Middle School Notes
BCCS middle school challenges students to grow and to make their faith their own, and also provides them with guidance and support. Academics are important, but so is meeting the needs of adolescent children. In middle school, students are given more independence and responsibility to prepare them for the years ahead.
Our middle school staff desires to partner with parents to help guide students through these important years in their lives. We want to celebrate the unique gifts of our students and provide ways for them to use those gifts for God's glory. Eighth-grade graduates should be prepared for high school academically, but more importantly, prepared to use their skills to serve those around them.
Below are a few middle school-specific details about our programs.
Communication
Your primary contact as a middle school parent is your child’s homeroom teachers. You will receive an email welcome from them and a phone call within the first six weeks of school. Conferences will also be held twice per year.
As a reminder, the BCCS mobile application houses all BCCS information as well as access to your child’s homework and grades.
Google Classroom
Google Classroom is an organization tool used by teachers to post assignments, resources, grade student work, and give feedback.
Grading and Homework
In middle school, students are given more responsibility to track their own homework. Sixth graders will still use a planner, but 7th and 8th graders will be given more independence. Parents, you can review your child’s homework or grades at any time through FACTS Family Portal (access through the BCCS mobile app).
Chromebooks
Each year, all 6th-grade families (and any new families in 7th and 8th grade) will be invited to an optional Technology Night at South Christian High School.
7th- and 8th-grade students will be given their laptops on their first day of school, while 6th-grade students will receive them shortly after their start date.
Band/Choir/Orchestra
Middle school students can choose between band, orchestra, and choir (and may even choose two in some cases). Contact the teacher of the particular program you are interested in order to find out more.
Band Director: Chad Rozema
Orchestra Director: Ashley Hansen
Choir Director: Monica Van Houten
Schedule
The typical day is seven periods, typically with five core classes and two co-curricular options. Note that your child’s homeroom teacher will also assign them a ‘buddy’ on their first day to help show them the ropes of middle school.
In middle school, your primary contact will be your child’s homeroom teacher. You have already received a welcome note from them and will also receive an email or phone call within the first two weeks of school.
Chapel/Small groups
Students meet in their homeroom each morning for a short time of devotions/prayer/worship/community building. Chapel or small groups take place on Fridays. A typical chapel begins with some singing and includes a speaker- it is a chance for our students to meet and worship God. The music and songs are often from the middle school praise team or selected songs from a teacher or class.
Small Groups are a chance for students to get together in a consistent small group to study God’s Word together and see how it applies to our daily lives.
Enrichment Opportunities
7th Grade Leadership Retreat: This retreat is a combination of preparing students for their 8th-grade year, focussing on leadership opportunities, and community building (two days, one night in May). We also spend time at the camp doing other fun activities such as games, wall-climbing, and more!
8th Grade Retreat: We focus on who our students are in Christ and who God calls them to be as 8th-grade leaders. We spend time (two days and one night in early September) investigating the lies that the world tells us about our identity, what God tells us, and how we can use that as Christians in a fallen world to bring about restoration.
8th Grade Class Trip: This one-day trip in May is designed to be a time for students and teachers to have fun together and celebrate the community that they have built over the years