BMS Patriot Press Newsletter
August 31, 2026
Book Appointments with Ms. Silva, Parent Involvement Coordinator
- Do you have access to the ParentVue?
- Do you have a MyPaymentsPlus account?
- Have you applied for Free and/or Reduced Lunch, if applicable?
- 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 Pilar Silva, our Parent Instructional Coordinator, in the BMS Parent Center.
BMS Family Center
Pilar Silva, Family Coordinator
Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Five Reasons to Complete a Free & Reduced Meal Application
Make sure your student’s free or reduced price meal benefits continue without interruption! Some families are currently receiving temporary meal assistance that will expire on September 16. To help avoid any interruption in services, please contact Ms. Silva so she can check the status of your student’s meal account and assist you with completing an application if needed.
Completing a Free & Reduced Meal Application may provide several benefits for your family and our school:
- Free or reduced-price nutritious meals for your student.
- Additional funding for technology and internet access.
- Discounts on fees related to the college application process.
- Reduced fees for SAT, ACT, and AP exams, along with other scholarship opportunities.
- Increased funding to support educational programs and resources.
Need assistance? Contact Ms. Silva:
Email: pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org
Call: 770-638-2319
Visit: BMS Family Center Monday–Friday from 9:30 AM–3:30 PM.
Healthy Students Start with Up-to-Date Immunizations!
Keeping your child’s immunizations up to date is an important part of protecting their health, supporting a safe school environment, and helping prevent the spread of serious illnesses.
If you are unsure whether your student’s immunizations are current, please contact Ms. Maricela Guzman at Maricela.Guzman@gcpsk12.org or call 770-638-2311.
Staying informed and keeping records updated helps ensure your child is ready for a healthy and successful school year.
GCPS Parent Mentors host four-session workshop: Families Engaging in Education
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Parent Mentors are hosting an informative and engaging workshop for parents of students receiving special education services in GCPS schools. This event, “Families Engaging in Education” is a four-session workshop that aims to nurture and empower families, by equipping them to positively support their child’s academic journey. This workshop is highly recommended for families of students at all levels (elementary, middle, and high school).
Topics for the Workshop
- September 1 - The Effective Communication Skills needed to help build collaborative relationships with your child’s school team
- September 30 - The Individual Education Program (IEP) process
- October 20 - The components of the IEP document.
- November 17 - Your role as a member of the IEP Team.
To receive full benefit from this workshop, participants are encouraged to attend ALL four sessions.
Each session is offered in-person in the morning at the GCPS Instructional Support Center in Suwanee, and virtually in the evening.
For full details and to register to attend, visit GCPS Parent Mentors host four-session workshop: Families Engaging in Education | GCPS Full News Article
BMS Celebrations
Ways Families Can Volunteer
Hand out treats
Decorate event space
Assist with setting up / cleaning up
Organize stations
Examples of Events
PBIS Celebrations
Grade Level Award Celebrations
Cultural Events
BMS Athletics
Field Days
End of Year Celebrations
Ways Volunteering Contributes to BMS
When you volunteer to support positive behavior initiatives, student recognition, and schoolwide celebrations, you help make Berkmar Middle School a place where students & families are seen, appreciated, and encouraged to do their best.
Food Distribution
Ways Families Can Volunteer
Unload and organize food
Prepare food boxes/bags
Distribute food
Restock tables
Assist with lines and traffic flow
Help with clean up
Examples of Events
Atlanta Food Bank Distribution
Ways Volunteering Contributes to BMS
By volunteering at the Food Distribution event, you are actively supporting local families in need and cultivating a stronger sense of community within the school.
Family Nights and Workshops
Ways Families Can Volunteer
Help ahead of events by copying, cutting, and distributing flyers
Sharing community contacts or by donating snacks and drinks for staff and families.
Examples of Events
Literacy Night
Multilingual Night
STEAM Night
Math Night
Ways Volunteering Contributes to BMS
Supporting events designed to engage, educate and connect BMS families with school helps foster a warm, positive partnership between home and school.
GCPS encourages families to follow these steps to resolve concerns:
1. Teacher - First, talk to your child’s teacher or a counselor at school for assistance. Most concerns are resolved at the classroom level.
2. Assistant Principal - If the concern is not resolved at the classroom level, please visit with your child’s assistant principal.
3. Principal - If working with the AP does not adequately address the issue, please meet with the school principal.
4. Cluster Superintendent - If the issue persists, please call 678-301-6000, and ask to speak to the cluster superintendent who is assigned to the school your child attends.
5. Chief of Schools - If, after following steps one through four, your concern has not been resolved to your satisfaction, please contact the Chief of Schools for School Improvement and Operations.
Other Resources
If you are experiencing an emergency, dial 9-1-1. The GCPS Hotline for anonymous reporting of potential violence is 770-822-6513. If you have a non-emergency criminal concern, please contact local law enforcement.
Please select one of the files below for a downloadable view of this information:
To see this information in other languages, use the language translation dropdown at the top of this page, or visit the GCPS web page for this topic and choose translation options there: Addressing Concerns at School - Gwinnett County Public Schools
Social Media & Contact Information
Do you 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:
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By following us, you’ll stay up to date, see the great things our students and staff are doing, and remain informed about all things BMS. Thank you for being an engaged and supportive part of our school community; we’re better when we stay connected!
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