Book of the Day: Here to Stay

Here to Stay by Sara Farizan

From Hoopla: "Bijan Majidi is: * Shy around girls * Really into comics * Decent at basketball. Bijan Majidi is not: * A terrorist. What happens when a kid who's flown under the radar for most of high school gets pulled off the bench to make the winning basket in a varsity playoff game? If his name is Bijan Majidi, life is suddenly high fives in the hallways and invitations to exclusive parties-along with an anonymous photo sent by a school cyberbully that makes Bijan look like a terrorist. The administration says they'll find and punish the culprit. Bijan wants to pretend it never happened. He's not ashamed of his Middle Eastern heritage; he just doesn't want to be a poster child for Islamophobia. Lots of classmates rally around Bijan. Others make it clear they don't want him or anybody who looks like him at their school. But it's not always easy to tell your enemies from your friends. Here to Stay is a painfully honest, funny, authentic story about growing up, speaking out, and fighting prejudice."

BMS Librarian Ms. Woznick is recommending a book a day! You can download the ebook of Here to Stay from Hoopla with a Beverly Public Library card -- or check with Copper Dog Books or the Book Shop of Beverly Farms.

Also: Sign up this week for Ms. Woznick's summer reading book club, which is reading From the Desk of Zoe Washington. It starts on Monday!

Thursday Update from the Superintendent

In case you missed this communication on Thursday from our Superintendent, it is replicated here.

Good Morning Beverly School Community:

I am writing today to share with you what I know will be the first of many updates regarding the development process of a plan to reopen schools in the fall. First, let me thank you for your participation in our Parent Survey on Reopening Schools. We will have follow-up survey opportunities for you to share your feedback as we continue to develop our plan. Today, Governor Baker’s office and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released their initial guidance about reopening schools this fall. We applaud the level of thought and care that went into the development of this guidance and share its goal of the safe return of as many students as possible to in-person school settings in order to best meet students’ academic, social, and emotional needs.

Over the coming days, we will be reviewing the guidance to begin to understand how it impacts what we can do in Beverly. We also acknowledge that these initial guidelines do not address every topic and that there will be additional guidance coming throughout the summer. The full document can be found at HERE, but here are some key components of the department’s guidance:

• Current medical research supports a safe in-person return to school - with preventive measures in place - as infection and transmission rates are lower for children than adults.
• Preventive measures include masks/face coverings, physical distancing, handwashing, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
• Masks/face coverings will be required for all students in Grade 2 and above and for all adults; they are recommended for students in Grade 1 and below.
• Based upon current medical research, and in conjunction with other preventive measures, a minimum physical distance of three feet has been established.

Districts will need to develop three separate plans - one for return to full in-person instruction with safety requirements, one for full remote learning, and one for hybrid learning that combines in-person and remote learning. The district has created a task force to develop each of these plans and each building will have a building-based team to determine the individual adjustments necessary for their school building. Based upon the current medical situation, the expectation today is that students will return to full in-person instruction in September; however, that is subject to change based upon how the medical situation develops.

We acknowledge that there are likely to be more questions than answers at this time, and we will continue to communicate with you in the coming weeks and months. We also encourage you to read the full document HERE, and if you have questions to please send them. At this time, the best way for you to help us is to complete this parent survey (open through June 28) and those that will follow in the coming weeks and months.

Thank you for your patience and understanding,

Sue Charochak, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

BPS Back to School Planning Survey

If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes to complete this parent/guardian survey to help guide our planning in safely reopening our schools for the 2020-2021 school year. This initial survey will be followed up with other surveys once clear guidance is provided from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and hope to use the survey information to focus our efforts. 

The survey is open until June 28, 2020. Thank you for your participation.

Pick Up Summer Eats on Friday

Beverly Public Schools & Summer Eats are Feeding Students for free All Summer!!!

Meal distributions will continue on Tuesdays and Fridays*

Tuesday & Friday 10:30a-12:30p at Beverly High School and 
Tuesday & Friday 11:30a-12p at Apple Village 600 Manor Road and Holcroft Park 10 Gage St

*Note: Meals will be distributed on Thursday July 2nd instead of Friday July 3rd in order to observe 4th of July Holiday

CHILDREN DO NOT NEED TO BE PRESENT TO RECEIVE MEALS! 

Produce Boxes will be distributed on Fridays on a first-come-first-serve basis

Any questions please call the Food Service Department at 978-921-6132 x 11129

Book of the Day: Lucky Caller

Lucky Caller by Emma Mills

From Hoopla: "When Nina decides to take a radio-broadcasting class her senior year, she expects it to be a walk in the park. Instead, it's a complete disaster. The members of Nina's haphazardly formed radio team have approximately nothing in common. And to maximize the awkwardness, her group includes Jamie, a childhood friend she'd hoped to basically avoid for the rest of her life. The show is a mess, internet rumors threaten to bring the wrath of two fandoms down on their heads, and, to top it all off, Nina's family is on the brink of some major upheaval. Everything feels like it's spiraling out of control?but maybe control is overrated?"

BMS Librarian Ms. Woznick is recommending a book a day! You can download the eaudiobook of Lucky Caller from Hoopla with a Beverly Public Library, reserve the hard copy of Lucky Caller for pickup at the library -- or check with Copper Dog Books or the Book Shop of Beverly Farms.

Also: Sign up this week for Ms. Woznick's summer reading book club, which is reading From the Desk of Zoe Washington. It starts on Monday!

Sign Up Now: Book Club Starts Monday!

BMS Librarian Ms. Woznick is going to be reading aloud 2-3 chapters Monday through Friday from the book From the Desk of Zoe Washington starting on Monday, June 29 from 9:00 - 9:30 am. Students can listen in, and get access to some other information and have brief discussions each day for 3 weeks. Alternately, they can read the book on their own time and join periodically or just for the final meeting on July 10. For more information, see this flyer.

Author Janae Marks will answer student questions at our final session!

Interested in participating? Fill out this Google Form and Ms. Woznick will be in touch! You can also email Ms. Woznick: awoznick@beverlyschools.org.

Book of the Day: Dragonwatch

Dragonwatch by Brandon Mull

Because Dragonwatch, an ancient group of wizards, enchantresses, and dragon slayers, is crumbling, an uprising of dragons threatens to destroy the magical preserves as well as overrun the nonmagical world. This is the first book in the Dragonwatch series, the successor to Fablehaven. There are 2 other Dragonwatch books out now too! See the Dragonwatch book trailer.

BMS Librarian Ms. Woznick is recommending a book a day (most days)! All Books of the Day are available online. You can get Dragonwatch as an ebook from Hoopla (as well as the next two in the series) if you have a Beverly Public Library Card. Want a physical book? Now you can reserve books for pickup at the library too -- or check with Copper Dog Books or the Book Shop of Beverly Farms.

Make sure you sign up for Beverly Public Library's Summer Reading program -- it starts on Monday, June 22. There are programs for kids, teens, AND adults!

Summer Stories: Book Clubs

Have you checked out the Summer Stories website yet? Here's a quick one-pager that describes the program.

One great choice is a book club, but they take a little planning ahead.

Ms. Woznick is going to be reading 2-3 chapters a day of the book From the Desk of Zoe Washington starting on Monday, June 29 from 9:00 - 9:30 am. Students can listen in, and get access to some other information and have brief discussions each day for 3 weeks. Alternately, they can read the book on their own time and join periodically or for the final meeting on July 10. For more information, see this flyer.

Slightly older students may enjoy the virtual book clubs being run through the Beverly Public Library for Truly Devious on July 1 or Gone on July 31.

Want to Unsubscribe (or Subscribe)?

Those of you who now find yourself with no students at BMS for the coming school year may wish to unsubscribe from the Homeward Bound emails. There is an unsubscribe link at the bottom of each email to click on.

If you or someone you know is interested in receiving Homeward Bound emails, the person who would like to get it must request it themselves. It is separate from emails that come through the phone and email alert system from the school district. During the school year, there is an email most weekdays and sometimes on Saturday or Sunday. During school vacation periods, you may receive them less often. Click here to start the process, or go to this page for detailed information and directions. 

Reopen Beverly Website

The city of Beverly has launched a new website, Reopen Beverly, that will help you navigate Governor Baker's phased approach to reopening in the city of Beverly: reopenbeverly.com

Here you'll find phase by phase information on which businesses, services, and public areas are open in Beverly, and the rules and regulations that currently apply as you begin to visit them again.  It's also a quick reference guide where Beverly businesses can find information and links to state-mandated safety protocols/standards, COVID Orders, general business guidance, and more.

Laptop Lease Program for Those Entering BHS

Incoming BHS freshman for the 2020/2021 school year can register to join the ​1-1 “Lease to Own” Laptop Program at Beverly High School​. This laptop program is optional and not mandatory. See this letter for details on the program, or click here to register.

​If you have any questions after reading the documentation please email your question(s) to bhstech@beverlyschools.org​ or leave a voicemail at 978-921-6132 ext. 11171.

Beverly Public Library Summer Reading Starts Today!

The public library's doors may be closed to visitors still, but they are checking books out and the summer reading program for kids, teens, and adults kicks off today. You might even win a prize!

The Summer Reading Program runs from Monday, June 22 to Friday, August 14. Participants can track their reading and earn the opportunity to win prizes. Download the Beanstack app, get it from Self Service (if you have a school iPad) or sign up online beginning June 22.

The first teen event is a virtual book club on July 1 from 2-3pm. Read the book Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson (available on hoopla) and then meet with Meghan Karasin from the library and other teens on Zoom.  Registration is required.

Request a Free Book This Summer

BMS Librarian Ms. Woznick has dozens of great used books from her giveaway bins and would love to get them into the hands of kids to read and enjoy this summer!

You can request a free book (1 per week):

1. Please see the list of giveaway books online - if you see one that looks good to you, then
2. fill out this form to request it.

You can pick the book up at Beverly High School on Tuesday morning this summer, during the same times that food is available for pickup. A confirmation email will be sent you by the Monday evening before it is available for contactless pickup. Books will be put into in a plain paper bag with your name on it and placed in the vestibule outside the cafeteria. If you are unable to get to the high school to pick it up, you will have an option to provide your address so it can be delivered to your home (Beverly only). This may take a little longer.

If you have questions, please contact Ms. Woznick: awoznick@beverlyschools.org.

Book of the Day: Dreamland Burning

Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham

If you are curious about the 1921 Tulsa Massacre after hearing about it on the news or seeing HBO's Watchmen series this past weekend, the book Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham is a compelling read. "When Rowan finds a skeleton on her family's property, investigating the brutal, century-old murder leads to painful discoveries about the past. Alternating chapters tell the story of William, another teen grappling with the racial firestorm leading up to the 1921 Tulsa race riot, providing some clues to the mystery." Note that this book is best for more mature readers, about age 13 and up. Read a review on Kirkus for more information. 

BMS Librarian Ms. Woznick is recommending a book a day! You can reserve Dreamland Burning for pickup at the library -- or check with Copper Dog Books or the Book Shop of Beverly Farms.

Make sure you sign up for Beverly Public Library's Summer Reading program -- it starts today, Monday, June 22. There are programs for kids, teens, AND adults!

Click here for book suggestions for kids and teens about experiences of racism and active resistance.

Summer Eats - Tomorrow

Beverly Public Schools & Summer Eats are Feeding Students for free All Summer!!!

Meal distributions will continue on Tuesdays and Fridays*

Tuesday & Friday 10:30a-12:30p at Beverly High School and 
Tuesday & Friday 11:30a-12p at Apple Village 600 Manor Road and Holcroft Park 10 Gage St

*Note: Meals will be distributed on Thursday July 2nd instead of Friday July 3rd in order to observe 4th of July Holiday

CHILDREN DO NOT NEED TO BE PRESENT TO RECEIVE MEALS! 

Produce Boxes will be distributed on Fridays on a first-come-first-serve basis

Any questions please call the Food Service Department at 978-921-6132 x 11129