January 2020

 

“Stories Under the Stars” – Swap, Read, Share, Make!

Mark Your Calendars! Thursday, January 16th, 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm, Bowman Gym

“Stories Under the Stars” is a celebration of stories – our own and others’. Bring a blanket and “camp out” with your family as we celebrate all things literacy – reading, writing, storytelling, singing, listening. 

SWAP: Bring up to FIVE books to swap

READ: Settle in by the “campfire” with a new-to-you book

SHARE: Sign up to share a story, poem, or song

MAKE: Create a luminary and bookmark to bring home

OPEN MIC! If you – student, parent, or staff – would like to share a favorite short story, poem or song, or one of your own, please sign up for an “Open Mic” slot. 

VOLUNTEER! We need volunteers to help make the event a success. Please sign up for volunteer slots

SCHEDULE

6:30 pm – 7:00pm: Drop off up to five books; sort your books by grade level/genre

7:00pm – 7:30pm: Choose your “new” books; same as the number you’ve dropped off (honor system)

6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Do a craft; cozy up to a “campfire” and read

7:10 pm – 7:40 pm: Open Mic (Sign up in advance for a slot)

7:40pm – 7:45 pm: Luminary parade

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Also at “Stories Under the Stars”, please help support Cradles to Crayons. Two Bowman alums are on a year-long quest to collect hundreds of new or gently used pajamas for kids in need. How can you help? Please bring as many pajamas as you can on January 16th. All of your donations will go directly to Cradles to Crayons and help some local children enjoy their own bedtime stories in comfy pajamas! For more information visit Cradles to Crayons 

 

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Family Math Nights Return to Bowman This Winter

Mark your calendars for the return of Family Math Nights! Family Math Nights are a great way for parents and students of all ability levels to experience the fun of math together. We’ll have games, puzzles, brain teasers, and lots of hands-on activities. Challenge your student to a logic game, build a symmetrical pattern, or investigate the volume of 3-D shapes. It’s your choice at Family Math Night!

Plan to attend a Family Math Night with your student this winter. Save the date for an upcoming Family Math Nights:

January 28 – Grades 4-5
February 25 – Grades 2-3
March 17 – Grades K-1

We kick off with Grade 4-5 Family Math Night on Thursday, January 28 from 6:30–8:00pm in the Bowman cafeteria. Look for more grade level specific details on the Bowman PTO website, listserv, and through your room parents in the new year. Questions? Contact [email protected].

4th and 5th Grade Family Math Night, January 28, 2020, 6:30-8:00pm, Bowman Cafeteria

Please join the Bowman Family Night Team for an evening of puzzles, games, and math activities!  This is a great opportunity for families to spend time together as they work through some new types of math games and puzzles.  This event is always fun for all involved. See you then!

 

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Bowman Science Fair

Attention young Bowman scientists!  Registration for the 2020 Bowman Science Fair is open until Friday, January 17th.  In response to the large number of Bowman students who participated in last year’s ScienceFair, the PTA is hosting the Science Fair over TWO consecutive nights this year.  

Science Fair Nights:
Wednesday, February 5th, Grades 3-5, from 7 – 8:15pm
Thursday, February 6th, Grades k-2, from 7 – 8:15pm

Also new this year, Bowman student scientists are invited to display their Science Fair projects during the school day so that all students can view and learn about their classmates’ projects. 

Please visit the PTA Science Fair web site for important information which includes:

• Registration link
• Additional information about the new changes to the Science Fair
• Detailed outline to help students design their projects using scientific methods
• Helpful list of resources for students to reference for project ideas

 

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Math Team News

The Bowman Math Teams meet weekly before school, with approximately 25 students from each of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. The students participate in the Continental Math League, and the first competition for 4th and 5th graders was in November. Students were given 6 problems and had 30 minutes to solve them independently. Each correct answer was worth 1 point and the top 6 scores became the team’s score.

4th grade: There are 106 teams participating in this year’s CML Grade 4 Math at the Pythagorean level (the higher of the 2 levels). Bowman’s team scored 32/36, which put them in the top 16% in the country and #2 in New England. Congratulations to Bart B. and Charles C. who both had a perfect score on their test.

5th grade: There are 116 teams participating in this year’s CML Grade 5 Math at the Pythagorean level (the higher of the 2 levels).  Bowman’s team scored a perfect 36/36, which put them in a 7-way tie for the top spot in the country; they have the only perfect score in New England. Congratulations to Aaron Y., Aditi H., Alexander D., Khayal D., Luca Z., Neer S., Niva P., Noah P., Reya P., Tanya J., and Zachary Z. who all had a perfect score on their test.

 Excellent job to both teams! Every member of the team worked hard and can take pride in this accomplishment.

The second competition for 4th and 5th grade teams will take place in December, and the first competition for 3rd grade will take place in January.

Many thanks to Andrew Bennett and all the other parent volunteers who have put in countless hours working to bring Math Team back to Bowman this year. 

 

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National Geography Bee

A group of Bowman 4th and 5th grade students participated in the National Geography Bee on December 4th and 13th. Josh S. Khayal D., Arjun R., Zack Z., Omav. B., Nisha N., Anish B., Nyneishia S., Aarin M., and Kripa C made it to the final round. The top three finishers were: 1st place – Omav B., 2nd place – Nisha N., and 3rd place – Josh V. Omav will take an online exam at the end of January to determine next steps.

Thank you to 4th grade teacher Mrs. Udell for reading the questions, and to Jenny Corduck and Lauren Avery for coordinating the Bee. 

Congratulations to all our Geo Bee participants! We are very proud of all of you!!

 

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Box Tops Update

Congratulations Bowman families – you have earned $655 for our school this fall – $574 in clipped tops and $81 through the new app.  As more products are switching to digital Box Tops, please take a few minutes to download the new app and scan your grocery receipt when you purchase qualified items. As the program transitions from clipped Box Tops to digital, you can early DOUBLE rewards – 10 cents for the digital Box Tops and 10 cents for the clipped Box Top.

How does the new Box Tops program work?

Download the new and improved, user-friendly Box Tops app, register and select Bowman as your school, and then scan an eligible receipt containing Box Tops products.  You’ll earn 10 cents for each Box Tops product purchased plus extra earnings for any Bonus Box Tops opportunities. The app will automatically add Box Tops to your school’s earnings online, giving visibility to see how you are supporting your school in real-time.

Can I still send in regular Box Tops?

Yes! Keep clipping regular Box Tops and sending them in with your child as long as you continue to find them on packages.  Bowman will still get credit for all clipped Box Tops.

More FAQ’s can be found here:  https://www.boxtops4education.com/How to Earn

Questions?  Contact the Box Tops Coordinator: [email protected]

 

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Lost and Found

Parents, please stop in and check Lost and Found for your child(ren)’s items! 

 

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Volunteers Needed!

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PTA Open Positions

Please consider volunteering for one of the open PTA positions this school year.

School Directory

We need two more parents volunteers to help with our online and print directory. If you’re interested please email [email protected].

PTA Membership – Shadow

We are in need of a committed volunteer who would like to become an active member of the PTA Board and spearhead our PTA membership efforts in 2020-2021. You would work with the current VP Membership this year to learn more about the role, and take over the role next school year. If you’re interested please email [email protected].

Disco Bingo – Shadow

Bingo Night is a fun filled night for the whole family with teacher and student Bingo callers. Volunteers focus on publicizing the annual event (usually in Winter), obtaining prizes and recruiting Bingo callers. If you’re interested please email [email protected].

 

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Thank You

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Families in Need Holiday Gift Drive

Thank you to all of the Bowman families who donated gifts for the PTA’s Holiday Gift Drive supporting The Second Step, a non-profit organization in Newton, MA (www.thesecondstep.org). Everyone at Second Step shares their sincere gratitude for the continued generosity of the Bowman community during the holiday season. This year, Bowman families fulfilled over 150 “wishes” for women and children survivors of domestic violence. Thank you for making the holidays a little brighter for these families!  Special thank you to Karla Nash for organizing the gift drive!

Holiday Treats for Staff

Thank you to ALL the Bowman families who donated delicious treats for our Holiday Staff Appreciation Event. We hope you enjoyed celebrating our wonderful teachers and staff with holiday goodies!  Many thanks to our staff appreciation team Rita Dulgarian, Brandy Hartford, Kim Karelis, and Janice Patel for organizing the event and decorating the teacher’s lounge!

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