Welcome, Bee Families!
Brooklyn Park Middle School SY2122
HELLO BPMS PARENTS & GUARDIANS!
Welcome, welcome to everyone, new or returning! Welcome to another year that is going to look different . . . to the third and surely final school year impacted by COVID-19. (Please!)
I want to first and foremost acknowledge the angst that many of you are feeling about the upcoming return to school. The health and safety of your children is your number one concern and it is our number one priority.
To what end we can make change, especially in the cafeteria, we are altering our lunch structures and allowing students to eat outside during the entire lunch period. A kiosk with a cold lunch option will be available for students who want to eat outside the entire time. Two hot lunch lines will be available in the cafeteria for students preferring to eat inside.
If students pack a lunch, they can choose either in or out. In = mask on when not eating or drinking and outside = no mask while remaining socially distanced. Our steps, curbs, and grassy areas will have to suffice as seating for students for now. We have plenty of space and if anyone has suggestions on seating options, donated or otherwise, please email dlbowen1@aacps.org. All students choosing the cafeteria will join the rest of their grade level outside for ten minutes at the end of lunch.
Please note we need a couple of days to teach these structures but our goal is to begin this new procedure on Friday, September 10th. And in case you hadn't heard, LUNCH IS FREE FOR ALL this school year.
Additionally, while the verdict is still out on mask mandates until the September 1st BOE meeting, BPMS is prepared and expecting everyone to be properly masked at all district-mandated times. Our approach to masking will be positive but swift, firm, and consistent.
Additional information about this year can be found below.
Table of Contents
1. Welcome to new Bees
2. Summer shout outs
3. School Hours & schedule
4. School Improvement
5. What's new at Brooklyn Park
6. Updates for this year
7.Opportunities to support BPMS
8. SY2122 Student Data
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO WELCOME BACK ALL OF OUR BEES!!
Can't wait!
Mrs. Shakan
Bee You - Bee Kind - Bee the Change
IMPORTANT DATES
1. WELCOME TO OUR NEW BEE STAFF MEMBERS
2. SUMMER SHOUT OUTS
My favorite event of the summer . . .
when our PVA visual artists, under the direction of Mrs. Hacker,
reveal their vibrant summer creations! THANK YOU & LOVE THESE ADDITIONS!
3. SCHOOL HOURS AND SCHEDULES
SCHOOL HOURS
7:45-8:05 Student arrival
8:05-8:15 Homeroom/breakfast
8:15-2:55 Class periods
BELL SCHEDULE
- AACPS has asked all schools to include an advisory and flex period daily.
- BPMS Flex period will be titled Office Hours and held daily.
- Building Community will continue daily and first thing in the morning at BPMS.
- Each grade level will spend ten minutes outside at the end of their lunch shift.
- All students will attend Office Hours each afternoon before 5th period.
- Clubs will be offered to all students after school on Thursdays, beginning the last week of September. Buses will be provided and more information will follow.
- PVA Plus will take place for students in our Performing & Visual Arts (PVA) program after school on Wednesdays until 4:45pm.
4. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
BPMS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN
In line with the AACPS 2018-2023 strategic plan and in response to the specific needs of BPMS students, our 21/22 Indicators of Success will be:
1. Increase percentage of students reporting feeling supported and cared for by AACPS staff
2. Increase percentage of students who meet/exceed expectations on standardized assessments
Specific goals and action steps will be shared in September.
5. WHAT'S NEW AT BROOKLYN PARK
You guessed it. This has Mrs. Barbee's name written all over it!
Location: Space on right as you enter bus loop
Under the direction of Mrs. Barbee and Mr. Fein, the BPMS Environmental Club secured a grant from Targeted Leadership Consulting (https://targetedleadership.net/) in 2020 and sponsored the dream of a community garden at Brooklyn Park Middle. As health and safety restrictions began lifting, then facilities permissions were secured in spring of 2021, months of physical labor this summer led to this priceless gift. IT IS BEAUTIFUL! Herbs and medicinal plants are growing along the fences and beds are prepared for a fall harvest. On behalf of the entire school community, THANK YOU TO MRS. BARBEE & ALL HER VOLUNTEERS!
Location: When exiting BPMS via the secondary entrance, this area to the left
What?! Yes - another grant was awarded to BPMS last year but delayed for obvious reasons, is now in motion. Umbrellas will cover this 35-seat outdoor classroom, complete with white board and separate 4-seat counseling corner! Outdoor spaces are set to be installed before September 1, barring any furniture delivery delays. THANK YOU, ARLINGTON ECHO, FOR INCLUDING BROOKLYN PARK MIDDLE IN THIS PROJECT!
SCHOOL MOTTO
Bee You - Bee Kind - Bee the Change will represent our goal of ensuring 100% of BPMS students experiencing culturally affirming spaces and conditions.
A student contest for a logo to match is coming soon . . .
See link below to AACPS website.
The Hive is welcoming a new hallway of classrooms this fall. Three classrooms on the left side of the hallway heading toward the Hammonds Lane Theatre (CAC) will house Spanish and French classrooms this year. Although this project has been stalled for a couple of years, growing enrollment at BPMS led to this expansion. The long-term plan is for our Student Services suite to move into the offices on the other side of this hall.
To better facilitate individualized student support, BPMS has split grade level teams into smaller teams this year. What does that mean?
Grade levels have been split in half (and more if needed) and each team will include one language arts, one math, one science, & one social studies teacher (+ two Special Educators) who teach the same 120+ students. Our Encore Team serves the entire student body. Encore classes are art, chorus, band, PE, Tech Ed, etc..
BPMS Teams & Leaders: (current team names are temporary)
HALLWAYS
To accommodate staff and students on the 7/8 split team, 7th and 8th grade hallways will be upstairs and the 6th grade hall has moved downstairs to our main floor.
STUDENT LUNCHES
- All school meals are free to all students this year!
- Free & Reduced Meals (FARMs) forms are still needed - see link below
- BPMS students will have the opportunity to eat lunch outside daily, beginning 9/10.
- All students will spend ten minutes outside following lunch daily.
- We do not have seating outside for students other than steps and curbs but it will work for now. If you know of any seating for options outside, donated or otherwise, please email dlbowen1@aacps.org
- An inclement weather plan is still undetermined.
STUDENT MATERIALS
- PE uniforms and extra school supplies are not expected for the first two weeks.
- Students are expected to bring their charged Chromebook daily.
- Students will be permitted to carry mesh or clear bags throughout the day.
- Main hallway lockers will not be assigned to students.
- Each student will still be assigned a PE locker.
- Issues with this change will be closely monitored.
6. UPDATES FOR THIS YEAR
STUDENT AGENDAS (PLANNERS)
All students will be provided with a paper agenda (planner) at the start of the year. Students will be expected to use this organizational and goal-setting tool weekly. No payment required for agendas.
ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
6th/8th grade students will enter and exit the building via our secondary entrance. 7th grade students enter and exit the building via our main entrance. Only 7th grade guardians should drop off/pick up in small main entrance loop.
PLEASE DROP OFF STUDENTS BETWEEN 7:45 and 8:05am.
AACPS CHANGE
Perfect attendance awards will NOT be given out by any AAPCS schools this year.
State assessments scheduled for the spring of 2021 were postponed until this fall. Beginning October 4, middle school students will sit for the Math, Language Arts, and MISA (Science) assessments. Only 6th grade students will take the science assessment.
Students will take the assessment they were scheduled to take last spring. For example, current 7th grade students will take the 6th grade MCAP assessment. In the spring 7th grade students will take the 7th grade assessment. More details to come as October approaches.
SEPTEMBER OPENING 2021 Q&A
If you don't see answers to your questions anywhere in this newsletter, record questions here and expect answer the following week.
7. OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT BPMS
Congrats 2021-2022 BPMS PTA Executive Board!
Thank you for volunteering your time for our Bees.
President - Stacey Arthur
Vice President - Heather Watkins
Secretary - Bee Johnson
Treasurer - Fatima Dunham
Thanks to all who volunteered for our 2020-2021 PTA.
PTA News
- Join us for our virtual PTA Meeting on September 9th at 6:30pm. Meeting link will be available on the day of meeting.
- Support us by becoming a member (form link below) or here is the link for the online membership https://my.cheddarup.com/c/brooklyn-park-middle-school-pta-membership-form-d-91072.
- Even if not a member, follow us on Facebook @ Brooklyn Park Middle School PTA for important upcoming dates/info.
A huge Thank You to our PTA!
8. BPMS SY2122 STUDENT DATA
Enrollment
Total = 812, 6th = 239, 7th = 302, 8th = 271
Chesapeake Arts Center - Teen Art Club
Looking for a fun, creative, in-person, educational club for your child? Register them for our free, after-school Teen Art Club! Teen Art Club meets every Monday or Wednesday, each week, from 4:00pm to 5:30pm September 20 - December 15, 2021. Click the link below for more information and registration form.