Paw Prints

Dear Barlow Mountain Community,

Welcome, October! On the first Friday of each month we gather as a school community for a Whole School Meeting to share and celebrate how we show Bobby CARES. In the month of September, we collected almost 100 paws for "Pawsitive" Cooperative Behavior. In October we are focusing on practicing Advocacy. This month's meeting was led by our fifth grade student council, who showed us what advocacy means, teachers read a book, Speak Up, and several students from each grade shared something happening in their classroom they are proud of. We also met our fifth grade "Paw Patrol" for the first time. Members of the Paw Patrol are our own BMES safety squad, who monitor hallways, help out on the bus, usher classes into the whole school meeting, assist at the school store, and more. You'll recognize them in their light blue vests. We couldn't be more proud of our student leaders!

Warm regards,

Becky & Caitlin

Fifth Grade Student Council led our Whole School Meeting, and of course, Bobby joined us!

Here are some of our members of the Fifth Grade Paw Patrol assisting at this week's school store.

Fifth Graders also show leadership by leading "Bobby's Broadcast," our morning announcements that are live streamed into all classrooms at BMES each day.

Speaking of Advocacy, as advocates in the community, we are having a drive for United for the Troops leading up to Veterans' Day!

Click here to see a Wish List of items our Troops need most! There will be collection bins in the cafeteria and we can't wait to fill them!

Please listen to the Ridgefield Tiger Talk podcast and Monday's Superintendent's Report (approximately 36 min mark) to learn more about this project in advance of the October 9 town vote on the lease.

We have recently had multiple incidents of destructive behavior in the boy's bathroom used by students in Grades 2-5. Students who are found destructing school property can have serious consequences. You can help by reiterating the importance of expected behavior in an unsupervised setting and the message that character is who you are when no one is watching!

Since regular school attendance increases students’ academic and social achievement, we ask that all parents and guardians join with us to ensure that all students are in attendance and ready to perform to the best of their ability every school day. To help monitor your child’s achievement and success, please visit our PowerSchool Parent Portal. The State Board of Education has defined two levels of criteria for an absence to be considered an excused absence.

“Level 1” includes the first nine absences and these days are considered excused absences for any reason that the student’s parent or guardian approves. The parent or guardian must submit either written or oral documentation within ten school days of the student’s return to school.

Excused “Level 2” absences are the days beginning at the tenth absence and meet one or more of the State’s acceptable reasons. For more information regarding the acceptable reasons, please visit the Connecticut State Department of Education Guidelines for Absences.

If your child reaches the thresholds below, you will receive a notification. The notifications will lag the actual absences. For example, your child may reach their 6th absence on a Wednesday and you may not be notified until the following Monday.

Typical attendance notification thresholds.

• At 6 absences a notification is emailed.

• At 9 absences a notification is emailed.

• At 9 absences and 6 unexcused, a notification is emailed.

• At 9 excused absences and 10 unexcused absences, a truancy notification is emailed.

Parents/guardians must provide a medical professional’s note for every excused absence after meeting the threshold of nine days. Please submit documentation to the nurse’s office upon the student’s return to school.

We urge parents to schedule family vacations during the regular school year vacation time. If your family decides to take a vacation during the school year, you will need to communicate it with your child's classroom teacher, the school nurse, and the principal. It is difficult to replicate the instruction elementary students miss. If necessary for elected extended absences, we encourage students to complete independent reading, work on their math facts, and/or keep a writing travel journal as our educators do not provide work for these occasions. We are grateful for your partnership!

• Monday, October 7th (D Day)
  
• Tuesday, October 8th (E Day)
• Wednesday, October 9th (F Day)
• Thursday, October 10th (A Day)
• Friday, October 11th (B Day)
  Early Dismissal for Students at 12:15
  Staff Professional Learning
• Monday, October 14th
  NO SCHOOL in observance of Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day

• October 22nd
  

• Preschool Picture Day
  10:30am - RPS Special Services Parent Guidance Series (click here for more information)

• October 26th
  3-5pm Trunk or Treat

• October 31st
  A Spooktacular Halloween at BMES! (Information below!)

• November 5th
  NO SCHOOL for Students - Teacher Professional Learning
  
  

Our littlest spooks in Preschool will have classroom celebrations during the week of Halloween!

Thank you to everyone who joined us in the first our parent learning series, "Let's Play School." In this session, Mrs. Nezvesky presented a variety of information about our Think!Mathematics and Developing Roots. Stay tuned for a more in-depth review of this presentation, and in the meantime, check out more about the problem solving mindset we use in our classrooms.

Thank you to our Lauren Crossley and our PTA Garden Volunteers for all of the work they are doing to keep up with our Barlow Garden! If you would like to volunteer for the Barlow Garden Committee, you can RSVP here.

After reading The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo, 4th Graders wrote and performed their own skits based on the book.

Our first school store of the school year was on Friday, raising money for 5th Grade activities.
Sunglasses were the most popular item this month!

Fifth Graders enjoyed an outdoor movie and popcorn on the BMES lawn.
Thank you to our fifth grade parents for organizing this fun activity. It was a perfect night for it!

Ghoul-friends, it’s time to rise from the crypt and get ready for a fang-tastic time! Thanks to your amazing fundraising efforts last year and those of you who have already joined the PTA, we are able to make this a free event this year, including providing all of the candy for the kids!

Want to Help? This spooktacular event is hosted by the BMES PTA, but we need some wicked volunteers to make the magic happen! If you’re up for lending a hand (or claw), click below to sign up!

Decorate Your Car! What’s a Trunk or Treat without boo-tiful car decorations? If you’re ready to brew up a spooky scene with your trunk, let us know by clicking below!

Just Want to Attend? Creeping in for some fun? Register below so our coordinators can plan for all the little goblins and ghouls!

We can’t wait to see all you monsters there!

We’re excited to announce that After School Enrichment (ASE) classes will be available starting on 10/28! Many of you have shared your desire for afterschool programs, and the PTA is thrilled to bring this to life based on your feedback. Keep an eye out next week for more details on how to enroll!

Who doesn’t love pies during the holidays?

Share this link with friends and family to order tasty pies or cookie dough from Lyman Orchards—all while supporting the 5th grade class!

Be sure to coordinate pickup for your order or plan to pick up at BMES on November 15.

Happy sharing and thank you for your support!

Instagram @bmes_bobcats

Email: rlaus@ridgefieldps.net
Website: https://bmes.ridgefield.org/
Location: 115 Barlow Mountain Road, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: 203-894-5800