Author Archives: BMES PTA

Come join us on the blacktop for light breakfast refreshments (donuts, juice, and coffee) before school on May 12th from 8:30 to 9:05 am (rain date: May 13th). Each Bells Mill Bear can bring one special person to share the morning with. To ensure we have enough refreshments, please RSVP by Friday, May 8th.

Volunteers Needed for Breakfast with Bears

We are looking for volunteers to help with coordinating food purchases, set up, clean up, and food distribution for Breakfast with Bears on May 12th (rain date: May 13th).… Read Full Post

At the Board of Education meeting on Thursday, March 26, 2026, the Board voted to collectively approve the Superintendent’s recommendation for the Woodward study, Crown study, and regional programs model.

In short, all Bells Mill students will attend Cabin John Middle School together and continue on to Winston Churchill High School.

A few notable changes for the Cabin John/Churchill clusters:
-Seven Locks, Potomac, and Travilah Elementary Schools will be joining Bells Mill at CJMS
-Stone Mill and Cold Spring Elementary Schools, who currently attend CJMS, will go to Hoover with Wayside and Beverly Farms
-Cold Spring will now go to Churchill instead of Wootton for high school

Wootton High School will be relocated to the new Crown Farm site.… Read Full Post

As some of you know, there have been ongoing efforts for later school start times for MCPS middle and high schools. If you have an interest to help in these efforts, whether in a small way or to take on a leadership role, please email Sandra Landis at BellTimes@mccpta.org.

Tips for Parents: Raising Resilient Learners in an AI World (MCCPTA Technology Committee)

Are you concerned about how AI may be impacting your kids but don’t know where to start? Or are you just curious about AI but don’t know much about it?

The Brookings Institution has simple parent tipsheets on a number of helpful AI topics, such as “What is Generative AI and What’s at Stake for Kids?” and “Helping Kids Question What AI Tells Them.”… Read Full Post

Each week, the PTA will share information from other schools in the cluster or community programs that provide opportunities to connect and help each other. If you have anything you would like to add, email communications@bellsmill.org. While these are not sponsored or endorsed by the BMES PTA, we’re happy to help share information as appropriate.

Public Speaking Club for 4th and 5th Graders

Hello Parents,

My name is Kumayl Bandukwalla, and I am a Junior at Winston Churchill High school.… Read Full Post

Wishing all of our Bells Mill Elementary families a wonderful Spring Break! We hope this time brings you plenty of rest, fun, and special moments with family and friends. Whether you’re traveling or enjoying a staycation, may your days be relaxing and filled with sunshine. We look forward to seeing you back refreshed and ready for the rest of a great school year.

The Bells Mill PTA is also excited to share that we recently purchased brand new recess balls for students to enjoy!… Read Full Post

The PTA would like to take the opportunity to thank all our students and parents who put together a presentation for the STEM fair. We would also like to thank all our parents and SSL volunteers, who were critical to being able to run nearly a dozen hands on experiments for our students too engage with. Finally, we’d like to thank all the first grade teachers who graciously allowed to use their classrooms!

We had a fantastic turnout with over 150 people who participated and enjoyed the STEM fair – we hope to see many of you again next year!

Don’t miss Bells Mill Science Fair & STEM Night this Sunday, March 22, from 4:30–6:00 p.m. With a variety of exciting experiments and projects on display, it’s sure to be a fun and engaging evening for all.

Students interested in participating in the Science Fair are encouraged to complete a project and present it that night. Register your science fair project today, and learn more about student project requirements.

See you there!

Posted on March 12, 2026 by BMES PTA

Testify on HB1084 on March 20 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. re: MCPS Calendar Changes (Please note the window to sign up is tomorrow, March 20 and not March 22 as previously stated.)

MCPS is seeking a legislative solution to its school calendar challenges, House Bill 1084, and this bill has passed the House of Delegates and will be heard by the Senate EEE Committee on March 24.… Read Full Post