Tiger News

Message from Mrs. Perez

Capturing Kids Heart Newsletter (CKH)

Counselors Corner

Notes from our Nurse

Teacher, Student of the Month & Coin Recipient

Calendar of events

Student News

8th Grade Field Trip

7th Grade Field Trip

Congratulations 24/25 Cheer Squad

Social Media

Hi, BRMS Families,

I hope everyone had a great 4 day weekend. We are in our final stretch of the school year and it is the busiest time. We only have 7 weeks of school left. Let’s finish strong as we prepare for testing and end of the year activities.

Last week you might have seen information on social media about the Total Solar Eclipse day on April 8. We will be a closed campus on this day. If you would like to opt out of your student viewing the eclipse with the safety glasses, please fill out this form or get one in the front office.

This month in our CKH families, we'll be delving into the themes of courage and perseverance. We'll explore what courage truly means and engage in discussions about perseverance—how to cultivate it, how to navigate challenges, and how to foster its growth. Perseverance, the steadfast determination to persist in the face of adversity, will be our focal point. It's about maintaining the drive to achieve our goals, regardless of the obstacles or time involved. By emphasizing perseverance, we aim to promote positive self-talk and mindset, cultivate empathy, and foster personal growth. Those with perseverance exhibit resilience in the face of obstacles and persist until they attain their objectives.

Please mark your calendar with important dates at the bottom.

Sincerely,

Angel Perez

angel.perez@brisd.net

I can’t believe we have two months left of the school year!! STAAR Testing is right around the corner so please help your student(s) get a good night's sleep and have a good breakfast on test day. Remember to give support and affirmations to your student(s). Encourage them to do their best. In our CKH families we will be continuing learning about courage and start learning about the word perseverance and I believe that these words are great when our students are taking all the knowledge they have learned all year and preparing for STAAR. Remember to relax, your student has prepped all year for these. Here are some tips to help with Test Anxiety:

• Be Prepared - Your student(s) have been preparing all year. Teachers have helped them and reassured them through class and practice tests.

• Have a positive attitude - Have a positive self talk, which is when you say or think things to yourself to help improve your mood.

• You can do it!

• You’ve got this!

• Just do your best.

• Learn to relax - learning to relax before a test is important

• Take deep breaths

• Practice Meditation

• Picture yourself standing in a relaxing place

• Take your time - Focus on one question at a time. Take a deep breath and read each question carefully.

The Blunt Truth of Cannabis Use Amongst Teens

Cannabis, marijuana, weed, grass, flower….. we have all heard at least one of these terms at some point in our lives. Marijuana can be consumed in many different ways including smoking, vaping, oils, teas and edibles. With more and more states making recreational cannabis use legal for adults 21+, what do parents and adolescents need to know about underage use?

Cannabis use among teens is at its highest level in the past 30 years. Approximately 37% of high school students and 8.3% of 8th graders have reported using cannabis. Cannabis use among teens and young adults can have harmful effects on brain development. The brain continues to develop until about 25 years old. The amount of THC (the psychoactive component of Cannabis that gives you the “high”) is 3 x as high compared to 25 years ago, increasing the impact on the brain. Educating yourself as a parent or guardian can help you be more prepared to have a conversation with your teen about marijuana use. Potential risks of marijuana use in teens can include impaired brain development; problems with concentration, problem solving, learning and memory; poor academic/job performance; increased risk of worsening mental health issues; lung issues if smoked/vaped; and interfering with absorption of prescribed medication. Not to mention the legal/disciplinary actions should they be caught possessing and/or consuming on school grounds.

What motivates teens to partake in cannabis use? Research suggests that most teens motivation was “to feel mellow, calm or relaxed-73%”, “to have fun with friends-50%”, “to stop worrying about a problem or forget bad memories-44%”, “to help with depression or anxiety-40%” (Connolly et al). Ultimately there are many factors that contribute to why teens use cannabis, including home life, school and community. Take action and talk to your teen about the repercussions of marijuana use. Check in frequently, help them establish healthy coping mechanisms and be clear on your expectations regarding marijuana and other drug use. Help your teen create an exit plan in the case they are offered marijuana. Peer pressure can be powerful, so coming up with a realistic strategy to handle the situation will empower your student to make good choices when it matters.

Connolly S, Govoni TD, Jiang X, et al. Characteristics of Alcohol, Marijuana, and Other Drug Use Among Persons Aged 13–18 Years Being Assessed for Substance Use Disorder Treatment — United States, 2014–2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024;73:93–98. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7305a1

~Nurse Melissa~

April 1: Staff & Student Holiday

April 8: Eclipse Day

April 9: 6th grade band trip

April 10: Progress Reports go home

April 10: 7th/8th band field trip

April 16: 6-8 Reading STAAR

April 17: 8th Social Studies STAAR

April 23: 8th Science STAAR

April 26: Staff & Student Holiday

May 1: 6-8 Math STAAR & Algebra 1 EOC

May 13: 7th grade trip

May 16-18: 8th grade trip

May 22: 8th grade promotion

Next payment of $130 is due April 19. Final payment due May 3.

Parents - If you are planning to follow along with us and have not notified Mrs. Morgan, please email her this week with the total amount in your group (not including your 8th grader). We must give a final count for tours. Also, if you need SeaWorld tickets, send your payment by 4/19. The price includes admission, lunch, and parking.

The 7th grade field trip is scheduled for Monday, May 13th. We will be visiting the Perot Museum in Dallas. The cost is $12. If you haven't sent in your child's money or signed permission slip yet, please do so as soon as possible. Kids may bring money and slips to the office or give them to Ms. Masters.

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