W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School
Week at a Glance, News and Notes
April 11, – April 15, 2022
Note from the Principal:
Greetings from April! We definitely are in the last stretch of the school year. The energy is really big here at Du Bois Middle School! Please come out to see the middle school musical tonight or this weekend. It is a fully inclusive show–they wrote a part for every kid that auditioned!–and it is a really high quality production with singing, dancing and acting. It is a remake of the Wizard of Oz for the Twenty-first century, fun for all ages! Details on days and times below.
Respecting each other’s identity and understanding how we are the same and different are core values at the middle school, and take teaching and learning at this age. Massachusetts recently has opened their reception of students to include genders, pronouns and names other than those on a student’s birth certificate. We can now update our student information system with preferred identifiers. Please follow the link below for the “Family choice for student name and identity” form in English, and in Spanish, if you want the school to know your child identifies with a name, gender and/or pronouns that are different from when you enrolled your kid in the school or district. We can then share that with staff and start using those identifiers with your kid.
Please drop me a note if you have feedback or questions at ben.doren@bhrsd.org.
Have a good weekend!
Ben Doren
Principal
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Monday, April 11
Regular School Day
Tuesday, April 12
Regular School Day
Wednesday, April 13
Regular School Day
Thursday, April 14
Regular School Day
Friday, April 15
No School Today–Good Friday
Monday, April 18-Friday, April 22
No School–April Vacation
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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
Third Quarter Report Cards
Third quarter report cards will be mailed home on Wednesday, April 13th.
2022-2023 School Calendar
The school calendar for next school year has been posted on the district website: 2022-2023 School Calendar
Du Bois Musical: Wizard of Oz
The students of Du Bois proudly present: an all-new adaptation of THE WIZARD OF OZ! On April 8, 9, and 10, come join us in the magical land of Oz through this classic musical that has a fresh and modern twist. You’ll laugh, cry, and sing along! Tickets will be sold at the door with a suggestion donation of $5/student, $10/adult, and $25/family. Doors open 30 minutes before the show. The shows will be on Friday 4/8 at 7 PM, Saturday 4/9 at 7 PM, and Sunday 4/10 at 2 PM. Email any questions or concerns to duboismusical@bhrsd.org. See you there!
REMINDERS:
Eighth Grade Graduation
We will hold middle school graduation in our traditional way for the first time in two years! It will be on the regular day we usually hold it, the evening before the last day of school. So graduation will be on Wednesday, June 15, at 6:30 pm in the gymnasium. All eighth grade families are invited, as well as our faculty and staff. There will be more information to come later this year, but I wanted you to know so you can plan for the big event!
Local Student Mask Access Program
In partnership with the Rural Health Network and with support from a state Rural Vaccine Equity grant, we are working to ensure fair access across our community to current information about COVID-19, as well as the availability of effective masks for those at high risk for severe outcomes from this disease. Below is a brief survey for families in your districts. It asks whether they identify their student, a household member, or nearby loved one as being at high risk for severe COVID outcomes. Those who answer yes are asked if they want to receive tailored masking guidance and/or a supply of free youth-sized KN95 masks. If they do, they may confidentially submit their name and phone number or email address. Our public health nurses would reach out to those families directly within a week or so, and if masks are needed, coordinate distribution via the schools.
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.
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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:
Guide to Food Access and Assistance Resources in South Berkshire County
Spring Indoor Soccer Training @ Berkshire School
Recent flyers:
Du Bois Wizard of Oz 2022 Poster
- Kids Sing for Peace-Benefit Concert for Ukraine Aid
- 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
- 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
Older flyers:
- 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
- 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