BMS STAR - Family Bulletin

Dear Blackhawk Middle School Families,

We have had a great start to the school year! Our students are settling into their routines, building connections with their teachers and classmates, and continuing to learn and practice our STAR expectations throughout the school.

As we move into September, there is a lot happening at BMS! We are looking forward to welcoming families to Curriculum Night, launching our student clubs and activities, and continuing to create opportunities for every student to feel connected and part of our BMS community.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Please take a few minutes to review this month’s newsletter for important dates, reminders, celebrations, and upcoming opportunities.

We are looking forward to a great month at BMS!

#HawkHooray

#ALLIN

Ms. V

We would like to extend a special thank you to our Interim Assistant Principal, Mrs. Shaffer, who stepped in to support BMS last school year and continued with us this year as we transitioned to our new Assistant Principal.

We are incredibly grateful for Mrs. Shaffer’s support, flexibility, and commitment to our students, staff, and families during this transition.

Mrs. Shaffer’s last day with us at BMS will be September 11. Please join us in thanking her for all she has done for our BMS community!

Hawk Hooray for Mrs. Shaffer!

We look forward to welcoming our BMS families to Curriculum Night!

Doors will open at 5:45 PM, and we will begin together in the Auditorium at 6:00 PM. Following our welcome, families will have an opportunity to walk their child’s schedule and meet their teachers.

When your child has lunch on their schedule, please visit the Cafeteria to learn more about our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), meet our school counselors and social workers, and learn about additional resources and opportunities available at BMS.

We look forward to seeing you!

Signs of Suicide (the state-mandated 6-8 suicide prevention program/screening) will take place on the following dates:

• 6th Grade: November 2, 2026
• 7th Grade: October 5, 2026
• 8th Grade: September 14, 2026

Erin's Law Sexual Abuse Prevention Program (YWCA) will take place on the following dates:

• 6th Grade: TBD
• 7th Grade: TBD
• 8th Grade: TBD

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s participation in this program, please contact Nichole Zipprich at nzipprich@bsd2.org or 630-766-2601, or any of our school counselors.

BMS is excited to offer a variety of clubs for students this school year! We are currently finalizing club start and end dates.

Please review the club options with your child and encourage them to find something that interests them, try something new, and get connected at BMS!

If you have questions about a specific club, please reach out to the club sponsor.

We look forward to seeing our students get involved!

We want to remind all families that keeping our students safe during arrival and dismissal is a shared responsibility. Traffic around BMS can be busy, especially during peak times, and we appreciate everyone working together to keep our students safe.

Our BMS Arrival & Dismissal Team

Morning Arrival

• Crossing Guards: Steve Van Dyke and Maria Elizabeth Paredes
• BMS Staff Support: Janice Babich

Afternoon Dismissal

• Crossing Guard: Maria Elizabeth Paredes
• Members of our BMS staff and administrative team will also be outside supporting students during dismissal.

Important Safety Reminders

• Use Crosswalks & Drive Slowly: Please follow school-zone speed limits, watch carefully for students, and yield to pedestrians at all crosswalks.
• Keep Fire Lanes & the Bus Drive Clear: Please do not park or stop in the fire lane or bus drive during arrival or dismissal. Keeping these areas clear allows our buses to safely load and unload students and ensures emergency vehicles have access to our building when needed.
• Use Designated Drop-Off & Pick-Up Areas: Please follow our BMS arrival and dismissal procedures and use the designated areas for student drop-off and pick-up. Students should exit vehicles on the sidewalk side and should never be dropped off in an active traffic lane.
• Follow Staff & Crossing Guard Directions: Please watch for and follow the directions of our crossing guards and BMS staff as they help students safely enter and leave school.
• Be Patient: Arrival and dismissal can take a few extra minutes. Please allow additional time and be patient with other drivers, pedestrians, and our staff.

Thank you, BMS families, for your patience, cooperation, and partnership.

BMS PE uniforms are available for purchase online through the Bensenville School District 2 RevTrak Store. Families can visit the BSD2 RevTrak Online Store and select Blackhawk Middle School to purchase PE uniforms.

Congratulations to the new members of our PTO, Jacquanet Goggins and Cristina Barrera!

President: Diana Medina
Vice President: Jacquanet Goggins
Secretary: Cristina Barrera
Treasurer: Michelle Juran

Join us for our monthly meeting! We meet in the cafeteria once a month and start promptly at 6:30 PM. Here are our meeting dates for the year:

• October 8, 2026
• November 12, 2026
• December 10, 2026 (Tentative)
• January 14, 2027
• February 11, 2027
• March 11, 2027
• April 8, 2027
• May 13, 2027
• June 10, 2027 (Tentative)

Events Scheduled

October 2026

Hawk Haunted Hangout: Tuesday, October 27, 2026

November 2026

BMS PTO Tree Lighting Ceremony: November 2026 (Date Dependent on Bensenville Tree Lighting

ceremony schedule).

December 2026

Book Fair/Literacy Night: Week of December 7, 2026

Literacy Night December 9, 2026

Book Fair dates: 12/8, 12/9 AM and PM during Literacy night

February 2027

Dave & Buster’s and Family Event (Rosemont): Thursday February 25, 2027 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.

March 2027

Retro Kahoot Night: (Tentative) – March 12, 2027

May 2027

Sneaker Ball (8th grade) – Tuesday, May 25, 2027

The PowerSchool Parent Portal is an online system that will provide parents access to their students’ schedules, attendance, assignments and grades.

• Powerschool/Standards Based Grading Handout English
• English - Apple & Android Device Written Directions.pdf
• Powerschool/Standards Based Grading Handout Spanish
• Spanish - Apple & Android Device Written Directions.pdf

• September 7 - Labor Day - No School
• September 14-25 - NWEA Make Up Testing
• September 8 - Panorama Window Opens
• September 9 - HOME XC @BMS
• September 9 - 4:00: Soccer vs. Jackson @Jackson
• September 10 - Curriculum Night - 6:00-7:30 PM

• September 10 - Fenton Band Night rehearsal @ Fenton HS (7/8 Band)6:00 pm-8:00 pm

• September 11 - Kim Shaffer - Last Day

• September 11 - Fenton Band Night Performance @ Fenton HS (7/8 Band)5:00 pm-9:30 pm
• September 14 - XC @Prospect Park
• September 14 - 4:00: Soccer vs. Indian Trail @Indian Trail - 2 games
• September 16 - ILMEA Junior Audition Nominations Due (6-8 Band and Chorus eligible, select students only)due by 3:00 pm
• September 16 - HOME XC @BMS
• September 17 - 4:00: Soccer vs. Churchville @BMS
• September 18 - Institute Day - No School
• September 21 - Picture Retakes
• September 21 - 4:00: Soccer vs. Wood Dale @Wood Dale - 2 games
• September 22 - Uniform Fitting Night (7/8 Band) All 7th and 8th grade students need to get fitted for concert uniforms - pants and tuxedo shirts 4:00 pm-7:00 pm
• September 23 - XC Conference Meet
• September 24 - 4:00: Soccer vs. Jefferson @Jefferson - 2 games
• September 28 - 4:00: Soccer vs. Indian Trail @BMS - 2 games
• September 30 - ILMEA Junior Auditions Due Online (6-8 Band and Chorus eligible, select students only)due by 3:00 pm
• October 7 - 4:00: Soccer vs. Churchville @Churchville

District 2 prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. The notice of nondiscrimination is located at https://www.bsd2.org/students-families/non-discrimination-title-ix-and-anti-harassment

Diana Vergara - Principal

dvergara@bsd2.org

Jacquelyn LeMon-Williamson, Assistant Principal

jlemon@bsd2.org

Nichole Zipprich, Assistant Principal

nzipprich@bsd2.org

Mary Hamilton, Students Services Coordinator

mhamilton@bsd2.org