SCHOOL NEWS

Monday, December 3 - A day
Tuesday, December 4 - B day
Wednesday, December 5 - A day
Thursday, December 6 - B day
Friday, December 7 - A day

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RESOURCES FOR BHMS FAMILIES

A/B DAY, EVENTS CALENDAR: Includes the A & B day schedule, half-days or no school days, evening concerts and other after school-related events, PTO and Music Boosters meetings and more. Scroll down on the right side of the main BHMS webpage.

BHMS DAILY BELL SCHEDULE: Indicates class period AND lunch hours by grade. Scroll down on the right side of the main BHMS webpage.

MAIN OFFICE HOURS AND 1/2 DAY OR FULL DAY SCHOOL HOURS: Scroll down on the right side of the main BHMS webpage. 

BHMS CLUB MEETING CALENDAR: Meeting dates and start/end times for all BHMS before and after school clubs. Scroll down on the right side of the main BHMS webpage. A reminder about dropping off and picking up your students for clubs. Out of safety for your student and consideration to club sponsors, students may enter the building no earlier than five minutes before a morning club meeting time, and must be picked up immediately at the end of an afternoon meeting. If your schedule does not accommodate this, we recommend signing your student up for the District's Kidz Zone before and after school care program. The program runs from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. Pre-registration for Kidz Zone is required, and fees apply.

BHMS TEAM SPORTS  SCHEDULE: Click HERE to find out where and when the current season BHMS team sports competitions are scheduled.

Lifetouch Studios photographers will be here the morning of Tuesday, December 4, for BHMS picture retakes. Students who had their picture taken and wish to have retakes should bring back their entire original packet to give to the photographer on Tuesday. No additional steps are necessary.

If your student is having a picture taken for the first time this year you have two options. The easiest is to preorder online at mylifetouch.com and enter Picture Day ID Code LM728098Y1. If check or cash payment is your preference, print this order form, complete it and send it in with your student - with payment for your picture package - to give the photographer on picture day. Remember, checks must be made out to Lifetouch, and payment made in cash must be the exact amount only. Photographers do not have change. 

The schedule that morning will depend upon the number of students requesting pictures. Students may not have time to call home if they forget their original picture packet for retakes, or their order form and payment for first time photos - which makes the online pre-ordering an even better option.

Congratulations to Mrs. Amatulli, the Media Specialist for BHMS, WHMS and EHMS. Mrs. Amatulli applied for and was awarded two grants on behalf of BHMS. The first is a $284 grant to support a Maker Movement for students. The second grant, in the amount of $500, will support the Bloomie Book of the Year Reading Program here at BHMS. Her efforts on behalf of the school are greatly appreciated! Mrs. Amatulli joins an impressive list of past BHMS teachers, students and groups who have been awarded BHS Foundation grants. Thank you to all members of the community who support the BHS Foundation and make these special grants possible.

INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY (IA) INFORMATION: 8th grade families can find information about IA, the application and admission processes, as well as an excellent list of frequently asked questions on the IA website (www.iatoday.org). On the website you will also find three information meeting dates. Parents/guardians are encouraged to attend one of those meetings. Once you have reviewed this information, please feel free to contact BHMS Counselor, Mrs. Jaster, with questions. Follow the steps below: 

1. Open this link to get to the IA website
2. Hover over "About IA" at the top of the page.
3. Scroll down and click on "Prospective Students"
4. Click on Okma Campus

PSAT ADMINISTRATION DATE AT BHMS: For the first time, the State of Michigan is requiring that all 8th graders take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, a paper/pencil assessment more commonly referred to as the PSAT. The state requires that the PSAT be administered on April 9, which is the Tuesday immediately following Spring Break.  It is very important for all 8th graders to be in school on April 9. Advance notice is being shared so families can plan their Spring Break vacations accordingly. This assessment will take the place of the math and ELA portions of MStep. Watch the Lancer Update and the BHMS website for more information as the administration date approaches. If you  have any questions, please contact BHMS 8th grade counselor, Mrs. Jaster.

If you need a heartwarming story to get you into the holiday spirit, take a moment to read this week's MYP newsletter. 6th grader Charlie Baker recaps how he and his fellow classmates created 841 cards to be part of a "100,000 Thank Yous" sent to U.S. service women and men. This is an element of the IB "Service as Action" program, which encourages students to reach beyond the classroom to make a positive impact on their world.

SAVE THE DATE FOR FUN! BHMS PTO MIX AND MINGLE ON FEBRUARY 2: The PTO hopes you can join fellow parents, caregivers and staff for the second annual silent auction. It will be a night filled with bombowling, food, bidding, and fun! The event is Saturday, February 2, at 7 p.m. at the HUB Stadium in Auburn Hills. Visit the PTO e-store here for details on how to purchase a ticket in advance. Students will be bring home your official invitation in backpacks next week.

OCTOBER MEETING MINUTES: Minutes from the October PTO meeting are available here: http://www.bhmspto.my-pta.org/Content/244_10/Files/BHMS_PTO_Meeting_Minutes_09122018.pdf. If you haven't yet, consider joining the Remind app's classroom @bhmpto to stay up to date on all things BHMS PTO.

UPCOMING PTO MEETING AGENDAS: The next PTO meeting Is Wednesday, December 5, at 9:30 a.m. BHS Superintendent Rob Glass will be present to share information he recently presented to the PTO Council  on the latest district data and student achievement. At the January 16 meeting, which will be at 7:00 p.m., Bloomfield Hills High School Principal Charlie Hollerith will share key insights on high school IB, AP, and straight course tracks and other topics as time allows.

Recently, a series of questions were submitted from parents via a Google Document on the PTO website, with the request that the topics be incorporated into upcoming PTO meeting agendas. Because the questions cover such a wide range of topics, they are being broken down into categories. Starting with the February meeting, for each regularly scheduled PTO monthly meeting, the categories of questions submitted will be addressed. The schedule and topics will be announced in future Lancer Updates.

URGENT! 6TH GRADE PARENT/GUARDIAN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Parents are needed both to chaperone (ride buses) and drive (transport large instruments/percussion in vans or SUVs) to each stop on the 6th grade music domination tour. The tour takes place on Wednesday, December 5, from 8:15 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.. Music students will be going to Way and Conant to perform for the 4th grade students. Please contact your student's teacher or sign up on the PTO volunteer web page if you are able to help.

NOVEMBER MUSIC BOOSTERS MEETING: The next boosters meeting will be on Tuesday, November 27th at 6:30 pm in the Orchestra Room. Available music parents are encouraged to attend this evening meeting. 

BAKERS AND SELLERS NEEDED: Music Boosters needs volunteers for the weekly Wednesday fundraising bake sales, which take place immediately after school in the Gateway Space. Volunteers are needed to donate baked goods and/or run sales. PLEASE REMEMBER that products must not contain or be cooked with nuts or nut products. Baked items can be dropped off in the main office anytime before 2:45 p.m. Sign up to donate baked goods and/or work at a sale by clicking HERE. Thank you for supporting the BHMS Music Boosters!

Students who will be missing school for three or more consecutive, preplanned days must complete an EXTENDED LEAVE FORM. The form must be filled out and signed by a parent/guardian, then the students should have all A and B day teachers, including elective teachers, sign the form. The completed, signed form should be turned in to Mrs. Foronato in the BHMS office two weeks prior to the planned absence. Click HERE to download the required form.

This extended leave policy, as well as reference guide of other attendance policies - including what to do if you are going out of town and leaving your student in someone else's care - can be found by clicking HERE.

As in past years, BHMS yearbooks must be purchased in advance and online directly through Josten's. Currently they are $35 plus tax. Price will increase at a later date. Click HERE to place your order with Josten's.

SEE DISTRICT NEWS BELOW

More than 500 people ski and/or snowboard with us every year and our program is designed to develop in each person an appreciation of and the enjoyment of skiing/snowboarding. All ski club programs include age/skill level appropriate lessons in order to provide maximum enjoyment and safety on the slopes. Register online at www.bloomfield.org/recreation or contact the Recreation Department at 248.433.0885 prior to 12/17/18. Ski and Snowboard Club Brochure

Do you ever wonder what opportunities and pathways are available for students entering high school? View the High School Opportunities Packet.

The lunch menus for November are now available!

• Bloomin' Preschool November 2018 Menu
• Bloomin' Preschool November 2018 Order form
• Elementary November 2018
• Middle School November 2018
• High School November 2018
• Bowers Academy November 2018
• Prep Program November 2018
• Wing Lake November 2018
• International Academy November 2018

Visit www.bloomfield.org/lunch for further information.

Families are automatically signed up to receive communication from their child's school, teachers, and Bloomfield Hills Schools (Wednesday Web News & Important Notices - including school cancellations). In order to receive emails, telephone calls, and even text messages, all you have to do is maintain your contact information and manage your personal preferences. If you wish not to receive these newsletters, simply "opt-out" when you receive the first newsletter (an option at the bottom of every email we send).

Instructions for updating this information are now available at www.bloomfield.org/notifications. Here you can manage your contact preferences as they pertains to emergency and district notifications. 

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