Barrington Middle School
Parent Orientation
April 8, 2014
2014 – 2015
The BMS Learning
Community is
Respectful, Responsible,
and Ready to Succeed!
Today, I will give
nothing less than my
personal best!
Empowering all Students
to Excel!
BMS Recognitions- Past
 Nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School
 NELMS Spotlight School
 N.E. Leadership Academy Training Site
 R.I. Principal of the Year – Mr. Richard Wheeler (former
Principal)
 AMGEN Science Teacher – Mr. Anthony Borgueta
 R.I. Physical Ed. Teacher of the Year – Ms. Annmarie Marino
 East Bay News Teacher of the Year – Mr. Peter McFarland
 Barrington Public School Teacher of the Year- Mr. Peter
McFarland
BMS Recognitions- Present
RI Daughters of the American Revolution Outstanding
Teacher of American History Award- Mrs. Mary Roberts
Honorable Mention in the RI State Elks Americanism Essay
Contest- Nicholas Figueroa
Eastern Division Champions- Girl’s Basketball Team
State Robotic Champions- Team Overflow
Model CO2 Dragster Champions- Jack Hoder, Rob McGarry,
Conor Mc Gartoll
Bridge Building Champions- Andrew Cooke and Theenash
Kumar
First Place Robotics- Team Technologic
2nd Place at Math Counts State Championships- Math Counts
Team
BMS Recognitions- Future
Introductions
 Principal
- Andrew Anderson
 Asst. Principal
- Wendy Parente
 6th Grade Counselor
- Lori Mason
 7th Grade Counselor
- Natalie Stein
 8th Grade Counselor
- Sandy McCauley
 School Nurse
- Janet Johnson
 Psychologist
- Maggy Bell
 Social Worker
- Courtney Canario
 Secretaries
- Amy Skadberg and Caron Martin
Introductions
 PTO Co-Presidents
- Lisa Mc Gartoll, Deb Perugini
 Aqua Cluster (Loop)
- Peter McFarland, Mary Roberts,
 Silver Cluster
- Connie Oswald, Jennifer Scott,
 Yellow Cluster
-
Abigail Williams
Gregory Simkins,Traci Taglione
Kelsey Greineder, Christopher
Millard, Danielle Teoli, Julia Texeira
Agenda
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What is a Middle Schooler?
Typical Transition Issues
BMS Transition Program
BMS Mission
Typical Day/Schedule
RTI: Academic Supports
Positive Culture Initiative
Afterschool Activities
Home-to-school Partnership/Communication
Q and A Panel Discussion
What is a Middle Schooler?
What is a middle schooler?
I was asked one day.
I knew what he was,
But what should I say?
She is noise and confusion.
She is silence that is deep.
She is sunshine and laughter,
Or a cloud that will weep.
He is swift as an arrow.
He is a waster of time.
He wants to be rich,
But can not save a dime.
She is rude and nasty.
She is polite as can be.
She wants parental guidance.
But fights to be free.
He is awkward and clumsy
He is graceful and poised
He is ever changing
But do not be annoyed
She is aggressive and bossy.
She is timid and shy.
She knows all the answers,
But still will ask “why”.
What is a middle schooler?
I was asked one day.
He is the future unfolding,
So don’t stand in his way.
An eighth grade student
THE EMPEROR MOTH
One day a man found the cocoon of an emperor moth. He took it home so that
he could watch the moth come out of the cocoon. He sat and watched the moth
struggling to force his body through a very, little hole. Then it seemed to stop making
any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could. It just seemed to be
stuck.
Then the man, being kind, decided to help the moth. He took a pair of
scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The moth then emerged
easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. He expected that the wings
would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body which would contract in time.
Neither happened! In fact, the little moth spent the rest of its life crawling around
with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. A few days later, it
died.
What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the
restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the moth to get through the tiny
opening was nature’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the moth into its wings so
that it would be ready for flight. Freedom and flight would only come after the
struggle. By depriving the moth of a struggle, he deprived the emperor moth of
health.
You see, the struggles of life, heartaches and pains are necessary if you want
to be great. Instead of cursing them, understand them while you are experiencing
them. They are part of the making of who we are and what we will one day become.
Typical Transition Issues
 Anxiety about beginning in a new school
 Concern about getting lost/being late
 Concern with managing a locker
 Concern about not knowing other students
Transition Issues
Continued….
 Feeling overwhelmed by the “pace” of the school
day
 Feeling of being incapable of completing the
academic work
 These issues typically subside within a week or
two and should not be an impediment to learning
by late October
Barrington Middle School’s
Transition Plan
Phase 1:
 Frequent Conversations and
meetings between HMS and
BMS
Phase 3:
 Student Orientation(s)
- One Amazing Night!
- HMS School Visit
- BMS School Visit
- Locker Day
Phase 2:
 Parent Orientation
 One Amazing Night!
Phase 4:
 “Now That You Are Here!”
night
Empowering all Students
to Excel!
Empowering all Students to
Excel!
Typical Day
 7:15 Students begin to arrive
 Report to pre-assigned locations indicated
in cluster assignment letter
 7:35 Lockers
 Students are assigned cluster and gym
lockers
 7:45 Homeroom
 7:50 Classes begin
 2:05 School Ends
 2:15 Buses Leave
 3:30 Late Bus Leaves
Six Day Schedule
 Monday (Aug 25, 1st day)
 Tuesday
 Wednesday
 Thursday
 Friday
 Monday
 Tuesday (repeat cycle)
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 1
Seven Period Day
5 Cluster Classes
 Math
 Language Arts
 Social Studies
 Science
 FAST
Rainbow Cluster Classes
First Unified Art’s Period
Second Unified Art’s period
 Art
 Music
 Computer Technology
 Day 1, 3, 5: Physical Education
 Day 2, 4, 6: Health
 6th Grade Keyboarding
 7th/8th Grade Computer
Technology
 Family and Consumer
Sciences
 Cooking
 Sewing
 Materials Lab
 Wood Shop
 Robotics
Note:
Band and Unified Art
Chorus and Unified Art
Band/Chorus no Unified Art
Foreign Language (Grades 7 & 8)
 Spanish
 French
Connect
 Smaller group of students
 Assigned to an advisor “on team/grade level”
 Purpose:
 Develop close, trusting relationships between student
and at least one adult; Personalization
 Develop positive self-esteem and a sense of belonging
 Discuss issues that students are having in or out of
school
 Work on “ILP” (Individual Learning Plan); goals
 School-wide camaraderie/competitions/service learning
 Required for middle schools by RI Board of Regents
Regulations as of 2006-2007
Barrington Middle School Cluster
Schedule
2013 – 2014
Time
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
7:4 5- 7:50
Homeroom
Homeroom
Homeroom
Homeroom
Homeroom
Homeroom
7:50– 8:37
1
1
1
1
1
1
ART
ART
ART
ART
ART
ART
8:40– 9:27
2
2
2
2
2
2
9:30-10:17
3
3
3
3
3
3
10:20-11:07
4
4
4
4
4
4
11:10-11:34
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
11:37-12:25
FAST
School Wide
FAST
School Wide
FAST
School Wide
FAST
School Wide
FAST
School Wide
FAST
School Wide
12:28- 1:15
6
6
6
6
6
6
1:18- 2:05
7
7
7
7
7
7
Phys. Ed.
Health
Phys. Ed.
Health
Phys. Ed.
Health
Barrington Middle School
Cluster Flexible Schedule
2013 – 2014
Time
7:45- 7:50
7:50- 8:37
Day 1
Homeroom
Day 2
Homeroom
Day 3
Homeroom
Day 4
Homeroom
Day 5
Homeroom
Day 6
Homeroom
ART
ART
ART
ART
ART
ART
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Lunch
Phys. Ed.
Health
Phys. Ed.
Health
Phys. Ed.
Health
8:40-11:07
11:10-11:34
11:37- 1:15
1:18- 2:05
Academic Supports
BMS is a RTI School!
Universal Screening:
- 3 Times a Year
- Frequent Data Days
Student Academic Performance:
- Students who are not proficient academically
Student Behavioral Performance:
- Students who are not meeting our expectations
Teacher/Parent Referral:
- Referrals made by teachers/parents
The BMS Learning
Community is
Respectful,
Responsible, and
Ready to Succeed!
Respectful
Treating peers and
adults as you want to be
treated; recognizing
and appreciating the
qualities of others.
Responsible
Making your education a
priority; embracing your
role as a productive
member of the Barrington
Middle School Learning
Community.
Ready to Succeed!
Being prepared for
each day; knowing
what is expected of
you.
The BMS Learning Community is:
Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed!
SCHOOL-WIDE
Respectful
Responsible
Ready to Succeed
Appropriate
language/inside voice.
Own your actions.
Maintain healthy
habits.
Keep traffic
moving/Make space.
Follow directions of
adults in the building.
Follow school dress
code.
Follow rules and
procedures.
Be in the right place, at
the right time.
Resolve conflicts with
maturity.
Participate and ask for
help.
Do your best.
School Wide
Respectful
 Appropriate language/inside voice.
 Keep traffic moving/Make space.
 Follow directions of adults in the building.
 Follow school dress code.
School Wide
Responsible
 Own your actions.
 Follow rules and procedures.
 Be in the right place, at the right time.
 Resolve conflicts with maturity.
School Wide
Ready to Succeed!
 Maintain healthy habits.
 Participate and ask for help.
 Do your best.
The BMS Learning Community is:
Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed!!
BUS
Respectful
Responsible
Ready to Succeed
Keep remarks and
comments appropriate.
Stay seated and face
forward.
Arrive to bus stop/bus on
time.
Use a quiet voice.
Avoid engaging other
drivers.
Have all materials with
you; make sure they are
organized.
Keep hands and feet to
yourself.
Make room for others.
Avoid distracting the
driver.
The BMS Learning Community is:
Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed!!
CLASSROOM
Respectful
Responsible
Ready to Succeed
Listen while someone else is
talking.
Stay actively involved during
entire class period.
Bring all supplies: books,
paper, writing utensils,
agenda, homework, etc.
Leave students’ and
teacher’s belongings alone.
Ask for help when needed.
Leave work area clean and
neat.
Stay on task.
Encourage and recognize
other students and their
achievements.
Be in assigned seat.
Keep your materials
organized.
Take care of personal needs
(water, restroom, locker) at
an appropriate time.
The BMS Learning Community is:
Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed!
DINING ROOM
Respectful
Responsible
Ready to Succeed
Treat everyone politely.
Stay in seat.
Allow your classmates
their personal space.
Ask permission to leave
the dining room.
Walk in dining room
calmly.
Use good table manners.
8 – 10 students to a table.
Speak with an indoor
voice.
Wait to be dismissed by
teachers.
Finish and/or discard all
consumables before you
leave.
Clean up area after eating
and stack chairs
appropriately.
Have money/number
ready to pay.
Get all utensils and food
items before being
seated.
The BMS Learning Community is:
Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed!!
HALLWAYS AND STAIRS
Respectful
Responsible
Ready to Succeed
Talk without using
profanity and offensive
language.
Go directly to and from
locker and classroom.
Have signed pass from
teacher.
Speak with an indoor voice.
Walk down and up stairs
safely and appropriately.
Keep hands/feet to
yourself; refrain from
horseplay.
Know the best route to
your destination and move
with a purpose.
Walk on the right side of
the hallway.
Pick up anything on the
floor that needs to be
picked up.
Respect and listen to ALL
adults in hallways.
Treat lockers with care.
Close and lock locker when
finished.
The BMS Learning Community is:
Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed!
LIBRARY
Respectful
Responsible
Ready to Succeed
Stay on task and be
aware of others’ needs.
Always check books out
and return them in a
timely manner.
Have all appropriate
materials with you.
Use an indoor voice.
Keep all four chair legs on
the floor.
Clean up work area and
push chairs in.
Use appropriate resources
Use computers for school
(databases, teacher
related purposes only.
recommended websites,
content related books) for
Sign in and out at lunch
all projects.
and after school.
Read text from all sources
Ask permission to leave
carefully.
the library.
The BMS Learning Community is:
Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Succeed!
RESTROOMS
Respectful
Responsible
Ready to Succeed
Be mindful of other people’s
privacy.
Notify staff of problems.
Sign in and out of class.
Use facilitates as intended.
Have a pass at all times.
Wash hands with soap.
Use nearest facility.
Keep the facility clean.
Properly dispose of trash.
Natural Consequences
For Meeting Expected
Behaviors:
For Not Meeting Expected
Behaviors:
 “Eagle Eyes”
 Conference with the student
 Frequent School Wide Raffles
 Parent contact/notification
 Frequent School Wide
Acknowledgements/Celebrations
 Teacher detention
 Principal’s Award
 Office detention
 Lunch detention
 In School Suspension/ Out of
School Suspension
Behavior Information
Reports
0 ODR
1-2
ODR
3-5
ODR
6+
ODR
Home-to-school Partnership
 If you believe only half
of what your child says
happens in school,
 We will believe only
half of what your child
says happens at home.
Conflict Resolution Procedure
Problem Solving Protocol
 Step 1 – If an issue is with an individual teacher, that
teacher should be contacted first.
 Step 2 – If satisfaction was not achieved, or if an issue
concerns more than 1 teacher or a team of teachers, contact
your child’s guidance counselor.
 Step 3 – If satisfaction was not achieved in Steps 1 or 2,
contact the BMS administration. The decision of the
principal is the final decision at the building level.
 Step 4 – If satisfaction was not achieved in Step 3 at the
building level, an appeal can be made to the Barrington Public
Schools’ Central Administration.
Home-to-school Partnership
Communication:
Student Contact Data Information through ASPEN
ASPEN- online grading report system
ASPEN- Teacher “Pages”
Quarterly Report Cards (electronic)
Student agenda pads
Student Handbook
Parents are free to call the school to leave messages for
guidance counselors or teachers to talk or schedule meetings
 Meetings typically happen during teachers’ common
planning time or before/after school.
 Parents are also free to email staff
 Ex. Andrew Anderson is: andersona@bpsmail.org
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Home-to-school Partnership
Communication (Cont.):
 www.barringtonmiddle.org
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 Daily Announcements, Parent FAQ Page, Twitter Scroll
http://twitter.com/#!/bms_ri
Bi-Monthly BMS News (electronic newsletter)
Monthly AM Principal Coffee Hours
Monthly Principal Lunch and Talks
Monthly PTO Meetings
 $15.00 membership dues
 Join us at our PTO meetings, 2nd Monday of each month in
our library at 7:00 p.m.
 Meeting dates are posted on website
After-School
Enrichment Program
 October and February
Offerings
 2:15 and 2:35 Start
Times
 Over by 3:35
 Once a week/8weeks
 Late bus/walk/pick-up
 Fee based
 Open to any student
 www.myschoolbucks.com
 Photography
 Basketball and Volleyball
“Camps”
 Cooking/Baking
 Computer Programming
 Wood Working
 Robotics
 Photoshop
 Drumming
After School Sports Offerings
Fall Sports:
Cross Country (B &G)
Field Hockey
Winter Sports:
Boy’s Basketball
Girl’s Basketball
Wrestling (B&G)
Spring Sports:
Track (B&G)
Intramurals:
Flag Football
Frisbee
Panel Discussion
The BMS Learning
Community is
Respectful,
Responsible, and
Ready to Succeed!
Today, I will give
nothing less than my
personal best!
We
will
see
you
soon!