BRMS Family Newsletter

It’s hard to believe we’ve already wrapped up the first month of school! September has been full of energy, connection, and Wildcat pride. From STAR Testing to help us learn more about where students are starting this year, to our community orientation where students explored the many clubs and athletic opportunities available, we’ve been busy setting the tone for a great year ahead. One of the highlights was definitely tie-dying shirts! Our hallways are looking brighter and more spirited than ever!

Hands, Feet, Body to Self:

• For the start of the school year, our focus is on the Power 6 expectation of “Hands, Feet, and Body to Self.”
• Our goal is for every student to have a safe, positive school day. This means students are expected to keep their hands, feet, and body to themselves at all times — even when they believe they are just playing around. Physical play, roughhousing, and play fighting are not allowed at school.
  We ask for your partnership in reminding your student of this important expectation and supporting them in making safe and respectful choices. Together, we can maintain a welcoming and positive learning environment for all students.
• Please note that our response to any behaviors that are not aligned to our Power 6 are guided by the VASD Progressive Response Guide.

Blankets at School

• As we get into the colder months, just a reminder that blankets should be left at home.

Money at School

• We have seen an increase in students bringing money to school for various reasons, including buying items (candy, snacks, stickers, etc) from friends. This is something we are closely monitoring, but we need your partnership. Students should not bring money to school to buy things from other students.

Phones

• To text or not to text? As a reminder, our policy is personal electronics are off an away all day at school. If you need to contact your student, please call the office.

• Monday, September 29 - October 3: Homecoming Week Dress-Up Days

BRMS conferences will be held the week of October 27. Please look for additional communication regarding the exact schedule and the process.

There are many opportunities for students to grow in their skills here at Badger RIdge. This year, students were placed in specific classes based on their data. Please talk with your students about what skills they are working on and reach out to teachers with questions! Your student may be in one of the following classes offered during A+:

If you haven’t yet submitted student fees in your PowerSchool account, please take a moment to do so as soon as possible. If you prefer you can always send checks to school with your student to hand in at our main office. These contributions directly support the engaging activities our Wildcats enjoy—like our recent community tie-dying event! Thank you for helping us keep these opportunities going strong.

Our Power 6 Universal Expectations apply on our busses as well. Please have a conversation with your bus-riding students about these expectations so that everyone has a safe ride to and from school every day.

As part of our comprehensive PBIS system, we’re excited to share that Badger Ridge will have a school store for the 2025–2026 school year! 🎉

Students can earn Badger Bucks when they demonstrate our universal expectations, the Power 6. Research shows that consistent, positive reinforcement is one of the most effective ways to strengthen and maintain healthy behavior. Badger Bucks also provide students with a fun way to practice important financial literacy skills!

This practice is about noticing and celebrating positive choices, not bribing or “paying” students to behave. We know that the small, everyday moments are what build a safe and respectful school culture. When students receive recognition for these choices, they are more likely to repeat them, which creates consistency in student behavior, which goes on to support students’ sense of safety and belonging.

Here’s how it works:

• Staff look for instances in which students are meeting Power 6 expectations and/or living into our community beliefs

• Students can deposit Badger Bucks twice a week during lunch.

• The school store is open every other Friday.
  Students receive a receipt after each transaction, giving them practice in record-keeping, saving, and double-checking their balances.

If you’d like to support the school store—by volunteering your time or donating items for students to purchase—let’s connect! Please reach out to Olivia Berch, PBIS Coach, at bercho@verona.k12.wi.us. Your support makes a big difference, and we appreciate it!

Donate new or gently used & washed winter gear by Tuesday, October 22nd and help VASD students in need stay warm this winter season! Donations can be delivered to any VASD School site, or our partners at Sugar River UMC (415 W. Verona Ave., Verona) or Redeemer City Church (5356 King James Way, Fitchburg).

Does your family need support with winter gear? Register online in advance at: tinyurl.com/55fu29rv Come pick out your winter gear at Redeemer City Church on October 28th from 12-6PM.

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! We are excited to be back at school. The start of school and athletic seasons often means an increase in muscle soreness, sprains, minor colds, and headaches. I want to ensure your students have access to over-the-counter medications to help with these minor aches and pains.

We have acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), antacids (Tums), and hydrocortisone available in the school nurses’ office for student use. Completing the Over-the-Counter Medication Authorization section during the online registration process serves as written consent for the school nurses to administer these medications.

If your student would like to carry their own over-the-counter medication, please complete the following steps:

1. Return the completed Parent/Guardian Medication Consent Form (Spanish)/(English). Completion during online registration is also accepted.

2. Have your student stop by the school nurses’ office to complete a required self-carry education module. A school nurse will notify you once this step is completed.

3. After receiving an email from the school nurse, the approved medication can be carried in their backpack in the original container with their name written on it.

Medication is not allowed to be self-carried by students without completing these steps. All medications found in a student’s possession without appropriate documentation on file with the school nurse will be confiscated and must be picked up by a parent or guardian.

Verona Area School District is partnering with Verona Smiles to provide free dental x-rays and diagnostic services at school! If you have not registered your student for Verona Smiles this school year, you still can by completing this Google Form: Verona Smiles enrollment.

Register for Low or No Cost Preventative Dental Care at BRMS!
Verona Area School District continues to partner with Bridging Brighter Smiles to provide preventative dental care at school. Registration remains active for 2-3 years. If you have not registered or re-registered recently on the Bridging Brighter Smiles website, your student may no longer be registered. You can still register or re-register your student to receive preventative dental care for this school year here: Bridging Brighter Smiles enrollment. If you have questions about the program or your student’s enrollment status, contact Bridging Brighter Smiles at wecare@bbsmiles.org.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has implemented an update to the school immunization requirements. Please review this memo. If your student is in need of immunizations, there will be four vaccine clinics on October 11, 17, 18 and 20. Please find more information here. If you have any questions, please contact Annie Brandt brandtm@verona.12.wi.us (BRMS School Nurse).

When deciding if your student is well enough to be at school during an illness, please reference this document, that can also be found on our website.

At Badger Ridge Middle School, we have two school counselors, Elvis Ajong and Amie Pittman. One part of their job is to build meaningful student connections. Our goal is to help students feel a sense of belonging. We believe that all students at our school have worth. All students at our school have a story and all students at our school face challenges. We are here for them.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, honor those impacted by suicide, and promote access to life-saving mental health resources. Know the warning signs of suicide for youth, and speak up for friends or family members in need of support.

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:

• Free, 24-hour crisis support in English and Spanish

• Call or text 988 or chat online

• Dane County 24-Hour Mental Health Crisis Line:

• Call (608)280-2600

• Dane County Behavioral Health Resource Center:

• BHRC helps families connect to mental health and substance abuse treatment

• Call (608)267-2244

• Email: BHRC@danecounty.gov

• Walk-ins welcome Monday - Friday between 8:30am-4:00pm at 2450 Rimrock Rd, Ste 301, Madison, WI 53713

• BHRC’s website has a wealth of additional resources at https://danebhrc.org/Resources Click +Mental Health Crisis Resources

If you need additional support navigating mental health resources, contact Sarah Hall, School Social Worker, at 608-618-6268. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

The VASD Child Nutrition Services Department strives to offer healthy and nutritious school meals emphasizing fruit, vegetables, and whole grains that meet USDA guidelines. You can find additional information about fees, menus, and setting up meal accounts for your student at our Child Nutrition website.

🥣🍲 Occasionally certain meal options are very popular, so that choice may run out. We always have enough alternatives to make sure everyone has a full, nutritious lunch.🥣🍲

In advisory on Friday, October 3, your student(s) will hear about the amazing clubs we have to offer this year at BRMS including Ceramics, Cooking, Model UN, and more! Be sure to ask them which clubs they are interested in!

All students at BRMS last year completed their own painted tile of something that brings them joy. We have put them all together for this new mural down in our music wing. Check it out next time you are in!

We want all students to be here so we can witness their greatness! Attendance matters!

AVID: Badger Ridge Middle School is an AVID School. This means that throughout our building, we are preparing our students for college and career readiness using the AVID system. In this system, our teachers insist on rigor, break down barriers, align the work, and advocate for students so that they can experience rigorous academic preparedness, opportunity knowledge, and student agency. More information about the nation-wide AVID system can be found here.

Thank you all for your support with helping your middle schooler(s) learn about systems of organization through their binders and planners. As a reminder, planners are tools of communication between BRMS, your student(s), and you! They serve as a great talking point about what’s happening in class and how things are going. We will ask for your signatures on planners the night before the following dates:

• Friday, October 3
• Friday, October 10
• Friday, October 17
• Friday, October 31

The Power 6 will continue to be our universal expectations and common language we use throughout all spaces.

We welcome volunteers into our school community to support students and staff in various capacities throughout the school year!

If you are interested in volunteering, please explore our volunteer opportunities and complete a volunteer application and background check.

If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Hall, School Social Worker, at halls@verona.k12.wi.us or (608)845-4408.

AVID Tutorials: Helping Students Learn Together
At Verona Area Schools, AVID tutorials give students the chance to work together and tackle challenging questions from their classes. During tutorials, students use inquiry and discussion to think deeply, solve problems, and build confidence.

Our AVID Tutors play a key role in this process. They guide students through the AVID 10-step tutorial process, encourage critical thinking, and serve as positive role models. Their support helps students who are often underrepresented in higher education feel prepared and empowered for future success.

What AVID Tutors Do:

• Lead small group tutorials, encouraging students to think critically and collaborate

• Model problem-solving skills, academic language, and higher-level thinking

• Provide helpful feedback to students

• Work closely with teachers and other tutors to support student growth

Where They Work:
AVID Tutors are placed at Verona Area High School or one of our two middle schools that offer the AVID elective class. Placement is based on tutor availability, academic background, and school needs.

When They Work:
Tutors are asked to work at least two mornings per week during AVID Elective class time. Final schedules are confirmed before tutors begin.

You can find more information HERE.