MS Minutes: 09.19.23

Posted on September 19, 2023

Hello, Middle School Students and Families! Here’s a look at what’s happening in the Middle School this week. A few upcoming deadlines we don’t want you to miss:

  • Admission Ambassador applications are due Friday, September 22.
  • Students interested in Debate Club should email Coach Kuntz before Friday, September 22.

Noa Shatz-Cauley ’29, Maddie Stoesser ’29, and Juliet Wasserman ’29 ran today’s meeting. 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.

Today, Allie Kahn ’28 presented Listens with Thoughtful Attention.

I chose it because that is an important thing to do in class so you can learn and get better at the skills being taught in class. Listening shows respect for the teachers and your classmates. Sometimes I have to take myself away from distractions, like friends I want to talk to. I remind myself that listening helps me learn.


ANNOUNCEMENTS

Aly Diaz ’29 recapped yesterday’s Hiatt Leadership Institute.

I learned about how to take initiative, and how to take a lead in working on the problems there are today. Something we did as a group was make chains about the steps of taking initiative and the resources we can use.

The next institute is on Monday, October 23.


K.L. Benjamin ’28, Quinn Burke ’28, and Abigail Zimman ’28, 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 this Friday, September 22.


Quinn Burke ’28 announced the Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) Affinity Group.

This Affinity Group is for LGBTQ+ students to come together during lunch and recess on Wednesdays. This year we will meet every other week. We organize events and activities and are open to allies as well. It’s a lot of fun, hope to see you there.


Rishaan Chowdhury ’29 announced the Speech and Debate group run by Lumos. Meetings will take place at Beaver on Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Students must email Coach Kuntz (akuntz@bcdschool.org) before Friday if they are interested in participating. We have space for six students during the fall session.

Rishaan Chowdhury ’29 and Rafay Desautels ’29 announced that the MS school paper, The Times of Boston, needs a new logo. They encouraged all students to submit a design.


THE BEAVER WAY

We talked about doing certain things the “BVR Way“, which included things like following your schedule and eating during certain times of the day. We showed a video to explain more.

An important BVR Way that was announced today: Students may only bring water in a water bottle to class. No other drinks or food may be brought into the classroom.


Continuing the Conversation

Our “Continuing the Conversation” section is an occasional callout in our MS Meeting Meeting Minutes to help foster an inclusive community. This feature will include a prompt for you and your student to reflect on, discuss, and share.

The BVR Way:

  • Why is following your schedule and being where you are supposed to be—both during classes and more flexible time, like lunch and recess—important?
  • Do you have family expectations about where you can eat in your home? Why or why not? How are they similar or different from the Beaver Ways about food?
  • How do you talk about school expectations at home as a family?
  • What do you wish would be a Beaver Way?

THIS WEEK’S LUNCH & RECESS PROGRAMMING, CLUBS & AFFINITY GROUPS

Today’s RISE activity was making pom pom letters. Through fun activities, students learn how to deal with stress and worry.

Aaron Westerling ’28 and Kyle Benton ’28 announced this week’s advisory agenda: an advisory competition on Upper Field.

Athletic games start this week, and we highlight home games at MS Meeting. Check out the athletic schedules on the BVR website.


TODAY
Girls Soccer
vs. Belmont Day School 3:30 p.m. on Upper Soule Field
Field Hockey vs. Winsor at 3:45 p.m. on Upper Field

WEDNESDAY
Field Hockey
vs. LCA at 3:15 p.m. on Upper Field

Wellness classes this week:
Wednesday: Science 8.1 at 12:35 p.m.
Thursday: Science 8.2 at 8:50 a.m.
Friday: Science 8.3 at 12:35 p.m.


We then transitioned to the 8th Grade President Debates!

Five students ran for office: Toren Anderson, Reid Bugbee, Brittany Franklin, Addie Marsh, and Joza Wang. Moderated by Nate Howard ’28, students answered questions related to their leadership qualities, their ideas for fun student activities, and their goals for Student Council this year.

Student Council Grade Representatives: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students can apply. Applications are due Friday, and their debates will be next week.


EVENT REMINDER
Open Studio Academic Showcase
is Thursday night! Registration will begin at 5:45 p.m. in the Front Circle followed by a welcome from Head of School Kim Samson and Director of Middle School, Tiffany Smith at 6:00 p.m.