Message from the Superintendent

The superintendent sent the following message out today. It is replicated here for your reference:

Good Evening Beverly Parents and Families,

This evening, Mrs. Taylor sent out a communication to the Beverly High School families that a member of the community tested positive. All close contacts have been notified. We will continue our vigilance with safety measures in all our buildings as well as continue to maintain open communication with the school community. We appreciate your continued partnership in complying with all our precautions.

I am also writing today to share with you a resource created by our nursing staff. The site, Resources for Safely Returning to School is located on our Beverly Keeps Learning site and includes links to district guidelines and protocols as well as links to DESE and DPH protocols. Additionally, we have established an email address, covidquestions@beverlyschools.org. This email will be monitored by our nursing staff and they will be able to assist you in any COVID-19 related matters. We believe this resource will be useful in navigating any questions that you may have.

Again, thank you for working together to keep our school community safe.

Sincerely,

Suzanne M Charochak, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Resilient Together Info & Survey

The Cities of Beverly and Salem have officially kicked off Resilient Together, a collective plan to address climate change.

Resilient Together invites residents and business owners – including students – to participate in an online survey where you can share concerns and priorities as they relate to the environment and community resiliency. It takes approximately five minutes to complete and will be active until November 8th. 

The survey is also offered in Spanish and in Portuguese. A printable copy of the survey is available on the project website in Albanian as well.

See this flyer for more information or visit the Resilient Together project website. Follow it on social media on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter. Still have questions? Contact Beverly's Assistant Planning Director, Emily Hutchings at ehutchings@beverlyma.gov.

Virtual Band Class Friday

BMS Band Families - Due to inclement weather, Band will be held virtually today (Friday). Students have access to their links via Google Classroom.

Have a great weekend! 

BMS iPad Tech Support

Due to the Covid virus the process to get help or a repair for a student device is different from how we have done it in the past in theTech Center. We want to ensure that everyone receives the best tech support but at the same time keep everyone safe and healthy. See below for the process to follow for Hybrid and Remote students. Thank you in advance for your cooperation with the new protocol.

Hybrid Students: How to get BMS Tech Support

In School Software & Hardware Issues:

• The teacher will call the BMS tech center at ext. 24160 or ext. 24170.
• We may ask to speak to the student on the phone to troubleshoot the issue with them or we may ask that someone bring it down and place it in the locker located right inside the library door.
• We will give you the locker bay number and 4 digit code.
• You will place the iPad inside and close the door.
• We will disinfect the device and work on the issue.
• When the iPad is fixed we will put it back in the locker and call the classroom for someone to pick it up.

At Home Software & Hardware Issues:
If students are having problem(s) on days they are not in the building:

• The student/parent will call the BMS Tech Center at 978-921-6103 ext. 24160 or ext. 24170. 
• If the line is busy please email the tech center at bmstech@beverlyschools.org with the following information: 
• student name
• describe the problem, and 
• a phone #
• If the issue can’t be resolved via email or phone the Tech Center will instruct the family on where to drop off the iPad. When the iPad is fixed we will call with instruction on where to pick it up.

Remote Students: How to get BMS Tech Support

Software & Hardware Issues:

• The student/parent will call the BMS Tech Center at 978-921-6104 ext. 24160 or 24170. 
• If the line is busy please email the tech center at bmstech@beverlyschools.org with the following information: 
• student name
• describe the problem, and 
• a phone #
•  If the issue can’t be resolved via email or phone the Tech Center will instruct the family on where to drop off the iPad. When the iPad is fixed we will call with instruction on where to pick it up.

Bootstraps Election Day Food Drive

Coming to the polls on November 3? Bring along some food to share with our community! Beverly Bootstraps is holding a food drive and is trying to collect ingredients for Thanksgiving in particular.

See this flyer for more information on what they are looking for!

Be Brave Choice Board

Each Wednesday we provide a set of Global Apps activities for students to do at home during time that is set aside on their schedules each week. We call it the Be Brave Board - we want to students to make brave choices and pick activities that are engaging and that will stretch them to try some new things! We encourage all students to pick at least one wellness activity each week and then to explore a wide range of different topics.

Your child may need assistance assembling household materials for some. Feel free to contact the school office if you need supplies, and we will do our best to assist you. Some activities, like many of the wellness choices, may be ones your student will enjoy doing with other family members.

Students can also use the search button at the top or the menu bar (next to the search button) to see activities from previous weeks, by date or by subject.

After completing each activity, students are asked to complete an exit ticket (the link is updated each week and is available at the top of the Be Brave Board). There is also an optional Padlet each week where students may share their projects and discoveries with one another.

Picture Days Oct. 26 & 27

Picture days will be held the following days:

Monday, October 26th for students in A Cohort 8:30 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.

REMOTE Learning Academy - Monday, October 26th Evening specific time slots will be assigned between 4:30 P.M. - 6:30 P.M.

Tuesday, October 27th for students in B Cohort 8:30 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.

Order your package now at mylifetouch.com and enter the Picture Day ID EVTSNH78G

Tuesday Band Practice is Vritual

Due to the weather, Tuesday Band practice is cancelled. Students should check in for attendence at these times with the following links:

1:30 - 5th Grade Flutes, Clarinets, and Saxophones

1:30 - 6th Grade Flutes, Clarinets, and Saxophones

2:00 - 5th Grade Trumpets, Trombones, French Horns, and Baritones

2:00 - 6th Grade Trumpets, Trombones, French Horns, and Baritones

2:30 - 5th Grade Percussion

2:30 - 6th Grade Percussion

Tuesday Cross Country Practice Cancelled

Attention all cross country runners: Tuesday afternoon's practice has been cancelled due to the weather and poor condition of the fields. We hope to see everyone for practice on Thursday at 3:30. Please check the team Google Classroom page for important information and updates.

Gr 5/6 Virtual Musical Tryouts!

Do you love to sing? Do you love to act? Are you in 5th and 6th grade? Then audition for Super Happy Awesome News: A Virtual Musical. This show follows to siblings and their "rival" news stations with drama, comedy, and all-out fun! 

Follow this link to the Panther Cub Productions website and get some more information. To audition, go to the "auditions" tab and fill out the Google form! The deadline is October 23.

While this show is for grades 5/6 students, there will be an opportunity in the new year for students in grades 7/8 to participate in a similar show!

See this flyer for more information; please email bmsmusicals@gmail.com with any questions. 

No Field Hockey on Monday

Due to the holiday there is no field hockey practice on Monday, October 12. 

See this calendar for the complete practice schedule and other important information.

Math Team Info Meeting Tuesday

Students who are self motivated and interested in upper middle school to early high school math, join us on Thursdays in a Google Meet to discuss and go over math problems! We will compete virtually 5 times between November and Mid April.

Join a information meeting on Tuesday 10/13 at 3:15pm 

https://meet.google.com/rdf-byaj-fcx

First Practice will be Thursday 10/15 at 3pm and the first meet is November 12.

Join the math team Google Classroom page with the code: dmgsqcv

Questions? Contact Mrs. Shaw: sshaw@beverlyschools.org

Gr 5/6: (Virtual) Musical Auditions

Do you love to sing? Do you love to act? Are you in 5th and 6th grade? Then audition for Super Happy Awesome News: A Virtual Musical. This show follows to siblings and their "rival" news stations with drama, comedy, and all-out fun! 

Follow this link to the Panther Cub Productions website and get some more information. To audition, go to the "auditions" tab and fill out the Google form!

See this flyer for more information; please email bmsmusicals@gmail.com with any questions. 

Arrival & Dismissal Adjustments & Reminders

Dear BMS Families,

We are writing today with news regarding arrival and dismissal routines. Thank you so much for your patience and partnership in the last few weeks as we welcomed students for FOUR first days of school! The BMS community rose to the challenges of new traffic patterns and routines and it is much appreciated.

Here are a few reminders and things to consider:

• In partnership with the Beverly Police Department, we have been timing the drop-off. We are currently running at 6 minutes from start to finish (Balch St. to Neighborhood One.) This is GREAT time! Please plan to spend that amount of time “rolling.” Thank you for keeping two lanes of traffic flowing and merging.
• Students may enter the cafeteria doors to eat breakfast at 8:15. Neighborhood doors will open at 8:30 RAIN or SHINE. Please plan with your child accordingly as we respectfully ask that you NOT arrive early. This is to ensure that students remain socially distanced. All students arriving after 8:45 must report to the front doors and main office.
• Rolling Drop-Off: Please remember that ALL drop-offs are taking place at a student's neighborhood (unless you are one of the few families that have directions from an administrator to go to the front door.) There is no stopping or dropping-off on Cabot Street. This is very dangerous and we need to enforce this for safety reasons.
• Walkers: Please review crosswalks with your walkers. Students are crossing (or trying to cross and being stopped) in unsafe spots. Please help us keep them safe.
• Bike Riders: There are MANY students riding without helmets. Not only is this very unsafe, it is also against the law. Children under 13 without helmets may have their bike impounded for up to 15 days and the family can be fined. We are beginning a partnership with the Beverly Police Department to address Bike Safety. This will include providing all children with a helmet before enforcing helmet consequences are put into place.

Thank you for your help and partnership as we do our very best to keep BMS students safe both in and outside the building.

Our very best,
The BMS Leadership Team

No school Monday

In observance of Columbus Day, there are no classes for students on Monday, October 12, either in school or online and all school offices are closed.

See the full school year calendar here.

Student Email

Students should check their email regularly as this is a critical way for teachers and staff in the school to communicate with them under our current schedule.

One difficulty students may run into is wading through the many notifications that come in from Google Classroom. These notifications can be customized so that students only get the ones that are most useful to them. Here is an article from Google support with directions.

Parent and Guardian summaries for Google Classroom are also available once a teacher turns on this feature and sends you an invitation. Here is an article about how they work and what information they include.

Cross Country Reminders

Attention all cross country runners: this is a reminder to check your team's Google Classroom page, as well as the welcome letter, to review the requirements for attending practice. An email has been sent to parents and guardians of all team members with information regarding Thursday's practice. Please be sure you know which group number and coach you are assigned. You are reporting to your assigned coach at the turf field at 3:30 Thursday.

Field Hockey Cancelled Wednesday

 Due to the weather, field hockey practice for Wednesday, Oct. 7 is cancelled.

Popup Used Book Sale Thursday at BPL

The Friends of the Beverly Public Library is hosting a Popup Book Sale on Thursday, October 8, from 12-4 PM (weather permitting) on the Winter Street patio. Children’s and adult materials will be available. Paperbacks will be sold for $1, hardcovers $2, and all children’s books are 50 cents. Reusable tote bags containing curated choices at a great value will also be for sale. The Friends will accept cash and checks. Don’t miss this opportunity to stock up on some great books for the fall and winter, while providing financial support to the library.

Beverly SEPAC Meeting Tonight at 7

 The Beverly Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) will be holding their first meeting of the school year on Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 at 7PM. 

The SEPAC is an organization of parents that supports students in the Beverly Public Schools who qualify for Special Education. Any other interested parties are also welcome to join this Open Meeting. The organization has a new leadership team this year that is looking to expand their membership and are urging parents of special needs children to attend this first meeting of the school year. The meeting will be held remotely via a Zoom call. If you are a parent or a caregiver of a student who is eligible for special education or you suspect that your child may qualify for special education services, you may find joining the SEPAC useful.

The Zoom call information is as follows:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81364779680
Meeting ID: 813 6477 9680

A Beverly SEPAC brochure with more information can be found on the "Beverly SEPAC" Facebook page or on www.bevsepac.org. You may reach out to the Beverly SEPAC directly by email:SEPACBeverly@gmail.com.