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,

Happy Friday!

I hope you had a meaningful and productive Digital Learning Day with your child. These days offer a great opportunity to check in on your student’s academic progress, organization, and overall well-being.

This week, we also hosted our first Local School Council Meeting at Berkmar High School. It was a valuable experience where we learned more about E-SPLOST (Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax). This one-cent sales tax ensures that one-cent of every dollar spent on retail purchases in Gwinnett County funds school renovations, modifications, expansions, and improvements.

You’ll find more information about this initiative in the newsletter below. In addition, we had the opportunity to explore the academic programs and tour the high school campus, helping us better understand the next steps in our students’ educational journey.

As always, we appreciate your continued support and partnership. If you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher, counselor, or administrator.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for believing in the Power of We here at BMS!

With Patriot Pride,

Felecia C. Jones
Principal

Friday, September 19

• Progress Reports emailed to parents

Tuesday, September 23 - Thursday, September 25

• JA Biztown - Grade 6

• Help Day 8:15am
• Tour of Liburn Library 10:30-11:30AM

Thursday, September 25

• Chit - Chat with Jones & Silva at Chick-fil-A (5:00PM-7:00PM)

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

• Scoliosis Screening (Grade 6 and Grade 8)

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

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!

The search for a new superintendent is underway. Your District IV Representaive, Dr. Adrienne Simmons, will be hosting a meeting on Tuesday, September 23 from 6-8pm to elicit your input.

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.

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 Sept. 2 through Sept. 25. The public may review proposed standards online, 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). Click here for a list of the courses with AKS under review. To review the AKS and provide feedback, please click here to begin. Comments will be accepted through Thursday, Sept 25.

• What: Annual AKS Public Review Opportunity

• When: Now through Sept 25

Join Ms. Silva, for our very first Library Tour at the Gwinnett Public Library – Lilburn Branch!

🗓 Wednesday, September 24, 2025

⏰ 10:30–11:30 AM

This is a wonderful opportunity for families to explore all the incredible resources available through our community library.
If you cannot attend this month, don’t worry, there will be a library tour every month, and each one will cover the same resources.

👉 Meeting Point Option: If you’re not sure how to get to the library, meet me at Berkmar Middle School by 10:15 AM and follow me there.

🌍 Language Support: If you don’t speak English, don’t worry, I’ll be there to interpret in Spanish! If you are Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) or speak another language, please let me know in advance so I can coordinate with the library staff to support you.

⚠️ Important: Space is limited to 20 people per tour. Please make sure to sign up in advance on Parent Square to reserve your spot!

I encourage every BMS family to plan ahead and take advantage of this chance to learn more about what our library has to offer.
Let’s explore & learn together!

Come to Chit-Chat at Chick-fil-A with our Principal, Mrs. Jones & Family Coordinator, Ms. Silva during our First Spirit Night This is a perfect chance to have dinner together, connect with other BMS families, and support our school✨

📅 Thursday, September 25, 2025

⏰ 5:00–7:00 PM

📍 Chick-fil-A, 4801 Lawrenceville Hwy NW, Lilburn, GA 30047

Whether you are dinning in, picking up take out or going through the drive thru, don’t forget to mention Berkmar Middle School when you place your order because a portion of the sales during that time goes back to our school! ❤️💙🤍

Tell your friends and families!

We can’t wait to see you there with your Patriot Pride!

Welcome Back BMS Families!

Did you know that middle school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic, career and social/emotional development? School counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set informed career goals and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the world community.

At Berkmar Middle School, we have one counselor per grade level. Joycelyn Harris is our 6th grade counselor and serves as our lead counselor. Lasha King supports 7th grade, and Jennifer Feinberg is our 8th grade counselor. As a team, we support a variety of schoolwide programs such as PBIS, MTSS, attendance and mentoring. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone, email or parent square for help throughout the school year.

This year, we plan to LEAD Through the Power of We.

We are here to Listen, Empower, Advocate and Dream for student success!

Yours In Education,

BMS Counselors

Lasha King

Lasha.King@gcpsk12.org | 770-638-2313

Joycelyn Harris

joycelyn.h.harris@gcpsk12.org | 770-279-6404

Jennifer Feinberg

Jennifer Feinberg@gcpsk12.org | 770-638-2319

After reading a text, Ms. Sheats’ students create character webs to demonstrate their understanding and insights. Principal Jones even joins in on the learning.

• 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.

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.

Starting in September 2025, the Family Advisory Council will meet monthly to advise on academics, safety, budgets, and more. All GCPS parents are invited to attend! Learn more and view meeting dates here: www.gcpsk12.org/FAC

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.

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

Look at our fantastic staff and students showing up to honor Hispanic Heritage Month. BMS represents our culture beautifully.

Our Annual BMS Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Friday, October 3, 2025!
📍 BMS Gym
⏰ Event starts at 5:30 PM

✨ You will not want to miss this memorable night celebrating the diversity of Latin America!
Ms. Silva post a request on ParentSquare with ways your family can get involved:

• Volunteer with decorations

• Share your favorite dish from your heritage country

• Help with clean-up

Use this link to sign up to represent your country with food: Link

📅 Don’t forget to mark your calendars—we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Our students are gearing up to participate in the 6th Annual Día de La Raza Fútbol Tournament!

📌 Event Details

• Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025

• Location: Berkmar Middle School Back Field

• Time: (Time TBD – flyers will provide details in September)

📌 Tournament Information

• Since the tournament takes place during Hispanic Heritage Month, teams will represent a Latin American country to celebrate our Hispanic community.

• Each team must have 5–7 players.

• Cost: $5.00 per player

• Deadline to pay: Friday, September 26, 2025

📌 What can families do now:

• Encourage your student to:

  • Start forming a team with friends.

  • Choose a Latin American country to represent.

  • Start looking for uniforms that represent the colors of the country picked

• Look out for flyers in September with more details!

📌 Contact Information

• Coach Hastings: stephanie.hastings@gcpsk12.org

• Ms. Silva: pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org

Let’s celebrate teamwork, culture, and community at this exciting event! 🎉

#bmsleads

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.

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