Please see below for the last Spotlight of the school year! You can here for a printable PDF.
Week Ahead:
Mon., June 10 Happy last Monday of the school year!
Tues., June 11 Gr. 5 rehearsal for Promotion Ceremony, 12:45-3:00 pm, Churchill HS
Lego Cyber Robotics, 3:30-4:30 pm, rm. 121
Wed., June 12 Gr. 5 picnic at Inverness, 9:30 am-2:30 pm
Thur., June 13 Last Day for Head Start
Kindergarten celebrations (Wolfe 1:15; Matthews 1:30; Howard/Ginsburg 1:45)
Gr. 5 Promotion Ceremony, 7:00 pm, Churchill HS auditorium
Fri., June 14 Last Day of School, EARLY DISMISSAL, 1:00 PM. Please make sure
your child(ren) know their afternoon plans for this day.
Have a wonderful and safe summer! We’ll see you in August. For those students who are registered for Camp Bells Mill/KinderCamp, we will see you on July 8-26.
A Look Ahead
June 25 Report Cards mailed home from central office
July 8-26 Camp Bells Mill/KinderCamp, 8:30 am-noon
Aug. 22 Kindergarten Parent Meeting, 7:00 pm, Media Center
Phone call from your new teacher
Aug. 23 Patrol Meeting, 8:30 am, Mr. Leffler’s room
Open House for Students and Parents, 9:00-10:00 am
Aug. 26 First Day of School, Welcome Back!
Aug. 28 Back to School Picnic on the lawn, 5:30-7:30 pm
Sept. 9 Back to School Night for Grades 3-5 Parents, 7:00 pm
Sept. 10 Back to School Night for Grades K-2 Parents, 7:00 pm
- This is the final Spotlight for the school year! This has really been an exciting year, and as it comes to an end I must let you know of some staff changes for next school year. I write these announcements with very mixed emotions. It is always difficult to say goodbye to staff members, however, I know you will join me in wishing all of them the very best as they either begin a new phase of their lives. First, Mrs. Judy Salomon will retire at the end of the school year following a long career at Bells Mill. She has had such an impact on hundreds of children who have been in our grade one classes. She looks forward to traveling and spending time with her family. Mrs. Katie Howard, kindergarten teacher, has just announced that she and her husband will relocate to the Pittsburgh area to be closer to family. We wish Mr. and Mrs. Howard all the best as they begin a new life in a new city. Ms. Meaghan McNamara, teacher of students with autism, is leaving Bells Mill to pursue other professional opportunities. We will miss her and wish Ms. McNamara good luck in this next step in her life. We say goodbye to Mr. Fred TenEyck, who has done an exceptional job teaching on our fourth grade team. It has been an extreme pleasure getting to know him and watching him work with the children. We wish him success in his new assignment. Mrs. Childress has decided to extend her childcare leave to enjoy more time with her little one. She will not return to Bells Mill next year. Ms. Diana Lynch, autism para-educator, has also decided to retire at the end of the year after a long career supporting students in MCPS and for 12 years at Bells Mill. She is also looks forward to more time to travel and spend time with her family. Mrs. Jenni Weinstein, speech pathologist, departs for the Infants and Toddlers Program. We wish her all the best in her new endeavor. Finally, we say goodbye to Mr. John Harris who came to us late in the year to support the grade two team. We have enjoyed our time with him and wish him success in his new assignment.
- At this time, I have no news to share concerning the status of Principal Intern Mrs. Thomas. It has been a distinct pleasure working with her during the last four years. Mentoring and training her as an assistant principal and then coaching her through her final training as an intern has been an honor. Mrs. Thomas has made a significant impact on the staff, community and most of all the children of the Bells Mill School Family. We are waiting as she completes the interview process, and I am confident that she will soon be named as the principal of another MCPS school. We will make that formal announcement when we receive notification. I would love to have her stay with us at Bells Mill. One of the difficult aspects of being a principal is to hire incredible staff and then watch them spread their wings and fly. Stay tuned for more information.
- With the departure of some staff members there are a few internal changes for next year. Please note that as our enrollment continues through the summer, there could be additional changes. We request that you send all new neighbors as soon as possible to complete their registration so we are positive we have the appropriate number of staff for next year. Miss O’Neill will leave first grade to be part of the fourth grade team. Ms. Chernak will leave the fifth grade team and join the fourth grade team. Ms. Debra Epstein will join us from Kemp Mill ES as a fifth grade teacher. Mrs. Rachel Abramson will join us as a first grade teacher from Somerset ES. In addition, we are currently interviewing and hiring additional staff members, but cannot officially announce until the process is complete. Final staffing will be announced in the August letter, which will be sent out electronically and posted on our website.
- Be sure to receive important back to school information in August. Sign up to receive electronic Bear Post communications. Bear Posts are weekly messages that include the principal’s weekly newsletter, important event dates and school news. If you have not already done so, please visit the PTA website and enter your email address to receive Bear Post communications. Please encourage neighbors who are new to Bells Mill to sign up too.
- How will you find out the name of your child’s teacher for next year? On August 22, your child will receive an automated phone call from his/her new teacher. The call will go out to every number we have on file for you. Please inform Ms. Vincenty if you have a new number. If you miss the teacher’s call you may phone the school on the afternoon of August 22, and Ms. Vincenty will provide the teacher’s name.
- The yearbook is here. Thank you to the yearbook committee for their work in bringing us this beautiful edition of the 2012-2013 yearbook: Mr. Nocente, Ms. Smith, Ms. Wang, Mrs. Rah, Mr. Coleman, Ms. Heideman and Dr. Lewis.
- In lieu of end-of-year gifts, teachers ask that you consider a tax deductible contribution to the Bells Mill Bear Hug Fund. Donations to the Bear Hug Fund are used to help students in need. The teacher that you choose to honor will receive a card stating that a contribution has been made by you, and you will receive a receipt and letter for tax purposes. Please make checks payable to “Bells Mill Bear Hug Fund” and send to Ms. DeMarino in the office.
- As a parting gift to the school, 5th grade students, under the guidance of Good Earth’s landscapers, prepared the soil, planted flowers, and mulched around our sign on Bells Mill Rd. The next time you drive past the school check out their work. Thank you, Good Earth, for the generous donation of time, supplies, plants, and expertise. Thank you to the 5th graders for giving back to Bells Mill, and thank you to Hilary Weiss for her efforts in coordinating the project.
- Attention Gr. 5 parents, the Middle School Extended Year Program is coming to Cabin John Middle School this July 2013. THE LOCATION OF ALL CABIN JOHN CLASSES WILL BE AT CABIN JOHN MIDDLE SCHOOL. Mark your calendar now so your child does not miss this wonderful opportunity for increased instructional time. All classes are taught by CJMS Teachers. Complete the registration form and return to Mr. O’Halloran at CJMS by Wednesday, June 12. Class times are 7:45 am to 11:30 am. Courses are as follows: July 1-26 for Reading 7/8; July 8-26 for Focus on Algebra; and July 8-26 for Focus on IM.
Focus on IM is a three-week class is for students who, with additional mathematics instruction during the summer, will be able to maximize their potential to be successful in an above-level mathematics class in the fall of 2013, although participation in this class does not guarantee that a child will be placed in an above-level mathematics class in fall 2013. Decisions about school year course placement will be made on an individual basis. Focus on IM is open only to students entering Grade 6 or Grade 7 who are enrolled or being considered for enrollment in IM for fall 2013. Students will study numbers and numerals (understand number systems) and special reasoning. This course has been designed to align with the actual IM curriculum which the students will experience in the next school year. For more information visit the CJMS website at http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/cabinjohnms/news/news.aspx?id=299978
- We wish all of our families a very happy and fun summer. Practice the math facts and READ, READ, READ! August will be here before you know it!
Thank you for being partners in your child’s education.