How will my child's day be structured? Will he/she start in a homeroom every day? Will they switch classes in groups or individually?

Your student will have an 8 period day where they switch individually. Students will meet with their advisory groups at the end of each day.  During advisory time, students will work on homework, plans of study, teambuilding, social-emotional learning, and character education in a smaller group setting designed to enable more active learning and richer discussion. During this time, advisory teachers will also more closely monitor grades and progress of those students. Teacher, student, and parent will work closely together to create an individual plan of study for each student.

 

Will assignments be available on Canvas? How often is that updated? 


Yes assignments will be listed in Canvas. However, teachers do NOT enter assignments in Canvas before the due date.  Teachers utilize weekly newsletters/emails to update parents & students on what is happening in the classrooms. In most cases, graded assignments are entered in Canvas within 2 school days of the due date. Exceptions come when dealing with long-term projects as they are more time consuming to grade. Grades in all classes are updated by noon each Friday as we put together the weekly ineligibility list. 



Is there a weekly or monthly newsletter? How will I receive communication from the school on happenings? (i.e. in case our child doesn't communicate it)
Our communication comes in several electronic forms. Teachers have individual websites and also submit short narratives that are included in their weekly grade level newsletter. Every week, Mr. Isaacsen, will send out a Parent/Student Memo with all of the following week's important information and updates. We also list all of our events on the BLMS calendar that can be found on the website.



Is there a diagram for school drop off and pick up?
Parent drop off will be through the front (East) parking lot and bus drop off will take place at the back (West) parking lot and doors.



Can middle school students ride the bus to the high school for middle school ballgames? How does that work?
Yes, middle school students may stay after school and work on homework in study hall until our bus transports them to the high school to watch the ballgame. Parents are required to pick up their student at the high school as soon as the event is finished.



What extracurricular activities will 6th graders be eligible for?
6th graders can participate in all of our teacher -interest driven clubs that are offered either before or after school.  Current clubs and meeting times are as follows:

 

Can parents eat lunch with their child?
At this time, parents cannot eat lunch with their children.


Will my 6th grade child have recess/break period?
Students will not have a recess. We have constructed the schedule such that all 6th grade students will have physical education/health for the year to help burn some energy. .



How much time is there between classes?
Students have three (3) minutes to move between classes, most of our students have no difficulty in getting to their classes on time.



How many teachers will students have each day?
Each student at BLMS has nine (9) teachers each day, this includes your "advisory" teacher.



How long are the classes?
Each regular class period is 43 minutes long. Lunch is 25 minutes and advisory time is 25 minutes long.



Do we have lockers?
Students do have lockers.



Will we be able to tour the school?
We will tour the school during the Sneak Peek night scheduled in August before school starts. BLMS will be open starting the first of August as we enroll for the next school year. At that time you are welcome to tour the building and locate your classes.



What happens if I am late to class?
The first week of school usually nothing happens. After this, your teacher will start checking you late without a pass and you will receive tardies, teachers will then assign detentions.



Are the teachers nice?
Each teacher has a distinct personality; you will get to know them as the year progresses. We have a very talented teaching staff at BLMS. They are here to help you.



Are the classes very hard?
The classes are appropriate for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Some are more difficult than others, depending on the topic being covered in the specific subject.



Do we have a lot of homework?
Expect some homework each night. The amounts depends on each class and on the unit being studied. We also have two (2) homework deadlines each quarter to help monitor student progress in their school work.



How many classes are there a day?
Most middle schoolers have 8 classes, a lunch and advisory time each day.



What time does school start and end?
School doors open at 7:30.  Students will report to the cafeteria for breakfast or to their grade level flex area at the beginning of each day.  School is over at 2:55 and the building closes at 3:30.



What happens if I get lost?
There will be teachers in the hall during the passing periods. Please ask for assistance and in a few days you will have no trouble moving around the school.



Is a gym suit required?
No, but you must bring clothes for physical education, which includes a t-shirt, shorts or sweat-pants and sneakers.



Do we have to take showers after physical education?
No, but they are recommended.



Is there a dress code?
Yes, please refer to the student handbook for the complete answer. For example, t-shirts that advertise smoking, drugs and/or alcohol are not permitted, as are hats.



Do 8th graders pick-on underclassmen?
This has not been a problem; if someone keeps bothering you let your teacher, counselor and/or principal know.



Are the rules strict?
According to our present middle schoolers, the rules are not very different from the elementary school.



Where do you keep your band instruments?
Students will take their band and orchestra instruments home each day during the 2020-21 school year.



Are the lunches good?
Lunches are similar to those served in the elementary school.  



Can you ride a bike to school?
Yes, you should bring a lock, though, to secure your bike.



What extracurricular activities are there?
We have four athletic seasons, offering Football, Volleyball, Boys and Girls Basketball, Boys and Girls Wrestling and Boys and Girls Track. We have cheerleading and dance team in the fall and winter. We also have other activities such as Science Olympiad, student council, and clubs. Only 7th and 8th grade students are able to compete in athletics.



When can we go to the nurse?
If it is an emergency go directly to the office. Our school nurse is in the building at all times. You will need to have a pass from your teacher prior to going to the nurse.



Is my guidance counselor available at all times?
If you want to see the counselor make an appointment in the office and the counselor will see you as soon as possible.



What do I do if I am late to school and/or absent?
If you are late, get an admit slip from the secretary in the main office. If you are absent, have your parents call the school to let us know; your parents can also make requests to have homework sent home with another student. Generally, students have 48 hours to return missed work. The phone number at school is 724-2976. It is the students responsibility to make-up any missing work.



If there are any questions please don't hesitate to ask.