A Message From the Principal 

We are excited to begin another school year at Berlin Middle School! We hope you’ve had a chance to enjoy your summer, and our staff is looking forward to welcoming students back into the building. They’ve been enjoying some well-deserved time off while also preparing for the year ahead. 

Our goal at BMS is to create a positive learning environment where every student feels connected, challenged, and encouraged to get involved. I am so excited to join the amazing staff here as we dive into the 2026-27 school year. 

We are looking forward to seeing our students and families at Open House on August 26th, from 4 PM - 6 PM. It’s a great time to meet teachers, find classrooms, and get ready for the first day of school. 

We can’t wait to see everyone soon and begin another fantastic year together!

• Tuesday, August 18: Fall Athletics Meet & Greet | 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

• Monday, August 24: First Day of Football Practice

• Wednesday, August 26th: Open House & School Photos | 4 PM - 6 PM

• Tuesday, September 1st: First Day of School!

• Tuesday, September 1st: First Day of Cross Country and Volleyball Practice 

• Monday, September 7th: No School

• Monday, September 28th: No School

Join us at Clay Lamberton Elementary, Middle School, and High School! This is your chance to meet our amazing teachers and explore the hallways and classrooms.

School photos will be captured by Rachel Van Den Hout Photography, so be sure to bring your brightest smiles!

School Hours: 7:50 AM – 3:15 PM

Doors Open & Supervision Begins: 7:30 AM (Please do not drop students off before 7:30 AM.)

The safety of our students is our top priority. To help keep everyone safe and traffic flowing smoothly, all morning student drop-offs must take place at the east side entrance of the Berlin Middle School building (as indicated by the blue arrows on the map). This is the designated drop-off location for BMS students.

The Oak Street entrance is reserved for buses only during regular school hours and should not be used for student drop-off or pick-up. Additionally, the main office parking lot and Memorial Drive should not be used for regular drop-off or pick-up, as doing so creates traffic congestion and safety concerns for students and staff.

The main office parking lot should only be used for students arriving late or being picked up early during the school day.

In the morning, all students should enter the building through the south gym doors. At dismissal, students will exit through the same south gym doors.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us maintain a safe, efficient arrival and dismissal process for all students, families, and staff!

At BMS, we strongly encourage our students to get involved in extracurricular activities. Athletics are a great way to build friendships, develop teamwork and leadership skills, stay active, and have fun while representing Berlin!

We are excited to introduce Zach Kouba as our new Middle School Athletic Director. Mr. Kouba also serves as the Physical Education teacher at Clay Lamberton Elementary, and we are thrilled to have him leading our middle school athletic programs.

Fall sports will be here before we know it! We encourage students to consider participating in one of our fall athletic opportunities:

• Football – Grades 7-8
• Volleyball – Grades 7-8
• Cross Country – Grades 6-8

If your child is interested in participating in any of these sports, please get in touch with Mr. Kouba at zkouba@berlin.k12.wi.us for registration information and next steps.

We are looking forward to another exciting, competitive, and successful extracurricular season. 

Middle school is a time of growth, discovery, and new opportunities. Each day at Berlin Middle School brings meaningful learning experiences, new friendships, and chances to explore interests through classroom discussions, hands-on activities, teamwork, and school events. These daily experiences are an important part of every student's education and are difficult to recreate when they are missed.

Regular attendance helps students stay engaged, build strong relationships with their peers and teachers, and stay on track academically. While we understand that illnesses and family emergencies occur, making school attendance a priority gives students the best opportunity to thrive both in and out of the classroom.

Our goal is for every student to feel welcomed, supported, and excited to come to school each day. Thank you for partnering with us to help your child arrive on time, ready to learn, and ready to make the most of every opportunity.

We can't wait to welcome students back and fill our hallways with the energy, excitement, and learning that make Berlin Middle School such a special place.

At Berlin Middle School, we are committed to providing a learning environment where every student feels safe, respected, and ready to learn. Research shows that cell phones and social media can distract from learning, reduce focus, and impact students' overall well-being.

To help students stay engaged and connected to their learning, the Berlin Area School District has adopted a cell phone-free school day. Students are expected to keep their cell phones stored in their lockers from the time they arrive at school until dismissal. Cell phones may not be used during class, passing periods, lunch, or any other part of the school day.

If you need to contact your child during school hours, please call the BMS office, and we will be happy to assist. Likewise, if your child needs to reach you, they may do so through the office.

Thank you for your partnership and support as we work together to create a positive, focused, and engaging learning environment for all students.

State Assessment Results in NextPath

The Berlin Area School District now offers families electronic access to state assessment results through NextPath.

Families will still receive a paper copy of assessment results at Open House this fall. Moving forward, you will be notified when results are available in NextPath.

Please note: NextPath is not replacing PowerSchool. The two platforms serve different purposes and provide families with additional information about their child's learning.

Chromebook Expectations

Each student at BMS receives a school-issued Chromebook, which must remain on campus. At the beginning of the day, students will collect their Chromebooks from the charging cart during homeroom and return them to the cart before leaving the building. This process ensures that all devices are fully charged and ready for use in class, while also helping to prevent damage. 

For students who need to use a Chromebook for academic purposes after school, they can check one out from the library to take home and return the following day. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain these valuable learning tools!

The following items are not allowed at school:

• Hoods

• Hats, jackets, or coats must be stored in a locker when arriving at school

• Costume attire, unless permission has been granted for a special event

• Undergarments that are exposed or not adequately covered by outer clothing

• Items displaying gang affiliation, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, weapons, or that provoke violence, disruption, hate speech, or target specific groups/protected classes

• Blankets or similar items

Guidelines

Headphones: Wireless headphones are not permitted during the school day. Students may use wired headphones at the discretion of their teachers. 

Backpacks & Personal Bags: All backpacks, string bags, and purses should be stored in students’ assigned lockers throughout the school day. Students are not allowed to carry these items from class to class.  

Personal Items: We kindly ask that personal items, including toys and stuffed animals, be kept at home and not brought to class. 

Food and Beverage: Students may only drink water during classes, unless otherwise specified in an individual plan. All other food and beverages should remain in students’ lockers.

Caffeinated Beverages: Caffeinated drinks are not allowed at Berlin Middle School. We kindly request that parents and guardians refrain from providing these beverages to students during the school day.

Changing: Students are required to change for class, which includes a complete change of clothing from head to toe: tops, bottoms, and appropriate athletic shoes. Please encourage students to bring a change of clothes, including layers such as shorts, pants, and tennis shoes, as well as deodorant. These items should be stored in their physical education lockers. It’s also a good idea for students to take their clothing home regularly to be washed.

Make-ups: Similar to other subjects, if students miss class, they will have the opportunity to make up the physical education activities they missed. This ensures that everyone stays engaged and up-to-date with the lessons.

Free In-School Dental Care – Enroll Today!

As you prepare for the upcoming school year, please make sure your child is enrolled with Bridging Brighter Smiles! 

Bridging Brighter Smiles provides no-cost, in-school dental care during the school day, making it easy for students to receive preventive dental services without missing valuable class time. All BASD students are welcome to participate, regardless of insurance status.

Meet Our New BMS Team Members!

We're excited to welcome several new members to the Berlin Middle School family for the 2026–2027 school year!

Please join us in welcoming:

Tiffany Vogels – Director of Pupil Services and Special Education

Courtney Athorp – Director of Curriculum and Instruction

Ed Boneske – Dean of Students

Emily Melby – 8th Grade English Language Arts

Emerald Konkel – Physical Education & Health

Henry Egan – Physical Education & Health

We are thrilled to have these talented educators and leaders join our team and look forward to the positive impact they will have on our students, staff, and school community. Welcome to BMS!