W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School
Week at a Glance, News and Notes
May 31-June 3, 2022
Note from the Principal:
It is with a heavy heart that I write this update. The tragedy in Texas this week is sad and scary. You need to know how seriously we take your children’s safety. We do drills, we talk things through with kids, and we do a lot of student support. There is the physical safety and there is also the emotional safety. Middle school is an important developmental window for kids, and we take them from being children to being teenagers. I wish that we did not have to talk about these tragedies, and that our kids did not have to think or worry about these incidents. Please let us know if your kid needs extra support next week or any week. We are here to help, and we can also help you if you want resources to talk to your kids about these kind of tragedies.
The tragedy did overshadow an energetic and productive week here at Du Bois. Despite the news in the nation, our little corner of the world was bright and full of energy. There were field study trips in fifth grade, connecting activities for seventh graders as we plan for a full seventh grade team next year, and the eighth graders got to hear about sports and extracurricular activities awaiting them at the high school from students, advisors and coaches at Monument Mountain who came down to us today.
Please drop me a note if you have feedback or questions at ben.doren@bhrsd.org.
Enjoy this Memorial Day weekend…
Ben Doren
Principal
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Monday, May 31
No School Today–Memorial Day Holiday
Tuesday, June 1
Regular School Day
Wednesday, June 2
Regular School Day
Thursday, June 3
Regular School Day
Friday, June 4
Regular School Day
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Boston Symphony Orchestra Summer opportunity for students
See the attached flyer for information on this great summer program. Use this link to register by June 10: https://forms.gle/1nYY4JKnhWTJfFGW6.
5-8th parents: As the end of the year approaches, we are seeking your help in returning all books to the DBM library. It’s time for inventory, and we would like to replace any lost copies of popular titles if possible. Thanks for helping your children look around the house for missing books and sending them back to school before June 3.
REMINDERS:
Family choice for student name and identity
Massachusetts now allows for families to tell their child’s school to use a different name for a student that is not the same as the name on the birth certificate and other legal documents. Please use this form to tell us at the middle school that you want us to use a name for your child that is different from the legal documents we have from when you enrolled them at the school or in the district. We will update our Student Information System, PowerSchool, with the information you tell us to use, so your child’s name appears as you direct. If this is a legal name change, please provide the documents to us so we can make the update for the legal name of the student. Email ben.doren@bhrsd.org if you have any questions about this form or this process.
Form in English: https://forms.gle/PALB99wyuE29gW1Z7
Forma en Español: https://forms.gle/jcFoaQAB8KkGPWhH6
Eighth Grade Graduation
We will hold middle school graduation in our traditional way for the first time in two years! It will be on the regular day we usually hold it, the evening before the last day of school. So graduation will be on Wednesday, June 15, at 6:30 pm in the gymnasium. All eighth grade families are invited, as well as our faculty and staff. There will be more information to come later this year, but I wanted you to know so you can plan for the big event!
Local Student Mask Access Program
In partnership with the Rural Health Network and with support from a state Rural Vaccine Equity grant, we are working to ensure fair access across our community to current information about COVID-19, as well as the availability of effective masks for those at high risk for severe outcomes from this disease. Below is a brief survey for families in your districts. It asks whether they identify their student, a household member, or nearby loved one as being at high risk for severe COVID outcomes. Those who answer yes are asked if they want to receive tailored masking guidance and/or a supply of free youth-sized KN95 masks. If they do, they may confidentially submit their name and phone number or email address. Our public health nurses would reach out to those families directly within a week or so, and if masks are needed, coordinate distribution via the schools.
Pool Testing
We strongly encourage your student’s participation, and anyone can participate in the pool testing regardless of vaccination status. Please use this LINK for more details and to complete the electronic consent form. Each student in your household will require an individual consent. The link defaults to Muddy Brook. Select the drop down for your child’s school — Muddy Brook, Du Bois, or Monument Mountain. The video is available in multiple languages–click the link on the top right to choose the language you want.
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Flyers and School Letters
Flyers and School letters are available on our website at this link: https://mvrms.bhrsd.org/category/families/flyers/
This week’s flyers:
- The Black Legacy Project Documentary Film Premiere & Community Conversation
Recent flyers:
- Planet Fitness free summer pass for youth 14-19 years old
- GB Libraries: Summer Reading Newsletter
- RSYP: Budget Bootcamp Pizza Party
- RSYP: Drab Ave Concert
Older flyers:
- DARTS project at Tanglewood
- The Great Barrington Project: Unbleaching the Souls of Black Folk
- Berkshire Concert Choir
- Young People’s Program
- Camp Hi-Rock – UPDATED FLYER
Southern Berkshire C.A.R.E Adaptive Kickball
Camp Hi-Rock Overnight Camp & Wilderness Expedition Info Session
Flying Deer Evening Camp for youth ages 11-16
Guide to Food Access and Assistance Resources in South Berkshire County
Spring Indoor Soccer Training @ Berkshire School
Du Bois Wizard of Oz 2022 Poster
- Kids Sing for Peace-Benefit Concert for Ukraine Aid
- FREE Adult ESOL Classes: English and Spanish versionsBabe Ruth Softball Registration
- 2022-2023 Butternut BHRSD Student Season Pass-paper applications are also available in the school office
- World Down Syndrome Awareness Day March 21, 2022
- World Autism Awareness Day April 2, 2022
- 2022 Spring Lacrosse
- Berkshire Busk
- 5th Annual Spotlight on the Arts
- 2022 South Berkshire Babe Ruth Spring Sign Ups
- GB Girls Softball Registration 2022
- Bilingual Computer LIteracy Workshop
- CHP March Playgroup Schedule
- Read Across America: GB Libraries
- Gt. Barrington Little League RegistrationMMRHS Ski Team Dine to Donate Event at Marketplace Wed. 2/9/22
- Young People and Anxiety, Depression and Stress Free Forum Tues., 2/15 6:30pm
- Young People and Anxiety, Depression and Stress Forum–Spanish version
- Community Health Programs: Virtual Parent Workshop
- FREE Family Social-Emotional-Learning Session (Virtual): 2/17/22 at 12 pm
- FREE Glee Club Class–Grades 1-5
- YMCA Camp Hi-Rock Virtual Information Session Flyer
- BRIDGE: Lesson Plan and Project for MLK Day 2022
- Winter Project Connection Packet
- Winter Project Connection Packet – en Espanol
- Stateline Youth Wrestling
- Du Bois Middle School 2022 Musical: THE WIZARD OF OZ! (English & Spanish versions)