WAG Dec 14-18

Tomorrow will mark the beginning of the last week of 2009 here at BCS. The next WAG you will receive will be dated 2010! Time flies when you are having fun! I hope all of you can reflect on the year and see the positive outcomes of working together as a school community and supporting one another through tough times here in Michigan. There is an old Chinese proverb that states, “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” Now is the time to help others. Many of us have read the book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today, by Carol McCloud. This book shows kids (and adults) how to be happy by making others happy. Being a Bucket Filler means we make an effort to give compliments, be polite, and help others when they need help. BCS is full of Bucket Fillers! Our Spirit Committee, with the help from Sue Reepmeyer and Angela Geisler, has put together a food drive to help families have food on their table for the holidays. They have shown that with a little effort, an open mind, and the determination to fill others’ buckets, making people happy is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves!

The food drive will end Thursday, December 17th. BCS is encouraging our own families to consider picking up food for their friends or family members that may be in need this holiday season. You may pick up food items at BCS between 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on December 17th at BCS. All food items at the end of the school day on Friday, December 18th, will be taken to the Food Pantry in Birmingham.

Please consider these other local agencies during the holiday months. Open Hands Food Pantry at 26998 Woodward, Royal Oak 48067. Pontiac Baldwin Center (https://owa.birmingham.k12.mi.us/OWA/redir.aspx?C=695e972bee9d48ea8c436dd3cfc50163&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.baldwincenter.org) and Lighthouse (https://owa.birmingham.k12.mi.us/OWA/redir.aspx?C=695e972bee9d48ea8c436dd3cfc50163&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.lighthouseoakland.org).

Enjoy the snow, cold weather and good times!

Adam


How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. ~Anne Frank
Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not. ~Dr. Seuss
Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something. ~Author Unknown

WEEK AT A GLANCE – DECEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 18, 2009
(Disclaimer: Please check all your calendars and bcsonline.info in case we missed something)

Monday, December 14
7-8AM – Proud Dads 6th grade boys basketball
FOOD DRIVE COLLECTION – Bins are in entrance hall
8:30 – 11AM –Field Trip - Mrs. Harvath’s class goes to the Environmental Center. Please ensure children are dressed for the weather – jackets/coats, rain gear, hats & boots may all be needed.
9AM-1:15PM –3/4 field trip to Ford Rouge Factory for Parkin, Wallington, Butzin & Frishman homerooms- students need to bring a bag lunch with all disposable containers
9:15AM – 3/4 Room Parents Meeting
3:15 – 5:00PM –Girls swim practice
4:00PM – Boys basketball game @ home vs. Berkshire MS – 7th grade game at 4PM, 8th grade game immediately follows.
4:15 – 6:00PM – OKLAHOMA! practice-full cast
7:00PM-Orchestra Holiday Concert – a winter musicial “present”ation in the cafeteria

Tuesday, December 15
6:35 – 8:00AM –Girls swim practice
6:45-8AM – Boys basketball teams practice
7:30-8:00AM - BCS Diversity Committee meeting in Room 505 – All are welcome
FOOD DRIVE COLLECTION – Bins are in entrance hall
8-8:20AM – Bagel sale in front of the media center by the 8th grade celebration committee
8:30 – 11AM –Field Trip - Mrs. Parkin’s class goes to the Environmental Center. Please ensure children are dressed for the weather – jackets/coats, rain gear, hats & boots may all be needed.
3:15-4:00PM – School store is open in the main hallway during choice hour
3:30PM – SNOW CLUB bus leaves for Pine Knob. Students return to BCS at 8:30PM and need to be picked up.
4:15 – 7:00PM – OKLAHOMA! practice-full cast
6:30 – 8:30PM – Technology Café – Media Center. Tonight topics are Internet Safety and Powershool demonstration. Advance questions can be emailed to tech@bcsparent.com. Bring a laptop if you have one.
7:00PM - BPS Board of Education meeting at the BPS Administration building, 550 West Merrill Street, Birmingham. Watch it live on Comcast channel 17.

Wednesday, December 16
7-8AM – Proud Dads 6th grade boys basketball
Last day for Candygram sales for 7/8 students
8:30 – 11AM –Field Trip - Mr. Seley’s class goes to the Environmental Center. Please ensure children are dressed for the weather – jackets/coats, rain gear, hats & boots may all be needed.
Popcorn Day – freshly popped popcorn is sold during choice hour for $1 in the main hallway.
E-Bugle published today!
4:00PM – Boys basketball game @ home vs. Royal Oak MS – 7th grade game at 4PM, 8th grade game immediately follows.
4:15PM –Girls swim meet vs. Berkshire Silver @ Berkshire
7 – 10PM –Forensics Showcase in the Media Center. Come and see the performances of the Forensics Team. Pieces were just performed over the weekend at the Tournament.

Thursday, December 17
6:35 – 8:00AM –Girls swim practice
6:45-8AM – Boys basketball teams practice
8:30 – 11AM –Field Trip - Mr. Wallington’s class goes to the Environmental Center. Please ensure children are dressed for the weather – jackets/coats, rain gear, hats & boots may all be needed.
4-6PM – BCS families can pick up a bag of donated food for families in need – front office

Friday, December 18 - Trash –Free Friday – see comments below
6:35 – 8:00AM –Girls swim practice
6:45-8AM – Boys basketball teams practice
DUE: CHOICE Hour Selections for Quarter III
DUE: 8th grade pictures (one baby/toddler pic & one current pic) for Farewell Celebration DVD
Progress reports released
Thursday, December 31, 2009
· Market Day internet orders due by midnight. If you are unable to complete your order online, please contact Lori Croad at 248-348-4390.

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, buttered noodles, and steam broccoli
Tuesday –Chicken Fajitas with toppings, Brown rice and green beans
Wednesday –Cook choice
Thursday – Bar-B-Q Pull Pork on wheat bun, roasted potatoes, peas and carrots
Friday –Ham and cheese bagel melt, au gratin potatoes, corn and chicken noodle soup

Ø 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, December 14 through Friday, January 29: The following classrooms will be attending Swim as their Physical Education: Butzin, Harvath, Seley and Wallington. Please be sure to send in a swimsuit and towel with your child.


ORCHESTRA CONCERT FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Monday, December the 14th the BCS Music Department proudly presents a winter musical ‘present’ation! The show starts at 7:00 pm in the BCS cafeteria, and will feature our 6th, 7th and 8th grade orchestras as well as our famous “BCS Fiddlers” and a big surprise finale! Come early for a good seat, stay late for punch and treats. See you there!


BCS SPONSORS A COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE
Between now and December 16, BCS is sponsoring a food drive to benefit our local community because we are aware that individuals and families in our own neighborhoods, affected by the abrupt loss of employment or other resources, sometimes find it difficult to provide healthy and sufficient meals for family members.
As you grocery shop between now and Wednesday, December 16, please consider purchasing one or more of the following items to bring to school:

Canned Vegetables, Canned Fruit, Potatoes (boxed or canned), Macaroni and Cheese, Boxed or Canned Pasta Meals, Jellos & Puddings, Juice, Spaghetti Sauce, Soups, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Cereal, Cake Mixes, Toilet Paper and Paper Towels.

Collection bins are located in the entrance hallway. On December 16, Spirit Committee students will bag the items for pickup. On Thursday, December 17, BCS families who see an immediate need within their own families, neighborhood or circle of friends are encouraged to come to the office between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. to take home a bag or bags of groceries. Groceries not picked up will be taken to a local food pantry on December 18. Thank you in advance helping BCS make a difference in our community.


2010 BCS BLAST MARCH 21ST 3:30-7:30 PM
The 2010 Blast team is already hard at work planning the biggest party of the year! We are so excited for another great auction and carnival. This year and we will be traveling down memory lane with all your favorite songs, candies and movies from the past! Please visit the BCS website (http://www.bcsonline.info/) if you are interested in donating anything to the auction or know any business that would like to be involved. Thanks for all your support. Karen Best and Ken Gilbert, 2010 Blast Co-Chairs.


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.

Disposable lunches can create between 4–8 ounces of garbage every day.

That can add up to as much as 100 pounds per year! With your help, the Joberts kids believe that we truly can become agents of change!!

If you buy lunch, please buy only what you believe you can eat and try not to have any waste!!


7/8 PARENTS – CANDYGRAMS
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. 3rd - Wed, Dec. 16th. The cost is only 50¢ each (includes note, candy and delivery ). To buy your Candygrams, visit the counter in the front office and follow the steps below:
• Fill out each note on the blank Candygrams
• Place $.50 and Candygram(s) in sealed envelope
• Place in bucket
Spirit Committee members will be delivering the CANDYGRAMS to each homeroom on Friday, December 18th.
HAVE A SWEET HOLIDAY!


Attention Kroger Shoppers!
Did you know that the shopping you already do can help support the Birmingham Education Foundation through the Kroger Community Rewards program? Simply register your Kroger shopper's card with the BEF number and the BEF will receive funds every time you shop! Go to the BEF website at http://www.supportbef.org/ for easy instructions. The BEF is one of the ways that we can channel funds directly to our schools, and this program doesn't cost us anything extra! Thanks for your support!

The BCS Forensics team
The Forensics team had a wonderful time at the MIFA Fall/Winter Tournament. The whole team did a wonderful job and we are proud of all their hard work. The following students placed at the competition:Sam Weed- Honorable Mention plaque for ImpromptuBrad Freeman- 2nd place trophy for SalesSydney Rosen- Honorable Mention plaque for SalesAudrey Kennedy- 2nd place trophy for Dramatic InterpretationAudrey Belf- 6th place trophy for Dramatic InterpretationLily Douma, Haley Werthmann, Courtney Wilkie, Stephen Brown, Caity Dolan, Judy Kalfelghazal, and Sarah Camisa WITH PERFECT SCORES- 1st place trophy for MulitpleEmma Ellis- 2nd place trophy for PoetryNatalie Nepa- Honorable Mention plaque for ProseSarena Brown- 4th place trophy for StorytellingSally Kalfelghazal- 6th place trophy for StorytellingThe Forensics team will have a showcase for all to come see on Wed, Dec. 16th at 7pm in the Media Center.
Thank you to all of the families that helped and great job Mrs. Schultz!!