Brrrrrrrrrrrr. It's cold!
NOTES FROM THE SPECIALS TEAM
February 1, 2023
I hope you are home safe and warm on Day 2 of our lingering winter storm, and that you are together and have all that you need for the day. It's currently 31 degrees and the weather app shows that it's supposed to be snowing (it's not; well, it's not snowing at our house). They closed the schools tomorrow, but things should turn around soon and we will hopefully be back to our regularly scheduled chaos by Friday. But I would be lying if I said I didn't love a good snow day.
These last few months have flown by, but what a time we've had!! It's been life-affirming to see so many families turn out for our school events: the Fun Run, Character Day, the Veterans Day performance, our Thanksgiving performance, our musical Wonderfest, building the parade float (I still can't believe we built a parade float), Santa's Visit, our Pep Rallies, Dinosaur George, the Dads Club/High Five Fridays (I know I'm probably leaving some things out).
And the last three weeks have been no different. We were no sooner back from Winter Break when our Around the World Celebration filled the gym and the BCES Choir closed out their year with a terrific performance. Whew!
And now February is here. Already. And these next four months will pass us by in a blink. There will be more celebrations, to be sure. And more songs. More joys to share. Our 100th Day is rapidly approaching and already the 5th Grade class is beginning to learn their parts for their graduation musical, marking their last year as Bear Creek students.
And as I sit here in my kitchen, drinking really good instant coffee, watching my dogs sleep and my wife iron her collection of strangely embroidered linens, I am thinking of you all and the kids, and all my BCE colleagues, thankful for the energy and time we mustered together to bring meaning and memories to Bear Creek so far. Great Job Everyone!
Have a terrific February.
~ Fisher
WE GATHER TOGETHER TO UPLIFT AND LEARN
AROUND THE WORLD CELEBRATION with Coach Lucas!
~ Coach Lucas
Email: jodi.lucas@gcisd.net
Twitter: @BCEPhysEd
CHOIR PERFORMANCE with Dr. Cortesio
Happy February!
What a performance! What a turn out!
Thank you to everyone who attended the BCES Choir performance at the Around the World Celebration! Your presence at our programs is key to helping our students learn performance etiquette while building self-confidence; qualities that will serve them well both personally and academically. I am grateful for a terrific conclusion to our 2022/23 Choir year. If you would like a printable copy of the choir program, you may download it here: Choir Program.
Thank You!
~ Dr. Joyce Cortesio
Email: joyce.cortesio@gcisd.net
SNOW CRYSTALS with Mrs. Morrison
The goal of Science Specials Lab is to enrich and enhance science skills for all students in grades Pre-K through 5. And the Science Lab is full STEAM ahead for our future engineers, astronauts, and marine biologists! We've been studying snowflakes and the works of Wilson Bentley who photographed the very first snow crystal in 1885! And, according to today's weather (February 1), we may see a bigger share of snow crystals in our own backyards!
To learn more about Wilson Bentley, click here: The Snowflake Man
Stay Warm!
~ Mrs. Morrison
Email: kristi.morrison@gcisd.net
The Snowflake Man: Wilson Bentley
JUGGLING with Coach Adkins
Last week we moved into our unit on juggling and the BCE kids are learning hand/eye coordination as they manage juggling one, two, and three bean bags! Obviously the goal is to eventually juggle 49 bean bags.
~ Coach Adkins
Email: steven.adkins@gcisd.net
Twitter: @BCEPhysEd
SCULPTURES with Mr. Fish
~ Fish
Email: mark.fisher@gcisd.net
GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Gentle REMINDERS to ensure SAFETY and SUCCESS for your child on a DAILY BASIS:
- WEAR TENNIS SHOES EVERYDAY for safety at recess and in the gym! Tennis shoes are required in order to participate each day (per GCISD district policy). Tennis shoes that stay TIED (double knots are a dream). Tennis shoes that stay on is really important. It sounds silly but it happens often. There is a link at the bottom of our newsletter to a tutorial that can help your student learn to tie their shoes.
- STUDENTS WILL OFTEN BE OUTSIDE FOR PE FOR THE FULL 50 MINUTES, PLEASE DRESS THEM ACCORDINGLY. Think about the clothing, jewelry, large pointy headbands (extras) that they are wearing-- clothing with many or extra long strings, extra long skirts, and extra jewelry can be a problem/safety hazard for everyone in the gym. Please leave the EXTRAS at home.
- For safety reasons, please keep long hair pulled back or out of their faces. Shorts or leggings should be worn under skirts each day.
- If students need to sit out from physical activity for any reason, please send a note. Email is great, but we rarely have time to check that once our day starts at 7:15am. If you forget a note, you can always call the office and they will relay the message to us. If your child needs to sit out for more than 3 days, we do need a Doctor's Note (per GCISD DISTRICT POLICY) stating the injury and length of time they need to miss physical activity. If there are certain activities that they are allowed to do (like walking); while they are injured, then ask the doctor to please include that on the note and also when they are allowed to participate again.
- We really appreciate your partnership in keeping your child safe and healthy at school. Please refer to the Student Handbook or GCISD District Policies if you need clarification an any of our policies.