The Bulldog Bulletin
A Newsletter for the Families and Students of
Bond Mill Elementary School
June 12, 2009
Visit Us at www.pcps.org/~bondmill
Dear Families,
It is astonishing me to type the next few words…this is the last Bulldog Bulletin for the 2008-2009 school year! Although we have 4 days of school left next week, this is the last opportunity you will have to read my incessant ramblings. I say this every year, but the time has absolutely flown by. It does seem just like yesterday that we were filing into the building in August to start the year. Now, ten months later, with the exception of a couple of awards ceremonies, it is completed. I congratulate EVERYONE on making it through a successful year. I think back to the many accomplishments we have achieved over the last ten months and I can’t stop smiling. You know how we roll at Bond Mill. No matter how big or small the experience, it is a total team effort. Every student, staff member, parent, and friend of the school should hold their heads high for a job well done. I speak for all when I say that we have certainly earned a well-deserved vacation. I do look forward to seeing you at some point during the final days of school. But if I do not, have a wonderful vacation. If you are staying home or traveling, have as much fun as is humanly possible, but be safe while doing it. Mark your calendars now: students return for the start of the 2009-2010 school year on Monday, August 24th. If you need anything over the summer, with the exception of a few days off, I will be at Bond Mill. Feel free to contact me if you need anything. Have a great summer break!
Justin FitzGerald
Principal
Important Dates to Remember in June and August:
June 12th Bond Mill Night at Cactus Willies, Route 1, Laurel
June 13th Bond Mill 40th Anniversary Celebration, 3pm-7pm
June 15th 5th Grade Awards Ceremony, 8:15am
June 15th 5th/6th Grade Dinner Dance at Bond Mill, 7pm-10pm
June 16th 6th Grade Awards Ceremony, 8:15am
June 17th 4th Quarter Honor Roll Assemblies, K-3rd at 8:15am, 4th-6th at 9:15am
June 17th Yearbook Signing Event at 1pm
June 18th Last Day of School For Students
June 19th Last Day of School For Staff (EXCEPT FOR ME!!!)
June 26th Report Cards Will Be Mailed By the County To Your Home Address
August 17th Staff Reports Back to Bond Mill
August 20th Kindergarten Preview of Classrooms (Specific Time to be Determined)
August 21st Classroom Assignments Will Be Posted on the Front Entrance of Bond Mill by 5pm
August 24th First Day of School for the 2009-2010 School Year
Bond Mill 40th Anniversary Celebration: Hopefully by now you have heard all about the 40th Anniversary Celebration that will be taking place on Saturday, June 13th from 3pm-7pm. Former students, teachers, parents and even principals (Mary Jane Lusby and Pam Landry) will be in attendance as we reminisce about the many accomplishments we have made as a school over the last four decades. The catered event is sure to be another Bond Mill extravaganza. If you can make it up to Bond Mill, we would love to see you. There will be food, fun, art on display, and the unveiling of the vision for the new playground. In short, you do NOT want to miss out. Thank you to Rhonda Whitley and her Anniversary Committee for working tirelessly to put together what is sure to be a memorable experience.
Volunteer Tea: This past Tuesday was our annual Volunteer Tea. The Volunteer Tea is a Bond Mill tradition in which we, the staff, say thank you to all of the extraordinary volunteers we have. The accomplishments we make as a school are due in large part to the countless hours our volunteers dedicate to the school and students. If you were able to attend, you heard me say thank you with my voice. If you weren’t able to attend, I say thank you to you in written form. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!
Thank You Women’s Club of Laurel: The Women’s Club of Laurel recently took on a project that has greatly benefited many of our students. Thanks to the generosity of the Women’s Club, each of our Pre-Kindergarten students has been given a brand new book to read over the summer. The books will undoubtedly contribute to the Pre-K students’ continued development of the emerging reading strategies they have learned with Ms. Scepura and Mrs. Amaya.
Yearbooks Still Available: Have you seen the yearbook yet? It is AMAZING!!! If you haven’t purchased one and would like to, we still have some copies available. Simply send $20 into the front office and your child will get a yearbook that day. Please be aware, though, that the supply is limited and we cannot order more.
Kids for Science Fair: This past May 16th was the County Kids for Science Fair. We would like to congratulate the students who represented Bond Mill. Thanks for an outstanding job!
Class Lists Posted on August 21st at 5pm: Just a reminder that class lists for the upcoming school year will be posted on Friday, August 21st at 5pm. The lists will be posted on the windows next to the front doors of the school. Supply lists will be available on the counter in the office over the summer for early shoppers.
Basketball Summer Camp: The 17th Annual Boys and Girls Basketball Camp will be taking place at Catholic University. For more information, please call 202-319-6046 or visit the web at www.cuacardinals.com.
6th Grade to MLK for Next Year: This year is an especially unique year, for we are saying good-bye to not only our 6th graders but also our current 5th graders. As we turn into a Pre-K thru 5th grade school next year, there will be a strange feeling among the hallways. The outgoing 5th graders are destined for success at Martin Luther King. Jr. MS, but I do want them to know that they will be missed at Bond Mill. And just so we can show MLK how volunteering is done right, Didi Greaves has graciously agreed to coordinate parent volunteers at King. Please contact her by e-mail at dweefur@gmail.com.
See You Next Year . . . In closing out the last Bulldog, as I did in the opening, I want to end by saying thank you to everyone. I take great pride in being the principal of the greatest elementary school in Maryland. Coming to my job every day is not work, it is an absolute joy. It’s a joy because I am surrounded by the best students, the best staff, and the best parents a principal could ever ask for. Even though I will not complain about having a quieter two months at Bond Mill, I will miss each and every one of you. Please brighten my days over the summer and shoot me an e-mail at some point letting me know about your summer adventures. Again, thank you for all that you have done, are doing, and will continue to do to help make my job such a pleasure. You are all the best!!!
***Parent Liaison News ***
PTO Website open all summer: School will be closed but you can still visit the PTO website (http://bondmillpto.org) for up-to-date information on PGCPS, Bond Mill school-related activities, Back-To-School lists, and more. If you have an article or calendar item you want placed on the PTO website, send your information to news@bondmillpto.org. If you aren’t sure if you are on the PTO eNews distribution list, send a note to news@bondmillpto.org and asked to be included or go directly to the website and subscribe. Not sure what is on the website? Just do a search on the website or use the sitemap tool to get a bird’s-eye view.
Just a Brief “So Long” for the Summer and a heartfelt thank-you to each and every one of you who has made my job a pleasure this past year. Rest up, have fun, don’t spend a second thinking about homework or lunch money, and know that I look forward to seeing you again in August. Lucy
In case you missed it, here is the previous Bulldog Bulletin:
The Bulldog Bulletin
A Newsletter for the Families and Students of
Bond Mill Elementary School
May 29, 2009
Visit Us at www.pcps.org/~bondmill
Dear Families,
Where, oh where has the sun gone? Oh where, oh where can it be? If you are like me, you have been asking yourself those two questions frequently this springtime. Let’s just hope that Mother Nature has this great plan in store for us where all the sunshine we are missing out on now is being saved up for the summer. Mother Nature and I are currently on good terms, especially since she took good care of us for the Carnival. Speaking of the Carnival, it was an enormous success! Thank you to Linda Landau and her cast of hundreds for making it that way. Fun, friends, and food dominated the day, which also helped raise much money for next year’s Cultural Arts performances. Pay attention to your child’s classroom calendar so that you don’t miss out on the picnic and other end-of-year events. In the final two and a half weeks of school be prepared for Field Day, picnics, Talent Show, the Volunteer Tea, Awards Ceremonies, and Honor Roll Assemblies. In short, we will be busy! The next and FINAL Bulldog for this school year will be coming home on Friday, June 12th. If there is anything that you need between now and then, feel free to contact me. Have a great weekend!
Justin FitzGerald
Principal
Important Dates to Remember in June:
June 2nd Bond Mill Field Day (rain date is June 5th)
June 2nd MLK Question and Answer Session for Current 5th & 6th Grade parents, 6:30-7:30pm at MLK
June 3rd Cultural Arts Performance: Ropeworks
June 4th Finishing Touch IV Celebration 2:15pm-3pm
June 8th Bond Mill Talent Show, 8:15am
June 9th Bond Mill Volunteer Tea, 2:30pm
June 12th Bond Mill Night at Cactus Willies
June 13th Bond Mill 40th Anniversary Celebration, 3pm-7pm
June 15th 5th Grade Awards Ceremony, 8:15am
June 15th 5th/6th Grade Dance, 7pm
June 16th 6th Grade Awards Ceremony, 8:15am
June 17th 4th Quarter Honor Roll Assemblies, K-3rd at 8:15am, 4th-6th at 9:15am
June 18th Last Day of School for Students
June 19th Last Day of School for Teaching Staff (with the exception of ME!!!)
June 26th Report Cards Will Be Mailed to Home Address
Spring Concert: If you were able to attend the Instrumental Spring Concert this week, I am sure you joined me in being dazzled. The students sounded tremendous!!! The hours of hard work at school and at home were on display for all to hear. I cannot thank enough the students, Mr. FitzGerald (the instrumental teacher), and the parents at home for working so hard and sounding so good!
Bond Mill Cactus Willies Night: We have had incredible success with fundraising nights at Chick Fil-A and Cheeburger Cheeburger. Next on the list…Cactus Willies! Come join us for food and fun on June 12th from 4pm until closing. The other two nights have raised over $500 combined! I’m sure this night will be no different. Thank you for your support.
Playground News: Our friends at Laurel Elementary School are building their new playground this Saturday, May 30th. If you can wield a sledge hammer or work a ratchet, please bring your skills and tools to help with the big build. Maybe we'll get some ideas for our future Big Build! For more info, contact Amy Brennan at (301) 490-7662 or amybopd@hotmail.com.
Carnival Thank You’s: Linda Landau, Mary Lehman and their cast of hundreds worked tirelessly to create a sensational Carnival, raising more than $13,000 for the school. Linda, Mary and I would like to issue special thanks to a number of individuals:
• Anne Marie Hartranft, Christy Hyder, Stephanie Scepura, Gina Hendershot, Mary Kay Rosenberg, Joanne Olsufka, Michelle Kerr, Barb Zack, Linda Landau, Ellie Hartranft and Shari Watts, for putting together the Raffle Baskets
• Kirk and Barb Zack for storing the donations and baskets in their home for several days
• Mr. Claibourn, as this day could not occur without his support
• Kristen Ruiz and the Carnival Poster Committee, for running the Carnival Poster Contest and advertising the carnival
• Vee Rinker and her Carnival Ticket Committee, selling over $4,000 worth of tickets the week prior to the carnival
• Carnival Donations Committee members Gina & Emmett Hendershot, Jen Hendershot, Kristen Ruiz, Brenda Bradley, Michelle Watson, Dennis & Rhonda Whitley, Christine & Jay Knisley, Erick & Evelyn Flores Bonilla, and Amanda & Brien Berard, whose efforts raised over $5,000 at our silent auction table
• Liz Dwyer for organizing the wonderful silent auction packages
• And everyone else who helped make the 2009 carnival such a huge success!
Please note that the PTO is still looking for 2 additional Carnival Co-Chairs for 2010. If you are interested, please contact Linda Landau or Mary Lehman @ mlehman1964@aol.com
Carnival Sponsors: We would like to acknowledge Pan Am Supermarket located in Laurel for their generous donation to our 2009 Carnival.
Congratulations Mrs. Tayman: This is not a typo – Ms. Tayman is now Mrs. Tayman. She and her new husband Kenny Stepp got married on May 16th. As one who attended the wedding, I can tell you that it was a lot of fun. For the rest of this school year, Mrs. Tayman will keep her last name. But when we return in the fall, expect Mrs. Stepp to be teaching 2nd grade.
Bond Mill will Celebrate its 40th Anniversary on Saturday, June 13, from 3-7 pm. You can stroll the halls and visit old classrooms, catch up with former classmates and teachers, and share stories as you mix, mingle, and reminisce. There will be a Student Art Show, food, kid’s activities, and lots of memories at this once in a lifetime event! If you have kept in touch with friends and staff from previous years at Bond Mill, please pass the word!
***Parent Liaison News ***
The West Laurel Civic Association is Sponsoring a Community Clean-Up tomorrow, Saturday, May 30th, from 9am to noon (rain or shine). Volunteers should report to the West Laurel Community Building to get supplies and choose a stretch of roadway to beautify by picking up litter.
Staff Member of the Month: The votes for May are in, and the winner is…. Donna Albrecht, one of our amazing 3rd grade teachers! Yippeeee!!!! Please note that there will not be voting in June, but the program will resume in the fall. Thank you to everyone who participated – the staff really appreciates your support!
Bond Mill PTO Announces the First Winner of the Online Voting Contest (Staff Member of the Month) – Mr. Zak’s class! In a continuing effort to introduce you to Bond Mill’s PTO website (www.bondmillpto.org), the PTO held an online contest for participation in the Staff Member of the Month program. The class that submitted the most votes online in May won an Extra Recess Pass. Congratulations to the winning students in Mr. Zak’s homeroom (and their parents)!
Another Super Huge Thank-you to Evelyn Williams for her participation in Verizon’s Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP). Remember back in February when we thanked Ms. Williams for raising $750 for the school through her many hours of volunteering? Well, she’s done it again, resulting in another $750 check for Bond Mill from the VIP program. Way to go, Ms. Williams!
Registration for the Before & After Care Program at Bond Mill will be from 5:00-7:00pm on Monday, June 1, in the school’s multipurpose room. Parking will be on Sherwood Avenue only (not the school lot). Please understand that the program is limited to the first 45 children with complete registrations. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Shenk at 301-483-7425 between 12:00-6:00pm Monday through Friday.
Field Day Helpers Needed: Mr. Kirkland and Mr. Harris still need parent volunteers to help with field day on June 2 (rain date is June 5). As you know, Field Day can be a fun-filled day for the students, but we need adults to help out with the various sports activities and the snow cone machine. Please lend a hand if you can!
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