Bushy Bear Tales
Volume 10- Februlary 9, 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:
Once again, here is the information for when we come in two hours late.
Information for Schedules for Two-Hour Delayed Openings:
We have created a Master Schedule that ensures that mathematics and reading instruction take place. Our staff collaborated on the schedule and academic specialists have adapted their schedules to provide instructional support.
Our lunch and recess times remain the same on two-hour delayed opening days as they do for our regular schedule. Recess is indoors.
Related Arts classes are 30 minutes long and will only include the second class on your child's schedule (if they had two that day.) The times for Related Arts are:
- Kindergarten- 2:30-3:00 p.m.
- 1st Grade- 1:30-2:00 p.m.
- 2nd Grade- 2:00-2:30 p.m.
- 3rd Grade- 3:00-3:30 p.m.
- 4th Grade- 12:00-12:30 p.m.
- 5th Grade- 11:30-12:00 p.m.
Information for Early Closing
As soon as we learn that HCPSS is closing early, we will send a customized message of the exact time BPES closes. We will also work on the following:
- Give teachers an updated copy of Emergency Closing dismissal option parents have noted on HCPSS Connect.
- Contact parents who sent in green notes to verify the choice for their child's dismissal
- Inform all students of the way they will go home.
- Increase staff support at dismissal to continue verification of correct dismissal procedures.
Message from Dr. Martirano
Dear HCPSS Community:
Now that we have had a fourth inclement weather related closing, I want to give you an update on the school calendar for the remainder of this year.
Our academic calendar designates five possible inclement weather make-up days: February 19, April 4, 5, and 6, and June 15. Using February 19 (President’s Day) would have required a state waiver, as it is a state mandated holiday, and would have caused significant budget pressures. Instead, the Board of Education has approved the use May 18 in lieu of February 19 as a make-up day.
After carefully reviewing our options, I want to provide you with the following information as well as my rationale about specific days to be used to make up school closings. I understand that any mid-year changes to the calendar can be disappointing, especially to students and families who have already made plans. Please be aware that our primary consideration in making these decisions is a commitment to quality instruction. We also wanted to provide you a level of predictability as we look ahead to the rest of the school year.
- Schools now will be in session on April 4, 5, and 6 and for a half-day on May 18 to make up for the four inclement weather days used.
- If schools are closed for one additional inclement weather day, June 15 will be used.
- State law mandates that the school year must be completed by June 15. If additional inclement weather closings become necessary, HCPSS will petition the Maryland State Department of Education for a waiver of the additional days.
The fifth possible make-up day on June 15 falls on a Muslim holiday. Per Board policy, no activities or exams can be scheduled on this day. This will require all end of school assemblies, promotion ceremonies, celebrations and final exams to be held on June 14 but still require students to attend on the day after. As an educator and a parent, I know that adding an additional day to the end of the school year would not effectively replace the valuable instruction days lost to inclement weather. HCPSS will use June 15 as a last resort to ensure that make up days will truly serve as replacement days for the instruction time that has been lost.
We will continue to carefully weigh all decisions to close school when inclement weather threatens the safety of students and staff, and will notify families as soon as possible should any additional changes to the school calendar become necessary. For more information on the school calendar and inclement weather closings, please visit www.hcpss.org.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Martirano
Interim Superintendent
February
- 9 Daddy & Daughter Dance TONIGHT @ 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Cafetorium & Gym
- 12 Abilities Awareness Assemblies @ 11:30 and 12:45 in the Gym w/ MD Raven Wheelchair Basketball
- 13 JA Day Training @ 6:00 p.m. in the Media / PTA Meeting @ 7:00 p.m. in the Media
- 14 Valentine Celebrations
- 15 5th Grade Field Trip to the National Aquarium
- 16 SCHOOL CLOSED: HCPSS Countywide Professional Day
- 19 SCHOOL CLOSED: Presidents' Day
- 22 JA DAY (Junior Achievement Day) / Spirit Day: Crazy Hair Day
March
- 1 BPES Science Fair: Judging during the day Program @ 7:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria
- 6 2nd Grade Parent Math Night @ 6:30-8:00 p.m.
- 14 Read Across America Day
- 15 Leo Club Meeting
- 16 2nd Grade Field Trip to MD Science Center / Spirit Day: Maryland Day
- 23 Spring Portraits and Class Groups
- 26 Greg Tang Parent Presentation @ 6:30-7:30 p.m. Flyer coming soon w/ RSVP!
- 27 Greg Tang Student Presentation during the day in the Cafeteria
Congratulations to our TCOE Honorees!
This year's Council of Elders Celebration of Academic Achievement honored students of African and African-American heritage who are currently in grades 4 - 5 and achieved A's or B's for all four quarters in Mathematics and English Language Arts during the 2016 – 2017 school year.
On Thursday, February 1st, we celebrated the achievement of these amazing students:
- Bashir Abou
- Marcus Hanish
- Elijah Anderson
- Siyi Jolayemi
- Gabrielle Okojie
- Abiola Owens
- Mariah Talley
Bear Hug Winners - January 26th
January 26th
- Kindergarten - Carinna Navalta, Reagan Hennessie (not pictured)
- 1st Grade - Cole Libber, Joey Maklouf
- 2nd Grade - Megha Deshpande, Caroline Latchis
- 3rd Grade - Aubrey Barrick, Noah Huda
- 4th Grade - Gavin Killorin, Luke Mazzuca
- 5th Grade - Duncan Beall, Luke Seidlich
International Night was Amazing!
Our own Leo Club shared a display for the United States and offered patriotic desserts in a bake sale that raised over $200.00 for their community outreach efforts!
Thank you to organizers Julie Schablitsky and Adeola Jolayemi who recruited dozens of parents to support the effort! Thanks to Fatima Rizvi who served as our host of the performance! It was an event that is living on in the hearts of all who came!
Superintendent Dr. Martirano Visited BPES on January 26th
Before he left, he made an announcement on the PA encouraging students to continue to work hard, persevere and be kind! Some of the photos are below!
Junior Achievement (JA) Day on Thursday, February 22nd
BPES will once again host Junior Achievement (JA) in a Day on Thursday, February 22, 2018. JA in a Day is a common core aligned program that aims to help students develop skills in work readiness, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and facing real world challenges by delivering grade appropriate real world experiences and material to the classroom.
One to two volunteers will be needed (half or whole day sessions) for EVERY classroom in grades K-5. ANY ADULT can be a JA volunteer! Volunteers receive training and a full lesson plan to lead the class in fun, interactive activities which teach grade appropriate skills. Parents can facilitate the entire day, or can partner with another volunteer. JA provides all the materials and training needed.
An informational meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 30 at 7:00 pm in the Media Center to answer questions and further detail the program and volunteer responsibilities.
Volunteers will receive materials and a full training session with our JA representative on Tuesday, February 13 at 6:00pm, just before the February PTA meeting.
Sign up details coming soon, look for them in Monday folders. For questions, additional information about the program, or to early bird volunteer, please contact Kina Morton at kinammorton@gmail.com, or text/call to 410-231-1036.
An Amazing Opportunity to Connect To Math Instruction Awaits!
BPES 40/10 Celebration Coming on April 20th
On Friday, April 20th, we will celebrate the decades we have been a school! We want alumni to share their memories and help us commemorate our school community!
Very soon, we will be sending home our T-Shirt Contest Flyers to ask our BPES students to help design our 40/10 T-shirts we will all wear that day!
Please email Mrs. Ketterer at molly_ketterer@hcpss.org if you want to join our committee, offer photos or memories or have ideas to help us.
Bushy Park ES Moves to Using Online Payments
The Howard County Public School System Online School Payments service is provided to parents to facilitate payment using Visa and MasterCard for school fees and a variety of products schools may be offering. For further information, please contact our office at (410) 313-5500.