Good afternoon,

The signs of Fall are all around us, and students have grown and changed so much since the start of the year. There are opportunities to see and hear about some of this development in this week’s progress reports, our upcoming parent-teacher conferences (announcement about registration coming next week), and their readiness to step into some of the great experiences we have on offer (Talent Show, DC Trip, etc.). A perfect example of our students’ emerging maturity was the way everyone stepped up for the evacuation drill on Wednesday. It really reflected how our students recognized the seriousness of emergency preparedness and took on the responsibility for purposeful, deliberate practice. We have our next parent coffee on Tuesday, October 15, at 12:00 on Google Meet (https://meet.google.com/guz-frqa-ojb), and we’re looking forward to discussing more of these early school year reflections then!

On Wednesday, Oct. 9, we completed a successful practice of our evacuation procedures for use in an emergency situation. At the outset, messages were sent to staff with instructions and to families to inform them of the situation. Students and staff exited the building quietly and carefully, organized themselves on the field according to classroom signs, and proceeded to take attendance. All students were accounted for in a short period of time, and we transitioned to practicing a part of our emergency dismissal procedure by checking in with each individual student about their plans for transportation home and/or to rendezvous with a caregiver. We now have over 500 completed authorizations for immediate dismissal, so in a real situation following these check-ins, we would proceed with a staggered dismissal of students (moving away from the building towards Hittinger).

Next Steps:

• We plan to upgrade our bullhorn/outdoor PA systems to improve communication.

• The classroom signage on the field will be converted to a more permanent, durable material.

• We will continue to work with police and fire departments on traffic management during a real emergency dismissal.

• Families are encouraged to discuss with their students how they would get home and/or a rendezvous point off campus with a caregiver during an emergency dismissal.

• The authorization form for immediate dismissal is still available to be completed.

• We will schedule an additional practice later in the school year, and review again student and staff expectations.
  

Students in 7th and 8th grade are enrolled in unified arts courses that rotate every 30 school days. Our unified arts courses include Engineering, Health, and Art. The end of the first rotation is coming up on Wednesday, Oct. 16. Starting on Thursday, Oct. 17, students will join a new unified arts course. This new course has already been added to students’ schedules. Unified arts courses will be consistently scheduled in the same block for students, so with each rotation, they simply begin attending with a new teacher in a different classroom and the order of classes does not change. Grades for rotation #1 courses will appear on the Quarter 1 report card.

Parents and guardians are reminded that Quarter 1 progress reports are available through PlusPortals. This is a good opportunity for discussion and goal-setting to finish the quarter strong as well as to prepare for parent-teacher conferences.

Outdoor recess (during the last 15 minutes of lunch block) is very popular with our middle school students. In order to provide sufficient playground equipment, BMS gratefully requests donations of frisbees, footballs, soccer balls, basketballs, etc. from families for use during recess. Donations can be dropped off in the BMS main office. Both new and used items are welcome as long as they're in usable condition. Thank you!

The BMS Talent Show is back! The talent show is a major scholarship fundraiser for the Grade 8 Trip to Washington DC. Mark your calendar, the BMS Talent Show is scheduled for December 5th from 6:30-8:00pm in the BMHS Auditorium. Tickets are $10 and the show is open to all. Students (7-12) and Belmont staff make up the acts in the talent show. Our talent show goal this year is to raise $5,000. If you can't attend but would like to make a contribution towards a DC scholarship, click the link below. Additional fundraising goals for the trip will be shared at the end of the month. >> Click this link to Make a DC Trip Contribution

Students/Staff: Do you have a talent you would like to share with the community? If so, auditions will be on Thursday, October 24th from 3:00-5:00pm in the BMHS auditorium. Use this link to sign up for an audition Click this link to sign up for an audition slot

The dress rehearsal will be on Monday, December 2nd from 3:00-5:00pm in the BMHS Auditorium.

 Key Talent Show Dates

• Auditions - Oct 24th, 3:00-5:00pm

• Dress Rehearsal - Dec 2nd, 3:00-5:00pm

• Talent Show - Dec 5th, 6:30-8:00pm

 If you have any questions, please reach out directly to the BMS Talent Show Coordinators. Click on their names below for email addresses.

 Ms. Rosasco, Ms. Herrington

So far 231 students are signed up for the DC Trip. The deadline to register for the Grade 8 Washington DC Trip is Monday, October 14th. Click this link - https://enroll.gltravelco.com/login. Trip ID: 40075 | Passcode: 2025-467 

 BMS DC Trip Registration Flyer  | BMS Washington DC Presentation Slideshow | DC FAQ

 If your student has no interest in going on the DC trip, there will be a virtual meeting on Monday, November 4th from 6:00-6:30pm to talk about the Local Adventures (options, cost, food, etc.). Additional details will be sent out the week of Oct 21st ahead of the meeting on Nov 4th.

As one of the many steps we are taking to improve our communication, procedures, and safety during emergency events, we have made an authorization for dismissal during emergency events form available to parents and guardians. The link to the form has been sent to primary and secondary contacts. Families are able to access the authorization for dismissal form through PlusPortals. This form allows students to be authorized to dismiss immediately following our normal emergency protocols for an evacuation when a school dismissal has been deemed necessary. An immediate dismissal would occur after attendance is taken and all students are accounted for. Students with authorization may choose to walk, ride a bike, be picked up by car, etc. in order to rendezvous with caregivers and/or return home. School personnel will document authorized students’ chosen mode of transportation/travel before dismissing them. 

Students without authorization will remain under school staff supervision until departing by school bus or dismissing directly to an emergency contact. Absent a completed authorization form, families are able to dismiss their students as needed during an emergency event, and a process for that will be communicated. 

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

MCAS Spring 2024 reports have been uploaded to student's PlusPortals portfolio under E-Locker > E-Portfolio for parents/guardians & students.

Note:
1) New students to BPS this year -  Parents should request the report from their previous school. 
2) Withdrawn/inactive students - These reports are also in the student's portfolio, but parents do not have access to PlusPortals.  If needed, the school can email or mail it.

We are excited to announce that our 7th grade students will be hosted at Level 99 in Natick to stretch their communication and critical thinking skills and to learn to lean on peers for ideas and support when working together. At Level 99, students will be able to work collaboratively to solve mental and physical challenges in small groups. The Level 99 trips are Thursday, 10/24 for Curiosity, Friday, 10/25 for Imagination, and Thursday, 10/31 for Wonder.

The BMS PTO is generously supporting this trip financially through bus transportation costs. The cost for families will include the entrance fee for each student to participate at Level 99 which is $32 and must be paid in advance with submission of the permission slip and waiver by October 2. NOTE: No student will be denied participation based on financial need. Please reach out to us if you are unable to pay the fee (elybass@belmontschools.net, 617-993-2000)

Last Thursday, students received a permission slip for participation in the field trip and an online waiver from Level 99, both of which must be signed. Submission of the payment (cash or check made out to Belmont Middle School), permission slip, and waiver must be received by October 2.

Join the FBE and hundreds of your neighbors and community members for the FBE's 2024 Halloween Apple Run on October 27. This annual event raises thousands of dollars for Belmont Public Schools and is also great fun. Costumes are encouraged, but not required!

Date: October 27, 2024

Start Times: 9:30am - 5K, 10:45am - 2K

*The fun begins at 9:00, so come down early! Start and finish at the Belmont High School track.

Registration is open now for individuals and teams. The first 400 registrants will secure their quick-dry performance t-shirt! Prizes will be awarded for race winners and best costumes. 

Register today and help us spread the word!

Don't want to run, but don't want to miss the fun?

The FBE is also looking for volunteers to help with the run. Please sign up here if you can help.

Scholarship Opportunity:  The annual Voice of Democracy audio-essay scholarship contest sponsored by the VFW is open to all students in grades 7-8. If you are interested in participating, please share your submission with Ms. McDevitt (dmcdevitt@belmontschoools.net) by October 30th. For more information, please review the requirements and rules at https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-schowarships

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