Bike Week

Bhaktivedanta Academy's annual Bike Week starts this Monday, March 19th for students in Audarya and Madhurya Bhavan.  To participate, students need to bring a bicycle in good working order and most importantly, a helmet.  Please examine and test ride your child's bike before bringing it to school.  In particular, check to make sure that:

• tires are fully inflated and are not leaking air;
• chain is not loose and remains on while riding; 
• brakes are working;
• training wheels are removed;
• seat is set to the appropriate height.

We are sorry, but we are not able to train students to ride a bicycle as part of Bike Week.  

Please leave your child's bike and helmet when you drop them off on Monday morning. The bikes will stay at school until Friday afternoon pick-up.  

Not all students are required to participate.  They will stay back and have free play with other students until the riders return. 

If you have any questions, please call Satyaki at 386-462-9254. 

World Book Online

For some time we have been trying to determine the best way to provide accurate and timely research materials for our students.  The traditional model is to maintain sets of encyclopedias and other reference books in the classroom.  In today's world, where information is only a Google search away, we felt there must be a better way to give students instant access to information but in a format appropriate for them and without the concern of fully open access to the internet.  

Due to a generous donation from the Sharma family, I am happy to announce that we now have an incredible new resource - World Book Online.  

World Book Online includes all the articles from the print versions of the World Book Encyclopedia, plus thousands of additional articles, learning resources, and research tools.  It includes:

• More than 40,000 encyclopedia and reference articles

• World Book Biography Center, with more than 10,000 biographies

• Thousands of links selected by World Book editors and expert contributors

• Rich multimedia

• Extensive dictionary and atlas

• Audios, videos, and animations

Our school-wide license also allows access to the World Book Online from home.  Every student in Audarya and Madhurya Bhavan will come home today with a specially printed bookmark, which gives login details.  With this new resource being available, students will be assigned research that they will need to do from home periodically.  I encourage you to help your child create a bookmark on your home computer and to login together with them sometime this weekend.  

Again, thank you to the Sharma family for helping to make this valuable learning resource available for our school.

Prospective Family Open House Recap

Dear Families,

Thank you to everyone who joined us (personally and online) for the prospective family open house last night. It was great to get an opportunity to meet together and talk about the unique educational program Bhaktivedanta Academy offers.

Here are links to the presentation and handouts from the meeting:

• Bhaktivedanta Academy Overview
• Admissions Process
• Montessori 101 Excerpt

If you did not get an opportunity to attend the meeting, please take a little time to review these documents as they will give a general idea of what was discussed.

As we talked about yesterday, it is important to submit your application by March 19th. One of the criteria we utilize in selecting students for admission is the date of application, so don't delay, as we have a limited number of spaces available. You may apply online at www.bhaktivedantaacademy.org/admissions.

We also require all applicants to visit the school and observe in the classroom that serves the grade your child will be entering. Please schedule your observation soon, as spaces tend to fill up quickly. You can schedule by calling 386-462-2886.

Again, thank you for your interest in Bhaktivedanta Academy. We look forward to getting to know you and your child more throughout the admissions process. Don't hesitate to call or email me at anytime to answer any questions you may have. I can be reached at visvam@bhaktivedantaacademy.org or 386-462-2886.

Yours in service,

Visvambhara das
Director

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta y necesita ayuda en español, puede solicitarla llamando al 386-462-2886 (oficina).

Grandparents Day Reminder

Bhaktivedanta Academy's Annual Grandparents Day is this Friday, March 16th. We have special activities planned and welcome the opportunity for students to share the work they have been doing in their class with their grandparents.

The schedule is as follows:

• Bhakti Bhavan - 8:30 am to 9:30 am
• Audarya Bhavan - 9:30 am to 10:15 am
• Madhurya Bhavan - 10:15 am to 11:00 am

We look forward to seeing our student's grandparents here!

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta y necesita ayuda en español,  puede solicitarla llamando al 386-462-2886 (oficina).

Gaura Purnima Performance Reminder

This Thursday, March 8th, in honor of Lord Chaitanya, the students of Bhaktivedanta Academy are performing on the outside stage at the New Raman Reti temple at 5:00 p.m.

Audarya Bhavan (3rd Year) & Madhurya Bhavan

All performers need to meet in the Madhurya Bhavan classroom dressed in their costume (they will bring it home the day before) no later then 4:15 p.m.

Bhakti Bhavan & Audarya Bhavan (1st & 2nd Year)

Please bring your child directly to their classroom in devotional dress, tilak, and nicely combed hair at 4:30 p.m. 

It is extremely important that all children arrive on-time dressed as requested.  If your child is late or arrives unprepared they may miss their chance to perform.

We request all families to sign-in their children when they drop them off. Students will remain together with their class and will be released to their family immediately after the performance.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta y necesita ayuda en español,  puede solicitarla llamando al 386-462-2886 (oficina).