W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School
Week at a Glance, News and Notes
November 10, 2022
Note from the Principal:
Report cards are being emailed home through ParentSquare next week, so I wanted to give you a heads up on what you will see in the new electronic format. This year there are several teachers piloting a new way to give feedback to students. Berkshire Hills has been studying and implementing Proficiency Based Learning (PBL) since 2018. At the middle school we are moving away from traditional grading and reporting structures—tests, quizzes, grades—and shifting to a PBL model of learning and teaching with students. We get students involved in projects that interest them, and show them the skills and understandings we want them to master over time. We use rubrics to help students see where they are going, reflect on where they are, and plan for how to get there—by themselves, with their peers and especially with their teachers. You will see that some classes have the traditional grades we have used for many years. That is the one-hundred-point scale for most sixth, seventh and eighth grade classes, as well as letter grades for all fifth-grade classes and sixth grade Exploratory classes.
Some classes for students will be using our PBL feedback structure. In this pilot, teachers are working with students to help them understand where they are in expectations for the class for the year: whether they are beginning, approaching, meeting or exceeding expectations for proficiency. This is in the core expectations of a class, and overall as a student in that class. You will see feedback in PowerSchool for assignments or proficiency areas—BEGIN, APPRO, MEET and EXCEED—as well as an overall summative statement where the traditional final grade is located. There also will be much more information in the comments section for specific assignments, proficiency areas and student feedback, as this system seeks to put the student in the lead for learning. This learning model is a 21st century approach to education, where students need to decide what they need to learn as they grow, and have the skills to approach learning independently and in groups, not just perform on tests and abstract demonstrations of skill.
We will continue to calculate the Honor Roll in seventh and eighth grade for the middle school as long as the district is committed to the numbered grading scale for secondary students. The Honor Roll will be calculated in a similar manner to before—exceptional performance in many classes, proficient performance in all classes—designating honors and high honors based on scores and how many courses a student is meeting or exceeding expectations. So many of our students qualify for honors each year, which is a testament to the commitment of our students and the quality of teaching from our faculty!
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, November 14
Regular School Day
Tuesday, November 15
Regular School Day
Wednesday, November 16
Regular School Day
Thursday, November 17
Regular School Day
Friday, November 18
Regular School Day
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Health Screenings
Parents may opt out of any or all screenings. Please call or email the Health Office if you wish your child to not be screened.
Health screenings are in compliance with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. These annual screenings are initial health screenings. Parents/guardians are notified when a student does not meet the passing criteria, and are advised to seek further medical evaluation.
VISION SCREENING
In accordance with M.G.L. c71 s57, students will be given a vision screening in grades 5 and 7.
Each child who fails this screening will be retested, usually in approximately 2 weeks. Parents will be notified in writing after the second failure with referral for appropriate follow-up. Vision screening will be started in November and continue until completed.
HEARING SCREENING
In accordance with M.G.L. c71 s57, students will be given a hearing screening in grade 7. Each
child who fails this screening will be retested. Parents will be notified in writing after the second
failure with referral for appropriate follow-up. Hearing screening will be started in November and
continue until completed.
POSTURAL AND SCOLIOSIS SCREENING
Since April 1980, M.G.L. c71 s57 requires all public school systems in the Commonwealth to
provide postural screening to all students in grades 5-9. If a parent or guardian refuses to have
postural screening by the school, written documentation provided by the family physician must be
submitted to the school nurse. If any child is found to have a defect, the nurse will notify the parents
in writing for appropriate follow-up.
ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
In accordance with guidelines of the Department of Public Health, students in grade 7 will be
measured for height and weight. Screening will continue until completed. SBIRT Screening
SBIRT, Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment, will occur for the 7th grade as
recommended by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in conjunction with
the Department of Public Health.
Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Hilary Bashara BSN, RN
School Nurse
W.E.B. DuBois Middle School
Tele: 413-644-2324
Fax: 413-644-2394
Food Drive
Project connection is holding a food drive from now through November 17 to benefit the People’s Pantry in their Great Community Pass. They are taking donations of non-perishable food in cans, jars, and boxes. The donation bin is located next to the main office. Food is a human right and is a great way to help someone immediately. Any donations are greatly appreciated.
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REMINDERS:
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:
- Concerning Screen Time: A Workshop for Middle School Parents
Recent flyers:
- Movie Night Fundraiser for Class of 2024 @ MMRHS for district students, parents and staff
- Dine to Donate Nov. 9 and 10 for MMRHS Class of 2024
- “Shine The Light” A Screening and Conversation about Youth Mental Illness and Suicide Prevention
- Project Connection Food Drive
- CHP Family Services November Playgroup Schedule
- Girl Scouts
- Basic Rights: Understanding the IEP
- 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
- 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
Older flyers:
- Cub Scouting for Boys and Girls K-5
- Yearbook staff needed
- Halloween Painting Contest
- Housatonic Party in the Park
- 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