BMS Patriot Press Newsletter

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Berkmar Middle School will provide students with quality, rigorous instruction that will develop critical and creative thinkers who will take ownership of their education in order to be successful lifelong learners.

The mission of Berkmar Middle School is to pursue excellence in academic knowledge, skills, and behavior for each student, resulting in measured improvement against local, national, and world-class standards.

Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Ready!

Greetings, Berkmar Middle School Families,

We hope you had a smooth Digital Learning Day and a relaxing and rejuvenating weekend. This week brings several exciting opportunities for our students and families. Please take a few moments to review the important dates and check our school calendar for upcoming events.

As we continue through the school year, we are grateful for your partnership and continued support. When families and schools work together, we create a stronger foundation for student success.

Thank you for staying connected, encouraging your child each day, and partnering with us to ensure every student feels supported and ready to learn.

We look forward to another great week at Berkmar Middle School!

Warm Regards,

Felecia C. Jones

Principal

Mark your calendar!

Wednesday, September 23

• Tutoring Sessions at 8:20 am

Thursday, September 24

• Title I Annual Parent Meeting @ Berkmar Middle (5:30 pm)

Friday, September 25

• Progress Reports

October

• National Principals Month

Friday, October 2, 2026

• Hispanic Heritage Celebration
• National Custodial Workers Recognition Day

Saturday, October 3, 2026

• Día de la Raza Fútbol Tournament

Monday, October 12- Friday, October 16

• Fall Break

October 22, 2026

• BMS Literacy Night

October 30, 2026

• Atlanta Food Bank & BMS Food Distribution

It is National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 through October 15, 2026. Berkmar Middle School celebrates each and every individual as we cultivate a culture of belonging. We lead with empathy, equity, and excellence to ensure that BMS students, families, and staff feel welcome, safe, accepted, valued, and prepared for the future.

Berkmar Middle School families are invited to attend our Annual Title I Parent Meeting on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 5:30 PM in the BMS Café, 4355 Lawrenceville Hwy., Lilburn, GA 30047.

During this important meeting, families will learn about our Title I program, school resources, family engagement opportunities, and how we can work together to support student success.

We look forward to partnering with you and sharing valuable information about your child's education.

If you need interpretation services other than Spanish, please contact Ms. Silva as soon as possible at 770-638-2317 or pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org

❤️ Hope to see you there! Together, we can make a difference in every student's success.❤️

For any students interested in Basketball, tryouts will be the week of September 28 - October 1. You must have a recent physical uploaded and all forms completed in RankOne by next Wednesday, September 25 to try out. Forms and information are located in the grade level offices.

For more information:

See 6th Grade AP Ms. Bolton OR

Boys: See Coach Johnson

Girls: See Coach Jaiteh

Annual AKS Public Review

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) invites GCPS families, Gwinnett County residents, students, and GCPS staff members to participate in the school district’s review of the Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum September 1 through September 24. The public may review proposed standards online at the link below, offering feedback on AKS that have been developed to align the curriculum with the Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) and/or Georgia Performance Standards (GPS). The full list of courses with AKS under review is available at the link below.

To review the AKS and provide feedback, please visit GEMS 2026 Public Review - Gwinnett County Public Schools. Comments will be accepted through Thursday, September 24.

What: Annual AKS Public Review Opportunity

When: September 1 through September 24

📅Test Day is October 27, 2026

✏️Why do students take PSAT?

PSAT helps students to prepare for taking the SAT, a test that is required for admission to many colleges and universities and merit scholarship opportunities. PSAT also helps schools with making instructional decisions. The test provides students and schools with AP Potential and gives students and families information and resources for College and Career.

❓For more information, visit GCPS Assessments and then scroll down to expand the PSAT 8/9 section.

• Do you have access to the ParentVue?
• Do you have a MyPaymentsPlus account?
• Have you applied for Free and/or Reduced Lunch, if applicable?
• Do you know when and where your child can go to get additional instructional support?
• Do you know where you can check out materials/resources to use at home with your student?
• Do you know how to become a volunteer in our school?

If you answered no to any of these questions, please make an Appointment with Pilar Silva, our Parent Instructional Coordinator, in the BMS Parent Center.

BMS Family Center

Pilar Silva, Family Coordinator

770-638-2317

pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org

Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Mastering math takes hard work and practice. Math builds on itself, so have your teen make time each day to work on math and stay current in the class. Encourage your student to write down and solve sample problems from the book or from class. Students should also analyze problems before trying to solve them (it may help to draw a diagram). Then, remind your teen to check work carefully before turning a completed assignment in.

Make sure you have downloaded the Parent Vue App and Parent Square App on your cell phone. If you need assistance in doing so, make plans to visit to the BMS Family Center and ask for Ms. Silva

4355 Lawrenceville Hwy, Lilburn

Mon - Fri 9:30AM - 3:30 PM

770-6385-2317 or pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org

Berkmar Middle School is excited to honor the rich cultures, traditions, history, and contributions of our Hispanic community throughout the month. ❤️💙💛💚

Be sure to save the date for our Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Friday, October 2, 2026, from 5:30 PM–7:30 PM at the BMS Gym! Join us for an evening filled with food, music, dancing, culture, and much more as we celebrate the diversity that makes our BMS community so special.

Mrs. Lynette Aponte, Director of the International Newcomer Center, will be the special guest speaker. Don't miss this opportunity to hear her speak!

We can’t wait to celebrate with our BMS families! Different cultures, stronger together. ❤️
For information on how to participate, contact Ms. Silva at pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org or 770-638-2317

Thank you to the Lilburn Woman's Club for delivering Pocket Constitutions from the 917 Club for Constitution Day to our 8th grade Georgia Studies students. We enjoyed hearing about all the great work they do and thank them for their partnership!

Berkmar Middle School families are invited to learn more about AdaptED Sports and the Gwinnett HEAT program, which provide students with qualifying disabilities opportunities to participate in competitive school-based athletics. Through sports such as wheelchair basketball, football, and handball, students can build confidence, teamwork, athletic skills, and meaningful connections while being part of an inclusive sports community.

Gwinnett HEAT has a proud tradition of success, with multiple state championships, and families can also get involved by volunteering, coaching, or becoming an official.

For more information about eligibility, participation, and available opportunities, please contact Berkmar Middle School at 770-638-2300.

For more information on the American Association of adaptED Sports Programs (AASP) in Georgia, visit: Find Your Team - AdaptED Sports

Gwinnett Heat Spotlight

American Association of AdaptED Sports Programs

The Gwinnett HEAT became an affiliate of the American Association of AdaptED Sports Programs in 2008. Corrie Collier is the Area Coordinator for the team. Practice Facility is Hull Middle School.

The Gwinnett Heat have built a winning tradition. Here are some of Gwinnett Heat’s highlights!

• 8 State Wheelchair Football Championships
• 5 State Wheelchair Basketball Championships
• 4 State Wheelchair Handball Championships
• 17 Total State Wheelchair Championships

Join Gwinnett Heat to Play • Volunteer • Coach • Become an official

• Area Coordinator: Corrie Collier

• Phone: 678-301-6885

• Email: corrie.collier@gcpsk12.org

• Practice Facility: Hull Middle School

Berkmar Middle School Presents

2026 Berkmar Middle Cross Country Team

Team Members:

• Yulianna Leon

• Noah Marino

• Hailey Palma-Cruz

• Makai Pierre-Charles

• Laci Valentine

  
  

Race Schedule:

• September 4, Bethesda Park, races start at 4pm

• September 12, Georgia Int’l Horse Park, races start at 10:30am

• September 19, Sam Smith Park, races start at 10:15am

• September 26, Murphy Middle School, races start at 8am

We’re excited to share that we’ve started the school year strong. Thank you, parents and guardians, for being such an important part of that success and ensuring your scholars are in school everyday ready to learn.

At Berkmar Middle School, we believe everyday matters. Whether an absence is excused or unexcused, time away from the classroom can affect your child’s learning. That’s why we work together with you to ensure students are present and prepared to succeed.

Excused absences include student illness, immediate family emergencies, legal obligations and religious holidays. Please remember to submit an excuse note within 3–7 days through ParentSquare, ParentVue, or a written note.

When schools and families work as a team, students thrive. Your involvement makes a difference, and we appreciate all you do to support your child’s education and strong attendance.

Let’s keep up the momentum—every day counts, and every child matters!

Due to popular demand, English Classes for BMS Families will be coming soon! Please complete the sign up questionnaire by clicking on the link in your native language. We need this information so we can so we can plan accordingly!

If you a speak a language other than Spanish or Vietnamese, please contact Ms. Silva pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org or 770-638-2317 so she can assist you to complete the sign up form.

All families are invited to participate!

The sign up forms are linked below in Spanish and Vietnamese. You can also translate the form into another language using Google Translate: Google Translate - Berkmar Middle School

This calendar is available to download as a PDF or image in multiple languages and in an accessible version: All Calendars | Action for Happiness

Do you want to keep up with all the exciting things happening at BMS? From school events and celebrations to important announcements, we’ve got you covered!

👉 Follow us on social media and be part of our Patriot community:

• Follow us on Instagram

• Follow us on Facebook

Let’s celebrate our students, families, and staff together because at BMS, Patriots Focus Forward, leading the way to Excellence! 💙❤️

By following us, you’ll stay up to date, see the great things our students and staff are doing, and remain informed about all things BMS. Thank you for being an engaged and supportive part of our school community; we’re better when we stay connected!

💙❤️🤍

#TeamBMS #PatriotPride #WeAreBerkmar #FocusForward

Website: berkmarms.gcpsk12.org
Location: 4355 Lawrenceville Highway, Lilburn, GA, USA
Phone: 770-638-2300