Dear BCS Staff, Students and Families,
Congratulations BCS for being one of the top thirty scoring schools on the Michigan Department of Education’s Top 100 Schools List. This acknowledgement takes into account test scores, school improvement work and academic achievement. While all of our BPS schools made the top 100 schools list, BCS led the way for us with a 99.65% score! BCS students, staff and families deserve recognition for your hard work, your commitment to excellence and your unwavering pride in the BCS way. On behalf of the Board of Education, I want to thank each of you for your commitment to educational success.
David F. Larson, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Birmingham Public Schools
550 W. Merrill St.
Birmingham, MI 48009
Phone: (248) 203-3004
Fax: (248) 203-3007
Every student . . . .Every advantage
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Welcome Patricia Chinn
Patricia Chinn has been named BCS Assistant Principal for the 2010-2011 school year. I, along with the BCS staff, would like to welcome Patricia to this amazing school!
Mrs. Chinn is excited to work with the BCS students and their families in the fall!
Mrs. Chinn is excited to work with the BCS students and their families in the fall!
Growth Mindset Links
Here are a few links about having a growth mindset. Failure=success...it just depends on your mindset!
http://mindsetonline.com/
http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2008/07/the-growth-mind.html#axzz0rjRAdO5T
http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2007/marapr/features/dweck.html
http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/01/07/growth-mindset-over-fixed-mindset/
http://mindsetonline.com/
http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2008/07/the-growth-mind.html#axzz0rjRAdO5T
http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2007/marapr/features/dweck.html
http://sourcesofinsight.com/2009/01/07/growth-mindset-over-fixed-mindset/
Sunday, June 13, 2010
June 14-18 WAG
June 13, 2010
Dear BCS Families,
I am writing the WAG for the last time this year and wish all of you a great summer! I would like to thank everyone for embracing my leadership and making me feel welcomed here at BCS. I am excited about what the 2010-2011 school year will bring and look forward to working with all of you to provide the quality education BCS is known for.
Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to address the incoming 3rd grade parents at our move up day program. That same day, I helped send our 8th grade students off to high school at the end of the year ceremony. What an amazing day!
I was able to see firsthand how BCS allows a child to grow both educationally and socially for six years under the same roof. This rare opportunity allows our students to build relationships with one another, and the teaching staff, that may not occur in a traditional setting. Those relationships begin on move up day, when the third graders visit their homeroom teachers, and are fostered throughout the six years our students are here. Thursday night it was evident that the six years spent together were meaningful and fruitful for our students. It was nice to see how the move up day experience eventually leads to an 8th grade graduation!
Speaking at the 8th grade graduation was an opportunity for me to talk about a topic that we all have known in some way or another, Transitions.
Transition is defined as the passage from one state, subject, or place to another. It is a word that is often associated with change and change is many times connected to feelings of anxiousness or concern. The message I gave to the 8th graders and the message I would like to end with this year’s WAG is this…
Whether you are going through a transition that is natural (losing a loved one or moving from one grade to another), forced (losing a job and having to start a new career), or chosen (taking on a new position or transferring from a college), make sure to embrace the change and learn from it. This will make you stronger and will benefit everyone around you more than you know!
BCS has had its share of transitions, and we will continue to embrace the changes that are natural, forced, and chosen!
Have a great summer!
Adam
WEEK AT A GLANCE – JUNE 14 – JUNE 18, 2010
(Disclaimer: Please check all your calendars and bcsonline.info in case we missed something)
Monday, June 14
• 8:00-8:15AM – Yearbook orders taken in front of the Media Center, cost is $35. Yearbooks will be distributed in homeroom on Wednesday.
• E-bugle published today!
• 9:15AM – 3/4 Room Parents Meeting
Tuesday, June 15
• 8:00-8:15AM – Yearbook orders taken in front of the Media Center, cost is $35. Yearbooks will be distributed in homeroom on Wednesday.
• 3/4 Eng. Tech. Ambulance Project Presentation and Distribution in the Media Center
o 1:35-2:20 Davis & Seley
o 2:25-3:10 Parkin & Wallington
• 6:30 – 8:00PM Technology Committee Meeting - Media Center
• 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, June 16
• 8:00-8:15AM – Yearbook orders taken in front of the Media Center, cost is $35.
• Yearbooks are distributed in homeroom
• LOCKER CLEAN-OUT DAY – Please send in a sturdy garbage bag with your student to carry locker items home. All items left in lockers after today will be disposed of
• GYM LOCKERS – all gym lockers should be cleaned out today. All remaining locks will be cut-off on Thursday and contents will be disposed of
• 3/4 Eng. Tech. Ambulance Project Presentation and Distribution in the Media Center
o 1:35-2:20 Butzin & Frishman
o 2:25-3:10 Burns & Harvath
• There is no popcorn sold today
• Choice Hour- annual student vs staff volleyball game in the gym
Thursday, June 17
• 7:00AM – Busses leave for 7/8 end of the year trip to Cedar Point. Please arrive at 8:30PM to pick up your child.
• 5/6 end of year party to Skateworld & Thunderbird Lanes
• 3/4 end of year party at BCS
Friday, June 18 – LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
• HALF DAY OF SCHOOL – Dismissal is now at 11:20PM. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DISMISSAL TIME HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 11:20. Busses are provided at the early dismissal time.
• There is NO lunch service today.
Friday, June 25
• Report Cards mailed home today
Hot Entrée menu for the week: (subject to change, if necessary)
- Available everyday: Salad Bar, Hamburgers, Chicken Patties, Pizza & Cheese Breadsticks
Monday –Baked chicken sticks, diced potatoes, broccoli
Tuesday –Baked popcorn chicken, rice
Wednesday – Grilled chicken pitas, chips
Thursday – End-of year celebrations – no cafeteria lunch provided
Friday – Half day of school, no cafeteria lunch provided
TEACHER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Congratulations to Sara Wilkie and Pauline Roberts who were both honored as nominees for the Birmingham Education Association's 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year Award at the annual BEA Awards Ceremony on Thursday June 3. Sara is an !gnite program facilitator and 3/4 Educational Technology teacher and Pauline is a 5/6 Math and Science teacher and Green School Coordinator. Both Sara and Pauline have worked in many different capacities this year with students, staff, and parents. Congratulations to Sara and Pauline on their recognition!
STUDENT MEDICATION
All student medication must be picked up by a parent no later than 3PM, JUNE 21. Non-emergency medications can be picked up any day during the last week of school. Student medication or forms do NOT carry over into the next school year. ALL medications not picked up will be discarded on Tuesday, June 22
5/6 PARENTS
Could you please remind your children that Monday June 14th is the last day to return student reference books, calculators, geotemplates, and textboooks. Fine slips will be issued after this date.
BOOK FINES
Many students have outstanding book fines that need to be paid before the end of the school year. In some cases, students will be asked to pay fines before departing on the end of the year field trip. Please check with your student to see if any of their teachers have issued a book fine.
3/4 END OF YEAR PARTY, JUNE 17TH
The 3/4 EOY Party is June 17th from 10am to 2pm. This full day of fun will include swimming, games, crafts, lunch, ice cream, and a performance by Animal Magic. Children should wear sneakers and bring their pool gear. Little Caesars cheese pizza will be served (if preferred, children may bring their own bag lunch). See you there!
OFFICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR
Volunteers in the office are vital as they assume the position of receptionist at BCS. The office is the center of much activity and, as a volunteer, you will have the privilege to assist students, parents, staff and visitors. Current volunteers have indicated that working in the office has provided the best opportunity to really get to know how things work at BCS. If you have time available on a weekly basis, bi-weekly basis, or other basis, please contact Cindy Balicki at cbalicki@aol.com or 248.644.5062. Also, Office volunteer sheets can be downloaded from the BCS website.
BACK TO SCHOOL REGISTRATION – AUGUST 18 & 25, 9-12AM & 5-7
As this school year winds down, we are looking ahead to the next school year!!! Please mark your calendars for the Back-To-School registration dates….and remember, every student should be registered before school starts next year! We need lots of volunteers to ensure our registration is successful and the office starts the next school year well prepared for your children. Would you please look at the dates below and sign-up to help as often as your schedule allows? We really do need you. BCS 7th and 8th graders or high school students that are BCS alums are welcome to volunteer for community service hours credit, IF they are scheduled in advance.
If you can help during any of these times, please contact Linda Weitzel (248-865-7279, jeffnlinda@hotmail.com). Please put BCS Registration on the subject line.
August 3rd (Tuesday) - 10 am to 2 pm
August 16th (Monday) - 10 am to 2 pm
August 18th (Wednesday) - 9 am to noon or 5 pm to 7 pm
August 19th (Thursday) - 9 am to noon
August 25th (Wednesday) - 9 am to noon or 5 pm to 7 pm
August 26th (Thursday) - 9 am to noon
GOLF SCRAMBLE- BIRMINGHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Come out for the 14th annual Birmingham Education Foundation Golf Scramble on June 22, 2010 at the lovely Wabeek Country Club. We are starting earlier this year with registration at 9:00 a.m. and a shotgun start at 10:00 a.m. To learn more about the event visit http://www.supportbef.org/golf-scramble.html . A registration form is also attached to this email. We really appreciate all your help in the past, and we hope to have another successful fundraiser this year. The proceeds from the outing will go directly back into the classroom to support our staff and students.
OPPORTUNITY FOR 8th GRADERS
Summer Birmingham United JV Hockey!!! Keep your skills and skates sharp this Summer!!! When: Starting June 21, 2010. Where: Orchard Lake St. Marys. Who: Any returning BU JV Players and any Groves and Seaholm players that are interested. This includes incoming freshman. We can have between 20-30 Players. Coach: JV Coach John Chateau. Teams: We will be in a Summer League with at least six teams. Games: 8-10 Games only, no practice. Cost: $200.00 per player. Please email Wally Haley whaley@haleylawfirm.com or call 810 423-0911 by June 16 if you are interested.
SEAHOLM BOY’S TENNIS TEAM PRACTICE AND TRYOUT INFORMATION:
Boys Tennis Team Tryouts begin on August 11, 2010. Tryouts are mandatory. During the summer, there will be “Captain’s Practices”. Captain’s practices are not mandatory but encouraged. If you are interested in more information regarding Seaholm’s Boy’s Tennis, please contact Graham Gettel (gfgettel@comcast.net) or Brad White (gogreengowhite14@yahoo.com).
Dear BCS Families,
I am writing the WAG for the last time this year and wish all of you a great summer! I would like to thank everyone for embracing my leadership and making me feel welcomed here at BCS. I am excited about what the 2010-2011 school year will bring and look forward to working with all of you to provide the quality education BCS is known for.
Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to address the incoming 3rd grade parents at our move up day program. That same day, I helped send our 8th grade students off to high school at the end of the year ceremony. What an amazing day!
I was able to see firsthand how BCS allows a child to grow both educationally and socially for six years under the same roof. This rare opportunity allows our students to build relationships with one another, and the teaching staff, that may not occur in a traditional setting. Those relationships begin on move up day, when the third graders visit their homeroom teachers, and are fostered throughout the six years our students are here. Thursday night it was evident that the six years spent together were meaningful and fruitful for our students. It was nice to see how the move up day experience eventually leads to an 8th grade graduation!
Speaking at the 8th grade graduation was an opportunity for me to talk about a topic that we all have known in some way or another, Transitions.
Transition is defined as the passage from one state, subject, or place to another. It is a word that is often associated with change and change is many times connected to feelings of anxiousness or concern. The message I gave to the 8th graders and the message I would like to end with this year’s WAG is this…
Whether you are going through a transition that is natural (losing a loved one or moving from one grade to another), forced (losing a job and having to start a new career), or chosen (taking on a new position or transferring from a college), make sure to embrace the change and learn from it. This will make you stronger and will benefit everyone around you more than you know!
BCS has had its share of transitions, and we will continue to embrace the changes that are natural, forced, and chosen!
Have a great summer!
Adam
WEEK AT A GLANCE – JUNE 14 – JUNE 18, 2010
(Disclaimer: Please check all your calendars and bcsonline.info in case we missed something)
Monday, June 14
• 8:00-8:15AM – Yearbook orders taken in front of the Media Center, cost is $35. Yearbooks will be distributed in homeroom on Wednesday.
• E-bugle published today!
• 9:15AM – 3/4 Room Parents Meeting
Tuesday, June 15
• 8:00-8:15AM – Yearbook orders taken in front of the Media Center, cost is $35. Yearbooks will be distributed in homeroom on Wednesday.
• 3/4 Eng. Tech. Ambulance Project Presentation and Distribution in the Media Center
o 1:35-2:20 Davis & Seley
o 2:25-3:10 Parkin & Wallington
• 6:30 – 8:00PM Technology Committee Meeting - Media Center
• 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, June 16
• 8:00-8:15AM – Yearbook orders taken in front of the Media Center, cost is $35.
• Yearbooks are distributed in homeroom
• LOCKER CLEAN-OUT DAY – Please send in a sturdy garbage bag with your student to carry locker items home. All items left in lockers after today will be disposed of
• GYM LOCKERS – all gym lockers should be cleaned out today. All remaining locks will be cut-off on Thursday and contents will be disposed of
• 3/4 Eng. Tech. Ambulance Project Presentation and Distribution in the Media Center
o 1:35-2:20 Butzin & Frishman
o 2:25-3:10 Burns & Harvath
• There is no popcorn sold today
• Choice Hour- annual student vs staff volleyball game in the gym
Thursday, June 17
• 7:00AM – Busses leave for 7/8 end of the year trip to Cedar Point. Please arrive at 8:30PM to pick up your child.
• 5/6 end of year party to Skateworld & Thunderbird Lanes
• 3/4 end of year party at BCS
Friday, June 18 – LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
• HALF DAY OF SCHOOL – Dismissal is now at 11:20PM. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DISMISSAL TIME HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 11:20. Busses are provided at the early dismissal time.
• There is NO lunch service today.
Friday, June 25
• Report Cards mailed home today
Hot Entrée menu for the week: (subject to change, if necessary)
- Available everyday: Salad Bar, Hamburgers, Chicken Patties, Pizza & Cheese Breadsticks
Monday –Baked chicken sticks, diced potatoes, broccoli
Tuesday –Baked popcorn chicken, rice
Wednesday – Grilled chicken pitas, chips
Thursday – End-of year celebrations – no cafeteria lunch provided
Friday – Half day of school, no cafeteria lunch provided
TEACHER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Congratulations to Sara Wilkie and Pauline Roberts who were both honored as nominees for the Birmingham Education Association's 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year Award at the annual BEA Awards Ceremony on Thursday June 3. Sara is an !gnite program facilitator and 3/4 Educational Technology teacher and Pauline is a 5/6 Math and Science teacher and Green School Coordinator. Both Sara and Pauline have worked in many different capacities this year with students, staff, and parents. Congratulations to Sara and Pauline on their recognition!
STUDENT MEDICATION
All student medication must be picked up by a parent no later than 3PM, JUNE 21. Non-emergency medications can be picked up any day during the last week of school. Student medication or forms do NOT carry over into the next school year. ALL medications not picked up will be discarded on Tuesday, June 22
5/6 PARENTS
Could you please remind your children that Monday June 14th is the last day to return student reference books, calculators, geotemplates, and textboooks. Fine slips will be issued after this date.
BOOK FINES
Many students have outstanding book fines that need to be paid before the end of the school year. In some cases, students will be asked to pay fines before departing on the end of the year field trip. Please check with your student to see if any of their teachers have issued a book fine.
3/4 END OF YEAR PARTY, JUNE 17TH
The 3/4 EOY Party is June 17th from 10am to 2pm. This full day of fun will include swimming, games, crafts, lunch, ice cream, and a performance by Animal Magic. Children should wear sneakers and bring their pool gear. Little Caesars cheese pizza will be served (if preferred, children may bring their own bag lunch). See you there!
OFFICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR
Volunteers in the office are vital as they assume the position of receptionist at BCS. The office is the center of much activity and, as a volunteer, you will have the privilege to assist students, parents, staff and visitors. Current volunteers have indicated that working in the office has provided the best opportunity to really get to know how things work at BCS. If you have time available on a weekly basis, bi-weekly basis, or other basis, please contact Cindy Balicki at cbalicki@aol.com or 248.644.5062. Also, Office volunteer sheets can be downloaded from the BCS website.
BACK TO SCHOOL REGISTRATION – AUGUST 18 & 25, 9-12AM & 5-7
As this school year winds down, we are looking ahead to the next school year!!! Please mark your calendars for the Back-To-School registration dates….and remember, every student should be registered before school starts next year! We need lots of volunteers to ensure our registration is successful and the office starts the next school year well prepared for your children. Would you please look at the dates below and sign-up to help as often as your schedule allows? We really do need you. BCS 7th and 8th graders or high school students that are BCS alums are welcome to volunteer for community service hours credit, IF they are scheduled in advance.
If you can help during any of these times, please contact Linda Weitzel (248-865-7279, jeffnlinda@hotmail.com). Please put BCS Registration on the subject line.
August 3rd (Tuesday) - 10 am to 2 pm
August 16th (Monday) - 10 am to 2 pm
August 18th (Wednesday) - 9 am to noon or 5 pm to 7 pm
August 19th (Thursday) - 9 am to noon
August 25th (Wednesday) - 9 am to noon or 5 pm to 7 pm
August 26th (Thursday) - 9 am to noon
GOLF SCRAMBLE- BIRMINGHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Come out for the 14th annual Birmingham Education Foundation Golf Scramble on June 22, 2010 at the lovely Wabeek Country Club. We are starting earlier this year with registration at 9:00 a.m. and a shotgun start at 10:00 a.m. To learn more about the event visit http://www.supportbef.org/golf-scramble.html . A registration form is also attached to this email. We really appreciate all your help in the past, and we hope to have another successful fundraiser this year. The proceeds from the outing will go directly back into the classroom to support our staff and students.
OPPORTUNITY FOR 8th GRADERS
Summer Birmingham United JV Hockey!!! Keep your skills and skates sharp this Summer!!! When: Starting June 21, 2010. Where: Orchard Lake St. Marys. Who: Any returning BU JV Players and any Groves and Seaholm players that are interested. This includes incoming freshman. We can have between 20-30 Players. Coach: JV Coach John Chateau. Teams: We will be in a Summer League with at least six teams. Games: 8-10 Games only, no practice. Cost: $200.00 per player. Please email Wally Haley whaley@haleylawfirm.com or call 810 423-0911 by June 16 if you are interested.
SEAHOLM BOY’S TENNIS TEAM PRACTICE AND TRYOUT INFORMATION:
Boys Tennis Team Tryouts begin on August 11, 2010. Tryouts are mandatory. During the summer, there will be “Captain’s Practices”. Captain’s practices are not mandatory but encouraged. If you are interested in more information regarding Seaholm’s Boy’s Tennis, please contact Graham Gettel (gfgettel@comcast.net) or Brad White (gogreengowhite14@yahoo.com).
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
BCS Students Discuss Peer Pressure
Officer Hoffman, school liaison officer, was here to talk about the pressures our students face each day regarding drugs and alcohol. Officer Hoffman talked about standing up to peer pressure and what the consequences are if you do not. He also talked about how the high school students that make good choices go on to lead successful lives.
The students heard statistics that MOST high school students in both Groves and Seaholm DO NOT participate in illegal activities- however, most kids perceive that many students do.
Thank you Officer Hoffman!
Monday, May 31, 2010
WAG June 1-4
May 31, 2010
Dear BCS community,
I have recently read an article on connecting with our digital learners and what it takes to educate students in a digital world. I read the article through the lens of the instructional leader and found myself asking…
Are we doing enough at BCS to adapt to today’s learner?
Here is an excerpt from the article; the whole article can be read at http://www.edutopia.org/ikid-digital-learner
Teachers in every strata of education are increasingly dealing with a student population that is not only more wired than they are but also grew up in a techno-drenched atmosphere that has trained them to absorb and process information in fundamentally different ways. This generation of students is more likely to be armed with cell phones, laptops, and iPods than with spiral notebooks and No. 2 pencils.
Teachers who once struggled for students' attention mainly against daydreams, passed notes, class clowns, and cross-aisle flirting now also face a formidable array of gadgets and digitized content. Smart schools -- and smart educators -- are scrambling to figure out how to use these same tools and information-distribution techniques to reach and excite young minds. "You have to work with the kind of brains we've got now," says Susan Blackmore, who holds a PhD in psychology from Oxford University and frequently writes and lectures on new technology's effects on consciousness..
As the principal of BCS I see movement and energy surrounding this very subject. I observe lessons, participate in discussions, and see firsthand how our students are empowered and engaged on a daily basis. Technology, whether it is provided by the district or brought in by the students themselves, is used in many effective ways to enhance learning. A big part of meeting the needs of our students is allowing our teachers and students to take risks and to possess something that continues to be missing in many schools, autonomy
If we are to build an environment where today’s’ learners can experiment with the tools they are accustomed to, we must allow for autonomy. We cannot expect growth among our students unless they themselves have a say in how they learn, or what they learn with. Instead of giving our students all of the answers, we need to guide the students to search for responses to their own questions by helping them research, identify, and sort through information.
The BCS staff continues to strive for a climate of collaboration to support our changed role as educators for today’s learner. Daily conferences with team partners allow our teachers to encourage each other to make changes and try new things. Because our teachers stay with our students for two years, they do not use the same ideas with the class and are always coming up with new projects. Autonomy is not an option. Our students, and our teachers, need to have the freedom to learn with new tools, utilize the best technology that is out there, and learn from each other.
Are we doing enough? I believe that as long as we are allowing for students and teachers to have the autonomy to use new tools, utilize the technology in a variety of ways, and to learn from one another, we are certainly moving forward. We will never reach a point to where we can say we have done enough, but if we can say that we are working vigorously to keep up with our students’ interest…that is half the battle!
Finish Strong,
Adam
.
WEEK AT A GLANCE – MAY 31 – JUNE 4, 2010
(Disclaimer: Please check all your calendars and bcsonline.info in case we missed something)
To submit an item for next week’s “WAG”, email nb01bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us by FRIDAY 7AM
Monday, May 31
• No School – Memorial Day
Tuesday, June 1
• ALL BOOKS DUE BACK TO THE BCS MEDIA CENTER
• Forensics Team audition sign-up outside Room 407
• 8th grade students who have not picked up their T-shirt – please stop at the bagel sale to pick it up. Also, please drop off any remaining loose change baggies.
• 8-8:20AM – Bagel sale in front of the media center by the 8th grade celebration committee
• 3:15-4:00PM – School store is open in the main hallway during choice hour
• 4:10 – 5:00PM – Track Practice for student attending the Oakland County Meet
• 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, June 2
• DEADLINE: RSVP due to Joe Neal (joe@tandyengineering.com) for BCS golf outing on June 9
• Forensics Team audition sign-up outside Room 407
• 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
• 3: 20 – 4:05PM – Track Practice during choice hour – BRING UNIFORMS
• 5:30-6:30PM – Proud Dads Golf for 3rd – 8th grade- Royal Oak Driving Range at 13 Mile Rd & Coolidge
• 7:00PM – 5th & 6th grade SPRING BAND CONCERT – BCS Cafeteria - band members arrive no later than 6:30 in concert attire (no blue jeans, athletic shoes or tee shirts)
Thursday, June 3
• Forensics Team audition sign-up outside Room 407
• All ART ALIVE canvases and pieces of art should be picked up by students today and tomorrow
• 8:15 – 9:30AM – 8th Grade Farewell Celebration Planning Meeting-media center
• 1:30 PM – Students leave for Oakland County Track meet at Clarkston High School
• 7:30PM – BCS ORCHESTRA SPRING CONCERT – BCS Cafeteria – guest appearance by the 8th grade band at 7:50PM.
• 7 PM – Friends of Different Learners Meeting – “Wrap Up – Planning Meeting, Board Elections for 2010-2011” in the BCS Media Center
Friday, June 4
• All ART ALIVE canvases and pieces of art should be picked up by students today
• DUE: Permission slip and payment for the 8th grade field trip to Thunderbird Lanes on June 10. Permission slips can be downloaded from www.bcsonline.info
• 3:30 - ?? Forensic Team Auditions – please be prompt for your appointment time
Hot Entrée menu for the week: (subject to change, if necessary)
- Available everyday: Salad Bar, Hamburgers, Chicken Patties, Pizza & Cheese Breadsticks
Monday – No School
Tuesday – Beef Hot Dog or Chili Dog, carrots w/ dip
Wednesday – Spaghetti – w/ or w/o meat sauce, garlic bread
Thursday – Pasta primavera w/chicken, steamed broccoli
Friday – Breakfast for Lunch OR Chicken sliders, fresh fruit
MOVE-UP INFORMATION NIGHT
Move-Up Night for parents is June 8, 2010 in the Media Center. Parents of students in 4th grade going to 5th grade will be from 6:30pm-7:15pm and parents of students in 6th grade going to 7th grade will be from 8:00pm-8:45pm. Please plan to attend and learn more about these transitions.
POWERSCHOOL
The parent portal of POWERSCHOOL will be available until July 5, 2010. On July 6, 2010, the portal will be closed until parents receive notification that it has re-opened.
BCS BAND SPRING BAND CONCERTS REMINDER
The 5th & 6th grade bands will perform their spring concert on Wednesday evening, June 2nd in the BCS cafeteria. The performance will begin at 7:00pm. The 7th & 8th grade bands will perform their spring concert on Wednesday, June 9 in the BCS cafeteria. The starting time for the 7th & 8th grade band performance is 7:00pm. The 8th grade band members will also be making a guest appearance with the BCS orchestra on Thursday, June 3 at 7:30 pm. Specific details for the 8th grade performance with the orchestra have been sent home with the 8th grade band members.
8TH GRADE FAMILIES…….PERMISSION SLIP AND FEE ARE DUE FOR 8TH GRADE BOWLING TRIP
During Move-Up Day on June 10, the eighth graders will go bowling tot Thunderbird Lanes with Mr. Johansson and Mrs. Kelmigian. For your convenience, the flyer was emailed on May 28. You may also download the flyer from www.bcsonline.info . Please return permission slip and $12.50 (payable to BCS) to Mrs. Reepmeyer in the main office by Friday, June 4. We would also welcome a few parent volunteers for this fun outing! Please indicate your interest on the permission slip.
WACKY RECESS – JUNE 11, 2010
Please remember to RSVP for the BBQ lunch on Wacky Recess Day, Friday, June 11. The cafeteria will not be open on this day as the staff will be helping the Proud Dads serve food at the BBQ. Download the flyer at www.bcsnline.info and send it, with payment, into the office just as soon as you can. Also, if you are able to volunteer to help at the BBQ, please contact Dawn Walton at dawnanderic@sbcglobal.net .
MOVE UP DAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Can you believe it's already time to be thinking about Move Up Day? On June 10th, the incoming 3rd graders will be visiting BCS and meeting their new teachers and classmates. In order to make this a great experience, the BCS Community Connections Committee is looking for your help. We need eight volunteers to assist with check-in, the scavenger hunt, and dismissal from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 10th. To volunteer, please contact Becky Bachand at dbachand@comcast.net or 248.593.8234. Thanks!
PULSE NEWSPAPER WINS AWARDS AT THE STATE LEVEL
The Pulse newspaper staff at BCS has once again received awards in the statewide Michigan Interscholastic Press Association newspaper contest. Congratulations to the students and staff advisor, Michelle Snyder!
Here are the honorees:
• 7th grader Adam Dabaldo = third place in the Alternative Story Form category for “BCS Students and Their Music Players”
• 8th grader Alena Farooq = honorable mention in the Alternative Story Form category for “Ask Alvin” advice column AND honorable mention in the In-Depth Feature category for “Seeing in Believing”
• 8th grader Alexander Breeden = honorable mention in the Sports Feature Story category for “Instant Replay in Baseball”
• 8th grader Melissa Shiner = honorable mention in the Bylined Opinion Article for “Sparkle’s Tips for a Fun and Safe Summer!”
• 8th grader Claire Erwin = 2nd place in the Advertising Layout category for her popcorn sale advertisement
• The entire staff = 2nd place in the Front Page/Newspaper Style category for the front page of the December issue
AUDITIONS FOR NEXT YEAR’S FORENSICS TEAM
The 2010-2011 Forensics Team auditions will be Friday, June 4th. Students must have taken at least one marking period of the Forensics I choice hour to audition.
Students auditioning may choose to audition in either of the following categories: Prose, Poetry, Storytelling, D.I., Sales, Oratory, and Informative. Sales, Informative, and Oratory must be original pieces written by the students, all other categories may NOT be written by the student. Those auditioning with Sales or Informative may use visual aids.
ALL PIECES MUST BE BETWEEN 3-5 MINUTES AND MUST BE MEMORIZED. Individual preparation and memorization are big components of being on the team and will be a factor in deciding who makes the team.
Students will sign up the week of June 4th outside Mrs. Schultz’s room (Room 407) for an audition time. Audition times will begin at 3:30 (however, times from 3:30-4:00 are reserved for those students who are currently in the Forensics I Choice Hour). Please arrive on time for your audition. Students will wait in Room 407 and be able to practice in there until it is their time to audition, in which case they will then be ushered into the Media Center by a helper. Auditions will be closed, meaning that only the team coach (Liz Schultz) and a guest judge will be watching. The guest judge has no affiliation with BCS, thereby being totally neutral and judging on performance criteria. The guest judge has toured nationally in shows, went to college in New York for performance, and has Forensic experience…he is very qualified. Once students are done with their audition they are to leave BCS…they are done for the evening.
The new members of the team will be posted outside classroom 407 on Mon, June 7th before school begins.
Students may be nervous, but please try to calm their fears as much as possible. There are a limited number of spots on the team, however everyone has a fair chance and I am excited to see all auditions! If you have any questions, please email me (Liz Schultz) at es02bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us . Thank you.
BACK TO SCHOOL REGISTRATION – AUGUST 18 & 25, 9-12AM & 5-7
As this school year winds down, we are looking ahead to the next school year!!! Please mark your calendars for the Back-To-School registration dates….and remember, every student should be registered before school starts next year! We need lots of volunteers to ensure our registration is successful and the office starts the next school year well prepared for your children. Would you please look at the dates below and sign-up to help as often as your schedule allows? We really do need you. BCS 7th and 8th graders or high school students that are BCS alums are welcome to volunteer for community service hours credit, IF they are scheduled in advance.
If you can help during any of these times, please contact Linda Weitzel (248-865-7279, jeffnlinda@hotmail.com). Please put BCS Registration on the subject line.
August 3rd (Tuesday) - 10 am to 2 pm
August 16th (Monday) - 10 am to 2 pm
August 18th (Wednesday) - 9 am to noon or 5 pm to 7 pm
August 19th (Thursday) - 9 am to noon
August 25th (Wednesday) - 9 am to noon or 5 pm to 7 pm
August 26th (Thursday) - 9 am to noon
For BCS 8th graders: SEAHOLM CHEERLEADING TRY-OUTS – MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Tryouts for next year’s football cheer team will be held on Tuesday, June 8th from 6-7 PM at Seaholm High School. If you’ve never cheered before or want to sharpen your skills before tryouts, please attend one or both of the pre-tryout instructional days listed below:
Tuesday, June 1st – 5:00-6:30 PM OR Wednesday, June 2nd – 6:00-7:30 PM
For more information about the cheer team and tryouts, please contact Coach Szura at js44bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us . Go Maples!
Dear BCS community,
I have recently read an article on connecting with our digital learners and what it takes to educate students in a digital world. I read the article through the lens of the instructional leader and found myself asking…
Are we doing enough at BCS to adapt to today’s learner?
Here is an excerpt from the article; the whole article can be read at http://www.edutopia.org/ikid-digital-learner
Teachers in every strata of education are increasingly dealing with a student population that is not only more wired than they are but also grew up in a techno-drenched atmosphere that has trained them to absorb and process information in fundamentally different ways. This generation of students is more likely to be armed with cell phones, laptops, and iPods than with spiral notebooks and No. 2 pencils.
Teachers who once struggled for students' attention mainly against daydreams, passed notes, class clowns, and cross-aisle flirting now also face a formidable array of gadgets and digitized content. Smart schools -- and smart educators -- are scrambling to figure out how to use these same tools and information-distribution techniques to reach and excite young minds. "You have to work with the kind of brains we've got now," says Susan Blackmore, who holds a PhD in psychology from Oxford University and frequently writes and lectures on new technology's effects on consciousness..
As the principal of BCS I see movement and energy surrounding this very subject. I observe lessons, participate in discussions, and see firsthand how our students are empowered and engaged on a daily basis. Technology, whether it is provided by the district or brought in by the students themselves, is used in many effective ways to enhance learning. A big part of meeting the needs of our students is allowing our teachers and students to take risks and to possess something that continues to be missing in many schools, autonomy
If we are to build an environment where today’s’ learners can experiment with the tools they are accustomed to, we must allow for autonomy. We cannot expect growth among our students unless they themselves have a say in how they learn, or what they learn with. Instead of giving our students all of the answers, we need to guide the students to search for responses to their own questions by helping them research, identify, and sort through information.
The BCS staff continues to strive for a climate of collaboration to support our changed role as educators for today’s learner. Daily conferences with team partners allow our teachers to encourage each other to make changes and try new things. Because our teachers stay with our students for two years, they do not use the same ideas with the class and are always coming up with new projects. Autonomy is not an option. Our students, and our teachers, need to have the freedom to learn with new tools, utilize the best technology that is out there, and learn from each other.
Are we doing enough? I believe that as long as we are allowing for students and teachers to have the autonomy to use new tools, utilize the technology in a variety of ways, and to learn from one another, we are certainly moving forward. We will never reach a point to where we can say we have done enough, but if we can say that we are working vigorously to keep up with our students’ interest…that is half the battle!
Finish Strong,
Adam
.
WEEK AT A GLANCE – MAY 31 – JUNE 4, 2010
(Disclaimer: Please check all your calendars and bcsonline.info in case we missed something)
To submit an item for next week’s “WAG”, email nb01bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us by FRIDAY 7AM
Monday, May 31
• No School – Memorial Day
Tuesday, June 1
• ALL BOOKS DUE BACK TO THE BCS MEDIA CENTER
• Forensics Team audition sign-up outside Room 407
• 8th grade students who have not picked up their T-shirt – please stop at the bagel sale to pick it up. Also, please drop off any remaining loose change baggies.
• 8-8:20AM – Bagel sale in front of the media center by the 8th grade celebration committee
• 3:15-4:00PM – School store is open in the main hallway during choice hour
• 4:10 – 5:00PM – Track Practice for student attending the Oakland County Meet
• 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, June 2
• DEADLINE: RSVP due to Joe Neal (joe@tandyengineering.com) for BCS golf outing on June 9
• Forensics Team audition sign-up outside Room 407
• 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
• 3: 20 – 4:05PM – Track Practice during choice hour – BRING UNIFORMS
• 5:30-6:30PM – Proud Dads Golf for 3rd – 8th grade- Royal Oak Driving Range at 13 Mile Rd & Coolidge
• 7:00PM – 5th & 6th grade SPRING BAND CONCERT – BCS Cafeteria - band members arrive no later than 6:30 in concert attire (no blue jeans, athletic shoes or tee shirts)
Thursday, June 3
• Forensics Team audition sign-up outside Room 407
• All ART ALIVE canvases and pieces of art should be picked up by students today and tomorrow
• 8:15 – 9:30AM – 8th Grade Farewell Celebration Planning Meeting-media center
• 1:30 PM – Students leave for Oakland County Track meet at Clarkston High School
• 7:30PM – BCS ORCHESTRA SPRING CONCERT – BCS Cafeteria – guest appearance by the 8th grade band at 7:50PM.
• 7 PM – Friends of Different Learners Meeting – “Wrap Up – Planning Meeting, Board Elections for 2010-2011” in the BCS Media Center
Friday, June 4
• All ART ALIVE canvases and pieces of art should be picked up by students today
• DUE: Permission slip and payment for the 8th grade field trip to Thunderbird Lanes on June 10. Permission slips can be downloaded from www.bcsonline.info
• 3:30 - ?? Forensic Team Auditions – please be prompt for your appointment time
Hot Entrée menu for the week: (subject to change, if necessary)
- Available everyday: Salad Bar, Hamburgers, Chicken Patties, Pizza & Cheese Breadsticks
Monday – No School
Tuesday – Beef Hot Dog or Chili Dog, carrots w/ dip
Wednesday – Spaghetti – w/ or w/o meat sauce, garlic bread
Thursday – Pasta primavera w/chicken, steamed broccoli
Friday – Breakfast for Lunch OR Chicken sliders, fresh fruit
MOVE-UP INFORMATION NIGHT
Move-Up Night for parents is June 8, 2010 in the Media Center. Parents of students in 4th grade going to 5th grade will be from 6:30pm-7:15pm and parents of students in 6th grade going to 7th grade will be from 8:00pm-8:45pm. Please plan to attend and learn more about these transitions.
POWERSCHOOL
The parent portal of POWERSCHOOL will be available until July 5, 2010. On July 6, 2010, the portal will be closed until parents receive notification that it has re-opened.
BCS BAND SPRING BAND CONCERTS REMINDER
The 5th & 6th grade bands will perform their spring concert on Wednesday evening, June 2nd in the BCS cafeteria. The performance will begin at 7:00pm. The 7th & 8th grade bands will perform their spring concert on Wednesday, June 9 in the BCS cafeteria. The starting time for the 7th & 8th grade band performance is 7:00pm. The 8th grade band members will also be making a guest appearance with the BCS orchestra on Thursday, June 3 at 7:30 pm. Specific details for the 8th grade performance with the orchestra have been sent home with the 8th grade band members.
8TH GRADE FAMILIES…….PERMISSION SLIP AND FEE ARE DUE FOR 8TH GRADE BOWLING TRIP
During Move-Up Day on June 10, the eighth graders will go bowling tot Thunderbird Lanes with Mr. Johansson and Mrs. Kelmigian. For your convenience, the flyer was emailed on May 28. You may also download the flyer from www.bcsonline.info . Please return permission slip and $12.50 (payable to BCS) to Mrs. Reepmeyer in the main office by Friday, June 4. We would also welcome a few parent volunteers for this fun outing! Please indicate your interest on the permission slip.
WACKY RECESS – JUNE 11, 2010
Please remember to RSVP for the BBQ lunch on Wacky Recess Day, Friday, June 11. The cafeteria will not be open on this day as the staff will be helping the Proud Dads serve food at the BBQ. Download the flyer at www.bcsnline.info and send it, with payment, into the office just as soon as you can. Also, if you are able to volunteer to help at the BBQ, please contact Dawn Walton at dawnanderic@sbcglobal.net .
MOVE UP DAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Can you believe it's already time to be thinking about Move Up Day? On June 10th, the incoming 3rd graders will be visiting BCS and meeting their new teachers and classmates. In order to make this a great experience, the BCS Community Connections Committee is looking for your help. We need eight volunteers to assist with check-in, the scavenger hunt, and dismissal from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 10th. To volunteer, please contact Becky Bachand at dbachand@comcast.net or 248.593.8234. Thanks!
PULSE NEWSPAPER WINS AWARDS AT THE STATE LEVEL
The Pulse newspaper staff at BCS has once again received awards in the statewide Michigan Interscholastic Press Association newspaper contest. Congratulations to the students and staff advisor, Michelle Snyder!
Here are the honorees:
• 7th grader Adam Dabaldo = third place in the Alternative Story Form category for “BCS Students and Their Music Players”
• 8th grader Alena Farooq = honorable mention in the Alternative Story Form category for “Ask Alvin” advice column AND honorable mention in the In-Depth Feature category for “Seeing in Believing”
• 8th grader Alexander Breeden = honorable mention in the Sports Feature Story category for “Instant Replay in Baseball”
• 8th grader Melissa Shiner = honorable mention in the Bylined Opinion Article for “Sparkle’s Tips for a Fun and Safe Summer!”
• 8th grader Claire Erwin = 2nd place in the Advertising Layout category for her popcorn sale advertisement
• The entire staff = 2nd place in the Front Page/Newspaper Style category for the front page of the December issue
AUDITIONS FOR NEXT YEAR’S FORENSICS TEAM
The 2010-2011 Forensics Team auditions will be Friday, June 4th. Students must have taken at least one marking period of the Forensics I choice hour to audition.
Students auditioning may choose to audition in either of the following categories: Prose, Poetry, Storytelling, D.I., Sales, Oratory, and Informative. Sales, Informative, and Oratory must be original pieces written by the students, all other categories may NOT be written by the student. Those auditioning with Sales or Informative may use visual aids.
ALL PIECES MUST BE BETWEEN 3-5 MINUTES AND MUST BE MEMORIZED. Individual preparation and memorization are big components of being on the team and will be a factor in deciding who makes the team.
Students will sign up the week of June 4th outside Mrs. Schultz’s room (Room 407) for an audition time. Audition times will begin at 3:30 (however, times from 3:30-4:00 are reserved for those students who are currently in the Forensics I Choice Hour). Please arrive on time for your audition. Students will wait in Room 407 and be able to practice in there until it is their time to audition, in which case they will then be ushered into the Media Center by a helper. Auditions will be closed, meaning that only the team coach (Liz Schultz) and a guest judge will be watching. The guest judge has no affiliation with BCS, thereby being totally neutral and judging on performance criteria. The guest judge has toured nationally in shows, went to college in New York for performance, and has Forensic experience…he is very qualified. Once students are done with their audition they are to leave BCS…they are done for the evening.
The new members of the team will be posted outside classroom 407 on Mon, June 7th before school begins.
Students may be nervous, but please try to calm their fears as much as possible. There are a limited number of spots on the team, however everyone has a fair chance and I am excited to see all auditions! If you have any questions, please email me (Liz Schultz) at es02bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us . Thank you.
BACK TO SCHOOL REGISTRATION – AUGUST 18 & 25, 9-12AM & 5-7
As this school year winds down, we are looking ahead to the next school year!!! Please mark your calendars for the Back-To-School registration dates….and remember, every student should be registered before school starts next year! We need lots of volunteers to ensure our registration is successful and the office starts the next school year well prepared for your children. Would you please look at the dates below and sign-up to help as often as your schedule allows? We really do need you. BCS 7th and 8th graders or high school students that are BCS alums are welcome to volunteer for community service hours credit, IF they are scheduled in advance.
If you can help during any of these times, please contact Linda Weitzel (248-865-7279, jeffnlinda@hotmail.com). Please put BCS Registration on the subject line.
August 3rd (Tuesday) - 10 am to 2 pm
August 16th (Monday) - 10 am to 2 pm
August 18th (Wednesday) - 9 am to noon or 5 pm to 7 pm
August 19th (Thursday) - 9 am to noon
August 25th (Wednesday) - 9 am to noon or 5 pm to 7 pm
August 26th (Thursday) - 9 am to noon
For BCS 8th graders: SEAHOLM CHEERLEADING TRY-OUTS – MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Tryouts for next year’s football cheer team will be held on Tuesday, June 8th from 6-7 PM at Seaholm High School. If you’ve never cheered before or want to sharpen your skills before tryouts, please attend one or both of the pre-tryout instructional days listed below:
Tuesday, June 1st – 5:00-6:30 PM OR Wednesday, June 2nd – 6:00-7:30 PM
For more information about the cheer team and tryouts, please contact Coach Szura at js44bps@birmingham.k12.mi.us . Go Maples!
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