Bellows Spring PTA News
Volume No. 4 Issue No.2 October 2008 President’s Remarks Have you checked out the PTA link on the Bellows Spring website? If you do, you will find the minutes from the last board meeting, the PTA newsletter, membership and volunteer forms, Watch D.O.G.S. registration and t-shirt forms, and a few other useful pieces of information. Thanks to Scott Ewart for creating and continually updating this website for us!
Fall Festival is tonight and I’m sure that it will be a great event! A special thank you to Kristyn O’Reilly, Nicole Epstein, and their fabulous committee for working so hard to make this event a success. Thank you too to the more than 30 volunteers needed to make this evening run smoothly.
If you have one hour a month to volunteer, then I have the perfect job for you. I am looking for someone to pick up the PTA monthly newsletter from Key Press in Ellicott City around the middle of each month. Interested? Contact me for details. If I get a few volunteers, then you may only have to pick up once or twice for the whole year.
The next PTA board meeting is November 10th at 7PM in the Media Center. If you are unable to get childcare and have a child who can sit in a separate part of the Media Center and read, do homework, or a quiet activity for about an hour, they are welcome to come. Remember that you do not have to be a member of the board to come to these meetings. All are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Have an idea or suggestion you would like to share? Feel free to contact me anytime at beachgirl1227@verizon.net!
Laurie Lerman PTA President PTA Collection DrivePTAs in Howard County are asking you to help with three collection drives this school year. The drives meet PTA’s goals of child advocacy by promoting the welfare of children at home and in school. Howard County Public School System Pupil Personnel Workers will distribute these items that are collected to needy Howard County students.
Coat Drive - November 10th New or gently used, clean coats that are ready to wear (no need to repair) in sizes pre-K through high school sizes. Hats and gloves are also welcome. Donations may be brought to the PTA board meeting on November 10th. Please make sure they are CLEAN and ready to wear.
Thanks for your help in this collection drive that directly help children in our county! Grocery Store Sign-up, Target, Labels We've collected almost $600 worth of Box Tops labels so far since school started. Thank you to all those who've helped us with this program. Keep them coming!
We have almost 200 cards signed up for Giant! That is fantastic. The program has started so we'll be able to report on what we've earned starting next month.
We have 27 people signed up for Target's Take Charge of Education program. If you want to sign up, you can do so at a Target Store or on the web at www.target.com/tcoe. Bellows Spring ES - ID# 119693.
Cultural ArtsOn Tuesday, sponsored by the PTA, Billy B., The Natural Science Song and Dance man performed at Bellows. His show was titled Recycle Mania. Billy B. sang, danced, and discussed the importance of natural resources and landfills and how to get people to recycle. All grades had an opportunity to see Billy B. perform. Ask your child(ren) what they liked and learned about the program.
Lavender Fall Fundraiser The deadline to submit orders for the Fall Fundraiser has passed. We want to thank the parents, students and staff that made the fundraiser a success. This year especially with the economic situation and working with a new and unfamiliar vendor presented obstacles, but you still delivered. Thanks to you we will be able to enjoy some of the wonderful programs that have been offered in past years. Way to go!
Watch D.O.G.S. Program The Bellows Spring Watch D.O.G.S. hosted their second annual pizza night kickoff on September 25th. Five local pizza restaurants and the Howard Count Police Department helped sponsor the event. Approximately 300 dads, stepdads, grandfathers, uncles and students came out to support the start of another great year when BSES welcomes positive male role models into its classrooms. Over 100 men signed up to volunteer, and registrations are continuing to come in. The first Watch D.O.G.S. was in the school last week, and there are still openings on the calendar for this fall for those who are interested. For more information on how to become a Watch D.O.G. contact Scott Tribble at BellowsAlphaDog@gmail.com.
Bellows Spring is becoming a Green School As part of Bellows Spring’s journey to become a state-certified "Green School", please join us on October 28th, Tuesday night, from 7:00-8:00 pm for an ECO-FRIENDLY seminar. Kim Drake will be our guest speaker. She will discuss "GREEN" cleaning, eco-friendly alternatives to household products, waste reduction, and more. We look forward to learning how we can be healthier at home, and support our green initiative. If you are able to attend, please RSVP to shelley_fabre@hcpss.org.
Pick-a-Time Conference Scheduling Bellows Spring is currently in the planning stages for parent-teacher conferences next month. Parent-teacher conferences will take place November 24 through November 26.
As BSES plans for conferences, we want to inform you of changes with how we schedule conferences. BSES will be using an online conference-scheduling program called Pick-A-Time. There is no charge to use this program. Directions on how to use this program will be posted on the school’s website at the end of October. These instructions will also be sent home prior to conference scheduling. In order to schedule your conference(s), you must have your child’s 9-digit student ID number. This ID number will be sent home along with the instructions. Parents will be able to access the conference schedule program and register starting November 6 at 7:00 p.m. At that time, you will need the directions and student ID numbers for each child. Conference scheduling will end on November 14 at 4:00 p.m. If you do not have internet access, you may come to the school on November 6 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. where we will help you register—scheduling starts at 7:00 p.m. when the conference schedule period opens. You can also call the front office during regular school hours if you are unable to schedule online.
In addition to the instructions that will be sent home, you may watch a demonstration of Pick-A-Time on HCPSS TV. Demonstrations will be aired on the HCPSS TV show Parent Teacher Connection (Channel 95 on Comcast or Channel 42 on Verizon). Starting in November, it will be aired on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m., and Sunday at noon and 10:00 p.m.
It is Bellows Spring’s intention to make conference scheduling easier for parents. Feel free to contact the office if you have further questions.
Mark Your Calendar at BSES
Bellows Spring PTA publishes PTA News Tell us what you think. Have recommendations on newsletter topics? Want more information on how you can help? Email Julie Stokes at jstokes@rwd.com *A special thank you to Hubbard Funeral Home, Inc. for sponsoring this newsletter.* |