BMS Patriot Press Newsletter

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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!

Greetings, Berkmar Middle School Families,

What an exciting week at Berkmar Middle School! Thank you to our families and community partners for joining us for our Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, Día de la Raza Tournament, and Soccer Pitch Ribbon Kicking Ceremony. Your participation and support helped make these events memorable for our students and school community!

This week, students also wrapped up their district interim assessments. As we prepare for the next nine weeks, I encourage you to review your child's current academic progress in ParentVUE and have meaningful conversations about their strengths, areas for growth, and goals for the next grading period. Your continued partnership plays an important role in student success.

Happy Fall Break, Berkmar Families! I hope you enjoy this time to relax, recharge, and make special memories with family and friends. We look forward to welcoming our students back refreshed and ready to learn!

Warm Regards,

Felecia C. Jones

Principal

Mark your calendar!

October

• Note: Lilburn Daze has been cancelled due to weather.
• October is National Principals Month

Next Week: October 12- October 16

• Fall Break

October 19 - October 23

• Book Fair
• Georgia School Bus Safety Week
• Monday, October 19 - Georgia School Bus Driver/Monitor Appreciation Day
• Wednesday, October 12 - Basketball: BMS vs. Radloff MS; Start time 6:15 PM
• Thursday, October 22 - BMS Trunk or Treat Literacy Night 5:30 PM

October 26 - October 30

• Wednesday, October 28
• Early Release for parent-teacher conferences
• Basketball: BMS vs. Richards @ (Discovery HS)
• Thursday, October 29
• Early Release for parent-teacher conferences
• BHS Orchestra Spooktacular

• Friday, October 30 - Atlanta Food Bank & BMS Food Distribution

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
• Tuesday, November 3 - Digital Learning Day #2: All students learn at home

• Thursday, November 12 - Parent ACCESS Testing Workshop

November 16 - November 20

• Thursday, November 19 - National Parent Involvement Day

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

We are so appreciative of the great custodial staff we have here at Berkmar Middle School. They work hard each and every day to keep our school clean and safe so staff and students can focus on teaching and learning. Thank you, Custodial Staff!

Our BMS Admin Team was beyond excited to share some AMAZING news during our morning announcements! Mr. Caston Jackson has been named a TOP 25 SEMIFINALIST for the 2028 Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year (TOTY)!

The district's Teacher of the Year Committee recognized what we see in our hallways and classrooms every day: Mr. Jackson's hard work, dedication, passion, and positive impact on our students and staff! ❤️💙 In their announcement, the district highlighted his impressive application and described his work as a true inspiration to both his peers and students. We couldn't be prouder to have Mr. Jackson representing Berkmar Middle School!

Let's continue to show Mr. Jackson some BMS LOVE! Join us in congratulating him when you see him or send him a quick email!

🎊 CONGRATULATIONS, MR. JACKSON! 🎊

Your entire BMS family is cheering you on and wishing you the very best as you continue this exciting journey!

All BMS Families are invited to join us for our Trunk or Treat Literacy Night on Thursday, October 22, at 5:30 PM in the BMS Bus Lane! This special family event will offer literacy activities and practical, easy-to-use strategies families can take home to support student learning and growth. We encourage students to come dressed as their favorite book character, and families are welcome to do the same, so don't miss out on the fun!

Our Book Fair will also be open in the school library, giving families an opportunity to browse and purchase books during Literacy Night.

We are also collecting individually wrapped candy donations for the event. Donations may be dropped off at the BMS Family Center prior to October 22. If you are interested in donating, please contact Ms. Silva at pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org or caling 770-638-2317.

Thank you for helping us make this a fun and memorable evening for our students and families. We can’t wait to see everyone join us in the Bus Lane for a night of literacy, learning, and family fun!

BMS Families, You're Invited to Our 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat Literacy Night!

Come with the whole family to learn literacy strategies you can use at home with your kids!

Dress up as your favorite book character!

• Thursday, October 22, 2026

• 5:30 PM

• BMS Bus Lobby

It will be a night full of fun and learning!

It's back! Our Scholastic Book Fair begins on Monday, October 19. This is the can't-miss event that gets scholars excited about reading and also earns funds for our school!

There are specific times for each grade level to shop at the Book Fair during week 1, and that schedule is listed below. During week 2, there is open buying time! Any student with money to buy an item may visit as long as it works with the teacher's schedule.

The Book Fair will also be open late for Literacy Night on Thursday, October 22 and during the Early Release Conference day on Wednesday, October 28, in case you'd like to shop as a family after school.

Designated Grade Level & Class Shopping Times

• 7th Grade: Monday, October 19 and Tuesday, October 20
• 6th Grade: Tuesday, October 20 and Wednesday, October 21
• 8th Grade: Wednesday, October 21 and Thursday, October 22
• Robinson, Artime, Carpenter, Taylor, and Cuttito: Thursday, October 22
• Allen and Young: Friday, October 23

Open Shopping Times
Students from any grade level or class who brings money may purchase items during the times below.

• Days: Monday, October 26 through Friday, October 30
• Daily hours: 9:15 AM - 3:30 PM
• After School days/hours:
  • Thursday, October 22 during Literacy Night, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Wednesday, October 28 during Early Release Conferences, 1:30 PM - 7:00 PM
  • During after school hours, students may shop with their families.
• Please note that the Book Fair closes on Friday, October 30 at 10:30 AM

Thank you for supporting a love of reading, and enjoy the rest of your break!

Ms. Angie Sprague
School Librarian

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!

The students of Berkmar Middle School had the opportunity to attend STEM Fest at Georgia Tech, where they explored science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through more than 60 hands-on activities and interactive exhibits. Special thanks to Ms. Silva for organizing this wonderful experience, as well as Mr. Keith, our chaperones, and the additional guests who volunteered their time and support to help make the day a success.

Congratulations to our scholars who made the 2026-2027 Boys and Girls Basketball Team and Cheerleading Squad! We are looking forward to a great season!

• 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.

Mastering math takes hard work and practice. Math builds on itself, so have your teen make time each day to work on math and stay current in the class. Encourage your student to write down and solve sample problems from the book or from class. Students should also analyze problems before trying to solve them (it may help to draw a diagram). Then, remind your teen to check work carefully before turning a completed assignment in.

Make sure you have downloaded the Parent Vue App and Parent Square App on your cell phone. If you need assistance in doing so, make plans to visit to the BMS Family Center and ask for Ms. Silva

4355 Lawrenceville Hwy, Lilburn

Mon - Fri 9:30AM - 3:30 PM

770-6385-2317 or pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org

Focusing Forward with Families

To help students effectively resist negative peer pressure, equip them with practical refusal skills they can use in real time. Teach them to look at the person directly in the eye and deliver a clear "no" or offer an alternative activity using a calm, assertive tone. Remind them that deflecting with humor is a great way to ease tension, and that simply walking away is always a safe, valid option when a situation feels uncomfortable.

We reward students for following the expectations with Berkmar Bucks and we like to offer them monthly opportunities to redeem their Berkmar Bucks for prizes. If you would like to donate prizes for our store or volunteer to help students redeem their prizes, please contact Mrs. Silva.

Skills to practice at home with your Scholar

• Define Positive Expectations: Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. Respect personal space - at least a foot away.
• Explicitly Teach Boundaries: Model and practice appropriate physical boundaries (e.g. high five vs. hugging, walk to the right of the hallway, use quiet voice when speaking, inform a teacher or counselor if you need help to resolve a problem, use coping skills- deep breathing or walking away.

A huge thank you to our Family Coordinator, Ms. Silva and all of our BMS families, staff and students who participated in the activities and events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! We had a spirit week honoring traditional heritage wear to soccer jerseys, favorite Hispanic icons and celebrities, and our family celebration, it was wonderful to see our students, staff, and families come together to celebrate the rich cultures, traditions, history, and contributions of the Hispanic community. Your participation, enthusiasm, and school spirit helped make this month so special. We are grateful to every family who joined us, supported our students, shared their culture, and helped create such a welcoming and joyful atmosphere at Berkmar Middle School. At BMS, we are proud to celebrate the diversity that makes our school community so special. Check out our Social Medias for pictures!

• 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:

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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