Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Flushing Kangaroo Kids Visit BCS!



BCS had the opportunity today to watch the Kangaroo Kids from Elms Elementary in Flushing, MI. The "K" Kids travel the state and promote Jump Rope for Heart! Our 3-4 students raised $4500.00 dollars this year and this was a great way to celebrate!
The Elms students put on a great show! (see video)
BCS will invite the Kangaroo Kids back next year to perform in order to kick off our 2010-2011 Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser for the American Heart Association.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

WAG March 29-April 1

March 28, 2010

Dear BCS Families,

Spring is here and our school year will see its last quarter soon! Time flies when we are having fun! Fun can be described in many ways. Fun can be described as sitting and watching your college basketball bracket go sour because of all the upsets or fun can simply be a walk in the park with your family. There are many ways to have fun and many places to have fun in. The one place that I firmly believe that we must have fun is school. Some children simply love to learn and will have fun no matter what the subject is. Others, however, need to be encouraged to have fun. These students do not look at math or science as “fun” but rather something that they are made to do. It is for this reason that we must make learning fun for everyone.

Making learning fun takes a team effort between parents and teachers. It is this partnership that will form a child’s perception of what fun means when it comes to the school environment. This past week our teams here at BCS, along with the help from our parent community, proved that school can be fun! Our 3-4 team took a field trip to Henry Ford and were accompanied by parent volunteers. Our 3rd and 4th grade students learned about Michigan history and from what I hear, had a fun time learning! Our 5th and 6th grade team worked with the PTSA to bring Girls Empowered (for our female students) and Jim Basketball Jones (for our male students) to BCS to encourage our Boy/Girl Reading groups to be the very best they can be! Our 7-8 team had many engaging lessons this past week and continue to make our middle school environment positive and fun! Mr. Heard and I were able to see an example of the fun learning that takes place when we visited Mr. Prisciandaro’s Engineering Technology classroom where 8th grade students were discussing their wind turbine projects just inside from our new Windspire Turbine. These are just a few examples of how our students are having fun while learning with the help from our parent community.













As spring draws closer and the end of the year is near, let’s continue to work together for the benefit of the students and to allow them opportunities to have fun while learning! This can only happen if we ourselves are having fun. I have included a link to a short video that will hopefully inspire you to have fun and keep working as a team!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF4xHCgBaIQ&feature=related
Notice the quote that caught my attention in this video:
People rarely succeed unless they are having fun in what they are doing- Dale Carnegie

Have a great week!

Adam


WEEK AT A GLANCE – MARCH 29 – APRIL 2, 2010
(Disclaimer: Please check all your calendars and bcsonline.info in case we missed something)

PASSOVER: We will be observing a “no homework, no quiz or test” policy this upcoming week as many of our students will be absent on Tuesday to observe Passover. Specifically, the staff have been asked not to assign homework on Monday or Tuesday and not give quizzes or tests on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Monday, March 29
• 9:30-10:30 AM – School wide assembly in the gym-African Music and Dance
• 4:05-5:35PM – Optional pre-season girls soccer workout
• Passover begins at sundown

Tuesday, March 30 – PASSOVER
– if your child will be absent from school, please notify the BCS ATTENDANCE office (even if you have notified the teacher)
• 7-8AM – Proud Dads Volleyball for 6th Grade Girls
• 8-8:20AM – Bagel sale in front of the media center by the 8th grade celebration committee
• 3:15-4:00PM – School store is closed today for inventory
• 4:05-5:35PM – Optional pre-season girls soccer workout
• 4:10 – 5:15PM – Track Practice

Wednesday, March 31
• Popcorn Day – freshly popped popcorn is sold during choice hour for $1 in the main hallway.
• 3-4PM-Market Day pick-up in the entrance hall.
• 4:05-5:35PM – Girls soccer try-outs
• 4:10 – 5:15PM – Track Practice



Thursday, April 1
• 7-8AM – Proud Dads Volleyball for 6th Grade Girls
• BCS Media Center Amnesty Day –return all overdue media center books and materials fine free!
• 8:15 – 9:30AM – 8th Grade Farewell Celebration Planning Meeting-media center
• 4:05-5:35PM – Girls soccer try-outs

Friday, April 2
• No School – Spring Break begins.
Hot Entrée menu for the week: (subject to change, if necessary)
- Available everyday: Salad Bar, Hamburgers, Chicken Patties, Pizza & Cheese Breadsticks
Monday –Ham and Cheese Bagel Melt- Onion Rings, green beans
Tuesday –Baked Chicken Nuggets-Roasted potatoes, broccoli
Wednesday –Beef Enchiladas-Fried Rice
Thursday – Beef Hot Dog or Chili Dog-Tater Tots
Friday – No School

 To submit an item for next week’s “WAG”, email nb01bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us by FRIDAY 7AM

BCS Has been awarded…Michigan Green School – Evergreen Level.

Thank you to everyone that has worked hard this year to take BCS to the next level with our green initiatives! The dedication of BCS parent, Betsy Ewrin, and 5-6 Teacher, Pauline Roberts, along with the Green Committee at BCS, has made this award possible. Evergreen status is the highest status in the state!
We are making our carbon footprint smaller and educating our students at the same time!!

ATTENDANCE
We are asking for your assistance regarding absences and tardiness. Please email your child’s appointments and absences to bcsattendance@birmingham.k12.mi.us by 8:45 a.m. DAILY. This also applies if you have contacted your child’s teacher regarding the absence. It would be greatly appreciated if you used the email system, if at all possible. Phone messages are very time consuming and should be used as a last resort. Phone messages are also sometimes difficult to hear. Thanks so much for your cooperation.

BCS LIBRARY AMNESTY DAY - APRIL 1
On Thursday, April 1st, the last day before spring break, look through your lockers, bags, cubbies, classrooms, or anywhere else library books like to hide. Bring these items back to the media center for no-questions-asked, fine-free returns. The media center will be open at lunch and after school until 4:00pm for your book returning convenience. Any questions can be directed to Miss Samet, rs12bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us.

SPRING BOOK FAIR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!!
If you love books and have 2 hours to spare, please contact Shiva Motlagh (shivamotlagh@comcast.net) to volunteer for the upcoming Spring Book Fair! If you have an upper class high school student who needs community service hours, we would welcome their help too! Helping at the fair is lots of fun and 25% of the proceeds go directly to the Media Center to buy books, ipods, materials, and furnishings!!

2 hour shifts are available during the following times:
Monday, April 19th - book fair set up- 8:30 am to 2:00 pm
Tuesday, April 20th - student preview times - 8:30 am to 3:00 pm
Weds & Thurs April 21 & 22 - student preview/public sale - 8:30 am to 8:30 pm
Thursday April 22nd - book fair pack up - 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm


NEW FAMILY ICE CREAM SOCIAL
The BCS Community Connections Committee is looking for volunteers to help with the New Family Ice Cream Social taking place on Friday, April 16. We are looking for volunteers to greet and help scoop ice cream from 11 - 12:30. Please contact Becky Bachand at dbachand@comcast.net or 248.593.8234 if you can help. Thanks!

GROVES HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
All 8th grade girls interested in playing volleyball at Groves next year should attend the Parent/Player Meeting on Tuesday, March 30 from 6:00-7:30 PM at Groves High School in Room G-1. Coach Lau looks forward to seeing you!

BIRMINGHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION (BEF) GARAGE SALE
It’s time to do your SPRING cleaning and donate unwanted items to the Birmingham Education Foundation Garage Sale. Remember that the BEF supports education programs at all schools throughout the district. Donations appreciated: Clothing, furniture, toys, books, sports and exercise equipment, electronics, small appliances, pet, garden, and household items…

The garage sale is at @ Berkshire Middle School on Saturday, April 17, 9 am to 3 pm.
Early entry at 8 am for $1, Half price sale at noon, Bag Sale at 1:30.

Drop off you items on Thursday, April 15, 4 to 8 pm or Friday, April 16, 10 am to 7 pm, tax forms available.
Questions or to volunteer please contact Jane Polan, 248 626-2231, J5Polan@aol.com


STRIDES OF HOPE
BPS mom, Jan Wade, is organizing the Strides of Hope walk with her physician, Dr. Pamela Benitez, to take place at the Detroit Zoo on Saturday, April 17th. This event is sponsored by the Shades of Pink Foundation which provides temporary financial assistance to women who are experiencing financial distress as a result of breast cancer. Whether it is helping with a mortgage payment, the grocery bills, or an insurance premium, the Shades of Pink Foundation is committed to easing the financial burden of a breast cancer diagnosis.

Registration and Vendors open at 7:30am. The Opening Ceremony is at 8:30am and the 1 or 3 Mile Walk begins at 9:00am. Your registration includes the whole day at the zoo. Adults: $30 (or $50 with T-shirt), Children 12 and under: $7. Please visit http://www.shadesofpinkfoundation.org/a.html to register.

Elementary Science Olympiad

On Saturday, March 27th, thirty 4th and 5th grade students from BCS competed against eighteen teams at West Maple Elementary. The team worked hard and had a fantastic time. The following students brought home awards for their event.

2nd Place
Starry Starry Night – Zach Gusho & Don Rea

3rd Place
Jeopardy – Nathan Campbell, Tyler Erb, Ben Fisher & Philip Henricks
Water Rockets – Morgan Morrison, Leila Owens & Sierra Williams

4th Place
Jeopardy – Josh Chapnick, Kyle Chisholm, Nick Confer & Will Kingston

5th Place
Barge Building – Philip Henricks & Don Rea
Circuit Wizardry – Zach Gusho & Marshall Ross

6th Place
Circuit Wizardry – Matthew Wilkie & Alberto Whitmer
Crime Busters – Tess Helfrich & Larissa Michel

Overall, BCS Team 1 placed 4th in the Competition!!

Meet Author Kevin Kammeraad!

Date & Time: Thursday, April 15, 2010, at 7pm.
Location: Baldwin Public Library, 300 West Merrill Street, Birmingham, MI 48009
Books will be available for purchase. Contact the Baldwin Library (248-554-4670) for further information.

The Birmingham Education Foundation (www.supportbef.org) Author & Artist in Residency Program links children in the Birmingham Public Schools with a real author and/or artist. The BEF sponsors the author for a full day visit at each school site. Please note date changes for school visits at Pierce-New Date-April 13, 2010, Tuesday, Quarton-New Date-April 26, 2010, Monday, and BCS-New date-May 20, 2010 Thursday. This year the Author in Residence is Kevin Kammeraad. His interactive sessions at schools include performance, singing, spontaneous theatre, and writing. Students also have an opportunity to create a character from various scrap materials along with an original poem using Kammeraad’s The Tomato Collection as a mentor text. Prior to the visit of the guest author, students have read Kammeraad’s books and have been immersed in whole class and center activities.

Kevin Kammeraad, author of The Tomato Collection, has developed a growing collection of books, music, and educational activities. Kevin, a native of Grand Rapids, has a degree in film and video production. He writes, sings, draws and presents workshops at schools and other places. His only public appearance during his residency at the Birmingham Public Schools sponsored by the Birmingham Education Foundation will be at the Baldwin Public library. The April 15, 2010 public program is a family entertainment variety show. Don’t miss this great opportunity to hear and meet this popular author, illustrator and dynamic presenter.


See more pictures from Kevin’s school visits at the district media center web page http://bitgsquad.ning.com.

Please consider joining the new BPSWellness Google Group at www.groups.google.com/group/bpswellness.

The group was formed by the Birmingham Public Schools Wellness Committee. This committee has been responsible for helping to make the food our kids eat in school more healthy. Just recently, for example, the committee met with top managers of Prairie Farms Dairy to urge them to stop using high fructose corn syrup in flavored milks, and to reduce overall the amount of sweetener they are using in those milks. Prairie Farms were very receptive.

The Google Group is a great way to share information on health and wellness. The group is open to anyone, and all posts are public.

To start a new thread, simply send an email to bpswellness@googlegroups.com. To participate in the group through the group site, visit www.groups.google.com/group/bpswellness.

If you choose to join, you can set your subscription to send a copy of every message posted to the group as the messages are posted, or you can choose to receive just one email per day, or none at all.
Thank you to Clint Baller for this information.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

WAG March 22-26

March 21, 2010

Dear BCS Families,

The Blast has just wrapped up and I am still in awe of how many people were here supporting BCS! It was great to see many of you having fun with your family and friends! My family was very impressed with a fundraiser of this magnitude! They were appreciative of the friendly introductions and the kind BCS families that welcomed them!
The Blast was a success for many reasons. One main reason for such a great event is the group of people that have been working behind the scenes for months! Karen Best and Ken Gilbert have headed a team of dedicated people that worked extremely hard to make sure we had great fun and the PTSA made a great amount of money. They were not alone in their efforts as a number of parents, students, and companies gave money, time, and products to make this year’s Blast a success. Please take the time to thank this committee when you have a chance- we are truly grateful and fortunate for their dedication to BCS!
Blast to the Future was a fitting theme for this year. A great deal of time has been spent by the BCS staff to move forward into the future. It is imperative that we continue looking into the future as we plan curriculum, improve our delivery systems, and meet the needs of our students. BCS has historically been a step ahead in embracing the changes that the future brings in the world of education. We will continue to be the trailblazers that are confident knowing that with the support we saw today, there is nothing that can stand in our way!
Thank you for the turnout and please know that your time and dedication does not go unnoticed.

Have a great week!
Adam

WEEK AT A GLANCE – MARCH 22 – MARCH 26, 2010
(Disclaimer: Please check all your calendars and bcsonline.info in case we missed something)

Community Conversations on Budget – Part II
Be a part of these follow up sessions regarding the Budget Development Plan for the 2010-2011 school year. Attend to hear more about the recommendations made to the Board. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the fiscal challenges BPS faces and the strategies being proposed to address the $16 million dollar problem facing us over the next two years. There are two sessions available.
March 23 7pm Berkshire Middle School
March 25 7pm Derby Middle School

Monday, March 22
• 6:45-8:00AM –8th grade Girls Volleyball practice
• 7 – 8:00 AM–7th grade Girls Volleyball practice

Tuesday, March 23
• 7-8AM – Proud Dads Volleyball for 6th Grade Girls
• 8-8:20AM – Bagel sale in front of the media center by the 8th grade celebration committee
• 9:30 AM BBFA Meeting – “Empowering Kids” at the Gary M. Doyle Center
• 3:15-4:00PM – School store is open in the main hallway during choice hour
• 4:00PM –Girl’s Volleyball game @ Hazel Park Junior High School. 7th grade game begins at 4:00PM and 8th grade game immediately follows.
• 6:30-8:00PM – Proud Dad’s CO-ED Basketball – 3rd-6th grades
• 7 PM – BBFA Meeting – “Teen Dating & Dating Abuse” at the Gary M. Doyle Center
• Deadline: Articles for E-Bugle due today kyraeg@wowway.com

Wednesday, March 24
• Popcorn Day – freshly popped popcorn is sold during choice hour for $1 in the main hallway.

Thursday, March 25
• 7-8AM – Proud Dads Volleyball for 6th Grade Girls
• Market Day internet orders due by midnight. If you are unable to complete your order online, please contact Lori Croad at 248-348-4390.
• E-Bugle published today!
• 3:20-4:05PM ––Girls Volleyball end of the season party during choice hour.
• 6:30-8:00PM – Proud Dad’s CO-ED Basketball – 3rd-6th grades

Friday, March 26
• 6:30-8:30PM – Spring Fling Dance for 7th & 8th graders-BCS Cafeteria, $5 payable at the door

Saturday, March 27
• 8:00AM – 2:00PM - Elementary Science Olympiad Competition – West Maple Elementary School

Hot Entrée menu for the week: (subject to change, if necessary)
- Available everyday: Salad Bar, Hamburgers, Chicken Patties, Pizza & Cheese Breadsticks
Monday –Slider Day –Choice of Beef, Chicken or Mahi Mahi
Tuesday –Cream Chicken with Mixed Vegetables over Biscuit
Wednesday –Create your own Large Salad-choice of Popcorn Chicken or Julienne Turkey
Thursday – Cook Choice of entree
Friday –Create your own Stuffed Baked Potato with assorted veg. and cheese toppings

 To submit an item for next week’s “WAG”, email nb01bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us by FRIDAY 7AM

 To submit an item for next week’s “WAG”, email nb01bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us by FRIDAY 7AM

3rd and 4th GRADE PARENTS
Starting Monday, March 15 through Thursday, April 15: the following classrooms: Butzin, Harvath, Seley and Wallington, will be attending Swim as their PE. Please be sure to send in a swimsuit and towel with your child.

SPRING SPORTS – Track & Field
Track & Field practice will begin soon for 6th, 7th & 8th grades. Students who want to participate must have all athletic paperwork submitted before they can practice (this includes a physical, necessary forms and payment). If the student has already competed in interscholastic sports this school year, only the athletic form and fee payment are necessary. Please remember that athletic fees must be paid for each sport.

Athletic paperwork can be picked up in the front office or downloaded from www.bcsonline.info and can be turned in starting NOW. Once the paperwork is reviewed by a BCS staff member, the student will be issued a slip of eligibility (referred to as the “orange slip”). This eligibility slip must be presented to the coach at the first practice attended. Students may watch practices until the eligibility slip is presented to the coach. The office encourages paperwork to be submitted early so students are set to go when practice starts.


NEW FAMILY ICE CREAM SOCIAL
The BCS Community Connections Committee is looking for volunteers to help with the New Family Ice Cream Social taking place on Friday, April 16. We are looking for volunteers to greet and help scoop ice cream from 11 - 12:30. Please contact Becky Bachand at dbachand@comcast.net or 248.593.8234 if you can help. Thanks!



3rd & 4th GRADE-FRIDAY LUNCH
Data is showing that the 3-4 students are throwing away 3 times or more the trash than the other grade levels!

We are in need of a few parents in the cafeteria on Friday to observe and help the children decide what they should throw away.

If you are able to show up for 30 minutes this Friday (from 11:00 - 11:30) or a few Fridays in the next few weeks, please let contact Pauline Roberts at pr05bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us and let her know.

REDUCING TRASH AT BCS-TRASH FREE FRIDAYS
The Joseph/Roberts (“Joberts”) fifth graders are entering the Siemens We Can Change the World challenge this year. For their project, they are trying to reduce the amount of trash we generate at BCS, focusing particularly on the cafeteria. They would like to initiate “Trash Free Fridays” at BCS and they are asking for your help. Each Friday they will be collecting data after lunch about the amount of trash we generate in the cafeteria. They would like the students to think about packing a Trash free lunch and have put together the following tips:

• Use a lunch box or reusable sack.
• Pack a cloth napkin and reusable utensils.
• Put food in reusable food and drink containers.
• If you must use a disposable plastic bag, wash it out and keep reusing it.
• Purchase your snacks in bulk size and repack into individual reusable containers.
• Pack fresh fruit since it doesn't require any additional packaging.


BCS LIBRARY AMNESTY DAY - APRIL 1
Did you know that over 400 books are currently lost or overdue from the BCS Media Center? We’re willing to bet that many of them are in lockers, book bags, cubbies, and even on home bookshelves. To get them back onto our shelves and make them available for student use, we are happy to announce Library Amnesty Day! On Thursday, April 1st, the last day before spring break, look through your lockers, bags, cubbies, classrooms, or anywhere else library books like to hide. Bring them back to the media center for no-questions-asked, fine-free returns. That’s right! We’ll waive your fines. Plus, while you are in, you might want to check out some great reading material to keep you busy during the week of break. Not sure if you have any overdue books? Stop by the media center to check your account status, or watch your school email account for an overdue notice. The media center will be open at lunch and after school until 4:00pm for your book returning convenience. Any questions can be directed to Miss Samet, rs12bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us.



BIRMINGHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION (BEF) GARAGE SALE
It’s time to do your SPRING cleaning and donate unwanted items to the Birmingham Education Foundation Garage Sale. Remember that the BEF supports education programs at all schools throughout the district. Donations appreciated: Clothing, furniture, toys, books, sports and exercise equipment, electronics, small appliances, pet, garden, and household items…

The garage sale is at @ Berkshire Middle School on Saturday, April 17, 9 am to 3 pm.
Early entry at 8 am for $1, Half price sale at noon, Bag Sale at 1:30.

Drop off you items on Thursday, April 15, 4 to 8 pm or Friday, April 16, 10 am to 7 pm, tax forms available.
Questions or to volunteer please contact Jane Polan, 248 626-2231, J5Polan@aol.com




COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
The city of Birmingham is hosting a Passport Fair on Saturday, March 27, 2010 from 10:00 until 2:00 p.m. to provide passport information to U.S. citizens and to accept passport applications. Location is the city of Birmingham clerk’s office. Please use Pierce street entrance. For additional information, please contact the Birmingham clerk’s office at 248-530-1880 or log on to www.bhamgov.org/passports.


Football Opportunity at Seaholm
8th graders who are interested in playing football at Seaholm for the Fall 2010 season are invited to attend the Seaholm Football Kick Off Meeting on Sunday, March 28 at 1:00 pm in the Seaholm Cafeteria. For more information, send an email to seaholmFB2010@aol.com or call Booster President Craig Frye at 248.790.0049.

5th/6th Grade
Thursday, March 25th:
8:30-9:45- 5th grade girls
9:50-11:05 6th grade Girls

5/6th grade girls will attend a workshop to work on the following:

• How to deal with relational aggression, bullying, and mean-spirited behavior
• What it means to be an empowered girl
• What confidence and true self-esteem are & why you want them
• Tools and strategies to help kids deal with meanness & sticky situations
• Why ignoring someone when they are mean creates kids who are doormats
• Why people are bystanders
• How to stand up for one’s self and others
*the do's and don'ts of friendship and peer relationships

We welcome parents to come and hear the workshop. Girls’ Empowered will also be speaking two other times that week about the same topics. One is for the 23rd for BBFA and the other is in Novi. See www.girlsempowered.com for more information.
Please see the handout for more information.

Spring Book Fair Volunteers Needed!!

If you love books and have 2 hours to spare, please contact Shiva Motlagh (shivamotlagh@comcast.net) to volunteer for the upcoming Spring Book Fair!


If you have a upper class high school student who needs community service hours, we would welcome their help too!
2 hour shifts are available during the following times:
Monday, April 19th - book fair set up- 8:30 am to 2:00 pm
Tuesday, April 20th - student preview times - 8:30 am to 3:00 pm
Weds & Thurs April 21 & 22 - student preview/public sale - 8:30 am to 8:30 pm
Thursday April 22nd - book fair pack up - 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Helping at the Fair is lots of fun and 25% of the proceeds go directly to the Media Center to buy books, ipods, materials, and furnishings!!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Almost There!





The Windspire was erected today! Thanks to Mark Ceo and his crew we were able to erect the turbine without interrupting our drop off/pick up in the bus loop!
Thank you to John Carlos, seen in the picture in front of the turbine with Adam Hartley (Principal), John Prisciandaro (Eng. Tech Teacher)and Hal Heard (Asst. Principal)
The celebration will take place after spring break!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Mr. Mixon's Science Class- Real Life Problems- Real Life Solutions!



George Mixon's students started this investigation with an internet search about pH and what it means to have pH balanced hair. The class had a 15 minute discussion as students continued to search, decide, explore and choose reputable sites that may provide them with the information needed. Once their discussion and exploration concluded, students were introduced to the probes and began graphing the pH levels of various shampoos using the data studio software.

WAG March 15-19

March 14, 2010

Dear BCS Families,

Writing the WAG each week has made me think about a number of aspects regarding my position here and hopefully has contributed something to your experience at BCS. I have had many people comment on what is written each week with some agreeing on topics and some challenging what is written. Whether you agree or disagree, I hope we can all come to the conclusion that the WAG is a great way to start the week and be informed of the many exciting events taking place at BCS!
Reflecting on last week and the various meetings I have had with teachers, support staff, parents, and students, it became clear to me that there are many barriers in our lives. These barriers may be a family situation, a lost job, or the uncertainty of what is to come with our states economy. Barriers may also take the form of new challenges, not knowing a certain concept or skill, or simply not having the energy to complete everything we need to accomplish on a daily basis. One thing is certain, we all have barriers!
We all take on our barriers in different ways. Many times, our reactions to barriers will stem from how we were brought up and what guidance we had when we were younger, facing barriers for the first time. We all know people that will quit at the first sign of trouble, we also know people that will jump over any barrier that is placed in front of them. In today’s world, and certainly in the future, there is no question that our children will be faced with many barriers that could deter their growth in education and get in the way of their success. The question is will they quit or will they face the barriers head on? I believe as parents, and educators, we can help them with the skills it takes to jump over any barrier placed in front of them. This includes building in higher order problem solving, opportunities for collaboration, and challenged based learning in our classrooms. BCS will continue to stress these skills and model them throughout the day in order for each student to realize their full potential. Skill will not do it alone, however.
Success is the result of knowledge, skill, and a little luck! The main ingredient though may be old fashioned grit!

In the article (click below to read the full article) The Truth about Grit,
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/08/02/the_truth_about_grit/
scientist reveal that it is not just intelligence or skill that makes people highly successful, but rather it takes a level of grit to overcome challenges. The author uses Newton as an example. Many of us associate Newton with his discovery of gravity- the apple falling from the tree. What really happened was that Newton overcame many barriers and challenges by working hard and “breaking a sweat”- simply by having grit! Research continues on how might educators teach the skill of grit and what types of lessons we could incorporate ways for students to show grit. After all, “I’d bet that there isn’t a single highly successful person who hasn’t depended on grit,” says Angela Duckworth, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania who helped pioneer the study of grit. “Nobody is talented enough to not have to work hard, and that’s what grit allows you to do.”
We all want our kids to be successful and we should all work together to make sure that they have the knowledge, skills, and desire to be successful at whatever it is they want to do. Let’s not forget, however, that it may take old fashioned grit to make it happen. While researchers continue to find ways to teach grit in the classroom, I believe that the most effective way we can teach it to our students is by modeling our grit. The barriers we are faced with are not hidden from our children. They are well aware of the challenges we face and observe how we handle these challenges. It is imperative then that we have grit for our kids’ sake!

Have a great week and show some grit!!
Adam


2010 Oakland County
Science Olympiad Results

On Saturday, March 13th, our Middle School Science Olympiad Team competed against 25 schools from Oakland County. We placed 1st overall and earned an invitation to the State Competition at Michigan State University on May 1st.

A BIG Thank you to Tammy Brown and Chris Emmi...

The following students took home medals:

1st Place
• Bio – Process Lab – Natalie Kozak & Lillian Lu
• Dynamic Planet – Hannah Diehl & Will Trask
• Elevated Bridge – Maria Roma & Aaron Levett
• Experimental Design – Natalie Kozak, Maria Roma & Bassel Salka
• Pentathlon – Bryce Owens, Noah Smith, Graham Ross & Aaron Levett
• Solar System – Hannah Diehl & Aaron Levett
• Trajectory – Bogdan Manga & Bryce Owens
• Write-It Do-It – Hannah Diehl & Lillian Lu

2nd Place
• Disease Detective – Natalie Kozak & Maria Roma
• Ecology – Aaron Levett & Lillian Lu
• Wright Stuff – Hannah Diehl & Lillian Lu

3rd Place
• Anatomy – Noah Smith & Bassel Salka
• Can’t Judge a Powder – Hannah Diehl & Will Trask
• Ornithology – Nitin Kumar & Bogdan Manga
• Physical Science Lab – Maria Roma & Bassel Salka
• Road Scholar – Bogdan Manga & Adam Smith

4th Place
• Compute This – Aaron Levett & Lillian Lu
• Junkyard Challenge – Noah Smith & Will Trask

5th Place
• Battery Buggy – Adam Smith & Graham Ross

6th Place
• Science Crime Busters – Nitin Kumar & Shounak Vale
• Shock Value – Nitin Kumar & Shounak Vale

The following students from the Alternate Team took home ribbons:

1st Place
• Battery Buggy – Trevor McMahon & Chandler Roberts
• Physical Science Lab – Maximilian Campbell & Jack Felch
• Trajectory – Jacob Anderson & Michael Kmiec

2nd Place
• Compute This – Michael Kmiec & Chandler Roberts
• Disease Detectives – Michael Kmiec & Chandler Roberts
• Ornithology – Nicole Floyd-Stancil & Alison John
• Shock Value – Chris Kompus & Rohon Roychoudhury
• Wright Stuff – Nicole Floyd-Stancil & Nadia Hakim

3rd Place
• Bio-Process Lab – Maximilian Campbell & Jack Felch
• Dynamic Planet – Nicole Floyd-Stancil & Brianna Williams
• Ecology – Maximilian Campbell & Jack Felch
• Junkyard Challenge – Clark Kingston & Chris Kompus
WEEK AT A GLANCE – MARCH 15 – MARCH 19, 2010
(Disclaimer: Please check all your calendars and bcsonline.info in case we missed something)

Monday, March 15
• BLAST School Spirit – Pajama Day
• 6:45-8:00AM –8th grade Girls Volleyball practice
• 8:30AM-3PM – Joseph & Roberts homerooms- field trip to Upland Hills Ecological Center in Oxford. Lunch is included.
• 3:15 PM Conference sign-up sheets posted outside classrooms for 3rd & 4th grade students
• 4:15 – 5:30 PM – 7th grade Girls Volleyball practice
• 6:30PM–Boys swim team LEAGUE MEET for 7th & 8th graders @ Cranbrook

Tuesday, March 16
• BLAST School Spirit – Hat Day
• 7-8AM – Proud Dads Volleyball for 6th Grade Girls
• 8-8:20AM – Bagel sale in front of the media center by the 8th grade celebration committee
• 3:15-4:00PM – School store is open in the main hallway during choice hour
• 4:00PM –Girl’s Volleyball game @ Anderson Middle School (Royal Oak school district). 7th grade game begins at 4:00PM and 8th grade game immediately follows.
• 6:30-8:00PM – Proud Dad’s CO-ED Basketball – 3rd-6th grades
• 7 -8:30PM BCS Tech Café in the Media Center
• 7:00PM - BPS Board of Education meeting at the BPS Administration building, 550 West Merrill Street, Birmingham. Watch it live on Comcast channel 17.
• 7:00PM – Seaholm Parent Orientation Night in Seaholm’s Little Theatre - for parents of 8th graders attending Seaholm next year

Wednesday, March 17
• BLAST School Spirit – “Green” or Sports Team Day
• DEADLINE: BLAST order forms and payment are due for all BLAST presale items
• 6:45-8:00AM –8th grade Girls Volleyball practice
• 7 – 8:00 AM–7th grade Girls Volleyball practice
• Popcorn Day – freshly popped popcorn is sold during choice hour for $1 in the main hallway.
• E-Bugle published today!
• 3:15-5:15PM – Boys Swim Team party in the pool & cafeteria

Thursday, March 18
• BLAST School Spirit – Crazy Hair or Toga Day
• 7-8AM – Proud Dads Volleyball for 6th Grade Girls
• 4:00PM –Girl’s Volleyball game vs. Derby @ home. 7th grade game begins at 4:00PM and 8th grade game immediately follows.

Friday, March 19
• BLAST School Spirit – BLAST from the PAST Day- clothes from any past decade
• 2:40PM – 8th grade panoramic photograph – students were given order forms today to take home
• 3:30-5:00PM – BLAST AUCTION Preview in the Media Center-view the Silent Auction items and snatch one of the prized donations early!!
• 4:15 -5:30PM –7th grade Girls Volleyball end of season party and game -player vs. parents

Sunday, March 21
• 3:30-7:30PM – BLAST into the Future! – attend the BCS BLAST Silent Auction and Carnival throughout the entire school. Come prepared to have a real BLAST !!!!!!!
Hot Entrée menu for the week: (subject to change, if necessary)
- Available everyday: Salad Bar, Hamburgers, Chicken Patties, Pizza & Cheese Breadsticks
Monday –Steak and Cheese Subs-Diced Potatoes, broccoli
Tuesday –Soft Taco or Beef and Cheese Nacho- Corn
Wednesday –Chicken Fajitas- California blend
Thursday – Baked Chicken Rings- Cheesy potatoes, green beans
Friday –Grilled Cheese- Tomato soup

 To submit an item for next week’s “WAG”, email nb01bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us by FRIDAY 7AM

Mornings at BCS
BCS will have supervision in the cafeteria beginning at 7:40 a.m. every morning. Please do not drop students off before 7:40 a.m. unless they are participating in activities that are supervised (i.e. sports, teacher tutoring, or non athletic clubs) BCS is committed to providing an opportunity for our students to arrive early but we are also committed to making sure that each student is safe and accounted for. Beginning at 7:40 a.m. students may eat breakfast, work on homework, or chat with friends in the cafeteria. Thank you for your continued support.

Wind Turbine
Tomorrow morning starting at 6:00 a.m. our Windspire will be erected. It will not be functioning by tomorrow, but will be finally up for us to see! If your child rides the bus please prepare them for tomorrow morning just in case we have to deviate from our normal drop off procedures. Depending on the time it takes and the equipment present, we may have the busses drop off at the front of the west parking lot rather than drive around the loop.

Parking Lot
We are making improvements one step at a time…one major area that we need to focus on is dropping off or picking up in the middle lanes. There have been many cases where parents will drive up and have their children run across the first lane in front of cars. I know schedules are busy and the parking lot can be frustrating, but keeping our kids safe should be the number one priority!! Thank you for working together in order to keep our students safe!

3rd and 4th GRADE PARENTS
Starting Monday, March 15 through Thursday, April 15: the following classrooms: Butzin, Harvath, Seley and Wallington, will be attending Swim as their PE. Please be sure to send in a swimsuit and towel with your child.

SPRING SPORTS – Track & Field
Track & Field practice will begin soon for 6th, 7th & 8th grades. Students who want to participate must have all athletic paperwork submitted before they can practice (this includes a physical, necessary forms and payment). If the student has already competed in interscholastic sports this school year, only the athletic form and fee payment are necessary. Please remember that athletic fees must be paid for each sport.

Athletic paperwork can be picked up in the front office or downloaded from www.bcsonline.info and can be turned in starting NOW. Once the paperwork is reviewed by a BCS staff member, the student will be issued a slip of eligibility (referred to as the “orange slip”). This eligibility slip must be presented to the coach at the first practice attended. Students may watch practices until the eligibility slip is presented to the coach. The office encourages paperwork to be submitted early so students are set to go when practice starts.


THE BCS BLAST
Attention BCS Families - the BLAST is just one week away! Get ready for great food and great times. We are excited to still offer these wonderful opportunities to our community:
• Corporate Sponsors - donations with a value of $250 - $499 will receive advertisement on the Corporate Sponsor banner to be displayed in the cafeteria during the Blast. Corporate sponsors will be mentioned on the www.bcsonline.info website and is listed in the 2010 auction booklet and on the Blast T-shirt.
*Donations with a value of $500 or more will receive advertisement on the Platinum Corporate Sponsor banner to be prominently displayed in the cafeteria during the Blast and in the school for the remainder of the school year. Platinum Corporate Sponsor receives a one year advertisement on the www.bcsonline.info home page and is listed in the 2010 auction booklet and on the Blast T-shirt.
• Family Patron - $100 gets you valet parking, priority auction checkout, and a t-shirt.
Thank you all for your continued support to BCS and your children! You are awesome!
Your Blast co-chairs, Karen Best & Ken Gilbert.


NEW FAMILY ICE CREAM SOCIAL
The BCS Community Connections Committee is looking for volunteers to help with the New Family Ice Cream Social taking place on Friday, April 16. We are looking for volunteers to greet and help scoop ice cream from 11 - 12:30. Please contact Becky Bachand at dbachand@comcast.net or 248.593.8234 if you can help. Thanks!



3rd & 4th GRADE-FRIDAY LUNCH
Data is showing that the 3-4 students are throwing away 3 times or more the trash than the other grade levels!

We are in need of a few parents in the cafeteria on Friday to observe and help the children decide what they should throw away.

If you are able to show up for 30 minutes this Friday (from 11:00 - 11:30) or a few Fridays in the next few weeks, please let contact Pauline Roberts at pr05bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us and let her know.

REDUCING TRASH AT BCS-TRASH FREE FRIDAYS
The Joseph/Roberts (“Joberts”) fifth graders are entering the Siemens We Can Change the World challenge this year. For their project, they are trying to reduce the amount of trash we generate at BCS, focusing particularly on the cafeteria. They would like to initiate “Trash Free Fridays” at BCS and they are asking for your help. Each Friday they will be collecting data after lunch about the amount of trash we generate in the cafeteria. They would like the students to think about packing a Trash free lunch and have put together the following tips:

• Use a lunch box or reusable sack.
• Pack a cloth napkin and reusable utensils.
• Put food in reusable food and drink containers.
• If you must use a disposable plastic bag, wash it out and keep reusing it.
• Purchase your snacks in bulk size and repack into individual reusable containers.
• Pack fresh fruit since it doesn't require any additional packaging.


BCS LIBRARY AMNESTY DAY - APRIL 1
Did you know that over 400 books are currently lost or overdue from the BCS Media Center? We’re willing to bet that many of them are in lockers, book bags, cubbies, and even on home bookshelves. To get them back onto our shelves and make them available for student use, we are happy to announce Library Amnesty Day! On Thursday, April 1st, the last day before spring break, look through your lockers, bags, cubbies, classrooms, or anywhere else library books like to hide. Bring them back to the media center for no-questions-asked, fine-free returns. That’s right! We’ll waive your fines. Plus, while you are in, you might want to check out some great reading material to keep you busy during the week of break. Not sure if you have any overdue books? Stop by the media center to check your account status, or watch your school email account for an overdue notice. The media center will be open at lunch and after school until 4:00pm for your book returning convenience. Any questions can be directed to Miss Samet, rs12bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us.



BIRMINGHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION (BEF) GARAGE SALE
It’s time to do your SPRING cleaning and donate unwanted items to the Birmingham Education Foundation Garage Sale. Remember that the BEF supports education programs at all schools throughout the district. Donations appreciated: Clothing, furniture, toys, books, sports and exercise equipment, electronics, small appliances, pet, garden, and household items…

The garage sale is at @ Berkshire Middle School on Saturday, April 17, 9 am to 3 pm.
Early entry at 8 am for $1, Half price sale at noon, Bag Sale at 1:30.

Drop off you items on Thursday, April 15, 4 to 8 pm or Friday, April 16, 10 am to 7 pm, tax forms available.
Questions or to volunteer please contact Jane Polan, 248 626-2231, J5Polan@aol.com


COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
The city of Birmingham is hosting a Passport Fair on Saturday, March 27, 2010 from 10:00 until 2:00 p.m. to provide passport information to U.S. citizens and to accept passport applications. Location is the city of Birmingham clerk’s office. Please use Pierce street entrance. For additional information, please contact the Birmingham clerk’s office at 248-530-1880 or log on to www.bhamgov.org/passports.

Football Opportunity at Seaholm
8th graders who are interested in playing football at Seaholm for the Fall 2010 season are invited to attend the Seaholm Football Kick Off Meeting on Sunday, March 28 at 1:00 pm in the Seaholm Cafeteria. For more information, send an email to seaholmFB2010@aol.com or call Booster President Craig Frye at 248.790.0049

Visit Principal Adam Hartley’s blog and keep up on what’s happening at BCS!
http://adamhartleybcs.blogspot.com/

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Jump Rope for Heart!


Mr. Johansson and Mrs. Kelmigian held their annual Jump Rope for Heart program during their P.E. classes to raise money for the American Heart Association. BCS raises $5000.00-$10,000.00 per year!
Thank you to all of our parents that came to help and support our Jump Rope for Heart this year!!
Picture: Mr. Johannson cheering on his students!

Bird Houses at The BLAST!


Mrs. Robert's students painted bird houses today to be auctioned off at the Blast. Hope to see all of you there!
Blast to the Future- Sunday, March 21st

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Windspire @ BCS


On Monday, March 15th our Windspire turbine is set to be erected. The fence (shown here) is completed and the electrical wiring is installed in our engineering technology lab. More information will be sent out as the completion date draws near!

Engineering Technology- The BCS way!

BCS students working together to connect the wheels and axles!








I had the privilege of joining the 3rd and 4th grade students today and helping with the assembly line in our Eng. Tech class!

Mr. P had everyone working hard and working together!
Look for the finished product soon!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

March is Reading Month!

WAG March 8-12

From Hal...


March 7, 2010

Dear Parents,

Things at BCS are in the midst of the March cycle, which means the event that signifies that Spring is near...drum roll .....The BLAST! That is right this yearly event is just a few short weeks away. As you know, The Blast is our biggest fundraiser of the year, which helps to support and supplement many of the things we do for the students at BCS.

Many of the things that we do curriculum-wise at BCS center upon building the “21st Century Skills”. There is constant mention of these skills in the world of education, but often there isn’t an clear explanation of what makes up the 21st Century Skills. I will provide the 21st Century Skills along with a brief explanation along with a link that has a more in-depth explanation of them in this week’s WAG!


1. Digital Age Literacy—Today’s Basics
• Basic, Scientific, and Technological Literacies
• Visual and Information Literacy
• Cultural Literacy and Global Awareness

2. Inventive Thinking—Intellectual Capital
• Adaptability/Managing Complexity and Self-Direction
• Curiosity, Creativity and Risk-taking
• Higher Order Thinking and Sound Reasoning

3. Interactive Communication—Social and Personal Skills
• Teaming and Collaboration
• Personal and Social Responsibility
• Interactive Communication

4. Quality, State-of-the-Art Results
• Prioritizing, Planning, and Managing for Results
• Effective Use of Real-World Tools
• High Quality Results with Real-World Application

The following links is for a more detailed explanation of 21st Century Skills:

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/

www.metiri.com/21st%20Century%20Skills/PDFtwentyfirst%20century%20skills.pdf

Have a GREAT WEEK!

Hal










WEEK AT A GLANCE – MARCH 8 – MARCH 12, 2010
(Disclaimer: Please check all your calendars and bcsonline.info in case we missed something)

 To submit an item for next week’s “WAG”, email nb01bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us by FRIDAY 7AM

Monday, March 8
• Choice Hour Selection Sheets for 4th quarter to students today and are due on Friday. You can view the class descriptions on the web – see comment below.
• 6:45-8:00AM –8th grade Girls Volleyball practice
• 9:15AM – 3/4 Room Parents Meeting
• 3:15-5:00PM - Boys swim team practice
• 4:00PM DEADLINE – Instrument selection sheets due for 4th grade students who want to take band or orchestra in 5th grade
• 4:15-5:30PM–7th grade Girls Volleyball practice

Tuesday, March 9
• 6:35 – 8:00AM –Boys swim team practice
• 7-8AM – Proud Dads Volleyball for 6th Grade Girls
• 8-8:20AM – Bagel sale in front of the media center by the 8th grade celebration committee
• 3:15-4:00PM – School store is open in the main hallway during choice hour
• 4:00PM –Girl’s Volleyball game @ Berkshire Middle School. 7th grade game begins at 4:00PM and 8th grade game immediately follows.
• 6:30-8:00PM – Proud Dad’s CO-ED Basketball – 3rd-6th grades
• 7:00PM- BLAST committee meeting in the media center

Wednesday, March 10
• 6:45-8:00AM –8th grade Girls Volleyball practice
• Popcorn Day – freshly popped popcorn is sold during choice hour for $1 in the main hallway
• 2:25-3:10PM – Parkin & Wallington classes in Jump Rope For Heart
• 4:15 – 5:30 PM – 7th grade Girls Volleyball practice
• 4:15 PM–Boys swim team meet @ home vs East Hills Middle School
• 7:00PM – 7/8 Winter Band Concert in the Cafeteria

Thursday, March 11
• 6:35 – 8:00AM –Boys swim team practice-7/8 grades only
• 7-8AM – Proud Dads Volleyball for 6th Grade Girls
• 8AM-2PM – Religious Diversity Journey to St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church for 8 students in 7/8 grade level
• 12:30PM - Lunch with the Principal in Staff Development I (located down 600 Hall). Bring your lunch for this informal time with the principal to ask questions and learn his perspectives.
• 1:35 – 2:20pm – Frishman & Butzin classes in Jump Rope For Heart
• 2:25-3:10PM – Burns & Harvath classes in Jump Rope For Heart
• 3:20-4:05PM ––7th & 8th grade Girls Volleyball practice during choice hour.
• 6:30-8:00PM – Proud Dad’s CO-ED Basketball – 3rd-6th grades
• 7:00 PM – PTSA Clearinghouse Meeting in the Media Center-All are invited to learn about the operations of the PTSA at BCS.

Friday, March 12
• Deadline: Choice Hour Selection sheets for 4th quarter due by 4:00PM today.
• Deadline: Current Instrumental Students - Acknowledgment form is due for next year’s continuation in band or orchestra.
• Deadline: Articles for E-Bugle due today kyraeg@wowway.com
• 6:35 – 8:00AM –Boys swim team practice-7/8 grades only
• 6:45-8:00AM –8th grade Girls Volleyball practice
• 7 – 8:00 AM–7th grade Girls Volleyball practice
• 1:35 – 2:20pm – Davis & Seley classes in Jump Rope For Heart
• 6:30 – 8:00PM – Most Valuable Male Night – cafeteria & gym. Enjoy movies, pizza, salad, wings and lots more. Cost is $5.50 per person. Email your RSVP to dawnanderic@sbcglobal.net now and pay at the door.

Saturday, March 13
• 8:00AM – 6:00PM – Middle School Regional Science Olympiad Competition – Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, MI

Hot Entrée menu for the week: (subject to change, if necessary)
- Available everyday: Salad Bar, Hamburgers, Chicken Patties, Pizza & Cheese Breadsticks
Monday –Chicken or Cheese Quesadillas-Brown rice or green beans
Tuesday –Baked Fish Sticks-Potato wedges, vegetables
Wednesday –Soup and Salad Bar with Cheese Breadstick
Thursday – Roasted Turkey and gravy-Mashed potatoes, corn
Friday –Cheese Lasagna- Breadsticks or green beans


3rd and 4th GRADE PARENTS
There is no swimming this week. All 3/4 students will be in gym class during their physical education time due to the Jump Rope For Heart .


POWERSCHOOL – STUDENT IDs and PASSWORDS CHANGES for grades 5-8
A system error has caused all student PowerSchool passwords and IDs to change. Parent/Guardian IDs and passwords remain unchanged. The District Technology Services office regrets this error. Your student was issued a new PowerSchool ID and password the last week in February.


STUDENTS ASKING FOR PARENT FEEDBACK - Thank you for your participation!!
A few students in Mrs.Roberts class need your help! They have entered an environmental contest called the Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge. The team includes Hannah Balicki, Julia Kiehle, and Dylan Walton. Their topic is about people needlessly cutting down trees. The students feel it may be a problem in our community. To complete the contest they need your help getting data.

If you could take some time to answer the question below, it would be great and help these students out a lot.
Question: "Do you know any homeowner or business that has cut down trees for the benefit of better looking landscapes or any other purely aesthetic reason?"

Please email your answer to Julia Kiehle at 2jk01bcs@birmingham.k12.mi.us and put Siemens Challenge in the subject line. Here is an example: Yes- John Doe"


IMPORTANT SURVEY – Please visit the site and respond.
To keep municipal and school board meetings and programs being shown on cable tv, it is important for the cable board that services Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms and Birmingham and Franklin to hear from viewers. Please take the survey at this link so that feedback can be given about programming.
http://www.birminghamcableboard.org/


CHOICE HOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS
Choice Hour Selection sheets will be distributed in homerooms on Monday March 8th. Please be looking for them!! Choice Hour selections with payment, if applicable, are due to BCS by 4:00 PM on Friday March 12th. You can visit www.bcsonline.info to view the QIV Choice Hour selections.

If your child will not be attending Choice Hour, then you need to have a waiver form signed by Mr. Hartley. A waiver form is available online.
Your student will also receive a BCS Now News audition form (this class is offered Monday through Friday but students can select the day that works best for them.) This form is due back to BCS by 4:00 PM on Friday March 12th.

All Choice Hour scheduling questions should be directed to Donna Feldmaier 248-203-4522 or df02bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us and all other questions regarding the Choice Hour program should be directed to Linda Stone at 248-203-4625 or ls06bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us.


CONGRATULATIONS TO BCS REFLECTION WINNERS
Once again BCS has done a wonderful job in the National Reflections Contest. We have 2 winners this year:
Jack Gamble received Statewide Merit Recognition for his Visual Arts piece titled "Inner Beauty".
Tess Helfrich received an Award of Excellence and is one of three Birmingham students whose work is moving onto State Level Competition! She played the piano and sang an original composition titled "Beauty Is..."
Thank you to everyone who participated in this great contest. BCS had many, many excellent entries this year and gave all of us yet another reason to be proud members of the BCS community!


THE BCS BLAST - Parents, please see new changes on the Blast tab at BCSOnline.info
Attention all BCS Families: the BLAST is right around the corner and we are excited to offer these wonderful opportunities to our community:
• Corporate Sponsors - donations with a value of $250 - $499 will receive advertisement on the Corporate Sponsor banner to be displayed in the cafeteria during the Blast. Corporate sponsors will be mentioned on the www.bcsonline.info website and is listed in the 2010 auction booklet and on the Blast T-shirt.
*Donations with a value of $500 or more will receive advertisement on the Platinum Corporate Sponsor banner to be prominently displayed in the cafeteria during the Blast and in the school for the remainder of the school year. Platinum Corporate Sponsor receives a one year advertisement on the www.bcsonline.info home page and is listed in the 2010 auction booklet and on the Blast T-shirt.
• Family Patron - $100 gets you valet parking, priority auction checkout, and a t-shirt.
• We are also looking for donations to our auction:
1) Tickets to sporting events you, or your company, or vendor(s), have access to always work well at the auction.
2) Your company’s product or service.
3) Golf or hunting outings are very popular
4) Sports memorabilia.
5) Access to Houses / Condominiums / Timeshares in resort areas are a huge auction cash generator!

Please email Laura Meso at laurameso@comcast.net or Therese Fortney at therese521@comcast.net with any item you would like to donate to the 2010 Blast auction. Download donation forms at www.bcsonline.com/blast . Thank you all for your continued support to BCS and your children! You’re the best! From your Blast co-chairs, Karen Best & Ken Gilbert.



Football Opportunity at Seaholm
8th graders who are interested in playing football at Seaholm for the Fall 2010 season are invited to attend the Seaholm Football Kick Off Meeting on Sunday, March 28 at 1:00 pm in the Seaholm Cafeteria. For more information, send an email to seaholmFB2010@aol.com or call Booster President Craig Frye at 248.790.0049.