For those of you who were outside at Welcome Night tonight, you probably noticed a large, unfenced pile of dirt right in the middle of the playground. Around mid-afternoon today, some clever contractor apparently decided that fencing off the grassy area was sufficient.
But, since this is the real world, and we are dealing with elementary school children, we know that a dirt pile is like a magnet to clean little children.
The Bagley admin folk didn't have enough 'caution' tape to rope the entire area off at the last minute. But, there are plans in the works for tomorrow - more caution tape, large orange safety cones, and recess monitors patrolling the area.
This weekend's greenfield work party will hopefully be tackling Dirt Mountain, but until then, be forewarned that there is a high probability of kindergartener dirtiness.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
First day of school is tomorrow! How it works...
It's hard to believe, but our babies will be starting kindergarten tomorrow!
Bring your cameras and kleenex, put his/her lunch and water bottle into the brand new backpack, bring your school supplies & $20 (give to your teacher at some point this week), and arrive at the playground well before the first bell at 9:25. There, you will locate your class line - usually the teachers are out early on the first day to orient the kids - and students can put their backpacks in the line before running off to play. At 9:25, they run back to their line, which is always in the same place, all year, and they'll go into the school with their teacher in an orderly fashion so they can start class at 9:30.
Parents are welcome to come inside with the class on the first day for photo ops and send-off, but you should consider bringing your camera to welcome night for a photo at your child's desk. It'll be chaotic tomorrow morning.
Parking will be CRAZY on the first day, so walk if you can, and if there are no spots in the parking lot, please find street parking that is legal and doesn't block the neighbors' driveways.
After drop-off, no need to run off to work right away - come to the lunchroom to have coffee, buy t-shirts, chat to other parents, join the PTA, etc. (bring your checkbook, just in case). At ~10, there will be the annual all-school flag raising ceremony on the front lawn.
Pick-up will be at 3:35 on the front lawn, rain or shine. Walk if you can, or be a friendly-to-neighbors driver/parker. Teachers will bring the students out to the front lawn for parent or caregiver collection (same general lawn spot all year, in all weather). During the first week, you might be allowed to come to the classroom door for pickup, but this is teacher dependent. Expect the potential for your child's class to emerge from the doors later than 3:35 due to the complexity of coordinating an entire class of five and six year olds as they are learning a new routine.
Welcome to Daniel Bagley!
p.s. If your child is taking the school bus, staff and/or parent volunteers will make sure they are collected and escorted directly to the correct bus after school. It's all very safe and organized.
Bring your cameras and kleenex, put his/her lunch and water bottle into the brand new backpack, bring your school supplies & $20 (give to your teacher at some point this week), and arrive at the playground well before the first bell at 9:25. There, you will locate your class line - usually the teachers are out early on the first day to orient the kids - and students can put their backpacks in the line before running off to play. At 9:25, they run back to their line, which is always in the same place, all year, and they'll go into the school with their teacher in an orderly fashion so they can start class at 9:30.
Parents are welcome to come inside with the class on the first day for photo ops and send-off, but you should consider bringing your camera to welcome night for a photo at your child's desk. It'll be chaotic tomorrow morning.
Parking will be CRAZY on the first day, so walk if you can, and if there are no spots in the parking lot, please find street parking that is legal and doesn't block the neighbors' driveways.
After drop-off, no need to run off to work right away - come to the lunchroom to have coffee, buy t-shirts, chat to other parents, join the PTA, etc. (bring your checkbook, just in case). At ~10, there will be the annual all-school flag raising ceremony on the front lawn.
Pick-up will be at 3:35 on the front lawn, rain or shine. Walk if you can, or be a friendly-to-neighbors driver/parker. Teachers will bring the students out to the front lawn for parent or caregiver collection (same general lawn spot all year, in all weather). During the first week, you might be allowed to come to the classroom door for pickup, but this is teacher dependent. Expect the potential for your child's class to emerge from the doors later than 3:35 due to the complexity of coordinating an entire class of five and six year olds as they are learning a new routine.
Welcome to Daniel Bagley!
p.s. If your child is taking the school bus, staff and/or parent volunteers will make sure they are collected and escorted directly to the correct bus after school. It's all very safe and organized.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Welcome Night is tomorrow (Tuesday September 6)
Looking forward to seeing the New Families at Welcome Night tomorrow, at Daniel Bagley!
Come at 5:30 with a picnic (and blanket) to socialize with the parents from your child's class - since you now now your teacher! - and let your Bagley Bee explore the playground equipment... it looks like the construction fences will be down, mostly.
At 6:30, come to the front doors of the school (on the front lawn) to be greeted by the principal, Ms. Ayer, then find your child's classroom, meet your teacher and explore the building. I *think* it will be just the K-1 teachers in attendance, but I'm not sure - call the office to check if you're with an older new student.
- Feel free to bring your PTA & medical forms as well as school supplies to Welcome Night, so you don't have to burden your student with them later on in the week. The PTA volunteers will take your membership form; the rest of the items go directly to your teacher.
- Also, Bagley t-shirts will be on sale! Helpfully, the words to the school song are on the back of the shirts, so consider the t-shirts to be teaching tools.
Why you really should join the PTA, and some of those other forms you need to complete
Amidst the stack of papers you received with your teacher assignment letter last week, you will notice a goldenrod colored page that says 'Join the PTA!' on one side, with a Family Information Form on the other.
Even if you don't plan to join the PTA (and you should), please complete this form! It will ensure that your contact information is included in this year's family directory. Other benefits of this form:
Friday, September 2, 2011
The Jogathon! Friday, September 30, 10:30am at Lower Woodland track
You have heard about the Jogathon by now. So, what is it all about?
The first thing you have to understand is that Mr. Millsap, Daniel Bagley's Health & Fitness teacher, is like a rock star to the kids, who demonstrate enthusiastic adulation for him. You'll hear regular comments such as "Mr. Millsap says..." or "Mr. Millsap is funnier than you, dad" or "Mr. Millsap can run 10 miles in one minute".
Anyways, Mr. Millsap is the driving force behind the annual Jogathon, this year held on the morning of Friday September 30, at the Lower Woodland track (since our playground will not be fully available).
The first thing you have to understand is that Mr. Millsap, Daniel Bagley's Health & Fitness teacher, is like a rock star to the kids, who demonstrate enthusiastic adulation for him. You'll hear regular comments such as "Mr. Millsap says..." or "Mr. Millsap is funnier than you, dad" or "Mr. Millsap can run 10 miles in one minute".
Anyways, Mr. Millsap is the driving force behind the annual Jogathon, this year held on the morning of Friday September 30, at the Lower Woodland track (since our playground will not be fully available).
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Is there a Daniel Bagley school song?
Why, yes, yes there is. You'll see the lyrics on the back of the Daniel Bagley t-shirts (which, incidentally, will be for sale for cheap! at Welcome Night and the first day of school, as well as other opportune times throughout the year). I couldn't find the lyrics written down on the website, though.
Is the melody written down anywhere? I don't think so, but there is a rumour of a recording lying around somewhere. Meanwhile, we can deduce an approximation of the tune from the kids singing it at Monday Morning Meetings.
Forthwith, the lyrics (which your kindergarteners will have memorized after only a few weeks of school):
Is the melody written down anywhere? I don't think so, but there is a rumour of a recording lying around somewhere. Meanwhile, we can deduce an approximation of the tune from the kids singing it at Monday Morning Meetings.
Forthwith, the lyrics (which your kindergarteners will have memorized after only a few weeks of school):
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