Principal Mark McAneny ​mmcaneny@arlington.k12.ma.

us
Assistant Principal Eva Liner ​eliner@arlington.k12.ma.us

Bishop Weekly Update: February 6, 2020

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
TONIGHT ​2/13 (Thu)​: ​Bishop School Advisory Council Meeting 5:00pm-6:00pm​ - Agenda Items
Include: ​Public Comment​, ​School Handbook Development Update​, ​Registration Numbers for
2020-21 Update​, ​Bishop Diversity and Inclusion Group Update
2/17 - 2/21 (Mon-Fri):​ February Vacation Week
3/4 (Wed): ​Open PTO Meeting
3/6 (Fri): ​Spirit (Wear) Day
3/14 (Sat): ​DIG Cultural Event
March Tuesdays:​ Eat Out at Not Your Average Joe’s

Save the Date:

4/14 (Tue): ​Bishop Science Night
4/16 (Thu):​ Bishop Art Show
6/15 (Mon): ​5th Grade Recognition

In This Issue:

PRINCIPAL’S CORNER

PTO NEWS
Bishop PTO Annual Fund Appeal
URGENT NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS
Arlington Eats Donations

PTO-SPONSORED EVENTS
February Enrichment Activities
Bishop Play 2020, Honk, Jr!
Bishop Shout Outs
Call for Student Artists

COMMUNITY NEWS

KEEP UP TO DATE
 PRINCIPAL’S CORNER
Winter Break Message
On behalf of the entire Bishop staff, I wish you a happy, healthy, and safe Winter Break. It is my hope that
you and your family are able to get some work-free, quality days together next week.

Rainbow Alliance Club Established at the Bishop;

An After School Club for Students
The Rainbow Alliance Club creates a safe space for the LGBTQ+ and ally community to develop skills to
support and express diversity.
The RAC’s goal is to establish a foundation of respect and understanding of all people. This club will be
facilitated by Aly Frank and Katie Martin, RN, and will meet once a month on Thursdays!

Family and Friends Potluck Dinner

Thursday 3/19 at 6:30pm
Ms. Frank’s 5th Grade Classroom
All are welcome to join us for our first ever Rainbow Alliance event!
Please​ RSVP​ so we can plan for a great party!!

Rainbow Alliance After School Club First Meeting

Thursday 4/16 at 2:40pm
Ms. Frank’s Classroom

Kindergarten Registration NOW OPEN

Dear Parents, if you have an incoming Kindergartener at home, registration is now open -
Details Found on the Registration Website
http://www.arlington.k12.ma.us/administration/schoolregistration/

http://www.arlington.k12.ma.us/administration/schoolregistration/pdfs/20-21kindergartenreginfo.pdf

Cultural Fest: Saturday, March 14, 2020, 3:00pm-5:00pm

Celebrate . . . Connect . . . Grow!
The Bishop DIG (Diversity and Inclusion Group) with support from the PTO will host a Cultural Fest on
Saturday, March 14, from 3 to 5pm. All families are welcome to help plan and participate in this wonderful
event. There will be displays, activities, and food - all celebrating the cultural diversity of our school
community. It'll be fun and educational for kids and adults alike!
We are looking for individuals and families who are willing to share their cultural identity so others can
connect with and learn from. Please visit the ​Sign Up Genius​ to volunteer. Or contact ​Dorothy Schuette​ at
dschuette@arlington.k12.ma.us​ with interest.
MCAS Dates - Released -
Families with students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade; Please take note of the scheduled MCAS dates for the 2019-2020
academic year. It is imperative that all students are in school during testing days to ensure an accurate measure of
the Bishop School summative assessments.

BISHOP ONLINE MCAS SCHEDULE 2020 (DRAFT)

APRIL/MAY 2020 ELA & Mathematics/Science and Technology

ELA - Grades 3, 4, 5
Monday, March 30 Tuesday, March 31 Wednesday, April 1 Thursday, April 2 Friday, April 3

X X 3rd ELA 3rd ELA 5th ELA

Monday, April 6 Tuesday, April 7 Wednesday, April 8 Thursday, April 9 Friday, April 10

5th ELA X PASSOVER X NO SCHOOL

Monday, April 13 Tuesday, April 14 Wednesday, April Thursday, April 16 Friday, April 17
15
MAKE UP MAKE UP 4th ELA 4th ELA
X

MATH Grades 3, 4, 5, - SCIENCE Grade 5

Monday, May 4 Tuesday, May 5 Wednesday, May 6 Thursday, May 7 Friday, May 8

X X 4th Math 4th Math 5th Math

Monday, May 11 Tuesday, May 12 Wednesday, May 13 Thursday, May 14 Friday, May 15

5th Math X 3rd Math 3rd Math Science (5th)

Monday, May 18 Tuesday, May 19 Wednesday, May 20 Thursday, May 21 Friday, May 22

Science (5th) MAKE UP MAKE UP MAKE UP MAKE UP

 PTO NEWS

Bishop PTO Annual Fund Appeal

If you have already donated to the Bishop PTO to enrich the lives of students and community, thank you.
The PTO is asking for a donation of $135 per child for the 2019-2020 school year. Each year, the PTO funds
enrichment programs and events to supplement your children’s school experience as well as to foster a
sense of community within the school. The Annual Fund Fundraiser is a one-time ask that allows us to
maintain our ability to pay for the activities and supplies expected of the PTO.
For the 2018-2019 school year, the PTO raised about $73,000 and spent about $79,000, for an average
spend of over $165 per student. For the 2019-2020 school year, the PTO plans to spend about $83,000. We
plan to fundraise about $46,000 through events such as the Walkathon, Bear Fair, and Camp Auction. The
Annual Fund Fundraiser will fund the remaining $37,000. The table below shows how your donations are
allocated.

Proposed Budget
Activities Supported by the PTO
(2019-2020)
Enrichment & Student Events: G ​ rades K-5th (3-5 activities/grade).
Themes include: science, engineering, math, art, social studies, culture
$37,000
and geography. Garden, field trips, scholarships, subscriptions, library,
Science Night, 5th Grade Recognition Fund.

Supplies:​ ​Agenda books (4th&5th grade), classroom & other supplies,

$5,750
carpet cleaning etc.

Classroom & Teacher Spending: S ​ chool year kickoff activities,

classroom and principal fund, teacher checks, clean-up day(s), $29,150
playground improvements, appreciation conferences etc.

​ urriculum, green team, technology and facility grants

Grants: C $8,500

Other Community Initiatives: ​Movie Night, Dance, Bishop Night Out,

$2,600
donations to other groups, administrative and general expenses

School Improvements/Capital Projects: ​Digital Communication

$0
Signage (2018-2019, one off)

TOTAL $83,000

URGENT NEED FOR A VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Snacks Coordinator
The Snacks coordinator works with Arlington Eats and is responsible for packing and distributing snacks to
Bishop during the school year.
Arlington Eats Donations

Thank you to all who contributed to Arlington Eats last month, we brought
over a car load! This month,​ ​the spotlight requests are dried beans,
especially lentils, and tissues​,​. All donations, food as well as monetary,
are gratefully accepted. Thank you, Julie Kahn Schaye and Sarah Popper

🔼
PTO-SPONSORED EVENTS

February Enrichment Activities

The Enrichment Committee continues to bring grade appropriate, fun (and educational) programs for just
about every grade to brighten up the winter month of February. We still have a couple of activities to go in
February.

Feb 27th: Motoko - Japanese StoryTeller, 2nd Grade

Motoko visits the second-graders for a Japanese storytelling presentation. Following the grade-wide
assembly, Motoko will spend time in each classroom discussing Japanese culture, geography and history and
will give a lesson in Japanese calligraphy.

Feb 28th: Plimoth - Wampanoag Classroom Presentation, 3rd Grade

A Native museum teacher will speak with students about the history and culture of the Wampanoag people.
The teacher will share many artifacts and guides the 3rd graders through several traditional Wampanoag
games.

Bishop Play 2020, Honk, Jr!

Bishop Shout Outs

Due 2/19

What better way to honor and celebrate your budding theater stars than
by giving them a "Shout-Out" during Performance Weekend?

This year, The Bishop Players are offering digital Shout-Outs that will
display on the TV screen in the school lobby. Messages will display leading up to and during performance
weekend. This is a great opportunity to put your child's name in lights. Shout-Outs are available for play
participants in ALL grades.

Each Shout-Out order is $20 and all funds support the Bishop Play production.
The deadline is February 19th for ​Honk Jr. Shout-Out Submission Form​ submissions.

Thank you for your support!

Call for Student Artists

Due 2/24 (Mon)
 The Bishop Players would like to feature original student artwork throughout the school and on the cover of
the program for Honk Jr. One student’s artwork will be selected to appear on the cover of the printed
program. Other submissions may appear inside the program as space permits. Every student’s submitted
artwork will decorate the hallways and the lobby of the Bishop School before and during performance
weekend!
Click ​HERE​ to view submission guidelines. All submissions should be placed in the box located in Mrs. G’s
office no later than Monday, February 24, 2020.

Key Dates
3/21 (Sat):​ 12-5 PM: Dress Rehearsal
3/27, 28, 29:​ Performance Weekend

Any questions? Visit ​www.bishopschoolpto.com/bishop-school-play.html​ or

email us at ​thebishopplay@gmail.com​.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Free Admission to the African American Museum

February School Vacation Week, 2/14 ~ 2/22, 46 Joy St., Boston

The Red Sox Foundation is generously donating your admission fee to the
African American Museum in honor of the Black History Month. but please take
advantage of this generosity from Friday 2/14 to Saturday 2/22. See ​this flyer ​for
the hours and more information (The Museum is not open on Sunday, February
23). It’s a great way to learn more about the world we live in – and for free!

Children and YA Book Donations for Robbins Library

Book and media donations are needed for the Friends of the Robbins Library’s annual Children and Young
Adult Book ​Sale on Saturday, February 22nd​ ​from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm in the Robbins Library Community
Room. ​Beginning February 3rd (2/3), donations​ can be dropped off at the Robbins Library. Look for the big
blue bin near the Circulation Desk of the Robbins.

Support Arlington’s libraries by purchasing children’s and teen books, movies, and music at the Sale. There will
be craft activities to keep children occupied as parents search for books. Teens interested in sorting books and
organizing prior to the Sale as well as helping out on the day of the Sale please contact Amy McElroy
(​ae65@verizon.net​; 781-648-4109); Community Service hours may be earned.

Call for Poetry Submissions

Due Sunday, 2/16
Steven Ratiner, Arlington’s New Poet Laureate, is working on a rather unconventional and utterly delightful way 
to inject poetry into the everyday, to be debuted during April’s National Poetry Month! For this project, Ratiner 
is announcing a CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS from all Arlington-area poets, both from adults and students. He’s 
asking people to submit 1-2 poems which, given the opportunity, they’d most like to share with their Arlington 
neighbors. He can guarantee that the final selections will reach the attention of a thousand readers in a most 
surprising way (the exact form of the ‘publication’ to be kept as a secret until it’s unveiled in April.) He has a 
few fairly simple guidelines for the submissions: 
 
➢ Original poems, no longer than 20 lines, on any subject matter, but with this specific goal: choose a 
poem you’d wish to share with neighbors, whether or not they are readers of poetry – one that will offer 
surprise, insight, delight. 
➢ Depending on the number of submissions, approximately 8-10 poems from adult writers will be 
chosen, and a similar number of student poems. 
➢ Submissions only via e-mail; write ‘A Call for Poems’ in the subject line – and, if you are a student, 
specify at what grade level. If a poem has been previously published, please do cite the place of 
publication. 
➢ Paste the poem into the body of an email (no attachments, please) addressed to Steven Ratiner at: 
steven.arlingtonlaureate@gmail.com Include your name, address, and a phone number where you can 
be reached if your poem is selected. 
➢ All poems should be received no later than Sunday, February 16th, 2020. (Students can email 
steven.arilngtonlaureate@gmail.com​ for an extended deadline). Writers whose work is selected will be 
contacted by mid-March and the project will take place in April.

5th Grade Ice Skating Party!

Saturday 3/14, 7 PM - 9 PM, Burns Arena, 422 Summer St., Arlington

Arlington Orthodontics is excited to announce the date of the annual ​5th​

​ Grade Ice Skating Party​--Saturday
March 14​th​ from 7PM – 9PM, at Ed Burns Arena. All 5​th​ graders from Bishop, Brackett, Dallin, Hardy, Peirce,
Stratton, and Thompson are invited. It’s a great chance to meet your future classmates in Gibbs for next year.

★ Admission to the event is $5 CASH. The $5 will go ​directly to the student’s school 5​th​ Grade Class
Fun​d ​(this money is used for special 5​th​ grade end of the year activities such as yearbooks, field trips,
class gift etc.)
★ Students will be required to wear helmets while skating (please bring helmet from home) and ​behave
responsibly
★ Skate rentals are limited! Bring your own skates if possible!
★ Each child needs to bring ​the attached waiver ​(signed by parent/guardian) for entry. Our office will print
and deliver these waivers to be sent home with students before the event.
★ Students who don't skate are welcome and encouraged to come hang out anyway! There will be a DJ
and Photobooth. The snack bar will also be open.

Please contact the Bishop 5th Grade Committee or Kara at Arlington Orthodontics, (781) 777-2559, to volunteer
as a chapron. There are on ice and off ice opportunities.

Interested in getting information to the Bishop community? Please email the relevant information to Junko
Nagano (Communications Coordinator, Bishop PTO) at ​junkonagano5@gmail.com.​ News received by Tuesday
at 6 pm will be included in Thursday's newsletter.
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KEEP UP TO DATE

Bishop Calendar of Events: ​One page view at this link

Bishop PTO Facebook page:​ ​https://www.facebook.com/groups/BishopPTO/

Websites:
Bishop School (general info, links to the school system): ​http://www.arlington.k12.ma.us/bishop/
Bishop School (news and events): ​https://bishopschool.net/
Bishop PTO: ​http://www.bishopschoolpto.com/

Twitter:
Follow Principal McAneny @markmmcaneny (​https://twitter.com/markmmcaneny​)
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