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BCMS Friday News 1.30.26

Posted Date: 01/30/26 (03:39 PM)
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Branchburg Central Middle School logo featuring an eagle graphic and text.

BCMS Friday News

1/30/26

BCMS Family Update

Dear BCMS Families,

This week was one that truly required flexibility, and I am proud to share how admirably both our students and staff rose to the occasion. Between Monday’s snow day, Tuesday’s delayed opening, and our visit from Stony Brook students and staff on Thursday and Friday, BCMS had to adapt to several changes in a short period of time. Throughout it all, our school community demonstrated resilience, cooperation, and a strong sense of togetherness.

I would like to extend a sincere thank you to our staff for their hard work in making our Stony Brook guests feel welcome, and to our families for your patience and flexibility during arrival and dismissal. Your support helps ensure that even unexpected changes can be positive and successful experiences for our students.

As a reminder, Monday is the final day of the second marking period. Report cards will be available for parent viewing in Genesis on Monday, February 9th.

Due to the pending special schedules of the upcoming postseason, BCMS athletics events are not listed in today's Friday News. Instead, athletics dates, times, and locations will be sent to all BCMS families via email by Monday morning.


Warm regards,
Beth Stanton
Principal, BCMS

Important Dates & Calendar of Activities

A stylized blue hawk with outstretched wings, ready to swoop.

Important Dates

JANUARY
30 - SALA/SMSA applications due

FEBRUARY
2 - Last Day of marking period 2
6 - MP2 grades visible in genesis parent portal, 8th grade baby photos for yearbook due, Spring sports paperwork due, Student Council Winter Formal 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
12 - PTO Sky Zone Event for 6th & 7th grades - 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
13 - Single Session Staff Development
16 - School Closed - Presidents' Day
17 - Somerville High School honors applications due
 

Student Athletics/Clubs Calendar

**Late Bus leaves at 4:45 P.M. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. **


Monday 2/2
Student Council School Pride Committee Meeting - 7:10 A.M.
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Boys Basketball Practice - 3:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Cheer Practice - 3:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
D&D Club - 3:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M
Dance Team Practice - 3:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Drama Club Rehearsal - Shrek Jr. Song What's up Duloc (All Versions) - 3:10 - 4:35 P.M.
Girls Basketball Practice - 3:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Intramurals - 3:00 - 4:30 P.M.
MathCounts - 3:10 P.M. - 4:35 P.M.
Odyssey of the Mind - 3:10 P.M. - 4:40 P.M.

Tuesday 2/3
Chord on Blues - 7:00 A.M.
Jazz Band - 7:00 A.M.
Yearbook Club - 7:00 A.M.
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Boys Basketball Away Game @ Hillsborough - 4:00 P.M.
Cheer Practice - 3:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Dance Team Practice - 3:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Girls Basketball Practice - 3:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.

Wednesday 2/4
Chamber Orchestra - 7:00 A.M.
Falcon Gazette - 7:00 A.M.
Morning Management Club - 7:00 A.M.
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Cheer Practice - 3:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
D&D Club - 3:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M
Dance Team Practice - 3:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Drama Club Rehearsal Songs: Morning Person & I Think I Got You Beat - 3:10 - 4:35 P.M.
Fiber Arts Club - 3:05 P.M. - 4:35 P.M.
Girls Basketball Practice - 3:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Intramurals - 3:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Odyssey of the Mind - 3:10 P.M. - 4:40 P.M.
Yearbook Club - 3:15 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.

Thursday 2/5
Jazz Band - 7:00 A.M.
Peer Leaders - 7:15 A.M.
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Cheer - Home Game - 4:00 P.M.
Dance Team - Home Game - 4:00 P.M.
Drama Club Stage Crew Meeting - 3:10 - 4:35 P.M.
Girls Basketball Home Game - 4:00 P.M.
Intramurals - 3:00 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Odyssey of the Mind - 3:10 P.M. - 4:40 P.M.

Friday 2/6
Morning Management Club - 7:00 A.M.
MathCounts - 7:05 A.M.
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Girls Basketball Practice if win on 2/5
Student Council Winter Formal - 6:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.

Staff Recognition

Mr. Wright - SHS Favorite Teacher Award

Mr. Bobby Wright was chosen as a "Favorite Teacher" and honored at Somerville High School on Wednesday at the girl's varsity home game. Mr. Wright was honored with a plaque and heartfelt message from former student, Morgan B. He was also gifted a shirt with her name, while she wore his name. What a special event it was!
A group of young women in matching black t-shirts and athletic shorts pose for a photo with a man in a gymnasium.
A group of basketball players in black jerseys with orange shorts stand together on a wooden court.
 

Mrs. Heaney - January Spotlight Winner

Congratulations to Mrs. Shannon Heaney on her January employee spotlight award! Mrs. Heaney was nominated by her colleagues for all the wonderful things she does at BCMS and for her students.
Three people stand in a school hallway, with one person holding a certificate and a Dunkin' gift card.

News & Announcements

Student Council Winter Formal Dance - 2/6/26

Student Council will be hosting the BCMS Winter Formal Dance on Friday, February 6 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the BCMS Cafeteria. 

Tickets will be on sale during student lunches beginning on Monday, 1/26 and ending on Friday, 2/6. Students should plan to bring $10 (exact amount in cash is appreciated) to purchase tickets during their lunch, or $15 to purchase tickets at the door, on the night of the dance. 

Only BCMS students are invited to attend the Winter Formal. The dress code for the event is formal and should abide by all dress code rules as stated in the Student Handbook. Students should wear dresses, skirts, collared shirts, dress pants, jumpsuits or pantsuits. Students should plan to bring small amounts of cash if they are interested in purchasing activity tickets for snacks or raffle basket tickets on the night of the event.

Please reach out to Student Council Advisors Samantha Holt or Jacqueline Martoccia with any questions. 

Thank you.
 

Sports Club

Are you looking for a fun way to stay active after school? Click here!

Sports Club - 7th and 8th grade only
 

Spring Sports Physical Paperwork Due 2/6/26

Spring Sports Physical Paperwork Deadline February 6, 2026

In order to be eligible to participate in spring sports, students must have all physical paperwork handed into the school nurse no later than February 6th. 
 

Cardiac Athletic Screening Event

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health hospital, will host its annual Cardiac Athletic Screening on Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., in the hospital’s Cardiac Diagnostic Testing Department, located on the second floor of the main hospital on Rehill Avenue.
 
The free screening is available to young athletes ages 14 to 18 and is designed to help identify potential risk factors for sudden cardiac arrest.
 
Screenings will be conducted by RWJUH Somerset cardiologists, nurses, and technicians and include a cardiovascular history review, physical examination, blood pressure screening, body measurements, and an electrocardiogram (EKG). Echocardiograms will be performed when clinically indicated.
 
The cardiac screening is free of charge, but advance registration is required. A parent or guardian must accompany each student. To register, please call 908-685-2414.
 
For more information, click here.
 

Sky Zone Event for 6th & 7th Grade

Private event for the BCMS 6th and 7th grades ONLY 

DATE: Thursday, February 12th 
TIME: 6:30-8:30pm  
LOCATION: Sky Zone in South Plainfield 
GRADES: 6th & 7th ONLY!

 

Yearbook

Snap It. Share It. See It in the Yearbook!
Yearbook Photographers can't be everywhere, so we want your best photos from school events, games, and fun moments. 

Send in your own photos to Yearbook Snap! → Staff, Parents, and Students!
 
Visit Yearbook Snap and enter the access code “Branchburg25”. 
Alternatively, you can download the mobile app from the App Store or Google Play. 
It's easy; submit your photos today!

*Please Note - Submitted photos are not guaranteed a spot in the yearbook.
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The 2025-2026 Yearbooks are officially on sale!
 
Celebrate the highlights, achievements, and fun moments of our students by ordering your yearbook today. Don't miss out on this keepsake that your child will cherish for years to come.
 
Yearbooks will be sold online only for $36.00, before personalization and add-ons.  This is an early bird special! The deadline for ordering at this price is January 27, 2026.
 
 

Free/Reduced Lunch Application

A friendly reminder, the free/reduced lunch application must be re-submitted each year and does not automatically renew. A copy of the application can be found on our district website at : https://www.branchburg.k12.nj.us/student-lunch-forms
 

PTO Spirit Wear Store

The BCMS PTO spirit wear store is now open year-round! Orders will be delivered to your child's homeroom teacher on a bi-monthly basis.

 

Reminders/Quick Links

8th Grade Announcements

*Due 2/17/26* - The Incoming Freshman Honors Application is now open and accepting responses. All applications are due no later than February 17, 2026.

High School Transition Google Classroom
To support students and families throughout the transition to high school, our school counselors have created a Google Classroom that will serve as a central hub for important information, timelines, resources, and updates.
Families and students can join the Google Classroom using one of the following options:
Join using this link:
Or join using the class code:
akvb2pc6

We strongly encourage all 8th grade families to join the classroom to stay informed and up to date as we move through the application and transition process.

If you have any questions or need assistance with applications or accessing the Google Classroom, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s school counselor. We appreciate your partnership as we support our students during this important next step.
 

***ATTENTION 8TH GRADE PARENTS, BABY PHOTOS WANTED***

Oh Baby! – Attention all 8th Graders!
 
We are collecting baby pictures for 8th Grade Students ONLY!
 
Please upload your child’s baby picture to Yearbook Snap, following the directions above. 
Make sure the name of the file is your child’s full name, OR write your child’s name in the “Add a Note” section of Yearbook Snap after uploading the picture. In Yearbook Snap, there is a specific “Baby Pictures” folder for you to add to.  The deadline for uploading your baby picture is February 6, 2026.

Any questions? Contact Mrs. Borkowski aborkowski@branchburg.k12.nj.us 
 

Transition to High School Presentation

The 8th grade Back to School presentation is linked here. Please review it for important information regarding the transition to high school for your 8th grader.

Branchburg Community Bulletin Board

Please click here to check out the Branchburg Community Bulletin Board on our district webpage.
 
Text lists the values of Falcon PRIDE: Preparedness, Responsibility, Integrity, Diligence, and Respect.