Berner Middle School -

Dear Parents of Grade 3-8 Students, We are writing to provide an important update regarding the New York State English Language Arts (ELA) testing that resumed today, April 9, 2025. Unfortunately, NYS encountered another round of technical issues with its online testing platform this morning. Due to these issues, NYS instructed us to pause, and then later to resume testing. While many students at Berner and our elementary schools managed to complete their tests, some couldn't even start. We will contact those parents/guardians directly. Given these ongoing complications, we are pausing testing district-wide until after the break, awaiting further guidance from the state. Tomorrow, April 10, 2025, will be a normal school day without state assessments. We will provide updates on the continuation of the ELA assessment as soon as we receive details and assurances of testing capabilities from the state. This situation is incredibly frustrating due to the loss of instructional time and the time invested in preparing for this test administration. Additionally, there are now questions about the validity of this assessment which we hope will be addressed once we receive further guidance from the state. We will update the community as soon as more information becomes available. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding. Sincerely, William Brennan, Ed. D. Superintendent of Schools

BMS Homeroom Announcements 4/9/25: https://www.msd.k12.ny.us/bmsannouncements

Dear Parents of Grade 3-8 Students, We are writing to inform you about an important update regarding the New York State English Language Arts (ELA) testing that was scheduled for today, April 8, and tomorrow, April 9. Due to a statewide technical issue with the NY ELA testing platform, testing is postponed for today, April 8. We will follow-up with additional communication once we confirm the issue is resolved and we receive further guidance from NY State. At this time, buildings will be resuming their regular schedules. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to ensure a smooth testing process for all students participating in the assessment. Thank you for your continued support. Sincerely, The Massapequa School District

BMS Homeroom Announcements 4/8/25: https://www.msd.k12.ny.us/bmsannouncements

BMS Homeroom Announcements 4/7/25: https://www.msd.k12.ny.us/bmsannouncements

To All BMS Students, Parents and Families, We are excited to begin the Berner Middle School Spring concert season! Concerts are coming up in May and we look forward to seeing our students share their talents during each performance. The dates and times for each concert are listed below: Thursday, May 1st Grade 8 Band and Rockestra at 7:00 pm Monday, May 5th Grade 7 Band, Flute Choir and Vocal Points at 7:00 pm Wednesday, May 7th Grade 6 Orchestra and Grade 6 Chorus at 6:30 pm Grade 7 Orchestra and Grade 7 Chorus at 8:00 pm Monday, May 12th Grade 6 Band and Select Singers at 6:30pm Grade 8 Orchestra and Grade 8 Chorus at 8:00 pm Due to the number of participants and in order for us to ensure there is a seat for each member of the audience, we ask that families limit guests to 4 attendees for each concert. With just over 800 seats in the newly renovated Berner Auditorium, we must comply with the fire safety code by not permitting standing in the aisles during performances. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Fine and Performing Arts Office at (516) 308-5085. Thank you for your continued support. Jason Esposito, Principal Vincent Green, Director of Fine and Performing Arts

Dear Parents, Students, and Families of Berner Middle School, As we strive to maintain a safe and productive learning environment for all our students, we must address some growing concerns and remind everyone of our rules regarding food deliveries to the school from parents, family members, and/or food delivery services. Sometimes, food is being dropped off for groups of students. This often creates disruption at the lunch table and nearby tables, as not everyone is able to be included in what was brought in for a particular group. Parents are reminded to only bring lunch for their own child/children. We have also noticed an increase in the number of parents and/or students ordering food to the school from services such as Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub during school hours. While we understand this is convenient, we must remind you that we can not permit these deliveries to our school for several important reasons: The arrival of delivery personnel during school hours is distracting both students and staff. Students are either asking to leave class to check on deliveries or leaving the cafeteria for the same purpose. When deliveries have not arrived on time, students are then asking to wait near the Visitors Entrance to get their order. We want our students to focus in school without unnecessary interruptions. Allowing delivery drivers on campus poses potential security risks. Berner is a busy school, and it is already very challenging to monitor and verify the identity of everyone who comes onto the property and into the Visitors Entrance vestibule. Allowing delivery people, who arrive throughout the morning and lunch periods, can compromise the safety of our students and staff. Not all students receive food deliveries, which can create feelings of inequality and exclusion among peers. This also tends to create a significant disruption in the cafeteria. We aim to provide a fair environment for all students. We ask for your cooperation in ensuring that meal delivery services are not used by and for students while they are at Berner. We encourage students to bring their lunch from home or purchase meals from the school cafeteria. Thank you for your understanding and support in maintaining a safe and focused educational environment at Berner Middle School. Sincerely, Jason Esposito, Beth Mullins, Keri Wing, Rob Tucker, Kristen Meoli, Ed Hoffman, and Ken Petersen

BMS Homeroom Announcements 4/4/25: https://www.msd.k12.ny.us/bmsannouncements

Dear Berner Parents and Students: REMINDER This is a reminder that the 2024-2025 New York State English Language Arts Assessment will be administered on Tuesday (April 8) and Wednesday (April 9). All students taking the exam should bring a fully charged Chromebook to school on the morning of the exam. If you do not wish your child to participate in the exams, we ask that you complete the 2025 NYS Assessment Participation Refusal Form located on the Parent Portal. Please see the attached link for important information regarding all NYS testing days. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kHqNvkmquK8rr4rIrMIv6ATd0hhHy4jQ/view?usp=drive_link Thank you, Jason Esposito, Beth Mullins, Keri Wing, Rob Tucker, Kristen Meoli, Ken Petersen & Ed Hoffman

Dear Berner Families, Spring is a very busy time at Berner, especially now that the spring athletic season has begun, and students are traveling to and from school with all of their backpacks, rolling bags, and sports equipment. During this time of the year, an increased number of parents drive their children to school, as bringing all of the athletic equipment onto the school buses is a challenge. As we continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students, we want to stress the importance of adhering to our morning drop-off procedures in and around the parking lot and drop-off areas. Safety is our top priority, and your cooperation is crucial in ensuring a smooth and secure start to the school day. Here are a few key points to keep in mind: Follow the designated drop-off zones. Please use the specified areas for dropping off your children. This helps maintain an orderly flow of traffic and ensures that students are safely entering the school premises. Stay within speed limits. Drive slowly and cautiously within the school zone. Speeding can pose a significant risk to students and staff. Be patient and courteous. Morning drop-off can be a busy time. Please be patient and considerate of other drivers and pedestrians. Avoid cutting off other drivers to maintain a safe and respectful environment. Follow staff instructions. Staff members who are present are there to assist with the drop-off process. Please follow their directions to ensure a smooth and safe experience for all. Additionally, please be reminded about the Early Morning Drop-off from 7:15 AM -7:45 AM every day. It’s a time of the morning when the Berner parking lot is less busy, thereby making the drop-off process quicker. Students enter the building through the Cafeteria Entrance and wait in the cafeteria, under the supervision of staff, until the 7:45 AM Homeroom bell. By working together and following these guidelines, we can maintain a safe environment for our students. Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for your continued support. Jason Esposito, Beth Mullins, Keri Wing, Rob Tucker, Kristen Meoli, Ed Hoffman, and Ken Petersen

BMS Homeroom Announcements 4/3/25: https://www.msd.k12.ny.us/bmsannouncements

BMS Homeroom Announcements 4/2/25: https://www.msd.k12.ny.us/bmsannouncements

BMS Homeroom Announcements 4/1/25: https://www.msd.k12.ny.us/bmsannouncements

Dear Berner Families: Please see the attached link with important information regarding the upcoming New York State Grades 6-8 Assessments for ELA and Math and Grade 8 Science. If you do not wish your child to participate in the exams, we ask that you complete the 2025 NYS Assessment Participation Refusal Form located on the Parent Portal by tomorrow so that the building administrative team can safely and appropriately plan for all students on those dates. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kHqNvkmquK8rr4rIrMIv6ATd0hhHy4jQ/view?usp=sharing Thank you, Jason Esposito, Beth Mullins, Keri Wing, Rob Tucker, Kristen Meoli, Ken Petersen & Ed Hoffman

BMS Homeroom Announcements 3/31/25: https://www.msd.k12.ny.us/bmsannouncements

Dear Berner Parents, Students and Staff, April is Autism Acceptance Month. The Berner Student Council and Berner Best Buddies Club will be hosting a fundraiser to support Nassau/Suffolk Autism Society of America (NSASA). On April 1st and April 2nd, students and staff will have the opportunity to purchase lollipops at $1.00 each during all lunch periods. All proceeds will go to NSASA. Kindly click the link for more information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18xEMgYOki3Gu0I9_LQ7IefYQvqDCTYer/view?usp=drive_link Please remember to wear BLUE on April 2nd! Thank you, Mrs. Ferreira & Mrs. Robertson, Berner Student Council Advisors Dr. Dean & Ms. Porter, Berner Best Buddies Advisors

BMS Homeroom Announcements 3/28/25: https://www.msd.k12.ny.us/bmsannouncements

Good Morning Eighth Grade Students and Families, The Eighth Grade Moving Up & Awards Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Kindly click the following letter for more details: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_hUp2qERpKcDdVUII-Xd7j1tvkiG-rEQ/view?usp=drive_link We are looking forward to celebrating the many accomplishments of our students! Sincerely, Katrina Laboy & Marianna Christy 8th Grade Class Co-Advisors Alfred G. Berner Middle School

Dear Berner Parents and Students: Please see the attached link with important information regarding the upcoming New York State Grades 6-8 Assessments for ELA and Math and Grade 8 Science. If you do not wish your child to participate in the exams, we ask that you complete the 2025 NYS Assessment Participation Refusal Form located on the Parent Portal no later than Tuesday (April 1 ) so that the building administrative team can safely and appropriately plan for all students on those dates. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kHqNvkmquK8rr4rIrMIv6ATd0hhHy4jQ/view?usp=sharing Thank you, Jason Esposito, Beth Mullins, Keri Wing, Rob Tucker, Kristen Meoli, Ken Petersen & Ed Hoffman

Dear Berner Parents, Students and Staff: Kindly click on the following link regarding World Autism Awareness Day: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T_UAL3U47-oI0F-4W2ZhYDRHc61MKY9v/view?usp=drive_link Don't forget to wear BLUE on April 2nd! Thank you.