September 4 - 8, 2017 -- Welcome Back Edition

Bears,

As we prepare to embark on another school year, let's take a moment to remember those along the gulf coast and beyond who are living in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.  At least 200 school districts have been impacted by the storm.  It's hard to wrap our minds around that, but here's what it means - more than 1 million public school students have been adversely affected and will have their education disrupted in some way by the storm.  Schools in hard-hit areas are still surrounded by water, and school and local officials can't access some buildings to see the extent of the damage.  All told, the storm affected about 20% of public school students in the entire state of Texas - and Texas wasn't the only state impacted.  Those are unbelievable numbers.  Let's keep those who are going through this unimaginably tough time in our thoughts (and we haven't even mentioned the tragic loss of life, towns still underwater, towns without drinking water).  Please consider donating or giving in some way.  We as a school will be looking at what we can do to help the schools and students affected by this tragedy.

Our school year is right around the (weekend) corner.  I can't speak for everyone else, but this summer went by in a flash.  It's already September 1st.  We are only four days away from welcoming back the big bears (our staff) and five days away from welcoming back the little bears (our students).  Make a commitment today - right now - to have this be the best year yet.  To paraphrase Henry Ford, whether you think this will be a great year, a so-so year, a bad year -- you're right.  Your mindset and attitude will predetermine your success.  It doesn't mean there won't be issues to resolve, problems to figure out, and it certainly doesn't mean you won't be challenged (hard work is still hard work).  But like anything else, you will get out of this experience what you put into it.  So...what are you putting into it??  Will you make a decision to be positive, to be productive, to be the best you can be, to be happy?  I read something recently that's easy to brush aside because it seems so obvious and so simple - people work better and are more productive when they are happy.  The author goes on to say that the trick isn't to let circumstances determine your happiness, but to let happiness come from within and determine how you handle circumstances.  Simple stuff we've probably heard over and over.  But are we letting that message sink in?  Make a quality decision right now, no matter what, to be successful, to be happy, to be amazing, and to be the best - not only for your own benefit, but for the benefit of everyone around you.

This year, let's collectively re-frame challenges as opportunities, let's re-frame set backs as lessons and learning opportunities, let's re-frame difficulties as times of growth and stretching, let's re-frame the impossible as potential, let's re-frame happiness as a decision and not an outcome, let's re-frame positive thinking as a way of life and not something we force ourselves to do, let's re-frame learning as a privilege and not a chore, let's re-frame success as the standard and not the exception, and let's re-frame our jobs within in the school as noble callings and not simply "where we work."

Let's get ready.  Let's do this.

Enjoy your final weekend before the school year starts.  Staff, we'll see you Tuesday.  Students and families, we'll see you Wednesday.

And remember, we are in this together.  Together, we can achieve greatness.  Together, we can.  Together, we will.


The opening weeks at a glance:
September 5 - Staff first day (sign in at 8:55 am, meeting the library)
September 6 - Students' first day
 - 8:55 - 9:15 - student arrival
 - 9:15 - late bell and morning announcements begin
 - 3:40 - car and bus riders dismissed
 - 3:45 - walkers dismissed
September 19 - Back to School Night at 7 pm
September 21 - Staff meeting in the library at 8 am
October 4 - Staff development day (no school for students)
October 9 - Columbus Day (no school)

Pictures from around the school

Ms. Spiels is ready for September

Mrs. Lunemann's Disney themes are always a hit with her 1st graders

Mrs. Bingham is eager to meet her 3rd graders 

A great message to start the year from Mrs. Stowman (formerly Ms. Whilden), Mrs. Markel, and Mrs Pedrick

Will you accept Mrs. Gandy's challenge?

A huge thanks to our custodial team for getting Bacon ready for the school year.  The building looks great. Left to right: Danny, Glenn, Frank, and Ben.  Also, Jake (not pictured)

Kindergarten orientation was a success.  Welcome to our newest and youngest Bacon Bears!

This says it all

Weekly overview

Monday (9/4): - Labor Day, no school

Tuesday (9/5):  Staff first day

Wednesday (9/6): A day - Welcome back, students!

Thursday (9/7): B day - A great second day of school

Friday (9/8):  C day - Welcome back assembly (times and grades to be covered on staff first day)

Summer Update

Hello on this warm. sunny August afternoon.  I hope everyone is well.  We are still in the peak of the summer season, but it won't be long before hot days give way to school days and swimsuits get replaced with school clothes.  You still have a few weeks left, so enjoy it.

Summer Happenings
In July, Nancy Gandy (4th grade), Kara Lunemann (1st grade), Amanda Devita (3rd grade), Meganne Peck (art), Beth Rohaly (music), and myself went to the Educational Leaders As Scholars conference hosted by the New Jersey Principal's and Supervisor's Association and Foundation for Educational Administration.  For three days, we learned how to create and sustain an "arts infused" approach to teaching.  We had of plenty of hands-on activities to help get the creative juices flowing in order to experience how we can incorporate aspects of art, music, theater, dance -- you name it - into our instruction.  The purpose?  To create a more engaging experience for our students so they can learn key concepts from all subjects in fun, relevant, out-of-the-box ways.  If done properly, it's a win-win -- the kids love it, and the teachers have more tools at their disposal to help connect students to their learning.

Acquiring the knowledge needed for this program's success 

Mrs. Rohaly and Ms. Peck with Bacon's year-end project.  Nice work, ladies.

Mrs. Gandy is very excited about her drawing 

The Bacon team planning

Mrs. Lunemann already hard at work planning for the upcoming year

Also in July, Beth Rohaly and her husband, Derek, welcomed their first child into the world.  Theo Miles was born at 6:41 am on July 2.  He was 7 lbs, 5 oz, and 20.5 inches.  Congrats to the Rohaly's - we wish you and your new son nothing but the best.

Building News
Our fantastic custodial staff has been working hard all summer to get Bacon ready for another school year.  Everything is looking good and coming along nicely.  They are in the home stretch, and most areas will be ready to go by Tuesday, 8/15. We are asking that staff not come in until that time in order to make sure the work is completed on time and without interruption.

If you've been to Bacon over the summer or you've driven by, you probably noticed our new front steps.  They look great, and as Glenn Hunter commented recently, "We have steps worthy of our great building."  I couldn't agree more.  Thanks to the crew from Brian L Gifford and Co..  They did a fantastic job, and I'm looking forward to seeing students, parents, and other guests use them

Under construction

The finished product

Looks great (still drying off from the recent rain)

Staff Changes

This year, we welcome Stacey Gant and Rose Dalmasi to Bacon.  Stacey will be teaching 4th grade, and Rose will be teaching Spanish.  Amanda DeVita will be returning to the classroom to teach 3rd grade.  Rhonda Spiels will be teaching 1st grade, and Kathleen Pedrick will be teaching RTI.    

Upcoming Dates and Events

August 15th - Building open to all staff

August 23rd - Voluntary PBIS meeting at 10 am.  We will be talking about the upcoming year, some changes we'll be making, planning for the assemblies, and brainstorming ways to improve what's already in place

August 29th - Kindergarten Orientation at 10 am.

September 5th - Teachers's first day

September 6th - Student's first day

September 19th - Back to School Night

See you all soon! Have a great remainder of August.  

Title picture taken from http://clipartix.com/august-clip-art-image-10710/

June 12 - 16, 2017

Bears,

This is it!  The last week before summer break is here.  One final Monday-Friday before we all peel off to our respective summer destinations - some to venture out of state, some to hit the beach over and over and over, some to maybe stay home and contemplate life in the quiet summer heat.  I'm sure our little Bears are just as eager to create another season of memories before they dutifully return in September.

Of course, this is our 5th graders final week with us, and we hope they have a memorable and exciting week before heading off into the summer.  We wish them well as they embark on a new adventure - middle school.  Remember, you'll always be Bacon Bears at heart.  Please come back and tell us how you're doing. We love keeping up with our Bears.

This past week, many of our grades enjoyed their class trips - from Ocean City to Cape May to right here in town, the students and staff members had a great time as they celebrated another year come and nearly gone.  Check out the pictures below to see what they were up to.

Also, congrats and a shout out to our band for a successful trip to Lakeside last week. Everyone did a great job performing, and Mrs. Rohaly is proud of the work you've accomplished this year.  5th grade band students -- good luck at Lakeside next year.  It will truly be the "big stage" for you - a bigger band, a bigger stage, a bigger auditorium, a bigger school, bigger concerts...you'll do great, and you'll have fun.

This week, we have a few events lined up.  Second grade is taking their trip to the Phenom Factory in Millville.  If you haven't stopped out there yet, make it a point to do so.  They've got a cool thing going there.

The 5th grade step-up ceremony will be at Bacon on 6/14 beginning at 4 p.m.

The last day of school will be on 6/16.  Student dismissal is at 1:45, so please make arrangements to have your children picked up on time.  There is morning latch key, but there is NO AFTERNOON LATCH KEY!

And so, here is the ever-shortening list of upcoming events:

6/13 -- 2nd grade trip to the Phenom Factory 

6/14 -- 5th grade step-up ceremony at 4 p.m.

6/16 - Last day of school (and graduation at the senior high school).  EARLY DISMISSAL AT 1:45

**Teachers, our final staff meeting of the year will be on Thursday morning.  

Next week's blog will wrap up the year and provide info regarding some upcoming changes for next year.  It will be bittersweet as we say goodbye to some staff members and welcome others to our family.  

Pictures from around the School (and beyond)

Mrs. Gandy modeling some sunglasses at the PBIS store

#Millvillerocks #Baconrocks 

Kindergarten having fun in OC

His face says it all 

Kindergarten at the park in OC

The inseparable Mr. Lokey and Jay - buddies for life

The water was COLD! 

Bacon at the beach 

Sweatshirts in June - it doesn't seem right.  The cool weather didn't stop them from having fun!

Enjoying the day despite the lack of sun and lack of warmth 

Smiles all around

4th grade at Sunset Beach 

The weather was more seasonable for our 4th graders

Mrs. Taylor telling Mrs. Levari, "It's about time the sun came out." 

Shipwreck off the coast

Us watching the teachers watching the kids 

A beautiful day

Bacon at the beach, part two 

They look ready! 

Making great memories

Bacon rocks!

Birthday Selfies!

June 5 - June 9, 2017

Bacon Bears,

Two full weeks left.  Can you believe it?  I can't speak for everyone, but this is the time of year where I become reflective on what's transpired since the beginning of school.  It's a time for thinking about what we've done, what we should do differently, how we can improve, what changes need to be made, and ultimately, how do we provide the best possible experience for our learners?  As a first year principal, this has been a year of growth, progress, mistakes, adjustments, and everything in between.  Great memories have been made, and connections and relationships have been built with our families and community.  Still, there is work to be done.

Sure, there have been a few things that haven't gone according to plan, but to paraphrase John Maxwell, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose learn.  We all should value the rough patches that we inevitably go through, because with each one, there is something of value to be gained - something that makes us better, stronger, smarter, and more prepared to face the challenges of life.  It's not that we look forward to those experiences, but we also don't waste them.  We take what we need, and we move on.  This is something we cover often with our Bears - how to learn from mistakes, how to deal with challenges, how to work with people who don't always agree with us, and how to grow and develop into the best possible you (we are all works in progress as far as that goes).

But enough philosophy for now. Let's quickly recap a few highlights from last week.  Our 1st grade classes enjoyed their time at the Atlantic City Aquarium.  The students were well-behaved, and they had a lot of fun.  Also, our 5th grade classes attended Multicultural Week in downtown Millville where they got their hands dirty on a few art projects.  Our safety patrol just returned from their trip to our nation's capital.  Thanks to all the staff members who helped make these events special and memorable for our Bacon Bears. Finally, our 4th grade classes successfully completed the NJASK Science test.  Thanks to Ms. Spanbauer and Mrs. DeVita for overseeing the testing process and for all the hard work you both do day-in and day-out.  

As they say, "But wait - there's more!" We still have a full plate in front of us.  Here are the upcoming events:

6/6 -- Lakeside Orientation (5th grade)

6/7 -- Ocean City (K)

6/8 -- Band trip to Lakeside

6/9 -- Cape May (4th grade)

6/9 -- Phenom Factory (5th grade) 

6/14 -- 5th grade step-up ceremony at 4 p.m.

6/16 - Last day of school (and graduation at the senior high school)

Pictures from around the School

Not a Bear, but a special guest nonetheless this week

Bacon rocks!

5th graders getting an art lesson

Multicultural Week

Multicultural appreciation

Fun times at the Atlantic City Aquarium

Enjoying the sunshine and water

Not a bad day at all

Birthday Selfies!