A National PTA School of Excellence
Thanks to Mr. Gargano, BSMS morning announcements are now available online for you to view. Be sure to check the BSMS Video Announcements each Monday and Thursday for news and events occuring with the middle schoo
Even though we aren't physically together, let's join together in spirit! Share your photos on Twitter #BSMSSpiritChallenge #BSCSD #BSPACares to bring us all together in this challenge and show our Scottie Pride!
The Annual Ballston Spa Middle School, 6th Grade Student Art Show at the Brookside Museum is cancelled for April 2020. Once a new venue is available students, families and the community will be notified.
To locate lesson plans created by your child's teacher, click on the link...
Several charitable organizations recently received donations from the Ballston Spa Middle School’s drama club, Launching Pad Productions, after a very successful presentation of Frozen, Jr. The students chose to give a $150 donation to support the Rotary Club of Ballston Spa’s annual Spread the Love Food Drive that was held in conjunction with the school production during February. Members of the Rotary attended the performances and collected donations and two truckloads of food from the generous members of the Ballston Spa school community who attended the play. The food collected is being distributed to the area Food Pantries to share with families throughout the community...
Three Ballston Spa teams have qualified to move on to the New York State level Odyssey of The Mind competition at SUNY Binghamton in April. The Effective Detective team from Ballston Spa High School, the Gibberish or Not team from Ballston Spa Middle School and the Balsa Limbo team from the Malta Avenue Elementary School all completed this year’s regional event in first place and qualified to move on. In addition, the Milton Terrace/Wood Road Elementary School combined team won the coveted Omer Trophy at this year’s regional event...
The Ballston Spa Middle School recently welcomed the Rensselaer Engineering Ambassadors into the school to share research topics that they have studied at RPI and to inspire the students about the role of engineering and technology in society. Over 600 Middle School students participated in the science and engineering program during their science or technology classes. The college aged ambassadors taught the younger students an engineering lesson and provided a demonstration or a hands-on design activity...
Frozen Jr. will be performed by a cast of over 50 students with another 60+ crew members putting the show together behind the scenes. Performances will be held on Friday, January 31; Saturday, February 1; Friday, February 7; and Saturday, February 8 at 7:00pm. There will also be a matinee performance at 1:00pm on February 1 & 8, 2020. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens and can be purchased at the door before each performance...
On January 23, over 50 Middle School students competed after school in the School Round of the Geography Bee...
This week in 7th grade science, students finished the culminating project for their simple machine unit. Classes developed a “Miniature Golf Course” that included the use of the 6 simple machines. Each group was assigned to make a 6-12 step Rube Goldberg Machine that linked to the neighboring groups project. Students then linked their smaller project to their classmates to make one giant Rube Goldberg machine with 56 different steps. Projects included wedges, screws, incline planes, pulley, lever and wheel & axle. Projects were constructed of recycled materials primarily cardboard and old toys. This project marked the culmination a 2 week unit for students.
Seventh grade science students recently completed an Egg Launch Project based on the idea of Virgin Galactic’s Space Mission. The goal of this activity was to safely return a pilot (egg) to the ground after being ejected from the cockpit of a doomed aircraft. Students worked in teams to design and construct a crash pod out of everyday items such as straws, cotton balls and popsicle sticks. The final day of this week long project gave students the opportunity to put their designs to the test when their crash pods were launched with a giant slingshot! The winner was the team that designed a successful crash pod with the lowest overall mass. This project is the fun culmination to our Forces and Motion Unit.
Student Council and National Junior Honor Society spread Alzheimer’s Awareness at the middle school throughout the week of September 17th – 21st. Students and staff were asked to wear purple on Friday, September 20th to show their BSMS pride and to support this important cause. The middle school raised a little over $700 dollars for Team Diana throughout the week...
The Tang museum visited the 8th grade Art classes to share their hands on project ideas. The unique projects provide opportunities for students to learn and understand the issues raised by current and past exhibitions at the Tang. Referencing artworks and themes from these exhibitions, the Tang has assembled interdisciplinary programs that bridge the arts and school curricula.
Students received recognition for their interpretation of the 33rd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. & Corretta Scott King Art Invitational. This year's theme " We will be known forever by the tracks we leave". Middle School Art students, Julianna Wiltsie and Mariah Breault were both given certificates for participation in the event.
Thanks to the support from the BSMS PTA, students are helping identify bird species and are assisting in filling the feeder. The bird feeder supports the eighth grade Science Evolution unit and is an excellent resource that allows us to view diversity, animal adaptations and competition. As of today, students have viewed at least 10 species.
Parents, students and staff enjoyed the opportunity once again to see a sampling of student artworks grades 6, 7 and 8 during the first quarter “BSMS Principal’s List Breakfast”. Another opportunity to share with our school and community what students are doing in their Art classes each quarter.
The Gateway Art Class has created their first phase of BSMS Social Guidelines/ No Place for Hate mural. Inspired by a quote from author Maya Angelou. Students will continue to add to their mural during the 2019-2020 school year.
The Ballston Spa Middle School teachers, staff, and students participated in Pink and Denim Day on Friday, October 18th. In addition to wearing pink, the students made posters that included breast cancer statistics and hung them throughout the school to raise awareness to this disease. In addition, the Service Club and National Junior Honor Society sold pink bracelets, necklaces, and scrunchies during lunches to raise funds for a donation to the American Cancer Society...
Anne Clothier from the Brookside Museum recently visited Ms. Mion and Ms. Pusatere’s 6th grade Social Studies classes. The students were learning about Prehistoric times. Ms. Clothier introduced the students to “the fascinating world of Archaeology”. As part of the presentation, students were able to examine and discuss local artifacts as well as pretend they were archaeologists, by excavating their own artifacts.
Ms. Anne Clothier of Brookside Museum presented the first quarter Art 6 classes and parents with a historic look at the Village of Ballston Spa on September 30th. The information will assist 6th grade students in painting their chosen landmark this month for "Artists Are Inspired By Their Community".
Students in grade 6 Art classes share something about themselves represented within their final paper pyramid sculptures. Learning more about their new classmates, similarities we share and how visual communication can have an impact on creating a "No Place for Hate" learning environment.
Kindergarten screening and registration dates for Milton Terrace and Malta Avenue Elementary Schools, scheduled for early April, are cancelled and will be rescheduled after the Ballston Spa schools re-open. Parents will be notified of new dates to visit the schools by mail. If you have a child who will be entering Kindergarten this September and you have not been in touch with the BSCSD Registration Office, please call (518) 602-0256 to pre-enroll the student.
There has been a flurry of activities today related to the COVID-19 closure, the first of which came from the Board of Regents announcing that this year‘s Regents exams are cancelled and that changes will be forthcoming regarding how we will award units of credit to students in credit bearing courses. This was followed by the Governor announcing that our closure will now continue until April 29.
While students and staff might not be physically in the school buildings this week, they are finding ways to connect in a variety of activities and events virtually throughout the district.
Free/Reduced Breakfasts and Lunches are available for students enrolled in the program. Parents or other family members may pick up at the Wood Road/Milton Terrace or High Schools. The elementary school Backpack Food Program will also continue during the school closure according to the same delivery methods/time.
