School is just around the corner!  We are excited to have the students back at school and to jump into another year of learning and activities.  The following is a list of important dates for August and September:

8/7-8- New to district student enrollment (8-noon & 1-3 pm)
8/13- 6th grade schedule pickup (8:00-5:00)
8/14- 7th grade schedule pickup (8:00-5:00)
8/15- 8th grade schedule pickup (8:00-5:00)
8/21- First day of school
8/28- 6th grade mixer (3-4:30 pm International Plaza)
9/1-  Labor Day- No school
9/3- 7th grade mixer (3-4:30 pm International Plaza)
9/4- 8th grade mixer (3-4:30 pm International Plaza)/Grandparent’s Day
9/12- BMS Health Fair
9/19- School Pictures

Please feel free to call us in the office at 326-3811 if you have any questions.  We will see you on August 21st!  Be ready to strive for straight A’s: Attendance, Attitude, and Achievement!

MSTA, Missouri State Teacher Association, hosted internationally known speaker and author, Dr. Ruby Payne, for a 2-day conference on June 2-3 in Branson.  Dr. Payne is a leading expert in helping schools meet a diverse population of students through research-based instructional techniques as well as various community/parent involvement activities. 

The team of teachers and principals from Bolivar Middle School had the extraordinary opportunity to eat lunch with Dr. Payne and converse about specific ideas that the middle school has put in place as well as new ones that can be utilized to continue the strong school and community partnership already formed.  Dr. Payne commented on Bolivar Middle School’s efforts in being innovative and raising student achievement for all kids through cutting edge techniques such as the MAP walk and offering breakfast items before the MAP test, among many other practices. 

“It was a privilege to spend some focused time over lunch with Dr. Payne," said Shane Dublin, BMS Principal.  "She has influenced schools and the way we reach students for a number of years, so her input into what we are doing at Bolivar Middle School is invaluable.”

Pictured from left are Lisa Doyle, Nancy Smith, Lisa Funk, Judi Wall, Dr. Ruby Payne, Shane Dublin, and Michael Methvin. 

Congratulations to the BMS students, coaches, and parents for being named as a MSHSAA Leadership School for an eighth consecutive year.  No other middle school in the state of Missouri can claim that distinction, which honors the school's excellence in the promotion of citizenship, sportsmanship, leadership and scholarship through their interscholastic activities programs.

Four schools -- Bolivar Middle School, Blue Springs High School, Lindbergh High School and Pembroke Hill School -- have been MSHSAA Leadership Schools for all eight years of the program's existence, while four other schools -- Concordia, Highland, Excelsior Springs and Nevada -- earned their seventh Leadership School banner. Twelve schools achieved MSHSAA Leadership School status for the first time.

BMS Summer School 2008 will begin Monday, June 2 and conclude Thursday, June 19.  Classes will run Monday through Thursday for the entire three week period.  Classes begin at 8:00 A.M. and dismiss at 2:30 P.M. each day. Every student enrolled will be provided a free lunch.  BMS Summer School is for students entering grades 6-8 in August.

Students may enroll in morning and/or afternoon classes.  Morning sessions are from 8-11 and afternoon sessions are 11:30-2:30.  On the last day, we will have a drawing for prizes for students with perfect attendance.  Other attendance prizes will also be given. 

To enroll, pick up a registration form in the BMS or BIS offices and return it to your school office by May 7th.  Please choose your top five choices — ranked by preference — and you will be assigned to one class in the morning and one in the afternoon.  Some classes fill up quickly, so the faster you return your form the more likely you are to get your first choices!  Classes offered are subject to change due to enrollment requirements.

Students required to attend the Acceleration Academy or Reading Academy will be notified in a separate letter.  Reading Academy students may sign up for one other class; Acceleration Academy students are not eligible for any other classes.

If you have questions, please call Mr. Methvin at BMS — 326-3811.  We look forward to providing our students with an exciting and rewarding summer school experience!