WAG Oct 17-21, 2011

Dear BCS Families,


This week we had the pleasure to hold our annual report discussion during the PTSA meeting. It was a quick summary of how BCS is doing in the areas of parent involvement, academic rigor, state assessments and expectations, and points of pride. Hard copies of our annual report our located in the main office. During the report, I stated that we should take a brief moment and pat ourselves on the back but to not spend too long as we should always focus on our improvement areas. I left the meeting to attend another meeting where we were preparing to finalize the district’s school accreditation report. The theme of the meeting was again, to point out our successes, but to continue focusing on the areas we need to improve upon throughout the district. After all, this is what the great leaders do…reflect…improve…reflect…improve! If you have read the W.A.G.’s in the past, you know we have discussed fostering a growth mindset and how it is crucial in being the best we can be. This week showed how BCS, and the district as a whole, fosters this mindset as we understand there will never be a time we sit back and say, “we made it, our work is done here”. Writing this W.A.G. within itself is patting ourselves on the back, not for what we have achieved, but for what we will achieve in the future because we are always becoming better!

To learn more about fostering a growth mindset go to the BCS parent wiki at http://geekedmindsetforparents.wikispaces.com/

Have a great week!

G.E.E.K.ed about Leading,

Adam and Patricia



WEEK AT A GLANCE – Week of October 17-21, 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



MEAP TESTING CONTINUES-PLEASE CHECK THE SCHEDULE

See Mr Hartley’s 10/7/11 email for the schedule



Monday, October 17

• 6:45 -8 AM Girls Basketball Practice

• 4:00 PM Cross Country Meet Home (at Beverly Park)v. Derby and Berkshire Middle Schools

• 4:05-6PM-7-8 Boys Soccer Practice

Tuesday, October 18

• 7-8 AM Cross Country Practice

• 8AM BAGELS ARE BACK-Bagels can be purchased each week for $1.25 (cream cheese .25 cents)in front of the Media Center-check bcsonline.info for the form

• 4:00PM Girls basketball game Home v. Detroit Country Day Middle School.

• 4PM Boys Soccer HOME v. Detroit Country Day Middle School.

• 7 PM Board of Education Meeting-Administration Building

Wednesday, October 19

• 6:45 -8 AM Girls Basketball Practice

• Popcorn sold during Choice Hour $ 1

• 4:00 PM 7th and 8thGrade- Top Seven- Cross Country All League Meet-@Cranbrook Middle School. Check highschoolsports.net for directions to the school

• 4:05-6PM-7-8 Boys Soccer Practice

• 6:30 PM Technology Committee Meeting- Media Center

Thursday, October 20

• 4:00PM Girls basketball game Home v.Berkshire Middle School.

• 4PM Boys Soccer @ West Hills middle School.Check highschoolsports.net for directions to the school.

• 3:15-Cross Country Choice Hour Practice-Turn in Uniforms

Friday, October 21

• 6:45 -8 AM Girls Basketball Practice

•  4:05-6PM-7-8 Boys Soccer Practice

• 6:30-8 PM 5/6 Game Night Night-$6.00 per person payable at the door

Saturday, October 15

• 6 PM Proud Dads Tennis-Birmingham Racquet Club



Hot Entrée menu for the week: (subject to change, if necessary)

- Available everyday: Salad Bar, Hamburgers, Chicken Patties, Pizza & Cheese Breadsticks

Monday – Grilled Hot Dog or Beef Chili Dog, Seasoned Baked Fries, Fresh Fruit Cup, Mexican Pizza

Tuesday – Chicken Parmesan, Toasted Garlic Bread, Steamed Carrots, Nacho Supreme

Wednesday – Chicken or Vegetable Stir Fry, Brown Rice, Oriental Blend Vegetables, Supreme Pizza

Thursday – Baked Chicken Drumstick, Au Gratin Potatoes, California Blend, Zesty Beef Burrito

Friday – Bacon Cheese Burger, Oven Roasted Potatoes, Fresh Peas and Carrots, Chicken Fajita Pizza



PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR IMPORTANT FAMILY, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

3/4 SWIM & GYM SCHEDULE for 1st Marking Period

Harvath and Maliszewski homerooms will be in GYM CLASS– students should be prepared with gym shoes .

Butzin, Frishman, Davis, Seley, Parkin, and Wallington will be in SWIM CLASS -students should be prepared with swimsuits and towels.



MORE NEWS FROM PE

Mr. Johansson’s 5/6 classes as well as Brown/Fitz 6th will be swimming during the 2nd Quarter (11/7-1/27).

Mr. Manchester’s classes as well as Cook/Wilkie 5th & Joberts 6th will be swimming during the 3rd Quarter (1/30-4/13).



DIGITAL BCS UPDATE

We are currently making the switch from DigitalBCS.com to www.BCSonline.info for all of our teacher websites. Please go to www.BCSonline.info and reset your teacher bookmarks from that page as they will no longer be correct with the DigitalBCS



“Wii” NEED YOUR HELP!

The LINKS program is looking to acquire a Wii game system and age appropriate video games to use with the 5/6 grade students during lunch time in the game room. If you have a Wii system, Wii accessories (nunchucks, remote controls, etc.) or any Wii games that you are looking to donate to a good cause, please drop them off in the office for Mr. Bodle! We are also happy to accept any handheld gaming devices (PSP, DS, etc.) that you are look to donate to the game room!



STUDENT ID CARDS

Student Identification cards were handed out this last week. These cards are linked to your child’s lunch and media center accounts. Please encourage your child to keep this card handy so that they can check out books and purchase their lunch in a speedy fashion



BOYS TENNIS

We are hoping to start a boys tennis team for the 2012 spring season! If you a 6th, 7th or 8th grade boy interested in playing on the team, please email Mrs. Chinn at pc02bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us so that we can determine the level of interest!



It's Here-5/6 Game Night!!!!!!!

Friday, October 21

6:30-8:00 p.m.

Price is $6.00 per person –Payable at the door

rsvpbcs.56game@bcsparent.com

Includes coney, chips, drink and dessert (and games and prizes)!

No family will ever be excluded for financial reasons.

Please contact Adam Hartley if you need assistance at ah07bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us



BOX TOPS BOX TOPS BOX TOPS---Clip and bring to the office

There is a new promotion for box tops. Check out the boxtopsforeducation.com website. Ford has now partnered with box tops and is offering free eboxtops for watching videos, requesting brochures, and even buying a car.Teresa Rea –Box Tops Coordinator



TUESDAY MORNING BAGELS-Presented by the 8th Grade Celebration Committee

Hip Hip Hooray Tuesday Morning Bagel Sales Are On Their Way. The PTSA 8th grade Celebration Committee starts selling bagels this Tuesday, October 11th. Bagels can be purchased each week for $1.25 (cream cheese .25 cents) or can be pre-purchased for the year for $37.50.( includes cream cheese) To prepay, please download a form at www.bcsonline.info



SCHOOL PICTURES INFORMATION: If you ordered pictures before or on picture day, they should have been given to your child . If you ordered after picture day, they will come back with the “RETAKES” sometime later in November. Picture retake day is October 26. If you are not satisfied with your child’s photograph, the original picture packet needs to be returned to the photographer on RETAKE day. If you think you ordered pictures but did not receive them, please call the picture company, schoolpictures.com at 1-734-677-3400 or 1-800-482-0321.



THE BCS DECAL IS BACK!

Place it on your car, your window, or your locker. The BCS decal is available for $5.00 and is removable, repositionable, and restickable. To order your decal(s), return the order form (available at www.bcsonline.info) along with cash or a check payable to the BCS PTSA on or before October 28th, 2011. Decals will be distributed to your child's homeroom the week of November 7th.



CHOICE HOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS

QII CHOICE HOUR SELECTION SHEETS WERE DUE LAST FRIDAY OCTOBER 14TH. There are many students that have not turned in their selections. Please take care of this as soon as possible. QII begins Monday November 7th, 2011 and ends Friday January 27th, 2012! Visit www.bcsonline.info to view class offerings.



Please include proper payment if you are signing your child up for a 4th and/or 5th day of Choice Hour. Students will not be placed in classes without payment. Do not include payment for classes with materials fees. A separate billing will be made once students have been placed in their Choice Hour classes.



QII Sports Teams

6-8 Girls Swimming Choice Hour class will be on Monday and Wednesday – please select these classes if you intend to swim for the BCS girls’ swim team.

7-8 Boys’ Basketball will be on Tuesday and Thursday – team selections will take place after try-outs. See Coaches Bishop and Mixon if you have questions.



If you do not understand the Choice Hour process, call Jennifer Brown at 203-4426 regarding scheduling and Linda Stone at 203-4625 regarding class content, attendance policies, choice hour absences, or if you are interested in teaching a Choice Hour class.



Thank you for your continued support of the Choice Hour program.



YEARBOOK ORDERING INFORMATION

Yearbooks AND Proud Parent ads can be ordered online this year. Go to http://bcsonline.info/Parent_Resources/Yearbooks.html for more information. Online price of only $35 for a yearbook ends November 18, 2011. Deadline for Proud Parent ads is January 22, 2012



GEOGRAPHY BEE IS COMING TO BCS

BCS is going to hold a Geography Bee this year. Students in grades 4-8 are eligible to participate. The school-wide bee will be held on Tuesday, January 10th. The winner of the school bee will take a written test to qualify for the National Geographic State Bee.

Mr. Braisted has agreed to teach a Choice Hour class during 2nd Quarter for students in grades 4-8 who wish to learn more about Geography and prepare for the Bee together. However, anyone in grades 4-8 can sign up for the Bee - students do not need to be in the Geography Choice Hour in order to participate in the Bee.

The National Geographic Society runs the National Bee and provides the materials for the school bee. The website National Geographic Bee - National Geographic has a wealth of information and activities for students interested in the bee. There is also a very fun GeoBee Challenge app available for iPad, iPod touch, and other mobile devices that students can use to quiz themselves



RED OUT for the AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

Get your RED on at Groves/Seaholm Game! Charity Event for the American Heart Association.

Friday, October 21, 2011, 7:00 pm

Seaholm Football Field

Purchase an American Heart Association red $10 t-shirt at the game to help support a RED OUT where a sea of red fans will unite to raise awareness and funds for the American Heart Association! This event grew in response to the tragic loss of Seaholm’s football coach, Coach Deane, who passed away suddenly this summer. The event has expanded to promote an overall awareness of heart disease and demonstrate unity between the schools.





NEWS FROM OUR BIRMINGHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION

The Birmingham Education Foundation is hosting a Family Fun Tailgate before the Seaholm/Groves football game on October 21, 2011. Enjoy FREE hotdogs, beverages and grab a pom pon compliments of Exclusive Sponsor Dean Sellers Ford, to cheer on your future team! Find our tailgate tent just inside Maple Stadium at Seaholm from 6:00 p.m. until game time. A special marching band performance will be part of the festivities. All are welcome. www.supportBEF.org



NANCY LIEBERMAN BASKETBALL CAMP- Co-sponsored with Birmingham Community Education

To enhance kids skills, competitiveness, confidence, self-esteem, decision making, and basic basketball fundamentals

WHEN: October 29, 2011

TIME: 9:00am-12:00 noon

WHERE: Seaholm High School 2436 West Lincoln Street Birmingham, Mi 48009

WHO: Boys and Girls ages 5-17

PRICE: $45.00 per camper. $30.00 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your child’s spot in camp. Includes camp T-shirt and signed Nancy Lieberman poster.

Camp is conducted by NANCY LIEBERMAN Basketball Hall of Famer, 2X Olympian, former Head Coach/GM for the Detroit Shock, NBA Development League Head Coach for the Dallas Mavericks Affiliate team (Texas Legends) in Frisco, TX

Things to remember:

Please arrive 20 minutes early, bring your own basketball, and don’t forget your smile!!

For more information, call (972) 473-2121, visit nancylieberman.com, or fax to 972-473-2139

Scholarships are offered for this camp.Please contact Adam Hartley if you need assistance ah07bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us



BIRMINGHAM BLOOMFIELD COMMUNITY COALITION (BBCC)



Check out the latest edition of “Keeping Our Youth Safe & Substance Free” Newsletter featuring ParenTeen Communications, America’s #1 Public Health Problem and more. Click on http://tiny.cc/2nxsl• Substances in the News… A trend being used by youth to conceal alcohol is known as "Drunk Gummies" or "Boozy Bears." Youth are using Vodka, because of its mild odor, and making it taste better by soaking gummy bears or other candy in it. These candies easily absorb a large amount of the liquid. Read more at: http://tiny.cc/2nxsl

For more info on substance abuse prevention visit www.bbcoalition.org



FOOD SERVICE REACHES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY… During these challenging economic times we want to continue our commitment to the nutritional lunch meal that each student receives at Birmingham Public Schools. If a student or family lunch account becomes behind we will continue to provide students with a meal of milk, cheese and fruit – meeting all of the nutritive guidelines for dairy, protein and fruit / vegetable. Our goal is not to minimize what we are offering but to give the student foods with nutrition value for a limited time while we work with their parents to bring their accounts up to date or pack a lunch for them if necessary. We offer several alternatives for families to pay for meals at Birmingham Public Schools. Online pre-payment through www.mymealtime.com is an excellent alternative and is now available without a surcharge. Through an account at the mymealtime site you can also receive an email notification when your students’ account is low. If you would like to investigate the federal programs for providing student meals for free or at a reduced cost, the forms are available at any school office and as well at the www.mymealtime.com site. If you have any questions about the foodservices program at Birmingham Public Schools, please contact our foodservice department at 248-203-3966 or 203-3965.

NOTE TO BCS/BPS FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Comcast has introduced a program called Comcast Internet Essentials. This offer is for any BPS students receiving free lunches (not reduced lunches) through the National School Lunch Program. In an effort to bridge the “Digital Divide” it provides:

Home Internet Access for $9.95 per month

An Optional Netbook Computer for $149.00

Free Internet Training – Online, Print

Comcast has launched the program and is now accepting applications.For more information, see the Comcast website:http://internetessentials.com/