September 20, 2000

Dear Parents, Guardians, Students, Faculty, Staff and Interested Others:

Welcome to the 2000-2001 school year. We hope that this school year has started in a positive and exciting fashion for everyone. Students have experienced a few changes, most of them designed to make their school day more comfortable, productive and rewarding. There are eight new faces among the teaching staff, working in most curricular areas. Class sizes have remained within acceptable parameters. Passing periods have been increased by one minute to ease some congestion. And now, all students have available an individual and private password to gain access to our computer network, providing additional security for their work.

There have also been some changes in the administrative structure of the school. I have been appointed principal of both the middle and high school. The changes that have occurred as the result of this combination of tasks are designed to ease the flow of communication between families and the school, regardless of what grades children are in, 7-12. First, one phone number, 876-0117, will allow a parent to leave a message for any teacher in the school or make an arrangement for early dismissal or other messages for any student. The student absence call-in-number 876-0114 remains the same for all students. The main office, on the second floor of the 'A' wing, will serve as the focal point for all business relating to any student (or teacher) in grades 7 through 12. My office has been moved to the Upper Learning Center so that I am more available to students and teachers in either the middle school or the high school. My phone number is 876-0105. Mr. Jeff Curran continues to be the assistant principal for grades 7 and 8 and Mr. Keith Ducharme continues as the assistant principal for grades 9-12.

An additional feature will be added to The Charger Express: The guidance department will be providing timely information about the college application process, SAT registration dates, scholarship information and other important dates and deadlines in the section referred to as The Guidance Corner. This information begins with a 30-minute presentation for juniors, seniors and their parents at 6:00 p.m., in the auditorium, immediately before "Meet the Teacher Night" on September 25. "Meet the Teacher Night" activities will begin at 6:45 p.m. and is planned to provide introductory information to parents about their child's courses and teachers. Parents will follow their child's Day 1 schedule, with period G added to the end. Classes will move about every ten minutes. If you are interested in a conference with any teacher, please contact that teacher by phone, 876-0117, or by email (example: mshimkus@bmrsd.net) to set up an appointment. Please remember to bring your child's Day 1 schedule with you. We expect these activities to be concluded by 8:30 p.m. Once again, welcome to BMR for the 2000-2001 school year. If I can be of assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Mary E. Shimkus, Principal