Bushy Park PTA Email
Leading with Kindness | June 1, 2020
A Personal Note
Good morning,
Over the past school year, I’ve written you about numerous PTA events, holidays, national heritage and history months, school and greater community initiatives. I’ve been with you in navigating crisis homeschooling, our transition to distance learning and attempted to keep our kids and community engaged and connected with virtual activities. I’ve done my best to stay positive, share personal stories and Lead with Kindness.
Since the video of Ahmaud Arbery’s lynching circulated, I’ve had lump in my throat. Since the video of George Floyd’s murder, I’ve had a knot in my stomach and wanted to cry and scream.
Today, I’m writing you, parent-to-parent, as a dad of two African American children.
Our eldest, Sebastian, is 14 years old and starting 9th grade at Glenelg High School next school year. He’s an introvert. He loves the card game Yu-Gi-Oh, drawing, music (plays the upright bass, cello and piano) and is excellent at math. He has dyslexia and ADHD, identified in the summer after 6th grade at Glenwood Middle School. Sebastian has loved this time at home and away from school.
Our youngest, Julian, is 10 years old and starting 5th grade at Bushy Park Elementary next school year. He’s an extrovert. He lives for Warhawks football, music (sings in choir, plays percussion, piano and the viola), dancing and is also very good at math. Julian hates not being at school. He loves everything about school and misses his friends and staff at Bushy Park.
Both of our boys were adopted as infants, days old, from Baltimore. From pre-school to attending Phelps Luck Elementary, they grew up in our home in Columbia until we moved to western Howard County four years ago. As a family, we’ve travelled the world, experienced the loss of parents, grandparents and have begun navigating the turbulent waters of puberty. We have attempted to teach the boys about all of the -isims and phobias, including racism, and how they may be treated in different situations because of their skin color. We have had an age-appropriate version of “the talk,” which is the specific instructions on how they should act if they’re ever stopped by police. I don’t want to tell them that. We have had age-appropriate discussions about how to behave in a retail store. I don’t want to tell them that. I don’t want to tell them about Ahmaud Arbery or George Floyd. I don’t want to teach them about Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Philando Castile and countless others. But, not teaching them would be negligent and not preparing them for the world.
Time after time, we’ve had well-meaning friends and family tell us that, “We have nothing to worry about. They’re good kids. Well-mannered.” They are well-mannered, good kids. However, none of the above matters once they leave our house, our neighborhood, our city, our state or country. When they are out of our arms, they are in yours. If I could surrender my privilege and encase them in it, I would.
Parent-to-parent, please take care of my babies like you would your own. As a parent of two African American boys, who will become African American men, please be gentle and kind.
As Dr. Martirano and Mrs. Ellis articulated in yesterday’s email, the hurt, pain and anger being felt is not limited to African Americans, but by any person who knows that change must come and systemic or institutional change is going to require everyone. No one is without prejudice or phobia. No one is color blind. We are all learning and growing. Please take a moment to talk about race with your children.
It is my privilege to serve as president of our PTA. It is my honor to be your friend and to parent alongside you. Most importantly, it’s my life to be a parent to two beautiful children and do my very best to make the world better for them and all children.
With great respect and sincerity,
Randee Wilding
Neon Family BINGO
Tuesday, June 2nd at 6:30pm
- Reuse or create your BINGO card at: https://bingobaker.com/play/1228516
- Please wear your brightest neon colors to our Family BINGO, hosted by Mrs. Sexton. Join us online at: https://zoom.us/j/98178049002?pwd=aEl3NmIxNlUxSi85a0d4N0JPZGlJZz09
- Have fun!
PWNP June: Hygiene Kits
As communities reopen and summer heats up, hygiene is more important now than ever. Help People Who Need People (PWNP) create hygiene kits for local area shelters. Please shop for all necessary items to assemble a kit.
Under normal circumstances, we'd have bins at school available for drop-off. All donation orders will be delivered to an organizer's home for kit assembly.
What can we (the PTA) do?
What can we do to help? To keep the kids connected? To keep our families and staff feeling supported? To help those in need? How can we continue to Lead with Kindness, albeit virtually? To date, we've done a lot and I'm very proud and thankful of what we've accomplished. I hope you are too.
Today, I'm asking you this question. What can the PTA do? Please take a moment to provide us your ideas and feedback. We want to hear from you.
Mt. Airy Children's Dental Associates
Rocky Brown, REALTOR®, The Wendy Slaughter Team of Elevate Real Estate Brokerage
Western Howard County (WHC) Warhawks Football & Cheer
The Bushy Park Elementary PTA invites you to become a business or sports sponsor. Our community sponsor program provides an opportunity to support the staff and students of Bushy Park Elementary.
Bushy Park Elementary PTA
Our PTA is here to build a bridge between home and school, integrating the efforts of parents, teachers, staff and our community. It is an integral part of the Bushy Park community by offering many activities and programs to our families.
Our vision is simple. Lead with kindness and let everything follow.
Email: bpesptapres@gmail.com
Website: http://www.bushyparkpta.org
Location: 14601 Carrs Mill Rd, Glenwood, MD 21738
Phone: 410-313-5500
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BushyParkPTA/
Twitter: @hcpss_bpes