BMS eNEWS

April 10, 2024

In this Issue

Testing Schedule Reminders

Read-a-Thon

Congratulations Destination Imagination

Classroom Spotlight: Vocal Music and Keyboard Music Appreciation

An Evening with Author Michael Grant Jaffe: Insights into Creative Writing

Beachwood Neurodiversity Family Network Hosts Caregiver Support Group

Raising Gifted Children: An Evening with Dr. Sylvia Rimm

White & Gold Talent Show

Beachwood Schools Rescreens Holocaust Documentary for Yom HaShoah

Family Kindness Festival 2024

Message from the Principal

Dear Beachwood Middle School Families,

I am thrilled to extend our congratulations to our remarkable Destination Imagination teams for their outstanding achievements at the state competition held in Cincinnati last weekend. Their dedication, teamwork, and innovative problem-solving skills have led them to qualify for Globals, which is an exceptional accomplishment. We are so proud of their hard work and cannot wait to see them shine on the global stage!

Additionally, I hope everyone had a fantastic time experiencing the breathtaking solar eclipse. The Beachwood Blackout Solar Eclipse Party was an unforgettable opportunity for our community to witness the marvels of nature. I hope that your child’s experience sparked curiosity and wonder about the world around them.

As we continue to embrace the joy of spring, I want to remind our families that we are also approaching the end of the academic year, which means it’s time for our spring assessments. English Language Arts tests are scheduled to begin next week, with the complete schedule included below. We hope that our students continue to approach these assessments with confidence and determination. Their efforts will reflect the incredible progress and achievements they’ve made throughout this year. Thank you for your ongoing support.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Dr. Tony Srithai

Principal

Important Dates

April 10: No School (Eid al-Fitr)
April 18 & 19: Ohio State Tests: English Language Arts
April 25: 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
May 3: Beachwood Middle School Sixth-Grade Student Orientation, 9:30 a.m.
May 10: Eighth-Grade Career Shadow Day

News & Announcements

Testing Schedule Reminders

Last week, a separate email was sent regarding our spring testing schedule for English Language Arts-ELA (April 18-19) and Mathematics (April 30 & May 1). The dates and times are listed below. Students have the option to stay home when not testing. As stated in last week’s email, additional transportation routes will be provided. Please complete the appropriate form that was emailed directly to you in order to indicate your child’s transportation plans for ELA and Math testing. Last week’s email was sent directly to you by vkl@beachwoodschools.org. If a form is not completed, students will not be allowed to leave school early or report late when not testing.

TEST DATE	LAST NAME A-L	LAST NAME M-Z
ELA Part 1 (April 18) Thu	7:45 - 10:45 a.m.	11:45 - 2:45 p.m.
ELA Part 2 (April 19) Fri	7:45 - 10:45 a.m.	11:45 - 2:45 p.m.
Math Part 1 (April 30) Tue	7:45 - 9:45 a.m.	12:45 - 2:45 p.m.
Math Part 2 (May 1) Wed - Late Start	8:30 - 10:30 a.m.	12:45 - 2:45 p.m.

Science Testing Schedule for April 25-26

Beachwood Middle School will administer Ohio State Assessments for students in Grade 8 Science, Biology, and Honors Seventh-Grade Science on Thursday, April 25, and Friday, April 26. These assessments will run from 7:45 - 9:15 a.m. Sixth and seventh-grade students who are not taking the science test can arrive at 9:05 a.m. on April 25 and April 26. Students arriving earlier will be supervised in the auditorium.

PTO Hosts Spring Read-a-Thon

The PTO will be hosting a read-a-thon fundraiser this spring. Beachwood Middle School Language Arts teachers have encouraged all students to participate. Please complete this Google Form in order to permit the PTO to send you informational emails about signing up for this fun activity.

Congratulations: Destination Imagination!

All Beachwood Destination Imagination teams gave outstanding performances at the State Destination Imagination Tournament this past weekend in Cincinnati. We are so proud of their effort, creativity, teamwork, and resilience. It was exciting to watch our Beachwood teams compete. Both middle school teams qualified for the Global Tournament in Kansas City in May!

Second Place Middle Level

Fine Arts Winners:

[Delete DI Pun Here]

Zohar Wolach, Sam Kuenzler, Nathan Mu, Sophia Wong, Sarah Zhou

*Davinci Award winners recognized for their creativity and risk taking.

Third Place Middle Level

Improv Winners

OATS

Tanishka Singh, Sophia Wang. Oscar Liang, Athena Yu

*Spirit of DI winners for teamwork, kindness, and enthusiasm during Instant Challenge.

Classroom and Extracurricular Highlights from Carolyn Farley

Choir:

Choir students are currently learning the seven choral elements of stage deportment for our spring concert at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, at Beachwood Middle School.

Keyboard Music Appreciation:

The eighth-grade keyboard class is learning the tonic, dominant, and major chords/triads. They are required to show their understanding on the piano for the song, “Lean On Me.” All eighth-grade students will write a 16-measure song and showcase the piece for the class as a final project.

The seventh-grade keyboard class is learning the circle of fifths key signatures (sharps and flats). Students are required to demonstrate their understanding by playing a song of their choice from a piano methods book.

Extracurricular Updates:

The Beachwood Middle School After-School Choir is a small ensemble that performs for special events. The first performance was in January for the Ohio Music Education Association Middle School Honors Choir at Solon Middle School. The small group also performed at the Solo & Ensemble Chamber Music Contest in March and will perform again for the Arts Fest in May. Another exciting opportunity for students, the ASL Sign Choir meets on Tuesdays in the choir room.

The Mac Scholars recently hosted a Soul Food Cookout in February for Black History Month. The students in the picture learned African drumming on djembe drums.

An Evening with Author Michael Grant Jaffe: Insights into Creative Writing

Beachwood High School’s creative writing club, Introspect, will host an engaging evening with novelist and journalist Michael Grant Jaffe on Tuesday, April 23, at 7:00 p.m. in the Beachwood High School Community Room. Mr. Jaffe is the author of "Dance Real Slow," which inspired the film "A Cool, Dry Place." He will draw on his extensive experience, including his 15 years at Sports Illustrated, to offer insights to high school and middle school students on navigating the professional world of creative writing, mastering strategies for recognition, and elevating your craft for continuous growth. Don’t miss this inspirational evening!

Beachwood Neurodiversity Family Network Hosts Caregiver Support Group

Join the Beachwood Neurodiversity Family Network for a support group discussion on Sunday, April 14, 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. This meeting will be held in person, but note that our May support group will be held virtually. Light refreshments will be provided.

Raising Gifted Children: An Evening with Dr. Sylvia Rimm

Beachwood Schools is excited to host a family presentation on raising gifted children on Thursday, April 18, at 7 p.m. at Beachwood Middle School. Dr. Rimm, a distinguished psychologist and expert in the field of gifted education, will share her extensive knowledge and provide strategies for nurturing and supporting the unique talents of gifted children. This presentation will offer parents and guardians valuable insights into fostering their child's academic and personal growth while addressing the unique challenges they may face. All parents are encouraged to join this informative session.

White & Gold Talent Show

Please join us for the annual White & Gold Talent Show on Tuesday, April 16, in the Beachwood High School auditorium. Our students will showcase a wide range of talents. Last year, we had students sing, dance, and rap from a wide range of genres. In addition, we were also proud to display our students' talents with music, art, photography, LEGO, sculpture, videography, and more. We can't wait to share what they've created this year!

Beachwood Schools Rescreens Holocaust Documentary for Yom HaShoah

Beachwood Schools invites the community to a special rescreening of the 2010 student-produced documentary From the Holocaust to Freedom: A Journey to Cleveland. Free and open to the public, the rescreening will be held Thursday, May 2, at 7 p.m. in the Beachwood High School auditorium. The documentary, conceived by former superintendent Dr. Richard Markwardt, recounts the stories of Cleveland-area Holocaust survivors. The rescreening will take place in observance of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins at sundown on Sunday, May 5. The district has extended invitations to the survivors, their families and friends, and all individuals involved in the documentary's production, emphasizing the importance of preserving these vital stories.

Family Kindness Festival 2024

Rock out with kindness at the Family Kindness Festival! This free event, hosted by Senders Pediatrics on Sunday, May 5, from 1 to 4 pm at Beachwood High School, celebrates the theme "Kindness Rocks" with live music from Cleveland Keys Dueling Pianos, School of Rock House Band, Inlet Dance Studio, and Panorama Steel Drums. Meet inspiring students, engage with impactful nonprofits, create crafts for a cause, and enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities. Learn more on the Family Kindness website!