MCPS VIRTUAL COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
Live Wednesday, Jan. 12, from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
A forum to hear information and have your questions answered by school system leaders and others concerning COVID-19 operations in Montgomery County Public Schools.
You can join via webinar or watch live on MCPS-TV (Comcast 34, Verizon 36, RCN 89), the MCPS homepage or the MCPS YouTube Channel. Spanish interpretation and American Sign Language (ASL) will be available.
SPELLING BEE
Mark your calendars for the Bradley Hills Spelling Bee! Classroom bees for fourth and fifth graders will be held on January 19 and 21. Each classroom winner and runner-up will be eligible to compete in the BHES schoolwide bee on the evening of February 10. The BHES spelling bee winner will go on to represent the school in the regional bee and have a chance to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee finals.
Here are downloadable links to several study guides:
4th Grade Word List
5th Grade Word List
2022 Scripps Book Selections
This is a great BHES tradition and requires parent volunteers to help run the classroom bees each year. If you are available for an hour on either January 19 or 21, please let us know. Any BHES parent can volunteer. You'll be trained on how to run a classroom bee, and it is a fun, limited time commitment. Please contact PTA Spelling Bee committee chair Tomoko Mullaney at tomoko.hosaka@gmail.com for more information.
WINTER AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT
Bradley Hills PTA is excited to offer after-school enrichment programming this winter in partnership with Enrichment Matters. Enrichment registration opened on January 5 and will close at midnight on January 12. Classes will begin on January 25. See the FLYER for details and visit https://www.enrichmentmatters.com/bradley-hills for class schedules, descriptions and to complete your registration. Please email Laurel Keating at laurel.keating@gmail.com with questions or reach out directly to Jocelyn Hinkle at Enrichment Matters (jocelyn@enrichmentmatters.com).
PTA SPEAKER SERIES ON KIDS' BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
Looking to help your 3-5th grader weather the pandemic, mood swings, and friendship shifts? Seeking strategies to reduce kids' anxiety and foster resilience?
Our BHES PTA hosted local counselor and author Phyllis Fagell on December 9, and she gave terrific insights and tips for parents of pre-teens. If you missed it and would like to see the recording, please email bridgetbgray@gmail.com.
We know that many students have faced extra challenges as they transitioned back to school from last year. Consistent with national trends, teachers and counselors are seeing students with big gaps in social-emotional learning after missing a year+ of normal socialization.
As a PTA, we hope to help our community recognize behavioral health challenges, and find strategies to promote resilience. Look for news of our next speaker, focused on K-2nd graders!
VOLUNTEER COVID 19 VACCINATION ATTESTATION
All school volunteers and partnering agencies will be required to complete an additional new module via their myMCPS Classroom/Canvas account called COVID-19 Vaccination Attestation in order to volunteer within our school district. Currently, all volunteers/contractors must complete the (Volunteer Child Abuse/Neglect (vCAN) module. In addition, depending on level of volunteering, some are required to be fingerprinted, per the vCAN FAQ. Fingerprinting requirements are not being changed.
The new module will consist of a volunteer a) attesting to being fully vaccinated, b) uploading their Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination from the Maryland Department of Health, and c) agreeing to specific expectations of masking and social distancing while in MCPS facilities.
Since the vCAN module is a 3-year revolving completion timeline, a system message will be emailed to all who have previously completed the vCAN module, informing them of this additional module requirement. The new Two-Module system is currently up and running.
User-Guides on how to access both module requirements and how to access and upload their Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination from the Maryland Department of Health will be available on the Child Abuse and Neglect and the Volunteers websites. For more information, visit this link. This link contains step-by-step instructions on how to complete the requirements.
RECESS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Please support BHES recess by volunteering for one or more recess slots. This is a great way to get outside and help supervise fun and games! All volunteers must complete the required training and be fully vaccinated. Sign up HERE.
IF YOU LOVE YOUR PTA...DONATE TODAY!
Did your student have a blast at the Fall Picnic? Look fantastic in a new blue PTA hat? Come home raving about Book Fair fun? Get out of bed on Fridays just for WhaleMart? If so, show your PTA some love by donating HERE today!
SPIRIT WEAR SALE
Show your BHES spirit by visiting our online store! Two new logos added as well as sizes for the whole family!
