BMS Patriot Press

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 (The 3 Rs)

Greetings, Patriot Families,

Thank you for supporting our Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations! We loved seeing students, families, and staff engage in the festivities and honor the rich contributions of the Hispanic community.

As we head into Fall Break (Thursday, October 9–Monday, October 13), we hope you enjoy this time with your student and take a moment to check in about their school experiences.

Students will take district interim assessments on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 7-8. Please ensure they are in school and bring a charged Chromebook each day so they can do their best.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday, October 15. Thank you, as always, for your continued support, and we hope you and your student enjoy a restful and fun Fall Break!

With Patriot Pride,

Felecia C. Jones
Principal

Tuesday, October 7

• District Assessments:1st Academic/2nd Academic

Wednesday, October 8

• District Assessments: 3rd Academic/4th Academic

• Fall Break

Tuesday, October 14-Thursday, October 16

• JA Finance Park- 8th Grade

Monday, October 20- Friday, October 24

• Red Ribbon Week

Wednesday, October 22

• Early Release Conferences

• Early Release Conferences

Tuesday, October 28

• BMS Trunk or Treat Literacy Night

Friday, October 31

• BMS & Atlanta Food Bank Distribution

Please take a moment to review the school year calendar included here. We kindly encourage you to schedule doctor’s appointments and family vacations during student holidays whenever possible, so your child can fully benefit from their learning experience. Thank you for your thoughtful planning and support—it truly makes a difference!

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is reviewing school calendar features for the 2026–27 and 2027–28 school years, and your voice matters. Families, staff, students in grades 6–12, and community members are invited to share feedback on the features that are most important to them.

Give your opinion in the 2026 - 2028 School Calendar Survey.

What to Expect:

• Calendar Survey Dates: Monday, September 8 – Wednesday, October 8

• Families, staff, students in grades 6-12, and community members can share feedback on the calendar features they value most.

• Families and staff received a link via ParentSquare; community members may access the link on the GCPS website.

• All samples meet state and district requirements, including

· 180 school days and 190 staff workdays (per state law)

· Required holidays (per GCPS Policy GBRI)

· 2 early release days per semester for ES/MS; 3 for HS (final exams)

· One week each for Thanksgiving and Spring Break

· Semester 1 ends before Winter Break; Semester 2 ends before Memorial Day

Gwinnett County Public Schools will make the final decision on the school calendar, considering community feedback alongside state laws, district policies, instructional needs, and operational requirements. A recommended calendar will be presented to the Board of Education in November 2025.

BMS Families!

Join us on Tuesday, October 28 at 5:30 PM at Berkmar Middle School Bus Lanes for a fun-filled evening celebrating reading and family!

📖 Students and families can join in the fun by dressing up as your favorite book character!
🍬 Enjoy treats, games, and exciting literacy activities for all ages.
💡 Learn simple and fun literacy strategies to support reading at home.

It’s going to be a night full of learning, laughter, and community spiri!! You don’t want to miss it! 👻✨

BMS would like to offer a huge Thank You to our friends at The Lilburn Woman's Club for gifting our 8th Grade Social Studies classes with pocket size Constitutions. We are so appreciative as this aligns with our GA Studies Curriculum.

Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (GSMST) is hosting information nights for the class of 2030. See the flyer below for important dates and deadlines.

Ms. Bledsoe's class brought science to life! Students explored the concept of cells to systems by collaboratively building Lego models that represented cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, and an organism. Each model grew larger than the last, providing a hands-on, tactile way to organize and deepen their understanding. An excellent example of active learning in action!

• Do you have access to Parent Square?
• Do you have access to the ParentVue?
• Do you have a MyPaymentsPlus account?
• Have you applied for Free or Reduced Lunch?
• 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 Ms. Pilar Silva, our Parent Instructional Coordinator, in the BMS Family Center

You can also reach her by email: pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org or by phone 770-638-2317.

The Plan / The Purpose is now available for you to view anytime on our BMS Website under the For Parents Tab → Title I → Promise/Plans
This document is an important part of how we partner with families to support our students’ academic success and ensure that we are working together as a school community.

✨ The Plan / The Purpose explains:

• How Berkmar Middle School will use Title I funds to support student achievement.
• How families, students, and staff can work together to strengthen learning.
• Opportunities for parents to be involved and provide feedback throughout the year.

If you would like a hard copy, please stop by the BMS Family Center or contact Ms. Silva:
📞 770-638-2317
📧 pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org

We encourage every family to review this resource so you can stay informed and engaged in your child’s education.
Together, we are Ready, Respectful, and Responsible: Patriot Pride! 💙❤️🤍

ParentSquare is a communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with your child’s school and Gwinnett County Public Schools.

ParentSquare provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to receive and send information, such as:

Weather-related closings & delays

School and class information

Share pictures and files

See calendar items

Upcoming class activities

If you need help downloading Parent Square to your mobile device, please contact Ms. Pilar Silva at 770-638-2311 or email her pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org

We are pleased to announce that the Free and Reduced Lunch Application for the 2025-2026 school year is now available for BMS families to complete. This application needs to be completed every school year. It is important for students to have a nutritious meal throughout the day to support their learning and overall well-being.

Please use the following link to complete your application:

https://www.nlappscloud.com/District.aspx#loaded

If you need assistance, completing the application, please email pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org or call her at 770-638-2317. Ms. Silva will be available every day from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

Atención Familias de Berkmar: Solicitud de Almuerzo Gratuito o Reducido para el Año Escolar 2025-2026

Nos complace anunciar que la Solicitud de Almuerzo Gratuito o a Precio Reducido para el año escolar 2025-2026 ya está disponible para que las familias Berkmar Middle la completen. Esta aplicación se tiene que completar cada año escolar. Es importante que los estudiantes tengan una comida nutritiva durante el día para apoyar su aprendizaje y su bienestar general.

Utilice el siguiente enlace para completar su solicitud:

https://www.nlappscloud.com/District.aspx#loaded

Si necesita ayuda completando la solicitud mandale un email a pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org o llama al 770-638-2317. Ms. Silva estará disponible todos los días de 9:30 AM a 3:30 PM.

Gwinnett County is partnering with Vision To Learn to provide free eye exams and prescription glasses for children in our community between September and December at various Parks and Community Resource Centers.

Booking Link: https://bit.ly/Gwinnett_VTLDays

Ages: Children 5-18 (Grades PreK-12)
Appointments: are required, see above booking link

Length of Exam: 20-30 minutes

BMS Families:

We invite all families to join GCPS EEE Session “Unlocking the Future: The Power of Literacy for Your Child's Success" on October 15, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM via Microsoft TEAMS.

This is virtual event full of tips to help your child grow as a reader and writer. Learn strategies to help your child with reading and writing, and explore how technology and AI can support their learning.

This engaging event is designed for families of students from K-12

• Elementary Session-

  • Inspiring Young Minds: Literacy Strategies for Pre-K to 1st Grade Learners

  • Building Strong Foundations: Literacy Techniques for 2nd and 3rd Graders

  • Empowering Upper Elementary: Literacy Skills for 4th and 5th Graders

    
    

• Middle/High School Session-

  • Artificial Intelligence and Literacy for Tomorrow's Leaders

  • Fueling Passion: Keeping Middle and High School Students Engaged in Reading

Interpretation will be provided in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, and French.

Click here to RSVP

or

Direct Registration Link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5b0266a9-74b9-46a3-b4b7-fabde234c566@7de65cf9-3f2e-4e67-a469-965b0d085fbb

The 53rd Annual Lilburn Daze will take place Saturday, October 11 from 9am to 5pm. Proceeds from the event will go back into the community in the form of service projects such as scholarships, care team support, dictionaries for 3rd graders, Constitutions for 8th graders in addition to many other community service programs.

As we get ready to begin Hispanic Heritage Month on September 15th, I would love your support in encouraging our students and families to participate in the Voices of Strength Writing Competition, hosted by The Little Book Spot, a local nonprofit dedicated to literacy and community engagement. This special competition is held in partnership with the El Gusanito Book Festival.

This event is a meaningful way for our students and families to showcase their creativity, cultural pride, and unique voices through writing.

📚 Competition Categories

• Grades 3–5: Heroism

• Grades 6–8: Hope

• Grades 9–12: Vision for the Future

• Adults (18+): Heritage and Strength(open to teachers, parents, and community members!)

🗓 Submission Deadline: October 11, 2025

🏆 Awards & Prizes: Scholarships, monetary awards, and other great prizes.

🎉 Winner Announcement:
Winners will be announced at the El Gusanito Book Festival & Mercado Navideño on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at Plaza Las Américas (733 Pleasant Hill Road, Lilburn, GA).

👉 How to Submit:

Anyone can submit their stories by scanning the QR code attached or through the provided submission link: Writing Competition 2025 .

Please help spread the word and inspire students and families to participate as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and uplift literacy across our community.

Please reach out to Ms. Pilar Silva if you have any questions: pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org or 770.638.2317.

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:

• Instagram: @berkmarms127

• Facebook: Berkmar Middle

Let’s celebrate our students, families, and staff together because at BMS, Patriots LEAD the way to excellence! 💙❤️

#BMSPatriots #WeAreBerkmar #PatriotsLEAD

Each BMS student will receive a GCPS assigned chromebook for use in class and at home to support their instructional needs. It is the family’s responsibility to monitor the use of the device to ensure that the device is returned in the condition in which it was received.

GCPS has created a 1:1 Parent Support Site to provide further information on chromebook use as well as parent and student responsibilities.

GCPS will assess fines for lost and/or damaged chromebooks and chargers. Please note that incidents of damage or loss do not reset each school year. See the district fine chart below.

Resources:

Student 1:1 Support Site

Parent 1:1 Support Site

Parent and student rights and responsibilities

We are excited to share that Berkmar High School, in partnership with Northside Hospital, will host a GHSA Pre-Participation Screening (Physical Night) for all Berkmar cluster athletes. This is an excellent opportunity for our student-athletes to complete their annual physicals in one convenient location.

Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025

Time: Appointments begin at 9:00 AM (must register for a specific time slot)

Cost: $25 per athlete

Location: Northside Hospital Duluth – Gallery Hall (Parking near Outpatient), 3855 Pleasant Hill Rd, Duluth, GA 30096

Registration Link: Click Here to Register

Important Notes for Families and Athletes:

• No walk-ups or refunds will be accepted. If a student cannot attend, their registration fee will directly support Berkmar athletics.

• Registration closes on October 14, 2025. Spots are limited, so early registration is encouraged.

• Your phone is your ticket. Tickets will be verified at check-in—screenshots will not be accepted.

• All GHSA pre-participation paperwork must be completed prior to arrival. Athletes will not be screened without the required forms.

Sports Physicals: October 18

All students playing sports in GCPS, middle school or high school, must have a physical.

Northside will be hosting a mass fall physical event on Saturday, October 18th, at their Northside Duluth Hospital location.

• $25 per athlete
• Every 15 minutes from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• Each school will receive 2 athlete slots per time slot
• As slots fill, we may open additional time slots based on demand
• No walk-ups will be accepted
• Northside Duluth Address: 3620 Howell Ferry Rd NW, Duluth, GA 30096

Reserve your spot via the GoFan link: 👉 https://gofan.co/event/4024841?schoolId=GA5193

Athletes must bring completed paperwork to their appointment

• No paperwork = no physical
• We will not have extra forms available on-site

Rank One Link

Is your child planning on playing basketball this year? If so, you need to get them registered with Rank One. Make sure to get this done soon.

Saturday, October 25, 2025

Instructional Support Center

5K start time: 8:30am

Fun Run start time: 9:30am

Kudos to the PBIS Committee for planning a successful Walk & Talk event. Our student patriots were able to use their earned Berkmar Bucks to purchase some treats and engage with staff and friends. BMS Patriots are always Ready, Respectful, and Responsible.

One of the integral parts of creating a harmonious and distraction-free learning space is our "Power Down" electronic device (cell phones, airpods, headphones, etc.) policy. We understand the importance of technology and staying connected in our modern world. However, during school hours, the focus should be on learning, collaborating, and being present.

Should there be an emergency or an urgent concern to communicate with your child, please reach out to the school's main office. We will ensure your child receives the message promptly.

Want to stay connected with BMS? Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BerkmarMS127. Follow us on Facebook Berkmar Middle. Updated communication and parent newsletters may be found on these platforms. Additionally, our school website is another great resource for learning more about our school.

Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=2086
Location: 4355 Lawrenceville Highway, Lilburn, GA, USA
Phone: 770-638-2300