Sunday, November 18, 2018

November 19 - 23, 2018



























Bears,

One of our most honored traditions took place last week at Bacon - our annual Feast, a gathering of students and staff to share a meal, share some laughs, and share quality time together.  This year's menu featured turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, grapes, sweat potatoes, stuffing, and, of course, apple and pumpkin pies.  The kitchen was a hub of culinary activity, and the food trays kept rolling out to deliver their goods to the hungry masses.  Like every year, we did two seatings - one for grades K-2 and the other for grades 3-5. 

In the buildup to the Feast, the excitement was undeniable from staff and students alike.  From the youngest to the more experienced of us,  it seemed everyone couldn't wait for this special occasion.  When the day finally arrived, it was as if this whole year so far had built up to this point - the day where we sit down, break bread, form bonds, tell a story or two, and enjoy the company.  The look of contentment and joy on all faces, especially the students, makes the work involved more than worth it.

And speaking of work, and in the spirit of giving thanks, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention some of the people responsible for making the Feast happen.  Candy Devich and the entire cafeteria staff (Margarat, Michelle, Joan, Robin, Lisa, and Rosann,) did a first-class job, and Paul Lokey stepped in to assist as needed.  Stephanie Muhlbaier and Bobby Drewnowski had the 5th graders working their end of things to bring it all together.  Several staff members helped in countless way including serving, setting up and breaking down, and doing other things here and there that needed to get done.  Also, thanks to Patti Banker for being the official photographer for this year's event. 

We'd also like to thank the Millville Police Department, Cumberland County Sheriff's Office, and district personnel for stopping by to help and of course partake in the goodness.  Thank you all. 

Let's do it again next year! 

Announcements
In the upcoming dates section, you'll see the important dates up through the end of the year.  I know, impossible, right?  We're already talking about the end of 2018. 

Here's the info for our Wawa hoagie sale: 





Parent/teacher conferences continue on Monday and Tuesday from 6-8:15.  We hope to see many of you. 

PARENTS/GUARDIANS - we have a 1:45 dismissal all week (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday).

The holiday concert is back!  If you remember, we missed last year's, but Mr. Trout and his students are ready to entertain.  They've been working hard on this year's program.  The concert will be on 12/10 at 7 pm right here at Bacon. 

The following night on 12/11 is our Trim-A-Tree from 6-8 pm.  Come decorate an ornament, enjoy some treats, and we might have a few surprises in store for this year's event. 

I'd like to wrap up this week's blog with a quick thought on thankfulness and gratitude.  If we only look for the negative - in anything -  we will find more than enough.  If we only look for what went wrong or for what could go wrong, we'll be plenty occupied and have enough to talk about for a lifetime.  If we only focus on the bad, that's all we'll ever, ever see.  Instead, what if we made deliberate attempts to find the positive in each situation, in every circumstance, and in all the many things that comprise our day?  Sure, it's easier said than done.  Negativity is easy, and rising above it is hard work.  One way to do it, though, is to practice a constant state gratitude and thanks.  This week, I challenge everyone reading this to find things during their day for which to be thankful.  This week, I challenge you to express gratitude for the things you have, for the things that went right, and for the positive things we'll undoubtedly find if we search for them.  This week, I challenge everyone to say, "Thank you" maybe just a little more often than you normally would.  As the saying goes, you can't change what people say or do to you, and you can't change your circumstances, but you can change your response and how you handle yourself within those moments. 

Have a great week, have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and have a thankful heart.


The Week Ahead
Monday (11/19):  D day - 1:45 dismissal, no Club 21, parent/teacher conferences from 6:00 - 8:15

Tuesday (11/20): E day - 1:45 dismissal, no Club 21, parent/teacher conferences from 6:00 - 8:15

Wednesday (11/21): A day - 1:45 dismissal, no Club 21, no latch key

Thursday (11/22):  B day - Happy Thanksgiving! - NO SCHOOL 

Friday (11/23):  C day - NO SCHOOL

Upcoming Dates
12/7: 1:45 dismissal for staff development
12/10: Holiday Concert at 7 pm
12/11: Trim-A-Tree from 6-8 pm
12/21: 1:45 dismissal
12/22 - 1/1/19: winter break
1/2/19: School resumes

FEAST pics


































Book Fair fun!
Book Fair fun!


Birthday Selfies!










Monday, November 12, 2018

November 12 - 16, 2018



Bears,

This week's short blog features a pictorial of our Color Run.  Thanks to Mrs. Muhlbaier, the Leader's Club from MHS,  Mrs. Candy for our snack, and all the parents and staff members who helped with this fun event.  The students were active, everyone had fun, and we raised a few bucks (more than a few).  Nice job, all!

Enjoy the pics, and be sure to stay on top of the upcoming events.  Have a nice week.


The Week Ahead
Monday (11/12):  D day - lesson plans due

Tuesday (11/13): E day - a terrific Tuesday

Wednesday (11/14): A day - Exact Path meetings (during PLCs)

Thursday (11/15):  B day - Staff meeting (8 am in the library), Bacon FEAST

Friday (11/16):  C day - 1:45 dismissal, no Club 21, parent/teacher conferences from 2:15-3:30ish

Upcoming Dates
11/19 & 11/20: 1:45 dismissal, no club 21, parent/teacher conferences from 6:00 - 8:15
11/21: 1:45 dismissal, no club 21, no latch key
11/22 - Happy Thanksgiving!
11/22 & 11/23: SCHOOL CLOSED
11/26: School resumes


Color Run Pics


























Sunday, November 4, 2018

November 5 - 9, 2018




Bears,

Another exciting week has come and gone.  In addition to our dedicated staff delivering great lessons each and every day, we also had our costume parade and Color Run.  For scenes from our parade, check out these links:  Pictures  Video

We'd like to thank the Daily Journal for coming out to get some shots of our fun event.  The students had a blast showing off their outfits, and we were happy some parents were able to stop in and check it out.

We'll have our Color Run pics up in next week's blog.  You won't want to miss them.

We have a three day week coming up.  Parents/guardians, don't forget there is no school on Thursday and Friday due to the NJEA convention.

Looking ahead, our book fair is just about to roll into town.  Here's some important info regarding this event:





























 And here's the schedule:  































 If you have any questions, please contact the school. 


As we enter November and with Thanksgiving approaching, we all tend to be a bit more reflective.  This week, I encourage us all to remember to be grateful - not just for what we have (though we should do that),  but for something that maybe we don't think about enough.  Let's be grateful that we, particularly for those of us who work in education, are put in positions every day to help someone, to breath life into a person, to be there while they mourn, to maybe simply be present.  A lot of times, we think of gratitude as a state of thankfulness for what we have.  Maybe we should also be grateful that we are able to make a difference, even if a small one, in someone's life.  To them, it might be more impactful than we could possible know.



Everyone have a great week.

The Week Ahead
Monday (11/5):  A day - lesson plans due

Tuesday (11/6): B day - another great day

Wednesday (11/7): C day - still another great day

Thursday (11/8):  D day - SCHOOL CLOSED for NJEA convention

Friday (11/9):  E day - SCHOOL CLOSED for NJEA convention

Upcoming Dates
11/15: Bacon FEAST
11/16: 1:45 dismissal, no club 21, parent/teacher conferences from 2:15 - 3:30
11/19 & 11/20: 1:45 dismissal, no club 21, parent/teacher conferences from 6:00 - 8:15
11/21: 1:45 dismissal, no club 21, no latch key
11/22 - Happy Thanksgiving!
11/22 & 11/23: SCHOOL CLOSED
11/26: School resumes

Bacon Pics

PBIS reward lunch! 
Mr. Coyle getting a secret "donation" of candy (he didn't keep all of it)



More donations - we'll keep this between us
What candy?  
Yes, we are a healthy school, and no, the students didn't eat candy during the school day.  These pics were jokes and intended to be taken as such.  A few students brought Mr. Coyle some of their Halloween bounty, and we had fun with it -- and Mr. Coyle thanks them for their generosity!! 


Congrats to our Respect Challenge winners.  They will have their art displayed as stained glass in our foyer.

Somewhere...

Mrs. Gandy with her game face during our costume parade

Congrats to our October students-of-the-month!

Working in the hall - getting ready to build a catapult

Catapult construction underway

Building, testing, and tracking results

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...just Ms. O'Neill

Birthday Selfies!