Berea City School District
#BeATitan
11/2 Middle School Fall Conferences #2
11/6 Open Interviews (more information below)
11/6 Board of Education Meeting/Be A Titan Recognition
11/7 Election Day
11/8 BMHS Memory Garden Dedication
11/11 Veterans Day
11/16 High School Conferences
11/16-11/19 Fall Play: BMHS presents Clue
11/18 & 11/19 BCSD Memorabilia Distribution & Sale
11/22-11-24 Thanksgiving Break
11/28 Grandparents & Other Kinship Support Group meeting
Big shoutout to Berea-Midpark Middle School's Garden Club for being featured as the WVIZ Newsdepth A+ Award winner of the week during the month of October! These students exemplified the Berea City School District's Portrait of a Titan by demonstrating exceptional innovation!
These young innovators transformed the BMMS courtyard into a certified schoolyard habitat, showcasing their ability to turn a simple idea into a thriving green space. Overflowing with flowers, veggies, and herbs that are not only used in recipes for Consumer Science classes, but also provide a haven for butterflies and pollinators!
Their creative approach aligns perfectly with the Titan competency of being an innovator, proving that with a bit of imagination and teamwork, spaces can be transformed and learning can flourish in the most unexpected places.
Students now have a greener, more vibrant place to learn and grow! Awesome job, Titans!
Throughout October, our staff had many opportunities for continuous learning and professional development activities, all aimed at cultivating a growth mindset, fostering adaptability, and ensuring our staff feels well-prepared and confident in facing any challenges that come their way.
Transformative Teaching
The Deeper Learning Team, a dedicated group of educators and administrators, gathered to brainstorm, research, and discuss innovative strategies aimed at creating environments where students can thrive. The team is driven by a commitment to instill the Portrait of a Titan competencies in our students, ensuring that learning is not just engaging but also centered around the unique needs of each student. A big thank you goes to Compliant Healthcare Technologies, LLC, for hosting us in a space that sparked creativity and collaboration. The change of scenery provided a refreshing backdrop for the team to share ideas and develop strategies to take student learning to the next level.
Mastering Google Tools and Infinite Campus
Our Classified Staff had a productive day exploring the ins and outs of various Google tools and Infinite Campus, all aimed at enhancing communication, collaboration, and student data management. These sessions equipped our staff with the knowledge to navigate these digital tools with ease, streamlining their work and enhancing efficiency.
Structured Literacy and Communication Skills
Our elementary teachers dove into structured literacy professional development, gaining valuable insights and strategies to better teach reading and writing. This focus on foundational literacy skills is crucial in setting our students up for long-term success.
Meanwhile, our bus drivers and student monitors worked on honing their communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal. This training is essential in supporting students, especially those who may be having a tough time, and ensuring that our transportation team can effectively de-escalate situations when needed. Our intervention associates also had a chance to address real-world behavior scenarios, learning to navigate various situations to provide the best support for our students.
Supporting New Teachers
Our New Teacher Academy gathered for some professional development sessions that were all about helping our educators grow and succeed. Our secondary educators from BMHS and BMMS came together to share their classroom management strategies to create the best learning environment for our students. Our New Teacher Academy also gathered virtually for a Google Meet focused on 'Educator Wellness.' It's just one of the many ways the district is supporting our new teachers to succeed.
Berea-Midpark High School hosted the 6th Annual "Immigration: This is My Story” assembly. The panel, consisting of students, staff, and a board member, courageously took the stage to share their personal and familial immigration stories, providing the audience with a glimpse into their journeys and experiences.
Representing a wide array of countries, including Cuba, Morocco, Ecuador, El Salvador, Italy, Guyana, Palestine, Ukraine, India, and Serbia, the panelists spanned across first and second generations of immigrants. Each story was unique, yet all were united by themes of resilience, hope, and the pursuit of a better life.
This annual assembly is a powerful learning experience for our students. It opens doors to conversations, fosters the Potrait of a Titan competency of empathy, and helps in building a Titans community that understands and celebrates its diversity.
This event reminds us that despite our different backgrounds, we all have the capacity to connect, understand, and support one another through the language of kindness.
The Portrait of a Titan is a collective vision that articulates aspirations for ALL of our students. The Portrait identifies six key competencies that every student in the Berea City School District should possess by the time they graduate. These competencies are nurtured at every grade level. They are adaptable, communicator, critical thinker, empathetic, innovative, and leader. Our educators are inspiring students to cultivate these essential skills.
Innovative
Mrs. Adam and her BPE 3rd grade class had a great time learning about states of matter with a fun and tasty activity. They enjoyed root beer floats while talking about solids, liquids, and gases. The class did a fantastic job identifying how some of these states change over time. Mrs. Adam’s innovative teaching method is an excellent example of how educators can make learning engaging, practical, and fun, all while covering important curriculum material.
Critical Thinker
Mr. Andrews' 7th grade math class have been working on comparing experimental and theoretical probability. Through this collaborative and dynamic activity, students are not only grasping the key concepts of probability but also developing critical thinking and analytical skills which are essential for academic success and problem-solving in everyday life.
The district is excited to explore the possibility of establishing an official Berea-Midpark Alumni Association.
The establishment of an alumni association requires a dedicated group of individuals to guide its development and oversee its activities. If you have leadership experience and a passion for serving the Titans community, we invite you to consider a position on the Board of Trustees. Serving on the Board is a rewarding opportunity to shape the alumni association and ensure that it truly represents and serves the interests of all Berea-Midpark alumni.
If you would be interested in joining a BMHS Alumni Association once it is established or serving on the Board of Trustees, please complete this brief survey.
Earlier this month, we updated the Titans Community on our school bus transportation service, expressing our gratitude to our extraordinary transportation team during National School Bus Safety Week and highlighting the challenge of a bus driver shortage. In case you missed this update, the video is also included below. We appreciate the adaptability of our transportation department and your ongoing support.
The Berea Board of Education holds regular community conversations to give the public access to board members outside of the formal public participation setting of a meeting. Residents will have the opportunity to meet and discuss any concerns they may have with two board members during a 30 minute time-slot set aside prior to each regular scheduled Board of Education meeting. The goal of this effort is to more effectively connect with the public and learn more about the community.
Additional district financial information such as our annual financial reports, forecasts, budget documents, etc., can be found on the district website under the Treasurer's Department page or by using the QR code.
