Saturday, July 25, 2020

Update from the Superintendent

In case you missed the Friday communication from Superintendent Sue Charochack or would like to see it again, it is printed here:

Good Afternoon Beverly Parents and Families,

I am writing with an update for you on the planning process for our return to school. As I have mentioned in previous updates, we are preparing to submit a plan to the department of education that outlines three possible “Return to School” models:
  1. In-Person - all students return to school five days a week (Remote Learning Academy available for those unable or unwilling to attend in person) 
  2. Hybrid - a combination of in-person and remote learning on a rotating basis (Remote Learning Academy available for those unable or unwilling to attend in person) 
  3. Remote - all students participate in remote learning five days a week. 
We thank you for your participation in our survey. We have over 2700 responses and the information you have shared, while not binding in your decision, is an enormous help in our planning process. We will continue to look for your feedback as we get closer to the start of the school year.

I also want to take the opportunity to share with you the news that the district has ordered additional devices so that we will be able to ensure that every student in the district will have an individual device in the event of a closure. Our goal was to eliminate the need for even shared devices within families. Students in PreK will have access to a device in the event of a closure. Students K-8 will utilize a designated device throughout the day and will have the device available for any remote learning needs. The high school laptop program, including the scholarship opportunities available will ensure access for all our high school students. Finally, the district will be able to assist any family with internet access issues to ensure reliable access to the internet. If you have not already contacted us through the surveys that have been taken regarding needed assistance with connectivity, please reach out to your building principal and they will assist you.

Thank you again for your participation in our surveys. We will be reaching out to all families for a final decision on your participation in our selected plans for the fall once they are finalized. We appreciate your patience as we work through the process to determine how best to meet the needs of all our students in these unprecedented circumstances.

Sincerely,

Sue Charochak
Superintendent of Schools

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Teens Wanted for Virtual Backpack Drive

Beverly Bootstraps is inviting teens to help host Virtual Backpack Drives! You can earn volunteer hours, give back locally, and help neighbors in need. Teens:
  • Create a personalized backpack donation page on the virtual drive website
  • Create a catchy visual or flyer to use in emails and social media.
  • Send personalized emails asking for donations & send thank you notes to those who donate
See this flyer for more information, or go to the Beverly Bootstraps website for further instructions.

The drive ends August 3, so the time to act is now!

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Summer Stories & Summer Math Reminders

Summer Reading is now Summer Stories!
BMS students entering Grades 6-8 are asked to spend time engaging with stories in books and/or other media over the summer. See the Summer Stories website for more information about expectations. We also strongly encourage all students to participate in the Beverly Public Library's Summer Reading programs, which are available for kids, teens, and adults.

Math Packets

The math packets here have sets of problems for each grade of students entering Beverly Middle School in the fall. Please view/download/print math packets for students:

Monday, July 20, 2020

Fall Reopening - Update & Survey #2

Many of you received a message from Beverly Schools Superintendent, Dr. Sue Charochak, on Monday. If you missed it or if you would like to reference the information she spoke of, see below:

As we approach the beginning of the school year, we are actively planning for our return to school. We need your help! Please take some time to answer our survey! Our priority remains the safety and well being of our school community. 

This past week, I had the opportunity to share some information in an interview on BevCam. The link to the interview is here if you are interested in learning more about the Initial Guidance of Fall Reopening. We are working on developing three plans that we must submit to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) at the end of this month. We have created both a District Reopening Task Force and a District Working Group composed of teachers, parents, and administrators that have been meeting to review policy and communication and to help develop our three plans (in-person, hybrid, and remote). 

Your input is important in this process. We want to hear from you and encourage you to take a few minutes to fill out the survey by the end of the day on Thursday, July 23. At the start of the survey, you may access the DESE guidance and Frequently Asked Questions for clarification regarding re-entry protocols.

I have received many inquiries about a remote learning option for families that are unable or unwilling to send their child to in-person instruction in the fall. I am happy to report that there will be a fully remote option for parents who wish to access it. The survey provides an opportunity to let us know if this is an option you are interested in. This will help us as we plan to understand how many students will be returning in each of the models so that we can make an informed decision. Remember, you are not committing to any plan at this time. We recognize that your family choices may change with continued information from the State. We intend to follow up with families later in the summer to finalize our return to school plan. The health and safety of students and staff is our shared primary goal, however, a better sense of families interests will help us make informed decisions about resources and staffing.

-- Dr. Sue Charochak, Superintendent, Beverly Public Schools

Fall Sports Registration Begins Today

We have a brand new, hopefully easier to navigate, online registration platform for middle school fall sports run through BHS.

Registration opens today, July 20, and runs through August 30 for Middle School Cross Country grades 5-8 and Field Hockey grades 7 & 8 Only

Please do not pay any fees until further notice depending on COVID-19 protocols regarding our sports programs. Further information will be posted on the BHS athletics website at https://beverlyhs.rschoolteams.com/

Leaving the District? Return any iPads.

Any students who are moving out of the district should please return their iPads to the BMS main office by July 31st or sooner, by appointment only. iPads that leave the district are unusable, as they will be locked remotely and cannot be reset.

Summer office hours are by appointment only at this time. Please call 978-921-6103 Monday - Thursday between the hours of 8am and 4pm, or Friday between the hours of 8am and 1pm to request an appointment.

If you need tech support over the summer, please contact the BMS tech department at bmstech@beverlyschools.org

Book of the Day: March by John Lewis

March: Book One by John Lewis & Andrew Aydin

This book was featured in the spring, but in light of the recent passing of the author of this graphic memoir, Congressman John Lewis, it seems a good time to remind everyone of it! This is the first in a trilogy, all of which can be accessed for free from Hoopla.

March
Description From Hoopla: "Book One in the March series spans John Lewis' youth in rural Alabama, his life-changing meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr., the birth of the Nashville Student Movement, and their battle to tear down segregation through nonviolent lunch counter sit-ins, building to a stunning climax on the steps of City Hall. Many years ago, John Lewis and other student activists drew inspiration from the 1958 comic book Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story. Now, his own comics bring those days to life for a new audience, testifying to a movement whose echoes will be heard for generations."


BMS Librarian Ms. Woznick is recommending a book a day! All Books of the Day are available online. You can get get all three in the March series as ebooks from Hoopla if you have a Beverly Public Library Card. Want a physical book? You can reserve them for pickup through the public library, or check with Copper Dog Books or the Book Shop of Beverly Farms.