W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School
Week at a Glance, News and Notes
October 21, 2022
Note from the Principal:
Hello Du Bois community. I have a big announcement to share with everyone. After eleven years in the district, this twelfth year will be my last as principal of the W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School. I am sad about leaving, and excited to start the next chapter in my life with my family. This year my youngest child moved out of the house for life after high school. My wife has been working in New York and Rhode Island for over a decade, commuting back and forth from her job. It is time that we settle someplace where we both can live and work.
I have learned so much as a leader in this school and district. And I have gained so much in my service to this community. This is a special place. I love the Berkshires, and hope to continue to spend time here after we move. In particular I love this district and our school. We moved here from New York City in 2011 because I did not like the separation of students in the many schools in the city–here in Berkshire Hills we are all in the schools together. That interest is also the most important value that I have as a school leader: inclusion. This school does such an amazing job of teaching all students, especially when they are all learning together in the classroom. This is the legacy which makes me most proud. The other part of the long vision is centering the learning experience on students, and each child. We have developed such a supportive educational program and learning community, and an honest one that seeks to see what is working and when it is not working. It is this success and frankness that makes me feel secure that things will continue to develop well after my departure.
I am indebted to the staff here at the middle school and the families that have supported us through these years. This middle school has had only two principals over the past three decades. It is this stability that has buffeted the staff and been the stabilizer that promotes our continuous development to be the best darn middle school you have ever seen! I am announcing my departure this early in the year so we have the time to find and secure my replacement. I will stay on through June to help with the transition, as did my counterpart over a decade ago. I want to thank all of you in this community for supporting me and the staff as we serve your children.
Please drop me a note if you have feedback or questions at ben.doren@bhrsd.org.
Be well!
Ben Doren
Principal
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Monday, October 24
Regular School Day
Tuesday, October 25
Regular School Day
Wednesday, October 26
Regular School Day
Thursday, October 27
Regular School Day
Friday, October 28
Regular School Day
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Picture Make Up/Retake Day
O’Connnor Studios will be here on Wednesday, Oct. 26th to take portraits of students who were absent on Picture day or to take retakes if you are not happy with your picture. There are blank photo packets in the main office if you need one. For retakes, just send your student in with their original picture packet to give to the photographer.
7-8th grade Halloween Harvest Dance
October 28th
6-8 pm at Berkshire South
$5.00 tickets, snacks available for purchase
Costumes welcome – no gore/violence, weapons, or non-medical masks allowed
Tickets will be sold at lunch starting Monday, October 24th by the student council.
Du Bois Library on Instagram
Parents, if you have an Instagram account, please follow the Du Bois Middle School Library! Our handle is @du_bois_ms_library. Here, you’ll find updates and fun posts on exhibits and student work, library lessons and new materials, and all things DBM. Encourage your kids to follow us, too, so they can be in the loop about contests and prizes in the library. It is our policy not to follow back any individual student accounts. – Ms. Guerin, School librarian
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REMINDERS:
REIGN Girls Basketball Clinic
Attention Girls in Grades 3rd – 6th!
Free Basketball Clinic with Berkshire Reign on Monday, October 3rd at Morris Elementary School in Lenox from 3:15-4:30.
All levels welcome! This session will be teaching all basketball levels in a positive, super fun environment! No registration necessary! Just show up for fun!
Questions?? Email: berkshirereign@gmail.com
Heart and Sole
Calling 5th-7th grade girls!! Heart & Sole is back! Let’s grow and learn about ourselves while strengthening our minds and bodies. Practices are on Tuesday & Thursday from 3-5pm, beginning on September 13th.
For any questions email:
Coach April- ashoskeer@gmail.com
Coach Ullrich- Krista.ullrich@bhrsd.org
Bus Routes
Here is a link to the bus routes.
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
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Flyers and School Letters
Flyers and School letters are available on our website at this link: https://dbrms.bhrsd.org/category/families/flyers/
This week’s flyers:
- Ski Butternut 22/23 Lesson Program Application
- Ski Butternut 22/23 Student & Family Pass Application
- Southern Berkshire Winter Coat Drive
- Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America
Recent flyers:
- Housatonic Youth Basketball Registration
- Teen Chefs: Learn & Master
- Great Barrington Libraries Newsletter
- CHP Family Resources Oct 2022 Paygroup Schedule
- Truck Day
- Berkshire County Steam Challenge Night
- Community Boxing Gym
- An afternoon of Outdoor Fun for the Special Needs Community Oct. 9
- Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) Tiered Focused Monitoring Review
- YA Author Barbara Newman @ The Mount
- Southern Berkshire Winter Coat Drive
- Cub Scouting for Boys and Girls K-5
- Yearbook staff needed
- Halloween Painting Contest
- Housatonic Party in the Park
Older flyers:
- Festival Latino
- Latinx Festival–English and Spanish versions
- RSYP Bilingual Club–English and Spanish versions
- Great Barrington Libraries Newsletter
- Du Bois Yearbook Cover Contest for 8th Grade Students
- Babysitter Training: BSRCC
- Free Story Walk and Live Bilingual Concert @ The Mount, Sun. 9/11/22
- Heart and Sole
- Berkshire HorseWorks Fall Programs
- Ski Butternut Student & Family Season Pass Application
- BCAC Elf Warm Clothing Program applications due 9/30
- Free School Supplies from Berkshire Money Management
- School Supply Lists
- Bus Routes
- Family Forum in Spanish
- Family Forum in English
- Blue Rider Pony Rides for Rico
- Read-Learn-Play: Wingmaster’s
- The Children’s Attic Fall/Winter Consignment Sale