Thursday, October 25, 2018

Bear PTA News - October 25, 2018

All the news you need from the PTA… and there is a lot!

Spirit Night TONIGHT!
Don't forget to start out the long weekend by grabbing dinner at Moe's TONIGHT on Zelda Road in honor of our first Spirit Night of the year. Just place your receipt in the Bear bucket by the register & Moe's will donate 20% of the proceeds to our school! The next Spirit Night will be November 27 at the Peppertree Chappy’s Deli.

Red Ribbon Week
Next week is Red Ribbon Week at Bear. This is where we celebrate and encourage students to stay Drug-Free with a week of theme days.

Tuesday – “It’s COOL to be Drug-Free” – Students can wear sunglasses.
Wednesday – “Say BOO to Drugs” – regular uniform
Thursday – “TEAM UP Against Drugs” – Wear your favorite sports team shirt.
Friday – “I CAN, You CAN, We CAN Live Drug Free” – Friday attire. Bring in canned goods for the food pantry at Church of the Holy Comforter, our neighborhood church.

Garden Day on Monday
We will be a having a GEM day on Monday, October 29 during the Bear Open House. Children are welcome to hang out in the garden while parents visit their child’s teacher. We ask that if you drop your child off, please take 15-20 minutes to help pull some weeds before you leave. The garden is a wonderful teaching tool, but it takes a village to keep up the maintenance. If we can get parental help, then your children will be able to use it for a teaching tool instead of always having to do maintenance. Mrs.Sealy will be there from 9 am-3 pm. Garden Chair Ashleigh Livingston will be there from 11 am-3 pm. Looking forward to seeing some new friends on Monday!

Bear Brick Orders are Here
If you ordered a brick for the Bear garden, they have arrived. Come Monday or to a future GEM Day to install your own brick into our beautiful Outdoor Classroom. This is a great way to leave your permanent mark at Bear.

Reflections Art Contest
Across the nation, local PTAs compete in Reflections Art Contests. Bear has had several students compete and win awards at the county and state levels. There are cash prizes for students who compete and win at the school level. The submission deadline is November 15th. The (very important) theme is "Heroes Around Me." The six categories are art, music, dance, writing, film production, and photography. The competition is broken down into grades K-2 and 3-5. Students can enter multiple categories.

All entries must be turned in with an Entry Form. How to Enter and Official Rules can be found on the Bear Blog. All forms can be picked up from Mrs. Bonikowski, or you can email Joanna Kirkland who can send hard copies home with your student.

Bear Wear
Are your students getting chilly? Have they already lost their jacket and sweatshirt? Bear Wear will be available to purchase online starting tonight through next Friday. You can also download an order form and return it to school with cash or check. We have a limited quantity of short-sleeved and long-sleeved Fall Festival t-shirts left. First come, first served.

Specialist Spotlight
The Specialist Spotlight for October is Coach Reynolds – the PE teacher. Coach Reynolds has specifically requested Band-Aid brand bandages - large ones to fit elbows and knees. Other items on her wish list include Lysol wipes, paper towels, gallon Zip-Loc bags (for ice), instant ice packs and AA batteries. If your child brings in an item for Coach Reynolds, make sure that they sign the Gift Log so that they will be entered into a drawing for a prize. There is a collection box in the PE room. 

Summer Packet Prizes
Congratulations to all of the students who completed summer packets and turned them in at the beginning of the school year. The PTA was finally were able to deliver prizes to the students today. We are so thankful that they did not let their brains get “squishy” this summer.

Fall Festival
Thank you to all of the parents, grandparents and volunteers who assisted at Fall Festival this year. It was a HUGE success. This year’s Festival was lead by the amazing Traci Bludsworth Schell and Jennifer Parsons. Golden Bears were organized by Mindy Craymer and Toshia Martin. The beautiful gift baskets were made by Jennifer Henderson, and concessions were organized by Angie Heilman. It truly is a team effort that makes Bear such a wonderful school! 

Note to Golden Bears
Thanks so much to all who contributed to the baked goods sale. All of the yummy goodies looked and tasted wonderful! Thank you to all the volunteers that showed up and showed out. You guys were full of energy and fun. Everyone made this sale easy and successful!

Chuck E. Cheese’s Field Trip
Students who sold 25 or more discount cards will be invited to attend a field trip to Chuck E. Cheese. The date is Thursday, November 15. Parents can meet us at Chuck E. Cheese as we celebrate with games and pizza.

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Bear PTA News - October 2, 1018

BASKET ITEMS NEEDED!
Fall Festival is right around the corner and we are all so excited!! Our basket raffle is one of the highlights of the Festival. In years past, we have had wonderful baskets due to the generosity of our amazing parents. The deadline for basket items is Friday, October 5th. Basket themes for each grade level are:

Kindergarten - Family Fun
First - Pamper Me
Second - Arts & Crafts
Third - Gourmet Chef
Fourth - Camping
Fifth - Gift Card

Please submit all basket donations by this Friday. Thank you all for your support!

SPECIALIST SPOTLIGHT

The Specialist Spotlight for October is Coach Reynolds – the PE teacher. Coach Reynolds has specifically requested Band-Aid brand bandages - large ones to fit elbows and knees. Other items on her wish list include Lysol wipes, paper towels, gallon Zip-Loc bags (for ice), instant ice packs and AA batteries. If your child brings in an item for Coach Reynolds, make sure that they sign the Gift Log so that they will be entered into a drawing for a prize. There is a collection box in the PE room.


Thank you to Banks and Blevins Henderson, Dylan Hines, and Amelia Johnson for bringing in gifts for Mr. Booker. DYLAN HINES is the winner of the prize for September.


NATIONAL PTA SURVEY

We are going to be sending home a survey to parents for their feedback on our PTA. Your participation will help us make improvements, as well as qualify our PTA for a national award. Your participation is appreciated. Surveys are due Oct. 19.


UPCOMING EVENTS

Oct. 4 – Picture Day

Oct. 15 – Deadline for prepaid FF wristbands

Oct. 16 – FALL FESTIVAL

Oct. 19 - PTA survey due

Oct. 24 – GLOW - The Teacher Appreciation committee will be contacting volunteers soon to provide a wonderful luncheon for our teachers.

Oct. 25 – Box Tops submission date for October. Be on the lookout for additional information about Box Tops coming home with your child this week.

Oct. 30 – Nov. 2 – Red Ribbon Week – Say No to Drugs. Information will be sent home after the Fall Festival.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - NO SCHOOL – Oct. 8, 26, 29

Amazon Wishlists: Bear Teachers & Specialists

Make sure to g o to   smile.amazon.com   first and choose Bear Exploration Center PTA, and Amazon will donate a portion of your purchase pri...