Originally delivered on 3/5/2023 1:01 pm

SUBJECT: Weekly Whale 3/5

SPOUT OUTS!

Thanks to Anne Reid for collaborating with the BHES leadership team to review the SIP data! Spout out to all of our lunch and recess volunteers for helping to make every day run smoothly! 

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 7 – In-Person PTA Meeting, special guest Dr. Rebecca Resnick (7:30 in the APR) 

March 10 – Kid-only BHES Movie Night (7-9pm, the APR – Sold out!)

March 15 – Early Release Day (school ends 12:55pm)

March 17 – March Birthday Bash (2:30pm, the APR)

March 23 – Listening Session for Whitman Cluster Parents/Guardians of Black Students (7pm-8:30pm, Zoom – see below for registration link!)

March 25 – BHEF Roaring Twenties Fundraiser (6:30-10:30pm at Pizzeria DaMarco)

March 31 – Professional Day (No school) 

April 3-10 – Spring Break (No school) 

April 29 – Variety Show (at Whitman HS) 

WHALE WATCH

IN-PERSON PTA MEETING (MARCH 7, 7:30PM, APR)

Please come join us for the in-person PTA general meeting on Tuesday March 7 at 7:30 pm in the Bradley Hills All Purpose Room. We will discuss the latest PTA business and host Dr. Rebecca Resnick for a discussion on childhood anxiety. 

The agenda is available here, and minutes from the previous general membership board meeting (10/11/2022) are available here.

Children's Stress: The Curse and the Blessing 

During our age of stress, smart parents are focusing on how best to help their children develop resilience. We know our role as parents is to raise children who can stand strong in the face of challenges. However, this responsibility could feel overwhelming, even before the pandemic hit. For this presentation, Dr. Rebecca Resnik, Licensed Psychologist, will describe how our children's stress response is actually both a "curse and a blessing." She will discuss why so much of what we have been told about stress is wrong, and update parents on what the science says about kids and stress. Attendees will learn to tell the difference between everyday situational stress and anxiety disorders. Dr. Resnik will provide practical tools for helping children harness their stress and re-discover their spark. 

Dr. Rebecca Resnik is a licensed psychologist and founder of Rebecca Resnik and Associates, a group practice with offices in North Bethesda. She specializes in pediatric neuropsychological assessment. Prior to becoming a psychologist, she earned her masters degree in Special Education with a concentration in learning disabilities. Dr. Resnik is the current President of the Maryland Psychological Association. Her book, A Parent's First Guide to ADHD was published in 2016. She is a regular speaker at national conferences and local events. She is a proud parent of 2 MCPS students. 

BHES MOVIE NIGHT (MARCH 10, 7-9PM)

Thank you to everyone who bought tickets for movie night! We are SOLD OUT, but don't worry, we will be having our second annual outdoor movie night in early May.  If you bought tickets and have not signed the waiver, *Please be sure to sign the waiver to allow your children to attend without you! 

If you have signed up already and haven't completed the waiver, please make sure you do! We are looking for a few more parent volunteers. Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D48A4A923A0F9C70-bhes

MARCH BIRTHDAY BASH (March 17, 2:30-3:00PM, the APR)

Friday, March 17th, we will hold the March Birthday Bash!  Students with MARCH 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 March birthday and you have completed the  volunteer requirements, please sign up here to volunteer.

Allergy Reminder: Giant Bakery cupcakes and Goldfish crackers are served for the snack at the Birthday Bash. The cupcakes are nut-free. If your child has an allergy of concern PLEASE send them with a snack to enjoy at the Bash. We are very happy to make them a plate!!

LISTENING SESSION FOR WHITMAN CLUSTER PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF BLACK STUDENTS (MARCH 23)

Please join Principal Caroscio and other Whitman Cluster Principals for a virtual listening session with parents/guardians of Whitman Cluster Black students on Thursday, March 23rd (7pm-8:30pm ET). This session will be facilitated by Maniya Jules of the MCPS Equity Unit and give parents an opportunity to share their general perspectives on school culture and academics, particularly as they relate to MCPS' ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. You may register for this event here; after registering, you will receive Zoom details. 

For any other questions in the meantime, please contact Anne Reid (BHES NAACP Representative and BHES PTA Co-Vice President) at annemorrisreid@gmail.com

SEEKING BOOK DONATIONS FOR THE WELLER ROAD BOOK DRIVE (THROUGH MARCH 12)

We are conducting a new and gently-used book drive to support Weller Road's book fair where WR students will shop for books free of charge. Note that last year, our books helped children whose parents often cannot afford to buy books; let's do it again this year!

  • We're asking for donations of children's books for students in Pre-K to 5th grade.
  • Please drop off donations in the bins in the BHES foyer. Please leave books in individual bags or boxes (this makes it easier for us to load the books onto our cars).
  • We would love for our students to leave hand-written notes including recommendations for friends at Weller Road! You can leave notes in the donation bins.
  • Weller Road teachers added books to their Amazon Wishlist to supply classroom libraries. These books will be delivered directly to WR. Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/7JET9795OYW4?ref_=wl_share

We'll collect books until March 12th. Please contact Veronica vvelezburgess@yahoo.com with questions.

Thank you for your generosity and support,

BHES PTA Community Service Committee

SIGN UP FOR THE BHES VARIETY SHOW (OPEN THROUGH MARCH 15)

BHES will be putting on its annual variety show on April 29, 2023. It’s the highlight of the year for our community and tons of fun!

Check out our 2023 Variety Show Website, with everything you need to know about the event! Click here to learn more about registration, auditions, signups to volunteer, and answers to FAQ's. Registration for acts is open through March 15.

Please volunteer to make this year's show the best one yet. The event requires a LOT of parent support and involvement. We need assistance with all aspects of the show, from lighting, sound, and stage management to event coordination. Please click here and to sign up to volunteer. 

We also need sponsors for the show, so if your family or company would be interested in sponsoring the show or have any questions about sponsorship, please email us at bradleyhillsvarietyshow2023@gmail.com

RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

MCPS Parent AcademyThere are virtual workshops available to parents in MCPS. Some are specific to our students with IEPs and some are more generalized. If you are interested in seeing what is being offered, please check out the Parent Academy (on the MCPS website.) Please click on link below for more information: 

MCPS Parent Academy

MCPS Family Support CenterThe Family Support Center (FSC) is here to help you! The goal of the attached bulletin is to provide you with information on internal and external events specifically designed for families who have children with an IEP. If you would like to learn more about an event or share information on other workshops or organizations, please contact the FSC at FamilySupport@mcpsmd.org. There are lots of organizations that provide webinars, training, and other resources for students and families. If you need support, suggestions or guidance, please reach out to the MCPS Family Support Center at Familysupport@mcpsmd.org. Please click on the link to access the Family Support Center bulletin: MCPS Family Support Center Bulletin

BRADLEY HILLS SPIRIT STORE - GRANT OPENING SALE!

The official Bradley Hills Spirit Wear Store is open! Choose from 100’s of designs & garments all delivered to your door in days. Perfect gifts for teachers & staff too!

All orders placed before March 12th will receive a savings of 25% off the entire site. Get your orders in fast at: 1stplace.sale/44027

In addition, all orders over $50 will receive free shipping with the code SPIRIT312-FS (enter the code at checkout).

PRINCIPAL'S CORNER

Principal's Monthly Newsletter
Click here to read Mrs. Caroscio's March newsletter. 

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 $35, go to https://bhespta.membershiptoolkit.com/home If you forgot your password, go to the link and click "Forgot password."  

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