Mark Your Calendar

May 15           Spring Fling Picnic (5:30 pm) and General Association Meeting (6:30 pm) Karst Park, Shelters 9A and 9B Volunteers needed! Sign up below.  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4AAFAF2EA1F85-spring  *Potluck information below*

May 17            Maple/Walnut Third Grade Evening, 3:30 to 5:30 pm

May 20            Third Grade Culmination Ceremony, 2:00 to 3:00 pm

May 21            Sixth Grade Graduation, 7:00 pm

May 22            Last Day of School for Students — Have a great summer!

Additional Important Dates

May 27-31       BMS Offices and School Building Closed

June 3-14         Summer Camp Session One

June 17-28       Summer Camp Session Two

July 1-12         Summer Camp Session Three (no camp July 4)

August 7          First Day of School for Students

Spring Fling!

Spring Fling is coming up on May 15 at Karst Park! Please use the link in the calendar above to sign up to help with the fabulous activities.

The potluck meal is central to our celebration, and information about it was placed in all your parent pockets. Please read and return the index cards as requested.

Assignments for potluck contributions

Hickory AM & PM                 Desserts

Sweet Gum and Magnolia       Main Dishes

Maple and Walnut                  Sides and/or Salads

Sycamore                                Drinks (please use sign-up genius link when it comes to you)

Important Notes

• Your contribution should serve 20 to 30 people—we have 150 or more attendees,
• No tree nuts or peanuts
• Remember your completed index card with ingredients. We have a significant number of children and adults with food allergies and intolerances besides nuts and peanuts.
• Bring your own plates, cutlery and cups

Questions? Contact Allison O’Boyle at oboyleas@gmail.com

Review Your May Billing Statement

We have all received our May billing statement by now. Please review it, and if the 2^nd installment of the May 2020 tuition is due, please remit payment as soon as possible. Only community members in good financial standing are permitting to vote on the Board slate on May 15.

Summer Camp Registration Open

Summer Camp Registration remains open to currently enrolled children, and now our elementary camps are open to the full BMS community. Space Camp and Science Camp are full and waiting lists have been started. Remember to sign up before the other camps fill!

Mark Your Calendar

May 3              50^th Anniversary Celebration Gala, 7 to 10 pm, Deer Park Manor

May 7             Teacher Professional Day—NO SCHOOL

May 15           Spring Fling Spring Picnic and General Association Meeting, 5:30 pm Karst Park, Shelters 9A and 9B Volunteers needed! Sign up below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4AAFAF2EA1F85-spring

May 16            Spring Fling/General Association Meeting Rain Date

May 17            Maple/Walnut Third Grade Evening, 3:30 to 5:30 pm

May 20            Third Grade Culmination Ceremony, 2:00 to 3:00 pm

May 21            Sixth Grade Graduation, 7:00 pm

May 22            Last Day of School for Students  Have a great summer!

Additional Important Dates

May 27-31       BMS Offices and School Building Closed

June 3-14         Summer Camp Session One

June 17-28       Summer Camp Session Two

July 1-12         Summer Camp Session Three (no camp July 4)

August 7          First Day of School for Students

Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week – May 6-10

Next week, May 6-10, is Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week! To help celebrate our teachers and staff, we hope you and your child will be able to do some of these things to help celebrate and show our appreciation to our teachers and staff each day of the week.

Monday – Card Day. Have your child bring in a card for his/her teachers and/or staff members. This can be handmade or store bought. We love things made by hand!

Tuesday – Luncheon for Teachers & Staff. Volunteers are needed for our Appreciation Luncheon on May 7 (keep in mind there is no school that day). If you are interested in helping, please use the sign-up genius link below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0445AEAB23AAFF2-volunteers

Wednesday – Post-It Note Day. There will be post-it notes in the observation rooms where parents and students can write notes or draw pictures to their teachers and staff and  then post them somewhere around the school and/or on your classroom door.

Thursday – Flower Day. Bring a flower to school for your teachers/staff. Real or handmade!

Friday – Fruit Day. Bring fruit to school for your teachers/staff.

Spring Fling!

Spring Fling is coming up on May 15! This year it will be held at Karst Park and will again be potluck. Please use the link below to sign up to help with the fabulous activities. Thanks so much!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4AAFAF2EA1F85-spring

Lost and Found

Please check the baskets outside your child(ren)’s classroom(s) as well as the Main Office for lost and found items. We have many containers in the office, for example.

Mark Your Calendar

May 1             2^nd Installment of May 2019-2020 tuition due
May 1              Unfulfilled Volunteer Hours Billed

May 1             Elementary Summer Camp Enrollment Opens to the Public

May 1              Walnut Class Play, 5:30 pm

May 2              Maple Class Play, 5:30 pm

May 3              50^th Anniversary Celebration Gala, 7 to 10 pm, Deer Park Manor

May 7             Teacher Professional Day—NO SCHOOL

Additional Important Items

May 15           Spring Fling Spring Picnic and General Association Meeting, 5:30 pm

                                    Karst Park, Shelters 9A and 9B

                                    Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities!

May 20            Third Grade Culmination Ceremony, 2:00 to 3:00 pm

May 21            Sixth Grade Graduation, 7:00 pm

May 22            Last Day of School for Students

August 7          First Day of School for Students

50^th Anniversary Gala—May 3 at Deer Park

Thanks again to all of you who have purchased tickets and made a donation to support staff tickets and the school! Many volunteers and staff have worked hard thus far to make the evening a wonderful celebration of our 50 years, with a variety of opportunities to raise funds for our future. Thank you to all of them as well.

Plenty of parking is available on the grounds at Deer Park. In addition, should you win an auction item, paying by cash or check will speed your check-out process and save BMS the credit card fee, so bring along your check book if you can.

See you at the gala!

The 6^th Grade Class Photo is Up!

Come take a look at the new class photo of our graduating 6^th graders! Their class photo is now up with those of all our other graduating classes, in the entryway to the Main building. Congratulate them when you see them in the halls—they have worked hard and are excited (nervous) to head off to middle school.

Log Your Volunteer Hours by May 1

Remember to log your volunteer hours in the log book found in the main office. If you are planning to volunteer on any project—the Gala, Pantry 279, the Spring Fling—you may log these hours now; we trust you to complete them. Thank you for helping the school with your donation of time and expertise.

Mark Your Calendar

April 22           Sycamore Latino Fest, 6:30 to 7:30, Commons

April 25           May Lunch/Aftercare Sign Ups Close

May 1              2^nd Installment of May 2019-2020 tuition due
May 1              Unfulfilled Volunteer Hours Billed

May 1              Summer Camp Enrollment Opens to the Public

May 1              Walnut Class Play, 5:30 pm

May 2              Maple Class Play, 5:30 pm

May 3              50^th Anniversary Celebration Gala, 7 to 10 pm, Deer Park Manor

Additional Important Items

May 7              Teacher Professional Day—NO SCHOOL

May 15            Spring Fling Spring Picnic and General Association Meeting, 5:30 pm

May 20            Third Grade Culmination ceremony, 2:00 to 3:00 pm

May 21            Sixth Grade Graduation, 7:00 pm

May 22            Last Day of School for Students

August 7          First Day of School for Students

Used Children’s Clothing and Bake Sale

Thank you all who donated and bought items in this year’s Teacher and Staff Appreciation Fundraiser! Together we raised $1272, all of which will be distributed among teachers and staff at a special luncheon on May 7.

For those of you who missed the sale and would still like to contribute to the Teacher and Staff Appreciation Fundraiser, Haley Williams will have an envelope in the office to collect any additional funds.

Congratulations go to Asae Suzuki, winner of the Cheesecake Raffle!

Thank you to all our volunteers and to Nancy Adams for donating her time and talent in making the cheesecake for the raffle.

Please stay tuned for further ways to help during Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week, May 6–10!

And remember to pick up your containers in the office, if you left them behind.

BMS Community Volunteer Project—Pantry 279

Pantry 279 was conceived by 10 Girl Scouts from troop 69-279 as their Silver Award Project. The girls wanted to build a food pantry to help their friends at school who were only getting food while at school due to family crisis. The pantry has grown faster than anyone has ever expected!  This pantry currently serves over 800 families a month and continues to grow, and they are always in need of volunteers to help run the Pantry.

The Hickory and Walnut classrooms will be volunteering on Saturday May 18^th, with other classrooms to volunteer on subsequent Saturdays. Stay tuned for more details.

Please note: even though this is AFTER May 1st, your planned volunteer hours will count for your yearly total as long as you log them!  In addition, your children’s volunteer hours count towards your 10 hours as well.  This is a great chance to get involved in our community and get your volunteer hours at the same time.

Thank you in advance for contributing your time and food resources to helping address hunger in our community!

Photography Services Survey

Sadie Glass Photography has been providing the school with photography services for student and class photographs as well as staff photography. Please take a moment to fill out this survey and let Sadie know how she can continue to provide excellent photography services to our BMS community.

Thank you for your time! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XV79FMH

50^th Anniversary Gala—May 3 at Deer Park

Thank you to all of you who have purchased tickets and made a donation to support staff tickets and the school! The event will be an exciting, enjoyable evening, and we look forward to celebrating with you.

As you prepare to attend, please note that the attire for the evening is dressy casual, that is, no jeans and no tuxedos/floor-length gowns. You may save these for Spring Fling. In addition, should you win an auction item, you will be able to pay by cash, check or credit card. Paying by cash or check will speed your check out process and save BMS the credit card fee, so bring along your check book if you can. Plenty of parking is available on the grounds at Deer Park.

See you at the gala!

Mark Your Calendar

April 5            Purchase Gala Tickets www.bloomingtonmontessori.org; or cash or check to Main Office

April 5            Yearbook Order Forms Due, Main Office

April 6             Hire sitter for May 3

April 9             Board Meeting, 6:00 pm

April 10-11     Used Children’s Clothing and Bake Sale Pick Up and Drop Off, Commons and Annex

April 12           Elementary Science Fair, 3:30 to 4:30 pm, Annex

April 12          Last Day to Purchase Gala Tickets

April 15           May Lunch/Aftercare Sign Ups Open

April 18           3^rd Thursday Coffee Chat, * 8:15 to 9:15 *, Main Office

April 18           Dine Out at Panera, 4 to 8 pm Dine with Friends! Raise funds for BMS!

Additional Important Items

April 22           Sycamore Latino Fest, 6:30 to 7:30, Commons

Used Children’s Clothing and Bake Sale

Wednesday, April 10 and Thursday, April 11 the Parent Association Committee is hosting a Used Children’s Clothing and Bake Sale to raise funds for this year’s Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week (May 6–10). All proceeds from the sale will be gifted to teachers and staff at a special luncheon in May. The sale will be held before and after school in the Commons and Annex.

How you can help:

Donate Baked Goods: Baked goods (sweet or savory!) can be delivered directly to the sale on Wednesday, April 10 at 8 a.m. OR dropped off in the main office Tuesday, April 9 – Thursday, April 11. Signup sheets for baked goods are posted outside your classroom door.

Please label any potential allergens, and do not bring anything that contains nuts. 

Donate Used Children’s Clothing: Gently used (no tears or stains) children’s clothing for spring and summer may be dropped off anytime between now and Tuesday, April 9, in the designated bins in the Commons area. We invite you to donate light jackets, shirts, dresses, pants, shorts, swimsuits, socks, and shoes. Any items that are not sold will be donated to a local children’s charity.

Volunteer: Volunteers are needed to staff the sale tables before or after school in the Commons and Annex. Please use the following Sign-up Genius link to volunteer:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050d4eafa62aa1f85-childrens

Thanks in advance for helping us celebrate our wonderful teachers and staff!

Katie Lehman Pierce

Bake Sale Coordinator

mkatherinelehman@gmail.com

For questions regarding the Used Children’s Clothing Sale, please contact

Jennifer Diaz, jenniferkdiaz82@gmail.com.

50^th Anniversary Gala—May 3 at Deer Park

Gala Highlight—Scrumptious Food and Beverage

This year’s Gala will be catered by longtime friends of BMS One World Catering. Several people at One World have been part of the BMS community at one time or another, including owner Lennie Busch, and they are delighted to help us celebrate our 50th.

Our menu will include Lennie’s famous spinach artichoke torta as well as Mexican turkey meatballs, mushroom-capriole chevre tartlets, bite-sized buttermilk biscuits with country ham,  goat cheese and fig jam crostini, and an array of crudités and vegetable antipasto, to name a few. And then there are the desserts! There will be something for everyone—vegans, omnivores, vegetarians, dairy-free, gluten free. And no nuts. You will enjoy a satisfying array of beverages, including iced tea, coffee, cranberry punch and fresh water. Wine and beer have been generously donated by Nick’s.

Order your tickets now at www.bloomingtonmontessori.org! And consider Support[ing] A Staff Member while you are at it.

Thank you!

Board Meeting Highlights

On Tuesday the Board of Directors will hold its April meeting. The BMS community is welcome to attend. This month the Board will hear:

• Updates on a variety of project and ongoing activities around the school
• Treasurer’s Report
• Final Reading of the Slate for the 2019-20 Board
• Formation of new committees, including

o   Sycamore Enrollment Communications Committee

o   Exploratory Expansion Committee

o   Diversity Committee

Childcare will be provided—sign ups located on the Main and Annex office windows.

Have a lovely weekend!

Mark Your Calendar

Mar. 31           Parent/Teacher Conferences

Mar. 31           Spring Beautification, 1 to 4  Water, snacks provided

April 1            Parent/Teacher Conferences—NO SCHOOL

April 1             Spring Beautification, 9 to 12 Coffee, snacks provided

April 2            NO SCHOOL

April 2             Invite friends to the Gala

April 5            Purchase Gala Tickets www.bloomingtonmontessori.org; cash or check to Main Office

April 5            Yearbook Order Forms Due, Main Office

April 6             Hire sitter for May 3

April 9             Board Meeting, 6:00 pm

April 12           Elementary Science Fair, 3:30 to 4:30 pm

April 12          Last Day to Purchase Gala Tickets

Additional Important Items

April 18           Dine Out at Panera, 4 to 8 pm Dine with Friends! Raise funds for BMS! Take a break from cooking!

Spring Beautification

Do you still have Volunteer Hours to fulfill by May 1? Are you itching to work in the yard? Come join us on Mar. 31 and April 1 to tidy up the grounds and play yards and earn volunteer hours.

Come by the office on the 31^st or 1^st to select a task and collect a tool. Please bring your own work gloves. If you know you’d like to rake mulch, bring a rake. Children are welcome to help with age-appropriate tasks as well (not on the roof) and must be accompanied by an adult. Other family members are welcome, too. Everyone’s hours count; please remember to log them.

50^th Anniversary Gala—May 3 at Deer Park

Gala Highlight—Live Music

This year’s Gala will feature excellent musicians, all affiliated with the Jacobs School of Music. Thomas Aquino, classical guitarist, will welcome you and your guests to the event and start your evening off on the right foot, while a jazz trio will accompany your dining, conversation and silent auction browsing. You can also Guess That Tune during our “50 Years in 15 Minutes” dash through BMS History. All music not to be missed.

Order your tickets now at www.bloomingtonmontessori.org! And consider Support[ing] A Staff Member while you are at it.

Thank you!

Mark Your Calendar

 

Mar. 25          PAC Meeting, 6:30 pm, Commons

Mar. 25           Lunch/Aftercare Sign Ups Close

Mar. 26           Hickory PM Children’s Evening, 5:15 to 6:15 pm

Mar. 27           Sycamore Children’s Evening, 5:30 to 6:30 pm

Mar. 28           Maple and Walnut Children’s Evenings, 5:30 to 6:30 pm

Mar. 31           Parent/Teacher Conferences

Mar. 31           Spring Beautification, 1 to 4 Water, snacks provided

April 1            Parent/Teacher Conferences—NO SCHOOL 

April 1             Spring Beautification, 9 to 12 Coffee, snacks provided

April 2            NO SCHOOL

 

 

Spring Beautification

 

Do you still have Volunteer Hours to fulfill by May 1? Are you itching to work in the yard? Come join us on Mar. 31 and April 1 to tidy up the grounds and play yards and earn volunteer hours. This spring’s work is focused on tidying up after the winter storms, so there are lots of sticks and branches to pick up, mulch to rake, and litter to be collected on the Lower Playground, among other activities. We do need one person to head up to the roof and take a look around, as well as a person or two to use the leaf blower to clear the parking lot.

 

Come by the office on the 31^st or 1^st to select a task and collect a tool. Please bring your own work gloves. If you know you’d like to rake mulch, bring a rake. Children are welcome to help with age-appropriate tasks as well (not on the roof) and must be accompanied by an adult. Other family members are welcome, too. Everyone’s hours count; please remember to log them.

 

New Time for Coffee Chat

 

Due to popular demand, the April coffee chat will begin at 8:15!

 

Summer Camp Enrollment Reminder

 

Summer camp enrollment is now open for current families. Please note: enrollment opens to the full Bloomington community on May 1, and camps may fill up quickly thereafter, so enroll now to ensure your child’s spot!

 

Save the Date—April Dine Out at Panera on April 18

 

Our April Dine Out opportunity will be on April 18 from 4 to 8 pm at the Panera on East 3^rd St. Mark your calendars and come to Panera to:

·         Share a meal with friends

·         Raise money for BMS

·         Not cook!

Mark Your Calendar

Mar. 11           Last Day of Tea School Days www.TeaSchoolDays.com Promo Code SDS19BLOOMINGTON You get 15% off and Free Shipping and BMS gets 15% of sales!

Mar. 11-15      Spring Break

Mar. 15           Lunch and Aftercare Sign ups Open

 

Mar. 18           Parent/Teacher Conference Sign-ups Open for Siblings

Mar. 19           Parent/Teacher Conference Sign-ups Open for Everyone

Mar. 20           Sweet Gum Children’s Evening, 5:15 to 6:15 pm

Mar. 21           Magnolia Children’s Evening, 5:15 to 6:15 pm

 

Mar. 25           PAC Meeting, 6:30 pm, Commons

Mar. 26           Hickory PM Children’s Evening, 5:15 to 6:15 pm

Mar. 27           Sycamore Children’s Evening, 5:30 to 6:30 pm

Mar. 28           Maple and Walnut Children’s Evenings, 5:30 to 6:30 pm

 

Mar. 31           Parent/Teacher Conferences

April 1             Parent/Teacher Conferences—NO SCHOOL

April 2             NO SCHOOL

*************************

Happy Spring Break!