W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School
Week at a Glance, News and Notes
September 23, 2022
Note from the Principal:
It was great to see many of you at the Meet the Team night on Tuesday. We really enjoyed meeting you, and talking about our programs. I got a lot of positive feedback on how much folks learned about their kids’ program, and how impressed people are with the school this year. It is also just good to be back in person inside the school–it felt alive with families! Many thanks to those of you who visited the Book Fair this week as well!
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, Sept. 26
Regular School Day
Tuesday, Sept. 27
Regular School Day
Wednesday, Sept. 28
Regular School Day
Thursday, September 29
Regular School Day
Friday, September 30
Regular School Day
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Scholastic Book Fair update from Ms. Guerin the Librarian:
Thank you so much to all students, parents, and family members who supported the Du Bois Middle School book fair at Meet the Teams Night and throughout last week. As of Thursday 9/22 we had taken in over $4,000 in sales, a large portion of which the library will use to update our collection throughout the year. In addition, the generous families who donated to the Book Fairy account helped over 15 students purchase books of their choice! If you are still interested in participating, you can visit the online Scholastic parent store until September 29 and place orders–items will be shipped directly to your home, and a portion of your purchases will still be donated to our library!
Project Connection
Fall Project Connection will run from September 26 – December 1. The program descriptions, bus schedules and enrollment form are available to download here:
PC Fall 2022 Descriptions in English
PC Otono 2022 Programes en Espanol
CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE THE ONLINE APPLICATION
Parent Square
Many of you signed up for the new communication system last spring. There is a lot more functionality in the system now that we are using it. I will send a reminder about the system early next week. If you already receive these messages, like the Week at a Glance, in the format you like, then you do not have to do anything. But you can change how you get information from the school: these messages can come in an email, or go to your texts, or you can download the ParentSquare app and get alerts. You can choose to get messages immediately, or as a daily digest all at once, at the time you want. AND you can get messages in any language you choose! Be on the lookout for the update on ParentSquare!
* Festival Latino of the Berkshires – Sat. 9/24 @ GB Town Hall Green Park & St. James Place arts center 12:00 – 6:00p
Proficiency Based Learning and Social Emotional Learning at Du Bois
All of our educators are helping students be leaders of their own learning by coaching them on what they need to learn by the end of the year. Teachers will make time in the curriculum for students to choose examples of their work to show how they are meeting learning outcomes, called proficiencies in general (and performance indicators in edu-speak!), and reflect on how they did by the end of October. Students will then take those reflections to their Crew, and their Crew Leader will help them put together a presentation that they will share with you at the Student Led Conferences in mid-December. We did this process last year, and got overwhelmingly positive feedback about how helpful it was to have kids explain their learning journey and goals to their family. For Social Emotional Learning, Crew is the center of our program, and is where we discuss important issues relevant to teens and tweens. Later this month we will start a school-wide training for students and staff in Restorative Justice. This is a practice that teaches kids and adults how to talk openly and honestly about difficult topics. We use these restorative practices a lot in Crew so we can learn how to use them in other situations. Most importantly when students disrupt community norms we use these restorative practices to address the harm and repair the hurt–very important skills to learn and practice in middle school!
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REMINDERS:
Lunch Menu https://dbrms.bhrsd.org/food/lunch/
School Calendar 2022-2023 https://www.bhrsd.org/school-calendar-2022-23/
Heart and Sole
Calling 5th-7th grade girls!! Heart & Sole is back! Let’s grow and learn about ourselves while strengthening our minds and bodies. Practices are on Tuesday & Thursday from 3-5pm, beginning on September 13th.
For any questions email:
Coach April- ashoskeer@gmail.com
Coach Ullrich- Krista.ullrich@bhrsd.org
Handicapped parking spaces
In the front of our building we have a designated parking spot for people with disabilities. People who park or idle in that spot must have a plate or placard allowing them to park in this designated spot. Please do not park or idle in this spot, or block it, if you do not have a permit.
Student Information Report
It is very important that you review the student information report enclosed in the mailing we sent to you. Make any necessary changes by crossing out incorrect information and adding updated information. Then sign the report, whether you have made changes or not. Please return to the main office before school starts or to your child’s Crew Leader on the first day of school. We will make any updates in PowerSchool. On the first day of school you will receive a folder with information and forms, picture packages, and more.
Bus Routes
Here is a link to the bus routes.
Team School Supply Lists
Message from Massini Bus Company
Transportation is provided for in district students from home to school and back. Some students may need to gather at group stops.
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:
- 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
Recent flyers:
- 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
Older flyers:
- 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