2021 Respect, Responsibility, and Regard

5.13.21

Dates for the Calendar

- Friday, May 21st - Bishop Used Goods Item Drop Off @3-5:30PM
- Saturday, May 22nd - Bishop Used Goods Sale
- Monday, May 31st - Memorial Day, No School
- Wednesday, June 2nd - Field Day for Grades K-2
- Wednesday, June 2nd - Bishop Spirit Day
- Wednesday, June 9th - Community PTO Meeting @7PM
- Wednesday, June 16th - Field Day for Grades 3-5

Hello Bishop Families -

Class Placement
Class placement for the 2021-22 school year will begin in the coming weeks. This is an
important process for all of us and we know that working together as a community will help
to make the best decisions for our students. We would like to extend to you the opportunity
to provide input in this process. You may do so by submitting a letter to me by FRIDAY, MAY
21st.

Please take the time to review the following class placement policy to help you understand
our process. In addition, this policy will outline how you can provide information to support
and supplement this process.

Class Placement Policy

In making class placements for the following year, classroom teachers, guidance
counselors, specialists, special educators and administrators consider the following:

1. Academic needs of students

2. Social/Emotional needs of students
3. Teaching and learning styles
4. Gender balance
5. Existing models/programs within the building

Taking into account these variables, placement teams strive for heterogeneous, balanced
classes. If families believe that there are extenuating circumstance(s) that should be
considered beyond those listed above, they may submit a detailed, written description to
Mark McAneny by May 21st. Only written considerations received by May 21st will be
considered in the placement process.
Submissions will be considered part of a rigorous class placement process at the Bishop
School; however, given the extensive time, effort, and expertise exercised by placement
teams, decisions made by these teams will be considered final.
Please be aware, we are unable to honor requests for specific teachers. Submissions
requesting specific teachers will not be considered as part of the placement process. A
submission does not guarantee that the consideration will be granted.

My Best,

Mark

Nurse Martin’s Health and Safety Update

Good Morning Bishop Families,

I hope that this note finds you well and enjoying the beautiful weather today! I am pleased to
share that ALL of our COVID pool tests this week were again negative. As I look back on how
far we have come since we started the school year in September, I am amazed. We have
seen zero evidence of in-school transmission at the Bishop this year- our mitigation
strategies are working in school and out, we are testing, and we are vaccinating. It is too
early to say what the next school year will look like, but it feels good to be optimistic that we
are heading in the right direction! We will continue to follow the science as we update our
protocols- Dr. Bodie will be sharing details about APS’s updated close contact/quarantine
protocol in the near future. This update is a great example of how we are continuing to get
smarter as we live through this.

A few quick updates...MASKS...please be sure that you send enough masks to school that
your child will wear and that fit. It is not uncommon that children go through 3-4 masks per
day. They do all sorts of things with them that you could not even believe unless you saw
them do it, lol! We are happy to provide an occasional mask for your child at school but it is
the expectation that parents provide masks for their children on a daily basis.

SNACKS...please remember to send a snack to school with your child each day. We have
snacks available in each classroom in the event that your child forgets or needs additional
food. Please remember that the snacks that you send should be “grab and go” as they are
eating outside, nutritious, and something that your child will eat. With that being said, we are
in need of additional snacks for school. We would greatly appreciate a small donation of
individually portioned snack foods to help supplement our supply through the end of the
year. Donations of individual packages of pretzels, Gold Fish, Honey Maid “lil’ squares”,
raisins, and Cheerios would be greatly appreciated!! Any items donated can be dropped off
in the main office.
Thank you Bishop Community!
With Kind Regards,
Katie
Arlington EATS Snacks at Bishop School
Bishop Students are in urgent need of snacks!

Please donate any of the following items, in NUT FREE individual snack sizes directly to
Nurse Martin at Bishop:

● Pretzels, Goldfish, Graham Crackers, Raisins, Little Cheerio Boxes

Thank you for helping to keep all our little Bishop bears fed!
-Bishop Snack Ambassadors, Arlington EATS

BISHOP PTO NEWS AND UPDATES

Save the Date - Used Goods Sale

Saturday, May 22nd (Rain Date Sunday, May 23rd)
Start your spring cleaning and donate your quality used goods to Bishop’s Used Goods Sale!
We are excited to bring this event back with some modifications to adhere to COVID-19
guidelines. This year, please donate items that are Brand New or used items that are valued
at $50 or more. We welcome Books, Sporting Goods & Gear, Toys & Games, Baby Gear,
Bicycles, Arts & Crafts, Household Goods, Knick-Knacks and Jewelry. Items need to be
super clean, in excellent condition and “ready to be priced.” See additional tips for donating
below. Bishop spirit wear will also be available for sale the day of the event.

All goods can be dropped off on Friday, May 21 from 3:00-5:30 PM in the Bishop Parking Lot.
In order to make this event a success, we need volunteers to help on drop off day, as well as
the day of the event. Please visit
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0c4ca8af2da57-used to sign up.

Contact Amy Moyer at aewilliams@hotmail.com with questions.

How To Donate Used Goods During a Pandemic!

1. Only donate Good Stuff (brand NEW items or used items valued $50+)
2. Box your lots (like a lot of mixed Legos) in CLEAR BINS
3. Label your CLEAR BIN (Harry Potter Legos, Grandma’s Waterford, etc)
4. Bring your donations to the Drop-Off on May 21
5. Bring large items “as is” (i.e., bikes, strollers, small furniture, etc.)
6. Get a donation tax receipt from the Used Goods Team!

PTO Board Member Nominations and Election

Vote by end of the day on Friday, May 28th

Several PTO board positions will be vacated at the end of the AY2020-21 school year, as
the current officers will have completed their two-year term commitments. Laura Tikonoff
(Co-President), Kyle Chiang (Co-Treasurer), Amanda Maltais (Communications
Coordinator), Tai Sokoloff (Fundraising Coordinator), and Lindsay Sweeney (Class Parent
Coordinator) will return in AY2021-22 to serve their second year in their respective offices.

We have received the following nominations for the positions listed below. If elected, these
individuals will serve a two-year term, beginning in AY2021-22:
Board Position Nominee

Co-President Anna Pisania

Co-Treasurer Lindsay Pacheco

Recording Secretary Jessica Nordgren

Please vote online to approve the nominees, or to write in a candidate using the link below:
https://forms.gle/Ln487LxL5rEDLsZC8

Each of the nominees has provided a bio so you can get to know them better.

Anna Pisania (nominee for Co-President)

Anna and her husband, Ramin, are the parents of Michalis (11), Dionysis aka Dio (9), and
Amalia (5). Michalis is currently a 5th grader, Dio is in 3rd grade and Amalia is excited to be
joining the Bishop family in Kindergarten in the fall. Originally from Greece, Anna moved to
Boston in 2001 to attend graduate school, where she met Ramin. They moved to Arlington in
2007. Anna currently leads Pharm Development and Manufacturing at Keros Therapeutics.
In her free time, Anna enjoys hanging out with friends and family in the outdoors, running,
reading, traveling, and playing with her kiddos. Anna has served as PTO Room Parent
Coordinator, Science Night Coordinator, and as a Room Parent for several years. She is
looking forward to continuing to support the Bishop community.
Lindsay Pacheco (nominee for Co-Treasurer)
Lindsay Pacheco is an 8th year Bishop parent along with her husband, Rich. Their son
Anthony is a rising 5th grader, Miriam is a rising 4th grader, and Lydia will be joining
Kindergarten this year, while their oldest daughter, Dana, is at Ottoson. Lindsay has a Masters
of Finance and a MBA from Bentley University, and currently works as a financial analyst in
the energy industry. The Pacheco family enjoys hiking, dance parties, BBQs, and visiting
family in Portugal every summer.

Jessica Nordgren (nominee for Recording Secretary)

Jessica and her husband Francis have lived in Arlington since 2010. They have three Bishop
Bears--Jack (5th grade), Sophia (3rd grade), and Lily (1st grade). Jessica is originally from
Toronto, Canada, and met her husband at the University of Toronto. After finishing her BA,
she lived in Barcelona for a year before marrying and immigrating to the US in 2007. She
worked in finance for a non-profit before having children. Jessica volunteered with the
Arlington Family Connection for seven years, and was President for three. She enjoys
spending time with family and friends and loves to travel (with and without her kids). She is
looking forward to joining the PTO.

End-of-Year PTO Community Meeting

Wednesday, June 9th at 7PM
Please join us on Zoom for the final PTO meeting of the year where we will wrap up the
AY2020-2021 school year, and meet the newly elected Board Members for AY2021-2022

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/95014765408?pwd=Q3d1d3BMcVVQRktaZU5TNXZvV0crdz09

Meeting ID: 950 1476 5408

Password: 912739

Bishop Field Day

Let’s hear it for field day! Field Day will be held on Wednesday, June 2 for Kindergarten,
First and Second grades (rain date Wednesday, June 9th). Field Day will be held on
Wednesday, June 16th for Third, Fourth and Fifth grades (rain date Wednesday, June 23).
The students are gearing up and are super excited for this fun day! Mr. Scopa and Ms.
Christensen, our physical education teachers, have a lot of fun games and activities planned.
We need parent volunteers to make this a great event for all. So if you enjoy watching kids
have fun and getting exercise, you'll want to sign up for this event here.

Remote Academy Physical Education classes will also be having modified field day activities
over the next few weeks. Be on the lookout for more information from your Remote
Academy teacher.

Enrichment News
The Enrichment Committee is excited to welcome back Motoko, a Parents’ Choice
Award-winning storyteller, to our Bishop Second Grade classrooms. She will share fun and
engaging Japanese Folktales, which are part of the Second Grade curriculum.

Motoko will be visiting on May 17 for in-person sessions, and on May 20 for a remote session
for our RA students. Adhering to all health and safety guidelines, each session begins with
Motoko’s original song Keep Each Other Safe, a message to children in the pandemic. She
will then share folktales enlivened with music, movement, and humor, demonstrate an
origami activity, and answer students questions.

Funding for the Motoko enrichment program was provided this year through a grant from
the ACAC Grants Committee, which receives its funding from the Massachusetts Cultural
Council (MCC). The ACAC Grants Committee is part of a network of Local Cultural Councils
(LCC) serving all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. The LCC Program is the largest
grassroots cultural funding network in the nation, supporting thousands of
community-based projects in the arts, sciences and humanities every year. Thank you ACAC
Grants Committee! We appreciate your generosity during this most difficult year.

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.

Hockey Registration is now Open for the 2021/2022 Season

Registration is now open for the Arlington Hockey Club's 2021/2022 season. If you're
new to the sport or a returning player, please join us on the ice by registering at
www.arlingtonice.com

All programs are open for registration including:

● Instructional Hockey Program: For first time players and even those
still learning to skate between the ages of 4- and 7-years old
● Developmental Hockey Program: For beginner hockey players
between the ages of 5- and 8-years old, this is a cross-ice program
that includes one practice and one game on weekends
● Girls Travel Hockey Program: For girls at the U10, U12, and U14 levels
● Intercity Travel Hockey Program : For boys and girls at the Mite
(2013/2014 birth years), Squirts, Peewees, and Bantams (2007/2008
birth years)

If interested, please register on our new website (arlingtonice.com). Once on the new
site, you will need to "Sign Up" in order to create an account, register with USA
Hockey (https://membership.usahockey.com), and then register for your desired
program.

The Arlington Hockey Club is focused on fun, camaraderie, and building life skills
around playing ice hockey---please join us next winter!!

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 Almondbutter)
● 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. This month, the Market really needs instant oatmeal,
almond butter, and mac-and-cheese.

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!

Arlington Youth Counseling Center FundraiserThis year marks an important milestone for
AYCC, as they celebrate 50 years of outstanding mental health care and compassionate
service to Arlington’s youth and families. They wish they could celebrate their golden
anniversary with the community. However, in lieu of their annual gala, you can renew your
commitment to AYCC by supporting their “50k for 50 Years” fundraising campaign. Now,
more than ever, in the face of so much uncertainty, families in Arlington are turning to AYCC
for help—whether for accessible, affordable and high-quality mental health services, or for
help with basic resource needs.

Please visit their website www.aycc50.org to make a donation and to learn more about their
campaign. They will share stories and highlight the many ways that AYCC has impacted the
lives of young people and families over the past 50 years.

They are deeply grateful for your ongoing support and wish you and your loved ones
continued wellbeing and safety during these challenging times.

Arlington Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Meeting Schedule

Members of the Bishop community are invited to join any of the upcoming SEPAC meetings
for the year. Please see the meeting schedule and Zoom link below:

● June 8th: Evening Meeting (7-8pm)

Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86234778319?pwd=ZDFPdDNZZjZxbXVwNUYyZDR1Vj
JsUT09

Meeting ID: 862 3477 8319

Passcode: 043991
Varallo Orthodontics Partners in Education Program
Over the past several years, budget cuts have affected our local schools. To offset some of
those cuts, Varallo Orthodontics has started the Partners in Education Program, or P.I.E.
For every patient in grades K-8 who starts orthodontic treatment with them, they will donate
$25 to the patient's school PTO. This program runs until 12/31/21. To schedule a free
consultation or find out more, visit them at varalloortho.com.

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

TRANSLATED UPDATES

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