Sunday, December 18, 2011

Happy Holidays

Please enjoy the holiday season!  It has been a pleasure learning and leading with the BCS community this year!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

W.A.G. Dec 12-16, 2011


Dear BCS,

These last 2 week, our BCS students have participated in penny wars.  Each homeroom had a jug in the media center and students brought in pennies (positive points), silver coins (negative points), and even dollar bills (negative points) to fill the jugs.  Students attempted to get the most positive points by either putting pennies in their own homeroom jug or by putting negative points into the jug of another homeroom class.  Our students raised a total of $1710.45 during our penny wars!!  After all of the pennies, silver coins, and dollar bills were totaled, Mrs. Brown’s homeroom came in at first place with 3982 points and Mr. Emmi’s homeroom was 2nd place with 2208 points.  Mrs. Burns’ class had the highest total money raised with Mr. Joseph’s class coming in as the runner up! All of these funds are a part of our school-wide fight against hunger in the world.  We are well on our way to meeting our goal of $6500 to bringing in the mobile packing unit this spring.  Thank you to all of our students and to our families for digging into their couch cushions and pockets to help fund this goal!

Have a GEEKed Week,

Patricia Chinn
BCS Assistant Principal


WEEK AT A GLANCE –   Week of December 12-16, 2011
(Disclaimer:  Please check all your calendars and bcsonline.info in case we missed something)

Ø To submit an item for next week’s “WAG”, email mz07bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us  by  THURSDAY 11PM

Monday, December 12
·      4:30 PM BOYS BASKETBALL -HOME v. DERBY MIDDLE SCHOOL
·      3:15-5:00 PM-GIRLS SWIM TEAM PRACTICE
Tuesday, December 13
·      6:45-8 AM BOYS BASKETBALL PRACTICE
·      8 AM BAGELS for Sale- for $1.25 (cream cheese .25 cents)in front of the Media Center
·      3:15 PM-SCHOOL STORE  OPEN DURING CHOICE HOUR
·      4:15 PM-GIRLS SWIM TEAM  -AWAY v. BERKSIRE MIDDLE SCHOOL
·       7PM-BLAST Committee Meeting-Media Center
·       7 PM- Board of Education Meeting-Administration Building
Wednesday, December 14
·      6:45-8 AM BOYS BASKETBALL PRACTICE
·      3:15-5:00 PM-GIRLS SWIM TEAM PRACTICE and TEAM PICTURE
·      Delicious Popcorn sold during Choice Hour-only $ 1
·       7 PM BCS WEBMASTERS  Meeting-Media Center
Thursday, December 15
·       7:30-8 AM –Diversity Committee Meeting-Room 504
·      4;00 PM BOYS BASKETBALL -HOME v. CRANBROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL visit highschoolsports.net for map and directions to the school
·      4:15 -6PM-GIRLS SWIM TEAM PRACTICE
·      6:30-8:30 PM- FORENSICS SHOWCASE-MEDIA CENTER
Friday, December 16
·      6:45-8 AM BOYS BASKETBALL PRACTICE
·       6:45-8 AM GIRLS SWIM  TEAM PRACTICE
·       DEADLINE TO CHECK OUT “BATTLE’ BOOKS-see important BATTLE information below or go to bcsonline.info
·       Second Quarter Progress Reports Released for grades 5-8
·       Winter Recess Begins at the end of the day
Hot Entrée menu for the week:  (subject to change, if necessary)
-          Available everyday: Salad Bar, Hamburgers, Chicken Patties, Pizza & Cheese Breadsticks
Monday –Baked Chicken Nuggets, Potato Wedges, Steamed Broccoli, Mexican Pizza
Tuesday – Chicken/Cheeseburger Sliders / Whole Wheat, Potato Wedges,Whole Wheat Pasta Salad, Cheese Quesadillas
Wednesday – Sloppy Joes on Whole Wheat, Tator Tots, Steamed Pea pods,Supreme Pizza
Thursday – Baked Mac and Cheese, Steamed Cauliflower,Wheat Roll, Beef Enchilada
Friday – Chef’s Choice, Steamed Carrots, Meat Lover’s Pizza




PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR IMPORTANT FAMILY, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

HOLIDAY SHOPPING TO SUPPORT BCS
Looking for a way to get some shopping done and support BCS?  If you shop Sally Foster (http://www.sallyfoster.com/sf/?cm_mmc=Email-_-2011HolidayPromo-_-AllBuyers-_-SF11WEBNVFG) and enter the BCS identification number (43930), 40% of the purchase price comes back to BCS!  Happy Shopping!

SAVE THE BEES
This website is to the petition that the Fitzgerald/Brown class room made: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/222/574/307/.
The petition is to pollinate Birmingham. We are taking part in the Disney Planet Challenge, we are trying to save the honey bees from extinction. CCD is causing extinction. The more signature we get on the petition the better!  Please consider signing.
From: The Fitz/Brown Homeroom

BCS BLAST MEETING The BCS Blast committee will be  meeting this coming Tuesday, December 13th at 7:00PM in the media center. The BCS Blast is our biggest fund raiserl. The BCS Blast is a fun filled afternoon and early evening of carnival games, bouncy inflatables, delicious food, prizes for the kids, cake walk, raffle and silent auction. If you're new to BCS, this is an event you won't want to miss.
The Blast has several committees and we invite all who would like to attend our meeting to join us.
 We have several openings that need to be filled. Come join us to find out more.
We are also looking for 2 volunteers to shadow Blast Co-Chairs this year so they can take over next year.
This is a great opportunity to meet and work with other BCS parents while helping our school raise much needed funds. WE NEED YOUR HELP. Please get involved and join us on Tuesday, December 13th.
Co-Chairs:  Karen Best  kbestMI@mac.com          Ken Gilbert    kjginbham@hotmail.com
 ARE YOU INTERESTED IN DESTINATION IMAGINATION??
If you are interested in leading a DI (Destination Imagination) team during Marking Periods 3 and 4, please contact Adam Hartley at ah07bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us

7/8 PARENTS:
Show someone your “sweet” side – buy them a Holiday CANDYGRAM ! The 7/8 Spirit Committee will be selling CANDYGRAMS – ONLY for 7/8 graders and teachers to receive from Thurs, Dec 1st -Tues, Dec 13th. They cost 50¢ each (includes note, candy and delivery).
You can purchase them in the front office. Spirit Committee members will be delivering the CANDYGRAMS to each 7th hour on Thursday, December 15th. HAVE A SWEET HOLIDAY!

BOX TOPS COLLECTIONS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER WILL BE DONATED TO THE BCS BATTLES WORLD HUNGER CAUSE!  --Turn in to the office before break.
A ton can easily be earned if people do their online shopping via the boxtops site without much effort.  Over 100 retailers will give eBoxTops when you shop online at the Marketplace.  http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/marketplace/BrowseStores.aspx?WT.ac=Mktplce_HC_SeeAllStoresForget waiting in long lines!  Get your holiday shopping done easily online AND help BCS Battle World Hunger at the same time!
Did you know you can earn eBoxTops by watching a video, requesting a brochure or purchasing a car? Get your mouse in gear and start clicking because this promotion ends on December 1! http://generalmills.promo.eprize.com/btfe/:b=firefox8/?affiliate_id=1c
$55 has been collected thus far!  Keep them coming!

AMC 8 MATH RESULTS
Congratulations to our Math Counts kids for a great job on the AMC 8 math test this year!  Bogdan M. took first place in the building and Hannah M took second place.  Don R and James R tied for third place.  Rohon R., Ben W, Maria G., Varsha K, and Indeever A. rounded out the group which earned a certificate of merit for a team score of 50 or better.  Great job kids!!
BCS BAND INFORMATION
 PARENTS of 7th & 8th graders: The BCS Mid-Winter Band Concert for the 7th & 8th grade bands will take place on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. The concert will be held from 7:00-8:00pm in the BCS cafeteria. Students should arrive at BCS no later than 6:30pm.
BCS Band ParentsPrivate lessons for band instruments are now available at Groves High School! Please visit the Groves Band website http://www.grovesband.com for more information. This is a fantastic opportunity for our young musicians.

A MESSAGE FROM THE BOOK FAIR CO-CHAIRS
Thanks to Everyone for generously supporting the Fall Book Fair!! 
We would like to extend our appreciation to the BCS community for their strong support by either volunteering or purchasing a book at our Fall Book Fair.  We made $1,800 in cash, a little over $1,100 in Scholastic dollars to be used for purchase of books and $550 in books (distributed to the Media Center, 24 locker gift certificates winners, 3 Principal's gift certificate awardees and 3 Volunteer gift certificate raffle winners).  We really do have wonderful families!  
We could not have done it without you!  
Shiva Motlagh, Theresa Valentine – Book Fair Co-Chairs

ARE YOU  IN FOURTH GRADE?? THEN HIT THE SLOPES…FOURTH GRADE KIDS SKI FREE
The Michigan Snowsports Industries Association (MSIA) wants to give Michigan kids an opportunity to get out, have fun and get healthy this winter. MSIA has established a state-wide program which provides every fourth grader in Michigan the opportunity to ski for free. Fourth graders can obtain a “Cold is Cool” Ski & Ride Passport that gives them up to three free lift tickets or trail passes at 20 participating ski areas.  In order for fourth graders to use the free lift or trail pass coupons, a paying adult must accompany them.
Although the skiing is free, MSIA charges a $15 printing and shipping fee for each passport ordered.  For more information and a list of participating ski resorts, please visit: http://www.goskimichigan.com/cold-is-cool.html

HALLOWEEN CANDY COLLECTION WRAP UP
Thank you to all the BCS students and staff that donated their Halloween candy this year.  BCS collected 240 pounds of candy this year!  On November 23rd, BCS students and families delivered 152 pounds of candy to Gleaners Food Bank while participating in the BCS/Gleaners Community Service Project. The remaining 88 pounds of Halloween candy was delivered to the William Beaumont Hospital Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Department for distribution to their young patients. Both Gleaners and William Beaumont Hospital thank you for your overwhelming support!BCS Spirit Wear is here! 
Show your school spirit, stay warm this winter! 
Return order forms to the office.  Make checks payable to:  BCS PTSA
All orders placed by Wednesday, December 7, 2011
 will be filled prior to break.
Any questions?  Contact Teresa Rea: reateresa@gmail.com

All merchandise is custom ordered and all sales are final.

A FAMILY OPPORTUNITY….DELIVER FOOD AND GIFTS TO CITY MISSION IN DETROIT. 
A NOTE FROM FORMER BCS PARENT LILY MARESKI
DEAR BCS FAMILIES
Every year we have had a beautiful tradition of serving our community and delivering gifts and food to those in need.  This event continues to grow every year, and I would love for you and your family to join us if you have the time and interest.  This is a highlight for our family every year!  We will be meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 17th at the fire house in the village for a late breakfast.  From there we will follow each other to City Mission to start the task of assembling or delivering.  Typically, we are done about 3:00 p.m. but know that you can leave earlier if you need to.   If you would like to join us, please email back so that I can follow up with further information...thanks so much...Lily   
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FOENSICATORS!!!!!Eighteen BCS Forensics students competed Saturday December 10 in Saginaw against 11 other Michigan middle schools in the following categories:
Impromptu:  Ben F., Sydney R., Hannah S.*
Sales:  Meghan F.*
Dramatic Interpretation: Stephanie S.*, Alice P., Alex G., Chance S.
Duo: Jacob A./Nick C., Sarah C./Haley W.*
Multiple:  Izzy N./McKenzy M./Dhara S.*
Poetry:  Joey D.*
Prose:  Leah W.*
Storytelling:  Marshall R.*
*Indicates those who earned trophies/plaques in their category
The Forensics Showcase will be held in the Media Center Thursday December 15 from 6:30-8:30pm. 

Battle News and Dates
Dear 4th & 5TH Grade Parents: 
We are coming up to our most intense reading time for Battle. Please encourage your child to read over the December break. We want to check out all Battle materials by end of day on Dec. 16th.  It will be difficult to make a Battle team if students have not started over the December break.

Mark your calendars for the BCS Battle Dates below

January &  February        Battle Book Clubs during 4th and 5th grade lunch (dates TBD)
January 9, 2012                 Battle program at Baldwin-, 7:00pm Meet Helen Frost, our Battle author for Diamond Willow.
January 19, 2012               Cosmic Breakfast 7:45-8:20 with BCS Proud Dads (or Moms) and Battlers; featured Battle Book is Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce in BCS Cafeteria.  Mark your Calendars Anticipated breakfast cost is -$6 (includes parent and child) Pre-registration starts after break. If you want a personal copy of Cosmic, you can order from Amazon, via the BEF Amazon website link and help our Foundation (http://supportbef.org/

January 27, 2012               Battle Qualifying day by end of day to make a Battle Team   (Students need to have read 6 books and passed 6 AR Tests)

Feb 7, 2012                 Battle Rush at BCS Cafeteria (right after choice hour—we will start promptly at 4:30-5:30Students meet their teammates; choose team name, motto, and design of a Team Crest for Battle Day in March. Will need parent volunteers and donations of drink and ready to eat snack with little clean-up. A Parent volunteer is needed for each team and a photographer to take pictures of team crest. Watch for separate email.

February 8, 2012-             Battle program at Baldwin 6:30 pm.-Learn to Finger Talk like Goldie and  
                                            Toadspit from the Battle book Museum of Thieves

Feb 15, 2012                       Gold Medal Qualifying Day (must turn in AR tests for all ten books by end of day to get a gold medal)

March 2, 2012                    District-Wide Battle Day.
Regarding Battle Team s---Buddy list will start after break for students who have already read six books. Pair of buddies will put on teams together, three if possible.depending on number of students participating and books read.   Teams will be formed the week after January 27, 2012, qualifying day. Battle teams will consist of 4thand 5th graders.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

W.A.G. Dec. 5-9, 2011


December 4, 2011
Dear BCS Community,
WOW! What an open house!  I want to thank everyone responsible for making this year’s open house an amazing experience.  This includes BCS staff, parents and students.  We saw central office and board of education members today as well....Thank you!
Mrs. Chinn and I shared stories after the open house of the conversations we had with families as they toured the building.  Each story included people that were amazed with our programs and impressed with our staff.  The one common theme was our student ambassadors.  Each year, our parents and staff (the adults), work hard to prepare for close to 300 families to tour BCS.  Everyone from our custodians to our PTSA work together in order to make this day a special one.  However, it is the people between the ages of 8-14 that steal the show!  Our ambassadors, wearing their Sunday best, walk with our guests and invite them into the world of BCS through the lens of the learner.  Mrs. Chinn and I, our parent helpers, and our teaching staff do a great job of telling our story, but nothing compares to learning what happens here at BCS from the very people that make BCS a great place to be...our students!
Thank you to everyone that helped and for working together to make our open house a success.
Have a great week!
G.E.E.K.ed about Leading,

Adam
WEEK AT A GLANCE –   Week of December 5-9, 2011
(Disclaimer:  Please check all your calendars and bcsonline.info in case we missed something)

? To submit an item for next week’s “WAG”, email mz07bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us  by  THURSDAY 11PM

Monday, December 5
  • DUE DATE EXTENDED!!!-REFLECTIONS ENTRIES-ALL ENTRIES ARE DUE TO THE MEDIA CENTER 
  • 3:15-5:00 PM-GIRLS SWIM PRACTICE
  • 4:00 PM BOYS BASKETBALL -AWAY@ ORCHARD LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOL-visit highschoolsports.net for map and directions to the school
Tuesday, December 6
  • 6:45-8 AM BOYS BASKETBALL PRACTICE
  • 6:45-8 AM GIRLS SWIM  TEAM PRACTICE
  • 8 AM BAGELS for Sale- for $1.25 (cream cheese .25 cents)in front of the Media Center
  • 9:15am  5/6 Room Parent Meeting-Media center
  • 3:15 PM-SCHOOL STORE  OPEN DURING CHOICE HOUR
  • 4:15 PM-Girls Swim Team  -Home v. Bloomfield Hills Middle School
Wednesday, December 7
  • DUE- SPIRIT WEAR ORDERS- to ensure holiday delivery-ORDER BY TODAY
  • 6:45 AM BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM PHOTOS-PRACTICE TO FOLLOW
  • 3:15-5:00 PM-GIRLS SWIM TEAM PRACTICE
  • Delicious Popcorn sold during Choice Hour-only $ 1
  • 6:30 PM- Technology Committee Meeting-Media Center
Thursday, December 8
  • 9:50 AM- DELAYED START TODAY
  • 4:15 PM-Girls Swim Team -Home v. Derby Middle School
  • 4;00 PM BOYS BASKETBALL -HOME v. ANDERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL
Friday, December 9
  • 6:45-8 AM BOYS BASKETBALL PRACTICE
  • 6:45-8 AM GIRLS SWIM  TEAM PRACTICE
  • 9 AM-1:15 PM 3/4 ROUGE FACTORY FIELD TRIP
  • 1 PM-DEADLINE FOR DONATIONS TO THE “ADOPT A FAMILY” PROGRAM
Hot Entrée menu for the week:  (subject to change, if necessary)
-          Available everyday: Salad Bar, Hamburgers, Chicken Patties, Pizza & Cheese Breadsticks
Monday –Homestyle Chili, Featured Salad Bar, Whole Wheat Roll, Fresh Fruit cup, BBQ Chicken Pizza 
Tuesday – Baked Whole Wheat Spaghetti w/Marinara, Garlic Toast, Steamed Broccoli, Nachos Supreme
Wednesday – Homestyle Turkey and Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Green Beans, Hawaiian Pizza
Thursday – BBQ Chicken Legs, Flavorful Baked Beans, Mixes Vegetables,  Zesty Beef Burrito
Friday –Bacon Cheeseburger on Whole Wheat Bun, 
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR IMPORTANT FAMILY, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
~Educational Legislative Alert~
We need your voice.
Please contact your State Representative today.

This week, the Michigan Legislature will be voting on a group of bills (SB 618-624) that will drastically change the way public schools operate and are funded throughout the state of Michigan. These bills are being promoted as "educational reform," but there are many inherit problems within these bills. If SB 618-624 becomes law, the resulting changes may cost taxpayers more, deliver less, and ultimately harm public education.

Two of the most concerning bills (SB 618 & 619) affect charter school and cyber-school expansions. While both ideas have merit, there is very little transparency, accountability or oversight mentioned in these bills. Not only do these bills lack important details, they dilute the School Aid Fund that is currently earmarked for Michigan K-12 public schools. Funding for charter/cyber schools would come at the expense of the public schools, and be given to "for profit" educational management companies. This may lead to reduced staffing and programming for the current K-12 system. 
While the original intent of charter/cyber schools was to promote innovation and competition, thereby increasing student performance, research shows that today's charter/cyber schools have swayed considerably from that original vision. 
The other bills in this package are of equal concern: school of choice, broadening geographic boundaries, dual enrollment and charter conversion. There is no solid body of research that indicates the tactics employed in these bills would improve student achievement or result in greater accountability.

BPS would like to see the Michigan Legislature slow down and thoroughly examine these bills before irreparable damage is done to the Michigan K-12 public education system. We need your help. Please learn more about these proposals, and please contact your state representative today. Ask your state representative to ‘vote No’ on the current SB 618-624. 
Click here to call your state representative or go to the BPS homepage to get your state representative's email address: http://legislative-contacts-and-info.birmingham.k12.mi.us. We have attached (see below) a sample note for your convenience, if you would like to cut-and-paste an email.
Please don't hesitate – this vote may be taken as early as 1:30pm this Tuesday. 

Thank you for your advocacy,
David F. Larson, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Dear ________,

As a public school parent and a constituent in your district, I am deeply concerned with the set of SB 618-624 moving through the Legislature. These bills are a complex mix of costly ideas that require little accountability, strip local control, and are paid for with the tax dollars of Michigan citizens. There is no solid body of research that indicates the tactics employed in these bills will improve student achievement or result in greater accountability. Please slow down and thoroughly examine the issues at hand before permanent damage is done to Michigan's public education system.

Sincerely,
HOLIDAY SHOPPING TO SUPPORT BCS
Looking for a way to get some shopping done and support BCS?  If you shop Sally Foster (http://www.sallyfoster.com/sf/?cm_mmc=Email-_-2011HolidayPromo-_-AllBuyers-_-SF11WEBNVFG) and enter the BCS identification number (43930), 40% of the purchase price comes back to BCS!  Happy Shopping!
ATHLETICS UPDATES
The Boys Basketball and Girls Swim seasons are underway.  Please check the BCS Athletics website www.bcsonline.info/athletics or go to www.highschoolsports.net for game schedules and come support our Cobras!  
Pictures for Boys Basketball will be 11/7 during AM practices.  Pictures for girls swim will be 11/14 during the 3:15 practice.
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE JINGLE BELL RUN?
Anyone missing anything from this event can call Laurie @ the Arthritis Foundation at 800-968-3030  ext 230
BCS Penny Wars BegAn Monday, November 28!!!!! – ONE WEEK LEFT  LET’S GO BCS
Please encourage your students to bring in their spare change, placing pennies in their homeroom jug (positive points) and other coins or bills in other homeroom jugs (negative points). Clean out the couches and send in your loose change Penny Wars will take place 11/28/11 through 12/9/11. The winning Homeroom will be the Captains for the packaging event If you would like to make a donation to Kids Against Hunger, all money you turn into the office will go towards our goal of $5600.  Checks may be written out to Kids Against Hunger Coalition or KAHC.
FORENSICS TEAM NEWS
The BCS Forensics Team will be competing in the Middle Level Forensics Tournament in Saginaw on Saturday December 10.  Students have been rehearsing and perfecting their piece since September in the following categories:  Impromptu, Storytelling, Prose, Poetry, Dramatic Interpretation, Sales, Duo and Multiple.  Pieces range from 4 to 12 minutes in length and are performed three times at the tournament.  Break a leg!
ReflectionsCalling all artists, photographers, dancers, composers, film makers and authors!  It is time for Reflections!  This program offers all BCS students the opportunity to create works of art for fun and recognition.   
The theme for 2011-2012 is “Diversity Means….” 
Reflect on the theme.  Create an original work.  Be recognized!
Categories include: Film/Video Production, Dance Choreography, Musical Composition, Photography, Visual Arts and Literature.  
This is a way to celebrate the many skills of our students and promote the pursuit of artistic expression.  Please encourage all students to reflect on this theme and submit an original work!  Detailed information can be found at http://www.ptareflections.org/cs/about_reflections.  Also, look for the link on bcsonline.info
ALL ENTRIES ARE DUE TO THE MEDIA CENTER BY DECEMBER 1, 2011.  PLEASE FOLLOW ALL ENTRY GUIDELINES CAREFULLY AS REQUIREMENTS HAVE CHANGED!Questions?  Please contact Teresa Rea: reateresa@gmail.com.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN DESTINATION IMAGINATION??
If you are interested in leading a DI (Destination Imagination) team during Marking Periods 3 and 4, please contact Adam Hartley at ah07bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us
Box Tops collections for the next month will be donated to the BCS Battles World Hunger cause!  
A ton can easily be earned if people do their online shopping via the boxtops site without much effort.  Over 100 retailers will give eBoxTops when you shop online at the Marketplace.  
http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/marketplace/BrowseStores.aspx?WT.ac=Mktplce_HC_SeeAllStores
Forget waiting in long lines!  Get your holiday shopping done easily online AND help BCS Battle World Hunger at the same time!
Did you know you can earn eBoxTops by watching a video, requesting a brochure or purchasing a car? Get your mouse in gear and start clicking because this promotion ends on December 1! 
http://generalmills.promo.eprize.com/btfe/:b=firefox8/?affiliate_id=1c
GLEANERS VISITS
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, BCS families packaged 7,220 pounds of food at Gleaners!  Thank you so much to all of the families that joined us in supporting the fight against hunger.  If you didn't get to go this last visit, please watch for announcements about our Spring date and join us then!
7/8 PARENTS: 
Show someone your “sweet” side – buy them a Holiday CANDYGRAM ! The 7/8 Spirit Committee will be selling CANDYGRAMS – ONLY for 7/8 graders and teachers to receive from Thurs, Dec 1st -Tues, Dec 13th. They cost 50¢ each (includes note, candy and delivery). 
You can purchase them in the front office. Spirit Committee members will be delivering the CANDYGRAMS to each 7th hour on Thursday, December 15th. 
HAVE A SWEET HOLIDAY!  FROM YOUR SPIRIT COMMITTEE
BCS Spirit Wear is here!  
Show your school spirit, stay warm this winter!  

Return order forms to the office.  Make checks payable to:  BCS PTSA
All orders placed by Wednesday, December 7, 2011 will be filled prior to break.
Any questions?  Contact Teresa Rea: reateresa@gmail.com
All merchandise is custom ordered and all sales are final.

ARE YOU IN FOURTH GRADE?? THEN HIT THE SLOPES…FOURTH GRADE KIDS SKI FREE
The Michigan Snowsports Industries Association (MSIA) wants to give Michigan kids an opportunity to get out, have fun and get healthy this winter. MSIA has established a state-wide program which provides every fourth grader in Michigan the opportunity to ski for free. Fourth graders can obtain a “Cold is Cool” Ski & Ride Passport that gives them up tothree free lift tickets or trail passes at 20 participating ski areas.  In order for fourth graders to use the free lift or trail pass coupons, a paying adult must accompany them.
Although the skiing is free, MSIA charges a $15 printing and shipping fee for each passport ordered.  For more information and a list of participating ski resorts, please visit:http://www.goskimichigan.com/cold-is-cool.html
A Family Opportunity….Deliver Food and Gifts to City Mission in Detroit. 
A NOTE FROM FORMER BCS PARENT LILY MARESKI
DEAR BCS FAMILIES
Every year we have had a beautiful tradition of serving our community and delivering gifts and food to those in need.  This event continues to grow every year, and I would love for you and your family to join us if you have the time and interest.  This is a highlight for our family every year!  We will be meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 17th at the fire house in the village for a late breakfast.  From there we will follow each other to City Mission to start the task of assembling or delivering.  Typically, we are done about 3:00 p.m. but know that you can leave earlier if you need to.   If you would like to join us, please email back so that I can follow up with further information...thanks so much...Lily    
Adopt a Family 2011
B C S is joining the Adopt A Family Program at Community Housing Network This Year! 
The families we will be helping were previously homeless, but are now in safe, affordable housing in Oakland County.  Unfortunately, many still can’t afford the daily necessities, let alone holiday gifts. 
These families have been asked to complete a Wish List. Items from the wish lists have been written on “Snowflakes” which will be kept outside the office. You may sign out a snowflake, purchase the gift, wrap it, attach the snowflake to the gift, and return the gift to BCS.   
We are also collecting much needed household items in hope of giving each family in the program an assortment of the things that are “Always Needed / Always Appreciated”. Please see the attachment for a list of these items.  These should be turned into the collection bin outside the office.   
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL DONATIONS NEED TO BE IN THE DROP OFF AREA OUTSIDE THE OFFICE BY 4:00 ON DEC. 9. 
If you have any questions, please contact Sandra Hamady at 248.763.6099 or sandrahamady@yahoo.com.