We had another great week at BCD. Here is some news to use!

Volunteers Needed for the Apple Squeeze & Harvest Festival!
It is fall in the Berkshires and that means that BCD Office of Admission will have a booth at your favorite fairs! Please join me in greeting current and prospective BCD families, and creating arts and crafts. Just an hour of your time on a beautiful fall weekend in the Berkshires would be much appreciated. Please come into the BCD Office of Admission to sign up for a time slot or email me at afreeman@berkshirecountryday.org

Come by to say hello, volunteer, or use the BCD booth as a meeting place!

Lenox Apple Squeeze
Saturday, September 24th, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, September 25th, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Harvest Festival
Berkshire Botanical Gardens*
Saturday, October 1st, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, October 2nd, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

*new location over by the stairs to the food court

Stop and Shop A+ Rewards
Each time your use your Stop & Shop Card from 10/7/11 through 3/29/12, BCD will earn A+ School Rewards. Register at StopandShop.com/aplus – BCD’s school code is 09643.

Parents’ Association Volunteer Sign-up Form
Parent volunteers are a huge resource and provide the necessary support needed for our school community events. Over the course of the school year there are many opportunities to get involved, whether you have a little or a lot of time. Please use the link below to submit your volunteer choices.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHdmZ3BDMnNzVS1EN2l1T050SmlhM3c6MQ

Upcoming Calendar Items
Sat Sep 17
5:00 p.m.  High Spirits Parent Gathering, ends at 7 p.m. (moved inside to Fitzpatrick Hall)
Tue Sep 20
8:30 a.m.  Grade K to Magic Wings Conservatory, returning at 1:30 p.m.
Wed Sep 21
11:55 a.m.  Grade 4 Lunch Bunch
3:30 p.m.   JVB Soccer vs IMS Home PPU 5 p.m.
3:30 p.m.  Grade 5 Soccer vs IMS Away PPU 6 p.m. (dismissal 1:50)
Thu Sep 22
8:15 a.m.  Admission Marketing Committee , ending at 9:15 a.m.
8:20 a.m.  Grade 6 trip to Olana, returning at 2:30 p.m.
11:25 a.m.  Grade 8 Lunch Bunch
6:15 p.m.  Back to School Night Grades B3-3, ending at 8:15 p.m.
Fri Sep 23
8:10 a.m.  Development Committee Meeting
11:55 a.m.  Grade 6 Lunch Bunch
3:30 p.m.  VB Soccer vs IMS Home PPU 5 p.m.
3:30 p.m.  VG Soccer vs IMS Home PPU 5 p.m.
Sat Sep 24
10:00 a.m.  Lenox Apple Squeeze – Stop by the BCD Booth and say hello!
Sun Sep 25
10:00 a.m.  Lenox Apple Squeeze – Stop by the BCD Booth and say hello!
Mon Sep 26
3:30 p.m.  JVB Soccer vs Steiner Home PPU 5 p.m.
Tue Sep 27
3:30 p.m.  VB Soccer vs Pine Cobble Home PPU 5 p.m.
Wed Sep 28
11:25 a.m.  Grade 2 Lunch Bunch
Thu Sep 29
No School – Rosh Hashanah
Fri Sep 30
2:15 p.m.  Anti-Gravity all-school assembly
3:30 p.m.  JVB Soccer vs IMS AWAY PPU 6 p.m. (dismissal 1:45)
3:30 p.m.  VG Soccer vs Steiner Away PPU 5:30 p.m. (dismissal 2:30)
3:30 p.m.  VB Soccer vs Steiner Away PPU 5:30 p.m. dismissal 2:30)
Sat Oct 1
10:00 a.m.  Harvest Festival – Stop by the BCD Booth to say hello!
12-4 p.m.  US Theater set build at Winthrop
Sun Oct 2
10:00 a.m.  Harvest Festival – Stop by the BCD Booth to say hello!

Where you need to go for what you need to know about BCD!

MyBCD is populated with time-sensitive news and information, calendars, photos, videos, homework assignments, and more!  We ask that ALL parents add this page to your Favorites and check in daily or subscribe via email or your favorite RSS reader in order to have the most up-to-date information.

Highlights
• All-school and sports calendars that you can sync with your personal calendar
• Links to each grade where individual class information can be found, including newsletters and homework
• Sports signup forms for various sports throughout the year
• PDFs of school publications such as the Program of Studies, Parent and Student Handbook, medical forms, and secondary school information available for easy download

Click this link to Get Started!

Welcome back!

After-School Study Hall
We are pleased to announce that Alicia Rossie will be proctoring our after-school study hall for Grades 4-9 in the library.  This study hall is available Mondays – Fridays from 3 – 5:30 p.m. Alicia has experience teaching students of a range of age levels and is very enthusiastic about supporting our students as they complete homework during this time. We have known Alicia for several years now, as she has worked with us in secondary school placement in her most recent role of Admissions Counselor at the College of Bard at Simon’s Rock. Families should contact BCD’s front office to pre-register their child for the study hall. Drop-ins are also welcome, but please notify the front office by 1p.m. that day. A fee of $8 per hour is charged for this service.

Pizza Fridays
You can still sign your student(s) up for Pizza Fridays,  On these days, the ninth grade class delivers pizza and juice to students who order food.  This year’s dates are September 16, October 28, November 18, December 9, January 13, February 17, April 20, and May 11.  Please return this form and a check to Melissa Kruse by Tuesday, September 6.  NOTE: Changes to Pizza Friday orders will be accepted for one week after the first Pizza Friday, which is September 16.  After September 23, no changes may be made to orders.

Fall Enrichment
There are a few spots available in each of our Fall Enrichment classes.  Please turn in your form as soon as possible.

Bus Laws
Please note that the same laws apply in the BCD driveway and parking lot – you may not pass a school bus when its stop sign is extended or its lights are flashing!  Bus drivers are legally responsible for reporting offenders to the police  – it is an automatic $250 fine and your insurance company will apply a surcharge.

Upcoming Calendar Items
Tue Sep 6      
3:00 p.m.  Sports, Study Hall and US Theater begins
Wed Sep 7    
8:15 a.m.  Head’s Chat – Preschool parents
6:30 p.m.  After School Instrumental Program Presentation
Thu Sep 8      
5:30 p.m.  Committee on Trustees and Governance Meeting
7:00 p.m.  Board of Trustees Meeting
Fri Sep 9        
2:15 p.m.  Assembly
Tue Sep 13    
8:15 a.m.  Buildings and Grounds Committee Meeting
3:30 p.m. VB Soccer vs Pine Cobble Away PPU 6  p.m. (dismissal 1:45)
5:15 p.m.  Fall Theater Volunteer Parent Meeting, Ryan 21
6:00 p.m.  Back to School Night Grades 4-9
Wed Sep 14  
8:15 a.m.  Head’s Chat – Upper School parents
Thu Sep 15    
8:00 a.m.  Admission Marketing Committee
8:15 a.m.  Parents’ Association Steering Committee meeting, Band Room
Fri Sep 16      
Pizza Friday Lunch
3:30 p.m.  VB Soccer vs Mt. Everett Away PPU 6:00 (dismissal 2:30)
3:30 p.m.  VG Soccer vs Mt. Everett Away PPU 6:00 (dismissal 2:30)
Sat Sep 17     
5:00 p.m.  High Spirits Parent Gathering

Please spread the word: Tell your friends about BCD’s upcoming Admission Open House scheduled for Friday, August 5 at 9 a.m.

Berkshire Country Day School will be holding an Admission Open House on Friday, August 5 at 9 a.m. for families interested in learning more about a BCD education. Guests will have an opportunity to tour the campus and classroom buildings, and have one-on-one conversations with the Head of School and administration.

All students at BCD are encouraged to read widely this summer. We want children to love reading, and summer is the ideal time to explore, enrich and grow.

Please check  your child’s required and suggested reading for this coming school year by clicking on the 2011 Summer Reading link located to the right of this post—all required summer reading books are listed within the document.

The lists for Preschool and Lower School students, for whom summer reading is encouraged but not required, suggest appropriate books for their reading and/or listening pleasure.

All children entering Grades 3 through 9 are required:

1. to read at least four books during the summer and
2. to be prepared to write reports on them in the fall.

The Summer Reading Lists have been sent to The Bookstore in Lenox, The Bookloft in Great Barrington, the Chatham Bookstore, Barnes & Noble in Pittsfield, and all of the public libraries in the region. Most titles are readily available in any bookstore or library. Keep in mind that used bookstores are wonderful places to save money, recycle, and enjoy the luxury of an inexpensive hardcover copy!

Please contact Carmen Dockery Perkins at cdockeryperkins@berkshirecountryday.org with any questions.

It was a great celebration of BCD’s Upper School and 9th grade graduates at the Awards and Graduation Ceremony held June 10.  Parents, faculty, friends and students gathered for the presentation of academic prizes, graduation remarks and presentation of diplomas.

The following academic prizes were awarded:

ARTS DEPARTMENT

• Dawn Masiero Graphics Prize Hallie N.
• Marilyn Orner Cromwell Art Prize Julia R.
• Viv Murray Caputo Music Prize – Vocal: Ayla H. and Abigail S.; Instrumental: Charlie C.
• Theater Ensemble Prize William B. and Isabelle R.
• Digital Filmmaking Prize Sam B.  and Helena B.

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

• Seventh Grade English Prize Harper G. and Emma L.
• Steffi Fletcher Creative Writing Prize Ayla H.
• G. James Fawcett English Prize Julia R.

HISTORY DEPARTMENT

• United States History Prize Emma L.
• Excellence in History Prize Isabelle R.
• Ramsbotham History Prize Julia R.

LATIN DEPARTMENT

• Eugénie D. Fawcett Classics Prize Sam K., Emma L. and Jacob L.
• Marcia V. Jones Latin Prize Jack D. and Samantha S.
• Philip Potter Classics Prize Helena B. and Julia R.

MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT

• Nancy Cowhig Growth in Mathematics Prize Elise G.
• Ned Douglas Mathematics Prize Julia B.
• Adeline Cowhig Mathematics Prize  Julia R.

WORLD LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

• Seventh Grade Growth in French Prize Margaret B.
• Anna Zaffanella French Prize Jasper C.-K. and Isabelle R.
• Madame Grad French Prize Julia R.
• Excellence in Spanish Prize Nicholas S.

SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

• Seventh Grade Science Prize Emma L. and Jacob L.
• Eighth Grade Science Prize Nicholas S.
• Thomson Science Prize William B.

BUTLER ACADEMIC PRIZE

• Julia R.

CITIZENSHIP

• Virginia I. Peterson Citizenship Award Fiona D.
• Gulick Citizenship Award Hallie N. and Abigail S.
• Judge Citizenship Award Julian M. and Quintin P.
• Donald T. Oakes Award Victoria F.

AND CONGRATULATIONS TO BCD’S CLASS OF 2011!

• William B.
• Sam B.
• Helena B,
• Charlie C.
• Victoria F.
• Mary Grace M.
• Julian M.
• Harrison N.
• Camilla N.
• Halina P.
• Quintin P.
• Casey P.
• Julia R.
• Skylar W.

A Joyful Farewell!

A happy year of memories came to a joyful close as the much anticipated ringing of the old school bell was heard by all—signifying the official end to the 2010-2011 school year. The clangs of the bell were quickly replaced by a spontaneous (and continuous) shout from the students—a noise so exuberant and loud that it compelled some to cover their ears!!

It has been a year of great friends . . .

. . . great faculty and staff . . .

. . . and memories of all kinds. Have a safe and wonderful summer!

Click on the image to read this issue of the Penguinette.

BCD student journalists have been working during the club period to produce the second issue of this year’s Penguinette. Take a moment to read the fascinating stories, poems and antidotes compiled and created by our students by clicking on the image above.

Upcoming

Friday, June 10 TODAY! Graduation and Awards Ceremony, required attendance for Gr 7-9 3:30pm

Saturday, June 18 65th Anniversary and Alumni Reunion 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Fun & Field Day!

Let the races begin! And we did during our annual Fun and Field Day! Fun activities, cook-out, snow cones, and yearbook presentation were just a few of the day’s events. Each year the annual yearbook, the Penguin, is dedicated to a special faculty or staff member and this knowledge is a closely guarded secret until the final unveiling—this year was no exception, with the secret being kept by the Pirates of the SS Penguin . . . Arrrrrrrr!! And this year’s dedication goes to: Mrs. Meyer!

The Drew Drew Bridges Memorial Film Festival was a huge success. The evening’s events featured film shorts by Upper School Film Students and Alumni. Catch some highlights by viewing the following video:

A Farewell Our amazing and cheerful Coree Reid is retiring this year. This week the entire student body surprised Mrs. Reid with a royal fanfare and with the bestowing of many gifts, memories and mementos. Mrs. Reid will be greatly missed by all!

Upcoming

Friday, June 3 BCD Music & Me 9:oo am; Gr 8 and 9 lunch sponsored by Development; Grade 6 Lunch Bunch; Board and Board Committee gathering CANCELED

Monday, June 6 Grade 7-9 exams; End of After School Spring Enrichment Classes

Tuesday, June 7 Grade 7-9 exams; Grade 5 Art Lunch Party Presentation for Family and Friends followed by lunch bunch and party for students only 11:45am – 12:30pm; Last late bus day – Pittsfield and South County

Wednesday, June 8 Grade 7-9 exams; Last Day of School – Year end picnic; Dismissal, parent pick-up and buses depart 1:10pm; Grade 6-9 Dance 7:30pm – 10:00pm

Thursday, June 9 Committee on Trustees and Governance meeting 5:30pm – 7:00pm; Board of Trustees Meeting 7pm – 9pm

Friday, June 10 Graduation and Awards Ceremony, required attendance for Gr 7-9 3:30pm – 6:00pm

Saturday, June 18 65th Anniversary and Alumni Reunion 1pm – 4pm

History Fair This week BCD students marked the 150th Anniversary of the start of the American Civil War with the 4th Annual Civil War Encampment as part of History Fair. Period costumes, authentic meals, and civil war weapons were seen by all as bystanders received the opportunity to take a glimpse into American history.

Stage And Film Ensemble Banquet A magical evening was greatly enjoyed by those involved in BCD’s stage and film programs last week. Thank you to all the hardworking parents, students and teachers who made it happen!

ArtSoiree Photos Are Available! If you’d like to review some of the great photos from ArtSoirée, there are two websites worth checking out! Photographer Ed Acker has made his photos available on www.collages.net. The username is Artsoiree, and the password is 8291. Images are for sale. Berkshire Eagle photographer Susan Geller has also loaded images here. Just scroll down to the “Archives” section and click on the first photo on the left (of co-chairs Donna Kittredge and Marianna Poutasse). That will bring you to the ArtSoirée section.

Upcoming Events

Monday, May 30 No School – Memorial Day

Tuesday, May 31 Field Day Practice 3:05pm; Scene Study Arts Block presentation, parents invited 1pm – 2pm

Wednesday, June 1 Fun & Field Day

Thursday, June 2 Development Steering Committee Meeting 8:15am; Parents’ Association meeting 8:15am; Grade 1 Young Authors Assembly—parents invited 8:30am; Finance Committee Meeting 5:30pm; Executive Committee Meeting 6:15pm

Friday, June 3 BCD Music & Me 9:oo am; Gr 8 and 9 lunch sponsored by Development; Grade 6 Lunch Bunch; Board and Board Committee gathering 5:30pm – 7:00pm

Please join us for the student-led Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk for the Cure on Friday, May 27th. Grades K-3 will walk from 1:25-2:30 during school hours. Grades 4-9 may walk from 3:00-4:30 with PPU at 4:40. There is no late bus. Students distributed forms to sign up for the walk. Please come out to support our classmates with Juvenile Diabetes and the JDRF!