Our library has been opened to students for the past month, and we are already checking out books to eager readers! Thank you again to the FBE for supporting BMS and putting books in our students’ hands! Any 7th or 8th grade student can come to the library during WIN block daily to see what we have, browse our titles by genre, and check something out to read for class or dive into at home.

As you are aware we track attendance on a regular basis. Letters have been sent to families, and we are holding meeting to provide support and underlying any root causes. As a facet of this work, we will assign natural consequences for students to make up lost time on learning and reinforce good habits. Notice of this will be provided to individual families within the next few weeks through their students and require guardian signature.

Quarter 1 Report Cards were released on Tuesday, November 19 through PlusPortals and can be found in the e-Locker. This is a good opportunity to discuss your child’s academic progress at an early point in the year. As a family, discuss goals with your student and the learning habits they would like to improve to help them reach their target. Be a resource and check in periodically to see how things are going to help with active reflection, consistency, and focus. Report cards may also be an important piece of information to inform conversations during parent-teacher conferences.

Report cards have been posted to your PlusPortal account; www.plusportals.com/belmontmiddleschool

After you have logged in with your email address, select "E-Locker" for official Report Card
- also summary of grades under School > Report Card tab
(parents/guardians need to first select "More" to get to student's page)

If you need content/grade help contact the assistant principal and/or teacher.

If you need account (technology) assistance email Eileen Buys (ebuys@belmontschools.net), with your student's name and the school they attend.

This year, we are sharing i-Ready student assessment data with caregivers through the For Families Report found in PlusPortals. Please see the attached letter to families and informational pamphlet Understanding Your Student's i-Ready Diagnostic Results for further details.

iReady Letter to Families

iReady - understanding students data

The BMS PTO is grateful for your support toward its Annual Fundraising Appeal. They’re at nearly 50% of their goal of $15,000. The money raised helps students, families, teachers, staff, and the school with equipment and supplies, as well as programming. A suggested contribution is $100 per family, though any amount is greatly appreciated, and all donations are entirely voluntary. You can donate online here. And don't forget to check whether your employer matches donations to non-profitable charitable organizations like the BMS PTO (Tax ID: 93-3318269) 

Students who will be participating in Winter Athletics through BMHS are reminded that documentation of a recent physical exam (within the last 12 months) is required for registration.  Students can bring a paper copy of their physical exams to the school nurse or they can be emailed to schan@belmontschools.net.  

Luca Daptardar, an eighth grader at BMS, was name the sole winner and will represent the state of Massachusetts in the Division round. The winner of the Division rounds will compete in the National finals in March 2025. The competition is scheduled to take place from March 15th to March 19th in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

We are preparing for the Belmont Middle School annual food drive to support the Belmont Food Pantry. The Food Drive runs from Nov 20th to Dec 4th. BMS and Chenery are the single largest contributors to the Belmont Food Pantry. Our goal this year is 5,000 items. Will you help us reach our goal!

All the food will be sorted and delivered by BMS Community Service members on Dec 4th. A food drive box has been placed in the 31 BMS homerooms. Students can also drop-off donations in the main office and at various locations around Belmont.

Community Service club members will check your box each day after school. If it is at least ½ full, the box will be replaced with an empty box to fill up again. The final collection date is Wednesday, Dec 4th. All we need from you is to please talk it up with students!

If you have any questions, please send me an email - ldyers@belmontschools.net

>> Food Drive Drop Off Locations around Belmont

>> Food Drive Flyer

THE MARAUDER BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
presents
BELMONT YOUTH BASKETBALL CLINIC 2024
for
Girls and Boys, grades 3-8

Belmont High School coaches, in partnership with the Belmont Youth Basketball Association (BYBA), are conducting a basketball clinic for boys and girls grades 3 - 8.  Belmont High School student-athletes will work along with high school coaches to teach proper basketball skills and have some fun as a basketball community! This clinic is run by all volunteers and all proceeds support BHS girls and boys basketball programs (freshmen, JV, and varsity teams). 

 Dates: Sunday, November 24 and Wednesday, November 27

 Times:

Session 1: Grades 3-5
Sun 11/24:  9 AM - 10:45 AM
Wed 11/27:  2 PM - 3:45 PM

Session 2: Grades 6-8
Sun 11/24: 10:45 AM - 12:30 PM
Wed 11/27:  3:45 PM - 5:30 PM

Cost: $50 
Cost includes a clinic t-shirt

 Location: Belmont High School, Field House entrance at Door 21

Register at this link: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/458738

There are a lot of lost and found items here at the MS, that your students might be looking for. Please take a look at the picture below and see if you notice any items that belong to your student. Encourage your student to stop by the lost and found table (in the lobby area of the MS, under the main stair case) to retrieve their items that have misplaced/missing. All items will be donated on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. Please have your student take a look before Wednesday.

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.

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