Bushy Park Elementary School 14601 Carrs Mill Road | Glenwood, MD 21738 | phone - 410.313.5500 |fax - 410.313.5505 | http://bpes.hcpss.org Mr. Edward Cosentino, Principal May 8, 2015 Dr. Teresa Via, Assistant Principal Upcoming Dates to Remember 5/9 – Bushy Blooms Pick-Up! 9AM – 12 PM 5/11 – Spring Individual & Class Pictures 5/12 – PTA Meeting 7 PM 5/22 – Field Day (rain date 5/29) 5/25 – Schools & Offices Closed/Memorial Day 5/27 – Chorus Concert 7 PM Date Change: Enrichment Fair from May 21 to June 11 from 7 - 8PM A MESSAGE FROM MR. COSENTINO AND DR. VIA Consideration Form for the 2015-16 School Year We are already preparing for your student's transition to his/her next grade level and want to give you the opportunity to share some information that you would like for us to consider as we make placements for next year. This Consideration Form is for you, as parents, to relate specific student information about your child that you feel would be beneficial as our teachers meet to determine next year’s placements. For example: “My child seems to work much better in an area that is more self-contained with a teacher who has an extremely structured routine.” “My child is shy and often knows the answer, but is afraid to raise his/her hand and would work best with a teacher who gently encourages participation.” There are certain concerns that we cannot consider as part of this Consideration Form: therefore, we ask that you NOT use the form to propose the following: - Specific teacher requests - Grouping based on siblings’ experiences - Grouping with friends - Grouping based on hearsay Your response is optional. All consideration forms are due by June 6, 2015. Thank you for your continued support. Click the link here to access the form. Green Notes and Early Dismissals The Front Office is getting multiple phone calls daily from parents requesting green notes be written for their child/children. These calls are causing many disruptions to the secretarial staff, the teachers, and the student instruction time. These notes are the responsibility of the parent/guardian and should be sent in with children in the mornings. As stated in the student agenda books, phone calls to change a child's dismissal procedure should only occur if there is an emergency. In addition, parent/guardians are also calling ahead from home/cars to request their child/children be called down to the office to be waiting for them when they arrive for an early dismissal. This causes students to miss important instruction time. Secretaries will only call students for an early dismissal once the parent/guardian has arrived and signed the student/s out. Many Congratulations from Our Music Department CONGRATULATIONS to PRIYA DATTA for performing in the Peabody Children's Chorus this year. On April 25 and 26 the Chorus gave a concert at the Jim Rouse Theatre in Columbia. The children's angelic voices sang in melodious harmonies as they performed so beautifully for their receptive audiences. OUTSTANDING CONCERT PRIYA! CONGRATULATIONS to MELISSA AMOSS, ALEXA HANISH, SAM PIPPENGER, and MADISON REPOLE for participating and performing in the Howard County Festival Chorus concert. This energetic Chorus of 5th graders from all the elementary schools in Howard County learned their music on their own, practiced together all day on Friday, May 1 and performed a concert that same evening at Atholton High School. A very appreciative audience of family and friends enjoyed this joyous, happy concert! CONGRATULATIONS to AUDREY BOWER, SARAH CHERRY, XAVIER COOK, PEYTON KERN, ALBERT YIN, and SYDNEY YOON for participating and performing in the Howard County Children's Chorus. This AMAZING group of singers auditioned to be in this elite group of singers and performed songs from all over the world for their Spring Concert. The songs had many flavors of genres, languages, and movements that blended together for a BRILLANT recipe of WONDERFUL songs from all over the world! All who attended enjoyed the concert! On behalf of the Vocal Music Department, we would like to THANK these hard working, AMAZING young music students for participating in these musical choral groups and also their parents for supporting them in these musical experiences. WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!! Rube Goldberg Challenge Join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of 71 teams of fourth and fifth grade students who participated in the HCLS Rube Goldberg Challenge. Since last fall, these students from 22 schools have been working to incorporate STEM principles into the design and construction of an elaborate machine to Crush and Recycle a Soda Can in a complex way. Beginning at 6:15 PM, students will be available to discuss their contraptions in a science fair format. At 7:00 PM, we will recognize teams for the Most Scientific Invention, Most Humorous Invention, Most Complex Invention, Most Green Invention, Most Complicated System, and Community Favorite Invention. Community Favorite Award Vote for your favorite video. It’s simple: 1. Go to http://hclibrary.org/rubegoldbergvideo/2015_index.php to see the videos. 2. From May 5 at 9 AM through May 11 at 12 PM, watch the videos, and vote for your favorite. In order to place your vote, click on the word "VOTE" under the image of the team you want. Deadline to cast your vote is Monday, May 11 at 12 PM. The team with the most votes wins the Community Favorite Award and will be recognized at the Celebration. Date: Tuesday, May 12 Time: Fair at 6:15 PM - Awards Ceremony at 7:00 PM Location: River Hill High School, 12101 Clarksville Pike (Route 108), Clarksville, MD 21029 RSVP: [email protected] 410.313.7750 Sponsored by: Friends of Howard County Library System The Last Day of School The Maryland State Board of Education has approved the HCPSS 2014–2015 Calendar Waiver request to waive one instructional day that was lost due to inclement weather. The last student day will now be on Friday, June 19, 2015. All schools will be open for a full day on Wednesday, June 17. All schools will close two hours early for students on Thursday, June 18, and will close three hours early for students on Friday, June 19. Field Day Lunch The field day lunch will either be a hot dog or chicken sandwich. It will be served with a package of apple slices and carrots. Students will be able to come in and grab their own milk if they choose. COMMUNITY NEWS These events are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Howard County Public School System. 2015-16 Folly Quarter PTA Executive Board nominations are being accepted for the following positions: Secretary, Treasurer and PTAC Delegate. Please contact Lori Jaap [email protected], Chris Geibel at [email protected], or Marissa Knisley [email protected] to let us know what position you would like to be added to the nomination ballot for the Executive Board. There are also several Committees that need a Chairperson. If you would like more information on any of the Committees please contact anyone listed above. Volunteering for the PTSA is a great way to be involved in your child’s school and education. The FQMS PTA typically meets the first Thursday of the month at 7:00pm in the Media Center. All members are welcome to attend. If you would like to attend one of our meetings to see what we are all about, please stop by! Feel free to contact our current PTA president, Mrs. Cindy Coburn at [email protected]. Please visit our webpage at www.FollyQuarterPTA.org for more PTA news and information. Mind, Body, Coding Summer Camp 2015 HowGirlsCode, Inc. is proud to partner with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) to offer: Mind, Body, & Coding. Girls (entering grades 3-6) will exercise their minds learning computer coding and hands-on robotics. They will continue to develop their minds through meditation and self-empowerment discussions. Girls will also have daily yoga sessions, hear from guest speakers, and tour the UMBC campus. July 6-10, 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost $190, needs-based scholarships available. Register: http://www.howgirlscode.com/registration-umbc Host Families Sought for AFS Exchange Students Next school year, some twenty AFS exchange students from around the world will come to Howard County for a life-changing year of cross-cultural sharing. Exchange students live in a family such as yours and attend the locally district HS from your address. Host families volunteer to provide room and board for a student and get to know a great kid and learn more about a different part of the world. Exchange students learn about our American culture from the inside and share about theirs. Students are available from countries over 90 countries, including Germany, Italy, Sweden, Japan, and Thailand. Students have interests including dance, soccer, track, choir, and scouting. Howard County Public School's placement deadline for next year is coming up very soon. If you would like to hear more about the process of becoming a host family or any other aspect of our program, please contact Christina McGarvey at (410) 997-7087 or [email protected]. More information is also available at http://www.afsusa.org/host-family. Prekindergarten Program The Dayton Oaks Regional Early Childhood Center (RECC) toddler and preschool programs are reopening the application process for classes for the 2015-2016 school year. These classes include children with and without disabilities. The program’s focus is helping all children develop communication, literacy, math, problem solving, motor, and social skills. Parents of children who will be 3 and 4 years of age for the 2015-2016 school year may see Patti Waldman in the school office for an application package beginning May 11, 2015. All applications must be returned by June 5, 2015. We are looking for up to 15 additional children for preschool/prekindergarten classrooms. Children are selected based upon screening information given on the application form and the “Ages and Stages Questionnaire,” as well as observations of the child’s participation in a playgroup. If necessary, a lottery process is conducted. If you have any questions, please contact Megan Battle at (410) 313-1581. Slayton House Sign up now for these spring workshops in the Performing Arts Razz-A Ma Tap-Shuffle off to Buffalo and learn techniques of Tap dance for fun, Exercise or that next audition. Classes begin May 12 on Tues., for grades 3-10. For more information call 410-730-2380. Robinson Nature Center Native Plant Palooza, Sun., May 12- 4:30 p.m./ FREE Come shop Robinson Nature Center’s native plant sale and learn how best to care for native plants that can attract wildlife while reducing the need for pesticides and fertilizers in your lawn and garden. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of all plants benefits educational programs at the Nature Center. See www.howardcountymd.gov/RNCplantnative.htm Columbia Association Free Mosaic Mural, join celebrated artist Susan Stockman and your fellow community create a collaborative mosaic. Dates & Locations, Tues., May 12, at Columbia Art Center, 4-8 p.m., Sat., June 13, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., call 410-313-2787. Slayton House Sign up now for these spring workshops in the Performing Arts Razz-A Ma Tap-Shuffle off to Buffalo and learn techniques of Tap dance for fun, Exercise or that next audition. Classes begin May 12 on Tues., for grades 3-10. For more information call 410-730-2380. Columbia Association FREE Family Art Frenzy, Sun., May 17, 1-3 p.m., all ages can enjoy a free creative event. May project is an up-cycled rocket bird feeder.