Bell Bulletin
October 21, 2018
October 31st - Book Character Dress Up Day!
On Wednesday, October 31st, Bell Elementary will be celebrating our love of reading as a campus! Students are invited to dress up as their favorite book character!
1. Students will bring the book that their character is from with them to share. This is a great way for students to connect the character with the book, and a great way for students to build their "Must Read" lists!
2. No masks are allowed as a part of the costume.
3. No "scary" costumes are allowed. Reminder - our 5 year-olds will enjoy this right alongside our 11 year-olds! If you have a question about a specific outfit and appropriateness, please reach out to your child's teacher for guidance!
4. Comfortable, closed-toe shoes are important as PE and recess will continue this day.
5. Students do not have to dress up to participate in the fun! Bring your favorite book along to share even if you are not in costume!
Bobcat Bash!
Only one week until the Bobcat Bash! We still have many donation needs as well as volunteer needs to help run the event! Please consider signing up to help us out for a short time slot or two!
Volunteer sign up:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C4EADA723A3FF2-volunteer
Donations:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/70a0e4caaa72ea4f58-bobcat
Boo Grams!
The Bell PTA has teamed up with our 4th grade team to help them raise funds for their Austin trip next month! Boo Grams go on sale tomorrow in the cafeteria ... before school for just $1! All grams will be delivered on October 31st. Parents may purchase Boo Grams in the front office to send to their students. This is an awesome opportunity to send some love to a special Bobcat and help our 4th graders!! You must know student name, grade level, and teacher name so we can deliver properly!
Order Your Bell Spirit Wear!
There are so many great choices!
The spirit store is open for a limited time (November 4th is the last day for orders)!
Child Nutrition is "Going Green"
We work hard to use technology where available to save on resources! Child Nutrition will be using an online menu platform to make sure you are informed of menu options. Don't forget you may update your child's lunch account on-line here as well. Please visit http://www.dentonisd.org/Domain/59 to see school breakfast and lunch menus! Yum, yum!
Nine Week Grading Periods
October 11th
December 20th
March 8th
May 23rd
We value our partnership and teachers will be sending home work samples as well as progress reports at the halfway point so you are informed of your child's progress. Many teachers also use forms of electronic sharing of student work samples. If you have any questions on your child's progress throughout the year, please contact your child's teacher.
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 22-October 26: Red Ribbon Week
October 22-October 26: Boo Gram Purchases
October 22: Palio's Spirit Night
4PM - 9PM
October 27th: Bell Bobcat Bash
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Outdoors and Bell Cafeteria
October 27th: Reflections Entries Due!
October 31st: Bell Favorite Book Character Dress-Up Day! Don't forget to bring the book that accompanies your costume!
November 4th: Last day to order Bell spirit wear!
November 12-16th: Fall Book Fair
November 15th: General PTA Meeting
6:30 PM @ Bell Cafeteria
November 19 - November 23: Thanksgiving Break
No School
December 19: Early Release Day
12:00 Noon
December 20: Early Release Day
12:00 Noon
December 21 - January 6: Winter Break
No School
January 7: Staff PLC Day
No school for students
January 21: Martin Luther King Day
No School
March 11 - March 15: Spring Break
No School
March 18: Staff PLC Day
No school for students
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 B.O.B.C.A.T.S. core value is "Overcome Obstacles". During the month of October we have been/will continue exploring how we can respond when faced with different kinds of challenges in order to stay on track with our goals. Bobcats do not give up! This conversation will start on daily morning announcements with a quote about overcoming obstacles and a daily challenge to staff and students given by Mrs. Shapiro. The conversation will continue with students during Morning Meeting time in classrooms.
A few quotes we will use to help spring conversation with students include:
"Success in life comes when you simply refuse to give up, with goals so strong that obstacles, failure, and loss only act as motivation."
"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." -Albert Einstein
"It is more important to know where you are going than to get there quickly." -Mabel Newcomber
"If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it." -Louisa May Alcott
"If the mind thinks with a believing attitude, one can do amazing things." -Norman Vincent Peale
"Most obstacles melt away when we make up our minds to walk boldly through them." -Orison Swett Marden
"If you don't like the road you're walking, start paving another one." -Dolly Parton
"Begin anywhere." -John Cage
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." -Winston S. Churchill
"Only in the darkness can you see the stars." -Martin Luther King Jr.
"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." -Christopher Reeve
"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
"Wanting something is not enough. You must hunger for it. Your motivation must be absolutely compelling in order to overcome the obstacles that will invariably come your way." -Les Brown
"Concern yourself more with accepting responsibility than with assigning blame. Let the possibilities inspire you more than the obstacles discourage you." -Ralph Marston
"Winners are not people who never fail, but people who never quit."
"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." -Moliere
"A challenge only becomes an obstacle when you bow to it." -Ray Davis
"The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials." -Chinese proverb
"Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional." -Roger Crawford
"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." -Robert F. Kennedy
"It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed. The habit of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties." -Abigail Adams
"Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
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
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/