| | | In this column...
From the Head of School * Welcome Peruvian Students * Bring a Friend to School Day * A Night in New Orleans |  |
| From the Head of School | | John Huber
Frieda Cohen, philanthropist and supporter of The Barnesville School, passed away last month at the age of 82.
 Frieda had been in an assisted living facility these past few years, and her health had been poor. News of her passing came to me recently, and I was saddened to hear that as she did not have any living relatives, there was no service in her honor. Therefore I want to use this space in remembrance of my friend Frieda.
Frieda Cohen became Barnesville’s “Grandma” for more than eight years. It was a former parent and trustee who brought us to her attention, and soon she became part of our community. As Grandma Frieda would frequently share, she never married and never had children, so she wanted to become part of a place where she could have her own grandchildren.
I got to know Frieda soon after my arrival in 2006 when we went out to lunch to a kosher Chinese restaurant in Rockville for her birthday, a tradition we maintained for a number of years. In those days she lived at home by herself, so she would call school and talk at length with Karol or me. She had a tendency to ramble, and a conversation with Grandma Frieda could take well over an hour if given the chance. I soon arranged a standing biweekly afternoon phone call with Grandma Frieda, and we would talk about her childhood, growing up in New York City, and her favorite topic, her Barnesville grandchildren.
Frieda loved Barnesville, and loved her many grandchildren. She would spoil them rotten if given the opportunity (her favorite treat to give was lollipops), and she loved coming up with gift ideas for them.
Grandma Frieda donated books to the library, gave Barnesville shirts and lunchboxes to the students and teachers (I still have my “Grandma” lunch box), and purchased a snow cone machine for our Summer Camp.
One day she grew quite concerned about school safety, and she insisted that she fund a door security system in order to best protect her grandchildren. It is little wonder that the Class of 2008 dedicated their yearbook to Grandma Frieda.
These past few years were harder on Frieda. She moved out of her house in Beltsville to an assisted living facility, and she was no longer up to visiting us here at school. We came to visit a number of times, and our middle school students performed The Wizard of Oz and The Secret Garden for her. We also visited each July for her birthday; Frieda always appreciated a good birthday cake. Yet as age took its toll, it was clear then that her health was declining.
Frieda’s greatest desire was to support our financial aid program, and so each year on her birthday, she made a significant contribution to our financial aid budget. Her motives were twofold – first, she knew the value of an outstanding education, having been denied one herself, and wanted others to have what she could not.
Second, put simply, it was so that she could have “even more grandchildren!” She cared so greatly for this that she established a scholarship fund in her name and her parents’ names, to be created upon her passing. I will share more with you about the Cohen Scholarship Fund in the months to come.
But beyond all this, Frieda was a joy to talk to. I will miss her wit, her sly humor, and her spirit. She wouldn’t admit to being sweet, but deep down, she was. Nothing brought her greater delight than to see her grandchildren and know that she had helped to touch their lives. Requiescat in pace, Grandma Frieda.
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| Welcome Peruvian Students | | Our four Peruvian Exchange Students arrive in Maryland late Friday night, Jan. 13 and will join the students at Barnesville beginning Tuesday, Jan. 17 for three week visit.  Please join us in making them feel welcome and show them the Barnesville Spirit.
Thanks to the Barnesville families who are hosting our guests: The Smith Family (Abby, 7th), The Pappas Family (Analiese, 7th & Alexander, 3rd), The Hundtermark Family (Anne, 8th & Gretchen, 6th) and The Huber Family (Brian, 8th & Jack, PK). | |
| Bring a Friend to School Day! Monday, January 23, 2012 | | Barnesville is taking an opportunity to introduce new students to our community by encouraging students in third through seventh grade to bring a friend to Barnesville. Both Montgomery and Frederick County Schools are closed on January 23. This event is for students who are visiting Barnesville for the first time, not for Barnesville Alumni.
Each student can bring one friend only. Visitors must currently be in Grades 3-7. Visitors should bring lunch, beverage, snack, pencil/paper, and maintain compliance with the Barnesville Dress Code. Barnesville Families are responsible for the transportation of the visitor to and from school as well as ensuring that the visitor adhears to school policies within the handbook. Visiting students’ parents must complete the attached Information Form, including all emergency contact and medication information.
Visitors will not be required to take any admissions test or complete any admissions paperwork; however, each visitor will receive an Admissions Packet and an invitation to our next Open House, in case their parents are interested in learning more about The Barnesville School.
All interested families should return the Information Form to Susanne Johnson by Thursday, January 19.
We look forward to welcoming new friends to Barnesville! | |
|  | | Raffle Prize Donations Needed
We have received some fantastic items for our Family Fun Night Raffle baskets, including the New Orleans American Girl Dolls, Cecile and Marie-Grace. But we still need more!
Every family can participate without spending a dime. Many businesses are happy to donate gift certificates and items or services as a way of promoting their establishment to the Barnesville Community. Take a donation form and letter to your favorite shop or restaurant and find out how they can help support our School. No donation is too small! The donation deadline is January 31.
Publish Your Child's Artwork
Show off your child's artistic talents in the Barnesville at the Bayou Family Fun Night Catalog. Purchase a full-page, full-color commemorative ad for $25 and your child's work of art will be published. Ad specifics are available on the Ad Contract or email Kristen Carter with questions. Please return your form and artwork to Kristen by January 31. | |
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| | | | In this column...
Important Dates * Upcoming Events * Facilities & Transportation * Auxiliary Programs * Admissions Corner * Notes From Mrs. Nave... | |
| Important Dates | | January
13: 1st & 2nd Grade Parent Coffee with Head: 7:30 am
16: NO SCHOOL: MLK Jr Day
17: Prospective Family Priority Admsissions Deadlines
20: 3rd & 4th Grade Parent Coffee with Head: 7:30 am
23: MCPS & FCPS Bring a Friend to School Day
25: Bake Sale, 7th Grade
26: NOON DISMISSAL: Parent Conferences
27: 5th & 6th Grade Parent Coffee with Head: 7:30 am; NOON DISMISSAL: Parent Conferences | |
| Upcoming Events | | 1st & 2nd Grade Parents Coffee with the Head is tomorrow (Friday, Jan. 13) at 7:30 am in the Resource Room.
Parent Visiting Day has been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb. 9 from 8 am to Noon (11:30 for EC & PreK).
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| Facilities and Transportation | |
Just a morning car pool reminder. When pulling in from Peach Tree Road, please turn right then left around our parking lot to the front of our school for drop-off. If you are not the driver, and have either grandma, grandpa, etc. drop-off your child, please pass this information on. Thanks. | |
| Auxiliary Programs | |
After School Activities
The Winter Session of after school activities began this week. Sarge Athletics meets on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The kids had a great time exercising in the unexpected snow this week! Creative Kids Yoga meets on Tuesdays in Room D. This week, they learned animal yoga. Painting with Mrs. Waldhorn begins next week.
Summer Camp
Now that the weather has gotten colder it is time to think about...SUMMER CAMP! Look for the 2012 camp brochure to come next week. Registration opens soon. We have many returning favorites such as Lego Robotics, Adventure Bound, and Top Chef. New this year we have Harry Potter Camp, Pokemon Tournament, Mini Mayhem and others. Also new this year, we welcome our youngest students, our EC 3s, to camp. We also have camps specially designed for our Middle School students. I am very excited about our program for this summer -- I hope your children will be too! | |
| Admissions Corner | | We had an incredibly successful Open House on Tuesday, January 10. Thank you to everyone who referred their friends and neighbors to us! We had prospective families with children ranging from Early Childhood all the way to 6th grade.
Please note upcoming, important Admissions dates for the 2012-2013 academic year:
January 17: Priority deadline for applications for new students (K-8th)
February 15: Financial Aid Deadline
March 1: Priority deadline for applications for new students (EC & PK)
Please contact Susanne Johnson, Director of Admissions, if you have any questions or need additional information. | |
| Notes From Mrs. Nave... | | Tardy
This is just a reminder that students are tardy if they arrive at school after 8:10 am. All students from PK-8 attend Morning Meeting in the gymnasium, which begins at 7:55 am. If you know that your child is going to be late due to an appointment, please let me know by 8:30 am for attendance purposes.
Conferences
If you would like to schedule a conference with your child’s teacher, please email or call me to set up a date and time. Conference dates are January 26 and 27 with noon dismissal for students. If you need Kids’ Club, please let me know in plenty of time to get staffing.
Update to the Directory
Christine Avallone’s email is christine.avallone@comcast.net It is correct in RenWeb.
The Butler family address is: 17100 Campbell Farm Road, Poolesville, MD 20837
Tooth Box Report – Just for Fun! (3 boxes since the last Bits)
Grace Brown and Sam Jensen in second grade were the last to get tooth boxes in 2011. Isabella Ehrentraut lost her tooth on January 9 and became the first one to take a tooth box in 2012.
Land’s End - School Code is 900039249 | |
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