BCMS Bison Blast

We are officially settling into the school year! Students know their schedules, classroom routines are becoming more familiar, and teachers are getting to know their students as learners. October is a great time for students to reflect on what is going well and where they may need a little additional support.

Winter sports are right around the corner! 7th and 8th grade students can participate in:

• 🏀 Girls Basketball

• 🤼 Wrestling

• 🏀 Boys Basketball

Registration

Registration is completed online through the Parent Portal → School Store.

Participation Fee: $80 per sport

Sports Physical Required: Students must have a current Sports Qualifying Physical on file with the Activities Office before participating. Physicals are valid for three years from the date of the exam.

Girls Basketball

• Registration Opens: September 28

• Registration Closes: October 25

• First Practice: October 26

Wrestling

• Registration Opens: October 19

• Registration Closes: November 15

• First Practice: November 16

Boys Basketball

• Registration Opens: December 7

• Registration Closes: January 3

• First Practice: January 4, 2027

Questions? Contact the BCMS Activities Office at 763-682-8201 or kjaszewski@bhmschools.org.

We look forward to a great winter sports season!

We are excited to kick off another year of our BCMS EDGE Program! EDGE gives students extra academic support while building confidence and skills for success in the classroom.

Students will work in small groups with BCMS teachers to strengthen math skills, build study habits, and learn to advocate for themselves.

Program Details:

• Start Date: October 19

• Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays

• Time: 3:30–4:30 PM

• Location: Buffalo Community Middle School

• Transportation: Families can pick up students at 4:30 PM. An activity bus is also available for students living in Hanover and Montrose.

• Registration: Fill out the attached google form.

• https://forms.gle/5ycK3DXk7brBSk1y6

Regular attendance is important to help students get the most out of this opportunity.

We encourage families who receive an invitation to take advantage of EDGE. It's a great way for students to build skills, gain confidence, and discover that a little extra help can make a big difference!

A few simple check-ins can help students stay on track:

• Review grades and missing work together in Infinite Campus.

• Look for patterns, not just individual assignments or scores.

• Have your child show you their Google Classroom, binder, and planner.

• Talk about upcoming assignments or tests.

• If your child is struggling, encourage them to connect with their teacher and use support available during the school day.

Try Asking This at Home

Instead of “How was school today?” try:

• What is something you understand now that you did not understand a few weeks ago?

• Which class feels easiest right now? Which one takes the most effort?

• Is there anything you need help getting caught up on?

Sometimes a slightly different question can lead to a much better middle school conversation.

Students have WIN time built into their school day for extra support or enrichment. As teachers review fall assessment and classroom data, WIN time will be used to provide more targeted practice, instruction, and support based on student needs.

Throughout the fall, teachers review several sources of information to understand what students are ready to learn next:

• aReading and aMath classroom screenings

• MCA results

• Classroom assessments and performance

No single score tells the whole story. Staff look across multiple pieces of information to identify student strengths and determine where additional support may be helpful.

CAPTI ReadBasix

Some BCMS students will participate in CAPTI ReadBasix during the last two weeks of October.

• Teachers use reading assessment data and classroom performance to determine which students should participate.

• CAPTI helps teachers take a closer look at a student’s reading skills.

• Results can help narrow down the specific area of reading that may be causing difficulty.

• This information helps teachers better target instruction and support.

• CAPTI is not given to every student.

• Families of students identified to participate will receive additional information before testing begins.

• Being at school and arriving on time can have a lasting impact on student success.

  • Absences add up academically. Research on middle and high school students found that missing 10 classes was linked to lower grades and lower math and reading achievement.

  • Attendance affects long-term outcomes. More absences were associated with lower rates of on-time graduation and college enrollment.

  • Tardies matter too. Frequent tardies mean lost instructional time and are linked to lower math and reading achievement.

  • Middle school builds important habits. Being present, on time, and ready to learn helps prepare students for high school, college, and the workplace.

If your child is going to be absent due to illness or vacation, please contact the BCMS attendance secretary, Adriane Close <aclose@bhmschools.org> 763-682-8242

Thursday, October 8 & Monday, October 12

4:00–7:00 p.m.

BCMS parent-teacher conferences are optional. Many families are already in regular contact with teachers through Campus Parent Portal, phone, email, or Google Meet. If your child is doing well and you do not have concerns, whether or not you attend conferences is completely up to you.

How Conferences Work

Your scheduled 10-minute conference time is for your child’s core teachers — English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Because you will be meeting with multiple teachers during that 10-minute block, conversations are brief. Please plan for approximately 3 minutes with each core teacher.

• Sign up for one 10-minute Team Conference.

• During that time, you will move between your child’s English, Math, Science, and Social Studies teachers (approximately 3 minutes with each).

Music, PE, Electives & Other Teachers

You do not need to schedule a separate time to meet with Music, PE, elective, intervention, or other teachers. These teachers will be available for individual conversations outside of your scheduled 10-minute core conference time. Families are welcome to visit them before or after their scheduled conference.

School Counselors & Social Workers

Our counselors and social workers will also be available during conferences and welcome the opportunity to meet with families:

6th Grade Counselor: Kaitlin Kolbinger

7th Grade Counselor: Ashley Kamphenkel

8th Grade Counselor: Penny Thalacker

Social Worker: Jennifer Holte

Social Worker: Jamie Peterson

Stay Connected Throughout the Year

You do not need to wait for conference night to connect with a teacher. Families are encouraged to reach out at any time during the school year.

• Campus Parent Portal – View grades, assignments, and other information shared by teachers.

• Phone, Email, or Google Meet – Teacher contact information is available on the BCMS Website.

Ready to Schedule Your Conference?

After reviewing the information above, use the link below to select your conference time:

BCMS Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-Up

If you need help signing up, please contact Angie in the BCMS Front Office at 763.682.8202, or watch the conference sign-up video.

BCMS Yearbook is available - starting now!!

Order your yearbook early to get the best prices. Purchase online to reserve your copy!!

September 28-October 2

Fire Drill - Tuesday, September 29⋅10:10 – 10:40am

Early Release A-Day - October 2, 2025, 1:25pm

October 5-9

Parent Advisory Committee - Wednesday, October 7⋅8:00 – 9:00am

Picture Retake - October 8, 2026 8:50am

BCMS Conferences - Thursday, October 8 & Monday October 12 ⋅4:00 – 7:00pm

October 12-16

BCMS Conferences - Monday, October 12⋅4:00 – 7:00pm

Teacher Workshop - October 14, 2026

Fall Break - October 15-16, 2026

October 19-23

Web training - Wednesday, October 21⋅8:50 – 9:18am

Web event - Thursday, October 22⋅8:50 – 9:18am

Fire Drill - Thursday, October 22⋅2:20 – 2:50pm

October 26-30

Student of the Week Breakfast - Friday, October 30⋅8:00 – 8:30am

November 2-6

Teacher Workshop - November 6, 2026

November 9-13 Early Release - A Day - November 13, 2026 - 1:25pm

November 16-20

Web event - Thursday, November 19⋅8:50 – 9:18am

Fall Activity Night - Friday, November 20⋅3:25 – 5:25pm

November 23-27

Thanksgiving Break - November 25-27, 2026

November 30-December 4

BCMS Choir 8 Concert-PAC - Tuesday, December 1⋅7:00 – 9:00pm

Parent Advisory Committee - Wednesday, December 2⋅8:00 – 9:00am

BCMS Orchestra 8 Concert - Thursday, December 3⋅7:00 – 9:00pm

Early Release - B Day - December 4, 2026

"Doing What's Best for Kids!"

Email: mlubben@bhmschools.org

Location: 1300 State Hwy 25 NE, Buffalo, MN, USA

Phone: 763-682-8200

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Twitter: @BCMSBison