May 9, 2008

Vol. 26 No. 31

From The Principal's Desk

School-Wide Celebration: It's that time of year again for our Celebration of Learning on Thursday, May 22. This year's theme will be Through The Centuries. Mark your calendar and plan to join us for an evening of sharing as students present what they have learned about history though the years.

The food theme this year will be corn. Popcorn, cornbread, and Indian pudding with ice cream will be served. We are looking for volunteers to make popcorn balls for the evening. If you know how to make them and would be willing to donate some, please give Ms. Mayo a call and let her know. We appreciate your help.
Volunteers are also needed to help with setting up (4:30 p.m.), serving food (after the concert), and/or cleaning up (7:30 p.m.). If you can help in any way, please let Ms. Mayo know. We look forward to seeing you there! Here is the schedule:

5:30 p.m. Students go to their classrooms

5:45 p.m. Parade begins

6:00 p.m. K-5 Concert

6:45 p.m. Refreshments, exhibits & presentations

WE DID IT AGAIN! It is with great pleasure that I once again announce BCS was the winner of this year's $1,000 Hannaford Helps Schools grant. This grant is awarded to the school that collects the most "school dollars" coupons during the first few months of school. Through the diligence of parents, grandparents and others in the community who paid careful attention to the coupon strips they received when shopping at Hannaford, we were able to initially raise $966. This in itself is a wonderful benefit to our school.

Then after months of waiting, we received the call from Chris Fargo, manager of the local Topsham Hannaford, that our school was indeed the top school again this year and that we'd be receiving an additional $1,000. That makes four out of five years that we've won this extra grant! Way To Go Bowdoin Central!!! Thanks go out to everyone who helped us win!

The process for voter approval of the M.S.A.D. No. 75 budget has changed.

For the last 15 years voting for the M.S.A.D. No 75 budget has been through a District-wide referendum where voters were presented with the warrant articles that were needed for budget approval. The law has changed. It is now a two step process.

District Budget Meeting

The District must first hold a District Budget meeting, where voters will vote on the warrant articles. Each article will be presented to those present for a show of hands vote or a secret ballot vote. The meeting will end when all articles pass. These will be closed warrant articles, meaning that those present will be able to lower the amount recommended by the Board, but will not be able to increase the amount. The District Budget Meeting is scheduled for 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 7 at the Orion Performing Art Center at the Mt. Ararat Middle School

Budget Validation Referendum

Within 3 working days the District must hold a Referendum on the decision made at the District Budget Meeting. The referendum will have only one warrant article and it will ask the voter to vote on the final budget amount as approved at the District Budget Meeting. The article will not state the specific amount of the final budget because time does not permit the printing and distribution of absentee ballots. However, the amount will be posted in the polling area and in the polling booth.
The Budget Validation Referendum will be held on Tuesday, June 10 at the voting sites in each of the towns.

Bowdoin Central School, 1460 Maine Street, Bowdoin 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Bowdoinham Town Office, 13 School Street, Bowdoinham 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Merriconeag Grange Hall, Harpswell Mainland 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Cundy's Harbor Community Building, Great Island 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Old Orr's Island School House, Orr's Island 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Exhibition Hall, Topsham Fair Grounds, Topsham 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

We urge you to participate on both occasions.

Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendar

May 14 ............... All District Band & Chorus Concert, Orion Center, 7 p.m.

May 17 ............... Town-wide clean-up day, 9 a.mm - 4 p.m.

May 17 ............... Benefit Supper, West Bowdoin Baptist Church, 4:30-6:30

May 17 ............... Bowdoinham Plant Sale, Town Hall, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

May 22 ............... Celebration of Learning, BCS, 5:30 p.m.

May 29 ............... DARE graduation, BCS, 2:00 p.m.

May 29 ............... Kindergarten Parents' Night, BCS, 6:30 (for incoming K-parents)

May 31 ............... 2nd Annual Plant Sale, West. Bowdoin Baptist, 9 am-2 pm

June 05 ............... Kindergarten Mini-Day

June 06 ............... Medication Collection Day (see attached flyer)

June 09 ............... BBQ lunch @ BCS (see article below)

June 13 ............... 5th Grade Boston Trip

June 17 ............... Field Day @ BCS

June 18 ............... 5th Grade Spaghetti Dinner

June 19 ............... Last Day of School, 11:30 dismissal

Chance To Have Lunch With Your Child - $ Due By May 30

The B-B-Q lunch (also known as "Grill Day") will be held at BCS this year on June 9 . Please note that this is not Field Day. The menu will include a hot dog, chips, watermelon, milk (and possibly other treats*the menu hasn't been set in stone). Parents and younger siblings are invited to join us for the B-B-Q lunch, but must pay ahead of time by May 30. Adult lunches are $3.50 and children are $2.

From The Lunch Lady

The last day to charge lunches will be May 30. No charging will be allowed in June. Please be sure your child has money in the morning if he or she is going to eat hot lunch. If you owe money for any past charges, we ask that you please send it in so the lunch lady can close her books for the year.

Attention families of 4/5 grade chorus members

We are coming closer to the All District Concert and the Orion Performing Arts Center. There will be two after school rehearsals at the Orion in preparation for the concert. We hope that your child will attend both rehearsals. They will be practicing with students from other chorus's throughout the district, as well as other district music teachers. Your child must attend at least one rehearsal as the Orion to be able to perform at the All District Concert. The rehearsals are Wednesday, May 7th, and Monday, May 12th from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The All District Concert is at the Orion on Wednesday, May 14th at 7:00 p.m. Please mark your calendars!

Community News

Benefit Spaghetti Supper

Just a reminder that a benefit supper will be held at the West Bowdoin Baptist Parish Hall, West Road,on Saturday, May 17 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The menu will include spaghetti with herb seasoned tomato sauce, homemade meatballs, a garden salad, apple sauce, garlic bread knots and assorted homemade desserts like pies, blueberry cake and gingerbread with real whipped cream, brownies and whoopie pies. The costs are: Adults: $6.50, children ages 11 & under $4.00 and children 2& under: free.

Rec Department Message

We have been fortunate over the years to have Couture's Ballfield on Litchfield Road available through the generosity of the Couture family. This land is privately owned, but has always been open for our use. This is reminder to all parents that children should not play on the rocks or any equipment on the property. Children should not be allowed to wonder off the fields into the gravel pit area or onto any neighboring properties. Please respect the privacy of the neighbors. Thank you for your assistance.

Annual Plant Sale - In Neighboring Bowdoinham

Bowdoinham Public Library will hold its annual Plant Sale Saturday, May 17 at the Bowdoinham Town Hall from 9-4. There will be perennials, trees, shrubs, and annual and vegetable seedlings for sale. Bring boxes or baskets. The library will appreciate any help you could give or plants you could donate. If you would like to donate plants, pot and label them and bring them to the Town Hall Wednesday May 14th - Friday May 16th. If you could give time, call the library at 666-8405, Jen Foley at 666-3459 or see Betsy Steen at school. Remember, Plant Sale gift certificates make great Mother's Day presents. See Beth French at the library or Betsy Steen at school. And of course we love to have Bowdoin residents use the library. Membership is only $7.50 a year.

2nd Annual Plant Sale - Here In Bowdoin

Saturday, May 31st, 2008 from 9 AM - 2 PM - West Bowdoin Baptist Church, West Road - Contact Person: Angela Wheeler 353-9447

Come join us for our 2nd Annual Plant Sale at West Bowdoin Baptist Church. We had such a great and successful time last year, that we are trying it again. We are offering mostly perennials, but will also have annuals, herbs, houseplants and vegetables available as well. Don't forgot to visit our bake sale and hotdog "stand". This event is fun for the whole family, please make it part of your spring gardening adventures.
Donations of plants accepted. All proceeds go to the West Bowdoin Baptist Church's Women's Mission Circle.

TOWN OF BOWDOIN

SEMI-ANNUAL CLEAN-UP DAY

Saturday, May 17

320-328 West Road (Former Tire Dump)

Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Acceptable Items: Couches, Mattresses, Bicycles, Appliances, ($10.00 disposal fee for any item that used Freon). Lawnmowers, 2 Tires off rims, Swing Sets, Metals.

E-Waste Materials: Computer Monitors and Televisions Screens less than 19" = $5.00 fee 19" or more = $10.00 fee.

Wood, brush, rocks and bricks (separated) may be dumped at Wendall Card's Pit on West Rd (just after the West Bowdoin Church) between 9 and 12 noon on the same date.

NO HAZARDOUS MATERIALS!!!

Summer Activities Being Offered

The Huse School (39 Andrews Road, Bath) is offering a number of activities through the summer months as follows: (FMI: Adventures Hotline 373-9068 x.275 or online at www.adventuresathuse.com
May 17: 9:00-noon - Ultimate Frisbee for teens, adults, and kids. Free snacks, no pre-registration required, children must be accompanied by an adult (18 years or older).

June 7: Chess with Sean Donovan & Journaling with Betty King

July 19: Doweast Family Picnic

August 2: Family Concert

 

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