August 2025 Back-to-School Update from Mr. Crete

Greetings, Baldwin Street Middle School Families and Community!

We are so excited to welcome your students back or for the first time to BMS! We have many exciting plans for the 2025-2026 school year! As the summer winds down, there can often be much anxiety for students about returning to school. Over the past several years, our students have been challenged in ways that we never thought imaginable. At BMS we continue to grow each and every day as we prepare to meet your children where they are individually on their educational journey. We have several new staff members joining our team this year, and we hope to be able to provide additional support for your children as we help them mature and grow into remarkable young adults!

This year, we are implementing an important change to our secondary school schedule to support our teachers' professional development. This will affect our students and families at Baldwin Street Middle School. We will release our students 25 minutes early on two scheduled Wednesdays each month. Please note that this will not impact the bus schedule; students who take the bus will still follow their regular schedule. This time will be dedicated to Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) for our secondary teachers. PLCs are crucial to our ongoing efforts to improve instructional practices and student outcomes. Please see further information outlined in Teacher Team Time Wednesdays below.

During PLC time, teachers will collaborate to analyze student data, share effective teaching strategies, and develop targeted interventions to support student learning. This dedicated time allows our educators to engage in continuous professional growth, ultimately benefiting our students through enhanced instruction and personalized support. We understand that this schedule adjustment may require some planning on your part, and we appreciate your cooperation in ensuring a smooth transition for your children. The first four dates are as follows:

Dates: September 11, September 25, October 9, and November 6.

Please check out our new staff page here: BMS Staff Introductions. Please watch the video below for important information from Mr. Crete.

Meet Our Leadership and Support Staff Our dedicated team is here to support your child’s academic and personal growth:

Principal: Mr. Crete
Assistant Principal: Mr. McDowell
Administrative Assistants: Mrs. Barnes-Lee and Mrs. Santana
BMS Athletics Facilitator: Mr. VanSlyke
Athletics Administrative Assistant: Mrs. Smies
Counselors: Mr. Kuyper (A-K) and Mrs. Rasmussen (L-Z)
PBIS Specialist: Mr. Arnoys
Academic Specialist: Mrs. Ghysels
School Psychologist: Mrs. Gillstedt
Security: Mr. Hoffman

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

Parent Drop-Off/Pick-Up: Enter off 36th St., exit onto Baldwin St.
Bus Procedures: Buses drop off at 7:35 am and pick up by 2:50 pm.
Arrival: Students gather in the cafeteria before school and are dismissed to lockers at 7:35 am.

Daily Schedule

School Hours: 7:50 am - 2:45 pm
Advisory: Begins September 24, providing academic support or enrichment.
Lunch: 30-minute mixed grade-level lunch periods.

Cell Phone Policy: "Away for the Day"

Phones must be off and stored in lockers from 7:50 am to 2:45 pm.
Consequences escalate from returning phones at the end of the hour to parents retrieving them from the office after multiple offenses.

Teacher Team Time Wednesdays

Early Dismissal: Students are dismissed at 2:20 pm on Teacher Team Time Wednesdays.
Dates: September 11, September 25, October 9, and November 6.
Supervision: Students waiting for rides will be supervised and can work on homework or socialize in the gym or cafeteria. They will be required to sit in the bleachers or at a cafeteria table.

Communication Channels

Google Classroom: For teacher-student communication.
BMS Parent Newsletter: Sent monthly on the first Friday.
PowerSchool: For grades and updates.
Parent-Teacher Conferences and Social Media updates.
1. Fall Conferences - SAVE THE DATE - November 18 and November 20

Get Involved! Encourage your child to participate in extended opportunities such as:

Robotics, Renaissance, Science Olympiad, Clubs, and the MS Musical.
School-sponsored competitive sports and other community education programs.

Open House To-Do List

Get Your Schedule: Pick up your Q1 schedule, locker information, and PowerSchool login details.
Tour the School: Meet teachers and familiarize yourself with the building.
Pay Technology Insurance Fee: A $25 fee can be paid online.
Meet the Team: Administrators and counselors will be available to answer questions.

Looking Forward to a Great Year! We are thrilled to welcome our students and families back to Baldwin Street Middle School. Let’s make this year a success by working together to support our students’ academic journey!

Annual Registration for ALL students:

CLICK HERE ----> Annual Registration 2024-2025

This process needs to be completed for EACH child attending BMS. These forms will need to be completed and fees paid prior to attending Open House on August 19, 2024 in order for students to receive their schedules. We will still collect dues and technology fees on-site during Open House for those that would like to pay with cash or checks payable to Hudsonville Public Schools (Memo line - Baldwin Street Middle School).

Reminder: This registration is REQUIRED for all students.

At Baldwin, we believe it is through a partnership with our families that we create a comfortable, positive, and engaging place for students to learn and grow. Together, we will build on the great things already happening at BMS!

We look forward to meeting you. Please contact me with any questions, concerns, or ideas throughout the 2024-2025 school year! Please be sure to visit the Guidance Department, Return to School, and General News & Info pages for other news for the school year. We will communicate moving forward using this platform and will continue to provide information every month on the first Friday. Also, follow our social media pages below for updates as well.

Best regards,

Ryan Crete

Principal - Baldwin Street Middle School

rcrete@hpseagles.net

Important Announcements:

Required vaccinations or updated waivers are required by the start of the 24-25 school year. Your student will not be allowed to start school without these updated documents. Emails will be sent to families that need to submit these forms. If you have questions, please email Kristen Barnes-Lee at kbarnes1@hpseagles.net or call the office at (616) 669-7750 after August 7, 2024.

School Supplies List 2024-2025 - CLICK HERE

Click here for 2024-25 BMS Student-Parent Handbook

OPEN HOUSE - August 19, 2024

Monday, August 19

5:00 - 7:30 PM

This event will take families about 30-45 minutes to complete. Students will receive their schedule upon arriving if all annual registration and tech payments have been made. Once receiving your schedule, students will have the opportunity to tour their classrooms and meet the teachers, try their lockers, and ask questions about the general flow of school.

We please ask that all families enter the building from either the main entrance or the gym entrance. Upon entering the building, all families will be directed to the gymnasium. Student schedules will be provided in the gymnasium. You will also find more information and resources available at BMS throughout the gym. We will also have a payment station for those that wish to pay their technology fees with cash or check. We do encourage online payment if you are able.

You are not required to arrive at the start time, but please note that teachers will only be here until 7:30 pm.

**Please note**

If you are unable to attend open house, student schedules will go live on PowerSchool on Tuesday, August 20th. We are not able to accommodate tours of the building prior to open house. You may schedule a meeting with a counselor if there is an extenuating circumstance. The first week of school will be an opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with their schedules and our staff will be willing to assist and accommodate as our students adjust to life back at school.

First Week - Daily Schedule

Half Days: Wednesday, August 21 - Thursday, August 22

No School - Friday, August 23

Please visit the following link for our normal daily schedules: 2024-2025 BMS Daily Schedule

Student Chromebooks and Technology Information

Please see below for important details about Chromebooks and the district's continuing 1 to 1 initiative:

Students will be using the same Chreombooks, chargers, and cases they used last year.
New students will get their Chromebooks during the first week of school.

Action needed:

- Pay the $25 tech fee ($75 max per family). Follow these instructions (desktop / mobile), You can also bring cash or check to the office.
- Review device details on use, fees, and care on this guide doc.
- Charge, start, and run updates on devices at home before the first day of school
- If repairs are needed, students can bring devices to the media center during the first week

Fall Athletics

As summer winds down and the start of school right around the corner, it is time for fall sports to kick in gear. The fall sports that are being offered at the middle school level are:

Football
Girls Volleyball
Boys Soccer
Boys Tennis
Co-Ed Cross Country

The following things are needed to participate in Middle School Athletics.

1. Completed Sports Physical Form

2. $75 Pay-to-play fee (This can be check, cash or completed here) (Type in Pay 2 Play - Middle School)

3. Signed Athletic Code (This should pop up should you choose to pay online)

Tryouts/practices for all fall sports (except football) will begin on August 26th, feel free to turn in paperwork the first week of school to the front office. Football will begin August 21 from 3:00-5:30 pm.

If your child has yet to sign up for a fall sport, there is still time. Please have them fill out this google doc.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1SGstuh3lSUjcKx5yu5eLMwUC0nd64nYtbPjhbQsUt_M/edit?ts=664f3229

There will be staff in the office at BMS beginning August 12 so feel free to stop in and pick up and/or drop off any forms to Juli Smies.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

Jon VanSlyke - BMS Athletic Director: jvansly@hpseagles.net

Juli Smies - Athletic Secretary: jsmies@hpseagles.net

Student Picture Day

SAVE THE DATE!

Thursday, September 5

Students will be called down during the school day for pictures. Geskus will be providing order forms and packets for students. These will be distributed in their homeroom classes during the first week of school. Please keep an eye out for these in your child's backpack. Student IDs will be printed and distributed on this date as well.

Re-take/Make-Up Date will take place during the school day on Friday, October 4.

Food Service Update

Keep up to date with school menus and other food service news at https://www.jenhudfood.org/.

Additional Parent Volunteer Opportunities

Parents of Baldwin Street Middle School students! We need your partnership in many different ways during the school year. Opportunities include regular Copy Parent, volunteer during school day as needed, Parent Club Board positions and activities, Library, and Science Olympiad. Please complete the Parent Volunteer Opportunities Survey.

***All parent volunteers are required to have a background check on file. This includes Parent Chaperones that attend field trips throughout the school year. Please fill out our online "Volunteer Background Check Form" on the BMS website.

Please contact Jayme Santana or call the office at (616) 669-7750 with any questions.

S.O.A.R Recognition @ BMS

Students will be collecting SOAR tickets to use at our new SOAR store this upcoming year. We are hoping to collect donations for small prizes for the store. Prizes can include: Takis, Skittles, M and M's, snack sized chips, little knick knacks, etc. If you would be willing to donate, please bring them to office and put them attention to Mr. Arnoys.

Thanks for considering donating!

Community Resources

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Hudsonville Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX, including in admission and employment. https://www.hudsonvillepublicschools.org/about/civil-rights-compliance

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