The Bulldog Bulletin
A Newsletter for the Families and Students of
Bond Mill Elementary School
October 9, 2009
Visit Us at www.pcps.org/~bondmill
Dear Families,
Greetings once again. The feeling of fall has definitely reached West Laurel. In my six years at Bond Mill, I've noticed certain things seem to always happen this time of year. The temperature dips, leaves change colors, and . . . our lost and found box begins to overflow. If ever a time comes where your child comes home with less than what they left you in the morning (i.e. missing jacket, gloves, hats, etc.), chances are it is in our lost and found box. It is located in the carpeted area near the cafeteria. The Scholastic Book Fair has come and gone. It was an enormous success this week. Children (and adults) literally purchased thousands of dollars of books. I can't think of anything better to spend your money on than literature . . . well, actually Chick-Fil-A is pretty good too. An ENORMOUS thank you to Jen Hendershot for coordinating the Book Fair. In addition to Jen, many parents helped out to ensure everything went as smoothly as it did. Thank you so very much to Crystal Tweedy, Jen Hinkle, Amy Brennan, Mary Jean Sokolowsky, Linda Landau, Lakia Bourne, Darlene Bunkley, Mary Baucum Milline, Jamie Antoine, Peggy Holland, Jeanne Igoe, Kim Wiley, Jaqui Gorthey, Sheri Martin, Erica Durrington, Michelle Kerr, Dawn Platte, Andrea Evans, Cynthia Atkins, Lia Simmons, June Beck, Yvonne Breedlove, Carolyn Vincent, Brenda Durrington, Gloria Iglesias and Tracy Lewis. Many things are still to come in October, so pay close attention to the dates below so that you don't miss out. The next Bulldog will be coming home on October 23rd. If there is anything you need from me before then, feel free to contact me. Have a great weekend.
Justin FitzGerald
Principal
Important Dates to Remember in October:
October 12th Write-A-Book Information Night, 7pm in the Media Center
October 12th Men Make A Difference Day, 8:00am to 10:00am
October 13th Entertainment Book Fundraiser Kickoff
October 15th Side By Side Family Academy, Deerfield Run ES, 6:00-8:00
October 16th No School. MSTA Convention
October 20th Hospitality Committee Visits the Staff
October 21st LifeTouch Fall Pictures
October 22nd/23rd 5th Grade Visits Camp Schmidt
October 22nd PTO Meeting, Media Center, 6:00; All Are Welcome To Attend
October 26th Student Council Elections
October 29th Fall Festival Parade Begins at 12:30
October 29th End of 1st Quarter
October 30th No School for Students. Grading and Planning Day
October 30th Bond Mill PTO Family Event - Swimming at Fairland, 3:00 - 5:00
Reshuffling of Students and Staff: I just wanted to thank everyone (students, staff, and parents) for your understanding and cooperation with the recent reorganization of our second grade students and several staff members. These tough economic times are truly trying the patience of everyone. However, our best defense against difficult times is to continue to work like we always do . . . together. It makes all the difference in the world. Thank you!
Progress Reports: Hopefully you received your child's progress report this past Tuesday. Every child in the school received one, so if you haven't seen it, someone's hiding something from you. If you have any questions about the report, please feel free to contact your child's teacher.
Men Make A Difference Day: We welcome all fathers, male guardians and other significant male role models to Celebrate Men Make a Difference Day at Bond Mill. We invite you to visit your child's classroom on Monday, October 12 between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. We hope to see you then!
Entertainment Books: Look for Entertainment Books coming home next Tuesday. If you're interested in purchasing one, make a check out to Bond Mill PTO for $30. Here's another wonderful way for you and your extended family to support our PTO. They make great holiday gifts. The book offers many ways to save thousands of dollars, including discounts for local restaurants, bowling, movie tickets, and stores. Be sure to take a look. You can also order books online for out-of-town family. If you are not interested in the book, please send it back.
Student Attendance: This is a reminder to parents that each time your child is tardy or absent, we ask you to call our Attendance Line at 301-498-3501 and leave us a message. Every tardy and absence must be documented by a note from you. If the note does not arrive, it is unexcused in the computer. You can monitor this (as well as your child's grades) through the Parent Portal. If you have not set up your Parent Portal account, please email Dr. Belton at Pauline.belton@pgcps.org.
Childrens' Activity for October: Another wonderful activity has been set up by Mary Jean Sokolowsky and our Childrens' Activity Committee. Come to Fairland Recreation Center on October 30th (it's a day off for students) from 3pm-5pm for a fun day of swimming. The cost is $3.50 for children and $4.50 for adults. What a fun afternoon it will be!
Bond Mill Burglary: On September 27th we unfortunately had a break-in at Bond Mill. Several juveniles broke into the school through a classroom window. They proceeded to go throughout many classrooms damaging equipment and taking items such as computer speakers, instructional materials, and food (yes, food). However, thanks to the tremendous response of the police, two of the criminals were apprehended and for the most part, everything was recovered. It is a reminder that although West Laurel is a safe area, we have to always be on the lookout here at school and at home.
WLCA General Meeting: The West Laurel Civic Association Fall General Meeting will include a presentation on the H1N1 Virus. Speakers from the Prince George's County Health Department, Dimensions Health Care, and the Prince George's County Office of Emergency Preparedness will be in attendance. The meeting is on October 15th at the West Laurel Community Building starting at 7:30pm.
A Helpful Website for Parents: Every now and then I'll include in the newsletter a website that I feel is very important for you to be aware of. This website can give you information for any individuals who live in West Laurel that have been convicted of a sexual offense. By including this website address, I simply want to make sure you are equipped with as much information as possible to help keep our children safe. The website is www.familywatchdog.us.
Laurel Library Events: The Laurel Branch of the Prince Georgeˇ¦s County Memorial Library System is a wonderful resource we have in our backyard. There are many events that take place to help enrich the lives of our students. A sampling of some of the upcoming events include: Fire Safety on Wednesday October 14th at 7pm, Family Game Night on October 19th at 7pm, Spanish-English Storytime the first Tuesday of each month at 7:15pm, and French-English Storytime the second Saturday of each month at 10:30am.
Fingerprinting Night Success: Thank you to the nearly 100 individuals who came out to Bond Mill for Fingerprinting Night. For those who endured the first ever Bond Mill Fingerprinting Night in 2006 and stayed until 1am, the following information will probably make you cringe, but we were finished by 7:45. It was outstanding! If you didn't get a chance to make it and you still want to have it completed, you can always go to the Board of Education in Upper Marlboro Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm. Call them at 301-952-6775.
Craft Fair: On Saturday, November 21, we will be holding our 27th annual Bond Mill Craft Fair. If you are a crafter and would like to rent a table, please call the office. Tables rent for $25 on the floor and $35 on the stage (we provide the tables). This is a wonderful Bond Mill tradition - a day when the Laurel community visits us to buy holiday gift items, eat breakfast, lunch and baked goods (sold by our fifth grade parents) and socialize with old friends. This is a fundraiser for the fifth grade to help with the costs of end-of-year activities. Fifth grade parents, thanks in advance for supporting the Craft Fair!
Buccaneers/Redskins: Some of you may have noticed this past Sunday that the Redskins did in fact defeat the Buccaneers. In an effort to be a good sport, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Redskins fans. The better team clearly won the game. For those who have known me for a while, you know that took every bit of strength in my fingers to type those words. Our favorite saying down in Tampa - WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR!!!
Attention Parents of 2nd and 3rd Grade Boys: Cub Scout Pack 1673, chartered by the West Laurel Civic Association, is looking for new Cub Scouts to round out its Wolf and Bear dens. We are also looking for adult leadership for our Wolf den (2nd grade den). Meetings are on Tuesday evenings in the neighborhood. If you think your son might enjoy Cub Scouting and you would like to check out our Pack, please call Amy Brennan, Pack Committee Member, at 301-490-7662 or e-mail amybopd@hotmail.com for details. Cub Scouting is for boys in 1st through 5th grade. All interested boys are welcome.
In case you missed it, here's the last newsletter:
The Bulldog Bulletin
A Newsletter for the Families and Students of
Bond Mill Elementary School
September 24, 2009
Visit Us at www.pcps.org/~bondmill
Dear Families,
Welcome to the beginning of a four-day weekend! Itˇ¦s hard to beat getting a four-day weekend so early into the start of the school year. Hopefully this information is not coming as a surprise to you; but in case it is, this is a reminder that tomorrow (Friday, September 25th) is a Professional Development Day and Monday we observe Yom Kippur. We will see everyone back at Bond Mill on Tuesday, September 29th. Thank you to everyone who participated in the Sally Foster Fundraiser. Although the final amount is still being tallied up, I am positive that your contributions and efforts will help make a tremendous difference at Bond Mill. I would also like to thank everyone (a few hours ahead of schedule) who will be coming out to tonight's Fingerprinting Night. Currently we are scheduled to have over 60 parents renew their commercial background checks, get a new commercial background check, or complete the full fingerprinting check. That is proof once again how dedicated our community is in making sure that everyone is an active participant in the education of our children. If you don't plan on joining in on the fingerprinting extravaganza, feel free to come join us at the General PTO Meeting that will be taking place in the library. Both events begin at 6pm. The next Bulldog Bulletin will be coming home on Friday, October 9th. If you need anything before then, please do not hesitate to contact me. Again, have a great four-day weekend.
Justin FitzGerald
Principal
Important Dates to Remember in September/October:
September 24th Bond Mill Fingerprinting Night 6pm-8:30pm
September 24th Bond Mill PTO General Meeting, 6pm-8pm
September 25th No School for Students. Professional Development Day
September 28th School Closed. Observance of Yom Kippur
October 4th Tampa Bay Buccaneers STOMP the Washington Redskins
October 5th-9th The Scholastic Book Fair Visits Bond Mill
October 6th Progress Reports Released
October 6th Dr. Hite's State of the System Address, 6:30pm Wise HS
October 7th Cultural Arts Performance: The Signature Project
October 7th PTO General Meeting to Approve Budget, 6pm
October 16th No School for Students. MSTA Convention
October 20th Hospitality Committee Visits the Staff
October 21st LifeTouch Fall Pictures
October 22nd/23rd 5th Grade Visits Camp Schmidt
October 29th Fall Festival Parade, 12:30pm
October 30th No School for Students. Grading/Planning Day
National Walk/Run at Work Day: Last Friday we participated in National Run (or Walk) at Work Day. The children and adults enjoyed taking a break for a few moments from working their brains to work their bodies and completed a couple of laps around the school. Many thanks go to the parents (Debi Collins, Angie Holmes, Jill Biggs, Virginia Rinker, Shari Ludlam, Debbie Fairall, and Joan Kim) who assisted in making the event so enjoyable.
Thank You Hospitality Committee: This past Tuesday the staff was treated to a delicious meal provided by the Hospitality Committee. No other school has such generous parents as we do. The meal was not only scrumptious, but put a smile on every single staff member's face. Thank you sooooo much, Hospitality Committee.
The Scholastic Book Fair is Coming: October 5th - 9th the Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Bond Mill. Please keep an eye out for additional information related to the Book Fair in the coming days. The Book Fair is a wonderful opportunity for your child to purchase books while at the same time earning incentives for the school. Feel free to browse the website www.bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/bondmill for more specifics.
Lunch Count: Each morning classroom teachers take "count" of who will be buying lunch from the cafeteria. This count helps the cafeteria determine how many meals need to be prepared. Every now and then a child changes his or her mind or we have adults visiting who eat the cafeteria lunch. The problem that occurs is that the lunch count that was taken in the morning does then not reflect an accurate number, so we may possibly run out of food for the last few classes on the final lunch shift. Obviously we have "back up" food to serve so that the children do eat, but it is not the meal listed on the monthly calendar. Please make sure that your child sticks to whatever plan you have given him or her. Additionally, if you are joining us for lunch, please call into the cafeteria in the morning and place an order for yourself. Thanks so much.
Absent and Tardy Notes Needed: When your child is absent or tardy, please continue to call our Attendance Line at 301-498-3501 and leave a message on the recorder. In addition, your child's teacher needs a note to document the reason. This is a State requirement. Without the note, the absence or tardy is unexcused. If you have questions, refer to Page 2 of your Parent Handbook. If you want to check on absences, you can see them in the SchoolMax Parent Portal. If you've not set up your Parent Portal account, email Dr. Belton at pauline.belton@pgcps.org for your Access Key.
Congratulations Mrs. Hill: I had the pleasure of attending a ceremony this morning at Laurel Elementary in which our very own Mrs. Hill was being honored. Mrs. Hill, our sensational crossing guard and recess monitor, was honored by Patrons for Peace for her decades of service to Prince George's County. We have known at Bond Mill firsthand for years how amazing Mrs. Hill is, so it was so nice to see her receive recognition on a much larger scale. If ever there is someone deserving of the honor, it is Mrs. Hill.
State of the System Address: Dr. Hite (the Prince George's County Public Schools CEO) will be conducting his annual State of the System address on October 12th at Wise High School. Doors will open at 6pm and his address will begin promptly at 6:30pm. Dr. Hite will be covering key initiatives in the County and highlighting the gains the system has made.
Reminders About Arrival/Dismissal: Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, DO NOT do u-turns on Sherwood Avenue. Thanks so much. Did I mention PLEASE?!?
Bike Riders: If your child is riding a bike to school, please have him or her stop in the office to pick up a permission slip and bike safety rules to take home. Sign and return the permission slip, but keep the rules, please.
Fire Safety Open House: On October 4th from noon-3pm, come have fun and learn about fire safety at Laurel VFD, Station 10. It is located at 7411 Cherry Lane right here in Laurel. See Dottie, Teddy, and Hector the Fire Safety Clown. Additionally there will be a poster contest and many exhibits.
Redskins/Buccaneers: By now you probably know that I am a big fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Admittedly, I will not do much "trash-talking" this year when it comes to my beloved Bucs. The reason for this is quite simple - they stink this year! However, the one thing I can always count on, no matter how bad the Bucs are, is them beating up on the Washington Redskins when they play. As luck would have it, the Redskins and Buccaneers play on October 4th! Finally, our first win of the season!!! Please note in the third sentence I mentioned that I wouldn't do much trash-talking. Of course I'm going to do some. Go Bucs!!!
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