The Bulldog Bulletin
A Newsletter for the Families and Students of
Bond Mill Elementary School
May 2, 2008
Visit Us at www.pcps.org/~bondmill
Dear Families,
Happy May to everyone! With the start of yet another month, it brings us that much closer to the end of school. June 9th will be here before we know it, so please remind your children to give their very best efforts (academically and socially) every day between now and then. Field trips, Field Day, picnics, etc… are still to come and when they do, students who have earned the opportunity to participate will be grateful for the hard work they have exhibited. Next week we will have an event at Bond Mill that has never taken place before. We will be hosting a Region 5 Principals’ Learning Walk on Tuesday, May 6th from 8am-10am. The Learning Walk will include approximately 60 principals from Region 5 elementary and middle schools, as well as the Region 5 Office Staff. They will be visiting our school and classrooms to analyze our academic program. Teachers and students will be observed doing their best and proving to our visitors why our school is so well regarded. After their visit, I will journey to the Region 5 Office for a summary of what the visitors observed. This is an exciting opportunity (albeit stressful) for our school. The staff will be parking on Sherwood Avenue that day, so do not be alarmed if you come to school and see an empty parking lot. The next Bulldog will be coming home on May 16th, just one day before the awesome Bond Mill Carnival! If you need anything between now and then, you know where to find me. For now, have a great weekend!
Justin FitzGerald
Principal
Important Dates to Remember in May and June:
May 4th Write-A-Book Awards at Eleanor Roosevelt HS, 5pm
May 5th-9th Staff Appreciation Week
May 6th Bond Mill Learning Walk, 8am-10am
May 6th Snowcones Provided by PTA in the Afternoon
May 7th Bond Mill Spring Concert, 8:15am and 7pm
May 8th Hospitality Committee Visits the Staff
May 12th-21st Footworks Cultural Arts Residency
May 14th , 15th Talent Show Auditions, 2pm-4pm
May 15th PTA Exec. Board Meeting at 5pm - All are welcome to attend
May 17th Bond Mill Carnival, 10am-3pm
May 19th-23rd Nicaraguan Donations (look for more information …)
May 21st Footworks Family Night, 7pm
May 21st 2008 Bridge to Excellence Master Plan Community Meeting at Mary Harris “Mother Jones” Elementary from 7pm-8:30pm
May 22nd Kindergarten Orientation (for 2008-2009 parents only), 2:30pm
May 23rd Bond Mill Career Day
May 26th No School - Memorial Day
May 27th Bond Mill Field Day (Rain Date is May 29th)
May 27th Bond Mill Before and After Care Registration, 5pm-7pm
May 28th Bond Mill Talent Show 8:15am
May 28th Spaghetti Dinner (with night Talent Show performances), 7pm
June 5th 6th Grade Awards Ceremony, 8:15am
June 6th 4th Quarter Honor Roll Assemblies, K-3 at 8:15 and 4-6 at 9:15
June 9th Last Day of School For Students
June 10th Last Day for 10-Month Employees.
TWO WEEKS until the Bond Mill Spring Carnival! Get ready for a good time. This event is completely run by volunteers so please fill out your volunteer form and return it to school as soon as possible. Older children who have graduated from Bond Mill can earn community service hours for helping out. We are also in need of cakes for the famous Cake Walk and baked items for the Bake Table. Spread the word: Saturday May 17th from 10am-3pm, rain or shine. Lots of games, rides, fun prizes, and great items at the silent auction. Many teachers are offering special outings for families to bid on. You don't want to miss this event. Ticket sales begin May12th @ 4/$1. Thank you for your support.
Raffle Baskets: Donations are still being accepted for class theme baskets. You have until Friday, May 9th to send in items for your class basket. We've got some great themes this year and over thirty baskets will be raffled off at the Carnival. Each classroom has a collection box with the theme posted on it. Let's fill those boxes. Be sure to look for your class basket on the day of the Carnival!! Thanks.
Carnival Poster Contest: Are you creative? Enjoy drawing pictures? Like to win prizes? It's not too late to make your Carnival Poster. All posters are due to the office by Thursday, May 8th. Look for the great prizes in the display cases. Your poster may be displayed in the neighborhood to advertise our carnival. Remember to put the date and time on your colorful poster. Winners will be announced on May 8th.
Team Weeks Continues: Keep shopping at Modell's Sporting Goods. Our school receives 5% back on your total purchase every time you use your Bond Mill Modell's Coupon. You save 10% on purchases and the school makes money! Team Weeks continues until May 22nd. One coupon is good for multiple purchases. If you don't have a coupon, stop in the office today and pick one up.
Bond Mill Learning Walk: As mentioned in the introduction, Bond Mill will be swamped with Region 5 principals and office staff on Tuesday, May 6th. Thank you for your assistance in helping make the atypical day a success. See the introduction for more specifics.
Beautification Day 2008: Beautification Day once again was an enormous success. The school grounds look absolutely sensational! Thank you to the parents, students, and staff who brought in the many plants and flowers that now adorn our school. A HUMUNGA-COWA-BUNGA thank you to Kelly Krause for all that she did to coordinate Beautification Day. She worked tirelessly along with Tom Krause, Adolfo Perez, Lori Emmert, Evelyn Iraheta, Erin Wilkerson, Augustin Proctor, Molly Sidor and Abby Rascoe to make sure things look as nice as they do.
Congratulations Mrs. Fisher’s Class! Thanks to their prowess in CHALLENGE 24, they are ranked 5th in the nation! Way to go!!
West Laurel Spring Clean Up: On Saturday, May 3rd from 9am-noon, let’s pick up unsightly litter and beautify our community. Meet at the West Laurel Community Building (corner of Brooklyn Bridge and Bond Mill Roads). Sign-up begins at 8:45am where you can also pick up tools, trash bags and safety vests. Refreshments are provided for participants. It is a great way for older students to get community service hours for graduation. Sponsored by the West Laurel Civic Association. Contact Liz Steenrod at 301-725-6835 for more information.
Before and After Care Registration 2008-2009: Registration will begin at 5pm and conclude at 7pm on Tuesday, May 27th in the school’s Multipurpose Room. Parking will be on Sherwood Avenue. The school lot is reserved for Staff and Buses only. Please understand that the program is limited to 45 children and that spaces will be assigned to the first parents/guardians who turn in the following: completed registration packet (which you will receive and fill out at registration, packets will not be given out prior to registration day), Health Inventory and Immunization Certificate (completed and signed by your doctor, for each child), Check or Money Order (for $110 - $100 for tuition deposit plus a $10 one-time registration fee. Thereafter tuition is paid bi-weekly in the amount of $125 per child. Parents/Guardians registering more than one child write a single check/money order for all children. Sorry, we cannot accept cash payment.
University of MD Golf Clinic: This past Monday, 15 of our students were able to take part in the first ever Bond Mill Golf Clinic. Although it rained, forcing the students inside, it was a tremendous success. Special thank you to Dr. Stephanie Timmons-Brown from the University of MD (and extraordinary Bond Mill parent) for setting up the event. We had such a large number of students interested that the University is planning on coming back for additional visits. If you were not selected for the first round, we hope you will still get the opportunity. As soon as I have information to pass along to you, I will.
Title Change: For years, you have known our Bond Mill Assistant Principal and former Guidance Counselor as Mrs. Belton. After years of dedication and course work, “Mrs.” is no longer her title. She is now known as Dr. Belton. Congratulations to Dr. Belton on successfully completing her doctoral program at Bowie State University. We are all so proud of her impressive accomplishment.
Paper Recycling: Thanks to the constant recycling efforts of our school and community, Bond Mill PTA has been awarded $1,000 from the Attibibi Recycling Company. By being the top raising school, we were awarded this large sum of money. Thank you to everyone for contributing to our two bins. It really does make a difference!
Generous Donation: A very sincere thank you from Camp Sonshine, Africa to all the members of the Good News Club. They received the donation of $220 (which was raised by club members in two weeks) for the support of Banis, the orphan from Nakura Kenya.
***Parent Liaison News***
Nutrition and Exercise Workshop – Back by Popular Demand! Join us later this month (date to be announced) as Amy Wenhold, a certified personal trainer and nutrition consultant, shares ways to include healthy foods and efficient exercises into your family schedule. Look for a flyer to come home soon with more details.
The Lost and Found box is overflowing with your children’s clothing! There are several beautiful winter coats and jackets as well as many smaller items. Please come SOON to check and see if any of them are yours – items that are left at the end of the year will be donated to charity.
In case you missed it, here's the last Bulletin:
The Bulldog Bulletin
A Newsletter for the Families and Students of
Bond Mill Elementary School
April 18, 2008
Visit Us at www.pcps.org/~bondmill
Dear Families,
Greetings once again! The warmer weather certainly indicates that summer vacation is not that far away. However, it also serves as a reminder that despite the closeness of vacation, there is still plenty of work to be done. Thank you for reminding your child/children that they need to give their very best effort all the way until June 9th. Please notice I am stating the last day is June 9th. The County recently approved extending the school year to June 9th to make up for the one snow day we experienced. Please pay close attention to the Important Dates section of the Bulldog and your child’s classroom calendar. We don’t want you to miss out on anything. Hopefully you received the letter I sent home regarding boundary and grade level changes. There will be many families impacted by the boundary change. Please go to www.pgcps.org,, click on “Parents” on the top, then “School Finder” near the bottom. Enter your street name, “See Schools”, and then look at 2008-2009 to determine your boundary school. The other important part states that Bond Mill will be a Pre-K-5 school starting in 2009-2010. We will have 6th grade at Bond Mill next year. As a Prince George’s County principal, I understand the need for the changes to take place. As principal of Bond Mill, I am saddened to think about the wonderful families I have worked closely with over the last several years who will be moving on to other schools. The solace is knowing the new school will be an amazing facility and an incredible opportunity for the students and families. If you have any questions, you know where to find me. The next Bulldog will be coming home on Friday, May 2nd. Have a great weekend!
Justin FitzGerald
Principal
Important Dates to Remember in April/May:
April 21st-May 16th LAS Links Testing Window for ESOL Students
April 22nd Bond Mill Beautification Day
April 28th Cheeburger Cheeburger Event in Honor of Lori Wood, 5pm-9pm
April 29th Classroom Pictures/Spring Pictures (THIS IS A DATE CHANGE FROM A PREVIOUS DATE)
April 30th Cultural Arts Performance: World of Robots, 8:15 and 9:15
April 30th Finishing Touch III Students Celebration 2pm-3pm
May 6th Region 5 Principals’ Visit Bond Mill to Complete IFL Learning Walk at Bond Mill, 8am-10am
May 7th Hospitality Committee Visits Staff
May 7th Bond Mill Spring Concert, 7pm
May 12th-21st Footworks Residency at Bond Mill
May 15th PTA Executive Board Meeting, 5pm. All Are Welcome to Attend.
May 17th Bond Mill Carnival, 10am-3pm
May 22nd Kindergarten Orientation, 2:30pm
May 23rd Bond Mill Career Day
May 26th No School. Memorial Day
May 27th Bond Mill Field Day (Rain Date is May 29th)
May 28th Bond Mill Talent Show 8:00am and 7pm
Congratulations Mrs. Oldham! Mrs. Pattie Oldham, one of our tremendous 4th grade teachers, was recently notified that she will receive the Prince George’s County Outstanding Educator Award. The Staff nominated Mrs. Oldham for her dedicated years of service and extraordinary teaching ability. She will be given her award at a banquet in mid-May.
Carnival News: Bond Mill's Spring Carnival is less than one month away and we need your help! Flyers have gone home asking for volunteers to work the day of the carnival. Please sign up for a few hours that day. Remember, this
event is completely run by volunteers. All classes will be making a theme basket that will be raffled at the carnival. Donation items are now being collected in each classroom for your class theme basket.
Do you own a business? Do you work in the Laurel area? Would you like to donate to the Bond Mill PTA Spring Carnival? Perhaps you or your employer would be willing to be a sponsor. Donations are tax-deductible. We are contacting many local businesses for their support in making this a spectacular event. If you have any suggestions or contacts, please send them to limazaja@hotmail.com or contact Linda Landau @ 301.776.2135. Thanks for your support!
"Team Weeks" at Modell's Sporting Goods Coupons are being sent home for you to shop at Modell's Sporting Goods. Stop in at your local Modell's and bring your Bond Mill coupon to save 10% on your total purchase. Bond Mill will receive a 5 percent rebate on all purchases at the end of the promotion period. This is an easy way to earn money for our school. Our "Team Weeks" at Modell's run from April 25th through May 22nd. You may use the same coupon for all your purchases during this time period. Additional coupons can be picked up in the office.
Spring Fundraiser: Thank you so much to everyone who participated in our Spring Fundraiser. We raised much money that will help support our children at Bond Mill. Special thank you to Liz Steenrod and Kim House for all that they did to help make the fundraiser such a success.
School Pictures: Spring and Class Pictures have been rescheduled to April 29th. Please make note of it on your calendar. Class pictures are pre-paid, individual pictures are “a-la-carte.” There are no make-up days.
Thank You Hospitality Committee: Thank you to the many parents who contributed delicious food for April’s Hospitality Luncheon. As is always the case, the food was absolutely incredible. As a staff, we feel so appreciated!
May 6th Learning Walk at Bond Mill: We have been selected by the Region 5 Office to host a Learning Walk. A Learning Walk involves every principal from a Region 5 school, as well as the Region 5 Office Staff, coming to visit us at Bond Mill. Those visiting us, approximately 60 in all, will be given an overview of the exceptional programs in place here at Bond Mill. Then, 10 teams of 6 people will visit every class in the school to observe the teaching and learning taking place. We are quite excited to showcase the wonderful things happening here at Bond Mill.
Pennies for Patients: Our Pennies for Patients program is in full bloom. We are asking students to make donations for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which supports finding a cure for various forms of cancer that affect many children. Donations can be made in the form of cash or checks and should be turned in by April 25. Checks can be made payable to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Nicaragua School: Look for information about our G.O.L.D. Committee’s new project. We will be asking for donations of school supplies to help a school in Nicaragua. Our students are so generous!
***Parent Liaison News***
Nutrition and Exercise Workshop: Join us on April 24 from 7:30 to 8:30 to discover ways to include healthy foods and efficient exercises into your family schedule. A flyer with details will be in your child’s Friday folder today.
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