A message from BCMS Principal Mike Klugman – May 2016
Welcome Grade 5 Parents!
I remember receiving this letter as my children entered middle school and I am sure there are a flood of emotions that come with it. One of the most important points of pride for our Middle School staff is making our incoming 6th graders’ transition the most positive experience for them that we can. We understand the emotion and challenge that this presents to both students and their parents and we therefore aim to make this time one of transparency, invitation, and thorough communication.
May 12 and May 17 are dedicated to parent orientations beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Middle School Library Media Center (LMC).
- May 12 – Elsmere, Slingerlands and Eagle parents
- May 17 – Hamagrael and Glenmont parents.
Please note: If you have a conflict you are welcome to attend either session.
View copy of the meeting agenda.
A team consisting of counselors, house leaders, teachers, students, parents and administrative representatives will present information and respond to your questions about the BCMS experience. At these meetings we will provide you with an overview of the extra-curricular activities available to your children in the year ahead, as well as an overview of our academic program. We ask that, due to limited space, you not bring children to this meeting.
In addition to our evening meetings, grade 5 students will be visiting the Middle School on Friday, May 13 from 10 am-1:30 pm. Grade 6 teachers will take students on building tours and students will dine in our cafeteria. Students may bring or buy lunches (cash only-ID cards will not be used).
Our goal is to provide a friendly, caring, and safe environment where each student is challenged to achieve at the highest level of their capabilities. Our Middle School of 1,100+ students is organized into three smaller communities called Teams. The team names of Mohawk, Patroon 1 and Patroon 2, which students voted on in 2007, are derived from our community’s heritage. The purpose of the Team Plan is to provide each student with a connected three-year middle school experience that keeps teachers and parents working together to meet students’ intellectual and personal developmental needs.
Fifth grade parents who currently have children in the Middle School may request, in writing, to have an incoming 6th grader in the same or different house as your 7th or 8th grade child. In either case, your written requests should be sent to my attention by May 30th. We will make every effort to accommodate your request. However, we cannot offer an assurance that all requests can be honored given class size considerations and instructional program decisions that may impact other students. In the absence of specific sibling related requests, students will be assigned Houses based on the information received from elementary teachers, counselors, and principals. No other house / team requests will be honored. I can reassure all parents and students that students from all 5 elementary buildings are evenly distributed among our teams. We also balance our teams so we have an even gender ratio between teams.
We look forward to seeing you at our orientations and working with you in the year(s) ahead.
Sincerely,
Mike Klugman
Principal