Sunday, March 26, 2017

March 27 - 31, 2017







Bears,

Last week, we saw grades combining to work on projects, awesome STEM and aerodynamics lessons from our guest teacher (Mr. Berry), the Kindergarten classes enjoying the final swim practice of the year, GT students building and engineering a project-based learning activity, our 4th grade classes learning about local flora and fauna down near Port Norris, the champion floor hockey team playing in their final game of the season against the Millville Police Deparment, and more.  Wow, that was a mouthful!  I'm going to let the pictures do most of the talking this week.

On a personal note, it's been a busy but exciting time in the Coyle house as we prepare for the arrival (the perhaps imminent arrival) of the newest member of our family.  There might be some pics in the near future.  I'd like to thank Mrs. Karen Harris and Mr. Scott Shepard in advance for coming in for me while I'm out (which could be early this week - we'll see).  We'll make sure the blog continues like normal so we can keep everyone abreast of the great things happening in our school.

That's it for now.  I'm off to continue preparing for the arrival.  See you next week...or maybe not!

Mike



Pictures from around the School


Helping get the fruit and veggies ready

GT building project
GT building project

Fourth graders learning about the Maurice River ecosystem
We think they work at Bacon...?

Working on spelling in Mrs. Peterson and Ms.Ford's room
Working on spelling in Mrs. Peterson and Ms. Ford's room

Getting ready to deliver the fresh fruit and vegetable snacks
Mr. Berry teaching our Bears about aerodynamics

Mrs. DeVita dropping some tech knowledge in Mrs. Bingham's class
Nothing but peace and respect (and a big beard) at Bacon!


The staff "I Played" board put together by Mrs. Rohaly.  A lot of our Bear staff are musically inclined.
Bears vs. Millville Police in some floor hockey action


Thank you, Millville PD!

A book sampling extravaganza in Mrs. Fryling's room
The company was perfect for a book sampling

Fifth and Third grades working together

Fifth and third grades combing to expand their knowledge.  Here we see Mrs. Muhlbaier (5th grade teacher) making it happen with 5th and 3rd graders. 




Birthday Selfies!









Weekly overview
Monday (3/27): C day - lesson plans due

Tuesday (3/28): D day - K, 2nd, and 5th grade PLCs

Wednesday (3/29): E day - Dare to be Fit (8 am in the gym), PBIS Respect the 29th Pep Rally and Bear Bucks store (9:30 - 10:30 am), Workout Wednesday, 4th grade PLC

Thursday (3/30): A day - 1st and 3rd grade PLCs, Hoops for Bacon (4 pm 

Friday (3/31): B day - Wear Bacon Gear



Sunday, March 19, 2017

March 20 - 24, 2017



Bears,

Another great week down.  Let's jump in.

First, we start with our biggest loser staff weight loss contest.  I want to say congrats to all who participated.  Everyone who entered the competition came away losing, so really, you're all winners.  See the pictures section to learn who took 1st and 2nd place.  We've all heard the saying, "Less is more," and in this case, it's so true.  If you started losing, don't stop.  Keep it going!

On Friday afternoon, our students left at 1:45, and the teachers had an in-service during the duration of the afternoon.  We met the library and shared out some ideas we've been working on regarding student engagement, using positive dialogue to steer students in the right direction, and doing what we can to meet the needs of all our learners.  These are big topics with big repercussions, and I think we started a productive conversation about what we can do as a school to continually improve the way we do things so we can best serve our students.   Great job, Bacon staff.  Let's build on the work we've already done so we can keep moving forward.  Once our general meeting was done, I met with the SIP team to review a few things we have to get done for the state, and the rest of the staff was released to meet as grade levels or attend the return of Tech Fridays with Sara Frying and Amanda DeVita.  It was busy but productive day.

On Friday night, Millville Public Schools held a wonderful student art showcase at the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts on High Street during this month's Third Friday outing.  All MPS schools had art on display, and the artwork demonstrated the skill and talent of our young artists.  I'd like to thank Meganne Peck for her hard work in putting together Bacon's display and also for the talent she cultivates daily with her students.  Bacon was represented well (all the schools were)!  Also, it was great seeing students and parents come through to support the arts program and our students.  Thanks to the Riverfront Renaissance Center for hosting this event.  It was a great example of a school-community-family connection, and the large turnout speaks volumes of the importance of the work we collectively do.

Be sure to check out the upcoming events.  We've got a full week ahead of us - STEM projects (complete with a guest instructor!), the final week of the kindergarten swim program, and more learning and engaging.

Everyone have a great week.
Mike


Student Art Showcase!
Bacon's art display at the student showcase 



Jamie Leahy, 3rd grade

Eziar Allen, 2nd grade, with his mom 

Gianna Ferrigno,1st grade, and her brother Trace, 5th grade

The Ferrigno's 

Miranda Brown, 4th grade 

Jack Yunk, Kindergarten




Pictures from around the School


Art work by Mr. Paul Lokey

Bacon's biggest losers: 1st place - Fernando The Bull AKA Margret Ortzman. 2nd place - Goofy AKA Kim Taylor.  Congrats, ladies!



Circled up in 4th grade

Siblings working together and building a pyramid in club 21 

Mrs. Rohaly with singing and dancing Kindergarten students

Teacher in-service on Friday afternoon

St. Patrick's Day breakouts in Mrs. Gandy's room 
St. Patrick's Day breakouts in Mrs. Gandy's room 
St. Patrick's Day breakouts in Mrs. Gandy's room 

St. Patrick's Day breakouts in Mrs. Gandy's room
St. Patrick's Day breakouts in Mrs. Gandy's room

St. Patrick's Day breakouts in Mrs. Gandy's room

STEM activities in Mrs. Fryling's class

STEM activities in Mrs. Fryling's class

STEM activities in Mrs. Fryling's class

STEM activities in Mrs. Fryling's class

STEM activities in Mrs. Fryling's class

STEM activities in Mrs. Fryling's class

Birthday Selfies!








Weekly overview
Monday (3/20): C day - lesson plans due, PBIS Tier 2 meeting (10:44 am in the conference room), Grades 3-5 STEM activities

Tuesday (3/21): D day - K, 2nd, and 5th grade PLCs, Grades 3-5 STEM activities

Wednesday (3/22): E day - Dare to be Fit (8 am in the gym), Workout Wednesday, 4th grade PLC

Thursday (3/23): A day - SIP (8 am in the library), Kindergarten Swim (final week), 1st and 3rd grade PLCs

Friday (3/24): B day - Wear Bacon Gear

Sunday, March 12, 2017

March 13 - 17, 2017





Bears,

It's over.  Finished.  Done.  After days of friendly trash talking, the annual student vs. staff floor hockey game has been played, and the staff were victorious with a final score of 5-1.  The faster, more nimble students came out strong, but they quickly realized the slower adults had just a few more years of experience under their belts.  The competition was more intense than the score suggests, and the students had several shots on goal and applied pressure through the entire match.  If not for the skills of Mrs. Amy Gandy, who tended the goal for the staff during the entire game, the score would have been much closer (like last year when they put Mr. Coyle in the goal - that was a mistake).  All who played and watched had a great time.

Mrs. Bingham would like to extend her thanks and gratitude to all the Bacon Bears who participated in this year's hockey season.  All of you came out and gave your best. She had a lot of fun, and she hopes you did, too.

I'd like to thank the Daily Journal for coming out to our event.  The pictures and coverage they gave our school was awesome and appreciated.  If you haven't seen their write up, click here.

I'd also like to thank Mrs. Kelly Bingham for running this year's floor hockey program.  It was great arriving at school in the morning to the sounds of hockey and cheering coming from our gym.  It was equally great seeing so many parents come out to watch the events.

Finally, I want to thank our staff members who played in Friday's game, supervised the students in the stands, or helped in any other way.  It's takes a family to do what we do, and we have a great family.  Thank you all!

In other news, winter made a return to the region this week (to the delight of our Bears - see pics below), and right now all eyes are on a potential snowstorm that could plow through here sometime Monday night into Tuesday.  As of this writing, we are forecast to get somewhere between 3-12 inches, depending on where you turn for this type of info.  But I saw something interesting this morning.  The confidence in a snow event is high, but the confidence in the snowfall projections is low-mid.  Why put us through this??  In other words, let's not talk about amounts yet, but somebody somewhere is pretty sure we'll get something.  We'll see.  As a fan of cold and snow, I'd like at least one good dumping this year.  I'm not in charge of such things, however, so I guess we'll all find out together what will happen when it happens.  Seems obvious enough, right?

In things not hockey or weather related, we are happy to announce we have received a fruit and vegetable grant for the duration of the school year.  Here's an update from Candy Devich, our cafeteria manager.


Our school will be participating in a special Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program for the remainder of the 2017 school year! We will be offering fresh fruits and vegetables in the classroom as snacks! We are excited to have been awarded this grant to provide our RM Bacon School children with healthy, nutritious foods.

Three to four days each week, your child (children) will enjoy a fruit or vegetable in the classroom.  Occasionally, there will be information and recipes sent home so your family can participate in promoting and increasing your consumption of fruits and vegetables.  Every child will be able to participate regardless of their free/reduced status!

Looking ahead, we have set a date for our Spring Community Day - May 22 (rain date May 23).  More info on this event will be forthcoming, but it should be a great evening of family and fun.

That will do it for now.  Everyone have a great week.  Do something great for someone else.
Mike

  
Floor Hockey Pics

The Bacon 2017 floor hockey champs!  Congrats on a great season! 
They look ready. Sort of.

A view from the stands 
Mrs. Levari is alone - where are her teammates??

Mrs. Digiorgio and Mr. Lokey waiting for the action to clear the staff end and come their way  
Mrs. Gandy and Mr. Coyle - nothing shall get through.



Team Bacon Staff

Pictures from around the School

We almost forgot what winter looked and felt like.  These Bears took advantage of it.

Thanks to Ms. Berry for keeping our prize coffers stocked with great items 
Taco Tuesday!

Friends at lunch 
GT students using KINEX to work on STEM bridge building.  Developing, testing, analyzing, modifying - great stuff

Mrs. Gandy and Ms. Peck's students working on an Arts Infused project

This Arts Infused project entailed studying the Rosetta Stone and hieroglyphics  
Writing hieroglyphics into clay

Combining art, history, research, and writing - a great day!

Some of Mrs. Bingham's students making it happen in the hall.  Learning isn't limited to the classroom.
The last warm day before the absent Old Man Winter found his way back to NJ.  Working on making paper airplanes more aerodynamic. 

Birthday Selfies



Weekly overview
Monday (3/13): C day - lesson plans due, PBIS Tier 2 meeting (10:44 am in the conference room)

Tuesday (3/14): D day - K, 2nd, and 5th grade PLCs

Wednesday (3/15): E day - Dare to be Fit (8 am in the gym), Workout Wednesday, 4th grade PLC

Thursday (3/16): A day - Staff meeting (8 am in the library), Kindergarten Swim, 1st and 3rd grade PLCs, Parents as Leaders meeting (6 - 7:30 pm at Bacon -- Topic: Helping kids make healthy eating choices)

Friday (3/17): B day - Saint Patrick's Day, early dismissal for students, staff professional development after students leave, wear GREEN or Bacon gear