Students and families can look forward to the release of Quarter 1 Report Cards on Tuesday, November 19 after school through PlusPortals. 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.

7th grade teams recently traveled to Level 99 in Natick for some physical and mental challenges that required collaboration and communication in a small group setting. Students had an exciting and fun-filled time, and it supported the team building activities from the morning. Buses arrived back to school in time for lunch, and students were given a cool down time following the day’s activities. We believe that activities like these can help to unite teams and grade levels and promote a sense of connection and support amongst students that is critical in middle school.

On Wednesday, November 6, all 7th and 8th grade students participated in an assembly on Bullying and Cyberbullying led by the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (MARC). The topics support students making good choices, advocating for one another, and every community members’ responsibility for maintaining a safe and healthy school environment. 

Help us to build on the assemblies by talking with your children at home about what they learned, their experiences, and how they might put some of the information into action. Here are some discussion questions designed to spark a discourse as a family - https://drive.google.com/file/d/18w6Kqq4MuR78nZ3b4Lpt_XfxbNZlZxji/view?usp=sharing 

2:30 PM to 4:30 PM at Belmont Middle School in the Cafeteria.  Please click on the link below for more information on which vaccines will be offered and how to register. 

https://belmontpsma.edurooms.com/engage/health-and-nursing-services/newsletters/bps-staff-and-student-vaccine-clinic

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.

Parents and guardians should note that we will be sending letters to 7th and 8th grade families for students with 5 or more absences and 10 or more absences to date. Additionally, if your child has been habitually tardy/late to school we will be scheduling detentions to make up some of the time. As you know, attendance at school is compulsory and a major factor that directly impacts student learning.

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.

Wed., Nov. 20 – The impact of nutrition and of music on mental health.  BWC’s Kim Raubenheimer will offer guidance on nutrition and explore its impact on youth mental health.  Also, Chey Eagle, Music Therapy Director at Powers Music School in Belmont, will be on hand to discuss music and how it can be used to positively impact youth mental health.

Wed., Dec. 18 – Sexual Assault. What to do if your child is sexual assault by a student or other person. How to have the conversation, how to support them, how to determine if/what medical and mental health services to seek, whether to report it (or not) to the police, whether to reach out (or not) to the parents of the accused.

• All meetings are virtual, from 7:00 – 8:00 PM - https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81577946616

• All are welcome to join!

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