News from the Bowers Bear’s Den:

The 2010 – 2011 school year ended with a “clap out” and the 2011 – 2012 school year began with a “clap in”. There is a tradition at Bowers with our 4^thgrade students on the last day of school. We clap them out. The 4^thgrade students walk through the halls with the students and parents applauding them as we say goodbye and wish them well as they start at the middle school. This new school year began with a “clap in” as we recognized our new kindergarten students come through the halls. Smiles from their faces let everyone know that they were ready to begin their school career here at Bowers.

The Report Card is in and Bowers has achieved an“Excellent”rating for the 2010 -2011 school year. We earned this rating with a Performance Index Score of 91.8 and by exceeding the value-added measure withABOVEexpected growth. This indicates that the students at Bowers achieved more than one year of expected growth. Our 4^thgrade reading scores went up 11.5%. Congratulations to our students and teachers at Bowers!!!

The Bowers Children’s Sensory Healing Garden is finally done but we will be adding a few more plants as well as maintaining the outdoor learning center all year. New picnic tables and chairs were purchased and our turtles, fish, and rabbit are all doing well having survived a hot summer. The children love being out in the courtyard as it is a magical place to be. Our parents enjoyed seeing the garden at Open House on August 31^st. We are still accepting donations to keep the garden growing.

Bowers children will continue to strive to keep Super Star Status to earn monthly behavior rewards. The school wide behavior plan worked well last year as we had many children achieve Super Star Status all year long. The last monthly reward in June was a trip to the Lions Lincoln Theater to see a movie. Great monthly rewards are in store for this year as well.