Bushy Bear Tales
Volume 15- April 27, 2018
Bushy Park Elementary
Terri Via, Assistant Principal
Email: molly_ketterer@hcpss.org
Website: bpes.hcpss.org
Location: 14601 Carrs Mill Road, Glenwood, MD, United States
Phone: (410) 313-5500
Twitter: @hcpss_bpes
From Mrs. Ketterer:
THIS WEEK'S FOCUS: Changes in our Front Office
Features:
- Our secretaries focused on the best vantage points and chose to reposition April Snyder's desk in the center. This helps widen what they can each monitor.
- As a result of the move, there is more room when visitors enter, sign in or sit briefly to fill out paperwork after signing in.
- The security monitor now shows all nine of our cameras simultaneously but will show the door full screen when the buzzer is activated, see the photo.
April
- 30 5th Grade PARCC Testing- MATH Day 1 @ 9:30-11:30 a.m.
May
- 1 5th Grade PARCC Testing- MATH Day 2 @ 9:30-11:30 a.m.
- 2 5th Grade PARCC Testing- MATH Day 3 @ 9:30-11:30 a.m.
- 2 40/10 Celebration Planning Meeting @ 4:00-5:00 p.m.
- 3 5th Grade PARCC Testing- MATH Day 4 @ 9:30-11:30 a.m.
- 4 4th Grade PARCC Testing- ELA Day 1 @ 10:30-12:30 p.m.
- 4 Recycled Sculpture Contest and 40/10 T-Shirt Design Entries Due
- 7-11 Teacher Appreciation Week
- 7 4th Grade PARCC Testing- ELA Day 2 @ 10:30-12:30 p.m.
- 8 4th Grade PARCC Testing- ELA Day 3 @ 10:30-12:30 p.m.
- 8 PTA Meeting in the Media Center @ 7:00 p.m.
- 9 3rd Grade PARCC Testing- ELA Day 1 @ 10:30-12:30 p.m.
- 9 Teacher Appreciation Luncheon @ 11:30 p.m.
- 9 3rd Grade Zoo Mobile In House Field Trip @ 2:30 p.m.
- 10 3rd Grade PARCC Testing- ELA Day 2 @ 10:30-12:30 p.m.
- 11 3rd Grade PARCC Testing- ELA Day 3 @ 10:30-12:30 p.m.
- 12 Bushy Blooms Pick-Up in the Cafeteria @ 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
- 14 4th Grade PARCC Testing- MATH Day 1 @ 10:30-12:30 p.m.
- 14 5th Grade Panoramic Photo @ 12:00 p.m.
- 15 4th Grade PARCC Testing- MATH Day 2 @ 10:30-12:30 p.m.1
- 16 4th Grade PARCC Testing- MATH Day 3 @ 10:30-12:30 p.m.
- 16 40/10 Celebration Planning Meeting @ 4:00-5:00 p.m.
- 17 Leo Club Meeting @ 8:30 a.m.
- 17 Pre-K Field Trip to Clark's Elioak Farm @ 9:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
- 17 4th Grade PARCC Testing- MATH Day 4 @ 10:30-12:30 p.m.
- 17 2nd Grade Brass Rubbing
- 18 Early Dismissal @ 12:45 p.m.
- 18 Spring Fling @ 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- 21 5th Grade Simulated Congressional Hearing Begins @ 9:30 a.m. in Cafeteria
- 21 3rd Grade PARCC Testing- MATH Day 1 @ 10:30-12:30 p.m.
- 22 3rd Grade PARCC Testing- MATH Day 2 @ 10:30-12:30 p.m.
- 23 3rd Grade PARCC Testing- MATH Day 3 @ 10:30-12:30 p.m.
- 24 3rd Grade PARCC Testing- MATH Day 4 @ 10:30-12:30 p.m.
- 25 SPIRIT DAY: Dress Alike Day
- 28 SCHOOLS CLOSED: Memorial Day
- 30 4th Grade Field Trip to Robinson Nature Center @ 9:50-2:10 p.m.
- 30 40/10 Celebration Planning Meeting @ 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Bushy Park is Recertified as a GREEN SCHOOL!
Bushy Park's Green School Coordinator, Dawn Martinec, has worked tirelessly to celebrate and inspire the efforts of staff, students and families to embrace sustainable efforts. Mrs. Martinec has spearheaded the collection of artifacts to document the journey to recertification. She has been joined by Angie Cole and the Leo Club in the planning for Earth Week activities.
Eleven Howard County public schools have earned certification or recertification as Green Schools from the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education. The Green Schools will be recognized at the MAEOE 2018 Youth Summit on May 31 at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis.
Atholton High School is the newest facility in the Howard County Public School System to earn Green School certification. Bollman Bridge, Guilford and Stevens Forest elementary schools, Harper’s Choice Middle School and Marriotts Ridge High School earned their first recertification. Bushy Park, Dayton Oaks, Manor Woods and Northfield elementary schools, and Folly Quarter Middle School achieved their second re-certification as Green Schools.
Please Bring in Plastic Caps!
40/10 Celebration: T-Shirt Designs Needed
40/10 T-Shirt Designs Accepted Through Friday, May 4th
Bear Hug Winners - April 20th
April 20th. Congratulations to:
April 20th
Bear Hug Winners - April 27th
April 27th. Congratulations to:
April 27th
A Message from Superintendent Dr. Martirano
Dear HCPSS Students, Parents and Staff:
This has not been a typical year for inclement weather make-up days and we understand that the use of days during Spring Break created some inconvenience for our families. As you know, we have had a total of seven inclement weather closing days, which is two more than were accounted for in the 2017–2018 academic calendar. State law requires school to be in session a minimum of 180 days per year, two days more than could be accommodated by make-up days within the state requirement to end school by June 15.
Waiver Request for Current School Year
In March, we requested a waiver from the Maryland State Department of Education for relief of these two days. However, this week, the state passed emergency legislation allowing school districts to extend the school year up to June 22. Under this legislation, HCPSS could extend the school year to June 19 in order to make up the two additional inclement weather days. However, we understand that many families and staff already have made summer plans based on the June 15 school end date. Unlike the make-up days during spring break, no days beyond June 15 were designated as make-up days.
We have reiterated to the State Board of Education our request for a two-day waiver. However, we must be prepared for the possibility that we will be required to extend the school year for students by two additional days, to Monday and Tuesday, June 18 and 19. Should this become necessary, all schools will dismiss three hours early on June 15, 18 and 19 and June 11-14 will be full student days.
Final Exam Schedule
Regardless of the State’s decision, I want to assure our families and staff that the final exam schedule will not change: exams will be held June 12-14. No new graded work will be given in elementary or middle schools on June 18 or 19.
Next School Year
Conforming to the original executive order and now following the emergency legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly has not been an easy process, and we acknowledge the challenges it has put on our staff and students. We hope to avoid this for the next school year which is why I have asked staff to review the new legislation, reconvene the calendar committee and present a calendar for the next school year that will not pose these challenges.
We will continue to keep staff, parents and the community informed of any changes to the school calendar and will notify you as soon as a final decision is made for the current school year.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Martirano
Interim Superintendent
Celebrate Screen-Free Week!
From April 30-May 6, 2018, children, families, entire schools, and communities will rediscover the joys of life beyond the screen. Plan to unplug from digital entertainment and spend all that free time playing, reading, daydreaming, creating, exploring, and connecting with family and friends!
Senator Gail Bates is sponsoring a Screen-Free Week Challenge for children in District 9. Look for an email coming from Mrs. Ketterer that shares the form below.
BPES 40/10 Celebration DATE CHANGE Now Friday, June 8th
On Friday, June 8th, we will celebrate the decades we have been a school! We want alumni to share their memories and help us commemorate our school community!
We will be sending home our T-Shirt Contest Flyers on Monday, April 30th to ask our BPES students to help design our 40/10 T-shirts we will all wear that day! Designs are due back to us next Friday, May 4th.
PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS!
We are now moving into smaller groups to make this event amazing! Please email Mrs. Ketterer at molly_ketterer@hcpss.org if you want to join us on one or more of the following meeting dates:
- Wednesday May 2
- Wednesday May 16
- Wednesday May 23
- Wednesday May 30
- Wednesday June 6
All meetings will be held from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in the MEDIA CENTER