Buford Middle School Newsletter |March, 2021
Believe
Motivate
Succeed
BMS News
March Family
Involvement Series

The March edition of our Family Involvement Series celebrates Women's History Month as Mrs. Coffey shares the stories of several Buford ladies who have given so much to our community. In keeping with the community theme, Mrs. Hesson shares ideas for how to give back to our community through service projects. Finally, Miss Gillian offers tips for our digital learners to help keep them engaged while they are learning from home.
Buford Strong

As we come into March, we are reminded of how different things are this year. Our BMS family wants to thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to helping us stay safe, stay healthy, and stay in school. We are Buford Strong! Click here to view our video.
Read Across America

To help celebrate Read Across America, BMS students met with over thirty classes in grades K-5 via Google Meet to share some of their favorite books.
Spring Pictures

Mark your calendars for our Spring Pictures on Friday, March 26. All students will have their pictures made, including our digital learners. Additional information can be found on our website.
Digital Learner Pick Up Day

Digital learning families may take advantage of our Digital Learner Pick Up Day when they come to have their spring pictures made on March 26. Please bring any novels or completed work and drop it off. We will have any additional items to be picked up ready at that time.
March/April Dates

Mar 4 - ELA Benchmarks
Mar 5 - MA Benchmarks
Mar 8-10 - National School Breakfast Week
Mar 9 - SC Benchmarks
Mar 10 - SS Benchmarks
Mar 11 & 12 - Student Holiday
March 15 - NOTE: Students are in school (updated 20-21 calendar)
Mar 18 - BMS Symphonic Band and Bucket Band Live Concert@ Performing Arts Center (BHS) 6:00 p.m.
Mar 19 - Early Release
Mar 21 - Student Art Show
Mar 25 - Family Engagement Night
Mar 26 - Spring Pictures (all students); Digital Learner Pick Up Day
April 5 - 9 - Spring Break
Apr 29 - Coordinate ALG EOC Test

To stay current with all of our events, be sure to visit our website’s Calendars and Events page.
Spring Testing
We want to remind all of our BMS families about upcoming testing. All students will take benchmark assessments in their core academic classes in April. In May, students will take the Georgia Milestones. Additional information about the Milestones will be provided as plans are finalized. Please mark your calendar for the testing dates below.

Mar 4 - ELA Benchmarks
Mar 5 - MA Benchmarks
Mar 9 - SC Benchmarks
Mar 10 - SS Benchmarks
April 22 - ELA Benchmark
April 23 - Math Benchmark
April 27 - SC Benchmark
April 28 - SS Benchmark
Apr 29 - Coordinate ALG EOC Test
May 10 - ELA/Writing Milestones
May 11 - ELA 2/3 Milestones
May 12 - Milestones Make Up
May 13 - Math I Milestones
May 14 - Math II Milestones
May 17 - SC Milestones (8th only)
May 18 - SS Milestones (8th only)
May 19 - Milestones Make Up
Clubs and Athletics
Craft Club

Debate Club

Next meeting: April 13. Click here for more information.  
Jr. Thespians

Next Meeting: Mar 29. Click here for more information.
TSA

Next meetings: Mar 4, 18, and 25. Click here for more information.
Soccer

Congrats to our girl's team on their 10-0 win against Hebron! Our first home game is Tuesday, Mar 16 at 4:30 for girls and 5:45 for boys!! Click here to view our schedule.
Track

Time to brag on our track team! Boys and girls track teams came in first at their meet at Wesleyan.

Our girls 4x400 team broke the Buford Girls record with a time of 4:25.15. Jamilla Chatmon broke the Buford Girls Triple Jump record with a jump of 27 feet 7.5 inches, Quinn Conwell broke the Buford Girls 400 m record with a time of 1:00.83, and Izzy Retiger broke the Buford Girls 100m record with a time of 13.25.

Our track team has several meets during March. Click here for a current schedule.
FCCLA

BMS FCCLA members loved serving cookies and cocoa to our amazing community at the Hot Cocoa 5k! We raised $9500 for CHOA AND BCS CTSOs! Thank you to everyone that came out!

The next FCCLA meeting is Wednesday, March 10 from 2:45-4:00.

Congratulations to Jessica Buell and Kayla Davis on placing first place in the region's two STAR Event Competition for their Chapter Service Project Portfolio project!
PTO News
Online Spirit Wear Market Place

Check out our online spirit wear marketplace. Orders received by 2:00 Thursday afternoon are available for students on Friday of the same week.

Students will be called to the front office on Friday afternoon to pick up their orders. Payment should be ready at that time. Checks and cash are accepted for these online orders.

Families may also visit our clearance corner for great deals on our PTO spirit wear.
COVID-19 Reminders
If your child or anyone in your household takes a COVID-19 test, please call the front office (770) 904-3690 and/or email for return-to-school procedures. We appreciate your help!

BCS follows the guidelines from the CDC and GDPH for quarantining after international travel. Please plan accordingly.
Families may reserve yearbooks online. Contact Mrs. Nabors with any questions or concerns.
Nutrition Nugget
Join us as we celebrate National School Breakfast Week Mar 8-10. Simply purchase your breakfast at school and be entered for a chance to win some awesome prizes including indoor basketball hoops, portable cornhole, and Spikeball!

Please join us and help us celebrate National School Breakfast Week! 
If you need information concerning free and reduced lunch, please feel free to contact our nutrition manager, Nicholas Mann via email or at ext. 4128 with any questions or for information about applying for the program.
Notes from the Nurse
6th Grade Parents

The State of Georgia requires two immunizations before students start 7th grade, the Tdap and MCV4. Please keep this in mind as you take your 6th grader to office visits throughout the school year and this summer. If you have any questions, please call the school and ask to speak to Cherie Durden, RN, School Nurse. Please turn in any updated immunization forms to the front office. 
Parent Resources
The current issues of Helping Students Learn and the Daily Learning Planner are now available on our website. Families can also find archived copies as well.
Counselor's Corner

Our fantastic counseling department has various resources for our parents. Please visit their website for information about social/emotional health, digital citizenship, college and career planning, and so much more.
Right to Know Notification
In compliance with the requirements of Every Students Succeeds Act, Buford City Schools would like to inform you that you may request information about the professional qualifications of your student’s teacher(s) and/or paraprofessional(s). The following information may be requested:

Whether the student’s teacher:
  • has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
  • is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived; 
  • is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher; and
  • whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
If you wish to request information concerning your child’s teacher’s and/ or paraprofessional’s qualifications, please contact Laura Beth Short or call 770-904-3690. [Spanish Version]
Parent Feedback
School Improvement Feedback

We appreciate any feedback from our stakeholders for continuous improvement. Please complete this form if you have any suggestions for how our staff can better serve your student. We appreciate the teamwork approach in supporting our students!
Communications Feedback

Your time is valuable, and we want to make the most of the information we provide you. We'd love to know how we can improve our communication. Please feel free to contact us with any suggestions.