Happy Spring Break

March 30th - April 3rd:

NO SCHOOL - Spring Break

Attention 8th Grade Parents

"Mark your calendar for IGP Conference Dates:"

Check your mailbox for your appointment letter.

What is an IGP?

An IGP, Individual Graduation Plan, is a plan that consists of the state high school graduation requirements and course recommendations for each year of high school that aligns with students’ interests and abilities.

Why is an IGP Important? 

It assists students/parents in exploring 9th grade course requirements and choices. It is important for students/parents to explore academic possibilities, including appropriate post-secondary goals. The IGP process helps to assist students to graduate on time, to review academic progress, achievement and interest inventory test scores.

What Should I Expect During an IGP Conference?

 You will be presented with an overview of 9th grade course requirements and high school elective course options. A review of formal interest inventories, a review of available test scores (Explore, PSAT, MAPS, etc) and selection of students’ top career cluster.

Zumbathon at BMS

BMS PTO and Enrichment teachers hosted Blythewood Middle School's first ever Zumbathon.  Students and faculty had a great time and continue to provide rave reviews regarding their experience!

Band Concert Festival

Congratulations to Ms. Dunovant and our band students!

They performed yesterday at Lugoff-Elgin High School at the Band Concert 
Festival.  They did a fantastic job and BMS is proud of you!

Spring Break & Early Dismissal

March 26th:

Early Dismissal 10:45AM

March 27th:

NO SCHOOL  - Student Holiday

March 30th - April 3rd:

NO SCHOOL - Spring Break

Spring Break is approaching but MAP Testing comes first...

March 23rd:

Spring MAP Testing Begins

6th Grade ELA

7th Grade ELA

8th Grade ELA

March 24th:

Spring MAP Testing 

6th Grade Math

7th Grade Math

8th Grade Math

March 25th:

Spring MAP Testing

Make-up all grades

March 26th:

Spring MAP Testing Ends

Westwood High - Rising 9th Grade Meeting

Dear Families of rising 9^th grade students for Westwood High:

On Tuesday, March 24, at 6:30 pm, there will be a meeting in the Westwood Auditorium to provide information about the transition to high school.  Come meet the 9^th grade counselors, administrators, and lead teachers.  They will be discussing course selection and provide more information about specific programs such as Studio D, the Carolina Alliance for Technology, SOAR Academy, AVID and more.  School counselors will begin individual scheduling meetings with students and parents on April 6 when they return from Spring Break.  Please mark your calendar and plan on visiting Westwood High on  March 24 at 6:30 pm for information that will help you and your family prepare for your scheduling appointment.  
Questions?  
Contact Dr. Cheryl Guy
 (803) 691-4049, extension 36116 or cguy@richland2.org 

BMS Pathways to Success April 16th

Blythewood Middle School 
is having their annual 
BMS Pathways to Success on 
Thursday, April 16th, 6:00 p.m., 

beginning in the school gym. The

previous orientation in January provided
information for those families

considering expanded choice, while this
program will be focusing on making

a successful transition for those students and
their parents who will be

attending Blythewood Middle this fall.
You will learn about summer

opportunities like the BMS JumpStart Camp;
receive information about the

summer reading activity, the
6th grade supply list, and information about

enrichment offerings.  Additionally, you will find
out what Charger Kick-Off

is all about and how you can receive information and keep in touch.
There will be brief sessions you can choose to
attend on how to help your child

with math at home, encouraging your
reluctant reader, as well as learning about
the adolescent child.
The evening provides an opportunity to visit

the 6th grade area classrooms and
meet the teachers.
Our goal is to provide tools for a smooth
transition from elementary school to the
middle

school.  We are looking forward to meeting and 

working with you soon.

Thank you again in assisting BMS in getting this 
information out to our new

families!

~ Stephanie Eastwood, 6th Grade Administrator

Disability Awareness Week - Volunteers Needed

Friday, March 20th is Disability Awareness Day. Blythewood Middle is looking for 9 volunteers per shift to help with this event. You will be provided a free lunch from Groucho's if you volunteer for at least one shift!

The shifts are:

8:45am to 10:20am

11:10am to 12:45pm

1pm to 2:25pm

The contact for the event is Denise Webster, Special Services Teacher. Please contact Ms. Webster at dwebster@richland2.org or ext. 85116 if you are able to help.

Lanna Whitener, Co-Volunteer Coordinator

Disability Awareness Week - Volunteers Needed

Blythewood Middle School is in need of volunteers to assist us with our Disability Awareness Day on March 20th.  The volunteers will assist us at the different stations that will help student experience some of the realities a person with a disability may face.  

There will be three sessions:  8:30 - 10:30, 11:00-1:00, and 12:45-2:45.

Please contact Ms. Webster at dwebster@richland2.org or ext. 85116 if you are able to help.

8th Grade Students and Parents

For 8th grade students & parents:

The Blythewood High School Honors Forum is a unique program designed for serious and academically motivated students who wish to challenge themselves with rigorous coursework taught by expert faculty.  Detailed information about the program and an application for the program can be located on the Blythewood High School website (https://sites.google.com/a/richland2.org/bhs-honors-forum/home) and each student wishing to apply needs to complete the application and submit it by March 25, 2015.  Parents can also contact Scott Auspelmyer, the Lead Teacher of the Honors Forum, for more information.  His email address is sauspelm@richland2.org.

ACT Aspire Testing

New laws passed by the South Carolina General Assembly have resulted in new tests that will be administered during the spring of 2015 throughout our state. Students in Grades 3-8 will take a new, timed test this school year called ACT Aspire. In Richland Two, our students will take the paper and pencil ACT Aspire tests for writing, English, reading and mathematics. They will not take the optional ACT Aspire test for science that some districts may use. This new test will help teachers understand where their students are succeeding and where extra help or academic focus is needed. By having a better understanding of a student’s skills, abilities, and knowledge, parents and teachers can determine what students need to know to be successful in school in the future.

Students in Grades 4-8 will continue to take SCPASS for science and social studies. Schools have the option of administering SCPASS as an online test or a paper and pencil test. Third-graders will not take any state tests for science and social studies.

For more information on ACT Aspire, visit the Richland Two Assessment Web page by clicking here or the S.C. Department of Education’s ACT Web page by clicking here.

Change for Kenya

"Change for Kenya"- Chargers, Friday morning BMS will be making their final push to raise money for our partner school in Kenya! Please check your couch cushions, pockets, piggy banks and cars for any extra change you can donate! No amount too big or small!!! We will be collecting money in the car and bus rider lines in the morning. Also, friendly reminder that donations can still be made on line or brought into homeroom throughout the week! And don't forget, it is just $1 to attend the Student/Faculty basketball rematch!!!!!!

Annie Jr.

The Blythewood Middle School Chorus and Drama departments will present Annie Jr. on Friday, March 20th, and Saturday, March 21st, in the Blythewood High School Auditorium. Both shows start at 7:00 PM and run for just over an hour. We are excited to debut our first school play and happily invite you to join us as audience members!

Tickets are on sale now at the BMS front desk through Leigh Powell. 

The cost is $5 in advance and $7 at the door. 

Please help us spread the word!

Gamecock Youth Football and Cheer Registration

Football and Cheerleading Registration Date

 SATURDAY March 21^st @Blythewood Middle School

2pm to 4pm

www.Gamecockyouth.com

Early online registration is going on from now till April 30^th. Pay in full by4/30/15 and pay only $160 ($20 off regular rate). Go to gamecockyouth.comand click on REGISTRATION to get started.

 Contact registration@gamecockyouth.com  for more information.

Schools Helping Schools

Tomorrow, Friday March 6th, BMS will have their walk for the Schools Helping Schools (SHS) Service Project.  Schools Helping Schools is partnering with BMS to support the Uhuru Academy Secondary School for Girls in Tigoni, Kenya.  The goal of Uhuru Academy is to provide education to Kenyan students who live in extreme poverty.  Many of these students are in resettlement villages due to tribal warfare and cannot afford education.  Thanks to SHS, we'll be able to raise money for these girls to attend school so they can excel in the future and overcome poverty's obstacles. 

    Students have already had class sessions where they learned about the importance of education and why getting a full education is difficult for people who live in poverty.  Students also got to Skype with Kenyan students to ask questions and meet first hand the students our donations are helping.  

    Join us as students get pledges from sponsors for their 3 mile walk TOMORROW (STUDENTS WEAR A JACKET) to recreate what most Kenyan students walk daily to get to school.  All money raised will go towards the Uhuru Academy Secondary Schools for Girls in Kenya.  As students raise money, they will have the opportunity to have their name drawn for prizes such as iPod Shuffles and Beats Headphones.  Students who raise at least $50 will be in a raffle to have a limo ride to Lunch at CiCi's Pizza.  Drawings will take place for all grade levels.  Check out this video and access the on-line donation site to gain a visual of what our students will get to experience over the next week.  

Online Donations and Videos: https://www.classy.org/events/blythewood-middle-school/e44953

Principal for a Day!

Principal For A Day:

Blythewood Middle School 

will be participating in the district's first
"Principal for A Day" initiative being held at middle and high schools on March 9th and district elementary schools on March 10th.  We are fortunate to have two guest principals with us on Monday, March 9th:  Mr. Bob Magone, Blythewood Town Councilman and 8th grade PTO top fundraiser, Garrett Miles.  Please join Blythewood Middle School in welcoming out guest principals and help us show them "The Blythewood Way."

Fun Fridays in Charger Pride!

On Friday, February 27th Charger Pride students had an awesome time being Chefs!  Charger Pride Students made healthy smoothies, and enjoyed healthy turkey wraps on a spinach tortilla.

What's going on at BMS in March?

March 3rd: 

Author Visit- Peter Lerangris visits 6th & 7th Grade

Orchestra Pre-Festival Concert at Blythewood High School - 6:30-7:30

March 5th:

PTO Meeting 4:00PM

March 11th:

Soccer Game - BMS@ELW

March 13th:

Honor Choir to SVHS - 9:15AM - 1PM

March 18th:

Soccer Game - Dent@BMS

March 19th:

Soccer Game - BMS@SPMS

Annie Performance 7:00PM

March 20th:

Annie Performance 7:00PM

March 21st:

Annie Performance 7:00PM

March 23rd:

Spring MAP Testing Begins

Soccer Game - BMS@LMS

March 24th:

Spring MAP Testing 

March 25th:

Spring MAP Testing

End of 3rd Nine Weeks

Soccer Game - MRM@BMS

March 26th:

Spring MAP Testing Ends

Character Awards 8AM

Early Dismissal 10:45AM

March 27th:

No School  - Student Holiday

8th Grade to DC

March 30th - April 3rd:

NO School - Spring Break

Tdap Immunizations

Richland School District Two is partnering with DHEC to provide Tdap immunizations

The Tdap immunization, commonly called the Tetanus and Whooping Cough vaccine, is a requirement for all students entering seventh, eighth and ninth grades for next school year (2015-2016). Pertussis immunity wears off over time, so students in the targeted grade levels are required to have the vaccine to prevent the spread of Pertussis/ Whooping Cough.

Pertussis/ Whooping Cough is highly contagious and is spread via droplets from a simple cough. Pertussis, known for uncontrollable violent cough, often makes it hard to breath. After coughing fits, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths, which results in a “whooping” sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age. Visit the Center for Disease Control's Pertussis/Whooping Cough page to learn more.

The best way to protect against pertussis is immunization. By state law, students must show proof of receiving the Tdap vaccine at the start of their seventh-grade school year or they will be subject to suspension. The deadline for compliance for next school year is Wednesday, August 19, 2015.

Richland School District Two is partnering with DHEC to provide Tdap immunizations in the middle schools for current sixth graders so they can meet the seventh grade requirement. Consent forms are going home Tuesday, March 3, 2015, and are due back to the school nurse Monday, March 9, 2015. Please contact Ms. Gladden at 691-6850 ext. 85410 with any questions or concerns.

Blythewood Middle School's Clinic will be on Tuesday, April 7th

Peter Lerangis visits BMS tomorrow!

Peter Lerangis

We are excited to announce that author Peter Lerangis will visit Blythewood Middle on Tuesday, March 3rd at noon.  He will speak to 6th and 7th grade in the gym that afternoon.  Mr. Lerangis is the author of The Seven Wonders series and titles in the 39 Clues series. Big thanks to Books A Million in the Village of Sandhills for providing this opportunity to our BMS students! 

Columbia's WACH FOX 57 will be reporting from Blythewood Middle on Peter Lerangis starting at  12:15pm.

We are hosting a contest to win a lunch with the author open to 6,7 & 8 grade students.  Students are encouraged to create a bookmark, poster or book trailer about the author's book.  Stop by the library to pick up a rubric.  

Order a copy of his books in the library and the author will sign your copy on the day of his visit.  Students may purchase a book by bringing cash or check (made out to Blythewood Middle) to the library.  Purchased books will be given to students by the day of the visit. Below is the price list:

Your Invited!