BMS Patriot Press Newsletter

Use the toolbar at the top of the page to translate this newsletter into your language and to choose accessibility options.

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!

Happy Friday, Patriot Families!

I hope everyone had a fantastic week! It has been wonderful to see our students back and refreshed after Fall Break.

As a reminder, next week includes early release days. This is a valuable time dedicated to connecting with you about your student's academic growth and overall progress.

Our teachers are currently reaching out to schedule conference times with families of students who need one. If you ever have specific questions or wish to request a meeting, please feel free to reach out directly to your child's teachers.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in making BMS such a great place to learn!

Warm Regards,

Felecia C. Jones

Principal

Mark your calendar!

October

• October is National Principals Month

October 26 - October 30

• Tuesday, October 27
• PSAT Day (8th Grade)
• Wednesday, October 28
• Early Release for parent-teacher conferences
• Basketball: BMS vs. Richards @ (Discovery HS)
• Book Fair open late for conferences, 1:30-7:00 p.m.
• Thursday, October 29
• Early Release for parent-teacher conferences
• BHS Orchestra Spooktacular

• Friday, October 30
• Atlanta Food Bank & BMS Food Distribution
• Book Fair closes at 10:30 a.m.

November

• November is National Native American Heritage Month

November 2 - November 6

• Sunday, November 1 - Standard Time begins (move clocks back one hour) / Fall Back
• Tuesday, November 3
• Election Day
• Digital Learning Day #2: All students learn at home
• Thursday, November 5 - Fall Festival during Connections ($3)

• Thursday, November 12 - Band Concert

November 16 - November 20

• Tuesday, November 17- ML Family ACCESS Workshop (by invitation only)

• Thursday, November 19 - National Parent Involvement Day

• Monday, November 23 - Friday, November 27 - Thanksgiving Break (No School)

The Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (GSMST) is now accepting registration applications for the 2027–2028 freshman class. GSMST focuses on advanced studies in engineering, biosciences, and emerging technologies.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for enrollment in the 9th grade class, students must:

• Be an 8th-grade student residing in the Gwinnett County school district attendance zone.

• Be successfully promoted to 9th grade by the end of the spring semester of 2027.

• Successfully complete an 8th-grade math curriculum that is a full unit of Carnegie-eligible Enhanced Algebra: Concepts & Connections or higher.

• Additional eligibility requirements can be found on the GSMST website.

Important Dates and Deadlines

• Registration Window: November 2, 2026 – January 15, 2027

• Informational Meetings: Held at 7:00 PM at GSMST:

  • November 12, 2026: Clusters for Archer, Brookwood, Dacula, Grayson, Mill Creek, Mountain View, Parkview, Shiloh, and South Gwinnett.

  • December 8, 2026: Clusters for Berkmar, Central Gwinnett, Collins Hill, Discovery, Duluth, Lanier, Meadowcreek, Norcross, North Gwinnett, Peachtree Ridge, and Seckinger.

  • January 7, 2027: Make-up meeting date.

How to Apply

Visit the GSMST Admissions Page to complete the application: https://gsmst.gcpsk12.org/

Families, help us reach our school reading goals this year by helping your student to log their reading in the Beanstack app! See Ms. Sprague in the School Library if you have any questions.

Students: How to Access Beanstack

1. Log in to your GCPS Portal.

2. Click your Launchpad tab at the top of your screen.

3. Click on the Library Resources folder.

4. Click on the Beanstack app icon.

How It Works When Beanstack Is Open

• Username: Student ID
• Password: 4-digit birthday (Example: January 12 is written as 0112)

Step 2: Log Your Reading

• Log your books or audiobooks to earn virtual badges.
• Make sure to log all of your reading!

Step 3: Reach Our Goal

• Help us reach the Berkmar Middle School Community Reading Goal!

A heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our families who joined us for Literacy Night: Trunk or Treat!

We loved seeing so many families come together to celebrate literacy, have fun, and learn practical reading strategies that can be used at home to support student success.

We extend our sincere appreciation to our community partners, Plaza Las Americas, Corners Outreach, Latino Community Fund, State Farm, and Care 4 All Children, for participating and sharing valuable resources with our families.

A special shout-out goes to our amazing Grade Level Language Arts and Social Studies Teams, DHH, ASD II, and the BMS Family Center for providing engaging literacy activities and useful strategies that help strengthen the home-school connection and support student learning.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this event meaningful, educational, and fun for our Berkmar community. Together, we are building strong readers and lifelong learners! ❤️💙

Berkmar Middle School is incredibly grateful for our dedicated bus drivers who safely transport our students each day with care, patience, and a smile. Rain or shine, they are often the first and last school staff members our students see each day, helping create a positive start and finish to every school day.

Thank you for your commitment, kindness, and the important role you play in supporting our BMS families. We appreciate all that you do to keep our students safe and connected to school.

Please join us in celebrating and thanking our amazing bus drivers for the difference they make in the lives of our Patriots every day!

Berkmar Middle School is committed to supporting our families and community! Join us for our upcoming Food Distribution on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 10:30 AM, while supplies last.

We are also seeking volunteers to help make this event a success and serve our Berkmar community.

Together, we can make a difference by sharing kindness, support, and hope with those who need it most.

📍 Berkmar Middle School

📅 Friday, October 30, 2026

⏰ 10:30 AM (while supplies last)

Please share with anyone you feel could benefit from this resource. Together, we can make a difference in our community.

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Ms. Pilar Silva at 770-638-2317 or pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org.

Berkmar Middle School is excited to celebrate Red Ribbon Week from October 26–30! This year's theme, "Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free!", encourages our students to make healthy choices, be positive role models, and create a brighter future for themselves and others.

✨ Be Bold. Be Drug Free. Be the Difference. ✨

👕 Daily Dress-Up Days

🦸 Monday, October 26 – Hero Headquarters Wear your BMS spirit shirt or school colors. Heroes start at home! Show your school pride and commitment to making healthy choices.

🤝 Tuesday, October 27 – Heroes Team Up Dress alike with a friend, grade level, or team. Heroes are stronger together! Surround yourself with positive influences.

🎓 Wednesday, October 28 – Be a Future Hero Represent your future career goal or dress for success. A clear mind and healthy body will help you achieve your goals. Looking good can help you feel good!

💥 Thursday, October 29 – Superhero Day Wear your favorite superhero shirt or create your own superhero look. Real heroes stay drug-free!

❤️ Friday, October 30 – Red Out for Heroes Wear red from head to toe. Join the fight against drugs and show your commitment to healthy choices.

Let's work together to inspire our Patriots to make positive decisions, support one another, and build a healthy, drug-free future. We can't wait to see everyone's school spirit throughout the week!

The annual Fall Festival is coming up Thursday, November 5th. This will be an opportunity for students to have fun with their friends from different classes during Connections. The festival will include soccer, badminton, football, volleyball, walk and talk, a chill station, snacks for sale, and much more. The cost to attend is $3.00 and students will need to pay their A-Day Connection teacher by Monday, November 2nd in order to attend.

• 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

770-638-2317

pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org

Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

BMS families, our parent-teacher conferences will take place on Wednesday, October 28, 2026! This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with your child’s teachers, discuss academic progress, celebrate successes, and set goals for continued growth.

📩 Please contact your student’s homeroom teacher to schedule a conference appointment.

⏰ Early Release Days: Wednesday, October 28 & Thursday, October 29

Remember, when families and teachers work together, our students succeed!

💙❤️ We Are BMS!💙❤️

Our Berkmar Middle School Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Teams brought home TWO BIG WINS against Radloff Middle School! 🏆🏀

🏀 GIRLS: BERKMAR 18 – RADLOFF 16 🔥

🏀 BOYS: BERKMAR 36 – RADLOFF 2 🔥

And you KNOW we couldn’t let these victories go without a CELEBRATION!!! 🎊🥳

Our BMS hallways came ALIVE with Patriot pride as we celebrated our amazing athletes with a VICTORY PARADE! 🎉👏 Students and staff cheered them on, showing the school spirit and excitement that make Berkmar such a special place!

A HUGE congratulations to our players and coaches! We are so proud of you! ❤️🤍💙

We’re keeping this energy, excitement, and PATRIOT PRIDE going ALL SEASON LONG!!! 🏀🏆

📣 LET’S GO BERKMAR!!! GOOOOOO PATRIOTS!!!

Below you will see the game schedule! Hope to see you at a game!

• Wednesday, October 21, Home at Berkmar HS; NOTE: Game time is 6:15 PM
• Saturday, October 24, Home at Berkmar HS
• Saturday, October 31, Away at Collins Hill HS
• Wednesday, November 4, Home at Berkmar HS
• Saturday, November 7, Away at Duluth HS
• Wednesday, November 11, Home at Berkmar HS
• Saturday, November 14, Away at Peachtree Ridge HS
• Monday, November 16, Away at Discovery HS
• Wednesday, November 18, Away at Brookwood HS
• Wednesday, December 2, Home at Berkmar HS
• Saturday, December 5, Home at Berkmar HS
• Wednesday, December 9, Home at Berkmar HS
• Saturday, December 12, Home at Berkmar HS
• Wednesday, January 6, Away at Norcross HS

Weeknight games begin at 5:30pm except for October 21.

Weekend games begin at 9:00am

This calendar is available to download as a PDF or image in multiple languages and in an accessible version: All Calendars | Action for Happiness

📅Test Day is October 27, 2026

✏️Why do students take PSAT?

PSAT helps students to prepare for taking the SAT, a test that is required for admission to many colleges and universities and merit scholarship opportunities. PSAT also helps schools with making instructional decisions. The test provides students and schools with AP Potential and gives students and families information and resources for College and Career.

❓For more information, visit GCPS Assessments and then scroll down to expand the PSAT 8/9 section.

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:

• Follow us on Instagram

• Follow us on Facebook

Let’s celebrate our students, families, and staff together because at BMS, Patriots Focus Forward, leading the way to Excellence! 💙❤️

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!

💙❤️🤍

#TeamBMS #PatriotPride #WeAreBerkmar #FocusForward

Website: berkmarms.gcpsk12.org
Location: 4355 Lawrenceville Highway, Lilburn, GA, USA
Phone: 770-638-2300