Bookcliff Middle School

Dear Bookcliff Middle School Community,

Our first newsletter of the school year gives quite a bit of important information you will want to know as we get started. Subsequent, monthly newsletters will feature relevant information for that particular time of the school year.

If you ever have any questions or concerns throughout this school year, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Brian Dickes, BMS Principal

brian.dickes@d51schools.org

970-254-6220

• August 4: Back to School Night, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
• August 5: 6th Grade Orientation, 8:30 - 10:00 am
• August 6: First Day of School, 8:00 am - 3:15 pm
• August 8: Early Release Friday, 8:00 am - 1:15 pm

Please come by sometime between 5:30 and 7:00 on August 4th to pick up schedules, meet teachers, and tour the school. Doors will open at 5:30 pm.

Hello 6th Graders!

Please join us for 6th Grade Orientation on Tuesday, August 5th from 8:30am - 10:00am. You will meet new friends, learn all about the school, take a tour, and meet teachers. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to learn from our fantastic student Mustang Crew!

During this time we offer a 30 minute parent orientation as well. Parents, come meet the administration and office staff, and learn about Schoology and ParentVue, so you can stay up to date on your student's academic progress throughout the year. School counselors will also give a short presentation about how the school and families can work together to support our students.

D51 is officially moving forward with implementing a unified early release schedule across all K–12 schools — something that’s been discussed for the past few years.

Throughout the process, we heard overwhelmingly favorable feedback from both families and staff about the value of creating more consistent, dedicated time for teacher collaboration, planning, and professional learning, all focused on supporting student success.

While elementary schools already follow an early release model, and many secondary schools have adopted their own versions, this change brings needed consistency across all grade levels. On March 25, Chief Academic Officer Jennifer Marsh and a group of middle and high school principals presented the benefits of this model to the Board of Education, along with a few proposed adjustments to the 2025–26 calendar to ensure students still receive the instructional time they need.

At the May 6 Board of Education meeting, the D51 Board approved calendar adjustments, and District leadership made the decision to implement a unified K–12 early release schedule. As part of these changes, the number of student contact days for middle school will increase from 171 to 173, while high school will remain at 174 days. These adjustments help ensure students receive the additional instructional time they need while supporting the transition to the new schedule. Please refer to our school's website for the updated bell schedule for the 2025-26 school year.

Transportation will still be available, but schedules are subject to change. We will know more about this as the school year approaches, so be on the lookout for updates.

Students will follow this schedule most of the week.

On Fridays this year, students end their day at 1:15 and their lunch times are different. You'll notice that students will attend their classes in slightly different order on Fridays.

Please take a look at the map below, which shows the ideal drop off/pick up zone for each grade level. The colored circles indicate the grade level entrances/exits, and the nearby colored sidewalk areas indicate the safest drop zone for each grade level. Families are encouraged to use whichever loop is most convenient for them. Students dropping off musical instruments in the morning may prefer the 6th grade loop.

Adult supervision begins every morning at 7:40. Students should not arrive on campus before that time.

Students should leave campus immediately after dismissal, unless they are participating in after-school activities.

Students should bring a good sturdy lock every day so they can lock their bike or scooter to the racks in front of the school. This includes electric scooters.

The D51 Board of Education policy regarding student cell phone and other electronics use reads, in part:

Students shall not use personal electronic devices as follows: Students in grades PreK - 8 are prohibited from using personal electronic devices on school premises during the designated school day. The school day Includes but is not limited to instructional time, lunch periods, recess, school-sponsored programs, events or activities, or any other time during the designated school day. All personal electronic devices shall be kept In designated areas and turned off.

It is the student's responsibility to ensure that personal electronic devices are turned off and placed in designated areas during times when use is not authorized. Personal electronic devices (1) that produce any audible sound, a ring tone, or vibrating alert, whether through a speaker, earbuds/earphones, buzzer, or other means, or (2) that are displayed or in plain view at such times shall be deemed to be used in violation of this policy.

For the duration of the school day, BMS students store all electronics such as cell phones, air pods, and smart watches in their personal lockers, which we refer to as Electronic Storage Units (ESUs). No other items should be stored in ESUs, as students may not visit their ESU until dismissal.

The D51 Board of Education policy regarding student dress code reads, in part:

A safe and disciplined learning environment is essential to a quality educational program. District-wide standards on student attire are intended to help students concentrate on schoolwork, reduce discipline problems, and improve school order and safety. The Board recognizes that students have a right to express themselves through dress and personal appearance; however, students must not wear apparel that is deemed disruptive or potentially disruptive to the classroom environment or the maintenance of a safe and orderly school.

Any student deemed in violation of the student dress code must be required to change into appropriate clothing or make arrangements to have appropriate clothing brought to school immediately. In this case, there will be no further penalty.

Unacceptable Items

The following items are not acceptable in school buildings, on school grounds, or at school activities:

1. Any manner of grooming or apparel, including clothing, jewelry, emblems, and/or badges which by virtue of color, arrangement, trademark, or other attribute is associated with, or denotes membership in or affiliation with, any gang, is not allowed;

2. Sunglasses or dark glasses, absent a verified medical condition, worn inside the classroom;

3. Inappropriately sheer, tight, or low-cut clothing (e.g., midriffs, halter tops, backless clothing, tube tops, garments made of fishnet, mesh, or similar material, muscle tops, etc.) that bare or expose traditionally private parts of the body including, but not limited to, the stomach, buttocks, back and chest;

4. Any inappropriate or disruptive clothing item or accessory that causes or may cause a substantial disruption to or material interference with school safety, personal safety, and/or the learning environment may result in discretionary intervention by school administrators;

5. Any clothing, paraphernalia, grooming, jewelry, hair coloring, accessories, tattoos, apparel, head coverings, or body adornments that are or contain any advertisement, symbols, words, slogans, patches, or pictures that; a. Refer to drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons; b. Are of a sexual nature; c. Are obscene, profane, vulgar, lewd, or legally libelous; d. Threaten the safety or welfare of any person; e. Promote any activity prohibited by the student code of conduct;

6. Tattoos displaying any of these must be covered at all times;

7. Soled shoes or sandals must be worn at all times; or,

8. No exposed undergarments.

If students violate the dress code policy, BMS has a supply of clean, appropriate clothing for students to change into or with which to cover up, insuring minimal loss of classroom learning time. Historically, the most violated aspects of this updated district dress code are related to #3 above, particularly midriff-baring tops.