BMS Patriot Press

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 (The 3 Rs)

Greetings, Patriot Families,

I hope you had a relaxing and rejuvenating weekend. As we wrap up the month, it’s a perfect time to check in on your student’s progress. Review grades and assignments in ParentVUE and celebrate the growth you see. If there are areas where your student could use extra support, reach out to their classroom teachers. We are here to support you.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for believing in the Power of We here at BMS!

With Patriot Pride,

Felecia C. Jones
Principal

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

• Scoliosis Screening (Grade 6 and Grade 8)

Friday, October 3, 2025

• Hispanic Heritage Celebration 5:30PM

Tuesday, October 7

• District Assessments:1st Academic/2nd Academic

Wednesday, October 8

• District Assessments: 3rd Academic/4th Academic

• Fall Break

Tuesday, October 14-Thursday, October 16

• JA Finance Park- 8th Grade

Please take a moment to review the school year calendar included here. We kindly encourage you to schedule doctor’s appointments and family vacations during student holidays whenever possible, so your child can fully benefit from their learning experience. Thank you for your thoughtful planning and support—it truly makes a difference!

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is reviewing school calendar features for the 2026–27 and 2027–28 school years, and your voice matters. Families, staff, students in grades 6–12, and community members are invited to share feedback on the features that are most important to them.

Give your opinion in the 2026 - 2028 School Calendar Survey.

What to Expect:

• Calendar Survey Dates: Monday, September 8 – Wednesday, October 8

• Families, staff, students in grades 6-12, and community members can share feedback on the calendar features they value most.

• Families and staff received a link via ParentSquare; community members may access the link on the GCPS website.

• All samples meet state and district requirements, including

· 180 school days and 190 staff workdays (per state law)

· Required holidays (per GCPS Policy GBRI)

· 2 early release days per semester for ES/MS; 3 for HS (final exams)

· One week each for Thanksgiving and Spring Break

· Semester 1 ends before Winter Break; Semester 2 ends before Memorial Day

Gwinnett County Public Schools will make the final decision on the school calendar, considering community feedback alongside state laws, district policies, instructional needs, and operational requirements. A recommended calendar will be presented to the Board of Education in November 2025.

Our Parent Instructional Coordinator, Ms. Silva, recently took a group of moms on a tour of the Gwinnett Public Library – Lilburn Branch. Each mom received her own library card and checked out books for both their children and themselves, including books in Spanish! The library offers incredible resources for families. Don’t miss the next tour in October!

Our very first Chick-fil-A Spirit Night was a success! 🎉

Mrs. Jones & Ms. Silva enjoyed spending time with our amazing students, parents, and teachers, it truly felt like one big BMS family 💙❤️🤍

We even got to welcome the newest member of the Berkmar family ✨ Spirit Night is about so much more than a percentage back, it’s about building connections, creating memories, and celebrating our community together!

As the night concluded, Ms. Silva’s name was called from the drive-thru lane on the way out 🚗📣😂 making sure she knew their family came out to support our school!

Stay tuned, Patriots… our next Spirit Night is coming in October! 🍔🥤 You don’t want to miss it!

Did you know that middle school counselors enhance the learning process and promote academic, career and social/emotional development? School counseling programs are essential for students to achieve optimal personal growth, acquire positive social skills and values, set informed career goals and realize full academic potential to become productive, contributing members of the world community.

At Berkmar Middle School, we have one counselor per grade level. Joycelyn Harris is our 6th grade counselor and serves as our lead counselor. Lasha King supports 7th grade, and Jennifer Feinberg is our 8th grade counselor. As a team, we support a variety of schoolwide programs such as PBIS, MTSS, attendance and mentoring. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone, email or parent square for help throughout the school year.

This year, we plan to LEAD Through the Power of We.

We are here to Listen, Empower, Advocate and Dream for student success!

Yours In Education,

BMS Counselors

Lasha King

Lasha.King@gcpsk12.org | 770-638-2313

Joycelyn Harris

joycelyn.h.harris@gcpsk12.org | 770-279-6404

Jennifer Feinberg

Jennifer Feinberg@gcpsk12.org | 770-638-2319

Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (GSMST) is hosting information nights for the class of 2030. See the flyer below for important dates and deadlines.

Dr. Lively's 6th grade chorus students were selected to be part of the District-Wide Honor Chorus in Athens, GA on the UGA campus. Under Dr. Lively’s direction, they worked hard to prepare here at school and at the Honor Chorus rehearsal. They did an amazing job singing their parts at the concert alongside 200 other young singers. We are so very proud of them!

• Do you have access to Parent Square?
• Do you have access to the ParentVue?
• Do you have a MyPaymentsPlus account?
• Have you applied for Free or Reduced Lunch?
• 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 Ms. Pilar Silva, our Parent Instructional Coordinator, in the BMS Family Center

You can also reach her by email: pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org or by phone 770-638-2317.

ParentSquare is a communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with your child’s school and Gwinnett County Public Schools.

ParentSquare provides a safe way for district administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to receive and send information, such as:

Weather-related closings & delays

School and class information

Share pictures and files

See calendar items

Upcoming class activities

If you need help downloading Parent Square to your mobile device, please contact Ms. Pilar Silva at 770-638-2311 or email her pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org

We are pleased to announce that the Free and Reduced Lunch Application for the 2025-2026 school year is now available for BMS families to complete. This application needs to be completed every school year. It is important for students to have a nutritious meal throughout the day to support their learning and overall well-being.

Please use the following link to complete your application:

https://www.nlappscloud.com/District.aspx#loaded

If you need assistance, completing the application, please email pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org or call her at 770-638-2317. Ms. Silva will be available every day from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

Atención Familias de Berkmar: Solicitud de Almuerzo Gratuito o Reducido para el Año Escolar 2025-2026

Nos complace anunciar que la Solicitud de Almuerzo Gratuito o a Precio Reducido para el año escolar 2025-2026 ya está disponible para que las familias Berkmar Middle la completen. Esta aplicación se tiene que completar cada año escolar. Es importante que los estudiantes tengan una comida nutritiva durante el día para apoyar su aprendizaje y su bienestar general.

Utilice el siguiente enlace para completar su solicitud:

https://www.nlappscloud.com/District.aspx#loaded

Si necesita ayuda completando la solicitud mandale un email a pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org o llama al 770-638-2317. Ms. Silva estará disponible todos los días de 9:30 AM a 3:30 PM.

One of the integral parts of creating a harmonious and distraction-free learning space is our "Power Down" electronic device (cell phones, airpods, headphones, etc.) policy. We understand the importance of technology and staying connected in our modern world. However, during school hours, the focus should be on learning, collaborating, and being present.

Should there be an emergency or an urgent concern to communicate with your child, please reach out to the school's main office. We will ensure your child receives the message promptly.

Gwinnett County is partnering with Vision To Learn to provide free eye exams and prescription glasses for children in our community between September and December at various Parks and Community Resource Centers.

Booking Link: https://bit.ly/Gwinnett_VTLDays

Ages: Children 5-18 (Grades PreK-12)
Appointments: are required, see above booking link

Length of Exam: 20-30 minutes

Our Annual BMS Hispanic Heritage Celebration on Friday, October 3, 2025!
📍 BMS Gym
⏰ Event starts at 5:30 PM

Bring the whole FAMILIA to celebrate culture, music, and community fun! 💃🏽🎶🌮

Important Information:

🚌 Students must go home on the bus and return with a family member.
🚫 Minors cannot attend without an adult present.
Questions? Contact Ms. Silva: 770-638-2317 | pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org
✨ You will not want to miss this memorable night celebrating the diversity of Latin America!

📅 Don’t forget to mark your calendars Friday, October 3!

Our students are gearing up to participate in the 6th Annual Día de La Raza Fútbol Tournament!

📌 Event Details

• Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025

• Location: Berkmar Middle School Back Field

• Time: (Time TBD – flyers will provide details in September)

📌 Tournament Information

• Since the tournament takes place during Hispanic Heritage Month, teams will represent a Latin American country to celebrate our Hispanic community.

• Each team must have 5–7 players.

• Cost: $5.00 per player

• Deadline to pay: Friday, September 26, 2025

📌 What can families do now:

• Encourage your student to:

  • Start forming a team with friends.

  • Choose a Latin American country to represent.

  • Start looking for uniforms that represent the colors of the country picked

• Look out for flyers in September with more details!

📌 Contact Information

• Coach Hastings: stephanie.hastings@gcpsk12.org

• Ms. Silva: pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org

Let’s celebrate teamwork, culture, and community at this exciting event! 🎉

#bmsleads

The 53rd Annual Lilburn Daze will take place Saturday, October 11 from 9am to 5pm. Proceeds from the event will go back into the community in the form of service projects such as scholarships, care team support, dictionaries for 3rd graders, Constitutions for 8th graders in addition to many other community service programs.

As we get ready to begin Hispanic Heritage Month on September 15th, I would love your support in encouraging our students and families to participate in the Voices of Strength Writing Competition, hosted by The Little Book Spot, a local nonprofit dedicated to literacy and community engagement. This special competition is held in partnership with the El Gusanito Book Festival.

This event is a meaningful way for our students and families to showcase their creativity, cultural pride, and unique voices through writing.

📚 Competition Categories

• Grades 3–5: Heroism

• Grades 6–8: Hope

• Grades 9–12: Vision for the Future

• Adults (18+): Heritage and Strength(open to teachers, parents, and community members!)

🗓 Submission Deadline: October 11, 2025

🏆 Awards & Prizes: Scholarships, monetary awards, and other great prizes.

🎉 Winner Announcement:
Winners will be announced at the El Gusanito Book Festival & Mercado Navideño on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at Plaza Las Américas (733 Pleasant Hill Road, Lilburn, GA).

👉 How to Submit:

Anyone can submit their stories by scanning the QR code attached or through the provided submission link: Writing Competition 2025 .

Please help spread the word and inspire students and families to participate as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and uplift literacy across our community.

Please reach out to Ms. Pilar Silva if you have any questions: pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org or 770.638.2317.

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:

• Instagram: @berkmarms127

• Facebook: Berkmar Middle

Let’s celebrate our students, families, and staff together because at BMS, Patriots LEAD the way to excellence! 💙❤️

#BMSPatriots #WeAreBerkmar #PatriotsLEAD

Each BMS student will receive a GCPS assigned chromebook for use in class and at home to support their instructional needs. It is the family’s responsibility to monitor the use of the device to ensure that the device is returned in the condition in which it was received.

GCPS has created a 1:1 Parent Support Site to provide further information on chromebook use as well as parent and student responsibilities.

GCPS will assess fines for lost and/or damaged chromebooks and chargers. Please note that incidents of damage or loss do not reset each school year. See the district fine chart below.

Resources:

Student 1:1 Support Site

Parent 1:1 Support Site

Parent and student rights and responsibilities

We are excited to share that Berkmar High School, in partnership with Northside Hospital, will host a GHSA Pre-Participation Screening (Physical Night) for all Berkmar cluster athletes. This is an excellent opportunity for our student-athletes to complete their annual physicals in one convenient location.

Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025

Time: Appointments begin at 9:00 AM (must register for a specific time slot)

Cost: $25 per athlete

Location: Northside Hospital Duluth – Gallery Hall (Parking near Outpatient), 3855 Pleasant Hill Rd, Duluth, GA 30096

Registration Link: Click Here to Register

Important Notes for Families and Athletes:

• No walk-ups or refunds will be accepted. If a student cannot attend, their registration fee will directly support Berkmar athletics.

• Registration closes on October 14, 2025. Spots are limited, so early registration is encouraged.

• Your phone is your ticket. Tickets will be verified at check-in—screenshots will not be accepted.

• All GHSA pre-participation paperwork must be completed prior to arrival. Athletes will not be screened without the required forms.

Saturday, October 25, 2025

Instructional Support Center

5K start time: 8:30am

Fun Run start time: 9:30am

Want to stay connected with BMS? Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BerkmarMS127. Follow us on Facebook Berkmar Middle. Updated communication and parent newsletters may be found on these platforms. Additionally, our school website is another great resource for learning more about our school.

Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=2086
Location: 4355 Lawrenceville Highway, Lilburn, GA, USA
Phone: 770-638-2300