8th Grade Open House

Mark your Calender for September!

September 3:

PTO Meeting @ 4:00pm

September 4:

 BOLT Begins

September 7:

 No School - Labor Day (School Holiday)

September 8:

Band Mouthpiece Testing @ 6:00pm 

School Board Meeting @ 7:00pm @ Polo Road

September 8 - 10:

 Student Council Campaigns

September 9:

 Football game - BMS @ ELW

September 10:

Open House 6th & 7th @ 6:00pm
Open House 8th Grade @ 5-6:30pm
SIC Elections at Open House

September 11:

 Student Council Elections;

September 11 - 18:

Fall Book Fair

September 16:

 Football game - SPMS @ BMS

September 17:

 Interim #1/Qtr1 

Student Council Representatives Voting

September 18:

 School Pictures

 Muffins for Moms

September 21:

 Leadership Team Meeting @ 2:40pm

September 23:

 Football game - BMS @ LMS

September 24:

 Career Day

 Early Dismissal @ 10:45am

September 28 - October 2:

 American Education Week

September 29:

School Board Meeting @ Spring Valley High @ 7:00pm

October 2:

Make-up Picture Day

Get involved with SIC and help make a diffrence

Here is a way you can get involved in your Child's School and help make a difference:

School Improvement Council

The School Improvement Council is a group of parents, teachers and administrators who meet monthly to advise the principal and discuss ways to improve the school.  The group is seeking volunteers to serve beginning with the 2015 – 2016 school year.  Elections for SIC will be held at Open House on September 10.

Please submit your nominations and a brief bio to Rachel Corvi or by e-mail (rcorvi@richland2.org).  All nominations and bio's must be received by noon on Friday, September 4, 2015.  The SIC meets the last Monday of every month at 6:00 p.m.

For more information contact Karis Mazyck at 691-6850, ext. 85403.

BMS Library is Open for Reading!

Mrs. Swetnam and Mrs. Bailes welcomed 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to the library to check out books and talk about reading.  Students were excited and eager to start the school year strong with reading. 

Here is the link to the library orientation shared with students.  Information about library procedures is also available on page 8 in the agenda book. 

Our First Full Week at BMS

MAP Testing September 1&2

MAP Testing Schedule:

Tuesday, September 1st  - ELA

Wednesday, September 2nd - Math

Picture Day & Volunteers Needed

Picture Day!      

Mark your calendars!

School picture day is Friday, September 18, 2015

Volunteers are needed!

 If you can volunteer to assist with pictures 
please contact 
Greta Carter at gcarter@richland2.org

Richland 2 Community Events

Did you know that 

Richland School District Two

 has a Community Events 

page on Pinterest?

Don't miss these great opportunities!

Families check this board 

often for fliers about events 

and offers from community businesses.

Richland School District Two does not 

endorse, sponsor or supervise the 

organizations or activities represented in these fliers.

Richland Two Community Events Page

Teacher of the Year 2015-2016, Jackie Cribb

Meet Ms. Jackie Cribb, 
6^th grade math teacher and our

2015-2016 “Teacher of the Year”.  
Ms. Cribb was nominated and voted 
“Teacher of the Year” 
by her colleagues here at
 Blythewood Middle.  When asked

to share her philosophy on teaching, here is what

Ms. Cribb had to say… 

 Ms.  Jackie Cribb’s Philosophy of Education

I believe that all children have the innate ability to learn. The enormous stumbling block to academic achievement isn’t always the baggage that my students carry into the classroom, but the core beliefs that I carry in. I am a strong advocate of ensuring that all students experience equal access, equal treatment, and achieve to their highest potential in mathematics and in this rapidly changing world.  I want for them to participate freely in all forms of mathematical practices that appeal to them inside and outside of school. I believe that all children have the innate ability to learn when given an equal and fair opportunity to do so. Students have different levels of motivation, and different attitudes about teaching and learning. In my class, I encourage them to create something, evaluate it, improve upon it, and to put it to use. I know that high expectations play a critical role in student motivation, confidence, and success.

I believe that the education environment isn’t just confined to the classroom. As a young girl/daughter, Dad would often recite this quote by Thurgood Marshall, “None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody - a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns - bent down and helped us pick up our boots.” Education extends into the home and our community.  When parents participate in their children’s education, both at home and at school, and experience positive relationships with teachers, I think it makes a big difference in the effort and performance of our students when they know that their teachers and parents are working as a team for them.  As a parent/teacher, I believe all students must be treated with care, valued, inspired, and educated.

I believe that technology in the classroom is crucial to student development and preparation for our world today and in the future. The benefits from the use of interactive technology in the classroom are tremendous. It is essential in teaching and learning mathematics and science.  With today’s tech savvy students, I find myself in “overtime” way too often. I’m committed to motivating and reaching each and every one of my students. Technology provides the freedom to tap into learning styles and to also differentiate assignments that are fun-filled, relevant, challenging, real-life, and involves 21^st-century learning with keen attention to the most recent common core curriculum.  

I believe that every student has the potential for success. No two students enter the classroom with identical abilities, experiences, and needs. The true classroom is a hodge-podge of many faces and backgrounds. Within my classroom, some students are eager to learn, some struggling, but really desiring to learn, others find it hard and on some days impossible to remain seated, some just waiting for the class to end and eyeing the clock, and others awaiting the challenge for the day. Helping all students succeed in their learning requires meeting them where they are and differentiating instruction. With so many demands in the classroom, it can be extremely challenging keeping each student engaged. I believe teachers must maximize high achiever’s potential without neglecting the other minds in the class.

I believe that Barack Obama perhaps said it best in 2008 when he first ran for President: “The single most important factor in determining [student] achievement is not the color of their skin or where they come from. It’s not who their parents are or how much money they have. It’s who their teacher is.”

Career Day

Career Day Guest Speaker Interest Form

Career Day will be held on 

Thursday, September 24th at 

Blythewood Middle School.

 We are asking that our career speakers 

arrive at 7:45 am and we will 

end at 10:30 am.  Please help us with 

this informative and fun learning

experience by lending your time and expertise.

The purpose of Career Day is to 

introduce students to a wide array 

of careers.  As a speaker, we would 

like you to  describe your job, discuss the 

education and training required. 

We also encourage speakers to

discuss what school subjects they 

use to perform their job. 

If you have any questions, 

feel free to contact

Lara Schmitz, 

Career Development Facilitator,

at Laking@richland2.org 

or 691-5860, ext. 85408.

We look forward to your participation.

Please click on the link below to sign up:

Career Day Interest Form

A message from Mrs. Mazyck

August 21, 2015

Dear Parents & Students,

Thank you for a wonderful first three days of school!  If our first three days are any indication of the rest of the year then I think we are off to a great start!  Our days have flowed smoothly from beginning to end - even the often dreaded morning car rider line has, for the most part, been free flowing and did not back up onto Longtown Rd.  There is a lot to be said for procedures and I thank the fine faculty of Blythewood Middle School for helping to ensure a smooth opening for our students.

We are fully staffed with Highly Qualified teachers that are ready to teach your children because at Blythewood Middle School, we place teaching and learning at the forefront.  We have had one unfortunate circumstance that we wanted to make our parents aware of - we lost our wonderful chorus teacher Mr. Gunter over the summer due to him moving to a high school in Dorchester County.  At this time, our chorus class is being taught by a “certified” substitute instrumental music teacher, Ms. Susie Fancher.   She is working closely with the chorus teacher at Kelly Mill Middle School and our very own Mrs. Dobyns, Blythewood Middle School’s orchestra teacher.  Today, Friday, August 21, 2015, we recommended  to the Office of Human Resources,  a new choral teacher for this position.  Once things are finalized with Human Resources we will begin notifying our parents.  We promise to keep you updated on the status of this position.  In the meantime, please know that teaching and learning is occurring daily in every class at Blythewood Middle School.

Great things are always happening at Blythewood Middle School.  To stay up to date on the latest happenings, please make sure that you subscribe to our blog by  visiting the website www.chargingintothefuture.blogspot.com then see the “subscribe and follow” section on the right side of the screen.   Finally, I like to post things that are going on within our school.  If you are on Twitter, please follow me @_karisma73.

Please feel free to contact the school with any questions that you may have at 803.691.6850.

Sincerely,

Karis M. Mazyck

Karis M. Mazyck

Principal

Join the BMS PTO

Join the BMS PTO!!

Why join the BMS Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO)?

The BMS PTO’s, whose Co-Chairs are Kris Bailes & Nadia Addison, main goal is to provide additional assistance to our teachers, staff & students when basic fees/budget do not cover their needs. We also hosts events throughout the year for the teachers, staff, and our parents to thank them for their hard work and to show our support. Last year, we hosted such events as Muffins for Mom, Donuts for Dad, a Teacher’s Appreciation Luncheon, assisted with Veteran’s Day and Grits for Grands. Money you provide goes to events such as these and other activities the students participate in such as Field Day and some field trips.

How do I join the BMS PTO?

If you picked up a packet on Monday evening, you should have received a green & blue sheet from the PTO! Please sign up to be a member of the BMS PTO (green sheet) & if you are available, a volunteer (blue sheet).

Joining the PTO does not mean that you are obligating yourself to be a dedicated volunteer for all events supported by the BMS PTO. We will take what you have to offer, rather it be baking a casserole for an event or just being a member!

We need you to be a BMS PTO member! You can join at the “Family” membership for $15; “Bronze” Membership for $30; “Silver” Membership for $50; or the “Gold” Membership for $100.

Show your support of BMS by joining the BMS PTO today!!

20 Years of Teaching & Learning and We're Still Engaging Our Students...

Mr. Bloodworth's 8th Grade Math Class

Coach Case's 8th Grade Social Studies Class

Chromebook Pick-up  pictures..

7 & 8th grade...

Step up to 6th was a huge success!

was a HUGE success!

Click on the link below to see the great time the students had!

Step up to 6th 2015

Don't forget tomorrow is Step up to 6th Grade

The transition from elementary to middle school can be an exciting and overwhelming time for students. To help our newest middle schoolers get off on the right foot, Blythewood Middle School will hold “Step-Up to Sixth” on Tuesday, August 18, from 9 a.m. to noon. “Step-Up to Sixth” allows time for rising sixth-graders to acclimate to the middle school environment, meet the staff, find their lockers, tour the campus, and learn about clubs and programs offered at Blythewood Middle School. We hope this opportunity to become familiar with their new school before other students return will ease this transition.

If your child will ride the bus, he or she will have the opportunity to ride their new middle school bus to and from school on this day. The following is a link to the Bus Registration form, which is required for your child to ride the bus. Please visit the Richland Two website, www.richland2.org, click on Departments à Transportationà Bus Routes, to find route information. (Please note: The Transportation Department updates routes throughout the summer. You may want to check your routes closer to the start of school for the most up-to-date information.)

If your child will be a car rider, please plan to drop off at the school on that Tuesday at 8:30 AM and pick up at 12:00 PM.

POP in and meet your new 6th & 7th grade Administrators

POP on in and meet your new 

grade-level administrators 

before Charger kick-off on

 Monday, August 17th.

6th Grade
Mrs. Greta Carter
4:00-4:30 PM

7th Grade
Mr. Robert "Rock" Ratterree
5:00-5:30 PM

Step up to 6th Grade & Charger Kick-Off

The transition from elementary to middle school can be an exciting and overwhelming time for students. To help our newest middle schoolers get off on the right foot, Blythewood Middle School will hold “Step-Up to Sixth” on Tuesday, August 18, from 9 a.m. to noon. “Step-Up to Sixth” allows time for rising sixth-graders to acclimate to the middle school environment, meet the staff, find their lockers, tour the campus, and learn about clubs and programs offered at Blythewood Middle School. We hope this opportunity to become familiar with their new school before other students return will ease this transition.

If your child will ride the bus, he or she will have the opportunity to ride their new middle school bus to and from school on this day. The following is a link to the Bus Registration form, which is required for your child to ride the bus. Please visit the Richland Two website, www.richland2.org, click on Departments à Transportationà Bus Routes, to find route information. (Please note: The Transportation Department updates routes throughout the summer. You may want to check your routes closer to the start of school for the most up-to-date information.)

If your child will be a car rider, please plan to drop off at the school on that Tuesday at 8:30 AM and pick up at 12:00 PM.

Charger Kick-Off 2015 Information:

The Kick-Off is an opportunity for you to come to school early to pay your child’s fees, pick-up his/her schedule, as well as, complete other pertinent paperwork. 

The schedule for Charger Kick-Off is as follows:

      6^th Grade:

    Monday, August 17    4:30 - 6:00 P.M.  Cafeteria

      7^th & 8^th Grades:

      Monday, August 17      5:00 - 6:30 p.m.    Gymnasium

Things You Should Do While You Are at the Charger Kick-Off… 

        Pay Student Fees (Cash, Credit, Check)

        Place Money on Child’s Cafeteria Account

         Join PTO and learn about PTO fundraiser and volunteer opportunities.

         Complete medication forms ask questions 

regarding immunizations or other medical services.

         Register for Charger Pride After-School Program

       Complete Bus Rider Information Packet

&

PTO will be selling Spirit Wear

Additional parking available in the back bus loading area and the faculty parking area (3^rd gate)

We hope you are as excited as we are to start off another fantastic year at BMS!  Mark your calenders and set the reminders on your phone!  

   We look forward to seeing you at the Kick-Off!

8th Grade Parents

8th Grade Parents:

It's never to early to have your students 

start thinking about college...

Back to School Information

Please click on the link below to find all of the back to school information you need to know!

Back to School Information

Annual update for school registration

Have you submitted your Proof of Residence for the 2015-2016 school year?

Parents must provide proof of residence each year as well as updating information via infosnap online.  If you have not completed this information please do so as soon as possible. Richland District 2 requires that all students turn in this information annually. We are currently in the process of finalizing our registration for this upcoming school year and want to make sure your child is enrolled.   

For more information please contact Ms. Sierra Haywood, BMS registrar, at 691-6850, ext. 85406.  You may also visit the District’s Enrollment and Annual Registration page.  Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

BMS School Supply List

It's South Carolina sales-tax free weekend!  

What a great way to pick up your school supplies! 

Middle School Supply List

Richland 2 Back to School Pinterest Board

Richland 2 Back to School Pinterest Board

Pay your fees for the 2015-2016 school year now!

To better serve our parents, Richland Two now offers an online fee payment system available through the Parent Portal. With a few simple mouse clicks, parents can view fees and pay for all of their students in a single transaction.  You can learn more about this new system on Parent Portal and at our Charger Kick-Off.

Enrollment Process and Charger Kick-Off Information

For New and Returning Students:

Parents, have you completed the enrollment process for your child?  Don't get held up in long lines during Charger Kickoff.  Click here to ensure that your child's enrollment is complete:

https://www.richland2.org/Departments/planning/Pages/EnrollmentAnnualRegistration.aspx 

Charger Kick-Off 2015 Information:

The Kick-Off is an opportunity for you to come to school early to pay your child’s fees, pick-up his/her schedule, as well as, complete other pertinent paperwork. 

The schedule for Charger Kick-Off is as follows:

      6^th Grade:

    Monday, August 17    4:30 - 6:00 P.M.  Cafeteria

      7^th & 8^th Grades:

      Monday, August 17      5:00 - 6:30 p.m.    Gymnasium

Things You Should Do While You Are at the Charger Kick-Off… 

        Pay Student Fees (Cash, Credit, Check)

        Place Money on Child’s Cafeteria Account

         Join PTO and learn about PTO fundraiser and volunteer opportunities.

         Complete medication forms ask questions 
regarding immunizations or other medical services.

         Register for Charger Pride After-School Program

       Complete Bus Rider Information Packet
&
PTO will be selling Spirit Wear

Additional parking available in the back bus loading area and the faculty parking area (3^rd gate)

We hope you are as excited as we are to start off another fantastic year at BMS!  Mark your calenders and set the reminders on your phone!  

   We look forward to seeing you at the Kick-Off!