Category Archives: Enrichment

Odyssey of the Mind – Registration is Open

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Odyssey of the Mind is an international program that builds creative problem-solving, teamwork, and performance skills in students. Teams of 5–7 are formed by grade, interests, and balance, with Grades 1–2 in the Primary Division and Grades 3–5 in Division 1. Participants may compete in the Maryland State Tournament each spring, with the chance to advance to the World Finals. Learn more at https://odysseyofthemind.com/

The program is run entirely by parent volunteers and parent participation in this program is vital to its success. … Read Full Post

Update on Enrichment Programs

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The Bells Mill PTA is proud to help coordinate a variety of before and after-school enrichment opportunities for our students! From chess to sports and science, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this school year.

Important Note: All activities are run by outside providers—not the school or PTA—so families must contact vendors directly with any questions. These programs manage their own schedules, student supervision, and safety protocols.

New This Year: Kiddo Platform!
The Bells Mill PTA is using enrichment activity planning and management tools offered by Kiddo, a Montgomery County based public benefit company.… Read Full Post

GeoBowl is Coming for Grades 3–5!

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The PTA is bringing back the GeoBowl—a high-energy, all-inclusive geography adventure for students in Grades 3, 4, and 5 during the week of June 2!

This year’s spotlight is on Africa, Asia, and Europe, and every student gets to join the fun (yep, it’s happening during the school day!). Each grade will have its own exciting event, complete with a live scoreboard to cheer on top contenders in real time.

Want to level up your geo-skills?… Read Full Post

Volunteers Needed for the GeoBowl

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This year, all students in Grades 3, 4, and 5 are invited to participate in the GeoBowl! The focus of this year’s event is on Africa, Asia, and Europe. Study packets have already been handed out in class.

We’ve updated the format of the GeoBowl—now, all students will have the chance to participate on the day of the event, with no sign-ups required. While caregivers won’t be able to attend the event, we are looking for two volunteers per grade to help ensure everything runs smoothly.… Read Full Post

MCPS K-12 Student Poster Art Contest to Celebrate 2025 AAPI Heritage Month

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The month of May is designated by law as Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, to commemorate the history of AAPIs since their arrival in the United States in the mid-1800s, their challenges, and their contributions to American society.

All MCPS students are invited to submit original artwork for a poster that reflects ‘A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience’ in AAPI history and/or culture. The entries will be judged by community art and art performance professionals.… Read Full Post

Free State PTA Reflections Winner

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We are delighted to announce that Caden Xin has won the Award of Excellence in Literature, Primary Division, at the Free State PTA Reflections for his piece, ‘No One is Perfect.‘

It was wonderful to see Caden and all of the students’ work displayed during STEAM Night—what a celebration of creativity! Congratulations, Caden!

STEAM Night is Coming—March 27!

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We’re excited to announce that our traditional STEM Night is evolving! This year, we’re adding an A for Arts to celebrate creativity alongside science, technology, engineering, and math.

Join us for STEAM Night as we proudly showcase our talented students’ submissions from the Reflections Arts Program, themed “Accepting Imperfections.” Explore the amazing creativity our students have shared while enjoying hands-on STEM activities too.

To sign your student up for a project or to volunteer to run an experiment, please see this previous post for all the details.… Read Full Post

Reflections Art Program – Submissions Due Friday December 6

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Calling ALL BMES Artists! This year’s Reflections Art Program is underway.  Based on this year’s theme, “Accepting Imperfection,” students are encouraged to create original artwork in one of six areas:

-Visual Art
-Music
-Dance
-Photography
-Writing
-Film

To submit an entry, take a high-quality photo, video, or file and submit it through this Google Form. For more information and inspiration, visit the Reflections webpage. 

Rules and Guidelines
2024-2025 Judging Information
2024-2025 Reflections Coloring Book

The submission deadline is Friday, December 6th.… Read Full Post

Community Corner

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Each week in Bear Post we will share information from other schools in the cluster or community events 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.

Learn Coding with Panda Programmer—Starts December 6
Give your child the opportunity to explore the exciting world of coding with convenient after-school classes held right at Bells Mill.… Read Full Post