Success Guide to BWMS - 1

Contents

BWMS Mission and Vision	2

The Middle School Years - Working with Adolescents	3

Communications	5

Success in the Classroom	7

School Expectations	8

SOAR	10

BWMS Schedule	11

State and District Testing	13

Transportation	13

Extracurricular/Building Activities	14

Athletics	15

Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO)	18

Success Guide to BWMS - 2

BWMS Mission and Vision

The mission of the Big Walnut Local Schools is to inspire and guide each student to his or her maximum potential.

Vision:

In order to realize our mission, the Big Walnut Local Schools will strive to achieve and maintain the following vision of:

STAFF: student-focused, professional, and collaborative

CURRICULUM: student-focused, challenging and current

ENVIRONMENT: safe, respectful, and welcoming

COMMUNITY; informed, involved, and supportive

2020 Vision and Beyond:

As our students prepare to graduate and ENLIST in the military, ENROLL in higher education, or be EMPLOYED in the workforce, they need universal life skills that will help them be successful in any future endeavor. We know that many of our students will work in careers that do not even exist today, so teaching them universal skills that are most valued by employers is critical for their future success.

In order to create a focus around teaching these skills, we created the Eagle Profile, which identifies five key skills for our students. During the 2019-2020 school year, we worked with our Academic Advisory Committee to review research and identify which skills would be most beneficial for us to explicitly focus on in the Eagle Profile. After narrowing down the list, we surveyed our community to determine the final list, which can be found on our Eagle Profile (shown below).

Over the next year, we will be working with our staff on ways to explicitly teach and evaluate these skills in the classroom. We will be aligning our report cards to these five areas as well, and we look forward to helping our students grow in these areas.

We will continue to follow our Big Walnut Academic Vision to Personalize Instruction, Engage Students, and Grow Minds as we emphasize the importance of these skills in our classrooms.

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The Middle School Years - Working with Adolescents

Social/Emotional Development

“Broadly, social and emotional well-being refers to the way a person thinks and feels about themselves and others. It includes being able to adapt and deal with daily challenges (resilience and coping skills) while leading a fulfilling life” … Social and emotional wellbeing incorporates both the individual characteristics of the child and those of environments such as families, schools, and communities (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2012, p. 8).

Middle school can be a challenge, and it is also an adventure. Some students can navigate the intricacies of adolescence and puberty with little support, while others need an army of assistance. Some begin to blossom with academic independence, while others appear to regress in interest and effort for school. Both are typical behaviors during this time of immense internal emotional, and physiological upheaval. Either way, with patience, you and your child will get through this process.

An excellent resource for middle school parents is Middle School: The Inside Story - WHAT KIDS TELL US, BUT WON’T TELL YOU, by Cynthia Tobias and Sue Acuna. It provides some fundamental suggestions about handling situations with, for, and about your middle school child.

Transitions - BWIS to BWMS to BWHS

Once students finish intermediate school, the pace of their academic career appears to begin a sprint to graduation. Middle school is a preparatory stop to collect information, hone skills, and start the planning process for high school and beyond. In each stage, students are expected to gain more independence and take more responsibility for their learning and future academic plans.

Big Walnut Intermediate School to Big Walnut Middle School 6th to 7th: ● Social/emotional transitions noted above.

● Scheduling is initiated by middle school counselors at BWIS; information is shared through all-calls, papers sent home, and the Middle School website.

● Schedules are created with little direction from parents; a shift from the elementary model with one or two teacher teams. Students will be placed on four-person teams at BWMS.

● Schedules will be made available on PowerSchool Parent Portal in August

● Students begin to hear more about their responsibility for their learning.

Success Guide to BWMS - 5 BWMS 7th grade to 8th grade:
● Social/emotional behaviors continue (or begin) in an unpredictable roller coaster pattern.

● Scheduling is initiated by middle school counselors

● Students are made aware of what 8th to 9th-grade scheduling will look like; high school counselors typically begin their scheduling process in February of the 8th-grade year

● Students are informed about ‘high school transcripts’ and ‘courses for credit.’

● Schedules will be made available on PowerSchool Parent Portal in August

Big Walnut Middle School to Big Walnut High School

● The process of transitioning to high school begins in approximately February with the 9th grade orientation night with the counselors and school staff at the high school. The High School Program of Studies is a fantastic resource for better understanding the coursework ahead.

● HS orientation and scheduling occur in February or March and culminates with a high school schedule by the end of March or the beginning of April

● Parents and students have much information to collect and digest; it is important to keep track of dates put out by all calls and on the MS and HS websites

Social Media and Technology at BWMS

● From a social perspective, technology can be both positive and negative. The generation gap may never have seen such a dichotomous separation as between those who are vigorously intelligent technologically and those who struggle turning on their phones. Parents need to know their strengths and limitations when it comes to technology.

● Bullet-proof thinking and short-sighted judgment put students at risk for relationship conflicts, self-esteem, and safety concerns. Many middle school students cannot see the long-term effect of an angry statement, naked picture, or inappropriate post.

● If social media interactions, within the academic day or not, disrupt the learning for any student, BWMS will intervene for the purpose of reinstating a safe, secure, and educational environment. For example, students should not take photos of others while at school unless it is teacher directed.

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Communications

Website BWLS.net

All of the communication from Big Walnut Middle School will be available on our website at www.bwls.net. If you hover over the school’s icon at the main BWLS page, you can choose the middle school. Once selected, daily announcements, school calendar events, teacher online classrooms, and the Twitter storyboard will be available.

Schoology Communication

Schoology will continue to be our Learning Management System for Big Walnut in 2022-23. Keeping all of the relevant information from all of your kids’ in one spot, parents will be able to log into one app on their phone or computer and see all the announcements, assignments, and grades in place.

All Calls

Big Walnut Middle School will frequently send out voice-recorded announcements from the desk of the principal for parents. This will highlight the main events and activities at our school. You may listen when the call is first sent out or wait until later at your convenience.

PowerSchool Parent Portal

Parents can access all grades and attendance for their student via the online PowerSchool Parent Portal at https://ps-bw.metasolutions.net/public/ Teachers will frequently post assignments and comments online via the Parent Portal. Students will continue to have the same access as they move from school to school within the district. In addition, parents can choose a variety of settings to have the system email you any updates about student grades. *Note Big Walnut Middle School will post all report cards with comments at the end of each

quarter on the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

Social Media (Twitter): @BigWalnutMS

Big Walnut Middle School will post various updates, information, and comments on our Twitter account @BigWalnutMS. Likewise, building instructional leaders will share all the wonderful learning activities with this mode of online communication.

Electronic Newsletters

BWMS will send out electronic newsletters each week. This communication will provide additional insights about upcoming events and highlight student achievements.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parents may make an appointment for a conference with the teachers, the counselor, or the principal on designated parent/teacher conference days (held four evenings a year), by contacting the school office at 740-965-3006. We will have electronic sign-ups for conference days. However, if situations arise that would
necessitate a conference outside of these times, please do not hesitate to call the office for an appointment at a

Success Guide to BWMS - 7 mutually agreed upon time. We do not offer walk-in conferences. The scheduled Parent-Teacher Conference nights occur with two at the end of the first quarter, one in the middle of the second quarter and one in the middle of the third quarter. We encourage all parents to use this time to connect with your student’s teachers.

Curriculum Night/Open House

Curriculum Night/Open House is a time for teacher teams to give a brief overview of their classroom and present information about the year to families. On this evening early in the school year, parents will have the opportunity to meet with their team of teachers as well as related arts staff. If you have specific needs that pertain to your child, please feel free to call or email your child’s teacher to schedule a time to conference.

Success in the Classroom

Study Skills and Techniques

Every student learns differently, and that goes the same for studying. Some need total quiet, some need a dark room, others prefer laying down, while others listen to any variety of music as background noise. There is no right or wrong way to study, as long as they have figured out a system that works for them. If you notice your child struggling with how to study, you can help in a variety of ways:

● Sit with them and talk through what helps them remember what is being taught, then apply that skill to their studying process.

● Share how you studied in school.

● There are great websites that can help you and your child strategize the best methods for them. Some are;

* Top 10 tips on how to study smarter, not longer

* How to Study

* How to Study Effectively: 12 Secrets for Success

Student Support:

Math Lab is a class dedicated to helping students with math skills and supporting a solid foundation for future math courses. Students are generally referred through the STAR universal screener, which is completed 3 times per year; fall, winter, and spring. If room allows, students who request math support can be scheduled into this class. This support incorporated computer adaptive programs to pinpoint areas of need and instruction.

Reading Lab is a class dedicated to supporting students for reading comprehension and fluency. Students are generally referred through the STAR universal screener. If room allows, students who request reading support can be scheduled into this class. This also incorporates computer adaptive software as well as ongoing interventions.

Success Guide to BWMS - 8 Tier II Supports are available for students to receive targeted intervention in Math or Reading based on the STAR universal screener and feedback from classroom instructors. These students may receive between 2-4 days of intervention during Advisory classes to help support content proficiency and gap closing.

Academic Support is a daily intervention for organization and soft skills development. Students may have an opportunity to complete classwork and receive additional prompts from school staff to complete academic tasks.

School Expectations

Behaviors and Increased Responsibility Students have responsibilities. These responsibilities
include regular school attendance, conscientious effort in classroom work, and a commitment to accept and follow school rules and regulations. Most of all, they share in the development of a climate in the school that is conducive to wholesome learning and living. The ultimate goal of the school is to provide the students with attitudes and behavioral patterns which will lead to productive employability, and result in an individual who is a positive, contributing member of society.

It is further recognized that during the school day, the role

of the school official and teacher is in place of parents relative to the student. School officials must often make decisions which protect the health and well-being of all students, while at the same time safeguarding individual rights. The need to foster a positive educational setting is uppermost in our minds.

The need for a well-ordered school environment is unquestionable. Every student and parent will be informed of the rules and regulations pertinent to daily school life at BWMS. The benefit of following these guidelines is the eventual goal of self-discipline.

Dress Code

*Clothing and the general appearance (including make-up) shall be appropriate to the school setting and shall not be unduly distracting or revealing.

*Dress and grooming should be clean and in keeping with healthy and sanitary practices. This would include no face painting, stickers, or sparkles on the body. Hair should not be styled/colored or the body pierced in such a matter that disrupts the educational process or draws attention in a non-educational manner.

*Clothing that is revealing or excessively exposes the body (off the shoulder or low cut in the front) is not to be worn at any time. Sleeveless shirts are permissible if the shoulder is covered. All dresses, skirts, and shorts must meet the mid-thigh standard. This is regardless of tights or leg covering. Tights and yoga pants that become distractive in the educational process will be evaluated. Students may be asked to change. Students must change

Success Guide to BWMS - 9 for P.E. class and may not wear their P.E. clothing during the rest of the day. The wearing of pajamas or other sleepwear, including slippers, is not permitted.

*Clothing, jewelry, tattoos, personal possessions or publications which depict drugs, gang, death, hate groups, violence, alcohol, tobacco, look alike, etc., or profanity, vulgarity, obscenity, pornography, or sexually suggestive words are not acceptable, including shirts with double meaning.

The staff and administration retain the right to rule on questionable dress, including, but not limited to the above.

Attendance

Good attendance is an important habit. Students are expected to attend regularly and punctually. It is the goal of BWMS to promote good attendance habits. This includes guidelines from HouseBill 410 for reporting purposes.

Parents are asked to contact the school by 9:00 a.m. on a day of absence. The BWMS phone number is 740-965-3006, and our attendance line is 740-965-7786 the fax number is 740-965-6471. On the day of an
absence, a parent/guardian must contact the school to notify the school personnel of a child’s absence, the reason for the absence, and contact information; this notification must occur within ten (10) school days of the student’s absence. If parental notification is received late or not received at all, the absence is recorded as unexcused. Parent notifications are only allowed up until the point a student is absent for 65 hours, excused or unexcused. The Missing Children’s Act requires the school to contact parents when a student is absent from school.

If you arrive at school after school has begun, you must report to the main office and sign in and receive an admit slip. At any time during the day, if a student needs to leave or arrives late, a parent/guardian must either sign the student in/out or provide a note.

BYOT and Digital Citizenship

Big Walnut Local Schools is committed to preparing all students and teachers to maximize learning by fully integrating relevant technology into academic content to acquire, share and evaluate information, achieve media and technology literacy, and maintain a safe and ethical environment. The first step is to develop and implement a plan allowing students to bring their own digital devices to school. As part of this plan, BWLS will implement a program that will allow students to access our guest wireless network using their own technology tools during the learning day. With classroom teacher approval, students may use their own devices in the classroom to access and save information from the internet, communicate with other learners, and use productivity tools provided by Big Walnut Local Schools.

BWMS is excited to continue to be 1:1 with Chromebooks in 2023-24. Each student has been given a school-issued device to improve and
personalize his/her education. The school-issued mobile device is an important learning tool and is to be used for educational purposes. It is essential that the Chromebook be charged and brought to school daily.

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SOAR
○ Big Walnut Middle School students are encouraged to strive for high standards of conduct in order to maximize their potential as student citizens. The acronym SOAR stands for those areas in which students should be continually growing:

Scholarship: Going above and beyond expectations and striving to become a stronger learner

Ownership: Taking responsibility for your actions in and around BWMS

Awareness: Understanding your role in taking care of BWMS and other people

Respect: Being the best you can be and allowing others to do the same

To encourage a school climate that encourages growth in these areas, the SOAR committee does a variety of things throughout the building and throughout the year to remind everyone to create a school culture that SOARs!

SOAR Rewards

Students who exemplify the qualities in SOAR are selected throughout the year to be spotlighted for their inspiration to the BWMS school community. Students may be nominated by staff or students at BWMS. Students may receive SOAR Above the Line recognition in the form of SOAR Cards or SOAR Tickets. Students may receive additional rewards from the Caught SOARing Tickets during regular Reward Days. At BWMS – Everyone SOARs.

Honor Roll - All A’s, Merit Roll

Any student earning all A/A- in a nine-week grading period will be designed as an honor roll student. Any student with 3.5 or greater meets the criteria for merit roll. The SOAR Program will provide for honor roll recognition/rewards throughout the year. *Note: Anytime an accumulative honor roll reward is given for the year, it will be based upon the marks earned during the first three quarter grading periods.

Success Guide to BWMS - 11 BWMS Schedule

School Supplies

The process for acquiring school supply information is through the BWMS website, http://www.bwls.net.

We understand students want to be prepared, and parents would like to cross one thing off of their list. If you choose to wait to see what individual teachers expect, please prepare your child with this minimal list of supplies to start the year:

#2 Pencils

Colored pencils

Earbuds

Pack of 3x5 index cards

Binder or folders for loose papers

Ink pens; black or dark blue and red

Glue; stick or bottle

Ruler

Highlighters

Loose-leaf paper with binder

Finding your Schedule

■ Schedules are generally available on the Parent Portal in PowerSchool a week before the first day of class for students. If you need a copy of your parent portal information, you can request it from the intermediate school before the end of 6th grade, or it can be sent home with your student at the beginning of 7th grade.

Lockers and Lunches

■ Students may elect to have a locker assigned by the office. The combination will appear on your student’s schedule.

■ Lunch is thirty minutes and is conducted in the Atrium/Cafeteria. Students are free to sit with their friends, use their technology, and relax. There are times when a student will eat with a teacher, in lunch detention, or assignment intervention.

Advisory

■ Advisory is a thirty-minute period of time after the lunch block for 7th and 8th graders. Students can use this time to study, check-in with teachers for work or to ask questions, work on projects with group-mates, and take care of logistics for their learning and activities.

■ Teachers may use this time to have students make up tests or assignments and conference with students.

■ Students will participate in a weekly CharacterStrong lesson to support SEL and a positive school climate.

Success Guide to BWMS - 12 Scheduling Process
■ Class placements are made based upon the needs of students. Language Arts, Math, and for 8th grade, Spanish I, are classes in which assessment scores, screening scores, and a teacher recommendation are required. Teachers in 6th and 7th grade spend time discussing the best placement for each student. There are times when a student is recommended to take a more advanced class, and times when advanced placement is reconsidered based upon scores and the level of challenge a student may require

■ Schedule changes can be requested for the first 3-5 days of the school year. Changes are not guaranteed and are made based upon the availability of a course, course requirement, and at the discretion of a teacher, the counselor, or an administrator.

The student emails the 7th or 8th grade school. The school counselor will consider each request on an individual basis and then inform the student.

Core Classes

■ Math, science, social studies, and language arts are the core classes and the foundation of students’ education. Placement in core classes is based on district criteria and teacher recommendation, and the consideration of the
best educational placement for each student.

Related Arts Options and Programs

■ Related Arts are the middle school version of the intermediate school term ‘specials.’ Related Arts are those courses that enhance a student’s knowledge and interests. Each year there are basic electives that generally do not vary from year to year; they include Agricultural Science, Art, Band, Careers, Choir, Exploratory Music, Global Citizenship, Musical Theater, Orchestra, PE & Fitness, Skills for Success, Speech, Technology, Wellness, and World Language.

High School Credit Classes

■ Algebra I, Geometry, and Spanish I are classes offered at the middle school that could result in high school credit. Participants in these classes are those 8th graders exhibiting high academic achievement and who have received a recommendation for the class.

■ As a high school course, the expectations are that students will take the initiative in their learning and responsibility for their choices in completing assignments outside of class.

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State and District Testing

Ohio State Tests and STAR Assessments

■ Testing occurs in late April. All tests are completed electronically.

Tested subject are:

ELA 7 & 8	Math 7 & 8	Science 8

Progress Monitors and RtI

■ BWMS uses standardized progress monitoring tools, such as the STAR Assessments, to assess core learning skills in ELA and math.

■ Students who have identified needs in either area will be provided with support according to their need (RtI). Support ranges from monitoring to placement in a reading lab and/or math lab.

Transportation

Parent Drop Off and Pick Up

*For safety and traffic flow, students should be dropped off and picked up at the front of the building. Twenty minutes before and at the end of the school day, all passenger traffic is to enter and exit via the South Old 3C entrance. This allows for state required bus safety and for buses to stay on time for elementary routes.

Busing

*Buses will pick up and unload via the back athletic area. Buses will use the South Old 3C entrance.

*Transportation’s contact number is 740-965-9867.

*Prior to the start of the school year, bus routes will be posted via the Parent PowerSchool Portal.

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Extracurricular/Building Activities

Art Club:

* Once a week, after school, for any student who wants to explore the art world.

Builders Club:

* Once a week, after school, for any student who wants to assist with service projects in the community.

Gaming Club:

* Once a week, after school, for any student who wants to join others and play a variety of games.

Math Counts

*Once a week, after school, students who enjoy math work together through games and activities to grow their math skills, culminating in a fun math competition in February at Columbus State.

Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX)

*Students selected from the School Guidance Department participate in targeted support to gain leadership. Creative activities, collaborative interactions, a research-based curriculum, snacks, and group support are all part of the program.

Ski Club

*An External Club provides a bus to and from Snow Trails once a week during ski season.

Student Council

*One representative from each Student Center. Support school activities, run fundraisers, host a dance, hold food drives, and other school related activities. Representatives are chosen at the beginning of the year. Meetings are held during the student’s Advisory class.

School Dances & Teen Nights

*Approximately five times a year from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Only BWMS students may attend.

DC Trip/Ohio Trips

* 8th grade, end of the year 4 day trips. Prodigy travel runs the DC trip. BWMS staff chaperone both DC and Ohio trips. A parent meeting occurs in early October. The cost for DC is around $750.

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Athletics

Philosophy

The Board of Education recognizes the value to the students of the District and to the community of a program of interscholastic athletics for students as an integral part of the total school experience. The program should foster the growth of school loyalty within the student body as a whole and stimulate community interest in athletics. Game activities and practice sessions should provide many opportunities to teach the values of competition and good sportsmanship. The program of interscholastic athletics should provide students the opportunity to exercise and test their athletic abilities in a context greater and more varied than that which can be offered by a school or the School District alone. It should also offer an opportunity for career and educational development.

Athletic Teams

Fall: Boys and Girls Cross Country, Cheerleading, Football, Boys and Girls Golf, Girls Tennis, Volleyball

Winter: Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Cheerleading, Diving, Wrestling

Spring: Baseball, Softball, Boys and Girls Lacrosse, Boys Tennis, Boys and Girls Track

OCC

The Ohio Capital Conference is composed of 48 middle schools in the great Columbus Area. The purpose of this conference is to establish a workable set of guidelines that will provide the necessary direction and promote the ideals of sportsmanship that will lead to a positive educational experience for all who participate. Currently, scheduling in the middle school is geographically based and varies depending on the sport as organized by the OCC scheduling committee.

Eligibility

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be enrolled in an OHSAA member school and have received passing grades in (4) one-credit classes, in the immediate preceding grading period. For eligibility, summer school grades may not be substituted for low or failing grades. All incoming 7th graders are eligible for the fall sports athletic season of their 7th-grade year. GPA Requirements for athletic eligibility as adopted by the Big Walnut L.S.D. Board of Education

Grades 7 and 8 = 1.5 minimum GPA Grade 8 to 9 = 1.5 minimum GPA

Student-athletes are permitted a “one-time” waiver of the GPA requirement during 7th or 8th-grade years.

Success Guide to BWMS - 16 Students who earn a GPA of 2.5 or below will be placed on “Big Walnut Athletic Academic Watch.” The
student-athlete will be required to provide bi-weekly grade updates to their head coach. The head coach will be required to monitor the progress of the student.

Tryouts / Competitions / Practices

The week of tryouts and team cuts is difficult on kids, parents, and coaches at Big Walnut Middle School. Through this time, we are appreciative of the High School Varsity Coaches that assisted with this process with the goal of inspiring and guiding each and every student. With empathy, dignity, and respect, the coaches communicate feedback on skills development and progression for each student in a positive manner. The following sports may have tryouts: Baseball, Basketball, Cheerleading, Golf, Softball, and Volleyball.

Competition and Practice times will be communicated from the athletic coaching staff and maintained on the school website. It is common practice that athletic teams practice 4-6 days per week and attend competitions.

Required Paperwork - Final Forms Online We are very excited that the Big Walnut Athletic
Department has partnered with FinalForms, an online program that will enable you and your student to complete and file MOST athlete forms electronically. The ONLY form that you are still required to actually print, complete, and file in the Athletic Department, is the actual OHSAA Physical form. The physical form must be completed by the doctor and by law we are required to have a signed copy on file. Once your student’s physical is received by the athletic department we will input the expiration date into FinalForms and then you will receive automatic notifications when your student’s forms need to be updated. Click on the Parent Registration guide to get started in FinalForms. This link is also available on the
Big Walnut athletic web pages. https://bigwalnut.finalforms.com/

Pay to Participate

There is a fee charged to all middle school athletes. The fee to participate is $100 per activity and must be turned in prior to the first scrimmage. There is a $350 district family cap per year or a $200 middle school cap. Students eligible for reduced lunch will pay a reduced fee of $50 per activity, and students eligible for free lunch will not be required to pay a participation fee. (If release permission is given of the Free and Reduced Lunch application to share the information with BWLS) Upon completion of an athletic season, all school and athletic fees must be paid prior to an athlete’s participation in their next athletic season.

Success Guide to BWMS - 17 Concussion Protocol
COACHES REQUIREMENTS: All coaches, paid and volunteer, must possess a current Department of
Education-issued Pupil Activity Program/Coaching Permit. When renewing this permit, the coach will be required to complete an online concussion education course as stipulated in the section entitled Approved Online Concussion Education Course.

STUDENT AND PARENT REQUIREMENTS: All students and their parents or legal guardians shall review and sign the “Concussion Information Sheet” which has been developed by the Ohio Department of Health and which shall be distributed by OHSAA member schools to all students and their parents prior to each sports season.

RETURN TO PLAY PROTOCOL: If a student is removed from practice or competition due to a suspected concussion or head injury, the coach or referee who removes the student shall not permit the student, ON THE SAME DAY THE STUDENT IS REMOVED, to return to that practice or competition or to participate in any other practice or competition for which the coach or contest official is responsible. Thereafter, which means no earlier than the next day, the coach or contest officials shall not permit the student to return to practice or competition until both of the following conditions are satisfied:

■ 1) The student’s condition is assessed by either of the following: a. A physician, who is a person authorized under Chapter 4731 of the Ohio Revised Code (OCR) to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine or surgery (M.D. or D.O.) b. Any other licensed health care provider that the school district board of education or other governing authority of a chartered or non-chartered nonpublic school, authorizes to assess the student who has been removed from practice or competition.

■ 2) The student receives written authorization that it is safe for the student to return to practice or competition from a physician or other licensed health care provider authorized to grant the clearance.

■ Our Big Walnut Middle School athletic trainer from Ohio State Sports medicine will assist with this process.

Team Meals and Study Table

It is common practice that a team parent representative of an athletic team will arrange team meals and study tables. Team meals will only occur on days of some competitions with a parent or group of parents working together to provide a meal for the student athletes right after school but prior to athletic competitions. Parents should check in with the office to find the location of the team meal. Parents can arrange with the office if they need to drop off items prior to the school dismissal. Study tables occur when there is a delay between school dismissal and practice times at Big Walnut Middle School. Parents may be asked to support student supervision during this time and will need to complete the district volunteer background check to qualify.

Success Guide to BWMS - 18 Payment at Events
Gate fees are charged at Football and Volleyball contests in the Fall, Basketball and Wrestling contests in the Winter, and some Lacrosse and Track events in the Spring. The amount will vary depending on the location of the event. Big Walnut Middle School will charge according to the following scale: $5 for Adults, $5 for Students and Seniors, and Free for NonSchool Children.

Athletic Communication

Website - http://bigwalnutathletics.net/

The primary source of information for grades 7 through 12 Big Walnut Golden Eagle Athletics will be found through Final Forms and our website (http://bigwalnutathletics.net/). Athletic Camps, Schedules, Delays, Cancellations, Coaches Contacts, Forms, Results, Pictures, etc. A great feature of the Athletic Website is that parents and community members can personalize their experience with a Fan Account by choosing which teams they would like to receive updated
communication from as well as the method (text, email, etc.) they would like to receive the information. In addition, the athletic website is home to the Fan Shop, where you can order all of your Big Walnut apparel.

OHSAA Parent Meeting

Each student athlete is required to have a parent attend at least one OHSAA parent meeting each school year. The Athletic Administrators at BWHS and BWMS will coordinate one parent meeting each season and share information specific to the District Athletic Philosophy, State and School Athletic Eligibility, Required School Forms, Athletic Training Support, Communication Structures and Expectations for Athletes, Parents and Event Spectators,

Required Athletic Team Meeting

Each team is required to host a team-specific parent informational meeting at the beginning of each season. During this time, the coach will discuss team-specific rules, procedures, and expectations. Likewise, the coach will outline the communication structure for the team as well as discuss any team specific forms and/or spirit pack apparel information.

Parent Representatives

It is common practice that the team coach will work with one or two parent representatives to assist with communication with students, parents, and the community. The parent rep will help organize coverage for team meals, study tables, concession workers, as well as share any news and updates as needed from the coaches.

Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) ○ Volunteering at BWMS

○ Contact	*ptobwms@gmail.com