We are beginning to talk to 8th grade students about transition to the High School and what opportunities are ahead for them. Part of that is the course recommendation process in which 8th grade teachers consider students’ current academic progress and readiness for each level of High School course work available. Recommendations are based upon a variety of data, including quarter report card grades, and often include conversations with students. For recommendations that students do not agree with, there is a course placement review process. Students will also attend a course placement assembly with High School administration followed by a course fair to introduce them to all the offerings available on Friday, February 28. Students will be completing a course selection form to indicate which elective and world language courses they would like to take. Both the course selection form and the request for placement review will be due by March 31.

During the school year, there are a number of vacations (e.g. December, February, April) when school is not in session. The days before and after these vacation weeks are instructional days that are used to make academic progress. Teachers use this time to continue learning content, building skills, completing assignments, and conducting assessments. When students have extended absences around the vacation weeks, they miss valuable instructional time that cannot be replaced. Students must develop a plan for catching up on missed work, communicate with teachers, and put in extra time on their return to recover some of the lost learning from their absence. Parents and guardians should work closely with their students to proactively address missed school days and ensure students are prepared to rejoin their classes.

We received terrific results from auditions over the past two weekends. Eleven BHS students were accepted to participate in the MMEA All-State Festival ensembles two weekends ago. This past weekend we had 15 BHS students and 39 BMS students accepted to perform in the MMEA-Northeast Junior District Festival. Thank you to all of our music teachers for helping prepare students for these opportunities, and a special thanks to those who have given up their Saturdays to accompany them to the audition sites!

MMEA-NED Junior Districts (BMS)

It is critically important that we all stay off the ice. Here is some important information from the Belmont Fire Department:

In response to recent events of people falling through the ice in neighboring communities and reports of students on the ice at the Clay Pit Pond, the Belmont Fire Department would like to remind members of the community that it is not safe to be on any frozen body of water in Town. The ice is also not safe for pets and jeopardizes the safety of the animal, owners, and first responders. It is nearly impossible to visually determine the thickness of the ice at a given time, regardless of recent cold weather. Do not become a victim yourself. If a person or animal is in trouble, immediately call 911, so that appropriately trained and equipped members from the fire department can respond to help. The only ice that is safe is at a skating rink.

Please remind your students that the MBTA train tracks at the rear of the BMHS campus are dangerous and must be avoided. Fencing around the tracks indicates that pedestrian traffic is not allowed. Students must use sidewalks and typical road traffic routes to reach the BMHS campus, and must not use the train tracks to cut through or try to save time.

The BMS PTO’s Smile Squad is tasked with bringing small moments of joy and fun to our students’ school day and we need your help!

Come help us spread joy to the students between 7:00-8:00am on Thursday, February 13th.   We also need some help cutting and pasting the materials before them.  Email the PTO at pto.belmontms@gmail.com.

If you’re interested in planning with us or want to help during the event, please provide your contact information here and we’ll be in touch with more information. 

Send in a snack, drinks, home-cooked treat for the teacher appreciation snack day next Tuesday (2/11).  Sign up here!

MCAS testing is coming up this Spring for 7th and 8th grade students. All students take the ELA and Math assessments, and 8th grade students take the Science, Technology, Engineering (STE) and the Civics assessments. This is the first year for BMS 8th graders to sit the Civics test, and given that the assessment is still under development, we will not be provided individual student scores. 

The following dates are scheduled for MCAS testing:

ELA (7th, 8th) - April 7-8

STE (8th) - May 8-9

Math (7th, 8th) - May 12-13

Civics (8th) - May 29-30

As the weather starts to change to colder temperatures, winds, and precipitation, we are advising families to ensure their students come to school prepared with winter coats and/or rain gear as appropriate. We remain committed to outdoor recess time when appropriate, and will make a judgment call on a day-to-day basis that is reflective of student safety. Students who are not wearing warm clothing and/or those who cannot manage themselves around snow, etc. will not be allowed out to the patio.

The next spirit day is on Friday, February 14th. Cozy Comfy Pajama Day. Wear your sweats, flannel pants, or pajamas to school. Keep it comfy and school appropriate. Check out other spirit days on the Student Council Calendar of Events.

Save the date for the Annual Student vs Staff Basketball Game. The game is scheduled for Thursday, March 6th from 2:30-4:30pm in the BMHS Field House. Our goal this year is to have a longer game so all student athletes get a chance to fully play and give out more prizes to fans during half-time. The event is FREE. Let’s pack the gym on March 6th!

Not going on the DC Trip. Please take a moment to complete the BMS Adventure Trip Google Form. This is for ANY student not attending the DC Trip. Even if you don’t plan on participating in any of the adventure trip options, please let us know by completing the google form. The link contains information on the adventure week activities.

Register NOW for Belmont Youth Softball for grades K-9!

To learn more and register: belmontyouthsoftball.org

Questions?  Email us: belmontyouthsoftballbys@gmail.com 

Registration closes March 1 for all travel teams.

Keep an eye out for Belmont Youth Baseball in town and travel sign ups coming soon!

The Belmont Middle School 2024-2025 Yearbook is available for sale! The yearbook is a 120 page hardcover record of the 2024-25 school year and meant for students in grades 7-8. It will document student life, activities, student portraits, staff photos, events, grade eight farewell ads, and much more. Order a yearbook for $40. The yearbooks will be given out to students the week of June 16th. Deadline to order is April 1, 2025.

<< Click this link for the Belmont Yearbooks Website

 FOR ALL STUDENTS, FAMILIES, and STAFF

The yearbook staff needs your help! We need photos to make your yearbook a memorable one to look back on. Our student photographers can’t be everywhere. Please consider submitting any and all photos (Athletics, Concerts, Student Life, Spirit Days, Hanging with Friends, Picture Day Replacement Photo, Preferred Name for Yearbook, Clubs, etc.) for consideration to be used in the yearbook. Navigate to the yearbook website and select the Upload Photos menu at the top of the page to see the Upload BMS Photos. All photos submitted must be school appropriate for use in the yearbook.

FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF GRADE 8 STUDENTS

Make the yearbook even more special for your student. A yearbook ad is a loving tribute to your student, personalized with your own sentimental message and a cherished photo, or photo collage. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’ll last forever. Check out the Belmont Yearbooks Website to learn more about placing a Grade 8 Farewell Ad. Deadline to order an Farewell Ad is February 3, 2025. 

Don't delay, order a yearbook today!

At Belmont Middle School we take issues of bias and racism very seriously. Every student has the right to feel welcome, to learn, and feel free to be who they are. We support every student to feel safe, have a sense of belonging, and to call out acts of bias and racism and utilize consequences and restoration to ensure our community is a supportive one. If you are witness to or have experienced a bias or racist incident, you can report through the following link: https://www.belmont.k12.ma.us/page/bias-incident-reporting 

The Belmont Public Schools Bias Incident Report Form can be accessed from the BPS DEI website. Some important notes: 

• Submitted forms are routed to the Director of DEIW (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Wellness) and the school's principal, who will assess the report and undertake an immediate investigation. 

• While the form may be completed anonymously, we encourage you to provide your contact information. This will enable the district to conduct a more thorough investigation and resolution. Anonymous reports may be essentially impossible to investigate. 

• More information, including definitions of "what a bias-motivated incident is" and what happens after a report is submitted, may be found on the Bias Incident Reporting page. 

We encourage all members of the Belmont Public Schools community - including students, staff, parents/caregivers, volunteers, and town residents - to use this form to report any incidents of racism, bias, discrimination, harassment, or retaliation that you have experienced or witnessed, which involves a member of the Belmont Public Schools or takes place on or near school property. 

Learning For Justice, an educational resource for schools defines a bias incident as conduct, speech, or expression motivated in whole or in part by bias or prejudice. To learn more or read examples of bias incidents, please see "Tips for Identifying Bias Incidents." 

The district's investigation processes, including restorative and disciplinary consequences, will be tailored to each incident. While student privacy concerns will always prevent public disclosure of specific investigation details, we will publish periodic reports to keep the community informed of the number of reports made, noticeable patterns regarding the nature of the bias incidents, and conclusions of investigations when applicable.

ABSENCE:  To excuse a student’s absence, parents/guardians must call the Attendance Line 617-993-2001 or fill out the Attendance Line Form by 8:30 AM on the day of the student’s absence.  The Attendance Line is available 24 hours, please call and leave a message as soon as you know your child will be out of school.  Give your child’s name, grade, date of absence, and a brief reason. It is important to stress that it is the responsibility of the parent to contact the school.   

Each year, the Belmont Public Schools updates its student records. This form allows parents to fill out their child's information and submit it electronically, saving both you and the school time, while ensuring accurate information is being provided. We will be requesting this information every September.

New forms have been posted to PlusPortals under "Forms"

www.plusportals.com/belmontmiddleschool

Please review and submit:

Student Update Form or Contact Update form 

Authorization for Emergency Dismissal

New Families:

Web Authorization form - required submittal

MassHealth Benefits Permission - submit if student is receiving MassHealth

If you have additional questions or concerns, please reach out to the BMS administration team. We’re here to support you.

In partnership,

Russ Kupperstein

Principal

Belmont Middle School