Bala Cynwyd Summer Updates

Dear Families of Bala Cynwyd Middle School,

Suffice it to say, it’s here whether we’re ready or not! The school and staff are ready, we hope the students are too. The school and staff are excited, we hope the students are too. It was wonderful to get that start with 5th graders who joined us yesterday for orientation and made an amazing first impression as our newest Knights. We look forward to welcoming back our 6th-8th graders Tuesday and embarking on yet another fantastic school year at BCMS. Please peruse below for items that may serve as reminders for students to start off the year successfully. We hope everyone has an enjoyable holiday weekend.

Eugenia Koo, Principal

• Front doors to BC will be unlocked each morning at 7:30 a.m. Students are not permitted to enter the building prior to 7:30 a.m. All students will enter through the front doors during arrival, as all other doors will remain locked. Buses will arrive for the day in the front bus circle by 7:45 a.m.

• Parents dropping off students should do so along Bryn Mawr Avenue, between the “Parent Drop Off/No Parking” signs on the school side of the road, or by pulling into the Parent Drop-Off Loop. When students are dropped off along Bryn Mawr Avenue on the school side of the road, they will not need to cross the street to enter the building.

• Students who arrive before 7:45 a.m. may get breakfast from one of our café kiosks and then report to the auditorium. Students will remain in the auditorium until they are dismissed to their 1st period class (The attendance period listed on their schedule).

• Students who arrive after 7:45 a.m. may get breakfast from the kiosk, go to their lockers, and then report directly to their 1st period class. All students must be seated in their attendance period by 8:00 a.m. Students who are not seated by 8:00 a.m. will be marked late for school.

Dismissal at BC will be staggered between 2:30 and 2:35 p.m. with students being dismissed by grade level. There are two dismissal areas for buses: the front bus circle and the back bus circle located off Manayunk Road. Students who walk home may exit through the side of the building closest to their neighborhood. All students being picked up by a parent or guardian will exit through the front of the building.

· September 8th

Student Opening Day

· September 11th

Rosh Hashanah Begins

· September 16th

Open House (6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.)

· September 21st

Yom Kippur (Schools/Offices Closed)

· October 7th

Picture Day (All Schools)

· October 12th-15th

Health Screenings

· November 3rd

Schools Closed

· November 6th

End of First Marking Period

· November 11th

Picture Retake Day / 8th Grade Class Picture

· November 17th

Middle School Evening Conferences (4:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.)

· November 24th

Full Day Conferences (School Closed)

· November 25th

Report Cards Issued

· November 26th-27th

Thanksgiving Holiday (Schools/Offices Closed)

The three visuals give students a shared, easy-to-read language for using District laptops in class. They support Lower Merion School District's updated technology-use policies by helping teachers signal when devices should be used, when students should be ready to use them, and when attention should shift to people and learning.

At BCMS, we want to make sure our students have the best environment for learning, connection, and growth. Research tells us that too much device use can get in the way of focus and success in school. To help everyone stay engaged and present, we’re continuing our “off and away” policy for student cell phones.

What this means for the 2026–2027 school year:

• Student cell phones should be turned off and kept in lockers during the school day.

• This helps limit distractions and keeps the focus on learning and building positive relationships.

Learn more about why this matters:

• Common Sense Media: Ditch the Distractions

• Rutgers Study: Cell Phone Distractions Lead to Lower Grades

• Video: Impact of Screen Time on Kid’s Brains

We know it takes teamwork to help students develop good habits. Thank you for supporting our school-wide expectations and encouraging responsible use of devices. For more details, please review the following:

• BCMS Student and Families Handbook

• Supporting Students with Responsible Electronic Device Use (Button Below)

Together, we can keep our classrooms focused and our students thriving.

We're excited for your student to start middle school with us on September 8th! We understand that this exciting time also brings a host of new questions. Below are some of the most asked questions by incoming families. Don't see your question below? Always feel free to call the office to get additional information at 610-645-1480 - we're here to help!

Q: My student forgot their lunch/homework/science project. How can I get it to them?

• Items can be dropped off to the guard at the front entrance of BCMS. The item will be placed on the "Parent Drop Off" table in the lobby, where students are encouraged to look for items you bring in. We will also email your student's teachers so they know they have something on the table.

Q: How can I get a message to my student during the school day about a change of dismissal?

• Call the main office (610-645-1480) and provide the information to one of our secretaries. They will email the information to your student's team of teachers and request a teacher to confirm once the message has been delivered. If no teacher confirms, the secretary will contact the student before they leave for the day.

Q: I missed a phone call from the school. Who should I contact?

• BCMS teachers, nurses and students are asked to leave a message when they call home. Please take a moment to wait for and review the message after the call. All phone calls from school come from our general number so if you call back, we aren't able to direct your call. If there is no message left we are happy to check the nurses office to see if they tried to reach you or we can let you know if your student was using the office phone.

Q: My student needs access to the elevators or to receive special accommodations due to an injury. Who should I contact?

• Please contact the BCMS Nurses Office to arrange accommodations for students with injuries. Our nurses are wonderful and will help in any way they can.

Q: My student is absent due to illness. What should I do?

• Please fill out the BCMS Absence Form. If your student will be out for multiple days you can also reach out to one of the team teachers to let them know.

Q: I need to pick my student up early for a doctor appointment. How can I arrange that?

• Fill out the BCMS Absence Form and indicate the absence type "Early Dismissal". We will get your student out of class when you arrive to pick them up.

Q: My student is going to be absent but not because they're sick. How can I get the absence approved?

• As soon as you know your student will miss school, please fill out the Application for Educational Absence. Additional attendance information can be found in the flyer below

Q: My student lost an item (water bottle/lunch box/coat/sweatshirt). Does BC have a Lost & Found? When can students look for their items?

• BCMS has a lost and found located outside the cafeteria - students will walk past it on their way to lunch everyday. We encourage students to look for their items at lunch time, or to get a pass from a teacher to come during I/E (period 10). Parents are welcome to come look for lost items with their students after school (2:40pm).

Q: My student wants to get involved at BCMS? Where can I find a list of activities?

• BCMS has lots of opportunities for students to get involved in extracurricular activities and sports (grades 7/8). Please see the dedicated section below on the activities and sports we host at BC!

Q: Where can I find information on sports practices or activity meetings?

• Club sponsors and athletic coaches will provide their students with a list of dates and times for events and games. Parents can also keep up-to-date by reading the daily announcements found on our website. The announcements are broadcast to students every morning and will be updated with any changes throughout the day.

Q:Where can I find information about events happening at school?

• Check out the BCMS Family Resource Site for Monthly Calendars, Daily Announcements, and helpful links to everything BC!

Website: www.lmsd.org

Instagram: @balacynwydms

Location: 510 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA, USA
Phone: 610 645 1480

The BCMS Family Resource site is a quick way for BC parents to view announcements, search the staff directory, get quick access to frequently used websites, and more! You can visit the BCMS Family Resource page by going to the main BC webpage, and selecting "Family Resource Site"