Bushy Bear Tales
Volume 2- September 29, 2017
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:
Interim Reports will be sent home on Thursday, October 12th. Thank you for your support with volunteer requests and attendance at school events and PTA meetings!
- 5 Flu Clinic
- 10 PTA Meeting in the Media: 6:30 for New Families / 7:15 for General Meeting
- 12 Picture Day: Individual Photos by Strawbridge / Interim Reports go home.
- 13 PTA Fall Fest
- 18 Field Trip: 4th Grade to Annapolis
- 20 Haunted Gym Begins
- 27 SPIRIT DAY: Gladiator Day (Wear red, white, and/or black)
- 27 Glenelg Choral Day for ES/MS/HS Chorus Students
- 31 Halloween Parade and Classroom Celebrations
November
- 3 Haunted Gym Ends / Fall Book Fair Begins
- 9 1st Quarter Recognition Assembly, K-2nd Grade @ 9:30 / 3rd-5th @ 2:30
- 10 Fall Book Fair Ends
- 13 American Education Week Nov. 13-17
- 14 2nd Grade Fire Safety House / PTA Meeting @ 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center
- 17 SPIRIT DAY: Neon Day
- 20 Early Dismissal: Parent /Teacher Conferences
- 21 Early Dismissal: Parent /Teacher Conferences
- 30 Family Fit Night
Let Us Hear Your Voice: Back-to-School Survey UPDATED LINK
This year, we offered our Back-to-School Meetings prior to the beginning of school on Thursday, August 31st.
HCPSS designates weeks in September for back-to-school events to be held in order to ensure that parents are able to attend meetings at all levels. The week elementary schools were given would have been in the third week of September. As a staff, we felt this was a long time to wait for program information. The later start time in the school calendar offered time for us to be available to provide the opportunity to meet with all parents prior to the school year beginning.
The idea for this change was communicated at PTA Meetings in May and August with written communication sent through HCPSS Messenger to those families with a Family File account. It was communicated by email to new families who had not yet enrolled in Family File. The change was also approved by HCPSS.
Having our Back-to-School gatherings at this early time was a change in the way we have met together in past years. We would like to ask for your feedback to help us reflect on the timing and communication for our events for next year. Thank you for taking your time to offer your voice, the link is above.
Bushy Park ES has 87% of our Family Files Updated! Our goal is 100%.
Thank you for taking your time to offer or update your family’s information!
We are 13% away for celebrating 100% of our families being connected!
If you haven’t done so already, please complete the Family File
for your child(ren) now.
Information on completing or updating your Family File is below:
- Log into HCPSS Connect and select the Family File tab and then click on Family File. You will be asked to update or provide the following information:
Parent/guardian contact information. Please provide the most current contact information.
Emergency contacts. Who do you want to pick up your child in case you cannot?
Medical information
Arrival and dismissal procedures. How will your child arrive to school and be dismissed on a daily basis? Additionally, provide what procedure your child should follow in case of an unscheduled early closing of schools.
Media coverage. This includes students being photographed for ACE awards.
Data confidentiality.
PTA directory. What information do you want included in our BPES PTA Directory?
Resources on how to access Family File may be found online. Parents who have forgotten their login credentials may click the “Forgot Password” link on the sign in page. If you need additional assistance, please fill out this Connect Help Form.
Bear Hug Winners
- Kindergarten- Quinn Beares, Paige Bynaker
- 1st Grade- Morgan Lawrence, Colin Skrtic
- 2nd Grade- Hunter Moreau, Zoe Scriven
- 3rd Grade- Liam Dunlop, Lily Preston
- 4th Grade- Hannah Fadel, Nick Neyland
- 5th Grade- Ashlynn Harris, Charlotte King
Artist-in-Residence Rockcreek Steel Drum Band
Kevin Martin, the director of Rockcreek Steel Drums has been working with our fourth graders in an intensive, hands on arts residency. The students learned about the history of the steel drums, the cultural aspects of steel drumming including the history and culture of Tobago, and how to play the steel drum.
This past Thursday, the fourth graders had a performance demonstrating their new musical skills. They thrilled their audience of students, staff and family members!
Thank you to our PTA , Cultural Arts Chairpersons, Mrs. Fyhr and Mrs. Perry for their support in writing the grant and organizing the schedule to provide this opportunity!
PARENT VOLUNTEER REQUESTS
Join Our Parent Math Cadre
The students would work with a parent for 2-3 days a week for 4-6 weeks. The parent(s) would be supported with resources and coaching from our Math Support Teacher, Joan Tellish. Please email Mrs. Ketterer at molly_ketterer@hcpss.org.
Carson Reading Room Volunteers Needed
http://signup.com/go/XndiygT
Please see the PowerPoint on our school website to learn more about this fabulous opportunity to work with children and facilitate a love for reading.
If you are signing up for your child's class, please consider also signing up for the classes before and/or after their class. The sessions are only 25 minutes long so if you are able to come earlier or stay later for another grade, please sign up for as many as you wish!
In some cases, there are last minute scheduling conflicts that arise. Mrs. Husain and I will do our best to contact you to let you know if we need to cancel your volunteer time.
If you need to cancel a sign up, please cancel on the sign up site in addition to contacting Mrs. Husain at hsabera@gmail.com, the teacher(s), and me.
Lastly, please make sure you have completed the volunteer trainings for HCPSS and BPES before coming to the Carson Room.
Please email Laura_M_Smith@hcpss.org or Sabera Husain hsabera@gmail.com with any questions."
Thank you!
Early Dismissal Requests Until 3:15 p.m.
Please help us have an even more orderly dismissal. We are asking that all Early Dismissal requests are completed by 3:15 p.m.
If a parent arrives after 3:15 p.m. to pick up their student, we will ask them to wait until Dismissal at 3:45 p.m. Thank you for spreading the word and for your support!
Guidelines for School Visitation
The Howard County Public School System welcomes visitors to our schools. To limit interruptions and distractions to teaching and learning, and to maximize safety for everyone, persons who wish to visit a school building or classroom are asked to comply with the following procedures:
- Anyone wishing to visit a school is asked to contact the Principal to discuss the purpose of the visit and to establish a convenient time for both the visitor and the school.
- A teacher will be notified, either orally or in writing, in advance by a school administrator that a visit to their classroom has been requested. The teacher may request that the visit be rescheduled.
- Upon entering a school, all visitors must sign in at the main office and receive a visitor badge.
- To avoid interrupting instruction, no students are allowed to shadow HCPSS students.
- Understandably, interactions between visitors and school staff and students will be limited.
- If a follow-up meeting with school staff is desired, the visitor will schedule it for a mutually convenient time.
Howard County Library 2017 Summer Reading Club
We would like to congratulate and recognize some of our students who participated and completed the Summer Reading Club. Students completed various reading related activities all geared to helping them maintain reading levels and academic progress while they were home for the summer.
Our Bushy Park students who have been recognized in our PA Announcements and here in our newsletter are:
- Amelia Miller
- Brock Miller
- Hailey Riggleman
HCPSS Redistricting Information: UPDATE
On June 22, the annual Feasibility Study was presented by HCPSS staff to the Board of Education. During the summer, a committee of parent volunteers from around the county served (and continue to serve) on the Attendance Area Committee (AAC). The AAC is charged with providing feedback and possible alternative plans for redistricting to the Superintendent. In October, Attendance Area Adjustment recommendations are made by the Superintendent and presented to the Board of Education meeting, taking into consideration the input from the AAC and the public.
Below, you will find a list of important dates over the next two months after the Superintendent makes his recommendations to the Board of Education.
Superintendent’s Redistricting Recommendations
- Tuesday, Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m. - Presentation to the Board of Education of Attendance Area Adjustment Plan LOCATION CHANGE: Jim Rouse Theater at WLHS
Board of Education Public Hearings and Work Sessions
- Thursday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m. - Public Hearing I
- Wednesday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m. - Work Session I
- Thursday, Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m. - Work Session II
- Tuesday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m. - Public Hearing II
- Thursday, Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m. - Work Session III
- Tuesday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m. - Work Session IV
Approval of Attendance Area Adjustment Plan
- Thursday, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m. - Approval
Please look for information in future editions of the Bushy Bear Tales related to the implications of redistricting on Bushy Park Elementary.
BPES Spirit Days
Crazy Hat Day
Gladiator Day
Wear Red, White and/or Black
Neon Day
Pajama Day
Jersey Day
Crazy Hair Day
Maryland Day
Tie Dye Day
Dress Alike Day
Flag Day: Thursday, June 14
Request from PTA Afterschool Programs
Reminder: If you have not registered your child for any activities yet, here is your last chance to register them. Our next round of after school activities will start in mid January-2018!
- Soccer with AJ Rosenthal and Jen Birsa, starting Monday, September 25, from 3:50 to 5:00 p.m.
- Program with specific skill driven activity followed by games to enforce rules learned during the sessions.
- Storybook Art by Abrakadoodle, starting Wednesday, September 27, from 3:55 to 5:00 p.m.
- Meet fascinating characters and create noodle assemblages, collages, faraway planets and more while exploring the wonderful world of picture books and illustrators.
- Meet fascinating characters and create noodle assemblages, collages, faraway planets and more while exploring the wonderful world of picture books and illustrators.
- ArtBlast! Steam Program by Abrakadoodle, starting Thursday, September 28, from 3:50 to 5:00 p.m.
- Program for creative and curious minds to boost imagination while playing and painting with magnets, exploring sculptures and technology.
- Program for creative and curious minds to boost imagination while playing and painting with magnets, exploring sculptures and technology.
- Minecraft Modding and Programming by C3 Cyber Club, starting Thursday, September 28, from 3:55 to 5:00 p.m.
- Learn how to create custom game play items, implement them into the game with custom behaviors, utilize problem-solving skills by learning how to program robots to complete various tasks.
- Learn how to create custom game play items, implement them into the game with custom behaviors, utilize problem-solving skills by learning how to program robots to complete various tasks.
- The Jungle Book by Drama Learning Center, starting Monday, October 2, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
- 4th and 5th graders will gain knowledge of basic drama skills including stage directions, improvisation, pantomime, emotions, character, and much more!
- 4th and 5th graders will gain knowledge of basic drama skills including stage directions, improvisation, pantomime, emotions, character, and much more!
- Fit Kids Sports Performance Program with Al Cruz, starting Tuesday, October 3, from 3:55 to 4:55 p.m.
- Program to improve running mechanics and utilize athlete's natural body weight to improve strength, agility, conditioning, and overall sports performance.
- Program to improve running mechanics and utilize athlete's natural body weight to improve strength, agility, conditioning, and overall sports performance.
- Coding Club by Silver Knights, starting Wednesday, October 4, from 8:10 to 9:10 a.m.
- Learn to code your own games and animations using Scratch (developed by MIT), a fun way to learn programming skills and computational thinking. Grades 2 and above only.
- Learn to code your own games and animations using Scratch (developed by MIT), a fun way to learn programming skills and computational thinking. Grades 2 and above only.
- Chess Club by Silver Knights, starting Thursday, October 5, from 8:10 to 9:10 a.m.
- Learn chess to develop your child's critical thinking skills, sportsmanship, and patience.
For more information, and to download the registration form(s), please visit PTA website: https://www.bushyparkpta.org/aftercare. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please send me an email at SendYourReply@Gmail.com (email) or call me at 410-415-3033 (cell).
Janak Rajani, Chair of After School Activities