Originally delivered on 9/14/2025 9:32 pm

SUBJECT: Weekly Whale 9/14

SPOUT OUTS!

Thanks to Carolyn Miller, Reena Samantaray, and Laura Lay for organizing the Back-to-School Carnival and to all of the families, teachers, and staff members who helped make this celebration of the start of the school year possible! It was wonderful to see so many BHES community members playing, talking, and dancing on the blacktop!

Spout out to all of the new and returning volunteers who came to the volunteer info session last week. We are so excited to have you on board! Big thanks to Jess Jay for organizing the session!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mon, Sept 15 – Fall Picture Day

Mon, Sept 15 – PTA Membership 411 (7-8:30pm, 7920 Norfolk Ave. rooftop, adults only - more details below!)

Sun, Sept 21 – Commanders vs. Raiders Football Game PTA Fundraiser - with photo on the field (tickets still available - details in a separate email)

Tues, Sept 23 – No School

Fri, Sept 26 – Early Release (12:55pm)

Sat, Sept 27 – Bradley Hills Education Foundation (BHEF) Fall Social (6:00 pm, adults only, details below

Thurs, Oct 2 – No School

WHALE WATCH

JOIN US AT PTA MEMBERSHIP 411 - TOMORROW! (MON, SEPT 15, 7-8:30PM)

The "Membership 411" event is a great opportunity to learn more about the BHES PTA and the resources and activities it sponsors through the year, and to connect with fellow parents.

It will take place on the evening of Monday, September 15th from 7-8:30 pm at 7920 Norfolk Avenue rooftop. When you arrive at the building, someone from the PTA membership committee will be waiting at the door to the building to help escort you up to Northgate Realty where the party is being hosted thanks to parent and realtor Angela Goldstein. It will be catered by Goin Grazy, so please come hungry to enjoy some appetizers and drinks!

JOIN A GRADE-SPECIFIC WHATSAPP GROUP TO STAY INFORMED

Parents with kids in each grade have started WhatsApp groups that you can join to keep informed about grade-level questions and school happenings. They're a great place to ask questions about a field trip, ask if anyone's joining a soccer team, or find out what the homework was. 

Here's the information for all of them!

PLEASE SUPPORT THE BHES PTA (AND GET A FREE BHES CAR MAGNET!)

Join, pay membership dues, and donate to the PTA through membership toolkit -- which is also the best way to make sure that you are your fellow BHES families can reach each other for anything from playdates to classroom questions. If you join the PTA (or renew your membership) before October 1, 2025, you will receive a FREE BHES magnet to put on your car! 

To Create an Account

Go to the Register/Login page at https://bhespta.membershiptoolkit.com or download the Membership Toolkit app, then click create account, and enter your account information. You will receive a confirmation email and then once it has been confirmed you can enter your family information and set your preferences. 

Only parents/guardians can enter your family into membership toolkit - if you don't sign up on membership toolkit, other families and your room parents will not be able to reach you! 

Renewing Your Annual Membership

Once you are logged into membership toolkit, select "membership store" from the main menu and then select "2025-26 Family Membership" which is $50.00. (You can also choose to donate an additional amount to the PTA on that same page--all donations go directly toward supporting the school community with PTA activities and resources!)

Membership in the PTA is renewed annually with the new school year and helps support a variety of activities including the Back to School Picnic; Science Fair; Heritage Night; and Movie Night.

All families who join the PTA for the 2025-2026 school year by September 30 will receive a BHES car magnet. Starting October 15th, the directory will be limited to PTA members only. 

Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to reach out to your membership chairs Lauren Breitenother Clark and Laura Moulton at bhesptamembership@gmail.com

AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES -- REVISED SCHEDULE (REGISTRATION IS OPEN!)

The PTA is excited to once again offer enrichment opportunities for students through our relationship with Baroody Camps. PLEASE SEE THE FLYER BELOW FOR A REVISED SCHEDULE OF CLASSES! We will now have classes on Mondays, instead of Tuesdays (as well as Wednesday-Friday). All classes are held onsite at Bradley Hills from 3:35 – 4:35pm. Students go directly from their classrooms to their enrichment programs. There are options for students of all grades K – 5.

The Fall session will run from Oct 6 – Dec 12. Please see the flyer below for the class schedule and pricing information. When classes are open to a range of grades, we encourage parents to review the class description and consider whether class offerings will engage their older students’ interests.  

Full details about each class and registration information can be found online at Bradley Hills PTA Enrichment Programs, powered by Baroody Camps (https://bc-mco-bradleyhills.jumbula.com/fall-2025). You can register directly from this site. Don’t delay! Your favorite class will fill up quickly.

2025-2026 PTA VOLUNTEER HANDBOOK AND SLIDES FROM VOLUNTEER INFO SESSION

Are you interested in volunteering at BHES? Please review the 2025-2026 Handbook HERE and the Slides from last Monday’s volunteer information session HERE. General information regarding the guidelines for MCPS volunteers can be found HERE

Still have questions? Please feel free to email bradleyhillsvolunteer@gmail.com.

TWO EASY WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PTA THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Clip Box Tops

Clip and turn in box tops in the school office. Don’t forget to register at boxtops4education.com to scan and email grocery store receipts. 

Harris Teeter Rewards

Support the BHES PTA every time you shop and Harris Teeter. Register your Harris Teeter rewards card at https://www.harristeeter.com/together-in-education 

BRADLEY HILLS EDUCATION FOUNDATION FALL SOCIAL (SAT, SEPT 27, 6-8PM, ADULTS-ONLY)

PRINCIPAL'S CORNER

Principal's Weekly Newsletter
Click here to find Ms. Kemp's latest newsletter. 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Interested in volunteering? Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Jess Jay at bradleyhillsvolunteer@gmail.com 

Please visit the PTA website for information about becoming a Media Center, Recess, or Lunch volunteer and to learn about how to support one-time events!  

BHES Volunteer Expectations/Agreement: Click here 

CONTACT US

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

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

Visit our website at www.bhespta.com

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

RESOURCES

Bradley Hills Elementary School Websitehttps://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/bradleyhillses/

Bradley Hills PTA Websitehttp://www.bhespta.com

Bradley Hills Education Foundation Websitehttps://www.bradleyhillseducationfoundation.org/

BHES Membership Toolkit (for school directory & to join or donate to PTA) https://bhespta.membershiptoolkit.com/

PLEASE SUPPORT THE PTA

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

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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