Insider’s Guide to Bowman

2007 - 2008

Main Office Phone Number: 781-861-2500

Fax Number: 781-861-2315

Address: 9 Philip Road, Lexington, MA 02421

Website: http://bowman.lexingtonma.org/

Attendance line: 781-861-2500, then dial 6, then 1

The Bowman PTA is pleased to offer our second annual "Insider's Guide to Bowman."  We trust this Guide will be an extremely helpful resource to new families entering the Bowman community. Thanks also to Dr. Anton, Ms. Chamberland, Mrs. Glick, and the members of the Bowman School Council ’06-‘07 for their help and contributions.

While the information presented in the Guide is believed to be accurate as of August 25, 2007, please be aware that dates and other facts many change as the school year progresses. 

If you'd like to share your suggestions, comments, and thoughts about the Guide, please contact the PTA Co-Presidents.

We're looking forward to another wonderful, wonderful year at Bowman!

The Bowman PTA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Bowman Day to Day................... page 2

II. Transportation.............................. page 7

III. Special Events.............................. page 9

IV. Communication............................ page 11

V. Visiting and Volunteering............ page 13

VI. PTA............................................. page 14

VII. FAQ’s.......................................... page 18

Calendar .................................................. page 19

I. Bowman Day to Day

Morning Drop Off

Students should arrive at school between 8:15 and 8:30. In good weather, students play on the blacktop play area at the end of the school, supervised by school aides; in inclement weather, children are supervised in the cafeteria until 8:30. At the sound of the whistle at 8:30, students go to their classrooms. Students arriving between 8:30 and 8:45 go directly to their classrooms. Attendance is taken at 8:45; if students arrive after 8:45, they are considered tardy and parents must sign them in at the Main Office. Buses arrive between 8:15 and 8:30.

At morning drop off, the building can be accessed by all doors. Only the main entrance is open at other times of the day for safety reasons. You must ring the bell to be buzzed in; sign in at the main office whenever you enter the building, even when visiting a classroom or volunteering.

First Week of School Dismissal Times

Date	Kindergarten	Grades 1-5
Tuesday August 28^th	11:00 a.m.	12:15
Wednesday August 29	11:00 a.m.	3:15
Thursday August 30^th	11:00 a.m.	12:15
Friday August 31^st	NO SCHOOL	NO SCHOOL
Monday September 3^rd	NO SCHOOL	NO SCHOOL
From Tuesday September 4^th on	12:15	3:15 M,T,W, F; 12:15 Th

Dismissal

Kindergarten is a half-day program; dismissal is at 12:15 every day.

Grades 1 – 5: The school day ends at 3:15 on all days except Thursdays. On Thursday, dismissal for all grades is at 12:15.

Thursdays

Every Thursday is a half day at all of the Lexington elementary schools. Dismissal for all grades is at 12:15.

Recess

Grade 1 – 5 students have two 15-minute recesses during the day, while kindergarteners have recess once a day. In inclement weather (raining, or below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, including wind chill), recess is held indoors in the classrooms. Recess is supervised by school aides and/or classroom teachers.

Snack Time

The morning recess period includes snack time for students in all grades. Snacks must be brought from home; there are none available for purchase at the school.

Kindergarteners can participate in the Beverage Program. You received an application for this program from the school at Kindergarten Orientation in the spring; if you need a registration form, contact the school office, or your child’s teacher during the first few days of school. The Beverage Program allows water, juice, milk or chocolate milk to be purchased for a small fee, and is delivered to your student during snack time.

Lunch

Students eat in the school lunch room. Lunches are either brought from home or are available to purchase at the cafeteria for $3.00. Pre-paid tickets may be ordered in any quantity (each ticket is worth/costs $3.00, there are no volume discounts). To order tickets, send a check payable to “Lexington School Lunch” along with a business-sized self-addressed stamped envelope to: Chartwells Lexington School Lunch, c/o Lexington High School, 251 Waltham Street, Lexington, MA 02421. For more questions, contact the Chartwells office at 781.861.2320, ext. 1180 or 1181, or send an email to: lexingtonschoollunch@yahoo.com.

The lunch menu is sent home at the start of each month, and can be accessed through a link on the Bowman website (see Section V for website address). Friday is Pizza Day, a popular day to buy lunch. An extra slice of pizza costs $1.00 (or can be purchased with a second ticket). If your child forgets their lunch ticket or money, the office will loan them some. Please pay the office back as soon as possible!

Students sit with their classmates at assigned seats. The seating assignments rotate frequently during the year. Lunch is supervised by school aides. Students go outside for their second recess of the day just before or after lunch.

Nut- and Sesame-free tables and chairs are available for those students requiring them. Such students can invite one friend to eat with them, as long as their lunches comply.

Kindergarteners who go home at 12:15 do not eat lunch at school. Only those staying for the Extended Day Program (see page 7 for more information) eat lunch at school; they may bring food from home or purchase it in the cafeteria.

Last Day of School

The last day of school is tentatively scheduled for Monday, June 16th, 2008, but depends on the number of snow days or other school cancellations during the year. For each day school is cancelled, one is added on to the end. The final day of school is a half day; all students are dismissed at 12:15.

Library, Gym, Music and Art Specialists

Melinda Loof is the new Bowman librarian. All classes visit the library every week. Teachers also schedule additional library time on an as-need basis to support their curriculum. The library is open from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. each day for book selection with teachers’ permission; all students are also welcome to visit the library at any time during the day with their teacher's permission. While books are officially due back after two weeks, students are encouraged to bring books back as they are finished and select new ones – many kindergarteners take advantage of this every day! The library has a wonderful website with some great links: http://bowman.lexingtonma.org/library/index.htm.

Mike Gloor is the Bowman PE teacher, and Carrie Scheer-Bourget teaches part-time. Students have gym class twice a week. Sneakers or other athletic shoe (no sandals) must be worn, and the teachers recommend that girls wear shorts under skirts or dresses on gym days. Mr. Gloor sometimes offers Before School Gym to students in grades 3 – 5. Check for notices coming home from school in backpacks or in front of the main office for further information.

Martha Rogers is the Bowman music teacher, while M.L. Bean will teach part-time. All students have music twice a week. Mrs. Rogers teaches recorder to students in the 3^rd grade and runs a choir for 5^th graders.

Iris Goldfarb is the Bowman Art teacher. Students in grades 1 – 5 have art class once a week. Ms. Goldfarb loves donations of recyclables (like egg cartons) and other “treasures” – please see the “School Needs” section on page 6.

Instrumental Music Program

The Elementary Instrumental Music Program is offered to 4^th and 5^th graders. Fourth grade in-school group offerings include ½ hour beginning string lessons in violin, viola, cello or recorder. In 5^th grade offerings include ½ hr. continuing string lessons on violin, viola, cello and recorder, or beginning lessons on double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, trumpet, trombone, baritone, drums, saxophone or recorder.

The user fee for the 2007-08 school year is $300 per student. LPS organizes an “Instrumental Rental Night” with local instrumental dealers. The event will take place this year on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 from 6 – 8 pm at Lexington High School. At the beginning of the school year, the instrumental faculty will give a demonstration at Bowman to assist students in selecting an instrument. Students will receive an instrument choice and registration form at the demonstration.

All 5^th grade band and string students are encouraged to participate in the All-Town Band or Orchestra, meeting for one hour on Thursday afternoons during the school year.

School Counselor

Beth Glick, Bowman’s school counselor, is a great resource for everyone! She helps with drop-off and pick-up several days a week, so you will see her “at the curb.”  She is available to talk with parents for help around any questions or concerns – big or small – about your children.  Beth visits many classrooms weekly for social skills lessons and actively participates in implementing the Open Circle curriculum both in the classrooms and sometimes with parent groups. You may reach Beth Glick by e-mail at bglick@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us or by leaving a message at 781-861-2500.

Open Circle

This is a social and emotional learning program for all students, teachers and staff at Bowman. All classrooms will devote time to provide a “structured format to facilitate teaching social competency skills, to provide a consistent context for discussion of issues important to members of the class, and to build a cooperative classroom environment” (excerpted from the Open Circle overview). For more information, contact Mrs. Glick at Bowman, or the Open Circle website (www.open-circle.org).

METCO/Family Friends (excerpted from the LPS website)

“The Metropolitan Council for Education Opportunity (METCO) Program is a voluntary urban/suburban educational desegregation program. It provides opportunities for urban students of color to attend school in suburban public school systems. It also provides suburban students and staff opportunities to interact with many minority students and to benefit from a culturally diverse learning environment. METCO provides additional resources to the schools and to our students throughout the year in order to facilitate learning and cultural experiences for everyone in the school system.”

“The METCO Family Friends Program is another supportive aspect of the METCO partnership wherein Lexington families volunteer to become "partners" with Boston families. When a child enters one of our schools via the METCO Program, she/he is paired with a volunteer Lexington family (preferably a family with a child in the same classroom or grade level as the Boston child). The Family Friends Program provides opportunities for Lexington and Boston children and their parents to broaden relationships through the sharing of family, cultural and social experiences in their respective communities. At the elementary level Family Friend students participate in METCO Friends Visiting Days which are scheduled in advance on specified Thursday afternoons.”

Please contact the PTA for more information.

School Council

Sometimes called “School Council,” Site-Based Councils were mandated by the Education Reform Act of 1993 as part of the Act’s decentralization of decision-making. The Council is composed of equal numbers of elected teachers and parents, together with the principal and a community representative, generally serving staggered terms. The role of the School Council is to advise the Principal, especially in creating and evaluating the School Improvement Plan.

School Council members for the 2007-2008 school year include:

Dr. Anton, Bowman School Principal, manton@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us

Betty Cantor, K teacher, bcantor@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us

Iris Goldfarb, art teacher, igoldfarb@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us

Maryellen Leelman, speech/language specialist, mleelman@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us

Suzanne Melo, teacher (4th grade), smelo@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us

Contact Dr. Anton for a list of parent and community representatives.

Math, Chess, and Science Clubs

A former Bowman parent runs a fee-based Math program for students in grades 3 – 5, either before or after school, depending on the grade.  This is outside of the regular Bowman curriculum.  The goal of the Math program is to stimulate enthusiasm for mathematics, teach major strategies for problem solving, and develop mathematical intuition and flexibility in solving problems. The teams compete in the Continental Math League competitions throughout the school year.  The teams meet once a week.  Watch for a flyer at the beginning of the school year, or contact the school for more information.

The PTA runs a chess club and a 4^th grade science club. The PTA also runs a science Fair in the spring. See PTA section, pages 14 – 18.

School Needs
Classrooms always need pencils, tissues, etc. Check with your classroom teacher or room parent for a classroom “wish list” of supplies to donate.

The Art Room: Throughout the year, the art room is in need of recyclables such as toilet paper & paper towel tubes; clean Styrofoam trays; clean plastic tops from milk & laundry detergent bottles; small cardboard boxes (no bigger than the palm of your hand, like gelatin boxes, or boxes from soap or tea); any fun, safe small plastic pieces from things such as socks and rectangular plastic bread clasps; colorful skeins of yarn; fancy ribbons, lace, fringe, rick-rack or pompons; colorful scraps of felt or fabric; heavy weight aluminum foil; white paper plates; old or broken utensils for creating simple machines such as spatulas, manual hand mixers, garlic presses, etc.; tissues for runny noses. Use your imagination, and watch the school newsletter for specific requests.

Please leave donated items in the box by the smocks outside the art room. If you would like to help out on occasion in the art room, please the PTA.

The Library: The library is always happy to accept new or used crayons, erasers, and child scissors and new markers, pencils, and glue sticks. Contact the librarian or the PTA library volunteer coordinator for more information.

Lost and Found

Lost items are hung in the cafeteria. Periodically, unclaimed items are donated to a charity. An announcement will be made in the Bowman newsletter (called the Broadside, see page 11) before the items are gathered for donation. Small items (jewelry, sunglasses) are brought to the Main Office.

Standardized Tests

Third through Fifth grade students take the MCAS tests, or Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System. The MCAS “was implemented in response to the Education Reform Law of 1993, which required that MCAS be designed to:

· Test all public school students across the Commonwealth, including students with disabilities and students with limited English proficiency

· Be administered annually in selected grades

· Measure performance based on the learning standards in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks

· Report on the performance of individual students, schools, and districts

· Serve as one basis of accountability for students, schools, and districts (for example, students must pass the grade 10 MCAS tests or retests in order to become eligible to earn a high school diploma)

In addition, the MCAS tests fulfill the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law. NCLB requires annual assessments in reading and mathematics for students in grades 3-8 and high school. Students also must be tested annually in science in an elementary school grade, a middle school grade, and a high school (10-12) grade.”

For more information, go to http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/about1.html (excerpt from the website).

Extended Day Program

An independently run extended day program is available at Bowman. The Extended Day Program follows the school calendar. It operates during the school year from 3:15 - 6:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and from 12:15 - 6:00 pm on Thursdays. The Extended Kindergarten Program operates from 12:15 until 3:15 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; kindergarteners enrolled can bring a lunch from home or buy one in the cafeteria. Milk and snacks are provided for the 3:15 - 6:00 pm block. The program is in operation as soon as children are dismissed on all days scheduled for early dismissal. All children enrolled on Thursdays or other noon dismissal days must bring a lunch. For availability, tuition and registration, contact Bowmanextday@aol.com, or call 781-863-1912.

II. Transportation

BUS

Students must be signed up to take the bus ahead of time. Bus transportation is free to those that are at least two miles from school; such students must fill out a Student Transportation Application. The cost of bus transportation for those that are less than two miles is $550/student (no family cap); applications were due by June 15, 2007. Applications received after June 15^th are accepted on a space available basis at the rate of $600/student (no family cap). Financial assistance is available for consideration for ALL student fees associated with the Lexington Public Schools. For more information and links to related forms: http://lps.lexingtonma.org/bus/index.html. To contact the school system about transportation issues, call (781) 861-2540; or by e-mail at transportation@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us.

Bus routes can be found on the Bowman web site and are published in the Lexington Minuteman newspaper on the Thursday before Labor Day, or through the Lexington Public School website, http://lps.lexingtonma.org/bus/index.html.

Students not registered are not allowed to take the bus under any circumstances (for play dates, etc. other transportation must be arranged). If your child usually takes the bus home, but isn’t going to on a particular day, send a note stating such to the classroom teacher.

In the morning: All children are picked up at their bus stops according to the published bus routes. Buses drop students at Bowman between 8:15 and 8:30.

12:15 dismissal ( Kindergartenes and K-5 on Thursdays)s: Buses drop kindergarteners at their homes, not at the morning bus stops, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On Thursdays and other half-days (school conference days, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, etc. – see Calendar on back cover), kindergarteners take the bus with the older children and are dropped off at their morning bus stops, not at home. In either case, a parent or guardian must be present for the child to get off the bus. If no one is present, the bus driver will take the kindergartener back to Bowman at the end of the route. Students then go to the main office, and parents/guardians are called to pick up their child.

3:15 dismissal – Grades 1 thru 5 (and kindergarten Extended Day children that stay until 3:15): Students are dropped off at their morning bus stops.

CAR DROP-OFF/PICK-UP AND WALKERS

The entrance drive to the school is a one-way street accessed from Philip Rd., exiting on Worthen Rd. East.

In the morning: Car drop off is along the main entrance drive to Bowman. Please pull up along the curb to the right, where various staff members will be waiting to assist your child out of the car. Do not park along the yellow painted curb. If the weather is good, drop-off is along the curb at the kindergarten end of the school; in inclement weather, drop-off is at the main entrance to the school.

After school – Kindergarteners: Kindergarteners MUST be picked up from their classrooms for safety reasons, and are not allowed to participate in the live pick-up as outlined below. Park in the various parking areas (see parking explanation on page 9) and pick your child up from his/her classroom. On most days of the week, parking is easy to find at 12:15. However, on Thursdays and other half-days, parking is quite difficult. Allow more time to find parking on all school half days!

After school – Grades 1 thru 5 – Car pick-up: Students are led to the main entrance for their parent/guardian to pick them up in the live pick-up line. Kindergarteners must be picked up at their classroom. Cars line up along the main entrance drive; children are assisted into their cars by school staff as the car approaches the school entrance. You must wait in your car – there is no parking along the curb between Philip Road and the school’s main doors. If you are there prior to 3:15 and are waiting in line, please don’t idle your car for more than a minute (to help keep our air clean!).

After school –Grades 1 thru 5 – Walkers: Students are led to either the flag pole or large oak tree near the main entrance to meet their parent or guardian. Kindergarteners are picked up at the classroom; check with the kindergarten teacher for the classroom pick up procedure. There is also a bike rack available to the left of the school’s main entrance.

Parking

Parking at Bowman is limited; there are two small parking areas on the school grounds. The first is to the left just as you pull into the entrance drive. The second is at the far end of the school. There is a small amount of parking along the curb beyond the main entrance. Otherwise, park along the school fields on Philip Road, or on Worthen Rd. East.

The car pick-up line backs up and blocks the entrance drive and Philip Road; if you want to park in the parking lot, arrive no later than 3:00.

2007 – 2008 scheduled half days:

Every Thursday

Tuesday, August 28 (First Day of School)

Wednesday, October 31 (Professional Development)

Wednesday, November 7 (Fall Conferences)

Wednesday, November 14 (Fall Conferences)

Wednesday, November 21 (Thanksgiving)

Wednesday, April 2 (Spring Conferences)

Wednesday, April 9 (Spring Conferences)

Last day of school (tentatively Monday, June 16)

Picking Student Up During School Hours: If you need to pick your child up before his/her regular dismissal, send a note into school to let the teacher know ahead of time. When you arrive to pick up your child, stop at the office. They will notify the class teacher you have arrived, and your child will meet you in the office. You must sign them out at the office.

Transportation Changes (not riding on Bus): If you haven’t sent a note in to school and have a last minute change, call the office by 2:00 pm to let them know your child’s new transportation plans.

III. Special Events

Back to School Night/Curriculum Night – Thursday, September 20, 2007

Save the date! Stay tuned for more information.

Field Trips

Field Trips held on school days are extensions of the curriculum. Their purpose is to provide educational opportunities which cannot be offered within the building for acquiring appropriate skill, understanding and attitudes. Whenever possible, the trips will be funded from the regular school budget; but with the high cost of transportation, the school will ask for assistance. Scholarships are always available, and at no time will any child be excluded because of inability to finance the trip. Please contact Mrs. Chamberland in the office if costs for a trip are a concern.

Birthdays

Each classroom teacher recognizes student birthdays differently; check with your classroom teacher. Cupcakes and other food are no longer allowed: due to the growing incidence of life threatening allergies the Lexington Public Schools have implemented a town-wide food free birthday celebration policy. Alternate celebration ideas are: reading and/or donating a book to the classroom and/or school library in honor of your child’s birthday, or sharing a craft or game.

Teacher Conferences and Progress Reports

Conferences with classroom teachers are scheduled twice during the school year. The first occurs in late fall, the second in early spring. Conferences are 20 – 30 minutes long. While younger students are generally not invited, some teachers invite their 3^rd – 5^th grade students to participate. Each teacher schedules conferences differently and will let you know either when your conference is scheduled or how to sign up. Of course, teachers are available at any time during the year for conferences or more informal meetings; send a note via backpack or email to your teacher requesting a meeting.

Conference dates for the 2007 – 2008 school year:

November 7

November 8

November 14

November 15

April 2

April 3

April 9

April 10

Each of these days is a half-day. All students are dismissed at 12:15.

Student Progress Reports (“report cards”) are sent home in December and June for kindergarteners, and in December, March and June for students in grades 1 – 5.

Middle School Transition

Students in the Bowman district attend the Jonas Clarke Middle School for 6^th – 8^th grade. Fifth grade students visit Clarke in the spring. The visiting date for the 2007 – 2008 school year is May 6^th, 2008. Look for additional information during the school year.

Emergency School Closings

In the rare occurrence that school is cancelled because of an emergency during the day (e.g., mid-day snow storm, no heat), the principal initiates a calling system to alert parents that the children are coming home earlier than usual. Every effort is made to reach a parent/guardian; arrangements will be made for the child to go to a designated emergency contact until the parent/guardian returns.

The Bowman Staff would like for every parent to discuss with his/her child what to do in case of an emergency school closing. Each family, too, is asked to develop an emergency plan for challenging circumstances. To prevent jamming of phone lines, please do not suggest that your child call you.

IV. Communication

Bowman Main Phone: 781-861-2500

This number connects you to the main office, including:

Dr. Mary Anton-Oldenburg - Principal

Dr. Michele Welch - Assistant Principal

Mrs. Mary Lou Chamberland - Administrative Assistant

Mrs. Lynn Taber - Nurse

Mrs. Beth Glick - School Counselor

Noelle Donnelly - School Psychologist

Office Hours: The office is open from 8 am – 4 pm, Monday-Friday, during the school year. Summer hours vary.

Principal’s Hours: To speak with Dr. Anton, feel free to call, email or stop in between 8:45 and 2:45 every day. At drop-off and pick-up times Dr. Anton will be focusing her attention on the safety of all the students, but her door is otherwise open. Dr. Anton’s email address is manton@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us.

Bowman Attendance Line: 781-861-2500, 6, 1: Leave a message by 8:30 a.m. if your child is going to be absent that day, so the teacher can be notified.

Email addresses for above staff members: Email addresses can be found on the Bowman Website (see below).

Bowman School cancellations: In case of snow, check the Lexington Public School website: http://lps.lexingtonma.org/snow/ or WBZ radio/TV. All cancelled days must be made up at the end of the school year with added days.

Bowman Website: http://bowman.lexingtonma.org/

The website includes a list of staff members, links to a few classroom websites, the Bowman library website, the Lexington Public School website, the school lunch menu, notices from the Mrs. Taber (the school nurse), school cancellation page, Big Backyard curriculum, bus schedules, and forms (including bus routes, CORI form, PTA membership form, lunch ticket order form, and medication permission form). The website also has a link to the PTA website.

Bowman Broadside: The Broadside is the Bowman community’s newsletter published jointly by the Bowman Administration and the PTA. The latest edition is available online through the Bowman website. A paper copy is sent home in backpacks every Wednesday. The issue published on the first Wednesday of every month is a longer publication and includes a calendar. The other Wednesdays’ publications are limited to one page, so submissions must be short. Broadside submissions are due Friday at noon, in the blue folder in the main office or by e-mail (preferred) to BowmanBroadside@aol.com. Submitted articles must be relevant to Bowman, the Bowman PTA, the Lexington Public School System or the Lexington child community, and must be approved by the principal.

LPS Website: http://lps.lexingtonma.org/ This site has information regarding the LPS Administration, including the Central Office and the School Committee, links to all the Lexington Schools’ websites, school calendar, Superintendent’s weekly bulletin, School Committee policies and meeting schedules, curriculum overviews, budget details, and more.

Health Room: Lynn Taber is the school nurse. Various health forms can be downloaded from the LPS website http://lps.lexingtonma.org/forms/formindex.html. For more information, contact Mrs. Taber at the school.

Communicating with Bowman staff: Each classroom teacher has their own preferred method of communication with parents. Staff members have their email addresses listed on the Bowman website: click on STAFF and see if their names are in blue. Or, send a note to the particular staff member in your child’s folder/backpack. Classroom teachers check younger students’ folders, while teachers of older students have a system worked out in their classrooms to collect notes coming from home. If you need to get a message to your child or classroom teacher quickly, call the main office.

Communicating/dropping things off to your child during school hours: Call the main office and leave a message or drop off the items at the office. The office staff will deliver the message or ask the student to come to the office.

Distributing notes to classroom families: Send copies into the classroom with your child. The classroom teacher will distribute them to student folders/mailboxes. If they are notes to be kept private from teachers, staple closed or put in envelopes (i.e., if you are organizing the purchase of a holiday gift for your teacher or are sending a private note to another staff member). Birthday party invitations may not be distributed in this manner unless the entire class is invited. Please note that many teachers do not send notices/folders home on Fridays.

Distributing materials for PTA events: Please budget for copies and have them made at local copy shops and deliver them to the main office to be distributed to the students. Please give your request to the office staff with as much advance notice as possible.

Please note that many teachers do not send notices/folders home on Fridays. Please do not use school copiers without permission. Do not go into the staff mailroom to make copies – this area of the school is off-limits to parents.

School areas which are off limits to parents: No parents are allowed in the Bowman mailroom, the Bowman Staff Lunchroom, or the hallway connecting these two rooms. Confidential information may be in mailboxes and/or are being discussed by Bowman staff. These areas are the only private areas available to the staff during school hours.

V. Visiting School and Volunteer Opportunities

There are many opportunities to volunteer at Bowman! You need no experience, and have the chance to help at the library, in your child’s classroom, or with the PTA. Look for opportunities listed in the school newsletter, in your child’s backpack, or at PTA events. Whenever you visit the school, you must first sign in at the main office, even when visiting a classroom or volunteering. If you plan on volunteering with the students, whether in the classroom, on field trips, or in the library, you must fill out a CORI form (background check) four weeks before you start. This form must be filled out every three years. Obtain one from the main office or the Bowman website and turn in completed forms to the office.

Thursday assemblies: School assemblies are held periodically throughout the year, typically on Thursdays. There are many chances to see performances by students or outside groups such as groups brought in by ACT (Arts Created Together). Most performances are announced in the Broadside. Families are welcome.

Grade/classroom performances/exhibits: There are opportunities to see your child perform songs, recite poetry, read stories they have written, or for you to view class theme projects at Bowman at different times of year. This varies greatly with each classroom teacher.

Library: You can volunteer to help check out and shelve books, prepare materials for classes, work on special projects or otherwise assist the school librarian at any time during the school day.

Class room parent: Work with the teacher for holiday parties, book orders, etc. The work varies by classroom teacher. Room parents are liaisons between the classroom families, teacher, and the PTA.

In class: Let the teacher know what your strengths are and ask if they are open to you helping out. Some teachers have certain tasks they ask for help with.

PTA: see PTA section beginning on page 14.

Literacy Library: Diane Sullivan welcomes all help organizing the literacy curriculum materials used by the K-2 classroom teachers.

Big Backyard: These are parent-led nature hikes with a set curriculum (see PTA section, page 15). No experience is necessary. You will lead a small group of students, including your own child.

VI. PTA

Board Members and Positions (as of 8/07)

Executive Committee

Co-Presidents

Vice-President

Secretary

Treasurer

Fundraising

Board Members

ACT

Big Back Yard

Bingo

Book Fair

Box Tops Coordinator

Broadside

Chess Club

Craft Fair

Directory

Faculty/Staff photos

Fall Festival

Family Math Coordinator

Fifth Grade Activities

Gift wrap (Innisbrook)

Health and Safety

Insider’s Guide

International Festival

Landscape Coordinator

Library Volunteer Coordinator

Literacy Library Coordinator

Membership

Metco Coordinators

Movie Night

Newcomers Gathering

Outdoor Bulletin Board

Publicity (Bowman)

PR (newspapers)

Room Parent Coordinators

School Pictures

Science Fair

Square Dance

Staff Appreciation Week 

Staff Appreciation Luncheon

Technology Support

UNICEF

Variety Show

Website

YES (Science Club)

See the Bowman Directory for contact information or ask in the school office.

Meetings: The Bowman PTA has general meetings throughout the school year. All parents and staff are welcome to attend. Meetings are generally held in the cafeteria and begin at 7:00pm.

Directory: Each year the Bowman PTA puts together a school directory listing the teachers, staff and class lists. There is also an alphabetical listing of each student whose family wishes to be listed and their contact information. If you are new to Bowman, you will receive a form requesting contact information (you may choose not to have your information included) in the before-school mailing in August, or you can pick one up at the office in September. You receive the Directory with membership to the PTA. It is published every fall.

Bowman PTA Email Discussion Group: Join the PTA email discussion group by going to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bowmanptatalk/.  Or, access the link through the PTA News page of the Bowman School website. The main purpose of this list is to facilitate healthy and productive discussion between parents and staff at Bowman.  PTA announcements, volunteer opportunities, and questions about upcoming events are typical topics in the group.

PTA Events, Clubs and Fundraisers: The Bowman PTA holds many community-building and fundraising events throughout the year. The 2006-07 fundraisers raised money to pay for: partial payment of buses for field trips, the purchase of supplies/ materials/presentations to enhance curriculum (such as math manipulatives), a colonial times presenter, science supplies for the 5th grades, supplemental literacy materials for 2nd grade students, and art supplies for kindergarteners.

ACT (Arts Created Together): This is a town-wide enrichment program that is designed to enhance the education of Lexington’s elementary students.  Each year the ACT committees for each Lexington school arrange for live performances by talented artists, musicians, storytellers, actors, children’s authors, and other programs that are tied to grade-level curriculum.  ACT is funded by fundraisers and donations.  Look for a new family fun fundraiser this winter. Each year the goal is to raise $10,000.00 ACT’s approximate annual budget for programs at Bowman.

Big Backyard: We’d like to invite all parents to participate in the Big Backyard, a nature education program at Bowman. Under its auspices, parent volunteers lead small groups of children on seasonal explorations of Bowman’s natural environment. The program supplements the science curriculum in each grade and is a wonderful chance for you to share in your child’s education. Never done a nature walk with children? No experience is necessary! Training will be provided prior to each walk, as well as general training on conducting nature education/exploration walks with children. Look for a volunteer sign-up in your child’s classroom on Back to School Night, or contact your classroom parent.

Bingo Night: This new community building event will take place in February.  Students and their families are invited to attend for free and join in on the fun and excitement.  Look in the Broadside for details.

Book Fair: This fall fundraiser brings in funds for the school and is a great opportunity to purchase books for your children, their classrooms, the library and the specialists.

Bowman Blizzard: A silent auction and evening of dazzle.  Dig out your finery and enjoy this night of delicious hors d'oeuvres, sparkly drinks, great music, and general glitz - while raising money for Bowman School.

Box Tops:  The Box Tops for Education is an annual fund-raising program to earn cash for new computer software and supplies.  Simply clip the Box Top logos from participating General Mills, Betty Crocker, Ziploc, Hefty, Pillsbury, and Nature Valley products as well as many others and have your child place them in their classroom collection envelope. Our school gets 10 cents for each Box Top we collect! We have earned over $5,000 since 2002. The classroom who collects the most throughout the year receives a special prize.

Chess Club: This club, for students in grades 2-5, meets in the spring every Wednesday right after school. It is run by parent volunteers and a chess master. There is a charge to cover the costs for the chess master. Watch for a flyer announcing the details.

Craft Fair: Don’t miss this wonderful pre-holiday event complete with children’s crafts, gingerbread house decorating and many talented vendors including Bowman parents and staff members. There is a small charge to cover the costs of art materials.

Fall Festival: The Fall Festival is fundraiser/community building event which takes place every September. This year it will be held on Saturday, September 8^th, from 11 – 3. Fun activities include a dunk tank, midway games, crafts, field games, entertainment and food. There are many opportunities to become involved and volunteer for this event. This is a great way to meet up with old friends and make new one.

Family Math: This club is one evening/grade of family fun math games with a set curriculum.

Fifth Grade Activities: The Fifth Grade Committee organizes all special activities for the fifth grade class.

Gift Wrap: This fundraiser is held in the fall. Volunteers process orders and arrange for the distribution of the gift wrap.

Ink Cartridge Recycling: Help Bowman and the environment by recycling your empty ink jet cartridges. Our school will receive money for each eligible cartridge collected.  Just bring used cartridges and place in the collection box outside the main office.

International Festival: This event is a showcase of different countries, culture and cuisine. Volunteer for the planning committee, or to be in charge of a specific country.

Movie Nights: Once or twice each year the PTA sponsors a Movie Night. Wear your pj’s and bring your sleeping bag to watch a movie on the large screen in the gym. Pizza, popcorn and other refreshments will be available to purchase. Parents/guardians are invited to watch the movie or relax in the cafeteria.

Newcomers Gathering: The PTA reaches out to families that are new to Bowman, Lexington, and/or the US to provide them with information about activities, classes, museums, and other child-oriented pursuits at this fall event.

Safe Routes to School: Help us cut down on traffic congestion and get some exercise by walking, biking, or scooting to school. Use your own mode of transportation and join the many neighborhood groups who walk together.

School Pictures: School pictures (both individual portraits and class photos) are taken in the fall. The dates and times are published in the Broadside, and you will receive an order form in your child’s home/school folder or backpack.

Science Club: see “YES Science Club” below.

Science Fair: A wonderful night where students who choose to participate can put together a display about their scientific endeavor and demonstrate and explain the theory behind their work. This event takes place in the spring and is open to all students, K – 5.

Square Dance: Don’t miss this wonderful time of dancing and merriment. This event typically takes place during the fall/winter. This event is free.