WAG Sept 28-Oct 2

September 28-Oct 2, 2009

Dear BCS Parents,

Hope your weekend is going well! If your child will be absent tomorrow for Yom Kippur please e-mail bcsattendance@birmingham.k12.mi.us and let us know.
Thank you!

Autumn is here and school is in full force. The beginning of the year marks a time where classroom teachers, and other educators working with your child, can begin collecting data. This data will be useful throughout the year. Doctors get to know their patients before treating them. Lawyers get to know their clients to defend them, and teachers should get to know their students before teaching them.

To that end, assessing your children is essential, and collecting data is the first step in the assessment cycle. The BCS staff will take the next couple of months to build on what they already know about our students. Gathering information to determine their interests, strengths, and challenges will help us find out how they learn best. This information will prove to be invaluable as we make thoughtful decisions and plan effective instruction throughout the year.
The BCS staff will work together to analyze the data to take the next step in meeting the academic and social needs of your children.

This is a time to reflect on our practice and ask ourselves, “Is our instruction meeting the needs of our students? Do we see progress? What are the next steps?” It will also equip us with significant information for upcoming parent-teacher conferences and/or support team meetings for students with academic and social needs. We encourage both parent and student feedback during this data collection process. As parents you can assist us by encouraging your child to question and monitor their own understanding and progress.

Hal will be writing the W.A.G. next week and will be taking it over every three weeks. We both are hoping that it continues to be a worthwhile communication tool that you look forward to each Sunday evening. Please remember to check our website, check my blog, and visit your child’s teachers’ blogs on a consistent basis as we are trying to make communication here at BCS as strong as possible.

Have a Great Week!

Adam and Hal

WEEK AT A GLANCE – SEPTEMBER 28 – OCTOBER 2, 2009
(Disclaimer: Please check all your calendars and bcsonline.info in case we missed something)

Monday, September 28
Yom Kippur
6:45AM – 7th & 8th grade girls basketball practice
3:20 – 4:50PM – Boys soccer practice
6-7PM – Proud Dads Co-ed Tennis at Pine Lake Country Club, indoor courts

Tuesday, September 29
DUE: Math Tools order form and payment for optional math calculators, etc.
7-8AM – Proud Dads 5th & 6th grade girls basketball
Choice Hour – School store opens today during choice hour
4 PM – 7th grade girls basketball game vs. Detroit Country Day at home; 8th grade immediately following.
4 PM - Boys soccer game vs. Cranbrook at home

Wednesday, September 30
DUE: 5/6 Permission Slip for Camp Copeneconic. Download a permission slip at www.bcsonline.info
DUE: Yearbook Audition packets for 7th & 8th graders interested in Yearbook staff positions
DUE: 3/4 Summer Packet packets
6:45AM – 7th & 8th grade girls basketball practice
4 PM - Boys soccer game vs. Detroit Country Day at home
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

Thursday, October 1
7-8AM – Proud Dads 5th & 6th grade girls basketball
8:15 AM – 8th grade Farewell Celebration committee meeting – media center
4 PM – 7th grade girls basketball game vs. Cranbrook at home; 8th grade immediately following
4:05 – 5:35PM – Boys soccer practice
5-6:30PM – Proud Dads Co-ed Flag Football for 3rd – 8th graders
6:45PM – 4th Annual Flag raising ceremony with PROUD DADS followed by the PROUD DADS one and only ANNUAL MEETING in the BCS cafeteria. Come hungry because dinner is provided.

Friday, October 2
6:45AM – 7th & 8th grade girls basketball practice
3:20 PM - Girls’ basketball team pictures in the Gym. Forms given to athletes at practice.
3:20 PM - Boys soccer team pictures . Forms were given to athletes at practice.
4:05 – 5:35PM – Boys soccer practice

Hot Entrée menu for the week: (subject to change, if necessary)
Available everyday: Salad Bar, Hamburgers, Chicken Patties, Pizza & Cheese Breadsticks
Monday – Baked potato bar, broccoli, cheese
Tuesday – Cream chicken, mixed veggies, over biscuit
Wednesday – Beef burritos, rice, green beans
Thursday – Baked chicken rings, buttered noodles & garden peas or fresh fruit w/yogurt & roll
Friday – Hot dog or chili dog with chips & green beans

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


CONEY BINGO NIGHT for 3/4 Grades
Join in the fun for an evening of bingo and a coney dog dinner. This is one of the popular social events for 3rd and 4th graders and their families and it’s a great way to meet new friends. Advance sign-up in much appreciated…just return a flyer with payment to the office. Flyers were sent home last Thursday with students or can be downloaded on www.bcsonline.info .

8th GRADE FAREWELL CELEBRATION
All 8th grade parents are welcome to join in the planning of the end of the year celebration for the 8th grade class. It is hard to believe the end of our 6 years at BCS is near! The kickoff planning meeting is Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 8:15am in the Media Center.

TUESDAY MORNING BAGELS
Hip Hip Hooray Tuesday Morning Bagel Sales Are On Their Way. The PTSA 8th grade Celebration Committee will begin selling bagels on Tuesday, October 13th. Bagels can be purchased each week for $1.00 (cream cheese .25 cents) or can be pre-purchased for the year for $30. To pre-purchase, please download a form at www.bcsonline.info .

BCS YEARBOOK
Yearbook Choice Hour will begin on Monday October 5th and will be on Mondays and Thursday for the rest of the school year. Yearbook staff members must commit to attending the Yearbook class at least once per week. Creative, fun and hardworking 7th and 8th graders are invited to audition to become staff members of the yearbook. Returning yearbook staff members do not need to audition. Audition packets can be picked up in the main office beginning Monday September 21st and will be due by Wednesday September 30th. Thank you! Allison Macksood, Yearbook Advisor.
Coming soon…….yearbook order forms.


SEASONAL FLU CLINIC
BCS Community Ed, in collaboration with the Oakland Visiting Nurses Association, is sponsoring a seasonal flu clinic in our cafeteria on Thursday, October 22, 2009 from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. Flu shots are $25, Flu mist for healthy people between 2 and 49 years is $30 and Pneumonia shots are $50. No appointments needed.