W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School
Week at a Glance, News and Notes
March 14-18, 2022
Note from the Principal:
The shift to optional masking this week went well. We reviewed expectations a bunch last week, preparing students for the shift. Many students masked and many did not mask, similar with staff. The tone was one of respect: each makes our own choice, we all respect each choice. Thank you for reinforcing this value with your kids at home–your partnership makes a difference.
We take the whole child and developing tween and teen very seriously at Du Bois. Part of our work is educating in the different academic and creative areas. The other part is making sure students develop healthfully and safely. One of the ways we engage with kids is through Crew and other social experiences. Another is how we observe and engage with kids and see how they are developing. We have each student take the Panorama survey twice a year to see how they are doing from the perspective of well-being and social emotional development. If we want to find out more about a kid we will also do some screening assessments to see if we want to support a student more–and reach out to you as family partners. Below is an explanation of how we do that, and the opportunity to opt out if you do not want your child to participate in these follow up health and well being screeners.
Please drop me a note if you have other feedback or questions at ben.doren@bhrsd.org.
Have a good break!
Ben Doren
Principal
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Monday, March 14
Regular School Day
Tuesday, March 15
Regular School Day
Wednesday, March 16
Regular School Day
Thursday, March 17
Regular School Day
Friday, March 18
No School Today – Full Day Professional Development
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Student health and well being
In an effort to promote the health and well being of students in WEB Du Bois Middle School, students will be periodically provided with questionnaires, surveys, and screeners that address issues related to mental health. The information gained will support the school’s ability to provide comprehensive and timely support for your child if they require any assistance. Families can opt-out students from filling out any questionnaire, survey, or screener that they are not interested in taking and you can opt-out your child at any time by contacting the school or by filling out this opt-out form.
En un esfuerzo por promover la salud y el bienestar de los estudiantes en la escuela WEB Du Bois, se les proporcionará periódicamente cuestionarios, encuestas y exámenes que abordan temas relacionados con la salud mental. La información obtenida apoyará la capacidad del distrito para proporcionar un apoyo integral y oportuno a su hijo o hija en caso de que requiera alguna ayuda. Las familias pueden optar por no rellenar cualquier cuestionario, encuesta o cuestionario que no estén interesados en tomar y usted puede optar por su hijo o hija en cualquier momento poniéndose en contacto con la escuela o rellenando este formulario de exclusión.
Mohican Journey Exhibit open to families next Thursday after school
The DBM school library has been chosen to host the exhibit “Mohican Journey,” a history of the Stockbridge-Munsee band put together by the Sheffield Historical Society in partnership with the tribe and the Southern Berkshire Regional School District. Based on interest from families we will open the exhibit to the community after school next Thursday, 3/17, from 3:00-4:00 pm. The exhibit–which consists of 10 large panels and support materials–is up around the perimeter of the library and will be accessible to students and staff until March 18. Here is a link to a PBS special about the Stockbridge Munsee History. The Stockbridge Munsee are the people who lived on this land before and at the beginning of the colonial era, and we do a land acknowledgement at the start of every week to honor them and appreciate their journey to Wisconsin where they live now. The exhibit brings the history alive, and highlights the people of the Stockbridge-Munsee community today.
Message from the Library
The DBM library is going to clean up its records by deleting all books lost during the pandemic. Please help us ensure our records are accurate by doing a quick sweep of your home to check for school library books that may have been forgotten or neglected since our return to in-person school. Send found items into school to be returned to Ms.Guerin before March 22, if possible. Every book returned frees up resources to buy new titles for the library–thank you!
Project Connection
Para leer este mensaje en español, desplácese hacia abajo hasta el texto GRANATE.
Just a reminder that the Winter session of Project Connection ended yesterday. The Spring session will begin on March 28th.
Please click on the links below for class descriptions and registration information for the Spring session which will run from March 28th – June 2nd. Please complete registration online if possible, and sign up as soon as possible. Registrations received by Tuesday, March 15th at 5:00 PM will have priority in preferences of days and classes, but does not guarantee enrollment. Confirmations of enrollment will be sent the week of 3/21.
Students involved in the Spring Musical should still enroll now if they would like to participate in any PC programs once the Musical is over.
W.E.B. Du Bois Spring 2022 PC Class Descriptions – Click Here
W.E.B. Du Bois Spring 2022 Online Registration – Click Here
Solo un recordatorio de que la sesión de invierno de Project Connection terminó ayer. La sesión de primavera comenzará el 28 de marzo.
Haga clic en los enlaces a continuación para ver las descripciones de las clases y la información de registro para la sesión de primavera que se llevará a cabo del 28 de marzo al 2 de junio. Complete el registro en línea si es posible e inscríbase lo antes posible. Las inscripciones recibidas hasta el martes 15 de marzo a las 17:00 horas tendrán prioridad en las preferencias de días y clases, pero no garantiza la inscripción. Las confirmaciones de inscripción se enviarán la semana del 21/03.
Los estudiantes involucrados en el musical de primavera aún deben inscribirse ahora si desean participar en cualquier programa de computadora una vez que finalice el musical.
WEB. Descripciones de la clase de PC Du Bois Spring 2022 – Haga clic aquí
WEB. Du Bois Primavera 2022 Registro en línea – Haga clic aquí
Spotlight on the Arts
Congrats to the following students who have their artwork at the Berkshire Museum for the month of March for Massachusetts Youth Art Month. See flyer below for more details.
Grey Thomas
Frankie Kreese
Mystic Glenn
Nina Martin
Miya Schonbeck
Plum Knudsen
Cora Pacheco
Augie Mugridge Neilson
Naomi Palestino
REMINDERS:
A couple of valuable lost and found items
I have a valuable looking ring, a house key, a gift card and some wireless earbuds that have not been claimed. Please contact me with a description of the item if you think it may belong to you. julie.duffin@bhrsd.org or call 413-633-2300 ext. 2300.
LAST CALL TO PRE-ORDER the YEARBOOK
The 2022 W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School yearbook is happy to report that we are filling this year’s book with all the memories and moments we can capture. If by some chance, you have not purchased a yearbook yet, please reserve your copy today at https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A03463230.
We want to make sure everyone that wants a yearbook has one. Please know that we only produce yearbooks based upon those pre-ordered. Any that we happen to get above and beyond are on a first come first served basis. We have sold out in the past. Don’t miss out. Thank you for your time and attention!!
PE REMINDER:
Sneakers must be worn for all PE classes. Please remember to pack sneakers on PE days!
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.
Lost and Found
Our Lost and Found boxes are overflowing! Please ask your child to stop by the main entrance to check for any lost items. I also still have a phone that belongs to someone. Students should stop by the office to identify phones or small items like jewelry or glasses. After break we will be donating the items in the lost and found to community organizations, so please come by as soon as possible if you know your child is missing something they left at school.
Safety and the Pandemic: How to navigate symptoms at home
We are serious about safety here at Du Bois, and appreciate all you do to coach the students on how to keep it safe while here at school and in the community. So far we are in school and able to come every day. Much of that depends on you abiding by our community safety norms–thank you for your help so far and in the future! One way you can do that is to check in with the school nurse, Hilary Bashara, if you are not sure about symptoms and whether to keep your kid home. She can advise on covid protocols, testing and other health questions. When your kid is home sick, please make sure they rest, and we will catch them up on school work when they return: the best cure for being sick is rest, and not worrying about falling behind. For unvaccinated students, if there is a concern about exposure to Covid and the student is symptomless, we are able to support learning during quarantine with materials as the school is directing the student to be home. If a vaccinated student is a close contact they can continue to attend school, while connecting with pediatricians and our health office to ensure the safety of all. If a student, regardless of vaccination status, is positive for Covid we are able to support learning remotely until quarantine is complete and they can safely return.
Long Term Absences
Long term absences are difficult to manage as our curriculum depends on students being present for instruction every day. If you take a student on vacation or on an extended family visit it really interrupts the learning cycle, as we are set up for in-person, community based learning. Please let us know if you are planning a longer absence, as there are Massachusetts rules about extended absences and attendance laws that we have to follow. If a student is out of school for a non-medical reason we will support as best we can when they return. We are not set up to provide learning materials for this as we are an in-person learning community. This is still winter, and we have kids out from being sick. We have also seen an uptick in students being out of school for family vacations. This is a reminder that when when kids return from extended absences and vacations they should be
- checking in with teachers,
- getting make up assignments,
- staying in or after school for help, and
- checking their email and online class sites.
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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:
- FREE Adult ESOL Classes: English and Spanish versions
- Babe 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
Recent flyers:
- 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)
- Winter Farmer’s Market
- Hancock Holiday Nights
Older flyers:
- Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine Information Session
- Community Thanks Supper: BSRCC
- Participate in a Williams College Study on Children’s Thinking
- Girls Basketball Free Clinic Grades 5 and 6
- Fall Arts & Crafts Festival – BSRCC
- Yearbook Club
- Casting Untitled Annie Baker Film
- Housatonic Youth Basketball Registration
- 27th Annual Winter Outerwear Drive
- 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
- 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