See below for text of Mrs. O’s Spotlight for the week of October 22. Click here for a printable PDF.
This Week:
Mon., Oct. 22 Food Drive continues through November 1
Lacrosse, 3:30-4:30
Language Stars, 3:30-4:30, rm. 121
Art, 3:30-4:30, rm. 163
Hoop Stars, 3:30-4:30, gym
MSI Girls Soccer, 3:30-5:00 pm
Tues., Oct. 23 Picture Day (individual portraits will be taken)
Big Learning Anatomy, 3:30-4:30 pm, rm. 150
Rock Guitar, 3:30-4:30, rm. 125
Voice class, 3:30-4:30, rm. 163
Drama, 3:30-4:30 pm, rm. 219
Basketball, 3:30-4:30 pm, gym
Wed., Oct. 24 5th Grade Field Trip to Baltimore
Beginning French, 8:00-9:00 am, rm. 218
Intermediate Spanish, 8:00-9:00 am, rm. 209
Beginning Spanish, 3:30-4:30 pm, rm. 223
Power Hour, 3:30 – 4:30 pm, rm. 163
4th Grade Juniors, rm. 212
K-1 Principal’s Tea, 7:00-8:00 pm in APR
Thur., Oct. 25 Big Learning Engineering, 3:30-4:30, rm. 163
Kung Fu, 3:30-4:30, rm. 164
Hip Hop, 3:30-4:30, gym
Beginner Guitar, rm. 148
Soccer, 3:30-4:30 pm
Fri., Oct. 26 Odyssey of the Mind, 3:30 pm, rm. 163
Violin, 3:30-4:30 pm, rm. 120
Street Hockey, 3:30-4:30 pm
Sock Hop, 7:00-9:00 pm, APR (students must be accompanied by an adult)
Have a great weekend!
A Look Ahead:
Oct. 31 2:00 pm Halloween parade followed by class parties
Nov. 2 End of 1st marking period
Nov. 12 & 13 Early release days, 1:00 pm dismissal (Parent conferences, by appointment)
- Check backpacks for a letter explaining the FREE Flu Mist clinic that will be offered at Bells Mill on Thursday November 13, 1:00 – 2:30 pm. This is an early release day and students will be dismissed at 1:00 pm. You must make an appointment with the
health room (call 301-469-1248)) and present the permission form to the nurse at the time of your appointment. No child will be given the vaccine unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Questions, please call Mrs. Messina at 301-469-1248.
- Picture Day (individual portraits) is Tuesday, October 23, 2012. All students will be photographed. Order forms were sent home in backpacks. Students who prepay will receive the portrait package they ordered. Anyone who does not prepay will receive a small proof. Please send your order form and payment with your child on Picture Day. After Picture Day late orders must be placed online. Please do not send late orders to the school.
- Bell Mill Kids Helping Kids is a food drive to benefit Manna food bank. Now through November 1 collection boxes will be located in the main hall. Please send in nonperishable boxed or canned food items. Manna is especially in need of canned fruits and vegetables, nonfat dry milk, peanut butter, baby food and dry cereal. Thank you to Ms. Conran, Ms. Smith and the SGA for sponsoring this important community project.
- We will celebrate Halloween on Wednesday, October 31, beginning with our annual parade at 2:00 pm, followed by parties in classrooms. The parade will be held on the playground and fields. In the event of inclement weather the parade will be held indoors. Immediately following the parade, students will return to their rooms for class parties. When choosing your child’s parade costume please avoid scary or violent characters. No weapons or props please. Lunch periods will start 15 minutes earlier to allow students time to change into costumes. Parents are invited to dress up and join in the fun. Bring your cameras. Please park out on the street. We cannot block fire lanes for parking.
- Parent-Teacher Conferences are held on the two early release days, November 12 and 13, 2012. Please contact your child’s teacher and schedule a conference to discuss your child’s progress. Your involvement in education is critical to your child’s success. Dismissal is at 1:00 pm on both days.
- Parents, staff, students and community members are invited to participate in a Community Conversation with the Board of Education on Wednesday, November 14, at 7 p.m. in the Richard Montgomery HS cafeteria. Foreign language interpretation and child care will be available. For additional information and to register for the event, call 301-279-3617 or visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/.
- We are proud of 5th grader Nathaniel Drexler who will participate in “Kids Are Heroes Day”. Nathaniel will have a table at the event on Saturday, October 27, Francis Scott Key Mall, Frederick, 11am-3pm, highlighting his work to raise money for clean water wells in Africa. Check out his profile page at http://www.kidsareheroes.org/lily.php If you click “alternate photo,” you can see the article where he describes how Mrs. Wilkes, Bells Mill 2nd grade teacher, ignited his passion for this cause. Leave him a “Shout Out” (under his profile), donate to his campaign (by clicking “Website” under his profile), and/or stop by his table on October 27.
- Attention 5th grade parents, middle school magnet program applications and Middle School Magnet Consortium choice forms are due November 2, 2012. In August a mailing was sent to the homes of all MCPS Grade 5 students containing information about the magnet programs. There will be an information meeting for parents regarding the Humanities and Communication programs Tuesday, October 23, 7:00 pm, Eastern MS. Please visit the MCPS website for more information, www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms
- Attention 3rd grade parents, applications for the Elementary Centers for the Highly Gifted (HCG) are due November 2, 2012. Please follow the instructions for mailing the form to MCPS. Do not return the form to school, as this will only delay the process. Applications can also be found at: www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/admissions/applications.aspx . There will be a Parent Information Meeting on October 10, Quince Orchard HS, 7:00 pm in the auditorium. Interested parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to attend.
- Superintendent Joshua P. Starr will deliver his first State of the Schools address on Monday, November 12, 7:30-9:30 am, at the Strathmore Music Center, Bethesda. Join Dr. Starr as he shares his vision for MCPS’ future and highlights the successes of students and staff of MCPS. The free event will feature artwork and performances by MCPS students. Visit www.mcpsstateoftheschools.org to register before November 1.
Thank you for being partners in your child’s education.