Principal's Pen

Dear Billingsville Cotswold Families,

As we wrap up another wonderful week at Billingsville-Cotswold Elementary, we want to thank all of our families for your continued support and partnership. We had a fantastic time at our Movie Night on Friday evening and loved seeing our Cougar community come together for a fun night of family fun!

Next week is a BIG week at BCE as students finish up Quarter 1. It is hard to believe we are already one-fourth of the way through the school year! We are proud of the hard work our students and staff have accomplished so far and look forward to celebrating their growth.

Our 5th grade students will head to Camp Hanes on Wednesday and Thursday for their overnight outdoor education experience. We know they will make wonderful memories while building teamwork, leadership, and confidence.

Next week is also our Anti-Bullying Spirit Week! Students are invited to participate in the following themed days:

• Monday: Wear Orange for Unity Against Bullying
• Tuesday: Crazy Hair Day
• Wednesday: Crazy Sock Day
• Thursday: Twin Day
• Friday: Storybook Character Day

We are excited to share that we officially surpassed our $20,000 Pledge for Paws goal! As a reward, students may dress as their favorite book character on Friday. Thank you to our families and community members for helping make this fundraiser such a tremendous success. Please remember that all Spirit Week attire must remain school appropriate. For Storybook Character Day, masks and pretend weapons are not permitted.

Many classrooms will also be celebrating the end of Quarter 1 and the fall season on Friday. Families are welcome to send approved items to support classroom celebrations. However, parents and visitors will not be able to attend these classroom events. We look forward to welcoming families for our winter celebrations prior to winter break. As a reminder, November 2^nd and 3^rd are Teacher Workdays and there is no school for students. 



Thank you for helping us make BCE such a special place to learn and grow. Have a wonderful weekend, and we look forward to another amazing week ahead.

Every Cougar. Every Day.

Thank you!

Heather Haas

Principal

Billingsville-Cotswold Elementary

980-343-5520

EMAIL

Be a Pledge for Paws All-Star!

We challenged our community to reach $20,000 in donations to earn the opportunity to dress as your favorite book character on Friday, Oct. 30, and you did it! Thanks to your generosity, we’ve raised more than $30,000! We look forward to seeing our students enjoy their reward this Friday. 

Let's keep the momentum going - all students who’ve had a donation in their honor can have a pajama day on Friday, Nov. 6!

Why is giving to the campaign so important to our school? Here are just a few examples of what your dollars make possible: 

• Teacher start-up funds 
• Teacher grants 
• Connect teacher supplies
• Field trip support 
• Heart Math Tutoring 
• Reading Rocks celebration
• Cougar Camp (EOG preparations) prizes and snacks 
• Science Olympiad, Scripps Spelling Bee, Book Flood, Field Day and so much more!

Get in the game and contribute today today to continue our meaningful impact on students, teachers and staff!

Anti-Bullying Spirit Week is this week!

Join our BCE Cougars for a week of school spirit as we celebrate kindness, inclusion, and respect!



• Monday, October 26: Wear Orange for Unity Day
• Tuesday, October 27: Crazy Hair Day
• Wednesday, October 28: Sock Day
• Thursday, October 29: Twin Day
• Friday, October 30: Tell Your Story — Pledge for Paws Storybook Character Day

Together, we can stand up against bullying and help every Cougar feel welcome!

November No School Days

As you plan for the month ahead, please note that there will be no school for students on November 2–3, November 11, and November 25–27 for teacher workdays, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving Break.



Tuesday, November 3, is also Election Day—don’t forget to vote!

Join Us for BCE Meet and Eat!

Gather with BCE friends and families for a complimentary dinner from Midwood Smokehouse on Thursday, November 12, from 5:30–7:00 pm in the Billingsville Cafeteria, 124 Skyland Avenue.

Please RSVP by November 10 in Membership Toolkit.



We’ll also collect canned goods and monetary donations for our Cougar Pantry, which provides food assistance for BCE families in need.

The Book Fair will be open, too! Enjoy dinner, connect with our community, and shop for great reads!

October Staff Members of the Month Nominations

It's time to recognize October staff members of the month! Do you know any Billingsville-Cotswold staff members who have done an outstanding job over the past month? Please submit nominations to Angela Perry (bcenominations@gmail.com) or complete the nomination form. Please submit nominations by October 27.

Spirit Night at the Hive!

Our annual "Cougars Night at the Hive" will take place on Saturday, March 13, at 6:00 PM. Come support the Charlotte Hornets as they take on the Phoenix Suns!

Please note the following details for this year's event:

• Tickets: Pre-purchase your tickets through Membership Toolkit. Mr. Clutts will deliver them electronically closer to the event date.
• Fan Experiences: We have a limited number of Fan Experiences available (High Five Squad and Anthem Buddies). Tickets purchased early will receive priority for these spots. If you would like your child(ren) to be considered, please indicate this on your form.
• Seating: If you would like to sit with another family, please note their name on your form or purchase your tickets together.

Last year's game sold out, so be sure to buy your tickets early here!

CMS School Choice Lottery Dates

The CMS School Choice Lottery begins on November 2. If you are new to CMS or are a returning student, registration is open now through December 1. The lottery will close on December 11.

For updates, please follow CMS or @bcecougarpride on Instagram.

Ready to Paint the Spirit Rock?

Before grabbing your paint brushes, make sure to read the Spirit Rock Guidelines and send your design to Principal Haas for approval (as required by CMS). We look forward to seeing your school spirit!

Check the guidelines here and use the link in the document to request to paint the rock.

Want to get more involved? Volunteers needed!

We’re looking for volunteers to help with weekly copies, bulletin boards, hanging student work, and front office support. Volunteers will rotate through teams, with an estimated commitment of just 1–2 hours per month.

Interested? Message Hannah Leister on ParentSquare or email leisterhr@gmail.com.

Reminder: All volunteers must register with CMS Volunteers.

Join the PTA!

Join the BCE PTA! Being a part of this community gives you membership into National and NCPTA which is an investment in the future of all our children and promotes partnerships between BCE staff, teachers, and parents. No volunteer time is required with membership. Beyond paying annual membership dues, however you choose to PTA is up to you!

Pay your dues via Membership Toolkit, our communication platform. 

BCE Membership Toolkit Access

Haven't signed up for Membership Toolkit yet? By registering with Membership Toolkit, you will have access to the Directory to connect with your child's classmates and their families! Don’t miss out on PTA information and upcoming events on Membership Toolkit! Please be sure to add your child’s teacher information when creating your account. 

Existing members: Please take a moment to re-verify your account. 

*Click on My Account. 

*Update this information and your child’s teacher assignment by clicking on Family Information. 

*Update your Directory Preferences by clicking on Directory & Publish Preferences. 

Don’t forget to subscribe to the calendar so you can import from MTK to your personal calendar!

Thank You to our Community Sponsors