Hello, Middle School Students and Families! Here’s a look at what’s happening in the Middle School this week.
As a reminder, Winter Break begins this Friday after classes! MS students are dismissed at 2:25 p.m. and all buses will depart campus at 2:35 p.m.
Brette Buckley ’29, Mila Valkin ’29, and Natalie Moniz ’29 ran today’s meeting. Charlotte Abramowitz ’29 stepped in for a bit, too! You can check out the slides from this week’s meeting here.
THE BVR STUDENT
At Middle School meetings throughout the year, students present elements of The BVR Student.
Caden Salzano ’28 and Baker Henson ’28 presented: completes assignments thoroughly and on time.
If you are thorough in your work, the more you can push yourself to do more and build your skills. It’s important to be on time, so you don’t have any late or missing assignments. If you are late, your work will build up and you will have a bunch of work to do and it will be more challenging to complete them because there will be so many. Make sure you read the instructions and check over your work to make sure everything is filled out. Breaking large assignments into smaller parts makes it easier to finish.
FEED YOUR BRAIN BOOK BUFFET
Simone Breaks All The Rules by Debbie Rigaud
Recommended by Kaedin Janvier ’28
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS BOOK…
It is a comedic book about a Haitian girl who has very strict parents. She meets two other girls at her school who also have strict parents and they decide to make a list of things to do before the year ends which creates a chaotic and interesting storyline.
I liked this book because it was interesting and relatable in the sense that it reflects on Haitian culture.
WHY I THINK YOU WOULD LIKE IT …
You will like this book if you like stories with powerful lessons.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Keola Appleton ’28 recapped yesterday’s Hiatt Leadership Institute titled Centering the Voices of the Impacted.
We learned about how to center the voices of people who have been impacted by injustice, inequality, or unexpected disasters in order to help find ways to help that are based on their knowledge, wisdom, and reality. Something I learned about centering the voices of the people impacted is that to understand them you have to de-center yourself and center on them. My favorite part of the workshop was learning how to de-center yourself by talking to other people in the group using different prompts.
The next leadership workshop takes place in February, after the Social Justice Retreat.
Addie Marsh ’28 highlighted one of the speakers who will present at this year’s Hiatt Social Justice Retreat on Friday, January 26.
Someone we will get to meet and learn from is artist Katiana Rodríguez. Katiana identifies as a queer, Afro-Latinx artist from the Bronx, and her art is centered around her afro-latinidad, LGBTQ+ identities, spirituality, and body positivity. Whenever she creates she does it with the goal to provide others with art that they can see themselves in. Katiana will be leading a workshop where students will get to reflect on their identities and express them via a self-portrait. We will share more details about the Social Justice Retreat when we come back in January.
Congratulations to the six students who will take part in the winter session of debate:
- Kyle Benton ’28
- Rishaan Chowdhury ’29
- Marli Forrester ’29
- Anika Katzenstein ’29
- Kieran Morrissey-Dhekne ’30
- David Yatskar ’29
The first meeting is on Wednesday, January 10.
Coach Kuntz reminded students to look through the Lost and Found slideshow and email her before this Friday to claim items. Over Winter Break, all the items unclaimed will be donated to Cradles to Crayons.
Rishaan Chowdhury ’29 announced the winner of the December Guess the Candy in the Jar”. Congratulations to Ava Clark ’30!
Students in 6th grade have a special presentation this Thursday about the book My Two Cities. The book is about Hanni Myers who immigrated to America at the start of World War II. Robin Mayer Stein wrote a book about Myers’ journey. They will talk about the themes of the book including overcoming hardship, fighting prejudice, adapting to a new country, keeping old traditions, and becoming part of a diverse American society. The presentation will take during Humanities classes in the Rogers Room from 8:50 to 9:50 a.m.
8th graders have the opportunity to play in the Upper School winter concerts. They met today at the start of music class to learn more and to sign up.
Layla Slocum ’28 and Aubrey Harper ’28 announced that members of the yearbook staff are collecting 8th grade baby pictures for the yearbook. Students can email their high-resolution photos of them between the ages of 0 to 2.
The first 25 8th graders to send their pictures will get four raffle tickets for a candy/gum drawing! The next ten students will get three tickets, the next ten two tickets, and the final ten will get one ticket. 20 students have already submitted!
Students are dismissed on Friday at 2:25 p.m. for Winter Break. All buses will depart at 2:35 p.m.
Classes resume on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
PROGRAMMING & EVENTS
LUNCH & RECESS PROGRAMMING, CLUBS & AFFINITY GROUPS
RISE
Today’s RISE activity was making no-sew pillows. Through fun activities, students learn how to deal with stress and worry.
ADVISORY AGENDA
This week’s advisory agenda: grade-wide snowball relay game (the snowballs are cotton balls you try to spatula scoop onto a plate blindfolded!)
ATHLETICS
This week’s home games:
TUESDAY
Girls B1 + B2 vs Winsor, 3:30 p.m. in Gym A
WEDNESDAY
Girls B2 + Boys B vs Milton, 3:30 p.m. in Gym A
Fencing Home Exhibition, 3:00 p.m. in the Green Gym
Check out the athletic schedules on the BVR website.
WELLNESS
Wellness classes this week:
MONDAY
Science 7.2 at 12:35 p.m. with Ms. Koch
Art 8.3 at 12:35 p.m. with Ms. Graham
TUESDAY
Art 8.1 at 12:35 p.m. with Ms. Graham
Science 7.3 at 12:35 p.m. with Ms. Koch
WEDNESDAY
Science 7.1 at 12:35 p.m. with Ms. Koch
Humanities 6.1 at 12:35 p.m. with Ms. Koch