Originally delivered on 1/14/2024 2:36 pm

SUBJECT: Weekly Whale 1/14/2024

SPOUT OUTS!

A huge round of applause to Mrs. Ajasafe and Ms. Petty for kicking off the Minority Scholars Program with our 5th grade students!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mon, January 15 – Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (No School)

Mon, January 15 – MLK Day of Service Project 

Thurs, January 18 – In-Person Meeting with Families of Black Students (7:00pm, BHES)

Fri, January 19 – January Birthday Bash (2:30-3:00pm, BHES APR)

Weds, January 24 – Potomac Pizza Night (4:00-8:00pm) 

Thurs, January 25 – Jewish-Black Cultural Exchange Event (7:30pm, BHES APR) 

Mon, January 29 – End of Marking Period (No School)

Fri, February 2 – Whale Mart

Thurs, February 8 – Spelling Bee Finals (9:15am, BHES)

Tues, February 13 – In-Person Community Conversation: Focus on Restorative Justice (7:30pm)

Weds, February 14 – Valentine's Day Parties (2:30-3:15pm, BHES Classrooms)

Mon, February 19 – Presidents Day (No School)

Thurs, February 22 – BHES Heritage Night 

WHALE WATCH

CALL TO ACTION FROM THE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSON COMMITTEE

The DEI committee works towards creating an enriching and supportive climate where all members of our community feel safe, seen, and respected. These first weeks of 2024 offer many opportunities for you to make a positive impact in our Bradley Hills community, which is of particular importance given recent and ongoing world events and pervasive issues of racism, transphobia, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of discrimination and bias here in the United States 

Click the links below to learn more about ways you can get involved.  Reach out to dei.bhes@gmail.com with any questions, feedback, or concerns.

MLK Day of Service is Monday, January 15. Click here for opportunities!

MCCPTA Anti-Bias Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for January 24 from 7:00-9:00 on Zoom. Click here to register. 

The DEI January newsletter is now available! Click here to read about upcoming BHES events and cultural observances and for resources to support engagement with the Anti-Bias Building Blocks Curriculum at home.   

PENNY WARS STARTING THIS WEEK!

The Student Government Association would like to announce that Penny Wars will be coming to BHES Tuesday, January 16th through Friday, January 26th! 

What is Penny Wars? Penny wars is a fundraiser that involves coins, money, and jugs. The objective is to fill the other grades’ jugs with as much money as possible! The grade level with the LEAST amount of coins wins.

What should students do? Students can bring in pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and even bills to participate. The grade level with the MOST money loses- but in a good way! The more money grade levels have, the more that goes to charity! The prize for the winning grade level will be announced at the start of the event!

Where does your student put the money? Jugs with grade level labels will be in the front lobby during the event. Students can drop money in the jugs during school hours.

Where will the money go? Donations will go to Hope for Henry which is a great organization and has helped families right here at BHES! Check out their website https://hopeforhenry.org/

Any questions should be directed to Ms. Howell (Caitlyn_L_Howell@mcpsmd.org

SIGN UP TO BE A VOLUNTEER FOR BHES CLASSROOM SPELLING BEES--LAST CHANCE! (JANUARY 17-25)

The classroom Spelling Bees for 4th and 5th graders are this month, and we are still looking for parent volunteers to help run the class bees!

Please sign up here to volunteer. Each session is only 1 hour of your time! Volunteers will be given instructions in advance. Please remember that you cannot volunteer for your own child's class. However, parents from any grade are welcome to volunteer (not limited to 4th and 5th grade parents).

Questions? please contact Colleen Fahey at cefahey@yahoo.com 

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS STARTING SOON! (TUESDAYS, 3:30-4:45, JAN 16-MAR 19, 4TH & 5TH GRADERS)

The winter session of Dungeons & Dragons, led by Mr. Sichler, begins soon. Register here: https://bhespta.membershiptoolkit.com/store/13198

DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS. Who: 4th and 5th graders; Provided by: Mr. Sichler; When: Weekly Tuesday meetings from 3:30-4:45pm; Dates: January 16-March 19, 2024; Cost: $125. Description: Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to empower your 4th or 5th grade child to become more confident, tackle challenges head-on, and learn perseverance? Let them explore the Forgotten Realms through critical-thinking exercises playing the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Kids do not need prior knowledge of D&D to join, but experienced players are welcome. Spaces are limited, so sign up soon!

JEWISH-BLACK CULTURAL EXCHANGE (THURS, JAN 25TH, 7:30-8:30PM, BHES APR)

The BHES PTA is committed to promoting an enriching and supportive climate where ALL members of the BHES community feel safe, seen, and respected. To help advance this sense of belonging for ALL our families -- particularly given recent and ongoing world events and pervasive issues of racism, transphobia, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of discrimination and bias here in the United States -- we are launching the first of what we hope will be a series of “Cultural Exchanges.” This first Cultural Exchange session will feature speakers who will share personal reflections about Black and Jewish heritage. John and Karen Franklin will present on Black heritage. Connie Jacobson Liss will present on the Holocaust and Jewish heritage. 

This inaugural event on Thursday January 25th @ 7:30pm is recommended for older students at BHES — 4th and 5th graders. We encourage 4th and 5th graders to attend with their parents/guardians. BHES parents who have younger students are also encouraged to attend without their younger students. We hope all attending families will leave this event with: (1) a greater understanding of Black and Jewish heritage; (2) an appreciation of ways in which the historical experiences of Black and Jewish people in the United States have been similar and ways in which they have been different; and (3) a stronger sense of allyship with these communities. We hope this first Cultural Exchange will be the first of many opportunities to explore the range of identities reflected in our BHES community. 

Please RSVP by completing this Google FormRegistration for this event will close once we reach maximum capacity for the BHES APR Room.  For any further questions about this event, please contact Michelle Feld (mffeld@gmail.com) or Anne Reid (annemorrisreid@gmail.com).

BHES COMMUNITY NIGHT AT POTOMAC PIZZA TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE SCHOOL (WEDS, JAN 24, 4-8PM)

Mention Bradley Hills Elementary School when you order carry-out or dine-in at Potomac Pizza Chevy Chase on Wednesday, January 24th, 4-8pm, and Potomac Pizza will donate 20% of the sale to the school! Phone number: (301)951-1127.

To order online: click this hyperlink to place an online order. On the far left menu panel, there will be a tab that says "FUNDRAISER." For your order to count towards the fundraiser, you MUST go to the tab, select the fundraiser button, and add it to your cart prior to check out. If placing an order via the Potomac Pizza app, you will similarly need to add the fundraiser to your cart.

JANUARY BIRTHDAY BASH (FRI, JAN 19, 2:30-3:00PM, BHES APR)

Calling all JANUARY birthdays! Friday, January 19th, we will hold the January Birthday Bash!  Students with January birthdays will come to the APR from 2:30 pm - 3 pm on Friday to enjoy cupcakes and Birthday Bingo! 

We will need 8 volunteers/parents to help us set-up and clean up the Birthday Bash from 2:00 pm to 3:25 pm in the APR. All Bash supplies are provided by the PTA. If your child has a January birthday and you have completed the volunteer requirements, please sign up here to volunteer. Nut-free cupcakes will be served. If your child has an allergy of concern PLEASE send them with a snack to enjoy at the Bash.

SAVE THE DATE FOR HERITAGE NIGHT (THURS, FEB 22)

What is Heritage Night? It is a beloved tradition at Bradley Hills. Each year, we open up the school for one evening and students and their families can "tour the world", visiting various tables with displays that celebrate cultures, traditions, countries, and religions. Tables are set up by volunteer families and can include informative posters, displays, arts, crafts, music, instruments, even food and beverages. It's always a lot of fun!

Are you interested in hosting a table at Heritage Night on February 22nd? We would love your support in celebrating cultural diversity at Bradley Hills! Sign-up to represent your heritage (country, region, state, religion, cultural tradition) by February 9th. 

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE BHES VARIETY SHOW! (MARCH 9)

Mark your calendars! The annual Bradley Hills Variety Show is just around the corner on March 9th at Walt Whitman High School. It will be an evening of music, dance, acrobatics and many other talents performed by our wonderful student acts. Stay tuned, more details are coming soon!

BRING US YOUR PLASTIC BAGS AND FILM FOR THE TREX RECYCLING CHALLENGE!

Please send in your plastic bags and plastic film for the TREX recycling challenge! Schools collect plastic film (bags and other plastic film), weigh them, and report the weight monthly on the program website.

The challenge runs from through April and any participating school that collects at least 1,000 pounds of plastic film during a 12-month period qualifies to receive a composite bench.

THE PTA IS HERE FOR YOU!

The BHES PTA is committed to promoting an enriching and supportive climate where all members of the BHES community feel safe, seen, and respected. The PTA -- primarily through its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee -- works to advance this goal through the following means: dissemination of educational resources for parents/guardians; organization and facilitation of Heritage Night as well as other events and small-group community conversations to help parents/guardians explore their family identities and issues of bias; financial support of assemblies and other in-school programming to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging goals; and collaboration with school administration, teachers, and staff on development of materials to supplement teacher lessons on anti-bias and commemorative months. The PTA's DEI Committee welcomes input from all members of our community about how we collectively work to prevent and respond to hate-bias incidents within our community. If you are interested in sharing feedback, or joining the DEI Committee, please contact DEI Committee Co-Chairs Britt Hogue and Kathleen Foster at dei.bhes@gmail.com.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Media Center: Email Tracy Sislen, tracysislen@gmail.com, to be put on the schedule. Media Center volunteer details.

Lunch/Recess: Sign-up for RECESS slots here. Sign up for LUNCH slots here.

Volunteer for PTA Events, Committees, Board Roles: Click here.

MCPS and BHES Volunteer Requirements: Click here.

CONTACT US

Questions, comments, suggestions for the PTA? Contact PTA President Jenni Weinstein at bradleyhillsptaprez@gmail.com

Have PTA news to share or Community Event Information? Contact Communications Chair Lesley Freiman at bhescommunications@gmail.com

Want to volunteer? Please sign up here

Visit our website at www.bhespta.com

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/bradleywhalespta/

RESOURCES
PLEASE SUPPORT THE PTA

Join or Donate to the PTA: Fill out the PTA membership and donation form found HERE or login A to Z Directory (https://bhespta.membershiptoolkit.com), select “Membership” on the left side menu then "Join" and/or "donate" .

Scan Receipts for Box Tops and Register Your Grocery Store Cards: Download the box tops app and scan grocery store receipts to redeem box tops earnings for BHES. Register your grocery store cards at www.escrip.com (school ID: 6477724) and www.giantfood.com/aplus (school ID: 00665).

BHES staff and PTA volunteers can post informational emails via AtoZ by sending the email to: BHESAtoZConnect@gmail.com. Please include PLEASE POST in the subject line.  Ads or announcements for non-school sponsored events can be sent to the community announcements moderator at BHEScommunityannouncements@gmail.com.

If you do NOT want to receive these informational emails in the future, you may click "unsubscribe" at the bottom of any AtoZConnect email.  Warning - by unsubscribing you will no longer receive updates about any PTA events.  

To access your AtoZConnect account anytime to update your directory/contact info and/or to pay your annual BHES PTA family membership dues of $40, go to https://bhespta.membershiptoolkit.com/home If you forgot your password, go to the link and click "Forgot password."  

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