Life at Bement: Look Ahead

For the week of May 20, 2013

 

Updated May 17, 2013

 
 

ALL SCHOOL:

No Monday Dress on Monday:  Students should be in regular school dress. The respite from Monday Dress allows time to launder and press the garments for end of year events.

 

School Nurse Message:  Items to know: 1. a new on-line health record will begin for the new school year. (yeah!)  2.  if your child's annual physical exam is scheduled for after September 6, you do *not* need to submit a doctor's report before the start of the school year, but you *must* let Elie Shuman know when the physical exam appointment is scheduled.  Much, much more information found here. 

 

An Easy Way to Help our Franklin County Community:  Mr. Ben Bensen collects clean, used, plastic food containers with lids (1 cup-2 quart sized are best) for the Franklin County Community Meals program.  These can be large yogurt and deli containers, for example.   These containers are used to pack food for homeless people to take with them, or given filled with food to those too afraid to come to the meal.  You can bring any containers to Mr. Bensen's office in the Drake Building.  Thank you!

 

Library News:  With the final few weeks of school in sight, it is time to return materials to the library. Please note these important end-of–year dates:

May 24th---Last day for students to check out books

May 31st---All  books due back to the library

Any books remaining checked out on June 1 will be considered lost and student accounts will be billed.  Don’t hesitate to contact Marcia Bernard at mbernard@bement.org if you have questions about your child’s library record.

 
Welcoming New Families to Bement:  The admission office is looking for parents who will volunteer to serve as welcome hosts for our new parents and families. We would be grateful to have one or two parents per grade willing to call our new families and welcome them to Bement. Over the summer it would be great to keep that connection going through calls, emails, and maybe even a casual get-together. New families have told us how much they've appreciated having access to a current parent to answer questions like “what is the Blazer Exchange" or to just have a familiar face in the community who facilitates a smoother transition for them. If you are interested in being a welcome host, please contact Kim or Julia in the Admission Office.  Email, call, or drop by!
 
Do YOU U-turn in Front of the School?  We are noticing an increasing number of parents and drivers who are making U-turns in front of the school during pickup and drop off time.  We ask that all drivers observe our pickup and drop-off policies and procedures (found on page 42 of the Family Handbook)  each morning and afternoon.  Please do not make U-turns on the street in front of the school.  This is an extremely unsafe practice.  Thank you in advance for your help with this important safety procedure.   Ken Cuddeback, Business Manager.
 
 

 

 

LOWER SCHOOL:

No Monday Dress This Monday:  We are not requiring Monday Dress this Monday, May 20.  This will allow families ample time to get those special duds all cleaned up for our end-of-year events!  See below for what these dress requirements are...

 

All Dressed Up:  On Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, lower schoolers are asked to wear their navy blazers--not sweaters--with their regular Monday Dress.  For baccalaureate and commencement, all lower schoolers are asked to wear Formal Monday Dress.  This means that all students need to wear navy blazers (not sweaters), white collared shirts (with ties for boys), and dress shoes (no sandals or sneakers).  Boys may wear khaki shorts or slacks and girls may wear khaki skirts or skorts.  See the handbook for more details, or check in with your child's teacher or Mrs. Pennock.  If you have seen these beautiful events, you know how wonderful our students look in their Monday finest!  We thank you in advance for your attention to these details.
 
Attendance:  Please let Mrs. Pennock know if your child will not be at school on Memorial Day, or for Baccalaureate or Commencement.  We take attendance at all three of these required school events, and knowing in advance about absences is very helpful.  Thank you!
 
Blazers:  As you clean up blazers for our year-end events, please take a minute to check for extra ones that may have found their way to your house!  We have a number of missing blazers (many with names in them) and they have not shown up in Lost and Found.  Any "found" blazers should be delivered to Mrs. Pennock's office.  Thanks for checking.
 
Grandparents Day:  As you know, This coming Friday, May 24, is Grandparents Day.  Please note that children should wear REGULAR SCHOOL DRESS that day!  Many thanks!
 
Field Day:  Lower Schoolers are getting ready for Field Day, Friday, May 31!  After a lower school picnic, the kindergartners and ninth graders will kick off the afternoon with a three-legged race....then the real fun will begin!  Children have been divided into "teams"--blue and white (our school colors.) Click here for a list of all lower school students with each one's team designated by a "B" or a "W."  Siblings are all on the same team (upper and lower) and children remain on the same team throughout their time at Bement.  All children should wear shorts that day...athletic shorts are fine.  We ask that the Blue Team wear blue tee-shirts (any shade of blue) and the White Team wear white tee-shirts.    Tee-shirts do NOT have to be new---just all blue or all white! (Minor decorations are OK.)  Lots of the games involve water, so students may wear bathing suits under their shorts and tee-shirts that day.  Please send in a towel and a change of  clothing...most students will be wet for the ride home!   We all look forward to this fun-filled event!  Many thanks!
 

Fourth Graders Are On the Move!  This spring our 4th grade classes are investigating the basic technology and engineering principles used in designing and building bridges.  On Tuesday May 21 the combined 4th grade classes will have the exciting opportunity to explore the physics of motion through interactive activities at the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford.  Our afternoon activity will focus on soil and erosion, which complements our fall science unit.  Students are asked to pack a healthy lunch for this field trip along with at least one bottle of water.  Departure time is 8:30 and we will return to school in time for the 3:30 dismissal.  Students should dress appropriately for the weather in regular school dress.  (No glass containers, candy, or gum should be packed.  Please label each lunch container.)

 

Attention Second Grade Families:  On Thursday May 30 is the Second Grade Insect Fair at 2:45 in the library.

 

Thank you Lunch Bunch!  The lower school teachers are so thankful to our loyal Lunch Bunch parents (and grandparents!)   Without their help, we could not have held our Friday lunch time faculty meetings.  Today was their last day and we want to thank the following parents for a whole year of Friday lunch coverage: Sara and Guy Ardrey, Jasmine and David Balk, Wendy and Terry Blanchard, Kim and Joe Butz, Jo-Ann and Aaron DiBari, Danielle Griffin, Carol Holubecki, Theresa Huang, Lisa Kittredge, Laurel and Jim Lunt, Deanne Moore and Thornton Lockwood, Jacqi Mosselson and Scott Ardizzone, Alice Patton, Sara and Shawn Sabelawski, Andi Turowsky, Phoebe Walker, and Barb and Mark Zaccheo.  Kudos to all of you!

 
Memorial Day:  We DO have school on Memorial Day, with a 12 noon dismissal.  We end the morning at Deerfield Academy sharing a special Memorial Day ceremony with Deerfield Academy, Eaglebrook, and Deerfield townspeople.  The lower school will be singing My Country 'Tis of Thee.  If you would like to practice this song with your lower schooler, click here for the words.  Please remember to let Mrs. Pennock know if your child will not be at school on Memorial Day.  Thank you!

 

4/5 Grade Band:  No band on Friday because of Grandparents Day.  The May schedule is found here.

 

The Kindergarten End of Year Party:  We welcome  parents & younger siblings of current kindergartners to join us at this festive celebration of the end of kindergarten year.  The gathering is at 2:30pm on Tuesday, June 4 on the playground (or in the K classroom in the case of inclement weather).

 

 

 

 

UPPER SCHOOL:

Memorial Day:  Memorial Day is a required school day. All Monday classes will meet and attendance will be taken.  Please note that we will dismiss at 12:00 p.m. on Memorial Day. If your child is not attending school that day, please email Ms. Doubleday or Mr. Fusto.  All upper school students need to be in Formal Monday Dress. As a reminder, you can find Formal Monday Dress on page 23 of the Family Handbook.

 

After School Program - The upper school after school program will continue through Tuesday, June 4 from 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Please contact Doug Harder at dharder@bement.org or 413-834-7333 to arrange proctoring/study hall in the library.

 

Farewell Evening, Baccalaureate, and Commencement:  Please remember that our end of year events are required school attendance. If you foresee an absence for any upper school student,  please contact Ms. Doubleday or Mr. Fusto by email or phone. Thanks for your help with this!

 

Ninth Grade Self-Portrait Art Boards:   Presentations of 9th grade art Self-Portrait Boards at morning meeting  will end on May 20. For the most updated information or to confirm a performance, please ask your son/daughter or email Deb Stewart Pettengill (Fine Arts Chair) at dpettengill@bement.org

May 23- Presentations - 9th Art Self-Portrait Boards @ morning meeting: Haley / Ji Young / Tommy / Mark

 

Cotillion Information:  Is your daughter dreaming of Cinderella?  Your son convincing you he must have a tuxedo for Cotillion?  If either is true, I hope this letter will provide clarity and direction as your children approach the end of the school year and our last dance.

 

Summer Reading:  We are happy to announce that the upper school faculty will again sponsor summer reading book choices and lead fall reading discussion groups for students in grades 6 through 9. By the end of this school year, students will have chosen and received one book from the list to read over the summer. Students should be prepared to participate in their reading group in the fall for a few discussion meetings. There is no formal writing assignment that needs to be completed.

 

Exam Schedule:  Wondering what the exam schedule is for upper school?  Wonder no longer, as it can be found here.

 

 

THIS WEEK'S PERFORMANCES:

Monday:  Third grade recorder performance for the lower school

 

Friday:  9th grade musical 7:00 p.m.  (ahh, a trip back to the 80's.  Such fun!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIS WEEK'S ATHLETIC NEWS:

Click here for a full athletic schedule.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THIS WEEK'S MENU:

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner:  Bement's dining room menu can be found here.

 

 

 

 

FROM THE PARENTS ASSOCIATION:

Faculty/Staff Appreciation Luncheon Help Needed:  On Monday, June 10th, the Bement Parents Association will host its annual Faculty & Staff Appreciation Luncheon to honor all of the incredibly dedicated Bement employees who have made this another fabulous year for our children.   Your help is needed to make this event a festive celebration.   Please review the attached flyer for additional information and  let us know how you can help!

 

 

 

 

BEMENT COMMUNITY NEWS:

Do you have news to share?  Email Julia Flannery at jflannery@bement.org.  Wednesday deadlines!

 
 
 
LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD:

Upcoming Dates: Full school calendar is here.

May 24                                   Grandparents Day
May 24                                   9th Grade Musical 7:00 p.m.
May 27                                   Memorial Day--12:00 pm dismissal
May 29-June 4                       LS 3:15 dismissal /US 3:30 dismissal
May 29                                   Mrs. King's second grade play, Little Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks 8:15 a.m.
May 30                                   Both 4th grade's play, How NOT to Write a Play  8:15a.m.
May 30                                   Second Grade Insect Fair 2:45 library
May 31                                   All library books due
June 4                                    Kindergarten End-of-Year Party 2:30
June 5                                   Final day of classes.  LS 1:45 dismissal/ US 2:00 dismissal
June 5                                    Cotillion
June 6                                    Baccalaureate 4:30 p.m. required attendance
June 6                                    Farewell Evening
June 7                                    Commencement 10:30 a.m required attendance

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