Posted by Gwen Connolly on Tuesday, September 6th 2011
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
Posted by Amy Elmore on Friday, September 2nd 2011
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
Posted by Gwen Connolly on Wednesday, July 20th 2011
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:
to read at least four books during the summer and
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.
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
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 weekBCD 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 BanquetA 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!
BCD Summer Camp Its that time again! BCD offers two programs for students the two weeks after end of the school year. The first is a two-week day camp and the other is a one week theater workshop. Please click the following links to open the registration and sign-up information for the programs: BCD Day Camp | BCD Theater Workshop. We would love for your child to attend!
Spring Music Concert The Middle and Upper School Spring Music Concert is this Friday, May 20th at 1:30 p.m. in Fitzpatrick Hall. The concert has a tremendous line-up of talent with performances including: Vocal ensemble, Chorus, Piano Solo, Percussion Ensemble, Band, Guitar, Caribbean Music and much more!
Around the World Everyday at BCD, diversity is woven into the fabric of our teaching. Our children begin French when they are three, Spanish in fourth grade and they can add Latin studies in 6th grade. Lower School students “visit” a new country every month in Library. History and literature studies are in depth and cover a wide range of cultures, ethnicities and time frames. In music this year, we have looked at songs in many different languages from around the world. The video above presents some of our favorites.
Hello? Hello? May I help you?!
Upcoming at BCD
The Drew Film Festival is this weekend! The Drew Bridges Memorial Film Festival is this Friday and Saturday, May 20th and 21st at 7:00 p.m. at Winthrop Theater located at 45 West Street, Lenox. The evenings events will feature film shorts by Upper School Film Students and Alumni. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Donations accepted at the door.
Sports Equipment Swap (Thursday, May 19th and Friday, May 20th). Please bring any used, but clean and in good condition spring / summer sports equipment (including footwear but not clothing: please no bicycles or ski equipment). Great examples include items such as cleats, helmets, baseball bats, tennis rackets and more! There will be tables set up outside the Gym, under the overhang starting at drop off on Thursday. Please drop off and select items for your child/children anytime over the 2 day period. Please note any items left over at the end of the day Friday will go to both charity and a second hand store for possible resale for the school.
Friday, May 20 Spring Music Concert in Fitzpatrick Hall at 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 24 Scene Study Arts Block presentation, parents invited. 1pm – 2pm; Grade 3 to Berkshire Museum – times tentative: 9am – 1pm
Thursday, May 26 Gr 7 History Fair presentation to students 1:40 LS and 1:45 to MS/US; Presentation to Parents 5:15 p.m.- 6:15 p.m.; Ellen Dilthey, demonstration of piano lessons, Furey 3:15pm – 4:30pm
Friday, May 27 Spring Fling $2 Dress Down Day May 27, 12am – Sat, May 28, 12am; Pancake Lunch 11:30am – 12:40pm; Kids Walk for JDRF, gr 4 – 9, 3:30, 4:30 PPU
Where you need to go for what you need to know about BCD!
