Veterans Day Celebration...

Veterans Day RSVP

Save the Date: 8th Grade Walt Disney World Trip...

Richland 2 College Fair...

Richland 2 College Fair...

National Red Ribbon Week ~ Red Out Day Tomorrow...

 "Your Future is Key to stay drug free!"

Friday: "Red Out Day" - wear all RED

Richland Two College Fair...

Grits for Grands...

Grits for Grands:

Grits for Grands RSVP Link

National Red Ribbon Week ~ Team Up Against Drugs Tomorrow...

 "Your Future is Key to stay drug free!"

Thursday:  "Team Up Against Drugs" - dress in your favorite sports team.

Friday: "Red Out Day" - wear all RED

Veterans Day Celebration...

Veterans Day RSVP

Wonder Movie ~ School Wide Field Trip...

Blythewood Middle School

Wonder Movie Day at Regal Sandhills

Movie Rating - PG

Wonder Field Experience Permission Form

Blythewood Middle School is committed to educating the “Whole Child.”  As part of this commitment, our goal is to teach kindness and other lifeskills daily, while at the same time, giving our students what they need academically.  This year, our first school wide read will be the book Wonder, by R.J. Palacio.  The school-wide read begins November 9th and ends November 16th.  In addition to teaching the academic skills of reading and reading comprehension, we also want our students to be good citizens and always treat others with respect. Wonder has recently been made into a movie.  The movie release day is scheduled for Friday, November 17, 2017.  After our school-wide read, we will extend the learning by taking our to students see the movie.  Our students will then have the opportunity to analyze and critique ways in which the book versus the movie proved to be the better choice for them.

Due to the number of students enrolled at BMS, there will be two days for the movie field experience.  Sixth and seventh grade students will see the movie on Friday, November 17th; our 8th grade students will view the movie on Monday, November 20th.  The cost of the private movie showing (for BMS students only), to include transportation, will be $11.00 per student.  Also, due to the number of students attending and our private screening, we will not have space available for chaperones outside of school employees.  

So that our students can fully enjoy the movie and not spend the bulk of their time waiting on their peers in concessions, we have asked that concessions be closed during our movie viewing.  Our goal for this field experience is for students to have a complete learning experience after reading the book and be able to better discuss details from both the book and the movie - similarities, differences, likes, dislikes - through a critical analysis lens.  

Parents may begin paying for their student, via Parent Portal, beginning  Monday October 9, 2017.  The final day for payment will be Friday, November 10, 2017.

Please note that if your child has any outstanding fees that are currently due, money that is paid toward the field experience will first go towards outstanding fees.  

We look forward to all of our students participating in this very worthwhile field experience.

Sincerely,

The Administrative Team

National Red Ribbon Week ~ All-in Orange Tomorrow...

 "Your Future is Key to stay drug free!"

Wednesday: "All-in Orange"- Anti-bullying Campaign

Thursday:  "Team Up Against Drugs" - dress in your favorite sports team.

Friday: "Red Out Day" - wear all RED

Don't Miss our Last Football Game Tomorrow...

Our last football game will be Wednesday, October 25th, at home against Muller Road, at 3:30 p.m. Students wishing to stay for the game should report to the cafeteria immediately at dismissal. Cost to attend the game is $4. Concessions will be available.

Don't forget to join us for the "5th Quarter" post game event that will be hosted by Blythewood Middle's FCA, and sponsored by our community partner, Village Church, from 5:00 pm-6:00 pm. All middle school students eat free with school ID (until we run out of food)! There will be music, games and inflatables. All students should be picked up by 6:00 p.m.

Come cheer on the Chargers to another victory!

National Red Ribbon Week ~ Sock Out Drugs Tomorrow...

 "Your Future is Key to stay drug free!"

Tuesday: "Sock Out Drugs"- crazy sock/stocking day

Wednesday: "All-in Orange"- Anti-bullying Campaign

Thursday:  "Team Up Against Drugs" - dress in your favorite sports team.

Friday: "Red Out Day" - wear all RED

Last Football Game is Wednesday, Don't Miss it...

Our last football game will be Wednesday, October 25th, at home against Muller Road, at 3:30 p.m. Students wishing to stay for the game should report to the cafeteria immediately at dismissal. Cost to attend the game is $4. Concessions will be available.

Don't forget to join us for the "5th Quarter" post game event that will be hosted by Blythewood Middle's FCA, and sponsored by our community partner, Village Church, from 5:00 pm-6:00 pm. All middle school students eat free with school ID (until we run out of food)! There will be music, games and inflatables. All students should be picked up by 6:00 p.m.

Come cheer on the Chargers to another victory!

No School Friday, October 20th...

School is closed on Friday, October 20th, as our teachers will be participating in District In-service.

BMS Year at a Glance Calendar...

BMS Year at a Glance Printable Calendar...

Grits for Grands...

Grits for Grands:

Grits for Grands RSVP Link

National Red Ribbon Week...

 "Your Future is Key to stay drug free!"

Monday- This is National Red Ribbon Week, this year's theme is:

 "Your Future is Key to stay drug free." 

Tuesday: "Sock Out Drugs"- crazy sock/stocking day

Wednesday: "All-in Orange"- Anti-bullying Campaign

Thursday:  "Team Up Against Drugs" - dress in your favorite sports team.

Friday: "Red Out Day" - wear all RED

Grits for Grands...

Grits for Grands:

Grits for Grands RSVP Link

Hurricane Irma Makeup Day Tomorrow...

Richland School District Two will make up Monday, September 11, missed due to Hurricane Irma, on Thursday, Oct. 19. That means:

• Wednesday, Oct. 18 becomes a full day for elementary and middle students and remains a late start day for high school students. Elementary and middle parent/teacher conferences move to Thursday, Oct. 19.
• Thursday, Oct. 19 becomes an early dismissal day for elementary and middle school students and a full day for high school students. Elementary and middle schools will hold parent/teacher conference on this day.
• Friday, Oct. 20 becomes a holiday for students, and teachers and other 190-day employees attend the district inservice. 

Why now?

• Scheduling the day now allows us to recapture instruction time during the same semester the of the missed day while giving our families and employees advanced notice of the change in the schedule.
• The teachers, principals, administrators and executive staff that make up Key Leaders and the Superintendent’s Faculty Advisory Council overwhelmingly supported this plan.
• State law requires school districts to make up at minimum of three days of missed school before requesting days be forgiven by local school board.
• We’ve heard from school faculty and staff, students and families that having to use all the make up days in the spring is difficult.  
• It’s only September and the past two years have not been kind to our meticulously planned school year calendar (October, we’re looking at you). 

Why isn’t one of the three required inclement weather make-up day scheduled in the fall?
School districts try to schedule makeup days after the times of year when we expect inclement weather that might prompt school closings. For example, if we scheduled days in the fall but experienced a weather event that required that we close schools in January, then we have to scramble to find makeup days or add days to the end of the year. When making up missed school days, our goal is to successfully recapture lost instructional time.

10/6/2017

Veterans Day Celebration...

Veterans Day RSVP

Hurricane Irma Makeup Day this Week...

Richland School District Two will make up Monday, September 11, missed due to Hurricane Irma, on Thursday, Oct. 19. That means:

• Wednesday, Oct. 18 becomes a full day for elementary and middle students and remains a late start day for high school students. Elementary and middle parent/teacher conferences move to Thursday, Oct. 19.
• Thursday, Oct. 19 becomes an early dismissal day for elementary and middle school students and a full day for high school students. Elementary and middle schools will hold parent/teacher conference on this day.
• Friday, Oct. 20 becomes a holiday for students, and teachers and other 190-day employees attend the district inservice. 

Why now?

• Scheduling the day now allows us to recapture instruction time during the same semester the of the missed day while giving our families and employees advanced notice of the change in the schedule.
• The teachers, principals, administrators and executive staff that make up Key Leaders and the Superintendent’s Faculty Advisory Council overwhelmingly supported this plan.
• State law requires school districts to make up at minimum of three days of missed school before requesting days be forgiven by local school board.
• We’ve heard from school faculty and staff, students and families that having to use all the make up days in the spring is difficult.  
• It’s only September and the past two years have not been kind to our meticulously planned school year calendar (October, we’re looking at you). 

Why isn’t one of the three required inclement weather make-up day scheduled in the fall?
School districts try to schedule makeup days after the times of year when we expect inclement weather that might prompt school closings. For example, if we scheduled days in the fall but experienced a weather event that required that we close schools in January, then we have to scramble to find makeup days or add days to the end of the year. When making up missed school days, our goal is to successfully recapture lost instructional time.

10/6/2017

Fundraiser Packets are Due Tomorrow...

A friendly reminder that fundraiser packets and payments are due tomorrow. 
Please finalize your orders and bring them in on Tuesday. 
All orders should be turned into your child's homeroom teacher.  
Thank you for your hard work and support. 
Our product delivery is scheduled for November 9th.

Club/Group Pictures and Make-up Pictures are on Monday...

School Picture make-up day is Monday, October 16th. 

If you missed getting your picture taken the first time, then on Monday, October 16th you will have your picture taken.  This picture will also be put in the yearbook.  Students who missed pictures the first time because of absence or are new to Blythewood Middle will have their picture taken.  If you ordered pictures the 1st time around and would like to retake them please bring in the entire picture packet on Monday, October 16th.  Retakes will not be taken without the entire packet.  All picture orders are prepaid.  If you did not receive a picture form, you can pick one up in the lobby at BMS or you can go online at:

www.strawbridge.net.  Use the following code:  (100350)

On Thursday, all group/clubs will also be taking their pictures for the yearbook!

*Please note that pictures taken on September 15th will be going home with students on Thursday, October 12th.*

Club/Group Pictures and Make-up Pictures...

School Picture make-up day is Monday, October 16th. 

If you missed getting your picture taken the first time, then on Monday, October 16th you will have your picture taken.  This picture will also be put in the yearbook.  Students who missed pictures the first time because of absence or are new to Blythewood Middle will have their picture taken.  If you ordered pictures the 1st time around and would like to retake them please bring in the entire picture packet on Monday, October 16th.  Retakes will not be taken without the entire packet.  All picture orders are prepaid.  If you did not receive a picture form, you can pick one up in the lobby at BMS or you can go online at:

www.strawbridge.net.  Use the following code:  (100350)

On Thursday, all group/clubs will also be taking their pictures for the yearbook!

*Please note that pictures taken on September 15th will be going home with students on Thursday, October 12th.*

Career Technology Expo...

Club/Group Pictures and Make-up Pictures...

School Picture make-up day is Monday, October 16th. 

If you missed getting your picture taken the first time, then on Monday, October 16th you will have your picture taken.  This picture will also be put in the yearbook.  Students who missed pictures the first time because of absence or are new to Blythewood Middle will have their picture taken.  If you ordered pictures the 1st time around and would like to retake them please bring in the entire picture packet on Monday, October 16th.  Retakes will not be taken without the entire packet.  All picture orders are prepaid.  If you did not receive a picture form, you can pick one up in the lobby at BMS or you can go online at:

www.strawbridge.net.  Use the following code:  (100350)

On Thursday, all group/clubs will also be taking their pictures for the yearbook!

*Please note that pictures taken on September 15th will be going home with students on Thursday, October 12th.*

Veterans Day Celebration...

Veterans Day RSVP

All Athletic Activities for Thursday, October 12th are Cancelled...

On Thursday October 12, 2017, all after school sports activities will be cancelled due to our Rachel's Challenge Kickoff.

We hope that all of our student athlete families will join us for Rachel's Challenge Kickoff at 5:00PM.

*Please note that basketball conditioning is cancelled for Wednesday, October 11th and Thursday, October 12th.*

PTO Fundraiser...

We have one more week left on our fall Cherrydale.com fundraiser! We hope you have checked out all of the incredible products available online through Cherrydale. It is not too late to sign-up, set up and share your site. Make sure to take a look at your students fundraising packet and get a head start on your holiday shopping. You will be supporting the BMS PTO as we bring Rachel's Challenge to our school and other school improvements.

BMS Basketball Conditioning...

Open gym for voluntary basketball conditioning will be held on 9/19, 9/21, 9/26, 9/28, 10/3, 10/5, 10/10 from 5:00-6:30pm each day.

Additionally, Oct 13 from 4 to 6:30 pm.

Complete athletic physical packets must be turned in before students may participate.  Students must meet academic eligibility requirements as well.

Basketball tryouts will be held the week of October 30- November 3.  Girls will tryout from 2:30 - 4:15 and boys from 4:15 - 6:00. 

Athletic Packet

Order your "Kindness T-shirt" Today...

Show your support for the Rachel's Challenge campaign at Blythewood Middle School by ordering a t-shirt or sweatshirt today! We will be taking orders until October 19th. Funds from this shirt will go towards supplies for the Friends of Rachel kindness ambassador club starting in November at BMS.

Kindness T-shirts

Rachel's Challenge ~ Silent Auction

Need a vacation? Or holiday gifts? Or braces for your teen?  The Silent AUCTION with over $8,000 in items will go live for online bidding on Saturday, October 7th! Auction ends at 7:30pm on Oct. 12 at the Rachel's Challenge event at Blythewood Middle School. You must be present on the night of the event to pay for auction items! Check out the items starting Saturday morning at:  www.32auctions.com/BMS2017

Auction items out of your price range? Buy raffle tickets for just $1 each for a chance to win a $250 Target Gift Card!  Over $800 in raffle items from the following companies: Walmart, Sam's Club, The Melting Pot, Red Robin, Schiano's Pizza, Red Lobster,  First Citizens bank, Kin Harris, and Sweet Pea's Ice Cream.

  

We also have a CATALOG and ONLINE FUNDRAISER at www.CherryDale.com/FRBLYBS  Money raised will help programs such as Rachel's Challenge, but will also go towards student and teacher needs for this school year.  It is one-stop shopping for all of your holiday needs!

Rachel’s Challenge is a program created to equip and inspire individuals to replace acts of violence, bullying, and negativity with acts of respect, kindness, and compassion. The program is based on the life and writings of Rachel Joy Scott, who was the first victim of the Columbine school shootings in 1999. For more information the Rachel’s Challenge Event at BMS, contact BMSPTO@yahoo.com 

BMS Year at a Glance Calendar...

BMS Year at a Glance Printable Calendar...

Rachel's Challenge...

Blythewood Middle School is excited to be the first school in Columbia to welcome the community to an empathy and kindness event at BMS on Thursday, October 12th from 5-8pm. The featured activity of the evening is a presentation by the non-profit organization, Rachel’s Challenge. Rachel’s Challenge is a program created to equip and inspire individuals to replace acts of violence, bullying, and negativity with acts of respect, kindness, and compassion.

Food will be available for purchase at food trucks. To raise funds for the continuation of this program at BMS, there will be a silent auction with over $8,000 in items (including a 4-pack of Disney park hopper passes courtesy of Disney, and a Full Orthodontic treatment donated by Dr. Christopher Jernigan), a raffle with $800 in prizes, a Game Truck, and a few secret activities geared at growing kindness in the community. Please read the BMS Blog for website links for the silent auction, t-shirt sales and our fundraising site. We hope you all will attend this event.  

The program is based on the life and writings of Rachel Joy Scott, who was the first victim of the Columbine school shootings in 1999. It is best suited for people age 12 and older. For more information on the Rachel’s Challenge Event at BMS, contact BMSPTO@yahoo.com

Order a "Kindness" tshirt or sweatshirt and support BMS' Rachel's Challenge campaign!  

Kindness Tshirt

Tdap Vaccine...

This is a reminder that all 7^th grade students are required to have a Tdap vaccine for the 2017-2018 school year. The deadline for immunization compliance for 7^th grade students was September 30, 2017.  Our school nurse has been calling and sending home bulletins to update and remind parents of this important deadline.   If you have not already turned in a copy of your child’s immunization record, beginning October 11, 2017, your child will be excluded from school until proof of having obtained the required vaccine is obtained.  If you have questions or concerns please contact your school nurse, Sarah Moore, R.N. at 691-6850, ext. 85410.

Early Dismissal Procedures for BMS...

What are the procedures for early dismissal/sign out?

If a parent wishes to check out his/her child from school during the day because of a doctor/dentist appointment or other valid reason, the parent is requested to report to the receptionist area in order to properly sign the child out of school. Parents/legal guardians must present a valid state or federal issued ID - the individual must also be listed as the parent/legal guardian in our PowerSchool system.  Parents/legal guardians that desire to have another individual sign their student out in a non-emergency situation must ensure that a written release is provided to the school each time the individual will be picking up the student - the written release may accompany the individual or may be emailed.  Please note that school personnel may have to call to verify the release of the students.   At all times ALL persons signing students out for early dismissal must have a proper state or federal issued ID upon arrival.    Parents/Guardians may write a note to maintain on file giving permission for an individual to pick up their child - this note is void after the school year. Please note that 1:59pm is the latest that a student may be signed out for early dismissal.

Last Chance to Sign Up for the PSAT...

Today at 11:59 pm is the the deadline to pay for 8th graders to take the PSAT.  The PSAT will be administered at Blythewood Middle School on Wednesday, October 11^th at a cost of $16.00.  If your child qualifies for free lunch, there will be no cost to take the test. If your child qualifies for reduced lunch, the cost will be $9.60. The test will begin at 7:45 a.m. and will end at 11:30 a.m.  You may log on to Parent Portal to pay for your child.  

PSAT ~ 8th Grade...

Attention: 8^th Grade 

Students & Parents:

Eighth grade students will have the opportunity to take the PSAT during school on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at BMS. The cost to take the PSAT is $16.00 and the deadline to register for the test is October 4, 2017. If your child qualifies for free lunch there will be no cost to take the test. If your child qualifies for reduced lunch the cost will be $9.60. For your convenience you can log in through Parent Portal under school fees to register your child or you can make checks payable to Blythewood Middle School. If you have any questions please contact Ms. Marcella McCoy, School Counselor, at (803) 691-6850 ext. 85407 or Dr. Cheryl Canty-Willaims at (803) 691-6850 ext. 85405.

Parent Portal Link

PSAT/ SC Junior Scholars 
Talking Points:

Nothing But Net...

Richland School District One and Richland School District Two employees are going to rumble again on the hardwood at the third annual “Nothing but Net” charity basketball game. The game is Thursday, Oct. 5, at 6 p.m., at Keenan High School, located at 361 Pisgah Church Road. The half-time show will feature a free throw contest with the district superintendents, student dunk contest and a tribute to breast cancer survivors. Proceeds will benefit the Palmetto Health Breast Cancer Walk for Life/Race for Life (taking place on Saturday, October 14). “Nothing but Net” tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased at BMS, the Richland Two District Office at R2i2, 763 Fashion Drive in the Village at Sandhill and at the game. Children under age 6 are free. Check the district’s website for more information or contact triley@richland2.org or 738-3232.