April 11, 2010
Dear BCS Families,
I am outside on a beautiful Sunday afternoon writing this week’s WAG…The key here is that I am actually sitting in the sun (it’s been a long winter!) I hope all of you were able to enjoy a trip to a warm state or enjoy the time with your family and friends if you stayed around Michigan. Spring is here and with the warm weather we are seeing more and more birds each day! This time of year we often see geese flying above us returning to their northern homes. Seeing geese this week, I was reminded of an activity I often use with teachers that talks about leadership and teamwork. You may have read about the lessons we can learn from geese already. There are many versions of power points and slide shows on the internet and various websites that promote these lessons- Whether you are aware of the lessons, or this is the first time reading them, we can all take something away that will push us to be better at what we do!
Welcome back and enjoy the spring weather!
Adam
Fact 1: As each goose flaps its wings it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson: By sharing a common direction and sense of community, BCS can get where we are going quicker and easier because we are traveling on the thrust of one another.
Fact 2: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
Lesson: By staying in formation with those headed where we want BCS to go, we will be more willing to accept their help and give our help to others.
Fact 3: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, the BCS community is interdependent on each other’s skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents and resources.
Fact 4: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson: We need to make sure honking is only for encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement the production is much greater.
Fact 5: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
Lesson: The BCS community needs to continue to stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.
WEEK AT A GLANCE – APRIL 12 – APRIL 16, 2010
(Disclaimer: Please check all your calendars and bcsonline.info in case we missed something)
This is the last week of the third quarter – new choice hours DO NOT start this week. New choice hour classes will begin next Monday on April 19, the beginning of quarter four.
Monday, April 12
• Collection of items for schoolwide community service project – see specifics below
• 7/8 students & parents - Bid on Ms. Snyder’s Pizza party (see below) by noon on Wednesday
• 8:30-11:00AM – Vision screening for 3rd , 5th & 7th grades -conducted By Oakland County Health Dept
• 9:15AM – 3/4 Room Parents Meeting
• 3:20-4:45PM – Girls soccer practice
• 4:10 – 5:15PM – Track Practice
Tuesday, April 13
• Collection of items for schoolwide community service project – see specifics below
• 7/8 students & parents - Bid on Ms. Snyder’s Pizza party (see below) by noon on Wednesday
• 7:15-8:15AM – BCS ALUMNI breakfast in the media center – for high school seniors who attended BCS.
• 8-8:20AM – Bagel sale in front of the media center by the 8th grade celebration committee
• 8:30-11:00AM – Vision screening for 3rd , 5th & 7th grades -conducted By Oakland County Health Dept
• 11am-12:30 pm - As part of the Genocides and Holocaust Unit and the reading of The Diary of Anne Frank, Holocaust survivors will speak in the Media Center to 7/8 students and staff.
• 3:15-4:00PM – School store is open in the main hallway during choice hour
• 4:05-5:45PM – Girls soccer practice
• 4:10 – 5:15PM – Track Practice
Wednesday, April 14
• Collection of items for schoolwide community service project – see specifics below
• 8:30-11:00AM – Vision screening for 3rd , 5th & 7th grades -conducted By Oakland County Health Dept
• NOON – Deadline to bid on Ms. Snyder’s pizza party for 7/8 students & parents
• Popcorn Day – freshly popped popcorn is sold during choice hour for $1 in the main hallway.
• 3:20-4:45PM – Girls soccer practice
• 4:10 – 5:15PM – Track Practice
Thursday, April 15 - LAST DAY OF THE 3RD QUARTER
• Collection of items for schoolwide community service project – see specifics below
• HAT DAY to benefit City Mission – students who wear a hat to school today bring $1 to donate to the City Mission laptop fundraiser. Bring the $1 to homeroom/first class today for collection.
• 8AM-2PM – Religious Diversity Journey to Bharatiya Temple for 8 students in 7/8 grade level
• 8:30-11:00AM – Vision screening for 3rd , 5th & 7th grades -conducted By Oakland County Health Dept
• 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.
• 1:15PM – PTSA Clearinghouse Meeting in Staff Development I-All are invited to learn about the operations of the PTSA at BCS. Bring a friend or meet new friends.
• 2:30-3:00 – Schoolwide assembly on City Mission community service project
• 4:05-5:45PM – Girls soccer practice
• 4:10 – 5:15PM – Track Practice
• 7 PM – Friends of Different Learners Meeting – “Law Enforcement and Behavioral Safeguards” in the BCS Media Center
• 4-8PM Drop off garage sale items at Berkshire Middle School. Proceeds to Birmingham Education Foundation
Friday, April 16
• No School – Professional Development/Records Day
• 10AM-7PM - Drop off garage sale items at Berkshire Middle School. Proceeds to Birmingham Education Foundation
• 11-12:30AM – New Families Ice Cream Social in the cafeteria
• Deadline: Articles for E-Bugle due today kyraeg@wowway.com
Hot Entrée menu for the week: (subject to change, if necessary)
- Available everyday: Salad Bar, Hamburgers, Chicken Patties, Pizza & Cheese Breadsticks
Monday –Popcorn chicken, mashed potatoes, corn
Tuesday –Grilled cheese, tomato soup, mixed vegetables
Wednesday –Spaghetti, breadstick, green beans
Thursday – Bacon cheeseburger, diced potatoes, California blend vegetables
Friday – No School
To submit an item for next week’s “WAG”, email nb01bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us by FRIDAY 7AM
SCHOOLWIDE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT - Collection of Items for City Mission
Each grade level is collecting school-related items to donate to City Mission through Thursday, April 15th. Drop off items in the blue bins located in the popcorn cubby off of the main hallway at BCS.
• Grades 3-4: Indoor Recess Items (easy crafts, board games, books, educational DVD’s)
• Grades 5-6: School Supplies (red, yellow, and green folders; small personal white boards; white board markers; erasers; educational software
• Grades 7-8: Outdoor Recess Items (balls of all kinds, jump ropes – individual and long – sidewalk chalk, etc)
Two Fundraisers for Two Laptops for City Mission
• For Grades 3-8 Hat Day: All students are invited to participate in Hat Day on Thursday, April 15th. Wear a sports hat, a wacky hat, any hat to support City Mission. We are asking that each student donate a $1 to help raise funds to purchase the goal of two laptops for City Mission. Donations will be collected in homeroom/first class of the morning on Hat Day.
• 7-8 Grade Blind Auction: We had an item that was inadvertently left out of the Blast, and the teacher (Mrs. Snyder) has graciously agreed to donate the item to help raise funds for the two laptops that BCS hopes to purchase for City Mission. The minimum starting bid for this item is $20.00. Bidding will start Monday, April 12th – Wednesday, 12/noon, April 14th. Parents/Adults only email your bid to mc05bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us. In the subject line, type BID. A description of the item is as follows:
For Grades 7/8 students . . . How would you like to enjoy a relaxing Wednesday afternoon off with three of your friends? On a mutually-agreed upon Wednesday, Profe Snyder will invite you and three of your friends in for lunch and a movie. You will enjoy plenty of pizza, pop and classic movie treats (and ice cream, perhaps?) while relaxing in the “comfy” chairs borrowed from the Media Center. No need to head back to class after lunch, spend the rest of the afternoon watching your movie of choice and enjoying time with your friends in Profe’s room.
Final Assembly, Thursday, April 15 @ 2:30
• A final assembly to wrap up the schoolwide community service project will take on Thursday, April 15th from 2:30 – 3:00. Representatives from City Mission will be at this all-school assembly and will be presented with the collected items and a check for the two laptops.
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!
SPRING PICTURE DAY is Tuesday, April 27 – the BCS school code is AA0201.
All BCS students are invited to take a SPRING PICTURE on picture day. SPRING PICTURES are different from fall pictures because there are sixteen AWESOME AND FUN green screen backgrounds to choose from. It is a terrific chance to show off your child’s personality. School appropriate props are also welcome! Please avoid wearing bright shades of green as it interferes with the green screen technology. Only students who have ordered online or who have a completed order form in hand will be photographed. Extra forms are available in the office.
Check out the various backgrounds on the website, www.schoolpictures.com and place your order online by midnight, April 26, the BCS school code is AA0201.
We are looking for 2-3 parent volunteers to help with picture day in the morning from 8:15 – 11:30AM . Please email Nancy Best at nb01bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us if you are interested. A $20 credit towards your picture packet will be provided to volunteers.
ATTENTION 8TH GRADE FAMILIES- RESERVE THE DATE!!
Please reserve Thursday, June 10 for the 8th Grade Farewell Celebration! The program will run from 6:30 - 8pm with a dessert reception from 8 - 8:30pm. The 8th grade dance will follow from 8:30 to 10pm (the dance is for 8th grade students only). Invitations, with additional information, will be mailed to the families of 8th graders at a later date.
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.
DRESS CODE
Warm weather is here and so are the summer clothes!
Please remember that we share the same expectations as both Seaholm and Groves when it comes to dress code. In the spirit of being consistent and preparing our students for the high school, we will be reminding them of our expectations of dressing appropriately. Thank you for helping us maintain the integrity and respect that BCS has always known!
Two dress code violations that continuously are brought to my attention by our staff here at BCS are shorts and yoga pants. Shorts should be as long as your child’s fingertips when their arms are at their side and yoga pants should only be worn when a long shirt or sweater is worn also. Hats are not allowed to be worn within the school building except for special occasions such as hat day. Thank you again for your support and help in this matter!
6th and 7th Grade Parents
The teachers at BCS would like to offer your children the opportunity to go on an exciting foreign adventure during winter break 2011. The focus of the trip would be taking part in an environmental service project but the children would also experience cultural and language immersion, character building exercises and learn leadership skills. The estimated cost for this trip would be around two thousand dollars. Please check out this website and if you would be interested in having your child take part in a trip like this please let us know. Before we take this any further, it is important for us to know if there would be any interest. You may email Pauline Roberts at pr05bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us
Thank you! http://www.costaricaexplorations.org/
Remember Trash Free Fridays!!!!
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