Week of March 5

Well March certainly made an entrance this year! I hope all of our BCHMCPS families made it through this weekend's stormy weather with minimal disruptions. The school made it through the weekend well. The roofers for the school were here on Thursday to tighten up and were back today to survey for any potential problems. The roof work will begin again in a couple of weeks to complete the full job.

Today was Dr. Seuss Day/ Read Across America at BCHMCPS. A huge thank you to Reading Specialist Kelly White for organizing this day with all the community readers and school activities.
Among the readers today to thank are:

Lynne Poyant-Director of Barnstable Community Services
Lt. Mark Cabral- Barnstable Police Department
Ken Keenan- Current BOT member and former BCHMCPS Principal
Mark Ells- Barnstable Town Manager
Miss Mary- Hyannis Public Library Children's Librarian
Joe Izzo- HYCC Director
Glen Anderson- Former Principal of Hyannis East
Cat Wilson- Cape Country 104 Radio
Ralphie Marino- 99 the Q Radio
Karen Blake-99 the Q Radio
Mark Milne- Barnstable Director of Finance
Dave Read-Ocean 104.7 Radio
Matt Pitta-Cape Wide News
Lt. Lanman-Hyannis Fire Department
Jason Kolnos- Cape Cod Times

While Cat Wilson from Cape Country 104 was in Mrs. Burnett's class today she taped the students saying the Pledge of Allegiance. This tape will be played tomorrow morning right after 6 am on Cape Country 104. Tune in tomorrow morning!


A few pictures from today:

Students starting the day by reading in the halls

Mrs. Burnett made a Cat in the Hat from schoolbooks!

Above are some of our special guests reading to the classes

Don't forget to make your Spaghetti Dinner reservations. The Spaghetti Dinner is this Thursday with seating times at 5:45 and 6:30. Take out is also available.  Tickets are $6.00 for adults and $4.00 for children. If you haven't bought your tickets yet, please use the flier sent home last week's to sign up. If you can't find the flier, please send a note with your name, number of tickets, seating time (or take- out option) and payment.
Thank you to all the families who have donated items for the Spaghetti Dinner.  Please have all donated items brought into the school on Wednesday March 7th. Baked goods can be delivered on Thursday March 7th. Thank you!

Welcome March!

As we say goodbye to February and welcome March, we are welcoming in a month filled with many events. Below are events that are on the BCHMCPS calendar!

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Open House- March 1 5:30-7:00

                  Read Across America Day- March 5
 

Grade 3 Spaghetti Dinner-March 8

All School Cluster Celebration- March 9  9:30 at HYCC

Spring Garden Cleaning- March 11 

Early Dismissal for Teacher PD day- March14 12:00 pm

2018-2019 Lottery- March 15 at 2 pm in cafeteria

Math/Literacy Night- March 15- 6 pm

Report Cards- March 16

Tomorrow night from 5:30-7:00 is our second Open House. Registrations for the 2018-2019 continue to come in every day. Please spread the word to friends or family who are interested in joining our BCHMCPS community that all registrations must be submitted by 12 pm on March 15th. Registration is not only for new Kindergarten students, there will be some space  available in Grades 1, 2 and 3 for new students.
Remember if you have siblings of current students that you wish you register, a completed registration MUST be submitted by March 15th at 12 pm. Siblings are considered first for enrollment but a completed registration must be submitted to the office. 




PTO News
 

                                           

Who's hungry for spaghetti?  Thursday, March 8th is the Third Grade Spaghetti Dinner.  Make your reservations today for the 5:45 pm/6:30 pm seatings or put in your order for take out.  

The BCHMCPS PTO is asking for donations of store bought items including spaghetti sauce, salad bags, bottled salad dressing, paper goods, and frozen meatballs.  If you are able to donate any of these items, PLEASE send a note in with your student and deliver the items to the school by Wednesday, March 7th.  Your continued support is greatly appreciated!

Third grade BCHMCPS students we need you!!!!   A notice went home requesting third graders to set up, serve, and clean on March 8th.  This event raises the money for the THIRD GRADE CELEBRATION!!!!

Math and Literacy Night will be on Thursday, March 15th.  The BCHMCPS PTO will be setting up the school store for parents and students during this event.  This is also a time to meet with the PTO board and discuss future events (movie nights, teacher appreciation lunches) and fundraisers (walkathon).  We need your help to make this school year a SUCCESS for our favorite place, BCHMCPS!

Resource for Talking with Children

Yesterday's news report of another school shooting is disturbing and scary for adults and children. Our hearts go out to those in the Broward school community as they grapple with this unimaginable tragedy.
Your children may have seen the news and have questions and fears. It can be challenging to know how to respond best to these fears and questions. If your children are asking questions, attached below is a resource that you may want to review and use as you think about how best to talk to your children.
Please feel to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Welcome to February! The shortest of months has much packed into the 28 days ahead!

Today starts the registrations for the 2018-2019 school year. Applications are available at the front office. Please remember that even if you have a child currently at BCHMCPS, if you have a sibling you wish to attend BCHMCPS, you MUST fill out an application for the sibling(s). Siblings are considered first for enrollment but a completed registration must be submitted to the office. Registration runs through March 15th at 12 pm.

This past Monday, January 29th, the Barnstable Police Department conducted a lockdown drill with our students. All families were emailed a letter following the drill and a letter was also sent home via backpacks. Please feel free to contact me (Dr. Kukstis) with any questions you may have.


Cluster #3 is this Friday. We have had so much fun the past two weeks and look forward to continuing the fun this week.

• Please remember to send in a note if you are changing your child's dismissal. For those rare last minute changes, it is very important that you call before 2:00 pm.               
• All BCHMCPS students receive free breakfast EVERY day in the classroom. All students have a piece of fruit, breakfast item, juice and milk every day!                            
  
                        
• For the safety of students, parents and teachers please only park in legal parking spots at HYCC when dropping off and picking up students at the walkers entrance OR use parent pickup on the north side where your child can be picked up and dropped off at the entrance and does not require an adult getting out of the car. Thank you for helping keep the school safe.                                                                                             
• Grade 3 Committee Spaghetti Supper is March 8th.
  The PTO is calling all local restaurants and business owners!  The PTO and Third Grade Spaghetti Supper Committee need your help!  They  are currently looking for food and paper goods donations to help offset the cost of our Third Grade Spaghetti Supper.This fundraiser supports our third grade celebration. Please contact the PTO or the front office if you are able to help out with donations for this fun family event.
  All families are invited and encouraged to attend. 
  
   
                                                                                                            
• BoxTops are a great way that the PTO uses to raise funds for the school. Reminder that the Bundle Up with Box Tops collection sheets are due this month!  Hurry up and collect those Tops!  Each top is worth $0.10. The PTO is holding a contest to see which classroom can bring in the most BoxTops by February 16th. Your child will be bringing home a Box Top flier today with more information.          
  
                                                                                                                   
• School vacation week is the week of February 19-23. 

This Week at BCHMCPS

Clusters!

Tomorrow is Week #2 of the Clusters. Week #1 was a big hit with students and adults alike and everyone is looking forward to more clusters tomorrow. Below are a few pictures of some of the fun!

The flu season is here! School Nurse Mrs. Melley would like to share the following information to help protect you and your families.

                                

Winter Health Reminders from BCHMCPS

A healthy school environment requires the cooperation and effort of all of us working together. During this time of year we tend to see higher incidences of strep throat, flu, respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses. I would like to remind everyone that they can help to protect themselves and their families from many of these airborne illnesses. Follow the Habits for Good Health listed below recommended by the Center for Disease Control.

                                Habits for Good Health

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze-throw the tissue away after you use it. If you do not have a tissue, cover your mouth and nose with the inside of you elbow. For more information watch the video@ www.coughsafe.com
•  Wash your hands frequently with soap and water especially after you cough or sneeze. If you are not near water, use an alcohol based hand cleaner.
• Stay away as much as you can from people who are sick.
• If you or your child gets the flu, stay home from work or school. Do not go near other people so that you don’t make them sick too.
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Dress for the weather. Come to school dressed for the winter. Wear mittens or gloves. Wear a hat. If there is snow on the ground wear boots.

2018-2019 Open Enrollment 

 

Registrations for the 2018-2019 school year at BCHMCPS start next week on Thursday February 1. Please tell any interested family, friends or neighbors. Registrations will be accepted in the school office through March 15th at 12:00 pm. Please remember to check to check the registration form for the needed documentation.

Please also remember if you have siblings of current students you wish to register, a completed registration MUST be submitted by March 15th at 12 pm. Siblings are considered first for enrollment but a completed registration must be submitted to the office. 

 

 

The Week Ahead at BCHMCPS

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, 

only love can do that.”  

                                                                                                                  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I hope that you all had a lovely, and warm, long weekend and had some time today to reflect on the reason we celebrate today with no school- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Today his words resonate as clearly and importantly as they did during his lifetime.


A busy week coming up at BCHMCPS!

January's Principal Coffee will be tomorrow morning from 9:00-9:30 in the cafeteria. This month's topic will be a review of the School Report Card from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The School Report Card was sent home the first week in January and will be reviewed at the coffee. I hope to see you there!




This Wednesday the PTO will be holding a general meeting at 3:45 in the gym.

Friday starts the first week of the six-week Clusters! Thanks so much to the many talented parents, community members and teachers who have volunteered to run the variety of clusters offered to our students. Our students enjoy the clusters and learn so much during the six-week course. I will send out pictures after the first week so you can see and enjoy them as well!

Happy New Year 2018

While we had a warm welcome back after the winter vacation, we started the new year with frigid temperatures and a snowstorm!We had indoor recess this week. With warmer temperatures predicted next week, we are looking forward to outdoor recess again.

I wanted to take this opportunity to remind families that students should come to school with season-appropriate clothing- warm coats, mittens and hats. If any family needs support with providing this type of clothing, please do not hesitate to contact me, Dr. Kukstis, and I will make sure to that we get winter clothing for your child.

On the same subject, I would like to let families know how we make a decision about whether recess is inside or outside. While we always like to have children get fresh air and play outside, sometimes this is just not safe. We use a resource called "The Child Weather Watch" to decide. This is based on both temperature and wind chill. Below is a copy of this chart for your reference.

Please keep safe and warm out there!

Reminders:

• Next Wednesday, January 10th, is an early dismissal day for staff professional development. Students will be dismissed at 12:00; there is NO afterschool daycare program on Wednesday. 
• No school on Monday, January 15th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.