RIVER RAIDER

Dear BRMS Families:

Our students returned from break well rested and ready to learn this week as we head towards summer!  We have many field trips planned for the coming weeks and our students will be able to enjoy a variety of experiences beyond the classroom.   These trips always help to enhance our students' educational programing and social interactions with their peers.

Over the next year we are looking to update our mission vision statement for Browns River Middle School.  The current Mission Statement is over 10 years old and many things have changed for our community in that amount of time.     On Tuesday May 16th at 7:00 our monthly BRAG meeting will be an opportunity for our families to provide input on our BRMS mission statement and what we want our school to represent as we move forward as a community.   We want to get input from all of our stakeholders.  Please join us on Tuesday the 15th so your voice can be heard.

This week our 5th and 8th grade students completed their VTCAP science assessments.  Our students work very hard on these assessments and we are proud of their efforts.   Next week our entire school will be participating in the ELA portion of the assessment on Tuesday and Thursday.   Math will be given on the Tuesday and Wednesday of the following week.  We encourage our students to give their best effort on these exams while at the same time letting them know that information gathered from these tests are only one of the ways that we measure their learning and they should try not to feel anxious about this work.   We encourage you to have a similar conversation at home.

We will have our final 7/8th grade dance of the school year on Friday May 12th.   The dance will go from 7-9:00 p.m.   Please be sure to review the school dance expectations that can be found below.  

Have a great weekend and enjoy the sunshine.

Kevin

Dance Expectations

Mission Statement

**BRMS Ultimate**

5-8th grade, 2:45 to 3:25 on Thursdays until the end of the year.

Tournament on June 3rd! 

contact: phil.ortego@mmuusd.org

Hello BRMS Families, 

    If you were to walk through the hallways of BRMS you’d find a single poster hanging that reads, “Going to a COUNSELOR or THERAPIST when you’re feeling SAD or OVERWHELMED should be as normal as going to the DOCTOR when YOU have the FLU. Let’s end the STIGMA about MENTAL HEALTH.”

    May is Mental Health Awareness Month! We have one whole month designated to learning about, spreading awareness of and having conversations around the health and wellness of our minds, thoughts, feelings and experiences. 

    While we have come so far in terms of acknowledging and discussing mental health, our own and that of others in our lives, like the poster states, there is unfortunately still a stigma attached to it. One of the biggest ways that we as parents and educators can smash that stigma is to 1) acknowledge that it is there and it at times feels uncomfortable and 2) to gently push ourselves past that discomfort and TALK ABOUT IT. That’s right! 

Give your own feelings, thoughts, moods and experiences a VOICE and encourage your child(ren) to do the same. The more we normalize and validate our mental health struggles (and successes!) and that of our child(ren), the more we can learn from them, create room for healing to occur and grow stronger-much like if we were discussing a broken leg or a wounded hand. 

   Just like going to a Dr. when your physical problems become unmanageable, sometimes when it comes to mental health, it is necessary to seek professional assistance. If you feel that your child(ren) is struggling with their mental health, your School Counselors are here to help! Your School Counselors provide short-term, solution-focused, in-school counseling as well as assist in referring out to mental health therapists if needed. Please do not hesitate to reach out. Below is a quick youtube video around mental health awareness. As always, if your child or someone you love is experiencing a mental health crisis call Chittenden County First Call at 802-488-7777. 

https://youtu.be/49mfPFTZsHs

Be Well,

Jennifer Wisniowski 7th/8th School Counselor

Ashley Bergeron  5th/6th School Counselor

BRMS Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week is next week! We are excited to celebrate our BRMS staff! We hope to offer a week of goodies including snacks, sweet treats, and a catered lunch.

This year families can participate a few different ways: sign up to bring store-bought snacks and treats or donate a monetary gift to help pay for lunch and other treats. 

To donate an item, please sign up HERE and drop the item(s) off to the main office on or before the sign up date. 

To donate a monetary gift, families can click HERE to give online, or drop off cash or check (made out to BRMS BRAG) to the main office. Any amount is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for supporting BRMS Appreciation Week!

The planning has begun and the team needs your help!  If you would like to join, please contact Kara Hayes (decorations) or Tina Witte (food). We’ll also be looking for 8th grade parent/guardian chaperones for the celebration following 8th Grade Recognition. 

Watch for a sign up coming soon!

MMCTV Middle School TV Camp will be held July 10-14 in Richmond. This year’s challenge is remaking a scene from the Disney film “Toy Story” as a part of the statewide Crowdsourced Cinema VT. Students will learn filmmaking & editing skills, while having fun.  Online registration/details:  https://bit.ly/MmctvCamp2023

The Chittenden East Youth Football Wolverines have opened up registration for the 2023 fall season.  Hop online at ceyfa.org to register your kiddos to join their friends on the big field! The Wolverine program runs in the fall, mid-August through October, with a long history of Championship football. Come be a part of a team, build strong relationships, learn life lessons and build memories that will last a lifetime while learning the game of football. Registration is open for all players in grades 1 through 8. 1st through 4th graders play 7v7 flag football (new this season) and 5th through 8th graders play tackle. For more information please check out our website or email Steve or Eva McLaughlin at ceyfafootball@gmail.com