MS Minutes 02.22.22

Posted on February 23, 2022

Tuesday’s Middle School meeting was run by Aubrey Harper ’28 and Adyana Gresham ’28. You can check out the slides from this week’s meeting here.


This week’s…

BVR STUDENT HIGHLIGHT
The BVR Student 22
Zoe Kalish ’28 and Colin Meagher ’28 presented The BVR Student element Acts with Honesty, Integrity, and Sincerity.

“Integrity means being honest with yourself and to others. Sincerity means doing things out of the goodness of your heart and being true. It’s important to act with honesty, sincerity and integrity because it can help you to be a better person and lead to long lasting and strong friendships.”


FEED YOUR BRAIN PICK

Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel by Val Emmich, with Benj Pasek, Steven Levenson, and Justin Paul
Recommended by Sam Singer ’28.

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK …
“It’s very relatable about what people experience in school and also combines deep topics with aspects of funny things.”

WHY I THINK YOU WOULD LIKE IT …
“It shares a lot of knowledge people should know about mental health that would help you be supportive of yourself and your friends.”


LUNCH & RECESS PROGRAMMING
MS Lunch 22


Also happening this week …

At the BVR Film Festival last Thursday, a Middle School film won “Best Picture.”

Congratulations to Kiernan Collins ’27, Samuel Steere ’26, Verveine Oringer ’27, and Daniel Kemp ’26 the makers of Halloween: Reborn.


There are a lot of items in the Lost and Found—from water bottles to backpacks to sweatshirts. A small group of Community Action Leaders have been working to itemize and created this Lost and Found slideshow.

If you see an item that is yours, please email lostandfound@bcdschool.org; we will retrieve the item and arrange for you to pick it up.


Spring afternoon activities started this Tuesday.

Nate Guevin from the D Level announced the D-Level Spring Cleaning event. We are encouraging students to take home projects they made, or label active work. Students can check out the slideshow to see if their work is on the D-Level; projects left on the D-Level by March 8 that are not labeled will be recycled.


Thursday is our Feed Your Brain Outside the Classroom Conference on campus. Students will participate in a series of workshops (check out the list here!) This day allows Middle School teachers to prepare for conferences while students have enriching learning experiences led by BVR administrators and staff. Each grade will have one required wellness workshop: 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade.


Allie Martin ’27 and Jackie Horwitz ’27 announced the next book for Book Club: Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms.—a graphic novel that tells the story of two friends on different tracks who reconnect and explore their romantic feelings.

Book Club is meeting Friday, March 11 to discuss the book.


Today in RISE students made wooden magnets.


The Upper School Advanced Theater Class presents She Kills Monsters—a high-octane dramatic comedy laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and 90s pop culture. MS students can purchase tickets for the show via email.

Families, please note: This play contains mature subject matter, the use of homophobic language and actions, the death of a minor, and depictions of fantasy violence.


The Upper School Instrumental Ensemble is Tuesday, March 1, and they have invited the whole Middle School to attend an abbreviated show—just for us—at 3 p.m.! We will have shortened Afternoon Activities that day.

Students who want to see the entire performance can volunteer to usher the evening show at 7 p.m. Ushers may be asked to scan tickets at the door and/or show people to their seats, but their main responsibility is to welcome, help the audience members, and be focused, positive, and friendly.

To sign up to usher, students should fill out the form emailed to them by Ms. Farrell by this Thursday. Students must check with parents/guardians to confirm that they can come to the performance before they submit the form.


Ann Bevan Hollos, Associate Director of Middle School reminded students where they can be during recess – in Gym A or B, outside on the playground or upper field, or at a designated recess activity. She emphasized that we need to know where students are at all times.


Ms. Smith spoke about our move on Monday (February 28) to go mask-optional for vaccinated students and faculty. She spoke about how many people may continue to mask for various reasons. We expect students will be respectful of people’s choices and there will not be any pressure on students to wear or not wear a mask.

Reminder: There will be a community Zoom for parents/caregivers with Head of School Kim Samson tomorrow, February 23, at 7 p.m.


Ms Smith wished good luck and congratulations to middle school math teacher Kit Golan who will be leaving BVR this week for a new position at Lesley University.


The 8th grade stayed at the end of the meeting to hear about an event we have planned for them to learn more about—and become excited for—Upper School!

Upper School Director Chai Reddy and Elisha Cho, Assistant Director of Student Life and Equity, let them know we are hosting an US Welcome Event in early April where they will visit an Upper School class and have lunch with Upper School students and faculty. We told them about this today because they will be filling out a form to list their class visit selections next week. An event for 8th-grade families will be happening in April as well.


The next Hiatt Leadership Institute is Monday morning. The topic is Bias in the Media, and students will discuss how race, gender, and body biases are embedded into media platforms like Google, TikTok, and Instagram—and how we can prevent these biases from affecting the way we think and feel about ourselves and others. The workshop will be in person at 8 a.m. in the Green Gym. Students sign up via the email Ms. Wildes sent out.