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,

Welcome back! I hope your fall break was restful and rejuvenating. It’s been wonderful to see our students and staff back in the building, and I’m proud of the energy and dedication that has filled our halls during this busy but incredibly productive week.

Next week’s early release provides a meaningful opportunity for us to connect with you, our families, and share updates on your child’s progress. These conversations are vital in building strong partnerships that support student success. It’s also a great time for us to pause and reflect on academic performance and ensure that every student is on track.

At BMS, we believe it’s never too early to review grades and begin implementing the supports students need to thrive—whether through academic interventions, enrichment opportunities, or simply a check-in. Every effort makes a difference.

Thank you for your continued support. We’re grateful for the opportunity to work alongside you in helping our students reach their full potential.

Wishing you a relaxing and enjoyable weekend!

With Patriot Pride,

Felecia C. Jones
Principal

Monday, October 20- Friday, October 24

• Red Ribbon Week

Wednesday, October 22

• Meet Silva at the Library
• 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!

Kudos to Ms. Rollocks for being selected as one of Gwinnett's Top 25 Semifinalist for Teacher of the Year.

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📚 Join Ms. Silva at the Gwinnett Public Library to discover amazing resources for your whole family!

🗓 Wednesday, October 22 at 10:30 AM
📍 Lilburn Branch 4817 Church St NW, Lilburn, GA 30047

(If you do not know how to get there, meet Ms. Silva at Berkmar Middle School and follow her there)

We visit this location once a month, if you couldn’t make it last time, please come! If you already went last month but want a refresher, then please stop by!

You’ll learn about:

• How to get/renew a library card
• Books and audiobooks for all ages
• Homework help, language-learning tools, and online databases
• Free programs, events, and more

It’s a great experience—see you there!

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! 👻✨

Grayson Tech is host an openhouse: college and career fair on Tuesday, October 21starting at 5:30pm. Meet Grayson Tech representatives and learn about the 13 career and technical pathways offered for rising juniors and seniors.

Access program descriptions using the link below.

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. Robinson, Ms. Rani, Ms. Carpenter, Ms. Taylor, and Ms. Cuttito's classes put on a show to remember as they honored Hispanic Heritage Month. Our youth scholars used song, dance, spoken word, and instrumentation as tools to educate us all.

• 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! 💙❤️🤍

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.

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

Our BMS Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration was a true night to remember. From cultural dress, music, dance, and displays, this year's celenbration was an epic experience.

BMS hosted our sixth annual Dia de La Raza Futbol tournament this past Saturday. Congratulations to Brazil for winning the tournament. It was a fantastic final between Brazil and Portugal, with Brazil winning in a penalty shootout.

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

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