Newsletter 10/18/2024

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Spookarama Update! *NEW*

Hi BCS Community - It’s scary how soon Spookarama is coming up, and we’re here to haunt you with the event details!

In this newsletter, we've included the following updates:

1. Please attend - and come hungry! This event is open to our BCS students, teachers, and staff and their friends and family, and is our largest (and longest running) community event. See event details below.

2. Please help provide treats for Musical Scares: The Treat Trot! The more we have, the longer this fan favorite lasts! This year, we’re asking you to use a Sign Up Genius so we can get our numbers correct.

3. Please sign-up for a volunteer shift for the Elementary Carnival and the Middle School Party  - reminder, you need to complete a background check in advance. (Read on for some tricks to this)

4. Know before you go - read below to understand what to expect and help prep your students.

5. We’ve eliminated wristband sales to remove barriers to entry for our BCS community, but if you’re able, please consider a donation to support the PTA.

DONATE NOW

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Treat Trot Donations Needed! *NEW*

What is it? Participants walk in a circle until the music stops and winners who land on the lucky numbers can literally take the cake (or donuts or cookies)!

What we need: We are seeking community donations of cakes, cupcakes, donuts, and cookies - or whatever other treat you’d like to donate. These should be pre-packaged—think sack of cookies or carton of mini cupcakes or donuts you might find at Fred Meyer in the bakery. Nut free is ideal. We will need a variety of gluten free options as well. Please ensure your package includes at least 2 or more treats. The fun of it for the kids is sugary excess!

What to do: Drop off your packaged treats at the Beverly Cleary Fernwood office on Friday (10/25) before 3:30 p.m. Please do not donate any items that would need to be refrigerated. We will split the treats between the Carnival and Middle School Night.

SIGN-UP HERE

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Spookarama ELEMENATRY CARNIVAL Volunteers Needed! *REMINDER*

We have a variety of needs! Our carnival will be as big as our volunteers allow - so please consider taking on a game or helping transform the school.  Volunteers opportunities include:

• Day of: Decorations and Set Up
• At the Event: Games, Welcome Table, Security, Clean Up How?
• Games - these are preplanned, and the supplies are already on site. For set up, you’ll prep your space and ensure supplies are ready to go. If you’re running a game, you’ll help instruct younger participants, organize the line, and award the prizes (we have those, too!)
• Decorations - you’ll check in with our lead, who will provide direction
• Welcome table - you’ll greet attendees and direct them to key areas
• Guest Services & Saftey - you’ll help with crowd control and behavior against our code of conduct

Middle Schoolers can help, too! We would love a few more 6th, 7th, and 8th grade volunteers.

• Assist Spookarama games during the event
• Clean up crew after the event
•  Help decorate and set up games
• Provide peer guide support as needed

Where do middle schoolers sign up? Middle school sign-up sheets are located next to Ms. Kob’s office door. Encourage your middle schooler to sign up by October 23rd.

ELEMENTARY CARNIVAL VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP 

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Spookaram Elementary Carnival: Know Before You Go! *NEW*

Food and Beverage

• Blind Onion Pizza - Gluten Free and Vegan Options included, $5 a slice. Purchase with cash or card.
• Drinks - Bottled water, soda, juice, $1 each. Purchase with cash or card.
• Salad - $3 Purchase with cash or card.

Haunted House

We’ll offer a gentler version of the haunted house from 5:30 - 6:15 p.m., and anyone experiencing sensory issues may request the strobe lights turned off.

Event Activity

We know part of the Spookarama experience is the carnival environment! Please do talk with your students beforehand about:

• Being respectful of the building and our volunteers
• Plans to meet up if you’re separated
• Costume expectations
• High noise and activity levels in the carnival and haunted house
• Quieter options in our quiet activity space

We can’t wait to see you all at Spookarama soon!

Friday, October 25th

Early Entry at 5:30pm is for K-2 and for ISC Students Experience Sensory Avoidance. All other students enter starting at 6:15 p.m. Event ends at 8 p.m.

LEARN MORE

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Spookarama Midde School Party: Event Details! *NEW*

New this year! A dedicated Spookarama Halloween Party for our middle school students.

Spookarama Middle School Night is sure to be frightfully fun! Students can expect:

• Dancing will be happening in the Cafeteria with a really awesome DJ.
• They will end the night there with our beloved treat trot.
• Meanwhile there will be all sorts of fun games happening in the West Gym. For each game you play you will receive a ticket to put in a raffle.
• At the end of the night they will draw out the three winning tickets and they will each receive a prize!
• Pizza, chips, candy and soda will be for sale, cash only!
• Last but not least there will be a Halloween Movie playing in the East Gym along with a Fortune Teller to read your palm!!!

Come join us for a spooky fun night! Parents please go over our code of conduct with your kids so we can all have a fun night!  

We need parent volunteers to make this night happen! Please click on the link below and pick a volunteer spot! We have lots of options and it's going to be a really fun night!

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions: community@beverlyclearyschool.org.

MIDDLE SCHOOL PARTY VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP

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Spookarama Toy Drive! *REMINDER*

In an effort to keep plastic waste at a minimum, we are collecting your small toys -- leftover party favors, stickers and tattoos, gumball machine trinkets, etc. -- to give them a second life as Spookarama game prizes! Please keep donations small, under 2 square inches. Donation box is in the office!

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Steeplejack Brewing Co. Fundraising Night: Tuesday, October 29, 3pm to 10pm *SAVE THE DATE*

Please join us for a BCS community dine-out night at Steeplejack Brewing Co. on Tuesday, October 29th between 3pm and 10pm. Steeplejack will donate 10% of all food and 15% of Steeplejack beer (including canned beer) sales to BCS PTA. This includes all food (dine-in only) and beer (dine-in and take-out).

LEARN MORE

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PTA Meeting Update *NEW*

At its general meeting this week, the PTA approved allocating its $3,000 external equity funds to Scott School PTA. Scott is a Title 1 school in NE Portland with both an active community and many challenges. The BCS PTA's contribution will help defray the cost of installing a new PA system, which is greatly needed to improve communication with its diverse community, particularly when using language interpreters. You can learn more about their request here. We are grateful to be in a position to promote inclusivity at other schools in the furtherance of our mission. Thank you to all who financially support the BCS PTA and make these donations possible.

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Volunteer Coordinator Needed *NEW*

Volunteer coordinator lead needed! This support role is vital to ensure the smooth running of PTA programs. It does not require meeting attendance. Help to identify volunteers, in partnership with the board and event leads, to fill roles. Post needs in our website, newsletter and on Facebook, work closely with event leads, help direct new volunteers. Contact membership@beverlyclearypta.org.

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Seeking Staff Appreciation Lead *REMINDER*

We are seeking a lead for Staff Appreciation activities this year. Are you creative and organized? Do you have a couple of hours a month to take the lead on a Conference Night potluck, Stock the Staff Room treat weeks, and Teacher/Staff appreciation week in May? We already have a plan for the year and need someone to execute the details with a team of other volunteer. Email edsupport@beverlyclearyschool.org if interested.

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Grant Choir 8th Grade Preview Night *NEW*

The Grant Choir Program is hosting an interactive preview night and every 8th grader who is considering attending Grant next year is invited! Join us in the Grant Choir room (281) on Wednesday, October 30th from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. 8th graders will get to sing with current Grant Choir students, learn about the opportunities vocal music at Grant can provide, ask questions, and enjoy free cupcakes! Even if your student has no singing experience, or you think they would ""never join something like choir,"" please consider attending – choir is one of the most popular, fun, inclusive, and supportive elective programs Grant has to offer and there are students from all walks of life enthusiastically enrolled in the program. For more information, please see the link below or email the director John Eisemann (jeisemann@pps.net).

LEARN MORE

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PTA Fall Membership Drive *REMINDER*

Thank you to those of you who have joined - we can't do it without you! If you've been meaning to join the PTA for the 2024-2025 school year, please take 5 minutes now to join! (Reminder: memberships need to be renewed each school year). And if you're still considering, please know that BCS’ PTA supports critical academic needs, is an active voice in decisions that impact your child’s health, safety, and quality of education, and builds a stronger, more inclusive school community.

JOIN NOW

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BCS Bike Bus Every Wednesday *REMINDER*

Beverly Cleary School is has a bike bus! Beverly Cleary School students (and their adults) are invited to “get on the bus” and enjoy an active, social way of getting to school every Wednesday. See the link below for meet-up times and locations. Participants can also join the Bike Bus from any location along the route.

LEARN MORE

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Join the PTA Parent Portal *REMINDER*

The PTA is inviting (and asking) new families to sign up for a free account on our website. An account will give you: access to and inclusion in the school directory, access to volunteer sign up forms, and configuration of your student(s) fundraising pages for the upcoming Fun Run Joining the PTA is optional after this, but we welcome that too! Questions? Reach out to webmaster@beverlyclearyschool.org. Thank you!

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