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!

It’s been another amazing week here at BMS! The first semester is in full swing, and we are working hard to ensure that teaching and learning are occurring every day.

Thank you to all the families who attended our Annual Title I Meeting and Curriculum Night this week. Your partnership and support play an essential role in your child’s success. We appreciate the time you took to learn more about our programs, academic expectations, and how we can work together to help every student thrive.

This week, we continued our Berkmar Connects lessons focused on Advisement, SEL, and PBIS. Students engaged in activities about team building, diversity, inclusion, and proper device care. As we move throughout the year, we look forward to strengthening our partnership with you.

You can help BMS by:

• Asking your student about school

• Checking his/her grades via the ParentVue

• Keeping regular communication with teachers

• Having your student attend Wednesday Help Sessions at 8:20 a.m.

• Ensuring your student attends provided support opportunities

Thanks for all you do to support our success! You are a valuable member of our team!

I wish you a fantastic weekend!

With Patriot Pride,

Felecia C. Jones
Principal

Students who enrolled in a school under one of the conditions below will need to renew their form.

• Residency Affidavit
• Permissive Transfer
• Kinship Caregiver Affidavit
• Homeless
• Foster Care

Immunizations: Important Date

Important Date: 7th Grade Updated Immunizations

For ALL rising 7th Grade Students who are entering the 7th grade must have a valid Form 3231.

Monday, August 25, 2025

• Fall Intramural begin
• Volleyball: Berkmar vs. Radloff (Home)@ 6:00 pm

• Volleyball: Berkmar vs. Pinckneyville at Pinckneyville @ 6:00 pm

• Food Distribution

Monday, September 1, 2025

• Labor Day - All GCPS schools and offices will be closed

• Attendance Family Orientation Meeting

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!

1. Please review and sign all orientation documents on ParentSquare.

*The Berkmar MS The Plan the Promise

*The Gwinnett County Public School's 2025-2026 Handbook Information for Students and Families

*The Berkmar MS 2025-2026 Parent/Student Handbook

2. BUILDING HOURS / EARLY ARRIVALS

School hours for students is from 8:50 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Students should not be dropped off at school before 8:50 a.m., unless attending Wednesday Help Day or other designated activities facilitated by BMS staff members. In order to come early, students must have a pass signed in their Agenda by the sponsoring teacher stating they have permission to be in the building. If a student fails to comply, a counselor and/or administrator will contact their parent, and consequences may apply. Students may only stay after school if they are participating in an event supervised by BMS staff members. All students should be picked up prior to the end of the day at 4:20 p.m.

3. Berkmar Middle is a Power Down Facility-No Electronic Devices

Berkmar Middle School is a Power Down facility. Before or upon entry into our building, we ask that electronic devices be powered off and placed in a bookbag. Students who use devices without permission are subject to consequences. The school does not assume any responsibility for lost, stolen, or damaged devices. Devices, including cell phones, AirPods, headphones, earbuds, Smart watches, etc. should NOT be visible in the hallways during arrival, lunch, restrooms, dismissal, or transitions between classes. All devices should be powered off and stored in book bags when entering the building. Should there be an emergency or an urgent concern to communicate with your child, please reach out to the school's main office.

4. Water Bottles

Please ensure students only bring clear water bottles to school if needed.

Welcome Back BMS Families!

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

Welcome BMS family to the 2025-26 school year!

Your school counseling department is ready to support students and families as they strive for academic success! School absences can add up quickly, and even missing just a couple of days each month can have a significant impact on a student’s academic success. When students miss school, they miss out on critical instruction and opportunities to engage with their peers and teachers. This can lead to lower grades, difficulty keeping up with coursework, and a higher likelihood of dropping out.

As we start the school year, please take a moment to review our attendance policy, which also includes tardies. More information can also be found in our student handbook and the GCPS Attendance Protocol. Please reach out to your child’s school counselor for support during the year if barriers arise that interfere with their daily attendance. We are here to help!

Ms. Silva and Ms. Maupins organized a family friendly Title I meeting to launch Curriculum Night 2025. Families were gifted with school supplies to help get their year off to a bright start.

6th Grade students engage in vocabulary matching in Ms. Lyons' Social Studies and Mr. Thomas' math classes in digital and hands-on modalities.

Click the image below to read more about VyStar Credit Union's contribution to the Berkmar MS community.

• 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

Don’t miss our First Food Distribution for School Year 2025-2026! Berkmar Middle School partnered with Atlanta Food Bank to provide an great opportunity for our community to receive fresh and essential food items while supplies last.

📅 Date: Friday, August 29, 2025

🕒 Time: 10:30 AM (while supplies last).
📍 Location: Berkmar Middle School Bus Lane

Please share this information with friends, neighbors, and other families in our community who may benefit from this support. ❤️ The more we spread the word, the more families we can help!

For more information or volunteer opportunities, please contact Ms. Silva at 770-638-2317 or pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org.

Together, we can make sure no family goes without. I firmly believe that when the school and community work together we all win!

BMS Families,

Join us for our Attendance Workshop & Family Orientation
📅 Tuesday, September 9th, 2025
🕠 5:30 PM

📍 BMS Media Center

Regular attendance is the key to student success! At this important workshop, we’ll share how consistent attendance impacts learning, academic achievement, and overall school performance.

✅ Meet BMS Grade Level Counselors
✅ Ask questions & share concerns
✅ Receive resources from local vendors to support mental health and wellbeing!

Let’s work together to help our students build strong attendance habits and reach their full potential.

💙❤️ BMS Patriots LEAD the way to EXCELLENCE!

For more information, please contact Ms. Silva at 📧 pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org or ☎️ 770-638-2317.

We are thrilled to announce the start of the 2025-2026 school year and the activation of our PTSA (Parent-Teacher-Student Association)!

We need your help to make it happen! Your involvement in the PTSA is vital. When students see their parents engaged in school activities, it inspires them and strengthens our school community.

Together, we can support various programs that enhance our students' educational experience and create a positive impact.

For more information, please contact Ms. Silva at 770-638-2317 or via email at pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org

Let's work together to make this year an amazing year at Berkmar!

#PatriotsLead

¡Noticias Importantes de BMS para el Año Escolar 2025-2026!

Estamos empcionados de anunciar el inicio del año escolar 2025-2026 y la activación de nuestra PTSA (Asociación de Padres, Maestros y Estudiantes).

¡Necesitamos su ayuda para hacerlo realidad! Tu participación en la PTSA es vital. Cuando los estudiantes ven a sus padres involucrados en actividades escolares, se sienten inspirados y se fortalece nuestra comunidad escolar.

Juntos, podemos apoyar varios programas que mejoran la experiencia educativa de nuestros estudiantes y crear un impacto positivo.

Para más información, por favor contacta a la Sra. Silva al 770-638-2317 o por correo electrónico a pilar.silva@gcpsk12.org

¡Unamos nuestras fuerzas y hagamos de este año algo increíble!

We encourage all families to create a MPP account. No purchase is necessary to have a MPP account. It is a great way for you to manage and keep track of all of your student payments and forms in one place throughout the school year.

MyPaymentsPlus is linked directly to your school’s student information system (SIS), enabling us to show real-time balances and invoices, and eliminating the need to call or visit your school in search of information.

Whether you’re viewing what your 2nd grader ate for lunch, renting a locker for your middle schooler, or purchasing a parking permit for that new driver in your family, MyPaymentsPlus ensures you never miss a beat, from Pre-K to graduation day.

Simply create a free MyPaymentsPlus account to get started today.

https://www.mypaymentsplus.com/welcome

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

Ms. Silva will be available every day from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

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.

Parents can use their smartphones to access ParentVUE to find grades, schedules, and more!

Please click here for more information on downloading ParentVue.

If you need assistance downloading ParentVue, 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.

Starting in September 2025, the Family Advisory Council will meet monthly to advise on academics, safety, budgets, and more. All GCPS parents are invited to attend! Learn more and view meeting dates here: www.gcpsk12.org/FAC

We’re excited to invite middle and high school students to apply for the 2025-26 Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. This is a valuable opportunity for students to share their voices, provide feedback, and engage directly with district leadership. Students should apply by Tuesday, August 26 by 10pm.

Middle and high school students can apply through the Student Portal between August 7–26.

More information can be found using the link below:

https://www.gcpsk12.org/about-us/divisions-and-teams/superintendent/superintendents-student-advisory-council

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.

GCPS encourages families to follow these steps to resolve concerns:

1. Teacher - First, talk to your child’s teacher or a counselor at school for assistance. Most concerns are resolved at the classroom level.

2. Assistant Principal - If the concern is not resolved at the classroom level, please visit with your child’s assistant principal.

3. Principal - If working with the AP does not adequately address the issue, please meet with the school principal.

4. Cluster Superintendent - If the issue persists, please call 678-301-6000, and ask to speak to the cluster superintendent who is assigned to the school your child attends.

5. Chief of Schools - If, after following steps one through four, your concern has not been resolved to your satisfaction, please contact the Chief of Schools for School Improvement and Operations.

Other Resources
If you are experiencing an emergency, dial 9-1-1. The GCPS Hotline for anonymous reporting of potential violence is 770-822-6513. If you have a non-emergency criminal concern, please contact local law enforcement.

Please select one of the files below for a downloadable view of this information:

• English
• Español
• Tiếng Việt

BMS Families,

Join our community at Plaza Las Américas in 733 Pleasant Hill Rd, Lilburn for Noche Mexicana, a night full of culture, music, and fun as we kick off the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month on Sunday September 14, 2025 starting at 4:00PM! ✨

As we enjoy and support events like Noche Mexicana in our community, we also look forward to celebrating together Hispanic Heritage Month at Berkmar Middle School. 🌎💃🎶

📅 Save the Date:
👉 Friday, October 3, 2025
📍 BMS Gym

This is a wonderful opportunity to highlight the traditions, stories, and contributions of our diverse families as we come together as a school to celebrate the diversity of Latin America among our students and families.

More details will be shared soon by Ms. Silva, so stay tuned!!

💙❤️ Let’s celebrate culture, heritage, and community, because at BMS, Patriots LEAD the way to excellence!

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

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

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