Bulldog Newsletter

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October 7 - After School Activities Begin

Octobber 13 - Picture Retake Day

October 13 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:15-7:30pm

October 14 - Virtual PACT Meeting 7:00pm

October 15-16 - Ed MN Professional Conference - NO SCHOOL

October 22 - Virtual Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:00-7:15pm

October 28 - 8th Grade Band & PC Band Concert 7:00pm

November 3 - Licensed Staff Workshop - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

November 12 - Bulldog BINGO Family Night 5:00-7:00pm

November 26-27 - Thanksgiving Holiday - NO SCHOOL

December 1 - 6, 7 & 8 Orchestra Concert 6:30pm

December 3 - Last Day of Trimester 1

December 4 - Mark Reporting Day - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

December 7 - Trimester 2 Begins

Dear Brooklyn Middle STEAM Families and Scholars,

As we wrap up our first four weeks of the school year, I want to take a moment to celebrate the tremendous progress and energy our scholars have brought to Brooklyn Middle STEAM! It has been an absolute joy watching our students dive into their courses, build meaningful friendships, and settle into the rhythm of the school day. Our primary focus continues to be ensuring that every scholar arrives prepared to learn and ready to fully engage with their teachers, peers, and classroom content.

To help us maintain a safe, focused, and positive learning environment where every student can thrive, we ask for your continued partnership at home in reinforcing three key focus areas:

1. Cell Phones (Off and Away)

• Distraction-Free Learning: To protect class time and foster genuine face-to-face connections, cell phones must be turned off and put away in student lockers for the entire school day. No exceptions.
• Family Support: Please help us reinforce this expectation by reminding your scholar to store their phone safely in their locker before the first bell. If you need to reach your student during the school day for an emergency, please call our main office directly.

2. Hallway & Campus Behavior

• Hands-Off Expectation: Middle school is a key time for scholars to develop maturity and personal responsibility. BMS strictly enforces a no horseplay and no play-fighting policy. All students are expected to keep their hands to themselves at all times in the hallways and on school grounds.
• Punctuality: Arriving to class on time is essential for starting each period focused and ready to succeed. We encourage all scholars to move efficiently through the halls between classes.

3. Dress Code Expectations & At-Home Checks

• Appropriate Attire: For health and safety reasons, shoes and proper tops/shirts must be worn at all times. Clothing must support a safe, respectful, and non-disruptive learning environment.
• At-Home Clothing Checks: Please assist us by conducting a quick clothing check at home before your scholar leaves for school. Handling dress code issues at school takes away from instructional time and can be uncomfortable for students.
• Policy Enforcement: If a student arrives without appropriate attire, they will meet with an administrator or counselor to discuss expectations, and parents will be notified. Students will be required to change into alternate personal clothing or BMS-provided attire, and additional discipline may apply if needed.
• Full Policy: Detailed guidelines are available on page 9 of the Parent/Student Handbook Calendar on our school website.

Thank you for your steady partnership, encouragement, and trust as we navigate this school year together. When school and home work hand-in-hand, our scholars achieve extraordinary things!

Because Every Piece Matters!

With excitement and appreciation,

Robert Ware

Head Principal

Brooklyn Middle STEAM School

All middle school students across the district are being issued brand new Chromebooks this year. If you have a 7th or 8th grade student, you may have noticed that the Chromebook your student received looks a little different than in previous years. The new devices were selected based on feedback from students and staff regarding desirable features (e.g. battery life, camera quality, etc.).

The new Chromebooks also come with an attached protective case. The type of case was selected to better protect the devices from accidental drops or impacts that often require costly repairs (this was the #1 cause of damage at the middle level). The cases are considered a part of the Chromebook, and will be expected to be returned along with the Chromebook and charger during collection at the end of the school year. If the case is damaged or lost, it will result in a fee to replace it.

Please note that middle school students are no longer issued a Chromebook bag. We understand it will be an adjustment for those that had them last year, but anticipate the new protective cases being more effective at preventing damage and requiring fewer repairs that result in charges to families.

6th grade science students put their engineering skills to the test! Students designed, built, tested, and redesigned their structures while exploring strength, stability, creativity, and problem-solving. They also recorded detailed observations throughout the challenge to document what worked, what didn’t, and how they could improve their designs

What a great way to kick off 6th grade! Our students headed to Campfire MN for a day filled with teamwork, exploration, and fun. They worked together on outdoor team-building activities, tried their hand at archery, and explored stars and constellations in the planetarium. A great day of learning and building connections! Thank you District 279 Foundation for helping to fund this STEAM experience for our students!

8th grade Global Studies students got creative with an “All About Me STEAM Sculpture"' activity! Using pipe cleaners, students designed sculptures that represent different parts of who they are.

A creative way to build connections, celebrate individuality, and start the year together!

This year, 8th grade Physical Science is focused on observing phenomena in the real world. Students visited the STEAM Lab to make detailed observations about the reflection of light, experimenting with different lighting setups using the windows. They’re learning that sometimes the best science starts by simply looking closely and asking questions!

As of last year, all secondary schools in Osseo Area Schools are AVID Schools. AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination and supports students with rigorous academic preparedness, opportunity knowledge, and student agency so that they can be set up for success in high school and beyond.

This year it is BMS’s goal to help students build the organizational skills required to be independent learners. To do this, we have revamped our expectations around planner use and have set up all students with a binder system that can be used to organize materials for each class.

Are you interested in learning more about our schoolwide organization efforts or what students are learning in their classes? Asking your student to see what is in their planner or binder is a great way for you to learn more and stay connected!

Bulldogs celebrated National AVID Day by showing their school spirit by rocking their favorite college and university gear!

Tuesday, October 13th | 3:15–7:30 PM in Person in Teacher Classrooms

Thursday, October 22nd | 3:00–7:15 PM are virtual by Appointment Only

Parent/Teacher Conferences are an important opportunity to check in with your child’s teachers. We hope you’ll be able to attend one of our scheduled conference evenings.

Tuesday, October 13th — In Person

Conferences will be held in person in teachers’ classrooms.

We’ll also have dinner available that evening! Our Bulldog Cafe, operated by our FACS classes, will be serving a delicious Italian meal.

• Dinner is free of charge, but donations are appreciated with $5 suggested.

• Dinner will be served from 4:00-6:00pm in Flex Space near room 107. **Students & siblings must be with a parent or guardian to be in the food area.

• All donations go directly toward supporting our FACS program.

• FACS will also host a Bake Sale & Coffee Shop on this evening

Thursday, October 22nd — Virtual

Conferences will be held virtually by appointment only.

A link to sign up for a conference with your child’s teachers will be emailed to families on Wednesday, October 14th.

We look forward to connecting with you and partnering together to support your child’s academic success!

This November’s ballot will include a Minnesota Constitutional amendment question on school funding. Learn more about this important topic HERE.

Families will soon receive a copy of our important 2026-27 Parent/Student Handbook Calendar in the mail. It is also available on the BMS website. Please be sure you keep this throughout the school year and refer to it for important dates as well as school expectations and policies.

Brotherhood, Leadership, and Growth: Inside IYT MN This Fall

October is off to a phenomenal start for Invest in Tomorrow (IYT) MN! We have already welcomed new faces, reconnected with returning brothers, and re-engaged our school community at large. This year, we return with unmatched energy and a singular focus: ensuring our brothers stand out as exceptional leaders and dedicated scholars, both inside the classroom and out in the world. These young men are establishing a lifelong bond rooted in our core values: Liberation. Service. Character. Teamwork.

Our brothers have already made impressive contributions to the IYT program, strengthening its school identity and fostering a deep sense of belonging for everyone involved.

Upcoming Key Dates

First After-School Programming Day: Wednesday, October 7th - Room 221

Quarterly Parent Engagement Night: Tuesday, October 13th | 3:15 PM – 7:00 PM - Room 221

We look forward to seeing our families at Parent Engagement Night to discuss how we can continue supporting our IYT Brothers together.

Mr. Karl Benson - IYT College Access Mentor

Free language services offered

Our school is dedicated to ensuring that every family has timely and meaningful access to information and services. With more than 125 languages spoken throughout the district, we’re committed to providing multilingual communication that promotes the inclusive participation of all families and community members.

If you’re a parent/caregiver of a student in a public school and your preferred language is not English, you have the following rights established by law:

• School districts must have a process for identifying your language needs.

• Schools must provide information in a language you understand.

• School districts must provide effective language assistance to you, such as by offering translated materials or a language interpreter.

• Schools must provide you with language assistance even if your child is proficient in English or you have some English proficiency.

• Schools must provide translation or interpretation from appropriate and competent individuals and may not rely on or ask students, siblings, friend or untrained school staff to translate or interpret for you.

• Language assistance must be free to you.

For more information on language services here at Osseo Area Schools, please visit OsseoSchools.org/LanguageServices.

Since September 2023, all Minnesota K-12 students attending school in person have one free breakfast and lunch available to them each academic school day due to the state's Free School Meals for Kids bill. A la carte items outside of a complete meal will still incur a cost (mile will incur a cost unless taken as part of a school meal). You can access additional information and set up your students account or deposit meal money here.

All communication regarding your orders should be through Kemmetmueller Photography at www.k-photography.com or call 952-473-2142.

Learn about opportunities to get involved in high school athletics and activities for grades 7-12 (be sure to register for athletics/activities on EduTrakConnect!

Get involved and make a difference at Osseo Area Schools. Many district-level advisory committees are looking for parent/caregiver volunteers who are interested in influencing the direction of the district’s instructional programs, enrollment/capacity, emergency management and financial matters. You can learn more information and apply HERE.

Beginning this school year, we will be using EduTrak for all field trip permission forms and payments. This is the same district portal families already use to register for sports and activities and to add lunch funds, providing a more streamlined and familiar process for managing field trip participation. Families should follow the attached directions to register an account if they have not already done so.

EduTrak Log-In. Once you have an account in EduTrak, go to the e-store and search for the BMS field trip.

At BMS we value every minute of class time. Students are allowed to enter the building at 7:50am and school begins promptly at 8:10am. Being in class every minute each day matters. Frequent late arrivals and early dismissals cause students to miss valuable instructional time, classroom discussions, assessments, and important beginning and end of day information.

When possible, please schedule appointments before or after school. Every minute of instructional time matters, and consistent attendance plays a major role in student success. If you do need to sign your student out early, please see the BMS process for early pick-up below.

ParentVUE Attendance Entry

We are pleased to announce that parents/guardians can now enter their student’s attendance directly through ParentVUE. Instructions to do so are linked here.

Parents/guardians may enter absences for the following reasons only:

• Illness
• Appointments
• Family concerns

Any other reason for an absence must be reported by calling the school office.

Please keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Absences can be entered in ParentVUE until 11:00 a.m. on the day of the absence.
• Parents/guardians can enter an absence up to 3 days in advance.
• If you need to report an absence more than 3 days in advance, please call the school office.
• You cannot enter an absence for a previous date.
• Once an absence has been submitted through ParentVUE, it cannot be changed. If you need to make a correction, please call the attendance line at 763-569-7616.

Thank you for helping us keep student attendance records accurate and up to date!

If you have any questions regarding your students transportation please go to https://www.district279.org/services/transportation or call 763-391-7244.

FirstView bus tracking app and opt in procedure

If your student’s needs are changing, please email BusQuestions@District279.org to request a change form. Forms are student specific; please include each student requiring changes in your email correspondence.

The FirstView bus tracking app can be used to track buses, which uses GPS to track your students' bus arrival.

Learn more at district279.org/departments/transportation.

If you need to pick your student up early from school, please review the options below to help ensure a smooth and efficient process:

Option 1 (Preferred):
Send a written note with your student to school indicating the reason for early dismissal and the time you will be picking them up.

• Your student should bring the note to the front office upon arrival in the morning.
• A pass will be issued so they can leave class at the appropriate time and be ready when you arrive.

Option 2:
Call the school office as soon as you know your student will need to leave early.

• We will do our best to send a pass and have your student ready at the requested time.

PLEASE DO LATE DAY PICK-UPS PRIOR TO 2:15PM. PICK-UPS AFTER 2:15 CAN NOT BE GUARANTEED AS IT IS CLOSE TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL DAY AND A VERY BUSY TIME IN THE OFFICE.

PC SPORTS – EARLY RELEASE FOR GAMES

If your student needs to leave school early for a PC game or match, parent/guardian permission is required.

• Coaches are not permitted to excuse students from school.
• Please send a note with your student in the morning indicating the sport and the time they need to leave.
• The school will verify dismissal times with PC Athletics to ensure your student is released on time.

No cell phones allowed during the academic school day.

Students are discouraged from bringing cell phones or other electronic devices including smart watches, headphones and earbuds/air pods to school. If students choose to bring a cell phone/device to school the expectations are the cell phones, electronic devices including smart watches and earbuds/air pods will remain in the student backpacks/lockers during the academic school day, including lunch, passing times and other non-instructional time. Students assume the risk of damage, theft or loss when choosing to bring a phone or device to school. Cell phone use of any kind is not permitted in locker rooms or bathrooms.

The following consequences are cumulative starting the first day of school and they do not reset until the following school year:

· Initial Warning: The first time staff witnesses a device during the academic day when not permitted, staff will provide the student a warning and allow the student to put the phone away. If the student does not put the phone away, it will be considered a First Offense.

· First Offense: Staff member turns the device into the front office for the remainder of the school day. Student picks up the device at the end of the day. If a student refuses to turn in to the teacher or front office, it will be considered a Second Offense.

· Second Offense: Staff member turns the device into the front office for the remainder of the school day. Parent or guardian is contacted about the offense and student picks up the device at the end of the day. If a student refuses to turn in to the teacher or front office, it will be considered a Third Offense.

· Third Offense: Staff member turns the device into the front office for the remainder of the school day. Parent picks up the device. If a student refuses to turn in to the teacher or front office, it will be considered a Fourth Offense.

· Fourth Offense: Individual call phone plan created for that student. Phone no longer allowed on site.

Students who require the use of cell phones or other electronic devices as reflected in the students IEP or 504 plan may have their device with them at the times designated, but must adhere to all other expectations of the cell phone policy.

Student personal electronic devices are subject to search upon reasonable suspicion that the device has been used in a manner that violates the law or District Policy 505.

Students are expected to dress appropriately for the school day. Shoes and shirts/tops must be worn at all times in the building for health and safety reasons. Clothingshould be appropriate and should not interfere with the rights of other persons to have a safe and supportive school environment.

Examples that are inappropriate include but are not limited to:

• Clothing that damages or potentially damages school property (e.g. cleats or spikes on shoes/clothing)

• Clothing advertising substances illegal for children and adolescents

• Clothing containing obscene and/or profane language, slogans, emblems or pictures

• Clothing containing language, slogans, emblems or pictures that promote or depict violence, hate, discrimination, harassment toward other students or staff

• Clothing that reveals or does not adequately cover intimate body parts of the student

• Clothing that substantially and materially interferes with the school environment/educational process or otherwise violates school district policy

• Ski masks/ninja masks/balaclavas (or similar masks or face coverings that cover the entire face except when worn in observance of a legitimate religious observance

Parents, we ask that you please support our goal of maintaining school appropriate dress.

PLEASE DO CLOTHING CHECKS AT HOME PRIOR TO COMING TO SCHOOL. Students

in violation of the dress code policy will be expected to change and may be subject to

additional discipline, as appropriate. If students do not have alternative clothes to change into

they will be expected to change into clothing provided by BMS.

Our school community supports and will enforce School Board Policy 504: Student Dress and Appearance.

Chromebooks provided to students are DISTRICT OWNED DEVICES and are for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. Students are expected to bring their district issued device to school and back home every day to utilize in cooperation with their teachers to enhance their educational experience. It is the responsibility of each teacher to establish procedures and expectations for use of the digital learning devices in their classroom, and it is the responsibility of each student to follow those

procedures and expectations. Students are advised to secure their digital learning and electronic devices at all times as we are not able to provide staff time to investigate lost or stolen items.

REMINDERS:

• Bring Chromebook each day to and from school

• Chromebook should be fully charged at the start of each day

• Only authorized Apps should be downloaded onto the device

• Social Media sites are not allowed to be accessed using ISD 279 devices and networks

Any photographic or movie image taken by students or adults on ISD 279 property without the consent of the individual(s) will result in disciplinary action. Any photographic or movie image taken of students or staff members on ISD 279 property cannot be published on any personal public forum, social media platform, or group messaging application without the written consent of each individual. Any violation will result in disciplinary action.

We are BMS PACT... It is PTO reimagined at the Middle School level. Have you been wondering how to stay involved post elementary school ...PACT is it!! We support & strengthen our STEAM programming and do as many things as possible to support our kiddos, teachers, support staff, and administrators of our Bulldog family financially and socially.

UPCOMING MEETING DATES:

October 14 - Virtual at 7:00pm

November 2 - at BMS 5:30pm

January 11 - Virtual at 7:00pm

February 9 - at BMS 5:30pm

March 8 - Virtual at 7:00pm

April 5 - at BMS 5:30pm

May 3 - Virtual at 7:00pm

VOLUNTEER NEED :

PACT Coordinators organize some of these events for the school year:

Dine/Shop/Play to Donate (spirit nights with local restaurants or other businesses)

Family Engagement (hosting PACT tables at various school events to recruit more help and share upcoming events)

Fundraising opportunities

Conference Meals (organized feeding our amazing BMS Staff on Conference Nights).

Make an imPACT, join the PACT!!

We can be reached via email at BMSpact@gmail.com - President is Rachel Johnson

Sign up to get regular information or link to a specific committee here

Afterschool programming, family and community events, and so so much more …

Bulldogs…Let’s make this happen!!!

We are Brooklyn Middle STEAM School Parents and Community Together

For information regarding the NW Immunization clinic for vaccines please contact:

Odam Medical in Crystal at 612-871-2312.

https://www.ceap.org/what-we-do/childrens-programs.html

7051 Brooklyn Blvd

Brooklyn Center, Minnesota 55429

(763) 566-9600

Mon-Thu 8:00am-4:30pm

Fri 8:00am-2:30pm

Sat-Sun Closed

CEAP started as a food shelf but now provides many other services such as

• Housing Assistance
• LearnStrong Back-to-School (backpacks and school supplies)
• Toys Of Joy Holiday Program
• Birthday Bags
• Baby and Toddler Care Packages
• Check out the website for additional programs

School Office: 763-569-7700...............................BMS Website: https://bms.district279.org/#

Attendance: 763-569-7616………………………………..Transportation: 763-391-7244

6th Grade

Caitlin Kuntz, Counselor 6th Grade ......Email: KuntzC@district279.org

Nathan Yancy, SMS 6th Grade......Email: YancyS@district279.org

7th Grade

Judy Anderson, Counselor 7th Grade .......Email: AndersonJ@district279.org

Max Pulda, SMS 7th Grade.......Email: PuldaM@district279.org

8th Grade

Annessia Durbin, Counselor 8th Grade .....Email: DurbinA@district279.org

Elijah McClure, SMS 8th Grade.......Email: McClureE@district279.org

District Tip Line.........763-256-6363

#bmsgoodthings #bmsbulldogsrock #bmssteambulldogs

Website: https://bms.district279.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmssteambulldogs/

Twitter: bmssteam