BMS eNEWS

February 27, 2024

In this Issue

Curriculum Overview and Scheduling Process for Incoming Ninth Graders

Updates from the Beachwood PTO

Classroom Spotlight: Sixth-Grade Social Studies

Beachwood Neurodiversity Family Network Hosts Parent/Caregiver Support Group

Hope Heals Teddy Bear Party

MedWish Supply Drive

St. Baldrick’s Fundraiser

Beachwood Blackout Solar Eclipse Celebration

February Be H.E.A.R.D Celebration!

Message from the Principal

Dear Beachwood Middle School Families,

We have a lot of important information in this week’s newsletter. Reminders include information about this week’s MAC Scholars cookout and next week’s Student and Family Information Session for rising ninth graders. We also feature highlights from last week’s Be H.E.A.R.D. celebrations.

Lastly, please review the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) section for exciting news about upcoming events and fundraisers that we will be hosting at Beachwood Middle School. Your sponsorships and donations will benefit the wonderful work of our PTO and fund important initiatives at Beachwood Middle School. As ever, we thank you for your continued support.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Dr. Tony Srithai

Principal

Important Dates

March 5: Information Session for Rising Ninth-Grade Families, Beachwood High School Community Room, 7 p.m.
March 7: Middle School Orchestra Winter Concert, Beachwood High School auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
March 22: End of Third Quarter
March 23: Washington D.C. trip payments due
March 25 - 29: No School - Spring Break
April 1: Deadline for College Credit Plus Intent Forms
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 25: Incoming Sixth-Grade Parent Orientation at Beachwood Middle School, 7 p.m.

News & Announcements

Curriculum Overview and Scheduling Process for Incoming Ninth Graders

All eighth-grade families should join us on Tuesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. in the Beachwood High School Community Room to learn about the ninth-grade scheduling process and course offerings. Subject coordinators will present ninth-grade course offerings and provide an overview of the high school curriculum. Parents/guardians and students should attend this meeting together.

Beachwood Middle School MAC Scholars Present: The Cookout

In honor of Black History Month, the Beachwood Middle School MAC Scholars will host a school-wide event called "The Cookout" on Thursday, February 29. The purpose of this event is to share, learn about, and appreciate aspects of black culture and celebrations together as a school community.

This event is open to all students grades 6 through 8. Portions of the event will begin during school and end after school at 3:30 p.m. If your child would like to stay for the after school portion of the event, please RSVP using this Google Form.

Watch this video to learn more!

From the Beachwood PTO

Pi Day FUNdraiser

One, two, three, four…we declare a COIN WAR!

How does it work?

Middle Schoolers, start saving your pennies! Next week, from March 4 to 8, each grade will compete for bragging rights, and for a chance to a PTO-sponsored party! You’ll have an opportunity to fill your grade’s container before and after school, during advisory, and during lunch. Pennies and bills add points to your grade’s total. To keep things interesting, bring in your silver coins to sabotage your opponents, deducting from their total. The grade with the highest positive point total at the end of the week wins!

Don’t have change? Donate online!

Points

FUNdraising Goal: $1,500

Reach our Goal: Opportunity to “Pi” the staff of your choice at a special Pi Day Assembly,* culminating in a “Pie Face Showdown” between Dr. Srithai and Dr. Hardis

*Concurrent student vote will determine the top three self-nominated staff members. Assembly to occur on Thursday, March 14.

Thank You!

Thank you for participating in this FUNdraiser! Proceeds to benefit the Beachwood Schools PTO, Beachwood Middle School Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Committee, and Bison-to-Bison/St. Baldrick’s Foundation, directly impacting our students and teachers, and contributing to childhood cancer research and advocacy. For questions, please reach out to Jennifer Ferns at jenefur35@gmail.com or Crystal Jacobs at crystalmariejacobs@gmail.com. All prizes to be awarded Thursday, March 14.

Follow the fun on Facebook!

Reading is FUNdamental! The annual Beachwood Schools PTO Read-A-Thon FUNdraiser will take place May 13-17, 2024.

Please complete the attached Google Form to permit the PTO to send you informational emails about signing up for this fun activity.

How does it work?

Student reading is tracked electronically over the course of the week, with incentives provided for the most funds raised, the most minutes read, etc. Student participation gifts to be provided by the Beachwood Schools PTO. More details to come!

Thank You!

Thank you for participating in this FUNdraiser! Proceeds to benefit the Beachwood Schools PTO, BMS PBIS Committee, and Bison-to-Bison/St. Baldrick’s Foundation, directly impacting our students and teachers, and contributing to childhood cancer research and advocacy. For questions, please reach out to Jennifer Ferns at jenefur35@gmail.com or Crystal Jacobs at crystalmariejacobs@gmail.com. All prizes to be awarded on Thursday, March 14.

Follow the fun on Facebook!

Classroom Spotlight: Nate Smith (Social Studies Grade 6)

Students in Mr. Smith and Ms. Reigle's (student-teacher) Social Studies classes recently finished their unit on the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia. Students learned many things about Mesopotamia: the history of the civilization, the geography of the region, the social structure, religious practices, and, most importantly, the enduring impacts of the ancient Mesopotamian people. Some of the enduring impacts are the first writing system, cuneiform, and the concept of law and order through Hammurabi's Code. To further understand these enduring impacts, students worked on cuneiform translations and completed a project on Hammurabi's Code.

Beachwood Neurodiversity Family Network Hosts Parent/Caregiver Support Group

Join the Beachwood Neurodiversity Family Network for a support group discussion on Sunday, March 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Beachwood High School Community Room. We will go around and share our recent “highs” and “lows” as well as anything else you would like to talk about. All are welcome, whether or not you identify as a neurodivergent family. Due to the sensitivity of the topics that may be discussed, as well as privacy concerns, this meeting is intended for adults only. However, if you do not have childcare, or are otherwise unable to attend in person, we are hoping to offer the option to call in virtually, please indicate if you would like the virtual option on the RSVP form.

Hope Heals Teddy Bear Party

Students in the Junior Marketing Achievement class at Beachwood High School are hosting a Teddy Bear Party on Sunday, March 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Beachwood Community Center (25225 Fairmount Blvd.) Free and open to the public, the event celebrates the launch of their creative marketing campaign, “Hope Heals.” The students aim to bring comfort to critically ill children in Northeast Ohio by using the proceeds from “Hope Heals” to buy Medi Teddy IV infusion covers for local hospitals. The Teddy Bear party features crafts, a teddy bear snow globe, and a tea party. For more information, please visit the Hope Heals website.

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.

St. Baldrick’s Fundraiser

Join the Bison Buddies, Beachwood High School’s peer-to-peer learning/mentorship program, in the fight against childhood cancer with the St. Baldrick's Day fundraiser. Beachwood Middle School students are invited to show their spirit on Friday, March 8, by wearing green, dyeing their hair green, or donating their hair to raise awareness for childhood cancer. Please watch this student-created video to learn more. Later this month, students may sign up to attend the March 8 hair donation drive at University Hospital. Please consider a donation for this wonderful cause.

Beachwood Blackout Solar Eclipse Celebration

Join us for the Beachwood Blackout Solar Eclipse Celebration! On Monday, April 8, as the total solar eclipse sweeps over Northeast Ohio, Beachwood Schools and the City of Beachwood are thrilled to host a viewing party at our main stadium (25100 Fairmount Blvd.) from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Free and open to the public, the Beachwood Blackout features family friendly and science-themed activities. The city has generously provided thousands of safety glasses to ensure that all attendees can safely view the eclipse. Please note: Schools will be closed on April 8. We look forward to celebrating this remarkable celestial event with our community!

February Be H.E.A.R.D Celebration!

This past week, students earned the opportunity to participate in Interest Advisories. Topics ranged from Anime to Woodworking. They celebrated their first semester accomplishments in a variety of assemblies and pep rallies. Enjoy these highlights from our Ultimate Rock-Paper-Scissors Competition. Students competed for the opportunity to challenge a staff member to a best-of-three showdown. Congratulations to the staff for going undefeated against the students!