BGMS Bulletin
AUGUST 3, 2025
September Family Newsletter
A message from your admin team
The school year is off to a great start! Fall sports, clubs, music and academics are all swinging into full gear, and as our students and staff continue getting to know each other, there is a lot to celebrate at BGMS!
We have appreciated the feedback from families about communication. It sounds like the concise, bulleted format for the weekly updates and reminders works well for helping you keep track of the busy lives of your students. The monthly newsletters will be a little bit longer, but we hope to keep information organized and easy to access. When you scroll to the bottom of the page, you will see lots of exciting opportunities in the Events section of this newsletter!
We still need some families to download Parent Square. Teachers are sending home reminders, and it is a very good option for the weekly updates and reminders. If you are having trouble downloading the app, please feel free to come to BGMS and we will be happy to assist you. The better we communicate with families, the more your students thrive.
Partnering with Buffalo Gap families is an honor and privilege. We appreciate every opportunity to get to know you and your students better. Our shared passion for the amazing BGMS students is a powerful force. When families and schools work together, kids benefit. We appreciate YOU!
BISON STRONG!
Our School Fundraiser
We are happy to report that as of this morning, we have attained a little over 50% of our Fall Fundraiser Goal. WE ARE VERY EXCITED AND WITH 4 DAYS TO GO before the fundraiser ends, we are optimistic that we will continue to make great progress and reach it!
We really appreciate those of you that have already scanned the QR Code to join our fundraiser and those of you that have taken 10 MINUTES of their day to complete the 3 NECESSARY KEY TASKS from inside the App. Those tasks are:
1. Uploading a Profile Pic
2. Selecting 10 or more Adult Contacts (with 25 being the Goal!)
3. Texting all of them (by tapping on all of the Green Boxes and making them all disappear).
Below is the QR Code that you’ll need to get started if you have not already joined and participated.
For those that have already participated, you can also go back into the App to add ADDITIONAL ADULT CONTACTS and to share your fundraiser in Social Media.
All of the information is detailed in the flier that was handed out to all of our students last week.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Testing 9/2 - 9/5/25
- Tuesday, 9/2 - MAP Testing for Ms. Larimer's 8th grade English and all 6th grade Science
- Wednesday, 9/3 - Math 6 Quiz
- Thursday, 9/4 - Science 7 Unit 1 Test
- Friday, 9/5 - English 7 Quiz and Math 8 Test
Technology Fees
If you have not already done so, please remember to pay your student's $35 technology fee. Acceptable use, YouTube and Chromebook agreements are all being signed as part of the registration process on Parent Portal this year. Paper forms will not be sent home on Wednesday, so please sign these agreements on Parent Portal if you have not already done so.
VALLSS Testing: Grades 4-8 – Fall 2025
Grade 4 through Grade 8 students in Virginia who received either a Fail/Basic or Fail/Below Basic on the Reading SOL in the Spring of 2025, or passed the Reading SOL with a read-aloud or audio accommodation, were required to participate in VALLSS: Grades 4-8 this fall. Additionally, other students in the division, such as students who were new to our school, participated in VALLSS to provide better information on their reading skills to guide further instruction. After Labor Day, students who were screened with VALLSS will bring home a letter explaining more about Student Reading Plans and their VALLSS student summary sheet.
STOPit App
As the year begins, we want to remind you that STOPit is still here to support your student’s safety and well-being. The app provides a safe, anonymous way for students to report concerns, get help, or find resources—anytime, anywhere.
With STOPit, students can:
- Submit a Tip — Share something serious without giving their name
- Crisis Text Line — Connect 24/7 with a trained mental health counselor
- Resources — Access help for needs like food, shelter, bullying, or anxiety
Your encouragement can make a difference—please take a moment to remind your student how to access STOPit:
- Open the app or download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play
- Search for our school in the list or enter the school code
- Accept the terms—and they’re ready to go!
Thank you for helping us keep our school community safe and supported.
ACPS School Communications Between Home and School - 2025-2026
PARENT SQUARE COMMUNICATION
Getting Started with ParentSquare for Parents and Guardians
Welcome to ParentSquare! This will be our parent communication platform in ACPS for the 2025-26 school year.
This guide linked below will help you activate your account, find helpful resources,
and download the free ParentSquare app so you can start receiving updates from your school.
Activate your ParentSquare account
Your school will send you an invitation using your email address or phone number on file.
1. Open the invitation from ParentSquare in your email or text messages.
2. Click "Activate your account" or tap the link to go to the account registration page.
3. Enter your email or phone number, then click Get Started.
(Optional: You can also sign in with Google or Microsoft.)
4. Check your contact information. If it looks correct, click Confirm. You’ll receive a code by text or email.
5. Enter the verification code when asked.
6. You’ll see your children’s names. Click Confirm next to each child who should be connected to your account. If a child is listed by mistake, click Not my child.
7. If everything looks correct, click Yes, this is me.
Now you’re ready to start using ParentSquare!
Need help with your account? Contact your school if:
● A name is spelled wrong
● Your email address or phone number is incorrect
● A child is missing from your account
Access helpful resources:
● When you’re logged in, you can access resources to help you with using ParentSquare.
● On a computer, click the question mark (?) in the top menu.
In the app, tap the Help icon in the app. You’ll see these options:
● Contact School - Send a question to your school or find contact details.
● Help Articles - Search for answers or step-by-step guides.
BGMS PARENT ORGANIZATION
BISON COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Calling all parents! The Bison Community Council is our new parent organization and they need your participation. We would especially love to have parent volunteers to help with our Fun Afternoon on September 19th!
The mission of the Bison Community Council is to:
● Support the teachers, staff, and students of Buffalo Gap Middle School.
● Encourage family and community involvement in the life of the school.
● Promote a culture of volunteerism and engagement within the school.
● Strengthen relationships between the school, families, and the greater Buffalo Gap
community.
Please consider ways you can help support our school this year. Many hands make light work!
UPCOMING EVENTS
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Park behind BGMS and meet at the BGHS track for the start. No tents are allowed on the football field.
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Turn at the Best Buy Industrial center and go 3/4 of a mile.
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VOLLEYBALL, CHEER AND CROSS COUNTRY
Basketball, Volleyball and Cross Country
A message from Mrs. Sanger, our athletic director
Basketball
Open gym dates are coming soon! If you are interested in participating in the BMMS basketball program, get your VHSL physical and watch for open gym dates very soon!
Volleyball
The first full week of volleyball is complete! Our BGMS team fell to Riverheads Middle, but came roaring back and took all three games against Shelburne. Go Bison go!
Join us this Wednesday, September 3rd, as BGMS travels to Kate Collins Middle School. The gate opens at 5:00, and the game starts at 5:30. Admission is $5 for all at away games. Let’s go Gap!
Upcoming volleyball games:
Monday, September 8, is away at Stewart Middle
Wednesday, September 10, is away at Wilson Middle
Cross Country
Tuesday, September 2nd, is the first XC race of the season! The run is sponsored by Kate Collins Middle School at Ridgeview Park (address: RIDGEVIEW PARK, 700 S MAGNOLIA AVE, WAYNESBORO, VA. 22980). The girls will run at 5:30, and the boys after all the girls have finished.
There is no admission fee to come out and cheer on our Bison runners. Look for our BGMS tent near the finish line after the race to sign your runner. Go Bison!
BGMS will host a race on Tuesday, September 9th (see below for more information).
MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL
See the Upcoming Events section of this newsletter for information about games. Go Bison!
THANK YOU TO THE BURRIS FAMILY!
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Cafeteria Information
Breakfast and Lunch are offered free again this year for ALL students. A la carte items can be purchased during your student's lunch period. Students may either pay in cash or by having money on their account.
Safety
Students and visitors will enter the building and move through our weapons detectors daily. Just as last year, note that zippered binders are not permitted due to weapons detector procedures. Regular notebooks/binders and zippered pencil pouches are acceptable; however, some items must be removed from the backpack and reviewed by our staff at the detector stations. Items such as Chromebooks, umbrellas, glasses cases, large scissors, and certain other metal items must be removed before students are able to pass through the detectors.
Chromebook Charging
Students are asked to charge their Chromebooks each evening so they are ready for use each day.
Cell Phones/Smart Watches
Cell phones and smart watches can be a huge distraction in the educational setting. Since our students have Chromebooks, they have all the technology they need for the academic setting. Phones and smart watches must be turned off and stored in backpacks, and students are not allowed to use these during the day at school. If you need to contact your child for an emergency, please call the front office. Students may also come to the office to call home if needed.
RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
BGMS FAN GEAR!!
Looking for some BGMS Gear? CLICK ON THE PHOTO ABOVE! We've got you covered! Shenandoah Awards and Apparel has created a merch store with several designs for purchase. Some designs have our HERD acronym and others contain the logo or another BGMS design. All orders can be placed online, but they will need to be picked up at Shenandoah Awards and Apparel, 220 Frontier Drive, Staunton, VA 24401. Buyers will receive an email when orders are ready. More designs and products will be added. Join the HERD and get yours today! Click the picture above to be linked to the store.