| | | In this column...
From the Head of School * Family Fun Night * Summer Camp |  |
| From the Head of School | | John Huber
I’m going to sound a little cranky for the first part of this Bits letter, but I ask for your patience to read all the way through, as I have two items to announce that I believe will make things better for our families and our students.
Let’s talk about the school calendar, arrival, and dismissal.
First and foremost – we want your students here at school. We want to accomplish great things with them, and therefore we want to maximize the amount of time we teach them. We also rely upon your children’s presence so that we can engage in group activities, in order to help our children learn to work with one another. That interdependence depends on attendance, from timely arrival all the way through to regular dismissal. Barring health issues or family emergencies, we want your children to be with us.
This is why we hate to see it when our students arrive late to school, leave early, or miss whole days of school for reasons that can be avoided. And while advance warning of absence is certainly appreciated, as it allows our teachers to support the child as best as they can, it’s still an avoidable absence. It’s our mission to educate your sons and daughters, which is difficult to do when they aren’t here.
So, rather than hector you at length in Bits (I’ll spare you from having to read my broadside against the “the airline tickets are cheaper before Winter Break” argument), I simply ask – as a New Year’s resolution, please make every effort to adhere to our scheduled hours and days so that we may see the most of your children. And in order to help with this, I offer this:
1. We want to help you get your child to school on time. For the 2012-2013 school year, we are greatly modifying the cost of bus service. Specifically:
A reduction in all fees. Families may contract for round trip or one-way service by the day (e.g. Mondays and Thursdays only) as well as for the entire year.The elimination of an additional charge for siblings, provided that the entire family uses the same stop on the same route.
It is our hope that families will take advantage of such service, thereby helping us to ensure that all of our students arrive to school in a timely fashion. More information will be provided in the coming month.2. We want your input on the 2012-2013 calendar. Next Monday, Assistant Head Vickie Roos and I will create the 2012-2013 major dates calendar. Ahead of this, I welcome you to email me with thoughts, questions, and suggestions. And while it is impossible to create a calendar that satisfies everyone, I will do my best to respond to your suggestions and take this feedback into consideration. Please pass along your comments today or over the weekend. This will assist us enormously as we craft a calendar for our students and families. | |
|  | | Donations
Thanks to everyone who has donated to Family Fun Night and Gala, especially for all the great gift cards. Please keep the gift cards coming, but also consider securing a donation of an item or service. We want our Raffe Baskets to overflow with items the kids will go wild for. Check out the 2012 Gala Wish List at Amazon.com for lots of great ideas. Don't forget to return a donation form with your donation. The donation deadline is January 31.
Raffle tickets will go on sale soon. Watch kids' mail for more information.
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. | |
| Summer Camp | | Lynda Forman, Auxiliary Director
Now that the weather is finally turning colder, it is time to think about warm summer days. We have many exciting camps to choose from: Learn how to use tools to create a birdhouse or treasure box with Mr. Bernie; Explore the world of Harry Potter with Mrs. Gekas; or Compete in Barnesville's own Olympics. New this year, Tech Extreme, a video game and fitness camp! Also new this year are camps for children entering our EC 3 class and special camps for Middle Schoolers only.
Look for this year's brochure by the end of this week! Online registration begins next week! You do not want to miss a summer of joy, support, and excellence! | |
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| | | | In this column...
Important Dates * Admissions Corner * Lice Presentation * Notes From Mrs. Nave... | |
| Important Dates | | January
27: 5th & 6th Grade Parent Coffee with Head, 7:30 am; Noon Dismissal; Parent Conferences
February
1: Lice Presentation, 8 am
3: EC-K Admissions Open House
8: Bake Sale, 1st Grade
9: Parent Visiting Day; 1:30 Dismissal
10: 7th & 8th Grade Parent Coffee with Head, 7:30 am
15: Financial Aid Deadline
16: Looking Ahead to Middle School
17: No School for Students | |
| Admissions Corner | | Susanne Johnson, Director of Admissions
Please join me in welcoming our newest student to The Barnesville School community! Trey Carrigan has joined Ms. Morningstar’s PK class. We are delighted to welcome the Carrigan family, Tom, Angela, and Trey to Barnesville!
“Bring a Friend to School” day was a great success! We had 12 students visit in grades 3-7. Thank you to everyone for supporting this opportunity to share our wonderful school!
Our next Open House is scheduled for Friday, February 3 at 9:30 am. This is a targeted Open House for prospective students ages 3-5 years old. We begin with “storytime” in our beautiful library, followed by a brief visit to the EC, PK, & K classrooms and end with “playtime” in our full-size gymnasium. If you have little ones at home…be sure to stop by. We’d love to see our youngest Barnesville siblings! Also, please invite your friends and neighbors to join the fun! | |
| Lice Presentation | | Barnesville's Delagating Nurse Patti Saylor will give a presentation on everything you ever wanted to know (or maybe don't) about lice on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 8 am(right after drop-off). The presentation takes place in the resource room and is sponsored by BPC. | |
| Notes From Mrs. Nave... | | Welcome New PreK Family
Please welcome our new student and his family to Barnesville School and note their information in your Family Handbook and Directory.
Trey Carrigan, PK – Ms. Morningstar’s class
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Carrigan, Jr.
Tom and Angela
22801 Clarkbrooke Drive
Clarksburg, MD 20871
Home phone: 240-477-5640
Tom's cell: 240-506-3943
email: tcjc24@gmail.com
Angela's cell: 301-515-6302
email: Angeloo24@hotmail.com
Watch for an update to your directory soon. If you have changed your contact information, please email me.
Wanted: Gently Used Sweatpants
I am in need of sweatpants in all sizes to have in my office when one of our students slides in the mud or otherwise needs a change of clothing. If your child has outgrown his/her sweatpants and they are looking for a new home, please send them my way. Thanks
Tooth Box Report – Just for Fun! (1 box since the last Bits)
Only one tooth box left my office in the last two weeks. On Jan. 25, Matthew Clark (4th) lost a tooth and came to my office for his tooth box. January has been a slow month for the tooth fairy.
Land’s End - School Code is 900039249 | |
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