BEATRICE MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

5TH AND 8TH GRADE TRANSITIONS

Beatrice Middle School is supporting the current 8th and 5th grade students as they make the transition to a new school for the 2023-2024 school year. Change is always a concern for students as they begin a new career at a different school building. Moving from a familiar location to a bigger and more diverse school will bring new and different challenges for students.

During the month of March, BHS Counselors Mrs. Prososki & Ms. Sladek, met with the 8th grade students to explain the registration process for high school scheduling. They reviewed with students the necessary courses needed to graduate and go onto a post-secondary school. When students completed the registration by selecting their classes, the forms were sent to BHS.

Beatrice fifth grade students meet with BMS counselors and administration during the months of April and May. A counselor and an administrator will go to each elementary building and describe what a 6th grade student’s day will look like. The counselors describe classes students attend, supplies they will need, and activities they can be involved in. During the visits, the administrators talk about three areas of concern that most 5th grade students have. The concerns are: not being able to find their classrooms, opening their locker, and how to go through the lunch line. To ease their concerns, students are invited to BMS to tour the building and have lunch at the school. To help with lockers, a lock board is given to each elementary to allow students to practice opening a school locker. To find their way around the building, all incoming 6th grade students and their parents will be invited to an orientation at BMS prior to school starting. Information regarding 6th grade orientation will be shared in the back to school newsletter.

Change can be a concern to students and parents. BMS is working with the students to help them make the adjustment to Beatrice High School and Beatrice Middle School as smooth as possible by providing opportunities to see the buildings during the day and ask questions. If you have questions about the transition, please feel free to contact BMS.

As we quickly come to the end of the school year at BMS, we wanted to give you an update on #BMSHOUSESOFORANGE!!! This past week our students participated in 3 food challenges. One of the challenges students participated in was whipping a bowl of whipping cream into a cool whip with a hand which in 8 minutes with all 8 houses being successful. The second challenge, 2 students from each house received 9 different ingredients and used 5 ingredients to make the best possible grilled cheese. The final food challenge students enjoyed partaking in was the Eiffel Tower replicate with spaghetti and marshmallows. Our students greatly enjoyed all of these challenges. As we enter the last few weeks of school we will be putting in attendance, grades, and behavior points for all our students. Good Luck to to see what house is the CHAMPION of this school year!!! Please take a look at the current leaderboard!!

On April 4, 2023 BMS held a career fair for our 8th grade students. In January, students were asked to complete an interest inventory and their top 3 career interest areas were identified. Students attended their top three interest areas sessions plus went to a high school panel. We partnered with 17 different businesses and community organizations to get volunteers to speak with our middle school students; as well as, 6 high school students who came to speak about class offerings at BHS. Speakers were asked to talk about the following topics:

1. What kind of education/background do you need to have to do this job?

2. What does a typical day in this area look like?

3. Talk about your own path to this career field. (the students would enjoy hearing about how/when you knew you were interested in this field, how you got started and how you got to where you are now)

4. Share any specific skills or qualities needed to succeed in this field.

5. What can students do now to prepare themselves for a career in this field?

6. What advice do you have for these 8th graders as they prepare to enter high school?

BMS students had the following thoughts about the day:

“I enjoyed the career fair because I think it gave me options to see what I want to do.”

“I think it was a good way to learn about the things I am interested in doing in the future. It definitely showed me how useful the classes/programs that are offered at the high school and in the community are.”

“I liked the career fair because we got to know different people from different jobs. This helped me know more about different ways people live and what they have experienced.

“I liked how they talked about college and scholarships and money for them. I liked the construction one because you can do a lot.”

We are already looking forward to planning next year’s career fair. Check out this link for a short video of the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1APzK_gGFSw

A very special thank you to all of our speakers and businesses that helped us make this day a success!

Mr. Kassmeier’s and Mrs. Schaaf’s science classes received a generous grant for several thousand dollars to have students install a small landscaped area. This area can be used for outdoor classes when the weather is suitable. Twenty years ago the landscape on the east side of the middle school was installed by students after a grant provided the funding for that landscape. Well, sometimes as items age they do not get better with time. The initial landscape had become overgrown and unattractive. The school should reflect our mission. If we are asking students to be among the best, our school must reflect that purpose and work on improvement. Old and tired just did not cut it.

Students are volunteering to work during classtime on this project. They take part in all aspects of the installation that can be safely performed by students. Work can be difficult and yet the students love it. Mr. Kassmeier thinks that is an important message to get out to the public. “There is a biased image that portrays teens as lazy. This is far from the truth. Our students love working outside and don’t mind doing a job that requires strength and perseverence.”

The pictures show students helping to clear the old landscape in preparation for the new area. Some of the pictures show the school’s staff from Building and Grounds using a Bobcat to assist in some of the more difficult tasks. This project requires cooperation among various school and community members for the more technical aspect to get completed in a timely manner. All the support is appreciated.

Research Shows the Benefits of Summer Reading!

The long awaited summer months are finally here, and while fun in the sun is top of mind for us all, we’re also thinking about how we can help encourage students to keep

reading over the summer.

Summer reading is critical, not only for helping kids maintain learning while school is out, but also for fostering social-emotional development, discovering the joy of stories, and elevating the importance of lifelong learning.

Educators and parents agree summer reading matters. According to the Scholastic Teacher & Principal School Report, 96% of educators agree that providing year-round access to books at home is important to enhancing student achievement. And according to the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report™: 7th Edition, 94% of parents agree that reading books over the summer will help their child during the school year.

In addition to academic benefits, there are powerful social-emotional impacts when kids read. Eighty-three-percent of educators say reading helps students understand people that are different than them, 81% say reading helps students develop empathy, and 81% say reading helps students see themselves in characters and stories.

In addition, 74% of kids say that reading fiction and nonfiction helps them understand the world. That’s pretty special!

When it comes to encouraging summer reading, we know that when kids choose, they read! Eighty-nine-percent of kids agree “My favorite books are the ones that I have picked out myself.”

And all formats for reading materials are great. For instance, graphic novels and comic books are nearly equally as popular among frequent and infrequent readers.

In April, the BMS House Council paired with another Trailblazer Conference school, Ralston to participate in a Student Council exchange day. BMS visited Ralston Middle School, received a tour of the school, and participated in several activities that had the student leaders of each school making connections and having fun. A few weeks later, Ralston Middle School Student Council members had the opportunity to make the trip to Beatrice to meet up with new friends and get a chance to check out the cool things that we offer at Beatrice Middle School!

We are down to the last few weeks of school. If your child has medications in the nurse’s office, including prescription and “as needed” meds such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen, they will need to be picked up and taken home. Parents, you will have to pick up your child's medication, students MAY NOT take the medication home. ANY MEDICATIONS NOT PICKED UP WILL BE DESTROYED AFTER NOON ON MAY 24th.

*****REMINDER*****Any current 6th grader going into 7th grade needs a physical and current Tdap vaccine before school starts in August. Physicals and proof of vaccine are due in the nurse’s office BEFORE the first day of 7th grade. **If we do not have proof of vaccine and physical on file the first day of school your student may be excluded from school on a medical exclusion until Tdap and/or physical is completed (per Nebraska Law (79-444) and State Stature 79-4,171; 7904,117(1)(b); (2),(3).** Any student wanting to participate in a sport in the 2023-2024 school year will need a sports physical dated after May 1st before participating (7th grade physicals count towards sports also, so no need to get a sports physical if your child had a 7th grade physical).

GAGE COUNTY IMMUNIZATION CLINIC: 1110 Jackson St.; Every Monday 12-4pm, Every Tuesday 3-7pm, and Every Thursday 12-4pm. Call 223-2366 for an appointment. Must bring insurance card or Medicaid card to appointment.

THE FOLLOWING MEDICAL OFFICES WILL BE

OFFERING PHYSICALS BY PRESCHEDULED APPOINTMENT

GAGE COUNTY MEDICAL CLINIC, P.C.- 402- 228-3436.

BEATRICE MEDICAL CENTER- 402-228-3344.

BEATRICE WOMEN'S & CHILDRENS CLINIC- 402-228-3117.

WYMORE MEDICAL CLINIC- 402-645-3310

Please return these physicals and forms to the office or nurses office as soon as they are completed so they may be entered into your child’s file.

BMS 7th Grade & New Student Physical Form

BMS Sports Physical Form

The weather is getting nice out and more children are utilizing their bicycles. Here are a few reminders to ensure children are operating their bicycles in the safest way possible. Per Beatrice Municipal Code, Section 16 a bicycle needs to be registered with the City of Beatrice. This can be accomplished during business hours by visiting the city offices. If you are operating your bicycle at night, it is required to be equipped with a light that is white and visible within at least 500 feet. Anyone that operates a bicycle is required to follow the rules of the road, just the same as any motor vehicle. Bicycles should be ridden on the right side whenever it is practicable. As always, wear your helmets and enjoy our new season of warm weather!

Summer weights will begin on June 5th and go until July 27th. There will be one session at the middle school from 8am-9am. Sessions will be held Monday through Thursday. Please see the full schedule outside the fitness room with closures or contact Mrs. Kobza. Let’s get stronger this summer!!

Looking for a summer job? Students who will be at least 13 years old by July 1st......SNJ Detasseling is having a sign up meeting on Wednesday, May 3rd at the Beatrice High School Commons Area from 5:30-6:30 p.m. All detasseling questions can be directed to Mr. Kassmeier at BMS.

Front Row: Alijah Stabler, Eli Bulson, Collin Kimmen & James Scholl. Back Row: Sophia Laflin, Jordan Turner & Caleb Zarybnicky. Not Pictured: Jessica Montejo Orellana.

Front Row: Luis Gutierrez Pineda, Logan Schaaf, Esme Kassmeier, Addison Hawkins & Mary Adkins. Back Row: Brynn Yurka, Desire Barra, Jordyn Crouse, Anna Pribyl & Shaylee Calloway. Not Pictured: Chase Klapmeyer.

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL.....BMS students will be dismissed at Noon on Thursday, May 25th. Students will not be allowed into the building that day with backpacks, purses or bags of any kind. As a reminder, dress code still applies on the last day of school.

LOST & FOUND.....Please check the lost and found at the office. All unclaimed items will be discarded on Tuesday, May 30th.

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS.....May 30th-June 9th/9:00-12:00 & 1:00-3:00. BMS office will be closed May 26th through May 29th.

BACK TO SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS.....August 3rd-9th/9:00-12:00 & 1:00-3:00. Beginning Thursday, August 10th/7:30-4:00.

BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATION including 6th grade Orientation, will be sent out in July.

FINES & FEES.....All fines and fees MUST BE PAID prior to the last day of school.

Beatrice Middle School

www.beatricepublicschools.org

215 North 5th Street, Beatrice NE 68310

(402) 223-1545

BMS Messenger Editor: Annette Barnard