Bear News - May 16, 2018

Parents – Here we are at the end of the school year. Don’t give up on us now… there is one last batch of important announcements, so grab that last bit of energy and let’s push over that finish line together!

Summer Packets
On Thursday, May 24 students at Bear will saddle up their horses for the last time for the 2017-18 school year. To make sure that the foundation built over the last nine months remains firm, the PTA, with guidance from our wonderful teachers, have put together Summer Skills review packets.

1. Choose the grade level that your child was in THIS year (the 2017-18 school year).
2. Print off both the English and Math sections for your student.
3. Have the student complete the work.
4. Return the packets to your child's new teacher during the first week of school, no later than Friday, August, 10.

Participation is OPTIONAL. Students (Rising 1st-5th graders) who complete both the English and Match sections of their packet and return it to school by August 10 will be rewarded with a prize from the PTA.

Bear Wear Prices
It has been about a decade since Bear Wear prices have increased. To keep up with the cost of doing business, prices on most items will increase at the beginning of the 2018-19 school year. Bear short-sleeved field trip t-shirts will remain at $10. Order forms are due Thursday, May 17. Merchandise will be sent home with students on Friday, May 18.

City-Wide School Clean Up Project
Our school is one of a few MPS school to be chosen by the Montgomery Clean City Commission for the Packed to A.C.T. program. This is a 3-phase project that will consist of mural painting, indoor painting, and outdoor landscaping. None of which we would be able to accomplish without A LOT of volunteer assistance. Gather your friends, family, and coworkers and sign up for this event here. Open this informational PDF to learn more information.

Click or Call to volunteer in one or more of the phases:
PHASE 1: Mural Painting, June 23
PHASE 2: Indoor Painting, July 21
PHASE 3: Outdoor Landscaping, between July 23- August 3 - Call 334.625.2175 

PTA Survey

Please fill out and return the PTA survey that was sent home last week. We want to hear from you so that we will know how to improve!

Donate Uniforms
Donate your school uniforms now through the end of the school year. There is a Uniform Drop container in the front lobby of the school. Uniforms will be sold, and profits will benefit the PTA.

Uniform Re-Sale
Come get a deal on gently-used uniforms this summer - July 12-13 in the Bear Cafeteria.

Specialist Spotlight
Thank you for a great year of supporting our Specialists one month at a time. This past month the following people brought in gifts for Mrs. Lanier: Bryson and Rhett Lazenby, Audrey Kate, Anne Perry and Addie Wamsted, Jaden Whiting, McKenzie Kim and Carson Shambray. The winner of the drawing is Jaden Whiting. Congratulations, Jaden!

Papa Bear of the Year
Congratulations to Daniel Livingston who was awarded the Papa Bear award at the PTA Meeting last night. Daniel has spent many hours working in our Outdoor Classroom, volunteering at Field Day and going on field trips. He is a wonderful and hardworking dad, and we are proud to name him our Papa Bear of the Year!

Report of PTA Gifts to the School – 2017-18
$15,789 – teacher grants
$10,000 – ADDITIONAL funds set aside for Technology
$10,060 – 3 Sharp Aquos Interactive Display Systems
$  7,912 – blacktop overlay
$  5,625 – class set of Chromebooks
$  4,641 – outdoor classroom/garden maintenance
$  2,325 – 2 benches in the 3-5 grade waiting area
$  1,500 – walkway in front of school
$     730 – Chromebook charging cart
$58,582 – GRAND TOTAL

Back to School Nights
Kindergarten Orientation – Wednesday, August 1 @ 6:15
1st grade – Wednesday, August 1 @ 5:00
2nd grade – Thursday, August 2 @ 5:00
3rd grade – Thursday, August 2 @ 6:15
4th grade – Tuesday, July 31 @ 5:00
5th grade – Tuesday, July 31 @ 6:15

Have a wonderful and safe summer!

Bear News - May 8, 2018

 It's the Last Month of School!

Teachers = Appreciated
THANK YOU, Parents for an AMAZING Teacher Appreciation Week at Bear last week. Our teachers, administration and staff felt very LOVED. Thank you to everyone who brought in a gift or note, watched a class for a teacher, or sent in a gift or gift card for the Luncheon. The Luncheon was a BIG success because of you!

Bear Wear SPRING SALE
It has been about a decade since Bear Wear prices have increased. To keep up with the cost of doing business, prices on most items (e.g., sweatshirts, jackets, polos) will increase at the beginning of the next school year. Bear short-sleeve field trip T-shirts will remain at $10.

We have a modest inventory of Bear Wear (adult & youth sizes) on hand. The PTA will start selling what we have on Thursday, May 10 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the cafeteria. If you aren’t able to come, then you can turn in the SPRING SALE Bear Wear form Friday, May 11 - Thursday, May 17. Orders will be sent home with students on Friday, May 18.

You must use this order form as we do not have all BW items in stock. Orders will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis until our inventory is depleted. No special orders will be made at this time.

Uniform Resale
Bear will host a Uniform Resale this summer on July 12-13. We will be accepting donations from now until the end of school. Uniforms must be in GOOD condition. No rips, tears, frays, stains, etc. Look for our specially-designed Uniform Container in the front foyer. You can also use the Bear Exploration Uniform & Clothing Exchange Facebook group to buy and sell uniforms.

Specialist Spotlight
Concluding our year of Specialist Spotlights is our Technology teacher, Mrs. Lanier. Mrs. Lanier has requested INK - gift cards for ink (e.g., Amazon, Walmart, Office Depot) or HP63 ink cartridges (black or multicolored). She also would like silver Sharpie pens, colored paper, and Lysol wipes. We will conclude collecting for Mrs. Lanier on Friday, May 18.

From the PTA President…
Thank you, Parents, for your support of the PTA this 2017-18 school year. Because of your hard work and dedication, we have been able to support the needs of individual classrooms by providing teacher grants and making lasting improvements in the areas of technology, our garden, and outdoor spaces. 

I hope to see you at our last PTA meeting of the school year on May 15th at 6:00 PM.  We will install our 2018-2019 PTA Officers, reveal our Papa Bear Award winner, and bid farewell to our awesome fifth grader students. They will treat us to a final performance on the Bear stage under the direction of Miss Fell. 

Lastly, I wish each of you a safe and happy summer filled with lots of fun! See you next year!

--Edris Davis

UPCOMING DATES:

Field Day – Thursday, May 10
Bear Wear Sale – Thursday, May 10
Bear Wear Order by Form – Friday, May 11 – Thursday, May 17
PTA Meeting – Tuesday, May 15
Specialist Spotlight deadline – Friday, May 18
Uniform Resale – July 12-13
First Day of School – Monday, August 6

Bear Wear Spring Sale

Don't Miss the
Bear Wear
SPRING SALE!

Download your order form today!

Parents - It has been about a decade since Bear Wear prices have increased. To keep up with the cost of doing business, prices on most items will increase at the beginning of the 2018-19 school year. Bear short-sleeved field trip t-shirts will remain at $10. 

The existing inventory of Bear Wear will be sold on (Field Day) Thursday, May 10 from 8:00 - 4:00 p.m. in the Bear Cafeteria. Supplies are limited. 

Paper orders will be accepted on Friday, May 11 and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. We will not be making any special orders at this time. We are only selling what we have on hand.

Order forms are due Thursday, May 17. Merchandise will be sent home with students on Friday, May 18.