Bell Bulletin
October 13, 2017
Caney Creek Closed At Dismissal
Bell Elementary has recently met with representatives from the Water Board about some neighborhood concerns with parking. Based on increased traffic on Caney Creek (blocking driveways, mailboxes, fire hydrants, stop signs, parking on the curbs, parking in the crosswalk), the street will no longer be available for parent parking. "No Parking" signage will be installed soon, and law enforcement will begin issuing citations for illegal parking. Caney Creek is the street at the end of the crosswalk across from the school cafeteria where our walkers are released. We want to make sure you are informed prior to these changes taking place so you can make alterations to your afternoon plan!
Most of our families walk to school to pick up their walkers. If you need to drive to pick up your child, please consider changing your child's dismissal to "car rider". Car riders stay safely inside the building until their number is called. Then staff put them in the appropriate car based on your car tag number. Parents never have to get out of the car! To make a dismissal change, you may call the front office at (972) 347-7200 or email the changes to bellnotes@dentonisd.org prior to 2:00 PM.
We appreciate all you do to partner with us on student safety as our children get home!
We Need Book Fair Volunteers!
Book Fair is an exciting and busy time for the library! We would love some extra hands, eyes and smiles! If you are able to help us, please sign up using the Sign-Up Genius here! http://bit.ly/2ylQj7X Thank you!
It's Time for Fundraising with Boosterthon!
Our Bell Elementary Fun Run program is coming up! This is such an exciting time for our students!! This includes a 2-week program for students that starts with a Pep Rally and ends with the big Fun Run! Throughout the 2-week program, students will explore the 6 virtues of a true hero (focus, self-awareness, respect, trustworthiness, creativity, and life-learner) while having fun with a castle quest theme. This year we are raising funds for special areas and science education! We've asked the experts at Boosterthon to power our Fun Run and make our fundraiser easier, more profitable, and more fun. Your child will be bringing home information about this fundraiser on Tuesday, October 17th! Be on the lookout! :)
How to raise donations: Families will collect pledges for every lap your child runs on Bell Fun Run Day (students typically run 30-35 laps - students are capped at 35 laps). You may ask friends, family, co-workers, etc! Students will earn prizes for the pledges they collect in addition to campus-wide prizes for reaching our goals! Below are our goals for this year’s program. Please help us reach them by getting pledges and entering them on funrun.com. We smashed our $25,000 goal last year! Let's see how far we will surpass it this year with our 100+ more student enrollment! :)
HELP BELL IN 4 STEPS!
1. Register on FUNRUN.COM on Tuesday, October 17th.
2. Connect to sponsors—friends and family who can donate to help our school.
3. Cheer on your child! (Come to the Fun Run on October 26th)
4. Collect! Pledge money is due one week after the run. Checks are payable to Bell Elementary.
Be on the lookout for the Pledge Crown with more details.
Thank you for your continued support in making school GREAT for our children!
Red Ribbon Week
Red Ribbon Week/Healthy Choices Week is October 16-20. Bell students will participate in activities that promote healthy choices to become happy, healthy, and successful individuals - drug-free! Students are invited to participate in dress up days and a poster contest. The theme for this year is “Respect Yourself, Make Healthy Choices”.
Tuesday 10/17– “Hats Off to Healthy Choices”- wear your favorite hat.
Wednesday 10/18- “Team Up with Healthy Choices”-wear team gear.
Thursday 10/19– “Follow Your Dreams with Healthy Choices”- wear pajamas.
Friday 10/20- “Live in the Future with Healthy Choices”- dress in your future career.
No Costumes at Bell Elementary
Bobcat Families:
Please help us keep our learning environment focused and safe. No costumes will be allowed at school on Tuesday, October 31.
Thank you for your support!
Counselor's Corner
Hello Bell Bobcats! I am so excited to be the School Counselor here at Bell. We are off to a great school year. I have already begun guidance lessons in all of the classrooms. Kinder through 3rd grade will use the Second Step curriculum and 4th and 5th grade will use Steps to Respect: A Bully Prevention Program from Committee for Children. This curriculum will be presented to each classroom every other week.
Community Resources:
2017 Angel Tree Program
The Salvation Army Christmas Assistance Program was organized to make the holiday season brighter for less fortunate families in the Denton County area by providing them with gifts and toys for their children and assist in strengthening family ties. This Program is possible through the generosity of other DFW families who want to share the spirit of the season.
Registration has started. Please call the office at 940-566-3800 for an appointment.
Parenting the Love and Logic Way®
Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home offers tools to help build strong and healthy families throughout the North Texas community by offering Love and Logic® parent training.
Love and Logic® is a philosophy of raising and teaching children which allows adults to be happier, empowered and more skilled in their interactions with children. Love allows children to grow through their mistakes. Logic allows children to live with the consequences of their choices. Love and Logic® is a way of working with children that puts parents back in control, teaches children to be responsible, and prepares young people to live in the real world. Parenting the Love and Logic Way™ is designed for parents, caregivers, and teachers with children of all ages.
- Would you like to feel more confident as a parent? - Would you like to have more fun parenting? - Would you like to feel more relaxed at the end of the day? Learn to use Love and Logic tolls to: - Reduce whining and complaining; - Handle misbehavior without breaking a sweat; - Avoid power struggles' - Perk up your child's ears to listening the first time; Turn your words into GOLD instead of garbage; Create effective limits; and - Learn what to do when kids leave you speechless.
For more information visit www.cumberlandfamily.org or call 940-382-5112 x 252
MLK Rec Center Parent Learning Center classes 6 p.m.-8p.m.
Classes remaining: 11/2-Safety 11/9-Parent Education Preview
Fore more information call 940-566-5851 X 119 Alicia@unitedwaydenton.org
Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendar:
Denton County Friends of the Family’s will be here the week of October 30-November 6 to educate the students about state mandated topics.
Kindergarten 10/30– Bumbles the Magic Bumblebee will teach children about the following topics: their bodies are special and belong to them, safe and unsafe touches, identifying safe adults; as well as secrets. Bumbles also uses an interactive song to capture all of the different topics discussed.
1st and 2nd grades 10/31-11/1– With the WHO program students will learn behaviors and strategies for staying safe at home and in the community. WHO teaches children to know, say, and use certain skills to avoid and reduce dangerous and/or hurtful situations such as bullying, child and/or sexual abuse.
3rd and 4th grades 11/2-11/3– Be the Change is designed to give students the tools to create positive changes in their own lives. We seek to empower students through healthy boundary setting, communication, and beginning to understand socialization.
5th grade 11/6– The 5S program focuses on teaching students about: planning, decision making, choices and consequences, resistance skills, peer pressure, self-esteem, goal setting, peaceful conflict resolution, communication, boundaries and respect.
If you have any questions about any of these programs please feel free to contact Holly McCuller, Bell School Counselor at 972-347-7222 or hmcculler@dentonisd.org.
Child Nutrition is "Going Green"
Are You a Bell Tones Chorus Parent?
If your child participates in 4th/5th Grade Chorus, please make sure you join the Facebook page for updates/information!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/198070964065859/
Click here to join the closed group!
Please also join the Remind app to be instantly in touch with Mrs. Adams, Chorus Director.
A. If you have a smartphone, open your web browser and go to rmd.at/belltone and follow the instructions to sign up for Remind. You'll be prompted to download the mobile app.
B If you don't have a smartphone, text the message @belltone to the number 81010.
Overcome Obstacles
Building character is important to us at Bell Elementary! We believe in our students and want them to have the opportunity to grow in their character as well as in their academics. This includes helping students learn about their strengths and how they contribute to their classroom and school with those strengths, building problem solving skills, and practicing skills such as kindness, conflict resolution, forgiveness, resilience, goal setting, leading by example, helpfulness, and more!
Our second core value is "Overcome Obstacles". During the month of October we will learn how to identify when an obstacle is in front of us, think through ways we can work through the obstacle, and how we can build resilience and work toward never giving up! This conversation will start on daily morning announcements with a quote about leadership and a daily challenge to staff and students given by Mrs. Shapiro. The conversation will continue with students during Morning Meeting time in classrooms. Please help us at home by sharing ways you have overcome obstacles and how this has impacted your life and made you stronger!
A few quotes we will use to help spring conversation with students include:
"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." - Frank A. Clark
"Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it." - Michael Jordan
"I am thankful to all those who said no. Because of them, I did it myself." - Albert Einstein
"You'll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut." - Dr. Seuss
"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." - Moliere
"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf."
"It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you down. It's the pebble in your shoe." - Muhammad Ali
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." - Helen Keller
"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." - Christopher Reeve
"Do something today that your future self will thank you for."
"Kid, you'll move mountains." - Dr. Seuss
We will continue to focus on being 212 throughout the school year and how our core values feed into this.
"At 211 degrees, water is hot. At 212 degrees, it boils. And with boiling water, comes steam. And with steam, you can power a train. Just one extra degree makes all the difference." -Sam Parker, 212 the extra degree
Volunteers Are Welcome
Plan on volunteering? Helping on a field trip? Please complete your volunteer application/background check! A new one is needed each school year and must be completed before you can volunteer with students. Information is provided on the link below. We can't wait to see you on campus!
Are You Connected?
Join Bell Elementary's Facebook Page to receive special updates and reminders!
https://www.facebook.com/catherinebellelemschool/
Or search "Catherine Coleman Bell Elementary" and LIKE the page
Support Bell PTA and receive information from their Facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/KeepCalmAndVolunteer/?fref=ts
Or search "Bell Elementary PTA" and LIKE the page
Not a PTA member yet? It's not too late! Stop by the office and we can get you set up!
Dates to Remember
October 16th: No School - Staff Development Day
The front office will be closed so all staff can be involved in professional development.
School will resume on Tuesday, October 17th, at 7:40 AM!
Starting October 17th: Bring your Book Character Pumpkin
Library - See flyer above if you choose to participate!
Red Ribbon Week!
October 17th: “Hats Off to Healthy Choices” - wear your favorite hat
October 18th: “Team Up with Healthy Choices”- wear team gear
October 19th: “Follow Your Dreams with Healthy Choices”- wear pajamas
October 20th: “Live in the Future with Healthy Choices”- dress in your future career
October 17th-October 25th: Bell Boosterthon Fundraiser
The funds generated will support:
Special areas projects and equipment (music, art, PE, library)
Science education at Bell (tools, projects)
October 23rd: General PTA Meeting
Bell Cafeteria 6 PM
October 26th: Bell Fun Run
Boosterthon Finale
Kinder & 1st Grade: 8:30 AM
2nd & 3rd Grade: 9:30 AM
4th & 5th Grade: 10:30 AM
*You are invited to cheer your children on as they run! Please make sure you sign-in at the front office for a Visitor's Badge prior to going outside for the Fun Run!
November 2nd: Fall Picture Retake Day
For all new to Bell students since the September 27th Picture Day, anyone who was absent for pictures, or students that did not like their picture and need to retake it (please return your picture packet). The Fall photo is the one that goes in the yearbook.
November 2nd: Veteran's Day Salute
5th Grade Music Program, 6:00 PM, Bell Cafeteria
*5th grade students in orchestra will not be singing in the program. They will shine during their orchestra concert on another date!
All Bobcat Community is invited
November 4th: Family Dance Sponsored by Bell PTA
Evening Event - More info to come!
November 13th - November 17th: Bell Fall Book Fair
Bell Library
November 16th: Bell Fall Book Fair Evening Shopping Hours
Bell Library, 6 PM - 8 PM
November 20th - November 24th: No School
Thanksgiving Break
December 8th: Bell Art Show
Bell Elem, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Come and go event, Last entry at 7:40 PM
Come stroll through Bell to enjoy student art work displays and listen to 4th/5th grade choir as they carol outside the library.
December 11th - December 15th: PTA Sponsored Holiday Shop
More info to come!
December 11th: General PTA Meeting
Bell Cafeteria 6 PM
December 19th: Early Release Day @ 12:00 noon
Please make sure you communicate any dismissal changes with the school!
December 20th: Early Release Day @ 12:00 noon
Please make sure you communicate any dismissal changes with the school!
December 21st - January 2: No School
Winter Break
January 3rd: No School - Staff Development Day
January 15th: No School - Martin Luther King Day
February 19th: General PTA Meeting
Bell Cafeteria 6 PM
March 1st: 4th & 5th Grade Bell Tones (Choir) Spring Concert
All Bobcat Community Invited, 6 PM, Bell Cafeteria
March 2nd: Dr. Seuss Day - Book Exchange Sponsored by Bell PTA
More info to come!
March 9th: Pastries with Parents Sponsored by Bell PTA
More info to come!
March 12th - March 16th: No School
Spring Break
March 19th: No School - Staff Development Day
April 6th: Bell Spring Art Show
Bell Elem, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Come and go event, Last entry at 7:40 PM
Come stroll through Bell to enjoy student art work displays and listen to 4th/5th grade choir as they sing outside the library.
April 10th: STAAR Testing
4th Grade Writing, 5th Grade Math
*Campus Closed to Visitors on STAAR Testing Days
April 11th: STAAR Testing
5th Grade Reading
*Campus Closed to Visitors on STAAR Testing Days
April 30th: General PTA Meeting
Bell Cafeteria 6 PM
May 14th: STAAR Testing
3rd & 4th Grade Math
5th Grade Math (retest)
*Campus Closed to Visitors on STAAR Testing Days
May 15th: STAAR Testing
3rd & 4th Grade Reading
5th Grade Reading (retest)
*Campus Closed to Visitors on STAAR Testing Days
May 16th: STAAR Testing
5th Grade Science
*Campus Closed to Visitors on STAAR Testing Days
May 23rd: Early Release Day @ 12:00 noon
Please make sure you communicate any dismissal changes with the school!
May 24th: Early Release Day @ 12:00 noon
Please make sure you communicate any dismissal changes with the school!
May 24th: Last Day of School
Catherine Coleman Bell Elementary
Email: bellnotes@dentonisd.org
Website: http://www.dentonisd.org/belles
Location: 601 Villa Paloma Boulevard, Little Elm, TX, United States
Phone: (972) 347-7200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catherinebellelemschool/