This week at BCHMCPS

This week begins the BCHMCPS open enrollment registration for the 2017-2018 school year. Starting on Wednesday February 1st, registration forms will be available through the front office and will be posted on the school's website. An Open House will held this Thursday February 2nd from 5:30-7:30. Tours will be held during the school day by appointment and a second Open House will be held on March 2nd from 5:30-7:30.
Please encourage friends, neighbors and family members who are interested to call or come by to learn more about our wonderful school. You, the families of our students, are our best spokespeople, so spread the word!


In case you may have missed it, the Cape Cod Times came by on Friday to visit and see what clusters were all about. The link below will take you to the photo gallery from Cape Cod Times reporter and photographer Mr. Heaslip's visit.

http://www.capecodtimes.com/photogallery/CC/20170127/PHOTOGALLERY/127009999/PH/1

A note from our Garden Committee:

It's time to start planning this spring's garden.  We will be meeting Tuesday, February 7th at 10am in the school library (please sign in at the office).  If weather allows we will hopefully take a walk through the garden.  

Things on the agenda to discuss:

• planning garden work and volunteers

• how will seeds be assigned this year?

• what do we need for supplies?

• sounds like teachers would like each student to bring a plant home and they would like to grow plants in classes (we need waterproof trays)

• parents are asking about a flower fundraiser that was done in the past, would anyone like to head that? (it can be online only and is all mailed to the houses :) )

• ways to relate garden to classes better

• greenhouse

• solar or wind power to power the shed.

• we have a shopping list of organizing supplies that would be nice.

• we have 6 beds that need to be rebuilt before kids can work in the garden and others may need some work
• whether the trailer is child-safe  or should it be disposed of

If you are interested in being in charge of any of these things and can't make the meeting please let me know. You can leave a message through the office. We are also hoping to get a volunteer from each class to help on planting days so please spread the word.

Thanks, 

Kelly D and the Garden Committee

Spirit Week!

With Pajama Day and Hippie Day behind us we can look forward to Team Spirit Day tomorrow (wear your favorite team jerseys), Crazy Hair Day on Thursday and School Spirit Day on Friday. When you are considering your team jerseys, I know many of you are thinking of February 5 and what I think is called the Superbowl but I am dreaming of spring training so may be sporting my favorite Red Sox jersey. What will all our students be wearing?

Here are a couple of photos of some of our BCHMCPS hippies today.

We are really getting in the spirit this week and also getting ourselves ready for enrollment for next year. We will have two Open Houses, February 2nd and March 2nd from 5:30-7:30 pm. School tours will be given as well during the day to any interested families. Please pass the word to all friends and family!                  
Siblings of current students are considered first for new enrollments before non-sibling applicants but families MUST still fill out an enrollment application before the application deadline. Applications will be available on February 1st. The 2017 BCHMCPS lottery will be held on March 15th.


Our neighbor across the street, Faith Assembly of God Church and Kiddie Kollege, invites all families to enjoy a FREE home-cooked meal every Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting at 5:00. No strings attached, just free family home-cooked meals three times a week. I had the opportunity to meet the wonderful chef and tour the kitchen and dining area. I watched as she started a yummy meal to be served that evening. This invitation is aimed only at supporting families and providing food in a warm atmosphere. Extended families are welcome; bring your family and friends and enjoy wonderful meals!

Coming up tomorrow at BCHMCPS

Tomorrow is the day- the clusters start! The children are so excited and so are the adults leading the clusters! If you are one those adults, thank you so much from everyone at BCHMCPS!

If clusters weren't exciting enough, we also have School Store tomorrow. Thank you PTO!


In the last blog, I spoke about the Kindness Challenge Week from January 23rd- 27th. You should have received home in your child's backpack more information about the fun, exciting and kind things planned for this week. Below is a flyer with even more information. Don't forget you can read more about this national effort at http://www.greatkindnesschallenge.org/

   

Have a wonderful weekend and Go Pats!

Coming at BCHMCPS

What a wonderful All School Community meeting this morning. During the meeting we spoke about "filling a bucket". After hearing a story about filling buckets the students understand that this bucket

we want to fill refers to all the kind and helpful things that we can do for each other every day.  If you are interested in reading this book again to your child it is "Have You Filled a Bucket Today" by Carol McCloud. Students are so excited about showcasing the kind acts they perform all the time.










During the meeting, The Kindness Challenge Week was also introduced for this year. This year the Kindness Challenge will take place during the week of January 23-27. Watch in the next two weeks for more information about the fun events during this week.





Coming up next week:

Monday, January 16- No School in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Thursday, January 19- SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) meeting being held here at BCHMCPS.  The meeting will start at 5:45, followed by a 6:30 "Meet the Advocate" presentation.

Friday, January 20- School Store

Welcome back to school and to 2017!

As we look at the upcoming winter months, there is always the possibility of snow and, with snow, may come school delays or cancellations due to the winter weather. With the forecast of some snow accumulation tomorrow, it is a good time to review communication when schools are delayed or cancelled.
When or a delay or cancellation occurs, the Barnstable Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown will send out one district all call to all families and staff.  The BPS website will also have information regarding cancellation.  Information on the website will most likely be posted prior to the all call.  Families who may want to know earlier than  the all school call  are encouraged to check the BPS website. A decision will be posted there as soon as the superintendent makes the decision.


This Monday, January 9th the January Principal Coffee will be held. This month the coffee will be dedicated to helping families complete their “Back to School” student information on-line registration.The on-line student registration is in place of the former hard copy "emergency cards" and includes all student information and information that the school needs to contact you and keep your child safe. This system was rolled out earlier this year and there are still families that have not completed this critical information.
The Principal Coffee will take place in the computer lab from 8:40-9:30. Staff will be on hand to help families who have not completed the form.
A reminder that the nurse needs this form to be completed to dispense medication to your child. This includes over the counter medications such as Tylenol. Also, because this registration form includes vital contact and health information, your child cannot participate in any field trips without a completed registration.
Monday morning will be a time devoted to supporting families to complete this important information.




If you are a morning walker drop off please remember to :

• make sure that you park your car in the parking lot
• walk your child to the door and

• For safety's sake, do NOT drop your child without a staff member present!                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                                 If you prefer to drop your child off while you stay in the car- please drop off your child/ren at the car drop off door at the side door of the school. This drop off is accessed by entering the back parking lot by the driveway to the right of the front entrance.
We have received complaints of cars leaving the HYCC parking lot safely. Please remember to always exit safely from HYCC parking lot drop off area. Safety first; saving 5 seconds pales in comparison to saving a life!

Healthy eating during the day helps your child to pay attention and feel good all day. Please remember to pack a healthy snack each day for your child. Our school nurse has snacks in the rare case of a forgotten snack or a family challenge on a particular day. Unfortunately, the nurse does not have the snacks to be able to provide snacks every day.