting the second Tuesday of the month right after school in Ms Wales' classroom (room 293). Our first meeting will be on Tuesday, September 12. Please join us on Tuesday to learn more about No Place for Hate and how you can be involved this school year.
If you have any questions or want to be involved but can't attend the meeting, please talk to Ms Wales or Ms Coffman.
From the Health Room
To: Parents of 6th graders for school year ’17 -‘18
Pertussis or whooping cough can be a very serious disease in infants and small children. It has been found that frequently, siblings who have Pertussis disease can expose others in the household. Colorado ranks fifth of all states in the country with this disease. Per Colorado state law, Tdap vaccine is required for all 6th graders this upcoming school year (17-18).
Please see that your child obtains this immunization as soon as possible and deliver the proof to the school no later than the first day of school. (If your child has already received this immunization, the requirement is fulfilled.) It is the responsibility of the parents to provide an updated record of immunization to the school. If your child is not properly immunized, contact your health care provider or the county health department to obtain the required immunizations. The county health departments for Boulder and Broomfield Counties provide childhood vaccinations only for those who have no insurance to cover vaccinations.
ATTENDANCE
The attendance office needs to be notified of ALL absences. If we don’t receive an attendance email or phone call, your student will be marked Unexcused for that day. While we understand there are unavoidable appointments, we do ask that you please refrain from making them during the school day. We do our best to keep classroom interruptions to a minimum for the benefit of all of our students. If you absolutely need to pick up your student during the school day, we appreciate an early phone call so we can deliver a pass ahead of time. Please report all absences via email at http://bhm.bvsd.org/parents/Pages/Report-Absence.aspx or call 720-561-8402.
HOMEWORK CLUB
Homework Club has begun! This is open to everyone and is a supervised time to do school work. If your student comes to Homework Club, they must have work to do, otherwise they will be asked to go back outside until the bell rings. The hours are 7:45 to 8:25 AM on Monday,Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and 8:45 to 9:20 AM on Wednesday.
TAG/Enrichment:
Brain Bowl:
Does your student teach you random facts about completely random topics? Do you enjoy watching Jeopardy as a family? Do you do math problems at the dinner table?? If so, Brain Bowl is the place for your student! Every Friday morning from 8-8:30am in the Maker Space as well as Friday during B lunch in room 204 come join our ever growing flock of amazing brainiac Falcons! All are welcome
Destination Imagination:
Please email Mrs. Fretz if you are interested in participating in Destination Imagination, she will put you on the email list of families who are getting teams rolling this year. We anticipate we will have at least 2 teams, and will need at least two parent Team Managers! Please see this link for more information about how to form a team: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1j2ZgxafcdP-9cCtsNp4MGBrON59rhhS9UlaHUTU-EWY/edit?usp=sharing
All are welcome
Battle of the Books and Spelling Bee:
We are in the planning phase! Battle of the Books lists are usually released at the end of September, and Spelling Bee has its next planning meeting on Tuesday morning. If your student is interested in being a leader in planning these two events, please email Mrs. Fretz.
All are welcome
TAG Meetings:
Held weekly on Wednesdays after school from 3:45pm-4:45pm in the Innovation Area. Next week we will have a group check in, followed by a SECRET CHALLENGE, then a math problem of the day, finishing with a team coding challenge with the Cubelets! All are welcome
*TAG is still collecting items to donate to victims of Hurricane Harvey. Please bring any gently used clothing and canned goods to the main office, we will collect until Wednesday 9/13.
Science Fair Club:
Meetings will be held weekly on Tuesdays after school from 3:45-4:45. Contact Mr. McCloud for more information! If you are interested, please have your student come in the next two weeks, as they will be starting to choose topics for their projects! All are welcome
Community Events of Interest:
JOIN US FOR A MONTH OF EVENTS TO CELEBRATE BOULDER'S POLLINATORS!
Why all the buzz about pollinators? Besides the hard-working honeybee, Boulder is home to more than 550 native bee species, from large beautiful bumblebees to small, ground-nesting bees. All over the world, bees and other insects, such as flies, beetles and butterflies, and animals including hummingbirds and bats, pollinate fruits and vegetables, seeds, nuts, spices, chocolate and coffee! Pollinators also provide essential services and environmental benefits that maintain the health and beauty of our grasslands, forests, meadows, and other natural areas. Sadly, pollinators are declining, which places our food security and natural environment in peril. During the autumn as we enjoy the bountiful harvest and the natural areas around us filled with seed-laden wildflowers, people throughout Boulder come together for Pollinator Appreciation Month to celebrate our precious pollinators. Join your friends and neighbors for events throughout the month to learn more about these fascinating creatures and what you can to do help protect them.
https://bouldercolorado.gov/planning/pollinator-appreciation-month
Video Announcements
Sports Information
Sports registration link: https://broomfieldheights.revtrak.net/Athletics/
Athletic Calendar: You can view the athletic calendar on the BHMS website home page. If you have a Gmail account, you can also save our school/sports calendars to your account.
Upcoming Sports:
·Thursday, 9/14 – 6th/7th Grade Boys Basketball
* Information/First Practice 3:50 to 5 PM
* Sports physical recommended but not required
* Registration deadline 9/13 at 10 PM
· Friday, 9/22 – 8th Grade Girls Volleyball
* Information/First Practice 3:45 to 5:30 PM
* Sports physical required to participate
* Registration deadline 9/14 at 10 PM
**Current sports physical MUST be turned in by 9/15
Full sports information regarding practice times, games, meets, etc. will be given to students at the first practice.
In order to help with our athletic buses this year, we will be implementing new registration deadlines. Please pay close attention to the athletic or public calendar for these important registration deadlines!
SCREENAGERS
Just Released! Thursday, September 14, 2017 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Broomfield Heights PEN in conjunction with Aspen Creek K-8 and Broomfield High School will be showing the documentary, Screenagers at the Broomfield High School Auditorium. This is the link you will need to buy tickets to the documentary Screen Agers. iflw.co/PEN
Tickets prices are $10/$3 adult/student. There are a limited number of scholarship tickets available. If you need assistance with ticket prices, please contact Mr. Lopez at robert.lopez@bvsd.org
This is a great documentary you will want to see with your tweens/teens, so don't delay, tickets are expected to sellout.
Other helpful info:
WEBSITE:
https://www.screenagersmovie.com/
MOVIE TRAILER:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQx2X0BXgZg
SYNOPSIS:
Are you watching kids scroll through life, with their rapid-fire thumbs and a six-second attention span? Physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston saw that with her own kids and learned that the average kid spends 6.5 hours a day looking at screens. She wondered about the impact of all this time and about the friction occurring in homes and schools around negotiating screen time—friction she knew all too well.
In SCREENAGERS, as with her award-winning documentaries on mental health, Delaney takes a deeply personal approach as she probes into the vulnerable corners of family life, including her own, to explore struggles over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction. Through poignant, and unexpectedly funny stories, along with surprising insights from authors, psychologists, and brain scientists, SCREENAGERS reveals how tech time impacts kids’ development and offers solutions on how adults can
empower kids to best navigate the digital world and find balance.
WEATHER POLICY
While it's very early in the school year, we want to make sure everyone is aware of our cold weather policy. Our students will be outdoors until the bell rings every day, unless the weather drops below 20 degrees or it's significantly raining/snowing. Only in these instances will we open up the cafeteria and allow students to enter the building before the first bell.
A FRIENDLY LUNCH REMINDER
Students may bring a sack lunch or purchase a lunch in the cafeteria. If your student brings a sack lunch, it is the expectation that the lunch comes with the student at the beginning of the school day, and not be delivered in the middle of the day. If your student forgets their sack lunch at home and it gets brought in after school starts, please note that we will not be interrupting classes to deliver those. Your student will need to know to come to the office to pick it up. Again, it is the expectation that there are no lunch deliveries during the school day. Thank you!