The Burgaw Beacon

Good afternoon, BMS families,

Burgaw Middle School is off to a strong start as we enter our third week of the school year! Students are becoming more confident in their daily routines, strengthening relationships with classmates and staff, and continuing to engage in meaningful learning across all content areas.

Our teachers remain focused on creating supportive, structured classrooms where students are challenged, encouraged, and given opportunities to think, collaborate, and grow. We are proud of the positive energy across campus and appreciate our students and families for helping make BMS a welcoming place to learn each day. Strong routines, supportive relationships, and engaging learning experiences help build the foundation for a successful school year.

Important Upcoming Dates:

• 9/7: Labor Day (No School)
• 9/8-9/11: Math iReady BOY Continues
• 9/8-9/11: Reading iReady BOY Continues
• 9/8: Softball Game @ TMS (4:30pm.)
• 9/9: Football Game @ BMS (4:30pm.)
• 9/9: CIS Parent Orientation 9am-12pm.
• 9/10: Softball Game @ CFMS (4:30pm.)
• 9/16: CIS Parent Orientation 3-6pm.

What a way to kick off the season! Our Patriot Softball Team is off to a 2-0 start after an entertaining 6-3 win over Cape Fear and a dominant 11-0 victory over Surf City.

Meanwhile, our Patriot Football Team opened on the road at Topsail and came home with a 19-6 win.

We are very proud of our student-athletes and the hard work they’ve put in during practice and preparation. Let’s keep the momentum going and continue to support our teams as the season progresses!

We want to make you aware of a concerning social media trend that has been circulating nationally among middle-school students. The trend involves images or videos of the Cat in the Hat paired with potentially threatening language.

While we are sharing this information simply to keep families informed, we encourage parents and caregivers to monitor their child’s social media activity and to talk with them about responsible online behavior. Please remind your child not to create, share, repost, or engage with content that includes threats, even if it is intended as a joke or prank.

If your child sees a post that threatens a specific person or school, please encourage them to report it immediately to a trusted adult and avoid sharing or reposting it.

Thank you for your continued partnership in helping us keep our school community safe.

For the safety of all students, please do not drop off students before 7:10 a.m. Staff supervision begins at 7:10 a.m., and students should remain in vehicles until Mr. Mortensen or another staff member is present in the car line to begin unloading.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, orderly, and welcoming arrival process for all Burgaw Middle School students.

6th Grade Newsletter

7th Grade Newsletter

8th Grade Newsletter

Electives Newsletter

• Families, we need your help ensuring students bring their Chromebooks to school each day. Also, we ask that non-essential electronics (Airpods and Beats headphones) be left at home. If your child has a lost or damaged Chromebook fee, please pay that fee as soon as possible.
• Battle of the Books information will be released in the next coming weeks. If students are interested, they can stop by the library to check out this year's books!

Please CLICK HERE for the August/September lunch menu.

Please have students at their bus stop 10 minutes early. Parents and students should also expect minor bus delays during the first week of school as Transportation works to update and adjust bus routes. Thank you for your flexibility with this!

Next Wednesday is Being Present Matters Day with Communities In Schools!

Next Wednesday, September 9th, we will be celebrating Being Present Matters Day during all three lunches in the cafeteria!

Mr. Washington and Ms. M will be facilitating an activity where students can write about why being present and coming to school matters to them. Students who participate will also receive a Being Present Matters bracelet.

We’re excited to encourage our students to think about the importance of showing up, staying engaged, and being present at school.

Spots are filling up fast! Students interested in joining the 21st Century After School Program must ask a BMS staff member for a recommendation.

Contact Ms. Marinan at Burgaw Middle School today to learn more and secure a spot!

Our BMS PTO is always looking for families who are interested in supporting our school, students, and staff. Our BMS PTO is seeking volunteers to assist with concessions at home athletic events, including Senior Night at Pender High School on October 7.

If you would like to get involved or learn more, please contact the PTO at bmspto@gmail.com. You can also follow the Burgaw Middle School PTO on Facebook for updates and upcoming opportunities.

We look forward to seeing you and working together to support our Red Devil community!

CFCC invites BMS seventh- and eighth-grade students and families to learn about tuition-free dual enrollment opportunities, including the College Accelerated Program, Pender Early College High School, and Career and College Promise. Information sessions will be held from 5:30–6:30 p.m. at Topsail High School on September 1, Heide Trask High School on September 3, and Pender High School on September 9.

Please click the following links for more details:

English Version

Spanish Version

As we prepare for a successful school year, we encourage all students and families to carefully review both the Burgaw Middle School Parent/Student Handbook and the Pender County Schools Parent/Student Handbook.

These handbooks contain important information about school and district procedures, expectations, attendance, student conduct, communication, transportation, safety, and other policies. Reviewing them together will help ensure that students and families are informed, prepared, and ready for a positive year at BMS.

Important Policies:

Please review the following policies with your child/children:

• Policy Code 4318 – Use of Personal Electronic Devices: This policy outlines the acceptable use of personal electronic devices and consequences for inappropriate use on school campuses. Review Policy Code 4318
• Policy Code 4316 – Student Dress Code: Please review the dress code expectations with your child before the school year begins. Review Policy Code 4316

Thank you for partnering with us to support a safe, respectful, and successful learning environment for every Red Devil!

2026-27 Established Student Beginning of Year Information Update Application is ready to go! This Beginning of Year Information Update is a requirement so your student will be approved for a Chromebook and more.

If you have your Infinite Campus Parent Portal Log In already set up, please log in and there should be a pop up to guide you through. If you need any assistance please let me know. You can use the App or the web link: Infinite Campus Parent Portal

If you do not have an Infinite Campus Parent Portal Account yet please contact our office and I will help you get it set up to save you time. Parent Portal Access Needed Click Here

School Calendar:

Here is a copy of our 26-27 Calendar and links to items that might help you through the school year!

• Hours: Our regular school days begin at 7:30am each day. We expect students to be in their seats on time daily. If they are not in class on time they will need to be brought into the main office to be checked in at the tardy kiosk at the front desk. Our day ends at 2:45pm.
• https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/page/school-bell-schedule

We are so excited that our students receive free breakfast and lunch here at Burgaw Middle School. Please see the link below to access menus and more information.

• https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/page/dining
  

• Bus Riders (Here Comes the Bus App):
  
• Step 1: Pender County Schools offers the Here Comes the Bus app for tracking your child's bus location. To get started, you'll need our district code: 29081. This five-digit code is essential for registration, so keep it handy.
• Step 2: Once you have the district code, click here to begin your registration. You can complete this process using a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
• Step 3: If you're using a smartphone or tablet, download the Here Comes the Bus app from the Google Play Store or App Store. The app provides added convenience with features like push notifications when the bus is near and, if available in our district, alerts when your child scans in using Student Ridership.
• Car Riders: Students may be dropped off each morning starting at 7:10 am in the parking lot by the gym & cafeteria.
• Walkers: Please make sure that you have completed the Walker Permission form for your student.

This is your go to spot for attendance, grades, updates, and more!

• Keep us up to date on any phone number and email address changes so you don't miss anything.
• Are sick notes getting lost in the bookbag? Use the Infinite Campus Parent Portal App to keep absence excuse notes from disappearing! Here's how!
• Here are some more tips and tricks about the Infinite Campus Parent Portal!

Steps to Activate your Account:

• Step 1: Get your student’s activation code here: Lookup Activation Code
• Step 2: Use your code to create your account here: Infinite Campus Login

We have got you covered!

• All student supplies (paper, pencils, binders, glue and more) have been purchased!
• Bring your own book bag and be ready to learn!