October 25, 2026
Important Call to Action Regarding Field Trips
We are sharing proposed changes to MCPS Policy IPD, which governs field trips and student organization trips, and encouraging families to provide feedback by October 30.
Several proposed changes could affect student experiences:
Celebratory and reward trips: The proposal removes the provision allowing trips that celebrate students’ promotion to the next school level or motivate and reward students, with appropriate approval (this could include the patrol picnic and fifth grade field trip, as well as middle and high school field trips).
Activities requiring waivers: The draft prohibits activities that require student waivers as a condition of participation. Families should consider whether this could affect trips their schools currently offer.
Instructional purpose and safety: The proposal places greater emphasis on connections to instruction and would prohibit trips with limited educational value and high risk or liability concerns.
These changes are still proposals. Your feedback can help shape the final policy. Please share specific examples of trips Bells Mill offers and explain their value to students, including any experiences that could be affected.
Please review the proposed policy and submit comments by October 30.
Trunk or Treat was a Sweet Success!
Thank you to all families who stopped by for Trunk or Treat yesterday. The parking lot was full of fun and creative trunks, and everyone went home with a lot of sweets and treats!
Events like this can’t happen without our parent volunteers. Thank you very much to Claire Andrews, Deb Palasin, Georgia Karamalakis, and all of our parents with trunks. A special thanks to our Bells Mill Bear who was also there to enjoy the festivities!
South Lake Elementary Thanksgiving Food Drive
This Thanksgiving, Bells Mill is coming together to support families in our community, including families at our sister school, South Lake Elementary.
In partnership with Nourish Now, we are helping provide complete Thanksgiving meals to local families in need including those in the Bells Mill community. Nourish Now’s goal is to feed 5,000 families this Thanksgiving, and we would love for the Bells Mill community to help make a difference! Families can sponsor a Thanksgiving meal starting at $50, with each donation providing a turkey and prepared sides for a family to enjoy.
Whether you sponsor one family or contribute any amount, every donation helps us share a extra warmth and care this holiday season.
National PTA School of Excellence — Input Needed
The Bells Mill PTA is participating once again in the National PTA School of Excellence program, which supports and recognizes efforts between PTAs and schools to strengthen family-school partnerships and enrich the educational experience and overall well-being of all students. By completing the program, our school will earn the PTA School of Excellence designation, along with national and community-wide visibility for the positive impact we are making. We earned this designation in 2022-2024 and hope to do so again!
In the program, we will gather feedback at the beginning of the school year to help us understand how our school aligns to the National Standards. We’ll use your feedback and the National Standards to build an Excellence Action Plan to improve our school and support family-school partnerships. At the end of the year, we will collect feedback again to measure progress and set goals to build on our efforts.
We need your help! Please complete this survey by November 25. If you have questions or think you’d like to support our PTA’s journey to Excellence, contact Amanda Klueger at [email protected] to learn more.
Bells Mill 2026-27 Yearbook Photo Submissions
Help us capture all the amazing memories happening in our Bells Mill community for the 2026-27 yearbook! We’re looking for photos from school and PTA events, activities, and groups throughout the year.
Some photos we would love to see include Back-to-School Picnic, with the Back-to-School Sign, Breakfast with Bears, Trunk or Treat, and Resturant Nights. We’d also love to see Bells Mill Sports Teams, Clubs and Scouts, and the upcoming Fall Costume Parade!
How to submit your photos:
Password: Yearbook26!
A few reminders:
Please submit photos that include groups of two or more students whenever possible.
If uploading directly from your phone, be sure to scroll to the correct category, not just the grade level, before submitting your photos.
Please do not submit photos taken at private events, such as birthday parties or playdates.
Having trouble uploading? Email us at [email protected].
Thank you for helping us capture these amazing Bells Mill memories!
Almost at the Finish Line! Help Us Reach Our PTA Goal by November 6
We are so close to our goal! Congratulations to Hudson (2nd grade), winner of our third raffle.
Thank you to the 247 families and 39 teachers who have already joined the PTA. We are almost there, but the membership drive ends November 6! Your membership helps fund over 50 programs, events, and activities for our students throughout the year.
Exciting incentives:
Popsicle Party: If we reach our goal of 270 family memberships by November 6, the entire school wins a popsicle party!
Squishy Cube Prize: The first class to fully join (including the teacher!) wins a Bells Mill custom squishy cube.
Input Requested for 2027-2028 School Calendar
As MCPS continues to develop the 2027-2028 school calendar, the district is seeking more input from you.
Please complete this second survey to share input on the proposed draft traditional calendar for the 2027-2028 school year. Your feedback represents an important component of the development process. MCPS will consider educational interests, operational needs, mandated school closures by state law, compliance with minimum instructional days and credit hour requirements, inclement weather and other emergencies, staff professional days and early release days, and alignment with assessment schedules. The survey will close on Friday, November 6.
Upcoming Workshop: Is AI Helping Our Kids Think, or Just Helping Them Finish an Assignment?
As educators and parents, we know how overwhelming it can feel to guide children through a world where AI is changing the landscape so quickly. This workshop, scheduled for Thursday, November 19, at 7 p.m., offers practical ways for parents to feel more informed, confident, and empowered.
Through everyday examples and discussion, we’ll explore how to recognize when AI supports learning, start useful conversations at home, and help children develop their own thinking and judgment.
Event details and registration link.
Academic and Executive Functioning Support
It is always harder to support your own child academically! Gold Signature Writers’ experienced educators provide individualized K–12 tutoring in math, reading, writing, test preparation, and executive functioning skills such as organization, planning, and study habits. We carefully match each student with the right tutor and offer in-home or virtual sessions. Featured in USA Today and named Best Tutoring Service in Bethesda Magazine’s 2026 readers’ poll. Learn more or schedule a call with owner Rachel Cederbaum at www.goldsignaturewriters.com.
Summer Camp Guidance
Fall is here, and while summer feels far away, it’s never too early to plan your child’s summer (seriously, camps fill up fast). If you’re thinking about camp for 2027 (or 2028, or 2029 ...), Camp Specialist and Bethesda mom Kim Richards can help you find the right fit for your child. Whether you’re looking for a full summer program or a shorter session, sports camp, traditional camp, co-ed vs. single-sex camp, she’s got you covered. For older kids, she’s got the scoop on teen tours and more. While camp is a big investment, talking to Kim isn’t. It's free (and stress free too!). Book a 30-minute chat here, or email [email protected] to learn more.
2026-2027 Events Calendar
