BMS eNEWS

March 19, 2024

In this Issue

Congratulations, Mathcounts!

Deadline Approaching: College Credit Plus Intent Forms

Robotics Team

Classroom Spotlight: Carrie Shapiro

Eighth Grader Named Stop the Hate Contest Finalist

The Little Mermaid Highlights

Youth Football Registration

Due This Week: Washington D.C. Trip Packets

Ending Soon: Medwish Supply Drive

Message from the Principal

Dear Beachwood Middle School Families,

What a whirlwind of excitement we’ve had this past week at Beachwood! First, a massive shoutout to our incredible Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) for spearheading the Coin Wars fundraiser. Thanks to your enthusiastic participation and generous donations, students enjoyed the uproarious “pi day” celebration. Watching students and staff getting pied in the face was an absolute delight, all in the name of a good cause. Your support always makes the difference!

In other news, I’m thrilled to report the phenomenal success of our spring musical, “The Little Mermaid,” this past weekend. I was truly impressed with our talented performers, including many middle school cast and crew, as they brought the underwater world to life on stage.

As we wrap up the third quarter this Friday, March 22, I encourage families to take a moment to check student grades and progress in Infinite Campus. Your involvement in your child’s academic journey is invaluable, and we ask students to finish out the week on a strong note with spring break just around the corner. I wish everyone a relaxing time off. Whether you're traveling or staying local, I hope you make wonderful memories and return refreshed for the final stretch of the school year. Until then, take care and enjoy the blossoming season ahead!

Sincerely,

Dr. Tony Srithai

Principal

Important Dates

March 22: End of Third Quarter
March 23: Washington D.C. trip payments due
March 25 - 29: No School - Spring Break
April 1: College Credit Plus Intent Forms due
April 8: No School - Eclipse "Beachwood Blackout" at the Main Stadium - 2 to 4:30 p.m.
April 10: No School (Eid al-Fitr)
April 18 & 19: Ohio State Tests: English Language Arts
April 25: Upcoming Sixth-Grade Parent Orientation at Beachwood Middle School, 7 p.m.
April 25 & 26: Ohio State Tests: Grade 8 Science and Honors Biology only
April 30 & May 1: Ohio State Tests: Math

News & Announcements

Congratulations: Mathcounts!

On Saturday, March 16, the team of four Beachwood students went to Columbus State College to compete in the Mathcounts State Competition. Mathcounts is a highly competitive competition in which students must partake in two individual rounds of questions followed by one round of team questions. The team score is calculated by both individual scores and the team round. More than 133 schools around Ohio first competed in their respective regional areas, and only the top schools at regionals moved onto states. The students at Beachwood Middle School were competing against the best of the best math students in Ohio. The Beachwood team of Nathan Mu, Antoni Hiczewski, Priyasha Ghosal, and Derek Gong placed third in Ohio. This amazing team has been working hard practicing many problems that take enormous amounts of perseverance and knowledge. In addition to the team's overall accomplishment, eighth grader Nathan Mu placed 10th overall as an individual in the State of Ohio. Congratulations to all of these amazing mathletes for achieving this level of competition!

College Credit Plus (CCP) Intent Forms Due April 1

College Credit Plus Intent Forms are due by April 1 in order to participate in CCP classes next school year (including summer). If you missed our CCP Information Meeting on January 16, please refer to the presentation slides. General CCP information including application instructions can also be found on the Beachwood High School website.

Cheer on the Beachwood High School Robotics Team!

The Beachwood High School Robotics Team 695 will be competing March 21-23 at the Buckeye Regional at the Cleveland State Wolstein Center, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The event is free and open to the public. Any middle-schoolers who might be interested in joining the team in high school are encouraged to attend!

Classroom Spotlight: Carrie Shapiro

Mrs. Shapiro's English Language Arts eighth-grade students are currently enjoying Daniel Keyes' classic short story "Flowers for Algernon." On Wednesday, March 13, student pairs closely read a short section of the story, found evidence to support claims, paraphrased the protagonist's complex thoughts, and searched for allusions. The unit culminates in a two-part project that encourages both creative and logical thinking. In addition, the story's themes urge readers to treat people of all levels of intelligence with kindness and respect, as everyone needs fulfilling and genuine friendships.

Eighth Grader Named Stop the Hate Finalist

Congratulations to eighth grader Heeba Sossey Alaoui for being named a Stop the Hate “Youth Speak Out” essay contest finalist. This recognition by the Maltz Museum celebrates Heeba's contribution to promoting understanding and combating intolerance. More than 4,100 students at more than 100 Northeast Ohio schools participated in this year’s Stop the Hate contest and workshops, writing individual essays, poetry, or group songs for a chance to win prizes for themselves and their schools. Winners will be named on Wednesday, April 3, at an awards ceremony to be held at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

The Little Mermaid Highlights

The Little Mermaid performers and staff had an amazing weekend performing in front of three large crowds. A special thank you to director Johnathan Luster and assistant director Topher Helm for their leadership throughout this spring.

Beachwood Bison Spring Youth Football Program

Whether your child is new to the game or looking to sharpen their skills, the Beachwood Bison Spring Youth Football program offers a fantastic opportunity for young athletes from second through eighth grade. Scheduled for Sundays - April 21 & 28, May 5 & 12, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Beachwood High School Stadium, this program focuses on honing fundamental football skills such as running, catching, throwing, blocking, and boosting speed and agility. The four-week session costs $25, payable to Beachwood Athletic Boosters at the first practice. To sign up, complete the Youth Football Registration Form. For more details, reach out to head football coach Scott Fischer at fischerscott58@gmail.com.

Due This Week: D.C. Trip Registration Packets

Attention families of eighth-grade students: This is a reminder to complete your registration for the upcoming annual trip to Washington, D.C. Please ensure you have filled out all the necessary information in the D.C. Registration Packet. The final payment for trip attendance is due by March 23.

Ending Soon: MedWish Supply Drive

The Pre-Med Club at Beachwood High School is organizing a supply drive in collaboration with MedWish International from March 1 to 22. Students are collecting essential medical supplies such as adhesive bandages, cotton swabs, medical tape, thermometers, and toothpaste. Please drop off donations at the main office of any school in our district. MedWish International is a non-profit organization that repurposes surplus medical supplies and equipment to provide humanitarian aid to people in need. For a detailed list of acceptable items, please refer to MedWish International's website at www.medwish.org/donate-supplies.