2021 Respect, Responsibility, and Regard

LAST WEEKLY UPDATE OF THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR!

6.17.21

Dates for the Calendar

- Thursday, June 24th - Last Day of School - Dismissal at 11:30am (No Lunch Served)

Hello Bishop Families!

As we approach the final days to end this school year under very different and atypical
circumstances, I want to extend my appreciation to our families who worked closely and
partnered with our staff to provide our students with opportunities to continue their distance
learning in the comfort and safety of their homes. We truly could not have accomplished our
tasks without the support and dedication of our adults at home!

Our students have been exposed to many unique learning opportunities this year; my hope
is that distance learning, along with the hybrid model, has instilled the importance of valuing
learning wherever it takes place in life. Learning is a lifelong skill that takes place in any
setting particularly when health and safety is what governs our daily living conditions at
present.

I recognize that the structure of back to school is unknown for September, however, I am
confident that schools will be fully open and as close to normal as possible. The District and
I will be sending out communication over the summer as updated information is available.

As we come to the end of this school year, there is something to be said about the success,
achievement, and required flexibility and patience that our staff, adults at home & students
have had to rely on collectively. As a collaborative team we value the importance of
building strong relationships with home and school and we appreciate the support that we
have received from our Bishop families

I hope you enjoy the remainder of the month of June and wish you a wonderful summer
holiday to look forward to, keeping health & safety in mind.

Be well; I look forward to the opportunity to be together again in September. - Mark

 Progress Reports
Student Progress Reports will be released through your Powerschool Parent Portal,
Thursday, June 24th at 3:00pm. If you have any challenges accessing your child’s progress
report, please call the front office or email Mrs. Gonsalves at ygonsalves@arlington.k12.ma.us

Student Class Placement Assignments for the 2021-22 School Year

Your child’s classroom assignment for the 2021-22 school year will be released around the
2nd week of August - FYI - You can look forward to this class assignment being delivered
electronically.

Building Projects Over The Summer

The summer months will be busy and productive at the Bishop - The Arlington Facilities
Department has scheduled a complete floor tile installation on the main floor of the Bishop.
We will also have painters coming in to refresh hallways and classrooms. This work is
scheduled for late July, early August.

Nurse Martin’s Health and Safety Update

Hello Bishop Families-

A reminder that we are seeing high numbers of illness in the community right now- ranging
from mild cold symptoms to more intense flu-like symptoms. If your child has any of these
symptoms then they will need to have a negative COVID test and feel better before
returning to school.

● Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills

● Cough (not due to other known cause, such as a chronic cough)
● Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
● New loss of taste or smell
● Sore throat
● Headache (when in combination with other symptoms)
● Muscle aches or body aches
● Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
● Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
● Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as
allergies) (when in combination with other symptoms)

Please note that a BinaxNOW test that is done at home and does not have an official report
associated with it CANNOT be accepted.

This week we completed our pool testing program for the year- we tested for 16 weeks and
submitted over 4800 swabs. Go Team Bishop!

Medication Pick Up:

Tuesday June 22nd from 2:15- 2:30 pm (front of the school)
Wednesday June 23rd from 11:15-11:45 am (front of school)
***ALL medications must be picked up prior to the last day of school BY AN
ADULT or they will be disposed of over the summer***

Medication Drop off- end of summer:

You will receive an email at the end of this summer with details about health care plans,
medication orders, and medication drop off times.

As we wrap up the school year, I would like to thank ALL of YOU for everything that you
have done this year to help keep our school and community healthy and safe. There is
absolutely no way that we could have done this without your support and consideration.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! I wish you a fabulous and FUN summer and I look
forward to seeing you in September!

WIth Kind Regards,

Katie

BECOME A BISHOP AMBASSADOR

Think back to your (and your child's) first days at Bishop...

Try to remember what it was like to be a new family to the school...

Would it have been easier if you already had a friend at the school? Someone who could
answer your questions?

The Bishop PTO’s Ambassador Program helps new families feel welcome and quickly
acclimate to the Bishop community. The volunteer commitment is minimal. The impact on
new families is great. Please consider joining the team. We are especially looking for Bishop
families with incoming Kindergarteners, or current Kindergarten families.

The program takes place over the summer when Ambassadors contact incoming new
families (from all grades, but mostly Kindergarten) to answer questions and share
information.

Goals:
● Give new families and students support and a person they can contact to ask questions
● Create a stronger Bishop community, resulting in a stronger student, family and
community bond

Overview:
● A volunteer team of 'Ambassadors' pro­actively contacts new families over the summer
● All new families, regardless of grade, are included in the program
● Families are included regardless of point of entry into the school system (e.g., beginning of
the year, mid­year transfers, etc)

Information for Ambassadors:

● The goal is for each Ambassador to be responsible for just a few families. The more
Ambassadors we have the better
● Ambassadors are given contact information for their assigned family
● Ambassadors will be provided with a brief script and FAQ to help guide conversations with
new families

Please contact us with any questions or if you are interested in joining the Ambassador
team. If you already know someone entering Kindergarten next year, please consider being
their Bishop Ambassador.

Mary Perry and Heather Bell-Temin

mperry@zoneliving.com and heather.bell_temin@hotmail.com
Co-Chairs, Bishop Ambassador Program

BISHOP PTO NEWS AND UPDATES

Dates for the Calendar

Thursday, June 24th - Last Day of School, Early Release @11:30

Summer Garden Assistance Needed

The Bishop School Garden needs your help this summer! As in past years, we need families
to adopt the garden a week at a time. The responsibilities include daily evening waterings
and weeding. You are also welcome to harvest certain items during your volunteer week. If
you are interested in signing up, please visit
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4AAFA72CA0F94-summer.

If you have any questions, please email BishopSchool.PTO@gmail.com.

Thank you in advance for helping to keep our garden thriving during the summer!

Open PTO Committee Positions

The PTO cannot run without the support of our wonderful Bishop community. The following
Committee Chairperson positions are open for AY2021-22:

● Garden Coordinator (Fall, Spring, and Summer)

● School Directory Coordinator (late Summer-Fall)
● Fall Clean-Up Day (October)
● Annual Greg Wright Clean-Up Day (May)
● Movie Night (early January)
● Silent Auction Coordinator (May)

Please email BishopSchool.PTO@gmail.com to get more information and/or if you are

interested in volunteering.

Bishop Spirit Wear Sale

The PTO is having a Bishop Spirit Wear Sale! Many of our items are greatly reduced, with
prices as low as $5! Some styles and sizes have limited availability, so be sure to grab your
discounted Bishop Bear merchandise here.

Contact Christina Marko to order, or if you have any questions.

Enrichment Committee News
The Enrichment Committee is excited to virtually welcome Wampanoag Zoom Visit: Peoples
of the Dawn to our 3rd grade classrooms on Tuesday, June 22. This programming is part of
the 3rd grade curriculum. The students will learn about the daily life of the Wampanoag in
the 17th century, as well as their current lives and communities. Students will gain an
understanding of the connection the Wampanoag and other Native people have to Mother
Earth, their seasonal way of life and their respect for all living beings. The Native American
Museum Teacher wears modern clothing and speaks from a modern perspective so that
they can discuss the story of their people in both past and present times. They will share
artifacts of traditional life, such as wooden bowls and spoons, animal furs and tools.

Teacher and Staff Tea Thank Yous

On June 10th, the teachers and staff were treated to an afternoon tea in the front garden at
Bishop. It was a special time for teachers and staff to reconnect. The following milestones
were also recognized:

Celebrating 10 years of Service:

● Aly Frank
● Mark McAneny
● Angela Morais
● Andrew Scopa

Celebrating 15 years of Service:

● Christine Capaldo

Celebrating 20 years of Service:

● Jennifer Spencer

Celebrating 45 years of Service:

● Jeannie Wall

A special thank you to Carrie Cross, Adel Donegan, and Jessica Douglass for organizing such
a lovely event. We are also fortunate to have small business owners in our Bishop
community: Adel Donegan, owner of Vintage Tea and Cake, and Suzana Samad, owner of
Butternut Bakehouse. Their talents made this event even more beautiful and tasty! An
additional big thank you to all our awesome volunteer parents for helping with set/clean up
and loaning tents.

Congratulations Bishop School Class of 2021!

Congratulations to all our 5th grade students! All your hard work and perseverance has paid
off and your next adventure awaits. You’ll always be Bishop Bears, so please come back and
visit! A big thank you to all the parent volunteers who helped with the 5th grade recognition
planning!

The Year in Review

This was a school year like no other, and none of us knew just what to expect as we
approached last September. The Bishop PTO knew our normal calendar of activities would
need to be amended. We were disappointed not to run some of our favorite events like the
Bishop Play, the Bear Fair, Science Night, and various field trips. However, in their absence
we welcomed new events like the Read-A-Thon, as well as enrichment activities that were
streamed to our students’ computer screens. We reimagined some of our favorite events
like the Pumpkin Sale, Walk-A-Thon, and the Used Good Sale and, overall, we were able to
fund all budgeted items. We look forward to next year and are hopeful to see the return of
all our beloved events!

Thank you Bishop Staff!

A sincere and heartfelt thank you to our amazing Bishop Teachers. Thank you for going
above and beyond, for helping your students throughout this tumultuous year, and for
creating a warm and welcoming learning environment, whether in person or remote. Thank
you for communicating with families beyond your normal working hours to ensure all your
students’ needs were met. Thank you for your empathy, patience, perseverance, and
unwavering contributions.

Thank you to Mark McAneny, Eva Liner, Yvonne Gonsalves, Kenny Riggles and all the
support staff at Bishop who pulled together to help make this year as successful as
possible.

A very special thank you to Nurse Martin. You were an integral part in bringing students
back to school and keeping them healthy and safe. From pooled testing, to regular
communication with families, to helping with the social emotional well-being of our children,
you are a rock star. Thank you!

Thank You Class Parents!

Thank you to Bishop Class Parents for your service over this past year! We truly appreciate
your hard work and dedication in supporting our teachers, communicating with families,
celebrating Bishop Staff, organizing virtual parties, and being there for the classroom
families.

Thank you to the Bishop Community!

Congratulations to everyone in the Bishop Community on finishing what has been an
unusual and challenging year. Thanks to your generosity, the PTO was able to provide
thousands of dollars in support of our children’s learning experience this year. From virtual
and in-person enrichment activities, to outdoor learning supplies and technology grants, the
PTO is delighted to close out a difficult yet successful year. Best wishes to all for a happy
and healthy summer!

PTO Board Thank Yous

On behalf of the Bishop Community, the PTO would like to extend a BIG thank you to our
outgoing PTO officers: Christina Marko, David Brecht, and Neshe Gafuri. They have
generously donated countless hours to our school. We greatly appreciate their time,
service, and dedication over the past two years.

We are also grateful for our PTO coordinators, committee leads, and those who planned
events during this challenging year. Thank you Katie Stencik, Jen Davidson-Jardeleza, Elisa
Komoni, Sarah Phoenix, Grace Judge, Karin Moellering, Meredith DiMola, Jessica Tsymbal,
Heather Bell-Temin, Amy Moyer, Tricia See, Carrie Cross, Adel Donegan, Jessica Douglass,
Elizabeth Burns, Lalana Kagal, Sarah Popper, Julie Schaye, Ileana Gatica, and to our many
awesome volunteers who lended their hands, time and support.
Community News:
Interested in getting information to the Bishop community? Information that you’d like to share
with the Bishop community can be included in the weekly Principal’s Update. Please email the
relevant information to Amanda Maltais (Communications Coordinator, Bishop PTO) at
aemaltais@gmail.com.

Join Food Link’s Ride For Food Team!

Are you looking for a fun family adventure this summer? Are you looking to teach your kids
more about helping others? Join Arlington’s Food Link team at the 2021 Ride For Food and
you can do both!

The Ride For Food is normally a regular charity bike ride, but families are also welcome to
go “Off The Beaten Path”, and raise funds while you ride, hike, kayak, or explore! Whether
you decide to ride the whole Minuteman or visit as many ice cream shops as you can in one
week, it’s up to you! You have until early October to choose your own adventure: anytime,
anywhere!

Food Link is an Arlington-based organization that rescues surplus fresh food that would
otherwise be wasted and delivers it to community organizations serving people in need
throughout greater Boston and Eastern Massachusetts. Join us or find out more at
https://ride.threesquaresne.org/foodlink2021 or contact team captain Karin (a Peirce
mom) with questions at karin@tugboat23.com. We’d love to have you along for the ride!

Arlington EATS Market

Unfortunately, hunger is part of life in Arlington. Arlington EATS relies upon people like you
to ensure there is food for all Arlington residents. The best way to support our local food
pantry is by donating directly here.

If you would rather donate non perishable items, you can leave them in the marked bins in
the front entrance to Bishop School or Donation Drop-Off Hours at Saint John's Church, 74
Pleasant St. There will be a donation table set up on Lombard Terrace on Tuesdays from
1-4pm.

At this time, it is most helpful if you stick to requests from the following list:
● Cereal (especially Cheerios!)
● Shelf stable soup
● Peanut butter alternatives (ie Sunbutter or Almond butter)
● Snacks (regular sizes, please)
● Soy Sauce
● Shelf Stable Soy Milk or Almond Milk
● Dish soap and laundry detergent
● Personal care items such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush
● Incontinence products & diapers (larger sizes are more in demand)

Please do not donate: soda, sports drinks, medications, jumbo or single serving sizes.

Arlington EATS' mission is to eliminate food insecurity by providing nutritious and culturally
appropriate food in a respectful and compassionate manner to any Arlington resident in
need. Arlington EATS estimates there are 4,350 food insecure neighbors here in Arlington.
Please help your neighbors if you are able by helping to fill the shelves at the EATS MARKET.
You can either bring donations to the collection bins in the Bishop front entrance or by
donating directly to the Market on Tuesdays 1-4 PM. You can also make a monetary
donation directly to the Market here.

Arlington Eats Market Coordinators: Sarah Popper at sarahepopper@gmail.com and Julie

Kahn-Schaye at jkschaye@gmail.com. Please contact us with any questions or to volunteer
to help!

AHS Scoops Club’s Annual Scoopermania

The annual Scoopermania fundraiser to benefit the Jimmy Fund is happening on June 19th
from 12-4pm at the Cyrus Dallin Museum in Arlington Center. For a donation of $5 for kids
and $7 for adults, customers will be able to enjoy all you can eat ice cream and toppings for
the entire day.

Stay Up to Date

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/
DIG website: https://bishopdig.weebly.com/. To join our mailing list, please email
bishopdig@gmail.com

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