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October 13, 2011
|  Vol 21, Issue 2 |
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The CommuniK-8or
A newsletter dedicated to news from and about
Bryn Athyn Church School |
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MAKE A DONATION - FOR FREE!
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 It's true! Let us tell you how: You buy a grocery certificate (works just like a gift/debit card) through the Pastor's Office to use at Giant, Acme, or Bethayres Market (Whole Foods will be available soon). Buy a $100 Acme certificate, and the Bryn Athyn Church School receives $5 from Acme. Buy a $500 worth of certificates, and the school receives $20 from Giant. You receive the full value of the certificates purchased by you. At Giant, you can even use your certificate to buy gas! This is, literally, money that is sitting there for the taking. Pastors' Office accepts cash, check and credit cards. We can also send you a bill for your certificate purchase. Call Kelly or Nina @ 215-947-6225 X200 for info/questions.
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Volunteer Work Day
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Calling all parents!
There will be a Saturday BACS Work Day. November 5th from 8:00am to 2:00pm.
Lunch will be provided.
Bring your work gloves. There will be several projects you can help with, including electrical, landscaping, painting, and general cleanup. If you would like to participate please call Liz Childs at 215-946-4086 x213 to add you name to the list. Direct questions to Liz Switzer - 215-947-4086, ext. 262 or Liz.Switzer@bacs-gc.org or Kirsten Cronlund - 215-947-4086, ext. 214 or Kirsten.Cronlund@bacs-gc.org
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| Morning Traffic Safety | Gene, our security guard, reports improvement as we adjust to the morning traffic patterns.
Some things to remember: Pick a lane and stay in that lane - no lane hopping
Right Lane: * Drop off only - Students only - CURBSIDE only * Between the cross-walk and end of curb by kitchen. * Pull all the way to end of curb * Parents should never get out of the car. * Wait for the car(s) ahead to pull forward and exit. Left Lane: * Drive around to the far side of the island. * Drivers may drop their students off here. * If a driver wants to get out of the car, they must park. Thanks for all your patience with making morning drop off safer for students. |
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How Can I Help?
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"What can I do to help Bryn Athyn Church School?" Numerous people have asked me this question over the past few years. To be sure, we are weathering difficult times of change as a nation, church, school, and community. During this time I have been touched and inspired by individuals who have changed their lives to share their skills and resources to help others.
Take Clara Roth, a BACS 7th grader, who wondered last spring how she could help the school she loves. Clara started a fundraising effort called Pennies for BACS that involves collecting loose change and bringing it to school. Already this effort has raised $1000!
Then there is Duncan Pitcairn, who has organized a BACS volunteer clean up day. Duncan is recruiting and organizing people to help clean and fix up the school building on Saturday, November 5th. If you are interested in participating, please see our advertisement. This is just one of the ways we are asking people to help us make BACS our community school.
These are just two examples of efforts that are helping make our school a better place. You too can make changes that will improve our school. Visit our volunteer Community Website http://www.brynathynchurchschool.org/volunteer.html to find a list of ways that you can contribute your skills and time. You can also help by participating in one of these fundraising efforts: drop off your loose change for Pennies for BACS, buy a debit shopping card from the pastor's office, bring in your Box Tops for Education, or visit the upcoming Book Fair. Thank you for the ways that you support New Church education.
Dr. Reid Prichett, Headmaster
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BACS Strategic Planning-Involvement by parents and students
| Thanks so much to everyone who took the time to complete the strategic planning survey that was sent out a few weeks ago. Strategic Planning committee members collated and analyzed the responses, and put them in a form that will be sent out shortly. Through this you will be able to see what other parents think about the direction of BACS. We also remind you of the meetings that will happen next week, Thursday, Oct. 20, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m., and Friday, Oct. 21, 10 - 11 a.m., at the BACS library, where you will be able to hear the results and participate in discussion with other parents and with people on the Strategic Planning committee.
We are also involving 7th and 8th grade students in the strategic planning effort. They are not completing the same survey that went to parents, but I am in the process of meeting with each class to ask their opinions about when and where the following things show up in their school experience:
1. Strong preparation to be caring, competent, and useful members of the world
2. Strong preparation for eternal life
3. Collaboration
4. Creativity
5. Critical Thinking
The first 2 items are taken from our BACS mission: The Bryn Athyn Church School seeks to provide children with an education based on the teachings of the New Church to prepare them to become confident, caring and useful citizens of this world, and of the Lord's heavenly kingdom. The last three items are the components of 21st Century education, which have to do with Objective 1 from the strategic planning survey that parents filled out. Once I finish surveying the students I will send along a report of the findings. So far the discussions have been fun and very informative. |
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Serve the Lord with all Your Heart
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October's Focus on Service: Protection/Safety
In my office hangs a needlepoint with a picture of a lamb made by my wife, Terry. It says, "The good of innocence is the very soul of heaven" (AC 10137). As a school dedicated to nurturing both the natural and spiritual health of our children we have a special concern for protecting innocence which is described in the Heavenly Doctrine as a willingness to be led the Lord.
Just as our physical safety depends on people trained to defend us so we depend on adults to be watchful over our children's spiritual safety. This is tricky business because the states of our children change rapidly as they grow. So the quality of their innocence changes as well. Computer privileges for a primary age child will differ substantially from the limits we set for an eighth grader. Still, if we believe in developing and protecting innocence, we serve our children's spiritual welfare well when we defend them from inappropriate influences that can have a damaging effect on their willingness to be led by the Lord.
PBS
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PENNIES for BACS
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After just the first month of school the students of BACS have raised OVER $1,000.00 in loose change!
POP QUIZ
1. How many Quarters would that be?
2. How many nickels?
3. How much would $1,000.00 weigh in pennies? (pennies that are dated from 1983 to today)
And for extra credit:
4. What is the written equation and the answer that solves this puzzler:
What equal number of coins (one part each of quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies) adds up to $1,000.00? (HINT: you will be one penny shy of $1,000.00)
A winner will be selected at random from all the correct answers. Winner will be announced in the October 20th Post and receive a $10.00 gift certificate to
Five Below!!!!
Put your answers with contact info into the Pennies for BACS can by lunch on Monday, October 17th.
KEEP BRINGING IN LOOSE CHANGE ... WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO OUR SECOND THOUSAND DOLLARS!
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Story Teller from Williamsburg to BACS
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 On September 30th BACS students and staff were entertained by story teller, Miss Sheila, from Williamsburg! Miss Sheila enthralled us weaving her colorful morality tales including "Little Red Hen," an old folktale; "Possum and the Snake", an African-American folktale; and "Getting Pooped", a personal story by Miss Sheila. It was an amazing experience to witness animated Miss Sheila on stage casting her spell on a rapt audience of over 300 students and teachers.
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8th Grade Girls' Field Trip
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On Wednesday, BACS 8th grade girls were transported into the Gilded Age, visiting the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion and Cairnwood. The Maxwell Mansion represents an example of the upwardly-mobile middle class who moved out of the city and established what was, at that time, the Germantown suburb. Cairnwood is a beautiful example of an early 20th century Beaux-Arts style home built and occupied by a local captain of industry. Both homes are fascinating in their own ways.
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NEEDED: BROWN PAPER GROCERY BAGS
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The second grade does many projects that use these, and there are fewer around these days. If you have any grocery-sized paper bags that are blank on one side, we would love to make good use of them. Please drop them off at Mrs. Brown's classroom.
Thanks! |
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SUMMER READING PROGRAM CONGRATULATIONS
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Congratulations to all the children who participated in the
Summer Reading Program!
We had about 110 students hand in Summer Reading slips!
Any Child who handed in a reading slip will get to participate in a
Reading Reward Day that is scheduled for late October.
Children who handed in a reading slip and reached or exceeded the Page Goal for their grade will also receive a Book Mark
to celebrate their accomplishment!
(Students will be choosing them within the next few weeks or so.)
Children who were top readers in their Grade will receive an extra Book Mark.
The following children will get 2 Book Marks and a special prize for being the Top Readers in the School!
(These readers may think that the best reward is reading a GOOD BOOK!)
Congratulations to:
Brielle Williams : 7th Grader (21,734 pages)
Elizabeth Jackson: 8th Grader (48,760 pages)
And the NUMBER ONE reader in the school
is a brand new student who is obviously not so new to reading!
Caterina Fuller: 7th Grader for reading 63,331 pages.
WOW!!
Congratulations
From a very happy librarian!
Mrs. Neiger
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BACS Book Fair
| COME TO THE BACS BOOK FAIR
November 6th - November 9th
Sunday November 6th, after 9:30 services until 1:00
also
Monday & Tuesday Nov. 7th & 8th , 8am to 4:00pm and 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Wednesday , Nov. 9th, 8am to 3:30pm.
Volunteers are very much needed for shifts for all days as well as for set up (Saturday morning), and take down (Wednesday afternoon).To volunteer please contact Nicole Bau-Madsen: 215-947-3623, e-mail Nicole@Dwave.com ; or contact Liz Childs: 215-947-4086 ext. 213, e-mail liz.childs@bacs-gc.org.
Teachers will be making "Wish Lists" of books for their classroom. Books make great Christmas gifts, and the lists will be available at the Book Fair.
If you are unable to attend the Book Fair but would like to buy books for a teacher or the library you can send in a pledge of $5, $10, or any amount you would like to give. We will choose a book(s) from that teacher's wish list for you. We will let you know what book(s) you have purchased.
There will be musical entertainment on both Monday and Tuesday
evenings - more details to follow.
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Coming soon.....Primary Pageant
| | The Primary Grades will be presenting a religious pageant on November 4th. The students will be showing some of the parables the Lord told when He was on earth. Each child in the Primary Unit will get to participate in this reverent pageant taken from the Word. We will be inviting other grades in the school, as well as parents to come and be a part of this. The pageant will begin at 11:15 in the Bryn Athyn Society Building and should finish before noon. We look forward to seeing you there. |
| A.C.E. Hand Bell Choir | After Class Enrichment
Hand Bell Choir Come join us to learn how to play handbells for church! Ringing handbells enhances worship in a joyful way! They have a beautiful, clear pure sound that makes you feel happy and improve your rhythm-reading skills. It is also a fun teamwork experience. We will learn some Christmas music for worship at BACS or at the Preschool Service or for Cairnwood Village. Christmas music is very sweet on handbells!! Grades 4 and up Wednesdays, 2:30 to 3:45 through December 14. To sign up, forms are available in the hall by Mrs. Child's desk. Or online: www.BrynAthynChurchPreschool.org. Click on A.C.E. on the side menu. Or email/call Joanne Kiel: joanne.kiel@bacs-gc.org. 215-239-5153. |
Giant A+ School Rewards - more free donations
|  Giant grocery store has a program that lets you earn funds for BACS without spending any additional money. This is in addition to and separate from the program mentioned above. If you shop at Giant, you simply register your BONUSCARD number by clicking on the image at the right.
After you register your card, each shopping trip at Giant, using your BONUSCARD, earns CASH for our school. Each month, the amount of CASH awarded will be updated on the Giant website. You can track the amount of points you earn for our school by checking your grocery receipt. Our school will receive a check in the spring, and the money can be used for any of our school's educational needs. You can still earn your own points and credits from Giant too. The A+Rewards program operates separately. Encourage your friends and family to join the program! |
| Next Director's Council Meeting: Wed. October 26, 7:30 p.m. | |
Parent Reps:
Jenn Asplundh Sean Connelly Taney Friend Christina Irwin
Kym Brock David Cooper Melinda Friesen Tor Pitcairn
Cameron Childs Jenny dePadua Naomi Haus-Roth
Teacher Reps:
J. Soneson Primary Unit Carol Nash Upper Unit
Cara Dibb Intermediate Unit Sharon Neiger Specialist Unit
The purpose of this council is to provide a communication link between the school and parents, and to discuss any issues affecting the school. Please contact a member of the council if you have thoughts or suggestions.
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