BMS Parent Newsletter

School safety is always an important part of the BMS educational setting. Blanco MS and Blanco ISD have partnered with Stay Alert to provide an avenue for students, parents, teachers, and community members to report issues related to school safety. If you are aware of an incident, situation, activity, etc. that needs to be reported to school officials, please utilize one of the Stay Alert program avenues to report it. Those reporting can choose to remain anonymous.

You can report:

online at www.stayalert.info

by email to report@stayalert.info

by text to 206-406-6485

by phone to 206-406-6485

The State of Texas, Texas Education Agency, Texas Association of School Administrators, and other agencies have worked together to provide parents with a child identification packet. This packet is for parents to use/keep if they choose to do so. The envelope is shown below so you know what to look for. It is a place to record fingerprints, and save a DNA sample. With child abductions and human trafficking making headlines on a daily basis, this is a tool you can utilize as a parent if the need were to ever arise. You could quickly turn over the packet to police if needed. This is NOT something you should return to the school. You can choose as a parent to utilize this tool or not. If you have any questions, please contact BMS at the number below. Please look for this envelope MONDAY (October 24) or ask your child about it so that you can utilize it if you would like.

October is Bullying Prevention Month. Each day during announcements, we will have an anti-bullying message. These were our bullying prevention messages this week:

MONDAY - Today we are going to talk about bystanders in bullying situations. A bystander is someone who sees bullying but is not part of it. Bystanders may inadvertently give the bully power by giving them attention or by laughing at what they are doing. Don't stand by and watch bullying or laugh at the situation. Step in and help stop the bullying.

TUESDAY - Bystanders who watch bullying give their power in the situation away to the bully. This can hurt the person being bullied. It is important to remember that people around the bullying situation have power too. Your actions can reduce or stop bullying. You can be a part of the solution. Tomorrow we will talk about how to do that.

WEDNESDAY - If you see bullying happening, you can help out just as if you were being bullied yourself. First, recognize the bullying. Second, you can help the victim stand up to bullying. Finally, report the bullying to an adult. If the situation looks unsafe and you can't help the victim yourself, get an adult immediately.

THURSDAY - You can help prevent bullying by inviting students to be a part of your group and hang out with you. Remember a bully typically doesn’t have power over a group. If the bully happens to be your friend, talk to them about how their actions hurt others. Encourage the victim to leave the area with you and go to an adult. DO NOT take things into your own hands and go after the bully or try to get back at them. Doing that just contributes to the problem. Remember we want ALL students to feel welcome and safe at BMS.

FRIDAY - Remember as a bystander you can either empower the bully or empower the victim. If you see bullying, call it out. SAY - that is bullying, you need to stop. Help the victim by letting them join your group or activity. Report the bullying or help the victim do it. Check to make sure people in the situation are safe. Don't go after the bully physically or verbally if they continue. Get an adult.

BMS will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week October 24 - 28. Red Ribbon Week is the nation's longest running drug-use prevention campaign. There will be drug prevention activities during the week. Once of the activities will be student dress up days to promote the anti-drug message. The dress up days will be as follows:

Monday - Don't let drugs ruin your dreams -- Pajama Day

Tuesday - Put a cap on drugs - Cap/Hat Day

Wednesday - Don't let drugs find you - Camo Day

Thursday - Panthers don't do drugs - Blue and Gold Day

Friday - Say "boo" to drugs - Halloween costumes

Dress code is NOT suspended during dress up days. Pajamas, etc. must be school appropriate. Halloween costumes may NOT include masks, weapons of any kind (real or otherwise), no blood (real or otherwise) included in the school day costume.

Science students had the need - the need for speed! The 8th grade science students went outside to calculate speed. Students were in lab groups and had to create a 10 M track. They then took turns completing the track under various parameters - walking, speed walking, walking backwards, etc. The students then calculated average speed for each person and activity. Angela Hussion is the 8th grade science teacher. Thank you to Ms. Sally Blackburn for the photos.

The BMS Volleyball teams hosted Brady on Monday, October 17. The 8th Grade A and B teams and the 7th Grade A team all won. Brady did not have a 7th grade B team.

The volleyball teams will be back on the court Monday, October 24 when they travel to Florence. Games begin at 5:00 PM.

Records:

7A = 6-3

7B = 3-4

8A = 6-3

8B = 8-1

The BMS Football teams hosted Llano on Thursday, October 20. The 7th grade defeated the Daubers 28-10. The 8th grade lost their game.

Records:

7th Grade = 4-1-1

8th Grade = 0-6

The football teams will travel to Ingram on Thursday , October 27. 7th Grade starts at 5 PM.

BISD has a competition each week to identify the class with the highest attendance in the district. The campus of the class with the highest attendance is awarded an attendance flag that they fly over their campus the following week. The 6th grade won the flag last week with a 96.2% attendance rate. Congratulations to the 6th grade!

Attendance is very important not only for students to be able to learn the necessary skills in school, but also because schools receive funding based on attendance.

Pictured below, office aides Alex Hutton (left) and Lily Bendele (right) display the flag before sending it up the BMS flagpole.

Check out the information sheet below if you are interested in supporting the Blanco HS FFA Booster Club.

BMS teachers, staff, and students provide shout outs to those who have gone above and beyond, provided help to another person, been a good citizen, accomplished a task/goal, won an athletic contest, participated in an activity or competition, or just need recognition for doing something nice, etc. These are our SHOUT OUTS for the week:

7th Grade A team volleyball for their win over Brady.

8th Grade A team volleyball for their win over Brady.

8th Grade B team volleyball for their win over Brady.

7th Grade football team for their win over Llano.

Student Council and Ms. Hernandez for their soup and salad lunch for teacher appreciation.

Mr. Baker for energizing the crowd with his "mic drop" pep rally speech.

The cheerleaders for an awesome pep rally.

The band for their spirited musical pieces during the pep rally.

Logan Reyna for helping Mr. Angel at lunch.

Ms. Blackburn for photos of Science Labs.

If you have questions related to middle school, please contact the appropriate person at BMS:

Brad Kinney: Principal - brad.kinney@blancoisd.org

Sallie Lyons: Counselor - sallie.lyons@blancoisd.org

Cheryl Tesch: Registrar - cheryl.tesch@blancoisd.org

Paula Batey: Administrative Assistant - paula.batey@blancoisd.org

BMS Phone: 830-833-5570