Inspiring all learners to positively impact their world.
Click here for MARCH 1st Announcements
Dear Bingham Families,
It is hard to believe we are coming up to a full year of managing the school years under Covid circumstances. It is also a time right now where we are simultaneously planning for the next few weeks, next few months and next year trying to strike a delicate balance of normal, transitions and safety. One thing that has remained consistent is the strength of our partnership and Team Bingham during this time. Thank you for your continued commitment and support for our school community. We are truly living into “better together”. Go Eagles!
During the next few weeks, we will begin discussing transitioning students back to a full face to face including school wide procedures. It would be appropriate at this time, to begin the conversation with your child if they are returning to full face to face about how things will be changing again soon with full days of school, more students in classrooms, lunch at school and different safety precautions. This way, as we share more information, you can help us by helping your child process the new information.
Simultaneously, we are excited about the more normal things happening around school. Next week we begin our focus on ‘March is Reading Month’ with a variety of activities for our community of learners to engage in. On Tuesday night, we will host our “Build a Mascot Night” where we learn about our Eagle Mascot with a partnership with Howell Nature Center and build our own Eagles brought to us by PTA.
It is no secret that the Bald Eagle is known as a symbol of great strength, leadership and vision. A little less known fact is that the Eagle also has two centers of focus. This gives the ability to see forward and to the side simultaneously. It is no wonder that our community of Eagles has been able to manage the multiple focus areas during the past year. I anticipate the next few weeks and months to be no different as we soar together through yet another transition.
Have a wonderful week!
Joanna
Proud Principal
Technology Return
Families who have held onto the original laptops or iPads distributed (early Fall) – not the Chromebooks - are being asked to return your devices and chargers. Virtual families feel welcome to bring them up to school during deployment, or anytime during our daytime office hours of 9-4. Hybrid students can bring them to school at any point.
Media Center Update
March is Reading Month – Reading is our Lucky Charm
We are so excited for our March is Reading Month activities!
· Our goal is to READ READ READ and fill a wall of our school with a Reading Rainbow! Each student has been given paper stars to write the title of the books they read along with their name. Each grade level has different colored stars. We will be using the month of March to fill a wall with a rainbow of evidence of our students reading. As you read, send your stars into school.
· This year we are also partnering our reading activities with a service project of collecting new cereal boxes to donate to local food pantries. Our goal is to collect enough cereal boxes to set a ‘domino path’ around the school to celebrate our reading and service. Our final activity with be a cereal size domino box fall around the halls of the school.
Picture Retake Day
Wednesday, March 3rd in our Multi-Purpose Room (cafeteria) from 3:00 – 5:30.
If your child missed picture day, please stop in - you can order pictures at THIS LINK with the school code 2020BFARMS.
If you would like to have your child’s picture retaken, please bring your packet in with your child during retake time.
No appointments are needed, and safety measures will be observed.
Noon Aide All Call
We are in need of support and help during the middle part of day with lunch/recess.
Please spread the word for our need of noon aides.
Hybrid Students
Clear to Go Window
Clear to Go Remind
We cannot thank you enough for your support to follow all guidelines and protocols to keep our students and staff safe. Just a quick reminder regarding the Clear to Go procedures and protocols. Please follow the Clear to Go guidelines below to allow for the most efficient entry for your student into school each day.
Clear to Go must be completed each day for every staff and student entering the building. We need about 35 minutes to process the information and identify individuals who have not submitted a successful Clear to Go check. Your child’s Clear to Go can be submitted 18 hours before the start of the school day. If your child’s symptoms change after submitting a Clear to Go entry, you can resubmit a new entry at any time (you do not need to wait for the last entry to expire). Please use the following the timeline for each cohort below:
|
Cohort |
Beginning |
Deadline |
In person Cohort |
|
Cohort A |
3:05 P.M. the day before |
8:30 A.M. |
9:05 A.M. |
|
Cohort B |
7:20 P.M. the day before |
12:45 P.M. |
1:20 P.M. |
Chromebook Distribution
We are asking all students to take a district issued chromebook because is has the assessment apps needed for future assessments, will be the technology utilized in the hybrid schedule and the helpdesk support will be wrapped around this device. Click HERE to find a short document to help you get up and running with the new device.
Here are 2 video that may be helpful:
Chromebooks may also require update once at home,
please follow THESE INSTRUCTIONS to be sure your device is updated.
If you were unable to pick up the new Chromebook for your child(ren), please Vanessa O'Connor to make arrangements to do so. Before she is able to release a Chromebook to you, the Elementary Chromebook User Agreement Form HERE will need to be completed for each child. You will not receive a Chromebook until this form is completed for each child in the home.
A Message From Our Counselor
Small Group Sign Up
Attention 4th and 5th grade families. I will be starting a small group called Coping with Covid. The group will be focused on wellness during this difficult and strange time. We will be learning coping techniques based on cognitive-behavior therapy and mindfulness! If you would like your student to be considered for the group, please fill out THIS FORM.
Does your child want to participate in virtual Lunch Bunch with Mrs. Landfair? Lunch Bunch gives students an opportunity to share, connect, and learn in a smaller group setting. Meetings will be held via Zoom and start the first week of Novemeber for 20-25 minutes during lunch time. If you would like your child to participate, please fill out THIS FORM.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at kdreyer@birmingham.k12.mi.us
If you have questions or concerns.
Katie Landfair
Elementary Counselor
Click HERE to fill out Counselor Referral Form
All School Meals Are Free
Please check out THIS LINK to learn more!
2020/21 School Supplies
for Virtual Learning
KDG Virtual Supplies 1st GRD Virtual Supplies
2nd GRD Virtual Supplies 3rd GRD Virtual Supplies
4th GRD Virtual Supplies 5th GRD Virtual Supplies
PTA News
Next Virtual PTA Meeting
March 12th, 7:00 pm
Membership Toolkit is where you can update your student's teachers, order spirit wear, pay your yearly PTA dues and class party funds. Please visit our Bingham Farms PTA Membership page and make sure you're getting the most out of your Team Bingham experience.
Click THIS LINK to check out the PTA membership website.
Community Education News
Preschool Registration
Registration for children currently enrolled at any BPS Elementary Preschool Program (and any younger siblings) begins at 9:00 a.m, January 19, 2021 and runs through 11:59 p.m., January 29, 2021.
Priority will be given to current BPS Preschool Families.
Registrations are accepted in the order received.
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Kids Club will be closed until further notice.
Please see this letter from
the district regarding more information.
Questions? Please contact Cindy Blakely, Community School Organizer
248.203.3382 , cblakely@birmingham.k12.mi.us
Bingham Farms Elementary is a wonderfully diverse school with a cozy, family atmosphere. In recent years, our total enrollment averages 300 with class sizes averaging 20 students!
We pride ourselves on helping our students develop academically, socially, and emotionally. Bingham takes character education seriously, and we strive to "Be our Bingham Best" all day every day! The Bingham Best touchstones reflect the core values of our school:
RESPECT, KINDNESS, RESPONSIBILITY, and HONESTY.
These traits of good character are displayed around the school on pillars, in classrooms, and on our Bingham eagle posters. Most importantly, they are displayed regularly by the students in our school.
Many of these lessons culminate when the upper-elementary students serve as buddies to younger grades. The older students read to the younger ones, help them with team-building activities, and more. Bingham also recently introduced the Eagle’s Nest program to build on our family atmosphere. Students meet in K-5 nest groups where they create mascots and get to know other teachers. The Eagle’s Nests meet for some assemblies, meetings, and other enrichment activities. Students get to know more people from other grades, allowing for friendships and mentorships to develop across the building!
Curriculum & Enrichment
Our highly qualified staff is committed to helping each student discover their highest potential. We provide students with intellectually challenging instruction in math, literacy, science, and social studies, all with integrated technological and collaborative teaching methods. This core curriculum is complemented by extraordinary art, music, physical education, Spanish, and media classes. Along with the rich curriculum, we offer myriad enrichment opportunities both on and off site like Math Pentathlon, Battle of the Books, Science Olympiad, the fifth grade camp trip, a third grade field trip to the Capitol in Lansing, and more! You will often see our parking lot full as we host numeracy, literacy, and diversity nights during the year.
If you are a prospective Bingham family, please visit Prospective Families on the Birmingham Public Schools website for more details and to learn more about our enrolling process. Tours will resume once restrictions allow us to safely do so. At that time, arrange for tours by contacting Community School Organizer, Cindy Blakely, at (248) 203-3382, or via email by clicking HERE
See our Preschool page for more information. Come see what our wonderful preschool has to offer! For more information or to schedule a tour, contact Cindy Blakely, CBlakely@birmingham.k12.mi.us or 248-203-3382.
