Bell PTO

Bell Parent Teacher Organization - Marblehead, MA

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Garden Fundraiser: Our winners are…

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Thank you to everyone who came along to our Garden Fundraising event on Thursday May 17, 2018. We wanted to let you know the winners of the various contests and prize draws. These were announced in school today (Monday May 21) and the kids should be receiving their prizes in the next day or so, if they haven’t already got them!

First, the LOGO DESIGN CONTEST. What a wonderful display! We had 41 logos entered and 242 votes were cast. Thank you to all the kids who took the time to come up with a design and everyone who took a look and voted! We’ll be announcing our plans for these three designs in the next couple of weeks, so please stay tuned! We’ll be returning original designs to all the artists too.

1st place goes to LIAM PYNE – who got the most votes for this fun, colorful design.

2nd place goes to ASHLEY HAYES– with this professional looking design with a great message about being kind, caring and growing strong.

3rd place goes to SYDNEY PALAMARA – with her bright, comprehensive design.

We hope all the kids enjoyed taking part in the SCAVENGER HUNT. We had a prize draw for everyone who participated and brought back their slip. Our three winners are: SAM NORTHROP, ANNIE WALES and CLARK ROSZELL.

Finally, thanks to everyone who bought RAFFLE TICKETS for the Italian gift basket from Wholefoods. The winner is HUDSON MOORE! We’ll be in touch to arrange how to get your prize to you this week.

Thanks again for coming along and supporting our first Spring Fundraiser. We hope you enjoyed it! We’re still totaling up money, but we’ll let you know how much we raised to support the Bell School Organic Garden within the next few days. To get a taste of the programs the money will fund, please check out our garden pages!

Don’t forget too to have a look through the wonderful photos kindly taken by the talented Vicki Hendrix. There’s some amazing shots in there – and you can download them for free!

Latest Goldie Gazette: News & Updates

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Bell School PTO News Update
May 15, 2018

Upcoming Dates
Keep up to date by regularly checking our on-line calendar and our Facebook page. Here’s what’s coming up!

THIS WEEK:

NEXT WEEK:

COMING UP:

  • THURSDAY MAY 31: 3RD GRADERS DO ART QUEST!
  • WEDNESDAY JUNE 6: PTO GENERAL MEETING, 8:30 – WITH GUEST JEAN SKAANE, GARDEN PROGRAM COORDINATOR
  • THURSDAY JUNE 14: FINE ARTS NIGHT, 6:00
  • WEDNESDAY JUNE 20: 3RD GRADE CELEBRATION, 5:30
  • THURSDAY JUNE 21: FIELD DAY 2018!

DON’T FORGET!

  • VOLUNTEER AT THE MAGIC HAT & EARN HOURS BELL SCHOOL! NEXT BELL SCHOOL DESIGNATED WEEK JUNE 5-9. 

Support Bell School

The Bell School PTO welcomes and appreciates your support throughout the school year – whether that is by volunteering your time, providing financial donations or supplying skills, expertise or materials required by the school. 

  • LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER! Our 3rd Awesome Annual Fun Run will take place on Thursday May 24, straight after school. PLEASE REGISTER YOUR CHILD/CHILDREN BY THIS WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, AT THE LATEST! Just visit www.thegetmovincrew.com and click on the gold star on the left hand side. Once registered, the kids can help set up their own private fundraising page and you can share the link via email and social media to help them obtain sponsors quickly and easily. Check out our web page for more information!
  • NATIONAL OUTDOOR CLASSROOM DAY & GARDEN FUNDRAISER!Thursday May 17 is National Outdoor Classroom Day! Come and celebrate with us outdoors right after school and help us raise money for our very own Bell School Organic Garden! It’s looking like a perfect, warm and dry day for our inaugural Organic Garden Fundraising event which will take place 2:30 – 3:30, in and around the grounds and gardens of Bell School. With beautiful plants, herbs and veggies, cute gardening gloves, soil meters and packets of seeds (printed with students’ drawings), we have a lot for you to enjoy while your children engage in a variety of Arts and Crafts activities. We will also sell water, fruit and delicious Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, in both dairy free and regular flavors! Visit our website for more details.
  • GARDEN LOGO CONTEST: Thank you to all the students who participated in our contest! We had 39 amazing designs submitted from students from K through 3rd grade. They’ll all be on display at our Garden Fundraiser on Thursday, so come and take a look and vote for your favorite. The winner will be the one with the most votes – and announced at school on Friday!
  • RAISE MONEY FOR BELL VIA MAGIC HAT! You can drop in any time and earn hours for Bell – Tuesday thru Friday, 9:30 – 2:30. Just sign in and out under Bell in the Volunteers’ Book. Remember, a load of laundry also earns us time as does donating small pieces of furniture. Check out our website for more information.

Cultural Enrichment

The cultural enrichment programs at Bell School are fully funded by the PTO – and only made possible due to the funding we generate by volunteering at the Magic Hat. This includes the many visits, workshops and presentations the kids enjoy throughout the year plus the lessons the children get involved with in the school’s Organic Garden. 

  • 3RD GRADE COLONIAL GARDENS: 3rd graders are taking their studies of the Pilgrims to a whole new level! The kids are working with Mrs Skaane to learn about colonial kitchen gardens – why their designs are important as well as their choices of what to plant. The students imagine themselves as living in the Age of the Pilgrims (before stores like Market Basket and CVS!) and have to plan a garden that will provide food and medicinal herbs. This week they focused on design and next week they’ll actually plant their own kitchen gardens. Check out some more photos of the students working on our website.
  • LET’S TRY SEAFOOD! May’s Harvest of the Month is Seafood. Students will be receiving a Seafood card and an “I tried it!” sticker as part of the program this month. Due to difficulties (allergies and expense), we are encouraging families to taste seafood at home with their children. To help, we’ve posted a tasty, easy and inexpensive Baked Fish recipe on our website. Give it a try and let us know how it went! For more information on the Harvest of the Month program, go to www.massfarmtoschool.org.
  • 2ND GRADERS MEET AUTHOR JAMES BRUCHAC: James Bruchac, an author who has visited us the last couple of years, will be spending the day with 2nd graders again on Friday May 18 as part of the Cultural Enrichment program. He will meet with the entire grade in the morning, sharing Native American Legends, and then spend about an hour with each class conducting a workshop on creative writing, helping them to create their very own animal tale.
  • ART QUEST PROGRAM: On Thursday May 31, 3rd graders will be participating in the Art Quest program as part of the Cultural Enrichment calendar.

More important stuff!

  • VOLUNTEERS, LOANS & DONATIONS! As activities really start to ramp up over these final weeks of school, we’ll be asking for more and more help to insure our events run smoothly. We’re still on the look out for some extra help and loans of equipment for the Organic Garden Fundraiser this Thursday. Please check our sign up or contact Alexia Kearney if you’re interested. Next week, we’ll have our Fun Run and then it’ll be time for Field Day. Stay tuned and look out for our sign ups or reach out to the PTO via email. Thank you!
  • LOST & FOUND: As we get closer to the end of the year, please don’t forget to double check the Lost & Found area in the lobby at Upper Bell and retrieve your items!

Latest Goldie Gazette: Dates, deadlines, opportunities & more!

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Bell School PTO News Update
May 8, 2018

Upcoming Dates
Keep up to date by regularly checking our on-line calendar and our Facebook page. Here’s what’s coming up!

THIS WEEK:

  • WEDNESDAY MAY 9: EARLY RELEASE DAY (12:00 FINISH)
  • WEDNESDAY MAY 9: ODYSSEY FLOWER GRAM ORDERS DUE
  • FRIDAY MAY 11: GARDEN LOGO DESIGNS DUE
  • FRIDAY MAY 11: FUN RUN REGISTRATION DEADLINE

COMING UP!

DON’T FORGET!

  • VOLUNTEER AT THE MAGIC HAT & EARN HOURS BELL SCHOOL!

Support Bell School

The Bell School PTO welcomes and appreciates your support throughout the school year – whether that is by volunteering your time, providing financial donations or supplying skills, expertise or materials required by the school. 

  • RUN, RUN, RUN! Bell School’s 3rd Awesome Annual Fun Run will take place on Thursday May 24, straight after school. Please register your child(ren) by THIS FRIDAY, May 11, on-line at www.thegetmovincrew.com. Once registered, the kids can help set up their own private fundraising page and you can share the link via email and social media to help them obtain sponsors quickly and easily. All kids who participate will receive a free sweatband and at the event itself, they’ll get water, a healthy snack, free reusable water bottle and a well-deserved popsicle at the end! There will also be great prizes available to those students who help raise money – although getting sponsored is optional. Check out our web page for more information and look out for our email this week with more details on getting registered and sponsored, prizes and categories, timings for the event and volunteering opportunities! Don’t forget too, on the next two Saturdays, they can get in a bit of training at the track at Village School. See our website for more details!
  • GARDEN FUNDRAISER! On Thursday May 17, we invite you to come along and enjoy our Spring-fundraiser in aid of the Bell School Organic Garden. They’ll be plenty to enjoy at this event, from 2:30 – 3:30, including a Plant, Flower, Seedling and Seed Sale, Scavenger Hunt, Crafts, Art Show, Garden Tours, Logo Design Contest Exhibit AND Orange Leaf frozen yogurt, drinks and fruit. Check out our website for more information, mark your diaries and invite your friends and neighbors along to this fun, outside event in the grounds of Bell School.
  • GARDEN EVENT HELPERS & DONATIONS! We’re looking for volunteers to help us run the garden fundraising event next Thursday, as well as for donations of materials and equipment. Come and be part of the team! Check out our sign-up genius for more information on what we’re looking for. Thank you for your help and support!
  • RAISE MONEY FOR BELL VIA MAGIC HAT! We’re now clocking up hours against our latest allocation, which runs through September 2018. With the summer vacation being a difficult time to fill hours, please help us make an early impact on that target. You can drop in any time and earn hours for Bell – Tuesday thru Friday, 9:30 – 2:30. Just sign in and out under Bell in the Volunteers’ Book. Remember, a load of laundry also earns us time as does donating small pieces of furniture. Check out our website for more information.
  • SQUARE 1 ART – 2ND CHANCE! Did you miss the deadline for ordering pieces from Square 1 Art or would you like to add more pieces to your collection? It’s not too late. Use the access code contained in your order packet or contact their Customer Care team at Service@Square1Art.com or on 888.332.3294 to receive your access code. Late orders will still benefit the school.

Cultural Enrichment

The cultural enrichment programs at Bell School are fully funded by the PTO – and only made possible due to the funding we generate by volunteering at the Magic Hat. This includes the many visits, workshops and presentations the kids enjoy throughout the year plus the lessons the children get involved with in the school’s Organic Garden. 

  • NEW GARDEN LOGO: Student Artists! Help us come up with a new logo for the Bell School Organic Garden. Our contest to find a winning design ends thisFRIDAY, MAY 11. We’ve had lots of wonderful entries submitted already but would love to see more! Our website has all the information including entry forms. All designs will be on display at next week’s garden fundraiser and everyone will have a chance of voting for their favorite.
  • ART QUEST PROGRAM: On May 31, 3rd graders will be participating in the Art Quest program as part of the Cultural Enrichment calendar.

More important stuff!

  • TEACHER & STAFF APPRECIATION: Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day. On behalf of all the parents and kids at Bell, the PTO brought in desserts and treats for all the staff to enjoy and decorated the school with the ‘heart messages’ which both the kids and parents had prepared last week. Thank you! Don’t forget too, another way to show your appreciation and make a teacher or staff member’s day is to send them a special ‘flower gram’ this week. This thoughtful initiative will also help generate funds for the Odyssey of the Mind program. Check out the flyer sent home last week and submit your orders by tomorrow, Wednesday May 9. Contact Robin Berg if you have any queries.

3rd Annual Fun Run – Day of Event Information

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The PTO is excited to host our 3rd Annual Fun Run!  We are getting very excited for this event and hope to reach our fundraising goal of $15,000 for Bell School.

For those who are registered, here is the link to log in and share your child’s private fundraising page. https://secure.eventsonline.us/reg/getmovincrew/parents.  It only takes a moment to share your child’s page with friends and relatives to ask for sponsor support! It’s so easy that your child may be able to do it!  Cash and check donations are also VERY welcome and those can be turned in during check-in at the Fun Run or to the Bell School Front Desks.

Event Details:

  • Date & Location: The Fun Run will be held this Thursday, May 24th at the Lower Bell blacktop area. This is the area that most classrooms have pick-up.
  • Time: 
    • You child can check-in starting at 2:30. 
    • Check-in will close at 2:50, so be sure to check in shortly after you pick-up your child. 
    • The Fun Run will start by 3:00. 
  • Check-In: Check-in tables will be located near the basketball hoop on the Lower Bell blacktop. Check-in will be done by last name.  Check signage for the proper line to be in. You will be given a race number for your child to wear. Each child will get a headband that matches the color of their grade corner.  Please be patient! 
  • Donations: Donation envelopes will be collected at the check-in tables.
  • Pre-Fun Run Snack: A healthy fresh fruit snack will be available for children in the middle of the blacktop where they will receive instruction.  Be sure to bring another snack if your child may want something different.
  • Backpacks: Please hold or store your child’s backpack in your car during the event. We won’t have space to store them and want to avoid losing such a needed item!
  • Race Start: 
    • After check-in, your child will be directed to go to the middle of the track to wait for instruction. 
    • Once they receive instruction, they will be directed to a specific corner where they will be grouped by grade. 
    • They will start and finish the run at this corner. Flags will mark the corners.
    • The run will last 20 minutes.
  • During the Event: During the event, you are invited to stand around the course and cheer on the Fun Runners! 
  • After the Event: At the end of the 20 minutes, an announcer will tell the children that the Fun Run is about to end. They will be directed to go back to their starting corner and will be given a popsicle and wait for you to come and check them out. 
  • Bathrooms: Bathrooms are located within Lower Bell. 
  • Clothes/Shoes: Be sure your child is wearing comfortable clothing and athletic shoes the day of the Fun Run. 
  • Sunscreen: Bring sunscreen if your child might need it. 
  • After School Activities: If your child participates in an after school activity (i.e. Coach Karl), please be sure to let your teacher know of any changes in plan for pick-up. This way we avoid confusion.  YMCA program participants, please let them know if you would like your child to participate in the Fun Run with their supervision.

Questions? Contact us at bellptofunrun@gmail.com

Latest Goldie Gazette! News & Updates

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Bell School PTO News Update
May 1, 2018

Upcoming Dates
Keep up to date by regularly checking our on-line calendar and our Facebook page. Here’s what’s coming up!

THIS WEEK:

  • TODAY, MAY 1: SQUARE 1 ART COLLECTION & TEACHER APPRECIATION MESSAGE WRITING, 2:30, BLACK TOP
  • WEDNESDAY MAY 2: PTO MEETING, 8:30, UPPER BELL LIBRARY – Q&A WITH MARYANN PERRY & TEAM ON NEW SCHOOL PROJECT

COMING UP!

  • NEXT WEEK, MAY 7 – 11: TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
  • WEDNESDAY MAY 9: EARLY RELEASE DAY (12:00 FINISH)
  • THURSDAY MAY 17: GARDEN FUNDRAISING EVENT, 2:30
  • THURSDAY MAY 24: 3RD ANNUAL BELL SCHOOL FUN RUN!

DON’T FORGET!

Support Bell School

The Bell School PTO welcomes and appreciates your support throughout the school year – whether that is by volunteering your time, providing financial donations or supplying skills, expertise or materials required by the school. 

  • TODAY AT PICK UP! Join us today (Tuesday May 1) at 2:30 on the Blacktop to pick up your Square 1 Art order and write a ‘thank you’ message for Bell School teachers and staff. Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week and the PTO are planning a special treat to show the Bell School staff how much we appreciate what they do.
  • WE NEED YOU AT THE MAGIC HAT!  Did you know that just one hour of volunteering at the Magic Hat earns Bell School nearly $75 to invest in cultural enrichment programs and technology to support the kids learning in school? It’s such an amazing and unique fundraiser! We’re now clocking up hours against our latest allocation, which runs April through September 2018. With the summer vacation being a difficult time to fill hours, please help us make an early impact on that target. You can drop in any time and earn hours for Bell – Tuesday thru Friday, 9:30 – 2:30. Just sign in and out under Bell in the Volunteers’ Book. Remember, a load of laundry also earns us time, so please consider that too. Just phone ahead and check if there’s any to be picked up before you make the trip.
  • CAN’T VOLUNTEER? DONATE INSTEAD! The Magic Hat has just launched a new way to earn our school volunteering hours. Every small piece of furniture donated counts as one hour! Please see our website for more information.
  • GARDEN FUNDRAISING EVENT: On THURSDAY MAY 17, which is also National Outdoor Classroom Day, the Garden Committee and PTO will be hosting a fun ‘festival’ style event all in aid of the Bell School Organic Garden. There’ll be PLANTS & SEEDS for sale, ART DISPLAYS (including all the logo designs), GARDEN TOURS, CRAFTS, plus DRINKS, FRUIT AND FROZEN YOGURT too! We can’t wait to see you there. Don’t forget to submit your children’s designs for the Garden Logo Contest. You have until Friday May 11 to do so!
  • BELL SCHOOL ANNUAL FUN RUN: It’s back! Our 3rd Annual Fun Run will be held after-school on THURSDAY MAY 24 this year (rain date May 31). Look out for more information on email and being sent home this week. This fantastic, active and school-spirit building event is open to all students, grades K-3. Remember too the FREE student athletics clinics being held at Village School Track & Field on Saturdays this month – May 5, 12 & 19 at 4:30. Perfect for a bit of Fun Run training! See our website for more information.

Cultural Enrichment

The cultural enrichment programs at Bell School are fully funded by the PTO – and only made possible due to the funding we generate by volunteering at the Magic Hat. This includes the many visits, workshops and presentations the kids enjoy throughout the year plus the lessons the children get involved with in the school’s Organic Garden. 

  • GARDEN LOGO DESIGN CONTEST: We’ve had some fantastic designs entered into our Organic Garden Logo Design Contest already! Students can submit their entry anytime between now and FRIDAY MAY 11. Our website has all the information. Every design will be displayed in an exhibition as part of our Garden Fundraising event after school on Thursday May 17!
  • PBIS ‘RESPECT’ FOCUS: This Spring, the PBIS team and Bell School staff are working with the kids on understanding what it means to be ‘respectful’. One area they’ll be focusing on is how to follow directions the first time you are asked – something we can also reinforce at home. Check out our website for more information and pointers on how you can support this learning outside the classroom.

Other important stuff!

  • PTO MEETING WITH MARYANN PERRY: Please come along to our PTO Meeting tomorrow, Wednesday May 2nd, at 8:30 in the Upper Bell Library. Superintendent Maryann Perry and team will be attending to answer your questions about the next steps in the BCG Feasibility Project.
  • PBIS OLYMPIC GAMES EQUIPMENT: Thanks to everyone who supported the Olympic Games event in April by volunteering or lending equipment. There are still a few bits of equipment left in the lobby at Upper Bell, ready for collection. Thank you!
  • NEW PTO BOARD MEMBERS? Are you interested in getting more involved with the PTO? We need more new Board members for next year – as many currently in position will be moving on. If you want to put yourself forward or just keen to find out more, please reach out to us via email: malcolmbellpto@gmail.com
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