BMS PARENT NEWSLETTER
January 9 - March 9
Weekly Reminders
- WELCOME BACK! We are excited to see all of your students' faces and hear all of their voices echoing in the middle school hallways. This semester is going to be great and filled with fun and challenges.
- The Big Event is this Friday, 1/12. The history department has fun activities such as laser tag, movies, and so much more! Does your student qualify? They must have no discipline referrals and must have passed all of their classes last 9 weeks.
- Exemption Criteria for the Spring Semester begins on Tuesday, January 9. Please see the details below. This information is also available on the BMS Website.
To Know:
- Please help keep our bleachers new! We are asking that you only bring water and no food or other drinks into the gym. Thank you!
- After School Tutorials coming at the end of February! With this program, both 7th and 8th graders are provided bus transportation from school to their homes. Although this program doesn't begin until then, we still encourage students to take part in tutorials before then (parents provide transportation). Please keep an eye out for more information!
- STAAR Testing starts April 10th! Please encourage your students to set high goals and strive for those goals on a daily basis. We've got excellent kiddos here at BMS and want them to shine!
Upcoming Events
- 3rd 9 Weeks Starts
- Exemptions Criteria Starts for the Semester
January 11
- 4:30 BB vs Gladewater (Girls Here, Boys There)
- Report Cards Go Out
- The Big Event
- MS Boys BB "B" Team Tournament in Troup
- Student Holiday
- 4:30 BB vs Chapel Hill (Boys Here, Girls There)
- 8:00-10:00 p.m. NJHS Formal Dance @ MS
- ATSSB All Region Band Clinic/Concert @ Chapel Hill
- 4:30 BB vs Kilgore (Girls Here, Boys There)
- Progress Reports Go Home
- 4:30 BB vs Gilmer (Boys Here, Girls There)
- Choir Solo & Ensemble Contest @ Whitehouse
- Choir Solo & Ensemble Contest @ Whitehouse
- 4:30 BB vs Gladewater (Girls Here, Boys There)
- Flamenco Dance for Spanish Club (Bullard HS)
- 3 Lakes Competition
- Student Holiday
- 6:00 Cheer Meeting in MS Cafeteria
- Progress Reports Go Home
- Spring Pictures
- Girls Track in Jacksonville
- Boys Track in Whitehouse
- Boys & Girls Track @ Spring Hill
- Cheer Tryouts
- Cheer Tryouts
- Cheer Tryouts
- Cheer Tryouts
- 9:30 Cheer Tryouts
- 3rd 9 Weeks Ends
Semester Exam Criteria
BULLARD MIDDLE SCHOOL
Exemption Criteria
Exemptions are a privilege earned by students based upon their grades and
attendance. Not all students will meet this exemption criteria and therefore will have to
take their exams.
Exemptions are granted to students based upon semester averages and number of
absences. If a student has exceeded the number of absences that are stated in the
following criteria or are failing the class, they are not exempt.
Criteria:
If your Semester Average is a(n):
- A (99-90); 3 Allowable Absences
- B (89-80); 2 Allowable Absences
- C (79-70); 1 Allowable Absence
- F (69 & below); Not Exempt
- Students who do not meet criteria will be required to take the exam.
- Criteria is on a class by class basis.
- Only medical and school related absences are allowed. Please see below.
- Excused (E) and Unexcused (U) absences count against criteria.
- Students who have been suspended or placed in AEP are not exempt.
Days that Qualify as Exemption (BISD Handbook p. 29):
- Religious holy days
- Required court appearances
- Activities related to obtaining U.S. citizenship
- Documented health-care appointments for the student or a child of the student, including absences for recognized services for students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, if the student comes to school or returns to school on the same day as the appointment. A note from the health-care provider must be submitted upon the student’s arrival or return to campus
- For students in the conservatorship (custody) of the state,
• An activity required under a court-ordered service plan; or
• Any other court-ordered activity provided it is not practicable to schedule the student’s participation in the activity outside of school hours.
- As listed in Section I at Children of Military Families, absences of up to five days will be excused for a student to visit with a parent, stepparent, or legal guardian who has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or immediately returned from certain deployment.
Possible Questions:
- How will my student know if they are exempt?
Your student’s classroom teacher will let the students know if they are exempt the week before finals.
- What if my student is absent after they have been told they are exempt?
If your student is absent once they have been informed of their exemption, then the student needs to look at the above criteria and see if they still meet exemption status. Absences for your student are relevant up to the day of the actual final in that class period. If they are absent the day of the exam and it knocks them off of exemption, they are responsible for making up the exam.
- My student missed the exam during the scheduled exam time. Do they need to make up the exam?
Your student does need to make up the exam. If they missed the fall exam, they will take the exam when they return to school in January. If they miss the spring exam, they must call up to the office to schedule a time to take the exam.
- My student was passing when the teacher told them that they were exempt, but now they are not. Do they still have to take the exam?
Yes, your student must be passing the semester up to the day that they are scheduled to take the final.
- Can my student still take the exam if they are exempt?
Of course they can. If your student wants to take the exam then they must let the teacher know.
- Does my student have to come to school if they are exempt?
Yes, your student must come to school whether or not they are exempt. If your student does not come to school on the day of exams and this absence exceeds their allowable absences based upon the above criteria, then your student is responsible for taking exams. The day of exams does count toward the absence count of the exemption criteria.
- Will all classes have a final exam?
Yes. All classes will have a final exam.
- What if I feel like my son or daughter missed school because of a situation that was out of their control?
If you feel that your student should be exempt, then the student needs to go by the office and pickup an EXEMPTION APPEAL FORM.
Extenuating circumstances include: hospitalization, death in the family, religious, etc.
See p. 29 of the BISD Handbook.
- But my student was sick, had a fever, and could not come to school. Why is this being held against them?
Please refer to the days that are considered exempt on page one of this document or p. 29 of the BISD Handbook.
The Appeal Process:
Those students who feel as if their absences, although excused or unexcused, were out
of their control and want to appeal the exemption decision must come by the office and
collect an exemption appeal form. Students are responsible for filling out the form and
returning the form to the office the Friday before exams.
- Appeal forms will be available in the office the week before exams.
- Appeal forms are due no later than the Friday before finals.
- For appeals to be considered, the student must follow all requirements on the form and submit required documentation. Any appeal that does not have the required documentation or written explanation, will not be considered.
- The principal and assistant principal will begin the review process the week beforeexams. Once made, the student will be called into the office to discuss the decision.
- All decisions made are final.