BMS Bulletin
Dedicated to Excellence. Prepared for the Future.
September Newsletter
A Message from Mrs. Palchesko, BMS Principal
The 2020-2021 school year will be different than any we have ever experienced. It is our goal, through consistent and thorough communication, to decrease feelings of anxiety, and help to create a sense of calm. Please check our Brunswick Middle School Website for information, and follow me on Twitter: @ BCSDBrunswick MS. Both the web site and the BMS Twitter feed are great resources for up to date and valid information. We also encourage you to reach out to our administrative team, to our counselors, and to our teachers should you need clarity or have a questions. This is the best way to ensure the information your are receiving is correct, and that we all remain on the same page.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. It is our goal to approach the days ahead with courage, wisdom and grace.....loads of grace. Let's make this year one for the memory books!
Dear Brunswick Middle School Families~
I am grateful, humbled, and proud to be the Principal of the new Brunswick Middle School. I take great pride in the district’s mission, Dedicated to Excellence, Prepared for the Future. This statement emphasizes two of my own guiding principles---a commitment to high standards and a focus on continual growth and improvement.
I come to Brunswick with a total of twenty eight years of service in middle school education. Sixteen of those years were spent in the classroom, seven years were spent in Westlake City Schools as an Assistant Principal, and four of those years were spent in Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools as their Middle School Principal. I was fortunate to work with the students and staff in all three Brunswick middle schools during the 2019-2020 school year. The focus was creating a positive culture, merging what was best from the three buildings, relationships, and gathering input from all stakeholders--students, parents, and staff. I have been so impressed with the professionalism, pride, camaraderie, willingness to learn, and commitment to students that has been demonstrated by the Brunswick Community. I was able to see and be a part of Brunswick’s dedication to excellence and commitment to the future.
Middle School is an amazing place. There are unique struggles, perfectly timed opportunities for growth, and incredible celebrations. It can also be an awkward time for many of our students. At Brunswick Middle School it is our goal to make every child feel safe--physically, emotionally, intellectually, and socially. Along with rigorous academic standards, our focus is the social and emotional well-being of our students. We have a dedicated PRIDE time to focus on some of these concerns, there is a strong PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System) plan in place to recognize and reward positivity, our staff “checks in” with students on a daily basis, and our school counselors, and Guidestone Counselors are able to provide additional support to children in need. We also rely on students and parents to communicate with us regarding problems or concerns. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our building counselors and/or administration--we are here to help, and we are in this together!
I am proud to be a part of Brunswick Middle School where teachers, custodians, administrative assistants, cooks, bus drivers, classroom aides, and countless others welcome, support, and challenge all students. Together we work to motivate, engage, and encourage students to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Our school mantra, B Courageous, B Kind, B Safe and show your Brunswick P.R.I.D.E. (Performance, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Effort) encompasses our staff’s guiding principles and we strive to put these words into action every day.
I look forward to working with you and all of our Brunswick Middle School students this school year. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
#BetterTogether!
Mrs. Susan T. Palchesko
Brunswick Middle School Principal
330-273-0500
WHAT IS TEAMING AT BMS?
The role and function of the Middle School Team is to create several “smaller schools” (100-120 students) from one large school (800-1,600 students). These smaller schools, teams, or families are better able to connect with students, build relationships, provide intervention and enrichment, and focus on the social-emotional concerns of their students. At Brunswick Middle School, there will be five teams at each grade level, and each team will have a designated pod to call “home” within a grade level “neighborhood” or wing of the building. All of the students core academic classes and their lockers will be within the pod--making a very large building much easier to navigate. Students will only leave their team pod to attend encore classes such as: Music, Art, PLTW, Technology, Health, PE, etc.
On a team there is generally one teacher per core content area--ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Often, there is also an intervention specialist. These five teachers will see the same group of 100-120 students per day, share the same planning period where they can discuss students’ concerns and celebrations. Excellent teams implement the following strategies in order to facilitate and promote student success
(TEAMING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL--Three team approaches that respond to students' unique needs By: Elliot Merenbloom, AMLE).
To see the full TEAMING IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ARTICLE, CLICK HERE:
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOUR TEAM?
When students see their schedules in Progress Book (9/7), or pick them up on their designated JUMP START NIGHT (9/8, 9/9, 9/10), they will see their teachers' names. In order to know their Team Name, they simply match their Team Teachers to the Team List below. BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE BMS VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE EMAIL FOR MORE TEAM INFORMATION.
Students who are on the same Team, will have the same Team Teachers for their Core Classes (ELA, Math, Sci, and SS) and lunch. When students attend Encore Classes (Art, PE, Technology, Health, Music, etc.), they will be with students from all teams.
WHAT IS P.R.I.D.E. TIME AT BMS?
P.R.I.D.E. (Performance, Respect, Integrity, Determination, Effort) Time
During online learning PRIDE Time will focus on the social and emotional needs of our students.
During face to face learning:
P.R.I.D.E Time is a designated time in each students’ day where they are asked to read for 20-30 minutes, they are able to receive intervention or enrichment, get involved in team building activities, focus on social-emotional growth, engage in activities that promote P.R.I.D.E., make up tests or quizzes, and complete homework. These are the general guidelines of PRIDE Time, but each individual academic team will determine what their students need and implement accordingly--while still facilitating and promoting literacy through the 20-30 minutes of reading time. Teams may even promote a shared novel experience during this time, do book talks for students, or invite the Brunswick Public Teen Librarian in for a “pop up book check out”.
PRIDE Time pairs with the students’ lunch period. For example, during the “time block” of fourth, fifth and sixth periods, a student will have PRIDE for 70 minutes, and lunch for 35 minutes. This time is designed to allow students and teachers to come back together and connect with one another. It provides an opportunity within the school day for students to get exactly what they need--in order to promote their success.
GRADE LEVEL PRINCIPALS
MRS. THOMPSON, 6TH GRADE PRINCIPAL
MR. SHAROSKY, 7TH GRADE PRINCIPAL
MRS. STANOVCAK, 8TH GRADE PRINCIPAL
COUNSELOR CONNECTION
MRS. BUTZIER, 6TH GRADE
MRS. RHOADS, 7TH GRADE
MRS. KELLER, 8TH GRADE
STUDENT SCHEDULES
Student schedules will be visible in Progress Book during the week of 9/7. They can also be picked up on the student's designated Jump Start Night (materials pick up night). Please review your child's schedule carefully to ensure their course selections are correct. If you believe that your child's schedule/course selections are incorrect, please communicate the concern to your grade level counselor, and we will determine if changes are possible.
Please note:
- Requests to change teams or teachers will not be honored.
- Students may not have been enrolled in their top choices for encore course requests, due to enrollment or staffing constraints. School Counselors will work with students to try to accommodate their requests, but schedule changes are not always possible.
Miss Sarah Billittier, BMS Student & Family Support Specialist
Miss Sarah is a valuable resource for our students and families. She is skilled at problem solving, identifying resources, and creating plans that promote student safety. Please feel free to reach out to her with questions or concerns.
OHIO GUIDESTONE INFORMATION:
BMS ONLINE SCHEDULE
BMS JUMP START NIGHTS AT WILLETTS--PLEASE WEAR MASKS WHEN PICKING UP!
MATERIALS AND SCHEDULE PICK UP FOR BMS FAMILIES
Please enter on Excellence Drive (off 303 by the rec. center) and exit onto Hadcock Drive
Get a jump on this school year! Brunswick Middle School students will be able to pick up materials and schedules for the start of the 2020-2021 school year on the following dates and at the following times. Please make every effort to adhere to these guidelines, so that we can decrease wait time and avoid traffic concerns. It would be helpful if your child's name was clearly displayed on your windshield, so we are able to expedite the pick up process. Thank you!
Tuesday, September 8th
SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS
A-K: 4:00--5:00
L-Z : 5:00--6:00
Wednesday, September 9th
SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS
A--K: 4:00--5:00
L--Z: 5:00--6:00
Thursday, September 10th
EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS
A--K: 4:00--5:00
L--Z: 5:00--6:00
2109-2020 Yearbooks
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
BMS VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE
Although the start of the school year looks very different this year, we will do our best to communicate and answer any questions or concerns. We will strive to make virtual BMS a great place to be! Thank you!
ATTENDANCE
If a student is too ill to attend the live classes the should still be called off on the BMS attendance line at:
Student last names A-L: 330.273-0340
Student last names M-Z: 330.273-0350
The 3rd party, or asynchronous, option for online learning will also have an attendance component that is required. Student attendance in the asynchronous learning option will be taken based on the completion of student work, and engagement in the check in activities offered. If a student does not complete the check-ins or assignments they will be marked absent for that day.
BMS Daily Announcements
immunizations
The Ohio Department of Health requires that all students receive the following immunizations prior to entering 7th grade BY OCTOBER 2ND:
One (1) dose of Meningococcal [MCV4] vaccine
One (1) dose of Tdap [tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis] vaccine
Brunswick City Schools will work with families regarding student immunizations. If we are able to return to face to face learning on 10/12, we will require that all 7th grade students either have their immunization documentation turned in, OR that they have the exemption paperwork turned in, or they will not be permitted to attend face to face classes.
If they do not have the appropriate paperwork submitted, and/or they do not have an appointment scheduled, students will not be permitted to attend classes at BMS on 10/12.
Please contact your health care provider to schedule an appointment if your student has not yet received these immunizations.