W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School
Week at a Glance, News and Notes
Oct. 25 – Oct. 29, 2021
Note from the Principal:
I want to celebrate community and field study. Dealing with education amidst a global pandemic has been really hard–for students, for educators and for families. One of the things we did not get to do in remote and hybrid learning, and even when we returned last year, was field work: trips and activities that get students outside and into the community. The fifth grade did something special this week: they went as an entire grade to a nature walk off campus connected to the curriculum. Last year, and this year, we maintained collaborations with partners such as the Audubon Society, the Housatonic Valley Association and Flying Cloud Institute, which come to the school, get kids out into our local landscape on and around our campus, and connect kids to nature and learning. This is essential as it unlocks learning through real world experience. But there is something important about getting off the campus and doing something you have never done, and be somewhere you have never visited. The sixth grade also had this experience: they were able to take their annual hike up Monument Mountain. This is an important community event that kicks off each year. Team Orange and Team Green also have had important community events to build connections and culture on their teams. The big identity activity is tie-dyeing–making a piece of clothing with the color of your team, being outdoors and having fun with peers, bringing that camaraderie back to the classroom and school neighborhood.
I also want to share a bit about the upcoming Student Led Conferences in December. Last year we piloted this format for conferences with several Crews, and they went really well. I have coordinated conferences as a teacher advisor and principal in the past, and I love them. It is a way for students to learn how to reflect on their own learning and how they learn best, and what they need to do to be successful in the future. We coach them on collecting examples of their work to discuss, and showing how they lear and where they want to grow. We will hold these conferences in mid-December, giving students some time to collect, reflect and prepare to share with you. I will share more information as we get closer, and want you to know well ahead of time how exciting this engagement will be!
Thank you for all of your support so far as we kicked off the year. We are working hard to make sure your kids have a good experience, and that we are connecting with the many aspects of learning from academics to social to personal. Please drop me a note if you have feedback or questions at ben.doren@bhrsd.org.
Have a great weekend!
Ben Doren
Principal
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Monday, October 25
Regular School Day
Tuesday, October 26
Regular School Day
Wednesday, October 27
Regular School Day
Thursday, October 28
Regular School Day
Friday, October 29
Regular School Day
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Railroad Street (RSYP) Parent Groups
Railroad Street Youth Project (RSYP) is hosting ongoing groups to help parents support their teens and young adults who use substances. Weekly in person meetings are held at the RSYP Drop in Center at 60 Bridge Street in Great Barrington and are every Monday from 6:30 – 8:00. Participants are required to wear masks in the building.Online meetings occur every Wednesday on Zoom from 6:30 – 7:30. Email jaime@rsyp.org for the link.You may come to either or both meetings, at any point, attend whenever works for you, and for as long as it’s helpful to you! In the groups we will agree to hold confidentiality for one another. A Spanish interpreter will be present at all meetings. Group learning is based on the Invitation to Change (ITC) approach created by CMC:Foundation for Change. The approach provides perspectives and skills to help you encourage your loved one towards recovery while increasing your own wellbeing. To find out about ITC visit: https://cmcffc.org/our-approach. Meetings are facilitated by Jaime Cooper. Email jaime@rsyp.org with any questions* These groups are for parents who live in Southern Berkshire County and have children between the ages of 13 – 25 years who use substances and alcohol.
Health and Safety reminders
Please help us maintain a safe place for students and staff. A big part of that is keeping your child home if they have symptoms, and alerting the school. We will likely advise you to reach out to your pediatrician to review the symptoms, and the doctor will likely have your child get a covid test. This helps us keep Covid out of the schools, and stops the spread. If your child is home sick we will catch them up when they return. And if your child is directed by the school or doctor to quarantine we will provide work once they feel well. Let’s all do our part to keep it safe!
School Pictures, again
We were not able to get to all classes and students on our recent Picture Day. We will finish the pictures on November 4, and also schedule a make up day after that for anyone who misses that day. Our apologies for the confusion.
Student Devices in 7-8 grade
The district is investing in technology, and we can once again move to a device supported curriculum. We have enough ChromeBook devices in fifth and sixth grade that we can use them in school to support the curriculum. In seventh and eighth grade we are going to restart the device based curriculum. We are asking each family in seventh and eighth grade that can provide a device from home to their student to send them into school with the computer each day. And we have ChromeBook devices for students who do not have a computer to bring from home to school every day. Families can request a school device using this agreement: print and sign and return with your student to their Crew Leader, and we will also hand out paper copies to students in Crew to bring home next week. We plan on deploying and using devices from home and school the week of October 12.
Pool Testing
We will do Pool Testing again this coming week! If you have signed up, thank you!!! Please sign up if you want your student to participate. Pool Testing allows us to stop the spread and know where Covid is in the community. The more who participate, the better we can keep our community safe. If your student or members of your household are unvaccinated, 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://dbrms.bhrsd.org/category/families/flyers/
This week’s flyers:
- Casting Untitled Annie Baker Film
- Housatonic Youth Basketball Registration
- 27th Annual Winter Outerwear Drive
Recent flyers:
- Ski Butternut Student Application
- FUNK BOX BREAKING: Berkshire Pulse
- Golden Knights House League Registration
- American Red Cross Swim Lessons: BSRCC
- Oct. 2 ThinkFOOD Conference FREE for all students
- Talking to Teens so that they Talk Back
- Flying Cloud Institute: SMArt Kit Flyer
- Parent Child+: Equal Possibilities from the Start
- Yearbook Cover Contest
- Project Connection Fall Packet
Older flyers:
- Action Adventures Out of School @ BSRCC
- Ballet Ages 5-8 @ BSRCC
- Berkshire Hills Youth Soccer House League Registration
- Ski Butternut Student & Family Season Pass Application