Bryan Middle/High School

https://www.bryanschools.net/buildings/bryan-middlehigh-6-12

1000 West Fountain Grove Drive, Bryan, OH 43506 • 419-636-4536

Mr. Brian Arnold
Grades 6-8 Principal

Mr. Stephen Alspaugh
Grades 9-12 Principal

Mrs. Julie Taylor
6-12 Special Education Director

Bryan Middle School (6-8)

From Mr. Arnold:

Hello, families and friends of BMS! We are nearly done with the first Semester at BMS and deep into the holiday season! I know the staff and students of BMS are ready for a long, family, and fun-filled holiday break over Christmas and the New Year. I hope you are all feeling the same. Many of us at BMS are parents and know the hustle and bustle of the season can put a damper on your ability to appreciate the time with family and friends, but our wish is that you are able to share many moments of calm, quiet relaxation that will be great memories in years to come. We sincerely appreciate all of you and what you do for your sons and daughters to help them be successful students and young people.

Now that we are completing the 1st Semester and moving into the 2026 calendar year, be sure to check our school website and calendar to make yourself aware of important upcoming dates like back to school, Guidance Nights, and other events. Our athletic teams are in full swing at this point in the winter and our music groups have or will soon conduct their winter concerts. Mr. Alspaugh has included information on 6th-8th concerts in his section below, be sure to scroll down to see that. From all of us here at BMS, we wish you a joyful holiday break and a fruitful 2026. Good luck as we enter the New Year!

If you look below in the Announcements and News of Interest section, you will see some important dates and events that are coming up soon at BMS.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me or any staff at BMS. We are happy to help in any way we can.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO EVERY DAY AND ALL YEAR TO MAKE THIS A GREAT PLACE TO TEACH FOR THE 6-8 STAFF!

Announcements and News of Interest

7th Graders - Toledo Walleye Game

On Wednesday December 3, 7th grade students who earned all A's and B's on their 1st quarter report cards were able to take a field trip to watch the Toledo Walleye hockey team play at the Huntington Center in Toledo.

Over 100 students and adults enjoyed the game and their day away from the building.

Thanks to the bus drivers, chaperones, and all who helped organize the trip.

6-12 Holiday Assembly

On the Friday before Thanksgiving Break, 6-12 students enjoyed a Holiday assembly before leaving for the week. Staff vs. staff, student vs. student, and staff vs. student games entertained the crowd.

Christmas for Kids

Grades 6-12 recently participated in the Christmas for Kids Campaign. Staff and students participated in dress-up days each day following our return from Thanksgiving Break as well as a door decorating competition for each Academic Assist classroom in grades 6-12. The 6th grade enjoyed a hot chocolate reward for winning the overall class competition for dress up days. At lunch students were able to guess the amount of candy in a jar for a $1 donation.

December 17-19 at BMS

Wednesday, December 17 through Friday, December 19th are the last three days of the 1st Semester for BCS. Bryan High School is on an exam schedule on those days and Bryan Middle School is following an adjusted schedule to best match up with BHS. See below for our changes, especially on Friday.

Wednesday December 17

BMS Reach for Gold Assembly

Thursday December 18

BMS “normal schedule day”

Friday December 19

BMS Fun Schedule & Early Dismissal at 1:15pm

School Calendar

BCS 2025-2026 Calendar.pdf

Linked above is a PDF of the district calendar for this school year.

The 6-12 event calendar and athletic calendar for grades 6-12 are available as Google Calendars and you can subscribe to stay updated.

Check out all the various calendars on our school website under Calendars.

Fundraiser Info

The Grades 6-8 Fundraiser items were delivered to BMS on Friday December 5. If you ordered items and have not received them or have any questions, please contact the Middle School office at 419.636.4536.

📱 Cell Phone Policy Starting January 5, 2026

Per the new State Law, effective January 1, 2026, cell phones will NOT be permitted for student use throughout the entire school day. While current BCS policy already prohibits usage during instructional time, the main change is that phones must also remain out of sight and on silent or powered off during lunches/cafeteria time and hallway passing periods. Students may still bring their devices to school, and may keep them on their person as long as they are stored out of sight. Phones and earbuds are also not permitted on AM or PM school transportation if requested by the driver. Exceptions for use may be made by teachers for specific lessons or for earbuds connected to a student’s Chromebook during study hall. If you need to reach your student during the school day, please contact the main office.

The consequences for violating the updated BCS cell phone policy, effective January 5, 2026, are as follows:

Offense Action Taken Device Status

First Offense Warning and documentation Phone/earbuds stay in the office the rest of the day.

Second Offense Lunch detention Phone/earbuds stay in the office the rest of the day.

Third Offense After School Detention (ASD) Phone/earbuds are held until a parent comes to retrieve them.

Fourth or More Offenses Administrative decision Phone/earbuds are held until a parent comes to retrieve them. Could result in in-school or out-of-school suspension.

MS/HS Attendance Info

MS/HS Attendance item:

Students who miss school for a doctor's appointment, must return with a note for it to be excused. If the student returns without a doctor's note, per BCS attendance policy located in the student handbook, students have 5 days upon the return of their appointment to provide a doctor's note. If one is not attained the absence will be changed to unexcused. Doctor notes may be faxed to 419-633-6281 or emailed to attendance9-12@bryanschools.net.

Important 6-12 Calendar Items

Dec. 8-12 CCP test week

Dec. 11 Jostens ring delivery during lunch periods

Dec. 12 6-12 MH Classes Rotary Christmas Program

Dec. 13 ACT @ BHS

Dec. 14 7-12 Choir Concert @ Auditorium 2:00

Alt Strings Concert @ Auditorium 7:00

Dec. 17 Exam (see below) - pep assembly schedule

Dec. 18 Exams (see below)

Dec. 19 Exams (see below)

K-8 Students will be released at 1:15

Dec. 20 Christmas Break starts

Jan. 5 School Resumes

Jan. 18 OMEA D1 Honors Concert

Jan. 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School

Jan. 24 HS Solo & Ensemble

Jan. 26 MS Guidance Night 5:00-8:00 PM

Jan. 27 HS Guidance & P/T Conferences 3:30-8:00 PM

Feb. 6 3rd Quarter Midterm

Feb. 8 HS Orchestra Concert @ Wesley UMC 2:00PM

Feb. 13 Teacher Work Day - No School

Feb. 14 ACT Test @ BHS

Feb. 16 President’s Day - No School

Bryan High School (9-12)

From Mr. Alspaugh:

It's hard to believe that the days between the start of school on August 13, 2025, and the end of the first semester on Friday, December 19, 2025, have passed so quickly! As the semester concludes, please note that High School exams will be held on Wednesday, December 17, Thursday, December 18, and Friday, December 19 (see below for details). We invite everyone to celebrate the season by attending the 7-12 Choir Concert (2:00 PM) and Alt Strings Concert (7:00 PM) on Sunday, December 14, in the Auditorium. Our students and staff have truly embraced the spirit of giving, putting great effort into the recent Christmas for Kids theme days, door decorating, and fundraising efforts. Thank you to everyone who supported us during the cold holiday parade and enjoyed the lights on the Square! Finally, for the Class of 2026, the countdown is on: their last day of school is Monday, May 18, 2026, with Graduation on Sunday, May 28, 2026.

We wish all of our families a safe and joyous holiday with friends and family and look forward to seeing students back on Monday, January 5, 2026. Remember our policy: No cell phones between 8:00 AM and 2:45 PM. They must be in pockets or bookbags.

Exam Information

First semester exams are Wednesday, December 17th, Thursday, December 18th and Friday, December 29th. Exams represent 20% of a student’s semester grade. For this reason, parents should avoid scheduling appointments, surgeries, or vacations across these dates.

On Wednesday, December 17th, the 6-12 building will be on an adjusted schedule. This is a full day of school for our students. Students are expected to stay the day and use this time to prepare for exams or complete any missing assignments, tests or quizzes they might have.

On December 18th and 19th, HS students only, will be dismissed at 12:25 for the remainder of the day. Make sure to arrange for a ride at 12:25. School buses will not be taking HS students home until their usual times of 2:45.

If a student has a study hall or open period, they may leave during that period. To leave, they must have a note from their parents. This note must specify the date and times they need to be excused. The note can be brought in as early as Friday, December 12th. Phone calls giving permission to leave will be accepted, but you as the parent, or approved adult, will be required to come into the office to sign the student out. The ride must be here at the designated time and must return the student to school if they have another exam. This applies to the 18th and 19th only.

If a student does not have a ride on the 18th or 19th, they will be expected to remain in the cafeteria until the end of the school day. We will keep the lunch line open from 12:25-12:35 for them to purchase lunch.

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

11th period exam 1:30-2:45

There will be one exam on this day, the 11th period exam.

The building will be on an adjusted schedule.

This will be a full day of school. Students are expected to stay and use this day to prepare for exams or complete any missing assignments, tests or quizzes.

Thursday, December 18, 2025

1st per Exam 8:00-9:25

2nd per Exam 9:30-10:55

3rd per Exam 11:00-12:25

Exams start at 8:00 AM and will be done by 12:25 PM for grades 9-12. If a student has a study hall or exam opening, they may leave during that period with a parent note. This applies to the 18th and 19th only.

Friday, December 19, 2025

4/5 or 5/6 per Exam 8:00-9:25

6/7 or 7/8 per Exam 9:30-10:55

10th per Exam 11:00-12:25

On Friday, December 19th, Bryan students in grades K-8 will be dismissed at 1:15.

2nd semester Senior Exam Exemption

📅 2025-2026 Senior Exam Exemption Details

The Senior Exam Exemption allows qualifying students to be excused from one or all of their final exams.

Important Dates

Exemption Period: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 – Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Senior Exam Dates: Wednesday, May 13 & Thursday, May 14, 2026

Who Qualifies?

This exemption applies only to seniors currently taking face-to-face classes at BHS.

It does NOT apply to students in:

Four County Career Center
NSCC classes (on-site or at Northwest State)
Online courses

Criteria for Exemption

To be exempt from an exam, students must meet both grade and attendance requirements for that class:

1. Grades

Have a semester average of $84\%$ or higher in the class.

2. Attendance (3rd & 4th Quarters)

Zero (0) unexcused absences.
Maximum of three (3) tardies to school.
Maximum of five (5) total absences.

Note: Absences for doctor appointments (with a note), college visits, or military requirements do not count against the absence total.

Stay Informed

Students are encouraged to regularly check their grades and attendance. Students who lose the exemption due to attendance issues will be contacted at the start of the 4th quarter.

Follow up to the 17th Annual Souper Bowl

Thank you to all those who supported our 17th Annual Souper Bowl. Through your support, we were able to donate over $4,000 to The Sanctuary. It's important to remember that all proceeds generated through this event are donated to The Sanctuary Homeless Shelter here in Bryan.

December 4th College & Career Day

On Thursday, December 4, 2025, we held our annual College and Career Day. This exciting day provides students with hands-on learning experiences, career exploration, and important life skills to help them prepare for their futures.

Freshmen took part in sessions on Teen Safety Matters, team building, CPR, work permits, interview and soft skills, cell phone use in the workplace, job applications, and more.
Sophomores spent the morning touring FCCC and then visited several local businesses in the afternoon, including the City Offices of Bryan, Altenloh Brinck & Co US Inc., Titan Tire, ART, Allied Moulded, Phothera, and B & M Farms.
Juniors split into two groups—one visited Northwest State Community College and area businesses, and another toured Trine University.
Seniors participated in sessions covering The Game of Life, Erika’s Lighthouse, and Safe Dates.

We the closed the day with our Winter assembly where we recognized our Fall play, Academic League, Esports, student artist accomplishments and our multiple musicians and their upcoming performances.

BHS/FCCC Students in the Community

Congratulations to BHS & FCCC senior Katina Farmer. Katina was selected as one of the November Students of the Month and is in the Early Childhood Education. Four County Career Center notes that these outstanding students have consistently demonstrated dedication, leadership, and a positive presence in their labs and classrooms. Their efforts truly make an impact on the school community, and FCCC is proud to celebrate their accomplishments.

Congratulations to the following BHS students, who attend Four County Career Center and are actively working in and around the four county area.

Nic Caja, working at Menards Distribution Center
Connor Hogan, working at Schlatter’s Plumbing & Heating
Brennen Mosier, working at MAC Companies
Cody Shaffer, working at Flex-Com Communications
Aaden Wallace, working at Allied Moulded Products, Inc. - NEW
Jordan Wolf, working at Selking International Service Center

Bryan Area Foundation's Festival of Trees

BHS Gifted Visual Artists used their immense talents to decorate two trees for the Bryan Area Foundations' Festival of Trees. They decorated one tree for the Arts Connects Us Fund and the other one for the Alumni Fund.

Nicolette Stickney, Eleanor Huard, Madison Klinepeter, Kaylee Dempsey, Bristol Dominique and Rosie Schwender are the artists behind the boho chic tree and a gingerbread whimsy tree.

Each tree raised $1,250 for Bryan Area Foundation Funds! Thanks to our students for decorating the trees and those who purchased them.

Music Department Items

It's the most wonderful time of the year for our music department! Our talented students have brought the spirit of the season to life through several performances.

Orchestras Shine Bright!

8th Grade & High School Orchestras: As the sun set on Sunday, December 7th, these talented musicians performed their annual December concert. The auditorium was filled with a beautiful mix of holiday and seasonal pieces, perfectly displaying the beauty of December. Fantastic job to all our performers and a huge thank you to Mr. Bany for his dedication!
6th & 7th Grade Orchestras: On the snowy Sunday afternoon of December 7th, our younger orchestras held their concert. The program featured an exciting mix, including standout solos, the appearance of guest conductors, and a good selection of holiday and traditional pieces. Great job to all the students!
If you missed either of the concerts, you can watch them on Golden Bear TV.

Community Music Highlights

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make these incredible community performances a success:

38th Annual Defiance TubaChristmas on December 6th at the Defiance Mall.
Lightshine Singers performance at the Bryan Rotary on December 5th.
Numerous performances by our choir, alt strings, and band students at the Christkindl Market of Bryan and at Hillside.

Mark Your Calendars for Next Week!

Don't miss the final concerts of the semester:

7-12 Choir Concert: Sunday, December 14th at 2:00 PM in the Auditorium.
Alt Strings Concert: Sunday, December 14th at 7:00 PM in the Auditorium.

We encourage everyone to come and support our exceptional student musicians!

Senior Pictures

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