Staff Updates

Dear BCMS,

With the start of each year comes changes which can impart pressure/stress. You all have handled it wonderfully this week and we hope the time afforded for prep was enough though never fully sufficient.

BC students arrive Tuesday and we hope you feel prepared to welcome them into a great year. We value the trust you place in us and the partnership we built over last. Thank you for your dedication and feedback as we move forward. We are determined to ensure this year begins with a fresh, positive start for you and our students.

Below is info in addition to the all-staffers sent by the leadership team this week and possibly even into this weekend. The student/family s’more is linked within as well. I am grateful to be alongside you in this work even within our lovely bell schedule and recent community demands as they bring forth teamwork, thoughtfulness and devotion that is dearly valued

Please enjoy a relaxing holiday weekend as we gear up for a fantastic school year.

With appreciation,

BCMS Admin Team

· September 8th

Student Opening Day

· September 11th

Rosh Hashanah Begins

· September 16th

Open House (6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.)

· September 21st

Yom Kippur (Schools/Offices Closed)

· October 7th

Picture Day (All Schools)

· October 12th-15th

Health Screenings

· November 3rd

Schools Closed

· November 6th

End of First Marking Period

· November 11th

Picture Retake Day / 8th Grade Class Picture

· November 17th

Middle School Evening Conferences (4:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.)

· November 24th

Full Day Conferences (School Closed)

· November 25th

Report Cards Issued

· November 26th-27th

Thanksgiving Holiday (Schools/Offices Closed)

Expectations of lessons to deliver during the special schedule time this first week of the school year have been shared and are embedded in the notes and links page of the special schedule for the fist week (calendar attachment) as shared at the PBIS session. Please make note of the following:

1. Lessons to be delivered during A&A vs. I/E were outlined to ensure every student has a comprehensive experience
2. Suggested sequence of delivery was given as some are more time sensitive for immediate day 1 success (e.g. cafeteria expectations)
3. Digital citizenship lesson impacts device deployment for the school; lesson MUST be delivered BEFORE devices can be deployed. It was communicated to families that the lesson would take place before students were issued devices. The approach is in alignment with statements about establishing students understanding of expectations, safety and our commitment to balanced use going forward under the guidance Policies 141 and 142 and their associated Administrative Regulations. Both policies and ARs are included here for your reference.

To be cohesive then, school-wide, I/E teachers must deliver the digital citizenship lesson on either day 1 or 2 (Tues or Wed). Upon completion, acknowledge doing so via this form - Digital Citizenship Lesson - I/E Teacher Acknowledgement – Fill out form

Following submission, devices will be deployed to upper school by Mrs. Murphy on Thursday (Mrs. Murphy and Mrs. Molloro will distribute laptops during A&A ). Lower school team teachers will receive keys for computer carts that have been placed in your rooms according to A&A class lists. Please see Ms. Davis/Ms. Thomas to pick up and sign for your key on Thursday morning beginning at 7:20. Lists of students whose devices are/not to be collected each day will be provided prior so that we can collectively execute a new way of our school days ending.

*It is recommended to link the digital citizenship video to your Schoology page in the event a student absent for the lesson needs to view it, to which they can be directed rather than re-delivering it on a one-off basis. Lesson is housed in the “Notes and Links” section in the Outlook special schedule for all of next week.

Our laminator is a shared resource and we want to make sure it stays available for everyone who needs it. Unfortunately, the laminator has been unintentionally damaged several times recently, including a more significant issue on Thursday.

When the laminator is out of order it impacts everyone. To help prevent further issues, please stay with the laminator while it is being used and do not leave it unattended.

If you have any questions or are unsure about how to use it, please reach out to Brittnay before getting started. Thank you for helping us take care of our school equipment and ensuring it will remain available for everyone!

The gratitude this week goes to lots of people. There is so much done this week to prepare to receive students on Tuesday.

-Teachers preparing classrooms, professional learning, and re-connecting with colleagues.

-Counselors for schedule corrections and creation for new students just hitting our roll books

-Instructional Aides who are such an important part of our 5th grade orientation and materials prep such as the red folders.

-Secretaries in the office with help from Mx. G and Molluro for preparing for a new school year.

-Custodians moving Amazon boxes, bringing school supplies to classrooms and making sure our school is polished for the first day.

-Coordinators for being the utility players they are each and every day

All of you have our gratitude this week -let's have a great 2026-27! A friend of ours at DAO just texted saying it's going to the best one yet! She can feel it.

Shout out to Noelle for helping admin remember sugar for our Monday breakfast provisions and Grace Kwon for the assist in ensuring our emergency action posters were ready to roll for the first day!

Website: www.lmsd.org

Instagram: @balacynwydms

Location: 510 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA, USA
Phone: 610 645 1480

The BCMS Family Resource site is a quick way for BC parents to view announcements, search the staff directory, get quick access to frequently used websites, and more! You can visit the BCMS Family Resource page by going to the main BC webpage, and selecting "Family Resource Site"