W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School
Week at a Glance, News and Notes
January 27, 2023
Note from the Principal:
Student Led Conferences started on Tuesday afternoon and evening. Thank you to all the families that participated in the conferences–I hope you had an enjoyable and informative experience. We had a weather cancellation for district activities on Wednesday afternoon, and are rescheduling all conferences from that day to Wednesday, February 8, which is also a district half-day. If you had a conference scheduled for last Wednesday, your student’s Crew Leader or Conference Facilitator will reach out to confirm the same time for 2/8–or you can see if there is another time available.
For families that completed the conference we are asking for feedback by filling out this quick survey. We want to know how the conference went for your family so we can continue what is working and gain insight on what you think needs to improve. For example, we got a lot of positive feedback on the quality of conferences last year, and also specific feedback about having an in-person conference and more details about classes, which all went into how we approached the conferences this year. Your input helps us make this an experience that works for you.
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, January 30
Regular School Day
Tuesday, January 31
Regular School Day
Wednesday, February 1
Regular School Day
Thursday, February 2
Regular School Day
Friday, February 3
Regular School Day
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Yearbook–Baby Pictures
8th Grade BABY PHOTOS DUE Tuesday Jan. 31st!
Submit ONE photo using this link only. Do NOT send the photo through email, we will not be able to access them. Please use the form. Thanks!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfzgQBgrdCeqdQvl_lQvaJwENNMiOqgU9rXSAO6PqNPLGmAow/viewform
5-6th grade families, Our Book Lovers Club has chosen to read Linked, by Gordon Korman, for its next novel. Everyone is welcome! If your child would like to participate, please visit our DBM library class page on Scholastic Book Clubs: https://orders.scholastic.com/YHTZV and place your order by 1/27/23. You can choose to have your books shipped to your home or delivered to me with our class order. With a $25 order, you can pick a FREE $5 Book (use code: READS). Email Ms. Guerin at jennifer.guerin@bhrsd.org with questions, and let us know if you need financial assistance in purchasing the book–we are happy to help!
Familias de 5º y 6º grado, Nuestro “Book Lovers Club” ha elegido leer Linked, de Gordon Korman, para su próxima novela. ¡Todos son bienvenidos! Si su hijo desea participar, visite nuestra página de clase de la biblioteca DBM en Scholastic Book Clubs: https://orders.scholastic.com/YHTZV. Haga su pedido antes del 27/01/23. Puede elegir que le envíen sus libros a su casa o que me los entreguen con nuestro pedido de clase. Con un pedido de $25, puede elegir un libro GRATIS de $5 (use el código: READS). ¡Envíe un correo electrónico a la Sra. Guerin a jennifer.guerin@bhrsd.org si tiene preguntas! Si ocupa asistencia para comprar el libro, favor de mandarme un email y nosotros lo compraremos para su alumno.
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REMINDERS:
Student Led Conferences (SLC reminders)
At the end of January we will hold our Student Led Conferences, the evening of 1/24 and the afternoon of 1/25. We are proud of this process, as it allows our students–your children–to reflect on who they are as a learner, what they have accomplished, and where they are going. This past month and into the new year students are reflecting on what and how they have learned in their subject area classes. Once we return from break they will take all of those reflections and bring them to their Crew. There they will work with their Crew peers and Crew Leader to put all of the reflections together into a presentation for you. The presentation will consist of three parts. The introduction will tell you about themselves, a reflection on who they are as a learner. The second part will be a quick review of what they have accomplished in each class–an example of the proficiencies they need to meet through the year in the subject–and a deeper dive into one project of their choice from a class to show details of their proficiency. The last will be a look ahead–goals and areas of development. The seventh and eighth graders will present to you facilitated by their Crew Leader, and the fifth and sixth graders will be with their Crew Leader or an Exploratory teacher so we can focus the preparation on each student with enough time and attention for all. This is a full school endeavor! The conferences will generally be in person, a full twenty minutes for the presentation and time for questions and dialogue with the student. You also have the option to hold the conference over video for health reasons, remote family members or convenience. Right after the vacation the teacher who is facilitating the conference will reach out to you to schedule a slot for the afternoon or evening sessions.
Concerning Screen Time presentation
Thank you to those who attended the Concerning Screen Time presentation on Nov 15, 2022. Please see below, a link of the video and a pdf of the presentation in the flyers. Note that there are additional resources included at the end of the presentation. The video and slides are the property of the Southern Berkshire Community Health Coalition and Jaime Cooper. They are for personal use only and may not be posted, shared or used without permission of SBCHC and Jaime Cooper. Please reach out to Jaime Cooper for parent support or ITC info, jaime@rsyp.org, to Laura Rodriguez director of SBCHC laura@rsyp.org or the Du Bois family crew with any questions or needs
Video: https://vimeo.com/776226301/73f196552c
Message from the Superintendent
Dear BHRSD Families and Staff: I hope you are doing well. We are noticing an uptick in COVID-19 cases, flu, and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). Please continue to monitor your children for potential symptoms and reach out to school nurses and/or your own health care providers for advice. If a student doesn’t feel well, please keep them home and consider testing. We have masks available and encourage students and staff to use them. Please notify the school immediately if your student tests positive. They should stay home for 5 days and wear a mask for 5 days upon their return. The school nurses will help on the timelines. Hoping we can navigate this well together. –Peter Dillon, Superintendent
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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:
- Portrait of a Graduate Meetings
- MassHealth Renewal Reminder
Recent flyers:
- Special Kids, Special Diet: A Virtual Workshop to Explore Ideas and Speak to a Nutrition Team
- Paper Bag Drive
- Vaccination letter-English and Spanish versions
- RSDPB January 2023 Update
- Project Safe Childhood
- Overcoming Overwhelm & Stress: Online workshop for parents and caregivers of adolescents
- Great Barrington Libraries “For the Love of Reading” 2023 Reading Challenge https://gblibraries.org/event/beanstack-reading-challenge-for-the-love-of-reading/
Older flyers:
- Berkshire Children’s Chorus: Now enrolling singers Grades 3-8
- CHP Special Virtual Event: The Secret Life of Autism
- Night Wood An Outdoor Sound & Light Experience @ The Mount
- GB Libraries December Newsletter and Gingerbread House take home kits
- CHP December playgroup Schedule
- Stateline Youth Wrestling 2022-2023
- Winter Workshops @ Berkshire HorseWorks
- DBM Musical Information Session Nov. 28, 3-3:45
- Berkshire Children’s Chorus Fall 2022
- BRTA FREE! Nov. 25-Dec 31
- Community Thanks Supper @ BSRCC
- Shining Star Supplemental Holiday Program@ BSRCC
- Holiday Shop, Sip & Stroll
- Concerning Screen Time: A Workshop for Middle School Parents
- 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
- 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