Oct 15 Newsletter

We are loving the cold weather!

Be sure to check the LOST AND FOUND during Parent Teacher Conferences on 10/21/26 or 10/22/26 for any clothing items you may be missing that you recognize here at school! Remember, the suggested schedule below is suggested to minimize time spent waiting, but if you need to come at different time, please do!

Thank you for your continued partnership and support in making Barone Middle School a great place to learn and grow.

Best regards,

Dr. Debbie Atwell ("Doc")

Principal & Athletic Director, Barone Middle School

"Excellence in All We Do"

Athletes and coaches will be prioritized, so they can get to practice. Please see attached consent form/VIS statement. If you have any questions please contact Nurse Dolan.

We are pleased to share that our school counselor, Ms. Kirkpatrick, is partnering with HopeWest Counselor Ashley Collins to offer small group counseling sessions for students experiencing grief, loss, or major life changes.

Student interest surveys were distributed, and parent permission slips have been sent home for any students who expressed an interest in participating. These groups provide a safe, supportive space for students to navigate challenging times together.

If you would like more information or have questions about these small group sessions, please feel free to reach out to Ms. Kirkpatrick or Ashley Collins at 309-706-1035

BMS 7th and 8th graders will have the opportunity to attend the Career Pathway Summit as part of their Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) studies. Students will eat lunch at a slightly earlier time at school, depart from BMS at 11:45, and return before the end of the school day. Parent permission slips will be sent home with students and be due by 10/15/26. If you have any questions please contact the BMS office.

Student Council is hosting a Spooky Fall Dance on October 29 from 6:30-6:00.

Because dances are structured as incentive and reward activities, attendance is a privilege earned through consistent commitment to our school’s academic and behavioral standards.

1. Eligibility Criteria

To attend any school-sponsored dance or evening social event, students must meet the following criteria during the designated tracking period, the grading period leading up to the event:

• Enrollment: Attendance is strictly limited to currently enrolled students of our middle school. Guests, older siblings, high school students, or students from other districts are not permitted to attend.

• Academic Standing: Students must be meeting academic eligibility in all current classes.

• Attendance: Students must demonstrate good attendance. This means fewer than 12 excused/unexcused absences, and fewer than 7 total tardies during the tracking period. Students must also be present at school on the day of the event to attend.

• Behavior & Discipline: Students must have minimal discipline referrals. Any student who has received an In-School Suspension (ISS), Out-of-School Suspension (OSS), or more than 2 after school detentions or discipline referrals during the tracking period may lose the privilege of attending.

Dance Guidance:

• Once a student is admitted to a dance, the student is required to stay in the building. No re-admittance. No students will be admitted beyond 30 minutes after the start time (for example, if a dance begins at 6:30PM, students must arrive by 7:00PM).
• Students leaving a dance early should be picked up at the door by parents.
• Regular school dances are only open to eligible students enrolled at Barone Middle School.
• Students must be attired in event appropriate dress. Dress Code applies. For the Spooky Fall Dance, costumes are encouraged with this guidance: Meet school dress code, no masks or face paint, no scary or gory costumes, no props that resemble weapons, and must be able to move without obstruction.

Math Counts practice sessions begin on Thursday mornings at 7:15 in November in Ms. Stevens classroom. Students in grades 6-8 who want to earn a spot on the BMS Math Counts Team are invited to attend these early morning practice sessions with Math Counts Coaches Tucker Chinn and Said Rodriquez. Students will compete in the local competition mid January, and the top 14 qualifiers will go on to compete in the regional competition in Grand Junction in February, with hopes to advance to the state competition. Parent communication for Math Counts will be in the Remin101 app.

Practice Session Dates: Nov 5, Nov 12, Nov 19, Dec 3, Dec 10, Dec 17, Jan 7, Jan 14, Jan 21, Jan 28, Feb 4. Regional Competition for the local qualifying team is set for February 7 in Grand Junction.

If you have any questions about Math Counts, check out these resources.

• Please remember that the bus lane is strictly reserved for school buses—no personal vehicles are permitted in this area from 7:30-8:00 AM or 3:30-4:00 PM
• When dropping off or picking up your child, please utilize the designated loading zone, and remind your student to always use the marked crosswalks rather than weaving through moving vehicles.
• Finally, to keep traffic moving efficiently and prevent gridlock, please follow the arrows and exit the parking lot in one direction only

We need officials for middle school HOME games at Meeker. Pay is $70 per game, and home dates for boys basketball are 10/17 and 11/21. Contact Doc at BMSAthletics@meeker.k12.co.us if you are interested.

Updates to be noted

Oct 21-22 Parent Teacher Conferences

Oct 27 BMS Flu Clinic 4:00-5:30

Oct 29 Spooky Fall Dance hosted by Student Council 6:30-8:00

Nov 11 Veteran's Day Luncheon & Assembly

Nov 25-26 Thanksgiving Break

Dec 17 Last Day of Fall Semester

March 17-18 Parent Teacher Conferences

March 22-25 Spring Break

April 28 GT Showcase

May 27 Last Day of Spring Semester