Bear Wear-Order now through November 8th

Bear Wear ordering window is now open! Check out our new Store!!!

https://bearexploration.memberhub.store/

Order now through November 8th!

Remember items take several weeks after the order is placed to come in.

Stay tuned for some newly designed Bear Mom shirts!

November PTA Newsletter

Happy November! November is a time of Thanksgiving and we are thankful for wonderful PTA members! 

PTA Meeting

November 19^th is our annual Book Swap and Costume Parade at our PTA Meeting.  Children can turn in up to 5 previously read books to exchange with up to 5 other books! The books need to be:

ü  Gently loved (no bends, major tears or writing in the book)

ü  Appropriate for ages 6-12

ü  Chapter books only-grades 2-5

ü  AR books are strongly recommended (Check them out on ARbookfind.com)

***No oversized coffee table books, pre-school or coloring/activity books or cardboard books***

Deadline to turn in books is Monday, November 18^th

Children are invited to come dressed as their favorite book character.  Children will circle the lunchroom and walk on stage during the PTA meeting.  Every child older than 3 years who comes in a book character costume with their featured book will get a treat and entered into a drawing for a Prize Pack.

           

Spirit Night!

The next spirit night is at El Taco Shop (this restaurant is owned by a Bear parent!) on November 4^th from 5:00-8:00pm.  Please go out and enjoy some yummy food while supporting 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 14th. The theme is "Look Within." 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 by November 14 with an Entry form. The form can be found on the Bear PTA Facebook Page under Forms. All forms can be picked up from Mrs. Bonikowski, or you can email Jill Sexton (jasexton23@yahoo.com) 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 November 4th-8th.

Specialist Spotlight

The Specialist Spotlight for November is– Mrs Lanier our wonderful Technology teacher! Her wish list includes, Office Depot gift card so she can purchase ink, Amazon gift cards so she can purchase wireless keyboards, Clorox wipes and an electric 3 hole punch.  Students that send in items will put their names on the log and be entered to win $3 Bear Bucks to be used at the supply cart or book fair.

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 led by the amazing Traci Bludsworth Schell. Golden Bears were organized by Kristen Brown, Mindy Craymer and Karen Fuqua. Lee Johnson led the Papa Bears in taking care of the ant beds and other duties needed. The beautiful gift baskets were made by Jennifer Henderson, John Mosley was on the grill and concessions were organized by Angie Heilman.  It truly is a team effort that makes Bear such a wonderful school! 

Bear PTA News-October 2, 2019

Bear PTA News-October 2, 2019

Discount Cards

Kelly Stanton would like to thank Parents, Teachers, and Students for a successful Discount Card Campaign.  We also took 109 students to Chuck-E-Cheese on yesterday for selling 25 or more Discount Cards.  In addition, this year we had one class with 100% participation; Congratulations, Mrs. Barton’s class! Her class will receive a popsicle party.

Lastly, if you have any outstanding cards of money please return by Thursday, October 3^rd.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Kelly Stanton at kstanton2008@gmail.com.

BASKET ITEMS NEEDED!
Fall Festival is right around the corner and we are all so excited!! We are in need of items for this year’s baskets that will be silent auctioned at the festival!

✔️Taste of The River Region Basket (restaurant gift cards, sauces, local treats, etc.)

✔️Gift Card Basket (Amazon, Target, any type of general gift card)

✔️Pamper Me Basket (Salon gift cards, lotions, soaps, candles, etc.)

✔️Family Fun Basket (games, cards, outdoor items, movie passes, bowling passes, etc.)

FALL FESTIVAL!

Wristband orders are due by October 10^th.  You can purchase wristbands for $15 at the festival. 

We need everyone’s help to get our inflatables and activities covered.  Please sign up for a 30-minute shift using this link below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4EA9A828A2FD0-fall

Also, please consider buying or making treats to sell at our baked sale tent. Those items can be brought to the school the morning of the Fall Festival.  We will have volunteers outside carpool line to grab them from you.

We will be dedicating our playground during the Fall Festival as well to thank Kiwanis Club for helping make it possible.

GOLDEN BEARS

Golden Bears T-shirts will go home with their grandchild on October 9^th, just in time for them to be worn at the Fall Festival when they volunteer!


SPECIALIST SPOTLIGHT
The Specialist Spotlight for October is Coach Reynolds – the PE teacher. Coach Reynolds has specifically requested Band-Aid brand bandages – regular and large ones to fit elbows and knees, Lysol wipes, instant ice packs and CD sleeves/envelops and A 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.


A HUGE Thank you to all 27 students who brought in items for Mrs. Bonokowski! Riley Jones, Lulu Gunnells, Dylan Brown, James Earnest, Zane Hall, The Richardsons (Worth, Whitley, and Ben), Luke Jones-Collum, Jordyn Lett, Teagan Brown, Corey Ellis, Auraya Buathet, Brandon Sanchez, Aydan Capilouto, Ava Mosley, Britt Barley, Jordan McGhee, John Harrison, Ethan Kelly, Lourdes Ellis, Andrew Nguyen, Aaron Holtsford, Emme Kaplan, Carson Shambray, Ella Reid, Ezra LaBier, Morgan Smith, and Katrina Hamil. We decided to draw 2 names since there were so many that brought items!  AVA MOSLEY and JAMES EARNEST are the winner of the BEAR BUCKS for September.


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 14th. The theme is "Look Within." 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.  All forms can be picked up from Mrs. Bonikowski, or you can email Jill Sexton who can send hard copies home with your student. Please turn in the items to Mrs. Bonokoski.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Oct. 3 – Picture Day

Oct. 10 – Deadline for prepaid FF wristbands

Oct. 15 – FALL FESTIVAL

Oct. 23 – GLOW - The Teacher Appreciation committee will be contacting volunteers soon to provide a wonderful luncheon for our teachers.

Oct 28 to Nov 1- Red Ribbon Week – Say No to Drugs. Information will be sent home after the Fall Festival.

Nov 4-Spirit Night @ El Taco Shop from 5:00-8:00

Nov 19-PTA Meeting/Book Swap

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - NO SCHOOL – Oct. 11, 14 (parent visitation day), 25

Basket Items Needed for Fall Festival

The PTA will be holding a silent auction during the Fall Festival this year! We need your help to make these baskets awesome! While you are out shopping this weekend please pick up a gift card or an item off the list below. Also, if you know of any businesses that would donate a gift card or an item please reach out to them or let us know and we can reach out!

Here are the basket themes:

✔️Taste of The River Region Basket (restaurant gift cards, sauces, local treats, etc.)

✔️Gift Card Basket (Amazon, Target, any type of general gift card)

✔️Pamper Me Basket (Salon gift cards, lotions, soaps, candles, etc.)

✔️Family Fun Basket (games, cards, outdoor items, movie passes, bowling passes, etc.)

Thank you in advance for your support of Bear and our fabulous Fall Festival!

Discount Cards, Fall Festival and Math Night

Discount cards for Incentives are due by Thursday at 9:00 a.m.! The last day before Thursday to request more cards to be eligible for the incentives will be this Wednesday.

*Remember you can sell Discount cards throughout the year, but to be eligible for the Chuck E Cheese field trip (25 cards sold), your name in the raffle for a chance to win $100 (1 chance for every 10 cards sold), and to be eligible for most cards sold to win the iPad; monies need to be in by Thursday at 9:00 a.m.*

Fall Festival packets will be coming home today!!! You can order wristbands and tickets on our online store.

http://bearpta.3dcartstores.com/Fall-Festival_c_15.html 

Math Night is tomorrow! The lunchroom will be open for you to pick up your pre-ordered concessions at 4:45!

Bear PTA Newsletter-September 4, 2019

Welcome to September! This is our first PTA Newsletter of the school year.  We will be sending out these emails periodically to keep us all updated.

DISCOUNT CARDS

It’s our biggest fundraiser, and we have lots of work to do!!! Please feel free to start sending in the money that you are collecting. Also, if you know that you aren’t going to sell all of the cards in your possession, please send some of them back to us. Remember, for every 10 you sell, your name will be entered into a drawing to win $100! Also, if your child sells 25 cards they will get to go on a special trip to Chuck E Cheese! Sell, sell, sell……… it’s for OUR students, OUR teachers, OUR school!

PTA MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

We are at 640 total PTA memberships. Last year we had 836, so please continue to join the PTA. The top 3 classes are Stallworth, Barton, Forster and Brand (tied for 3^rd). We still have 5 classes that are not at 100%! Our goal is to meet or exceed our number for last year! We can do it!

·         Remember You can join anytime, but to be eligible for the incentives membership is due by September 6th

·         Student with the most memberships overall will be rewarded with a $25 Bear Wear Store Credit!!
Student with the most PTA memberships per grade wins $10 Bear Wear Store Credit!!

·         *Student cannot win overall and grade level prize. Grade level prize will be awarded to student with the 2nd most memberships.*

·         Class with the most PTA memberships wins a Doughnut Party and a ½ day Teacher Pass!!

·         Each class that receives 100% PTA membership by September 6th wins a Popsicle Party!

PTA MEETING

Come Be an Explorer and come to our first PTA Meeting on Tuesday, September 10 at 6:00 p.m.

The PTA will offer several drawings for giveaways. You must be a PTA member to be eligible for prizes.

·               Fall Festival package which include 4 wristbands and 2 t-shirts

·              $25 Bear Wear Gift certificate

·              (3) $5 Bear Bucks prizes for students (good at the Book Fair and the school supply cart)

We will discuss Discount Cards, Fall Festival and the Reflections art contest. We will also sell the remaining clothes from the Uniform Sale at deep discounts.

GARDEN BRICK ORDER
Bear Bricks orders are due September 6^th. Bricks are a great way to leave your mark forever at Bear. 

GOLDEN BEARS (GRANDPARENTS CLUB)

We love our Golden Bears! Grandparents have a wonderful opportunity to help sponsor the outdoor classroom, and in return enjoy a wonderful breakfast with their grandchild in April. Become a Golden Bear today! Membership forms due September 6^th. 

MATH NIGHT
Mark your calendars for Math Night on Tuesday, September 17. We are SO lucky to have a fabulous staff who plan an amazing night of educational activities for our students. The PTA supports Math Night by providing a low-cost pizza dinner for families ahead of the event. Stay tuned for more details.

SPECIALIST SPOTLIGHT

For each month of the school year, we will choose a Bear Specialist to shower with some extra love. Please have your child bring in items from this teacher’s wish list. When your child brings in an item, make sure that he/she signs the Gift Log. At the end of the month, one student from the Gift Log (chosen at random) will win 3 Bear Bucks (good at the school supply cart and the Book Fair).

The Specialist of the Month for September is our wonderful Art Teacher, Mrs. Bonokowski

Items on her wish list:

·              HP 63 Ink Cartridges (color and black)

·              Black Sharpies

·              Baby Wipes

SPIRIT NIGHT

Our first spirit night is this Friday at Newtopia from 4:00-7:00. We get 20% of all the proceeds so please come out for a fun time! You will have to sign in and put your receipt in the bucket.

PAPA BEARS

Ant killer is needed for the Fall Festival and daily PE maintenance. Bring all donations to Coach Reynolds. If you have questions please contact PAPA Bear Coordinator Lee Johnson, 334-301-2255.

BEAR WEAR

All Bear Wear has been distributed except for rain jackets and fleece beanies.  We have limited stock in field trip t-shirts, dri-fit polos, hoodies, theme shirts and fleece jackets.  If you need to purchase one of these items please contact Mindy Craymer at 334-414-4587.  There is a $5 convenience fee in between order windows.  The next order window is in November.

Thank you, Fellow Explorers! Come out and see us next Tuesday, so we can help you navigate all of this information. As you can see, there is a way for every parent and grandparent to help out at Bear. So glad we are on this adventure together!

September Specialist Spotlight

Each month we will highlight a specialist and share their wish list for their classroom. Septembers specialist is our wonderful Art teacher Mrs. Bonokowski! Her wish list is:

*HP 63 Ink Cartridges (color and black)

*Black Sharpies

*Baby Wipes

There will be a sheet in Mrs. Bonokowski's classroom where your child can write their name on it and what item they bring. Each name will be entered into a drawing and the winning child will receive some Bear Bucks!