Due to dangerous icy roads in some parts of the large geographical area served by BCD, school is closed Monday, March 7.

Week in Review

Sweet Sculptures Seventh Graders were inspired by a show of photographs at the Brattleboro Museum by Paul Shore and Nicole Root entitled Licked, Sucked, Stacked, Stuck .The show playfully plays homage to contemporary sculpture with works made from candy. The goal for this activity was for the students to look at contemporary or modern sculpture, find a work that inspired or moved them, and then recreate it in candy or other junk food. Visit the 7th Grade Arts Blog to see more of these tasty creations.

BCD Nordic Team

BCD Nordic Team members Andrea and Estevan V., Henry and Jack D. and Kendall and Quintin P.  participated with hundreds of young cross-country skiers from  all over New England  this past weekend for two days of games, races and fun on snow.

Rikert Ski Touring Center on Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf campus and the Frost Mountain Nordic Ski Club  hosted the annual TD Bank Bill Koch Festival.

Cross-country skiers ages 5-13 participated in two days of competitive and non-competitive events. Events include opening ceremony and parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday, relay races on Saturday and individual races and a lollipop race on Sunday.

Bill Koch League is a youth cross-country ski program of the New England Nordic Ski Association. Organized in local clubs across New England, Bill Koch League provides coaching, races and events for skiers age 5-13. Bill Koch from Brattleboro was the first American to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing, when he won a silver medal in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Congratulations to our BCD team and thanks to all their families that helped support our team! Go BCD!!!!!

Safety Man made an appearance on Campus with an important announcement concerning the safety of our students during drop-off and pick-up times. You can read his important instructions here.

Mardi Gras/Carnavale The World Language Department celebrated Mardi Gras/Carnavale on Wednesday, March 2 by presenting a parade, songs, tongue twisters and a skit to PS and LS. The classes celebrated early due to US trips next week. Traditionally BCD celebrates this holiday with the 5th Grade French class doing a presentation.  Due to our expansion of our World Language program by adding Spanish to our MS and US curriculum we were able to add 4th Grade French and Spanish, 5th Grade Spanish, and 8th and 9th grade Spanish I students to our celebration.

Upcoming at BCD

Saturday, March 5 Grade 8 Trip to the Everglades

Sunday, March 6 Grade 7 Trip to Washington, DC

Monday, March 7 Grade 9 Trip to Paris and Barcelona

Wednesday, March 9 Head’s Chat—Middle School Parents

Thursday, March 10 Parents’ Association Meeting

Our Spring Enrichment Program is right around the corner—now is the perfect time to plan for these exciting events! Please click here to go to our downloads page and get a copy of the 2011 Spring Enrichment Program Schedule and Sign-Up Form.

Enrollment in these classes are on a first-come first-serve basis and often are filled very quickly—so don’t delay!

The deadline to return your Planning Schedule and payment to BCD is Thursday, March 31.

Dear Parents,

Snow has created many challenges to parking, arrivals and departures.  In order for everyone to safely navigate the fewer available parking spaces and narrow roadways, following the protocols for drop-off and pick-up are critically important to avoid accidents and ensure the safety of our children.  With patience and understanding, following the basic rules listed below should help to alleviate any congestion during these times.  Please review the procedures below.  Your cooperation will help make arrivals and departures less stressful and safer for all.

Morning Drop-off

1. The morning carline is designed for drop-off only.  Please do not park and leave your car unattended.  This ensures that the line keeps moving in a timely fashion.
2. Please make sure to keep your car in a single file line and wait your turn to drop your student off at the wall.  Do not pull out around cars or cut into an open space.
3. If you desire to park and go with your child, please park across the driveway in the designated parking spaces and walk your child across to their classroom.  Preschool and Kindergarten parents may park along the split rail fence by the playground.
4. Cars are not allowed to drive up the roadway beside Oakes Hall.  There is a sign on the road “Authorized Vehicles Only”.
5. Please do not park around the Birch tree island or in front of the wall.

After School Pick-Up

1. Teachers walk students to cars.  Parents should remain in the cars.  This is to keep the carline moving to avoid backup onto Route 183.
2. In the afternoon, the carline extends around a secondary circle by Clemons Hall, beside the pond.  Please do not park and leave your car unattended in the carline.
3. It is important for all cars to travel in a single file line in and out of the school.
4. If you need to get out of your car, please park in the designated parking spaces only.  Please do not park around the Birch tree island or in front of the wall.
5. Please do not pull out around cars or cut into an open space, unless directed by a staff person.

Think Safety!

Safety Man

Week in Review

Mid-Winter Break The beginning of this week was a bit on the quite side on campus as the students enjoyed 2 days of winter break. Their return on Wednesday brought with them many happy stories of skiing, sledding, rest & relaxation, and adventures of every kind.

Upper School Production

This week also saw a flurry of activity surrounding the Upper School’s original Theater production, Rapid Eye Movement. Dress rehearsals, script memorization and last minute stage direction all occurred in preparation for the performances on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday (Friday’s performance was canceled due to weather). Please show your support (and be inspired) while attending this incredible production. Thursday and Saturday at 7:00pm, and Sunday at 1:30pm at the Winthrop Theater, 45 West Street, Lenox.

Upcoming at BCD

Tuesday, March 1 Middle School students will be invited to the pond area during recess to make yummy s’more.

Wednesday, March 2  Upper School students will be invited to the pond area during recess to make yummy s’mores.

Thursday, March 3 The Student Council will host a Middle and Upper School Pajama Day.   Grade 4-9 students may wear warm PJs and must wear shoes—no slippers. The “fee” for wearing pajamas will be to donate a canned food item. All donations will be delivered to the Great Barrington People’s Pantry. The Student Council began a drive for this organization at their Valentine’s Day Dance on Feb. 11th.

Thursday, March 3 Preschool Parent Teacher Conferences from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday, March 4 Preschool No School – Parent Teacher Conferences from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Friday, March 4 Ski Friday

Friday, February 25 performance has been cancelled.

Call time for Saturday, February 26 is 3 p.m.; performance remains at 7 p.m.

Sunday, February 27 performance added at 1:30 p.m.  Call time is 11:30 a.m., with a 5:30 p.m. set strike.

BCD  is closed today due to various road conditions and changing weather patterns.

Shh…it’s a secret! Moms of B3 students can expect a special Valentines Day surprise in the mail this weekend, sent from BCD with love.  

Preschool Class Visit Day -  BCD will be hosting a Preschool Class Visit Day on Monday, March 7 at 10:00 a.m.for families of children ages 2.5 to 4 years interested in learning more about a Berkshire Country Day School education. Children and their parents will have an opportunity to participate in a Morning Meeting with Lead Preschool Educator Ellie Atwater and her class, and then join in an art exploration project and other classroom activities. This 45-minute special opportunity will allow families to experience a “day in the life” of a Preschool student at Berkshire Country Day School by joining in the fun. Please help us spread the word. Know of a family with Preschool-age children that might like to attend? Let Amy know and she will be sure to send them an invitation.

 SAVE THE DATE: The US Theater Winter Presentation of Rapid Eye Movement is scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, February 24-26 at 7:00 p.m. at BCD’s Winthrop Theater. Come out and support our students for what promises to be another fantastic, original Upper School production. And help us spread the word about our quality theater program by inviting neighbors and friends to join you.

Reminder for Upper School families - March trip payments are due February 28.

Upcoming at BCD

Monday, February 14 – Grade 2 Theater Performance. Parents welcome.

Wednesday, February 16 – Alaska Day for Lower School students

Thursday, February 17 – Electronic Music Concert.  Parents welcome.

US Trips Meetings Rescheduled for Monday, February 7 at 7:00 p.m. – The Upper School trip leaders invite our 7^th, 8^th and 9^thgrade parents to an information meeting about the upcoming trips to Washington, D.C., the Everglades, and France/Spain. The chaperones will share trip itineraries, packing lists, medical forms, and much more important information. Please make every effort to attend. The meetings will take place in the respective homerooms: 7^th Grade in Ryan 1, 8^th Grade in Ryan 23, and 9^th Grade in Ryan 22. If you are unable to attend, do let the group leader know and they will set a time to speak with you and to make sure that you have received the information we will distribute.  All groups will hold separate meetings with their student travelers during school hours over the next few weeks.

Are you IN??? Get out your red pen and circle May 7th on your calendar.  It’s ArtSoiree!  This year’s Financial Aid fundraiser Celebrates the Arts at the beautiful Stonover Farm in Lenox . . . Fine Art, Live Music, Delectable Eats, and more.  All your friends are going, and you should too!

Pass it on: BCD will be hosting a Middle School Class Visit Day for prospective students applying for Grades 4-6 on Friday, February 25 from 8:00 a.m. -12:30 p.m. If you know of a student who would like to ‘sit in’ and experience a day in the life of a BCD student, please contact Amy Freeman with their information and she will schedule the visit.

National Latin Exam - US Parents Please Note: Latin students in Grades 7,8,9 will be taking the National Latin Exam, a required part of the curriculum, on Tuesday, March 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.  There is no makeup period or day allowed by the American Classical League.  The snow day is Wednesday, March 2, at 10:40 am.

Sports Corner - The  varsity boys and girls played Steiner this week.  Both games were close going down to the final few seconds; unfortunately, we lost.  Ski teams had a race on Friday at Catamount.  We raced against Rumsey Hall and IMS.  It was a great first race for the whole team.  The cross-country ski team continued to have a great showing on the course with Rebecca VdM having her first race!

  Second Grade Fiesta -Second Grade has been studying Mexico since January. A wonderful connection was made today when Tracy Harrison, Wahconah High School’s Spanish teacher, brought her class to second grade to teach the children Spanish numbers and colors. The Wahconah students planned the lesson and took turns teaching different sections. There was a lively game of Bingo, followed by one of Grade 2′s favorite activities, coloring with their new amigos. 

Upcoming at BCD

• Wednesday, February 9 – Preschool Head’s Chat, 8:05 a.m., Library
• Monday, February 14 - Grade 2 Theater Performance