Bushy Bear Tales

From Mrs. Ketterer:

Thank you for being with us for American Education Week and Parent Conferences. We welcomed almost 500 parents during this special time in November! Now, as December arrives, we continue to help our students strive for the new learning goals they set after the reflection of their first quarter progress!

PLEA for STUDENTS to DRESS for WINTER

Since Winter has decided to come early, we need your help and support to have all of our students dressed for the elements.

We intend to enjoy outdoor recess as often as possible. As you will read in the guidelines below, we go outside unless the temperature or wind chill is LESS than 20 DEGREES. We have had so many students not properly dressed for our windy playground.

Being outside is so good for the students, even in cold weather. Having that time to move and play is so important for them to engage fully in their afternoon of instruction.

Please support us in our efforts! Prepare your child to be outside for 20-30 minutes in the coldest part of the day and they will be ready!

Weather Guidelines for Outdoor Recess

Exercise outdoors is healthy and is strongly encouraged. It provides a break from the regular school routine, a chance to get some outside air, and an opportunity to run off excess energy.

If conditions preclude the full recess time, even a five-minute break can revitalize children and prepare them for more sitting and academic learning. Children are expected to wear warm clothing to protect them during cold weather when participating in recess or outside activities.

The decision to go out or stay in for recess is the decision of the Administrator at individual schools. However, the following are to be considered in determining if recess is to be held outside:

Temperature and Windchill
Age of students
Length of time outdoors
Adequacy of the children’s clothing
Condition of the playground
Falling precipitation (more than a sprinkle or mist)

Generally, it is assumed that students will be outside for recess when the temperature combined with the wind chill is not less than 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Children with certain health conditions may need special accommodations during extremely cold weather. Parents of those children should provide medical documentation and may be consulted to determine if other arrangements are necessary.

November

30 Picture Day Make-Ups

December

4-5-6 CogAT Testing Window for 5th Grade
3 Cultural Arts: Artist-in-Residence Assemblies @ 9:25 and 10:25 a.m.
4 2nd Grade Fire Safety House in Bus Loop (Class visit throughout the Day)
5 Pre-K- Field Trip to National Aquarium @ 9:30-2:45 p.m.
6 Cultural Arts: Artist-in-Residence Culminating Performance (Gr.3-5 & PK)
10-11-12 CogAT Testing Window for 3rd Grade
11 PTA Meeting @ 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center
13 3rd Grade Winter Strings Concert @ 7:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria
17 5th Grade Winter Concert: Chorus/Band/Strings @ 7:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria
19 1st Grade Gingerbread House @ 9:30 a.m.-10:45 a.m. in the Cafeteria
19 2Q Interim Progress Reports Issued.

January

8 PTA Meeting @ 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center
9 Yearbook Photos for Clubs and Groups
9 Vision & Hearing Screening (throughout the day)
11 PTA Bingo Night @ 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
14-15 4th Grade CEU Ancient Civilization Program in the Mini-Auditorium
18 SCHOOLS CLOSED-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
24 International Night 6:00-8:00 p.m. throughout 1st Floor and in Cafeteria
28 End of 3rd Quarter: SCHOOLS CLOSE 3 Hours Early- Professional Work Day
29 4th Grade Winter Concert: Chorus/Band/Strings @ 7:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria

Spotlighting Classroom DOJO Students

The following students were recognized for November 30th. Congratulations to:

KINDERGARTEN
Mrs. Bohn's Class- Weston Ratcliffe
Mrs. O'Leary's Class- Ferdi Tong
Mrs. Powell's Class- Logan Scott
Mrs. Wilson's Class- Lily Duong

1st GRADE
Mrs. Bruner's Class- Matthew Rutledge
Mrs. Hintz' Class- RC Scott
Ms. Huyetts' Class- Avia Perry
Mrs. Lambros' Class- Talya Goldman
Mrs. Payne's Class- Cece Gibson

2ND GRADE
Mrs. Follmer's Class- AJ Lioi
Mrs. Hogan's Class- Jillian Besche
Mrs. Keats' Class- Colin Titherington
Mrs. Stumpfl's Class- Isla Strickland

3RD GRADE
Ms. Griffin's Class- Rolan Selby
Ms. Hewitt's Class- Emma Balzer
Mrs. Hovis' Class- Jacob Baer
Mrs. Pickett's Class- Beau Harms

4TH GRADE
Ms. Lyter's Class- Gregory Van Newkirk
Mrs. Perry's Class- Philip Kim
Mrs. Richmond's Class- Matthew Hannan
Mr. Wilson's Class- Katie Knack

5TH GRADE
Mrs. Cole's Class- Ryan Watts
Ms. Landry's Class- Caleb Ladson
Mrs. Little's Class- Luke Mazzuca
Mrs. Stanton's Class- Taylor Burriss
Mrs. Yakscoe-Markle/Ms. Morstein's Class- Jason Kobylski

CogAT TESTING COMING for GRADES 3 and 5 in DECEMBER

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) will be administered to all fifth graders at Bushy Park on the mornings of December 4, 5, and 6. The third graders will be tested on the mornings of December 10, 11 and 12.

CogAT is a group-administered abilities test that measures students’ reasoning abilities, which they develop through in-school and out-of-school experiences. It is not designed to test a student’s academic achievement, but rather their potential.

CogAT will help educators understand a student’s cognitive strengths and weaknesses and assists with adapting instruction to meet the needs and abilities of each student. It will also provide data for students’ placement into fourth grade G/T mathematics classes or middle school G/T content classes.

The test consists of three batteries – Verbal, Quantitative, and Nonverbal. Each section takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.

A good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast are the only preparation necessary. All test administrators will review sample items with the students before administering each part of the test.

If you have additional questions, please contact Dr. Terri Via at 410-313-5500 or at teresa_via@hcpss.org . Additional information can be found in the FAQ's below.

IDENT-A-KID Safety Program Comes to BPES on December 7th

The IDENT-A-KID Child Safety Program will be at our school on Friday, December 7th to PHOTOGRAPH, FINGERPRINT, WEIGH and MEASURE children. Parents will receive an ID card (recognized by the U.S. Government’s SSA as a form of identification). ID cards are often needed for sports registration, travel, student discounts, and in emergencies.

To participate, please fill in the Application Envelope which came home with your child and have your child return it to school. Applications are also available on line at www.identakid.com. It is recommended that each parent keep a card with them at all times and additional cards should be given to anyone who regularly cares for your child.

Participation in the program is at the individual Parents’ option. The cost per child is $8 for one card, $12 for two cards (includes eKid-ID), and $15 for three cards (includes eKid-ID). An eKid ID is the electronic Ident-A-Kid card sent to your cell phone via text/picture message and is free when ordering multiple cards. Please feel free to contact your local program director, Kim Jackson, at 410-360-1000

THIS WEEK'S FOCUS: HCPSS Notification of School Closings/Delays

If it is necessary for the superintendent to close or delay the start of schools due to inclement weather or other emergencies, parents may obtain information from the sources listed on the website page below.

If schools are closed, or closed early due to weather conditions, all after-school and evening activities, both school and non-school, scheduled in school facilities are canceled.

In order to learn about how HCPSS prepares for, decides and communicates school closings or delays, please bookmark the following section of the HCPSS Website:

https://www.hcpss.org/schools/emergency-closings/

A letter was sent home on November 19th to parents of students in 4th and 5th grade to share the opportunity to nominate your child for consideration to be Bushy Park's Carson Scholarship nominee.

The Carson Scholars Program recognizes and rewards academic excellence in young students (4-11 grade) who also have strong humanitarian qualities. Schools may nominate ONE student who demonstrates both of these criteria.

Fourth and fifth graders who meet the criteria are invited to apply to be Bushy Park’s Carson Scholarship nominee. Your response will be needed by Friday, November 30, 2018

For more information contact Mrs. Bengermino at elizabeth_bengermino@hcpss.org.