Bushy Park PTA Newsletter
Leading with Kindness | February 26, 2020
Wednesday, March 4th, 6:30-7:30pm
- What does the PTA do again?
- I'm making time to get involved, what can I do to help?
- If I attend a meeting, do I have to sign-up to do something? Spoiler alert: No.
- Where does the money go?
- I work full-time and can't volunteer at the school. Are there options for me?
The PTA leadership and committee chairs will be answering all of your questions. Please come to our next meeting on Wednesday, March 4th, 6:30-7:30pm in the Media Center. There will be games, prizes and snacks. A social hour will follow.
Sensory-Friendly Spaces
Our amazing staff, in collaboration with the PTA, is offering an inclusive opportunity for children who have sensory sensitivities at our upcoming Sweetheart Dance. Our Media Center will be used as an inclusive, relaxed, and welcoming space.
Students with sensory sensitivities are welcomed for early admission on the evening of the Sweetheart Dance from 6:00-6:30pm. This is an opportunity for priming and getting accustomed to the space prior to our larger crowd at 6:30pm. The Media Center will remain open throughout the event for continued support as necessary.
We hope to provide a sensory-friendly environment for all of our remaining community events at BPES this year. If you are interested in helping with this effort, please email Randee Wilding.
Our sensory friendly spaces will include items such as:
- Bean bags
- Body socks
- Noise cancelling headphones
- Fidgets
Our sensory friendly space is not an overflow area. Please be courteous of the members of our community who need this space and use it in the way it is intended.
Celebrating African-American History Month
In this 2016 story by Gwen Ifill, the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) is introduced to the world:
"One hundred years in the making, the National Museum of African American History and Culture will open on Saturday in Washington. The museum presents history through objects both celebratory and sobering -- showcasing everything from Michael Jackson’s fedora to a pair of shackles discovered aboard a sunken slave ship. Gwen Ifill tours the exhibitions and speaks with the people responsible."
BPES Leo Club Annual Food Drive
The Bushy Park Leo Club is sponsoring a canned food drive from Monday, February 24th until Friday, March 27th to benefit the Maryland Food Bank. Did you know that approximately a half million people in Maryland live in poverty? The Maryland Food Bank is hoping to gather 20 million pounds of food to give away this year and we would like to help them.
This year we will be donating the food to a satellite location of the Maryland Food Bank located at Glenwood United Methodist Church. We would appreciate your kindness in helping to donate the items listed on the flier below. The collection boxes are located in each team’s pod area.
NO GLASS, NO FOOD THAT CAN SPOIL AND PLEASE NO EXPIRED FOOD.
Thank you for helping out Marylanders in need!
Bushy Park Leo Club
PWNP February: Chocolate Box Challenge
We completed the Chocolate Box Challenge!
A note of thanks from PWNP: "Thanks to our generous supporters, the Chocolate Box Challenge was a huge success! We were able to touch hundreds of hearts and offer hope to so many with our Valentine’s Day tradition. We delivered over 400 juice boxes, over 1100 snacks, 14 reusable water bottles, 29 sheets sets, 38 towels, 235 wash cloths, and 419 chocolate heart boxes! Thank you to everyone who volunteered to organize, collect, distribute and donate. Our hearts are full!"
PWNP is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 2006 to serve the needs of women and children who are homeless by partnering with established charities in Maryland. For more information, please visit https://www.pwnp.org.
January Book Collection
All of your donated books have a new home! We collected approximately 1,300 books!
They went to Bushy Park staff, homeless shelters in Baltimore and to a number of HCPSS schools. Hearts Up to all who donated and volunteered their books, time and effort.
February Membership Drawing
The PTA will be doing a drawing from all family memberships at the end of February for a copy of the book I Walk with Vanessa.
A Night with the Stars - The Bushy Park School Dance
A night to show off our Bushy Park Stars, with an evening of dancing, photo ops, cookies and popcorn. Pick a star and add your autograph to our Wall of Fame or visit with some of our paparazzi for an interview!
BPES students from Pre-K to 5th grade (only please) are invited to and may be escorted by a special adult to this magical evening.
Tickets are $8 per adult / $4 per child and available for purchase online at:
https://www.bushyparkpta.org/dance-2020. We are using PayPal to process electronic payment.
Don't have PayPal or would like to pay using cash or check? No problem. Please complete the printable registration form.
If you would like to participate, but are under financial constraints, please contact Mrs. Bialeski directly. Financial constraints will not limit your participation.
The deadline to register is Friday, February 28th.
Science Fair
Calling all young scientists! The BPES Annual Science Fair is March 11, 2020!
It is time to prepare for the Annual Science Fair at Bushy Park Elementary School
Parents may register their child to participate in the Science Fair by completing the registration form online or the PDF below. The deadline to register is Monday, March 2nd. If you have any questions contact Chairwoman, Dina Goldman, at bushyparksciencefair@gmail.com.
Science Fair Judges
Spring: Girls on the Run
Register for the Spring Season of Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run® inspires girls in 3rd – 5th grades to be joyful, healthy, and confident by using running to teach valuable life skills. Teams of 15-20 girls meet twice weekly after school for 10 weeks. Each season concludes with the girls and their running buddies completing a 5K run. Registration opens Sunday, February 9 at noon. The Spring season will start the week of March 15, with the season-ending 5K scheduled for Saturday, May 30, 2020, in Columbia, MD. Program registration fee is $175 and includes 20 lessons, 5K registration, water bottle, t-shirt, and all program materials. Financial assistance is available – no girl is turned away. Visit www.gotrcentralmd.org for a list of program sites and to register.
Interested participants can register at: https://www.gotrcentralmd.org/Register-Now.
For questions regarding the program, please call 443-583-7740.
Spring Book Fair
Bushy Park's Got Talent
Talent Show, Friday, May 1, 2020, 6:30-8:30pm
What's your talent?
- Audition submissions are due April 3rd.
- Finalists announced April 8th.
- Dress rehearsal April 30th.
- Talent show May 1st!
Submit your 30 second audition by April 3rd at: https://forms.gle/PYTmtq6ZxbKPCUkK7.
Volunteer Opportunities
Do you have an hour to volunteer at school? Can you make an hour to volunteer? If you are able, please visit our Volunteer page for updated opportunities.
We have everything from event-specific to seasonal opportunities.
Upcoming Events
February 2020
2/28 - Spirit Day: Wacky Tacky / Crazy Hair Day
March 2020
3/4 - PTA (In-Person & Online) Meeting 6:30-7:30pm
3/6 - Sweetheart Dance 6:30-8:30pm
3/11 - Science Fair 6-8pm
3/23-27 - Spring Book Fair
3/26 - Ice Cream Social & PTA General Meeting
Website PTA Calendar: https://www.bushyparkpta.org/calendar
Facebook PTA Events: https://www.facebook.com/pg/BushyParkPTA/events/
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