October 2025 Update from Mr. Crete

Dear Middle School Students, Families, and Staff,

Welcome to October! This is always a vibrant and busy time in the school year, and I'm excited to share some important updates and reminders with you as we move further into the autumn. Please note that our lost and found has been accumulating lost items for several weeks now. Each month, we will be donating any items in the lost and found. Please encourage your students to check the lost and found on Monday, October 13. Any leftover items will be donated after school on Tuesday, October 14.

🌟 October is World Bullying Prevention Month

One of the most important topics we focus on this month is World Bullying Prevention Month. This initiative, symbolized by the color orange, reminds us to stand together against bullying and promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion in our school community and beyond.

Our theme this year is "Be an UPstander." We will be focusing on empowering students to:

• Recognize what bullying looks like.

• Refuse to participate in or tolerate bullying behavior.

• Report incidents to a trusted adult (teacher, counselor, administrator, or parent/guardian).

• Reach out to offer support to peers who may be targeted.

Next week Wednesday, our teachers will be leading a building-wide lesson and discussion in advisory to reinforce these concepts. We urge parents/guardians to continue these conversations at home, emphasizing the importance of empathy and respect. Together, we can ensure our school is a safe and welcoming place for all students.

🍎Quarter 1 Grades

Final grades for the first marking period will be available on PowerSchool the week of October 27. 

Please take time to review your student’s grades and reach out to teachers if you have any questions or concerns. This is a crucial time to address any challenges and establish good study habits for the remainder of the quarter. Please also note that student elective classes will be coming to an end and they will be beginning their second quarter electives on Monday, October 27.

🗓️ Key Upcoming Dates & Reminders

1. Social/Emotional Screener will be administered on Monday, October 13. Opt outs have closed for this survey. This survey will happen in your child's science class on Monday.

2. Parent-Teacher Conferences: Our Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, November 18 (3:45 PM - 7:45 PM) and Thursday, November 20 (3:45 PM - 7:45 PM). Sign-up information for time slots will be sent out via email from the main office two weeks prior. We strongly encourage all families to attend to discuss your student's progress.

3. Professional Development Day: There will be NO SCHOOL for students on Friday, October 31st as staff will be participating in district-wide professional development.

🏈 Fall Sports Season Update

A big congratulations to all of our student-athletes for a fantastic fall sports season! Please check the school website for final schedules and come out to support the teams if you can! Your spirit and cheers make a difference.

BIG SHOUTOUT TO ALL OF THE PARENTS THAT HELPED CHAPERONE OUR 7TH GRADE FIELD TRIP TO TUNNEL PARK!! THIS EVENT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS AND A GREAT BONDING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF! WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT!

As always, thank you for your continued partnership in your student's education. I wish you all a safe, productive, and kind October!

Best regards,

Ryan Crete, Principal - Baldwin Street Middle School

Click here for 2025-2026 BMS Student-Parent Handbook

Fall Parent Teacher Conferences

November 18 and 20

3:45 - 7:45 PM

BMS Gymnasium

On conference nights, our families have provided meals to our teachers to show their appreciation for their hard work. If you would be willing to sponsor a teacher for dinner on these nights, please visit the link here to donate!

Sign-up information will be shared via email two weeks prior to conferences. We will have a Scholastic Book Fair available during the week of conferences.

Please take a few moments to review the information regarding the books in our library and the policies and procedures around restricting titles for your children.

Late / Lost Books

Students won't be able to check out another book until they return or replace an overdue book.

Save the Date: BMS Scholastic Book Fair 

November 18th-20th during Parent-Teacher Conferences

If you would be interested in volunteering at the book fair, we are looking for volunteers on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of that week from 10:45 am - 12:30 pm and during conference times. Please email Christine Banach.

As we continue to prioritize our students' social and emotional well-being this school year, we will once again be implementing a Social/Emotional/Behavioral Screener. We will be administering the screener to students on Monday, October 13 during their science class to all students. This tool will help us analyze data trends and identify students who may require additional support. Student-level responses will be connected to student email addresses and only be shared with staff and administrators who have an educational interest. The screener is HIPAA and FERPA compliant. A copy of the screener can be found on the HPS website (linked HERE). The opt out form closed on Wednesday, October 8.

Our school district will be participating in the 2025 Ottawa County Youth Assessment Survey* for all 8th graders on Friday, October 24, 2025 during their social studies class period.  The purpose of the survey is to collect countywide data about the attitudes, health needs, and risk behaviors of Ottawa County youth.  Consistent, reliable, and comparable data enables area agencies and school districts to identify priority youth risk areas and to design, implement and evaluate programs targeting those areas. 

●  The survey is anonymous and voluntary.

●  There will be no identifying information on the survey. 

●  Your student’s grade does not depend on answering the questions.

●  Your student does not have to fill out any part of the questionnaire that makes them feel uncomfortable or that you think they should not answer.

●  The district’s youth will benefit from this survey to the extent that we can identify those programs that have the greatest chance of preventing or reducing risk factors in the community.

For more information about the Ottawa County Youth Assessment Survey, please visit the YAS Website.  The full survey is found on the website and you may also reference the FAQ Document if you have questions.  As a district, we historically have included questions on reproductive health behaviors.  We will continue to ask these questions in the 2025 survey administration.

*The assessment is a collaborative effort of Arbor Circle, Lakeshore Regional Entity, Ottawa Area Intermediate School District, Ottawa County Department of Public Health, and United Way of Ottawa and Allegan Counties.

If for any reason you do not wish your student to participate in the YAS survey, please visit this link) by October 22, 2025.

Next week is our last week of our Fall Sports Season. All Winter 1 sports will begin the week of October 20.  The sports offered in Winter 1 are:

Boys Basketball (A and B teams offered)

Girls Swim and Dive

Competitive Cheer

Winter 1 Sign-Up Link

If you are interested in signing your student up for a Winter 1 Sport, please make sure the following is completed. 

1. Completed Sports Physical Form  (Must be dated after April 15, 2025 per MHSAA)

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

3. Signed Athletic Code Athletic Code Contract (This should pop up if you choose to pay online) or there are hard copies in the office. 

Physicals can be scanned and emailed to Juli Smies - jsmies@hpseagles.net.

Forms must be printed, signed and brought into the office prior to the first day of Winter 1 sports tryouts or practices (10/20/25) .  When all forms are signed and pay to participate is turned in, athletes will receive an entry ticket that must be brought to their coach on the first day of tryouts. Tickets will be handed out starting Monday, October 13. 

If your student played a Fall sport that was not Football or sideline cheer, they do not need to pay the Pay2Play Fee again. *Please note that MS Football and sideline cheer are club sports and are a $50 fee, not the $75 Pay 2 Play Fee.*

Informational flyers for sports will be available at Lunches and in the front office the week of 10/13/25. Coaches will also send out information emails by 10/15/25.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!

Come out and support our Eagle athletes! All Middle School Winter 1 Sports Schedules can be found at: https://hudsonvilleathletics.com/

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

Juli Smies - Athletic Secretary:  jsmies@hpseagles.net

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, Activities, Library, and Others. 

***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 if you are interested in helping out.

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