Hello, Middle School Students and Families! Here is a recap of today’s Middle School Meeting. Arsema Ayele ’30 and Lesleigh Robin ’30 ran today’s meeting. Students learned about the various ways they can get involved and lead in the Middle School!
You can check out the slides from this week’s meeting here.
Interim Head of School Sarah Pelmas defined leadership as falling in love with something and wanting to make it better. She encouraged all students to try something new in the hopes of finding something they love. She also invited any student into her office if they have any feedback to share about Beaver, and she emphasized the importance of building community by looking people in the eye and saying hello when passing in the hallway.
Leadership Opportunities
🦫 We showed a video featuring Rishaan Chowdhury ’29, last year’s Student Council president, who talked about reasons to run for Student Council.
➡️ 8th graders who want to run for president apply by Friday (9/12)
🦫 Caroline Coe-Rohl ’30, L’mar Hibbert ’30, Alice Gametchu-Walker ’30, and Daniel Orloff ’30, this year’s head Admission Ambassadors, encouraged all students who want to welcome prospective families when they visit Beaver to apply to be Admission Ambassadors.
➡️ Applications are due Monday (9/15)
🦫 Ms. Garayúa, Associate Director of the Hiatt Center, announced this year’s Middle School BVR Leadership Institutes.
These one-hour sessions, held on Monday mornings, cover a range of topics, including leadership and identity, as well as building professional skills. The first institute, Supernovas and Legacy, is on Monday, September 15, at 8 a.m. at 245 Woodland (BVR’s house next to the playground).
➡️ Students can sign up via email. A form from the Hiatt Center will be sent to all Middle School students.
Lunch/Recess and Afternoon Programming
✨ Hannah Barnett ’31 and Ru Thomas-Epstein ’31 introduced Graham Dam, small group lunches with our Middle School Counselor, Ms. Graham. Students eat lunch, have a special dessert, and play games. Ms. Graham invites students. All students participate in Graham Dam about three times a year, and students will be invited to attend via email.
⭐️ Beau Rives ’31 and Ruby Parker-Geller ’31 announced RISE, a Wednesday recess option led by Middle School counselor Ms. Graham. Through fun activities, students learn how to deal with stress and worry. Today’s activity is making bracelets.
🗣️ Esmeralda Wright ’30 announced Speech and Debate. The debate team at Beaver is a great opportunity for students who are interested in news, writing, politics, or debate. Students learn how to debate in Public Forum style and develop critical speaking skills in the process.
I would recommend this program because they helped me improve my writing, public speaking, and argumentative skills. Anyone who enjoys debate or simply wants to learn more about relevant political issues should sign up!
Esmeralda Wright '30
There are three sessions: fall, winter, and a mini course in the spring. The group meets at Beaver on Wednesdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Pizza is provided for dinner.
➡️ Students sign up via email no later than 9/13. Ms. Meahl sent an email with a registration link to sign up.
🤖 Science teachers Mr. Rohn and Ms. Klammer announced the First Lego League club. The club is dedicated to building legos and robotics. Students build a robot to complete a specific challenge and compete against other teams in the area. This club meets on Wednesdays during recess and/or on Tuesdays from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. A form to sign up was sent by email to all Middle School students.
😎 Mr. Barber, Design Level Instructor, announced CREATE, which takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays during recess. Students can go to the D-Level to work on personal or school projects with help from the R+D staff.
🧩 Elliot Fayne ’30 and Elliott Enyeart ‘30 announced Mathletes. Mathletes is a place where students can engage with math through puzzles, games, and, if there is interest, participate in math competitions. Mathletes meet on Fridays starting next week, on Friday, September 19.
📚 Ms. Kosberg announced the BVR MS Book Club. On Wednesdays, students meet to discuss books they’ve read and choose books to read together. Book Club started today.
😌 Ms. Koch, 7th grade science teacher and Middle School wellness teacher, announced the recess activity, yoga. On Fridays, students head to 245 Woodland (BVR’s house, located next to the playground) to practice movement, breathwork, and mindfulness, building strength, flexibility, and balance.
Announcements & Reminders
🧠 Marin Lubov ’30 and Charlotte Henson ’30 announced the beginning of Wellness Classes. In wellness class, students talk about friendships, social pressure, mental health, drug and alcohol education, and human sexuality.
All Middle School students will be guided through an 8-9 session wellness series that will include classes with Tammy Graham, Middle School Counselor & RYT 200, Whitney Koch, Middle School Science Teacher, ISEE Educator & RYT 200, and Will Slotnick from Wellness Collaborative.
🎭 Rose Scott ’30 and Reade Mrazek ’30 announced the year’s MS theater season. The Fall Play is Sideways Stories from Wayside School, and the Winter Musical is The Lightning Thief.
📋 This week’s advisory agenda: creating advisory mission statements.
📢 We reminded students to let me know if they want to run a MS meeting and to pick up trash on their way out of Gym A.
Happening This Week
At the end of the meeting, we confirmed what activities were starting this week:
Today: RISE, Book Club
Tomorrow: Graham Dam, CREATE
Friday: Yoga