ABCs of MBES - Oconee County Schools

ABCS of MBES
Active Mind * Body * Community
Malcom Bridge Elementary School (MBES)
Bogart, GA
Kroger Earning Plus Learning Application
2010

INTRODUCTION
Malcom Bridge Elementary School (MBES) in Bogart, Georgia is very active in
developing our student’s minds, fostering physical fitness and encouraging
community involvement.
MBES is proud to show the “Kroger Earning Plus Learning” Atlanta Division how our
school has been working hard in all three of these areas throughout the 2009-2010
school year.
The ABCs of MBES are outlined throughout this presentation.
Malcom Bridge Elementary School Mission
Our goal is to foster…
Motivated, independent learners who accept responsibility,
Believe in and respect themselves and others and who are
Equipped with the necessary tools to enjoy learning while striving for academic excellence in a
Safe and caring environment.
We Believe That
Children learn best in a caring, safe environment with high standards for achievement.
Children will become responsible, educated citizens who understand the need for life long learning.
Children’s needs and individuality will be addressed through effective instructional practices.
Children’s best interest will be supported through a partnership of the school, home, and community.

ABCS of MBES
A = Active Mind
Malcom Bridge Elementary School offers many enrichment programs
outside of the normal classroom learning environment.
• 5th grade S.O.A.R. program and job assignments
• 4 th grade Colonial Day
• 3 rd grade Greek Math Olympics
• 1 st & 2 nd grade Winter Concert
• Kindergarten Storybook Parade
• Fall and Spring Scholastic Book Fairs
• Science & Literacy Nights
• MBES Players - Play & Readers’ Theatre
• PTO funded Field Trips
• Fine Arts Coffeehouse
• Morning Broadcast
• Battle of the Books/Book swap
• C.H.A.M.P.S.

5th grade S.O.A.R.
Service
Organization
Achievement
Responsibility
S.O.A.R. is a leadership
organization that consists of 24 5th
grade boys and girls. As a
group they participate in leadership
training with special guests as well
as service projects in the school.
The main goal of this program is to
create life long leaders that will
strive for excellence in Service,
Organization, Achievement, and
Responsibility. Our hope is that our
older students will help develop
other leaders in the school by
setting an example for all that they
come into contact with. The
S.O.A.R. leadership group meets
as a whole monthly with the
Assistant Principal, Mr. Carter and
Counselor, Mrs. Kelley, for training
sessions.

4 th grade Colonial Day
Colonial Day was a culminating event
of our study of colonial
times. Teachers and students
wore clothes similar to what was
worn during colonial times in the
American colonies. Students
participated in hands-on activities
to help them learn about what life
was like during colonial
times. There were four rooms
covering topics of home life,
Native Americans, children
and occupations. Some of the
activities students participated in
were weaving, making butter,
making ice cream, making
Jacob's Ladder, making paper
hornbooks. There was also a
sheep children could
pet. This helped students to have
a first hand experience of what
life was like during colonial times.

3 rd grade Greek
Math
Olympics
The First Annual Third Grade Greek
Olympics. It was an amazing event to
be a part of. It began with "opening
ceremonies" in the library. Principal
Roper delivered the torch for the
games to begin. Mrs. Cotter went
over the motto for the Olympics as
well as the symbolism of the Olympic
rings. As she said, "Just as the world
unites for the Olympics, the third
grade classes of MBES are uniting in
the spirit of sportsmanship and
learning. Our ability to work and learn
together can be an example for the
school and for the community."
Perhaps the most inspiring piece of the
day was when the students were given
the opportunity to meet Reese Hoffa,
a two-time Olympian. The students
were amazed by his size, stature, and
awe-inspiring talents.

1 st & 2 nd grade
Winter Concert
MBES 1 st & 2 nd grade students
performed a Winter Concert for
parents and friends. The musical
included multicultural Holiday songs
such as “Christmas-A-Come” from
Jamaica, “Hanukah Games” ,
“Kwanzaa song” and “The 12 Days
of Christmas”.

Kindergarten
Storybook Parade
What do you want to be when
you grow up
Kindergarten students dress up
as various occupations. They
also pick out a book that
represents their occupation,
then discuss that occupation
with their classmates
throughout the day. During
the parade, students travel
throughout the school
explaining their chosen
occupation and why they
picked it.

Every Fall and Spring MBES
hosts a Scholastic Book Fair.
Students and faculty
members choose “Hot Picks”
to let people know which
books are wonderful stories.
The students are always
excited to pick out books to
purchase for themselves as
well as books that their
teachers may need for their
classroom. Even Malcom,
the MBES mascot, likes to
buy books!

Science &
Literacy Nights
During Curriculum nights,
MBES strives to help
families think of ways to
incorporate learning into
their daily lives.
In November, MBES
celebrates Family Literacy
Month. Parents learn about
ways to incorporate literacy
into their children’s daily
lives. The culminating
event is Family Literacy
Night. At this time,
families come to the school
to participate in fun
literacy events together.
During Science Night,
families participate in fun
science experiments.

MBES PLAYERS
Play & Readers’ Theatre
When students participate in the
drama program at Malcom Bridge
Elementary, they learn more than
just lines. Students audition for
the play and rehearse several
times a week after school to
prepare for the performance.
Students learn perseverance,
confidence and responsibility.
These are lessons they will use in
real life, but not something that
will show up on a test. Last year,
more than 60 students participated
in “The Little Shop of Horrors”
performance and more than 100
are already meeting several times
a week to practice for this year’s
performance of “A Night at the
Wax Museum”.

PTO funded Field Trips
Due to cuts in funding, the
Oconee County BOE
cancelled all field trips this
year. However, Malcom
Bridge Elementary School’s
PTO (Parent Teacher
Organization) was able to
fund $500 per grade level for
class Field Trips. Grade levels
were able to go to places such
as the Botanical Gardens of
Georgia or have a program
brought into the school. 11
Alive News came to the school
to show the kindergarteners
how the weather is gathered
and reported.

Fine Arts
Coffeehouse
The MBES Art Director, Phyllis
Glenn, hosts a Fine Arts Coffee
House where MBES student’s
Artwork is displayed and available
for purchase. This is a great
event for families to come and
see all of the hard work their
children have put into drawing
self-portraits, still life and other
art forms like seascapes.

Morning Broadcast
Every morning at MBES
students are welcomed by one of
three MBES Broadcast teams!
The teams are completely
student run. Student anchors
report on various important
happenings here at MBES as well
as the weather, and the lunch
menu . The Broadcast team
starts the day off right!

Battle of the
Books/Book swap
MBES uses Battle of the Books as a
reading incentive program targeted at
improving reading comprehension.
Students form teams of five and
select a captain. They then divide up
a reading list of 10 books Each team
reads the set of books over a given
period of time. Teams then meet in
competition refereed by a questioner
and a timer (adults). Teams are able
to discuss the question among the
group to decide the answer. The top
scoring team is the grade-level
champion.
During the book swap, students are
encouraged to bring in books they
own and have already read. Once
all the books have been collected,
they get to “swap” from the mass
of books brought in by all the
students to swap out.

• Target Audience: Fifth
graders. GSA’s goal is to
eventually extend this program
into the middle schools and
high schools.
• Program Length: Twelve
weeks is recommended;
however, the program may be
shortened or extended to meet
the county’s needs.
• Class Length: 45-60 minutes,
one day a week.
• Instructors: C.H.A.M.P.S.
lesson plans are taught by
certified deputy sheriffs who
have successfully completed
C.H.A.M.P.S. instructor training.
Malcom Bridge 5 th
graders
participate in the
C.H.A.M.P.S.
program
sponsored by the
Georgia Sheriff ‘s
Association. They
enjoy learning
about ways to be
safe and then
write an essay on
one of their
favorite topics.
The C.H.A.M.P.S.
class this year
turned in 100%
of their essays on
time.

ABCS of MBES
B = Body
There are so many ways our students are
physically active at MBES! Here are some of
the ways our students are staying fit:
• Presidential Fitness Program
• Annual Eagle/Run Walk
• MBES Field Day
• Annual in-house Relay for Life Walk
• Jump Rope for Heart

Eagle Run/Walk
The Annual Eagle Run/Walk is held in the fall each year by
our PE Director, Joey Echols. Each student is asked to get
pledges for the laps they will run during a 15 minute time
period in our gym. Money is raised based on the number of
laps each student runs. As you can imagine the students who
have a lot of pledges run really hard to bring in those dollars.
Below are award winners for 2 nd grade girls and 5 th grade
boys. Almost $5,000 was raised by the students this year.

Relay for Life Walk
benefiting the American Cancer Society
MBES participates in the local Relay for Life Walk that raises
money for the American Cancer Society. All of the grades dress
up according to the theme and then walk with cancer survivors.
This is a real team effort as everyone knows someone who is
battling cancer.

Jump Rope for Heart
benefiting the American Heart Association
When students participate in Jump Rope for Heart, they join millions of other
children across the country in a meaningful opportunity to learn and help others.
They learn how their heart works and how to take care of them through physical
activity and nutrition. And they learn about children who have been affected by
cardiovascular disease and how they can help them. In short, the children will have
fun and feel good by helping others. All money raised during this event goes to the
American Heart Association.

Presidential Physical Fitness
Third, fourth and fifth grade
students at MBES participate in
the Presidential Physical Fitness
Award each year. The students
go through a number of
physical assessments including
pull-ups, sit-ups, sit-and-reach,
shuttle run and one mile run.
Students must pass all five
assessments in order to receive
the Presidential Physical Fitness
Award. This test measures each
child's level of muscular
strength and endurance,
cardiovascular endurance,
flexibility, and speed and agility.

MBES Field Day
During field day, students get a chance to work together and participate in activities
outside all day in late spring. The students rotate by class and grade level to different
stations of Field Day. The stations consist of activities the students have learned
throughout the year in Physical Education as well as water games. The stations are led
by 5th grade students and Beta Club students from Malcom Bridge Middle School.

ABCS of MBES
C = Community
MBES is also very active throughout the year supporting
philanthropic organizations with our donations and time.
• $1 Haiti Relief Fund
• Annual Can Drive for ACTS (Area Churches Together Serving)
• Secret Santa & The Giving Tree
• Fall & Spring Family Nights
• Fantastic Savings Coupon Books
• Partners in Education
• MBES Cake Auction
• Recycling Program
• Veteran’s Day Project

Haiti Relief
In the after math of the earthquake in
Haiti our students raised almost $758 by
asking each student to donate $1 toward
the Haiti Relief effort. This money was
donated to the American Red Cross.

A.C.T.S. Can Drive
Area Churches Together Serving
(A.C.T.S.)
Each year Malcom Bridge Elementary
School participates in an annual can
drive to support A.C.T.S. This year
MBES donated 2,322 cans.

Secret Santa/Giving Tree
Each year MBES families are asked to donate toys and clothing
for local children who are in need. S.O.A.R., the 5 th grade
leadership team, helped to gather and organize the donations and
MBES was able to provide 50 children with items for the holiday.
Hats and gloves were collected on the Giving Tree to be
distributed as well.

Fall & Spring Family Nights
In conjunction with the Fall & Spring Book Fairs, MBES hosts a Fall &
Spring Family Night to give families and the community the
opportunity to come to school and participate in fun activities as well
as enjoy dinner. This past Fall MBES hosted a Fall Festival with a
dunking booth and obstacle course. Local businesses like Zaxby’s
got involved by providing booths with activities like face painting.

Fantastic Savings Coupon Books
In February MBES will Kick-Off the third annual Fantastic
Savings Coupon Book sale. Students are asked to sell $12
coupon books to friends and families and MBES gets to keep
50% of the proceeds. The coupon books are a very popular item
as people look forward to using the coupons as they support our
local businesses! Last year Sonic Drive-Thru sponsored the
assembly and gave free coupons to all of the students.

Partners in Education
Local Businesses partner with
Malcom Bridge Elementary School
through the Oconee County
Chamber of Commerce. MBES has
family nights at several restaurants
each month where a percentage of
the proceeds come back to the
school. Family attendance helps
boost the restaurants business so
both MBES and the restaurant
benefit.
MBES can call on their sponsors to
help with supplies, incentive coupons
for students and charitable
donations.
• Athens First Bank & Trust
• Buffalo's Café
• Chick Piano
• Chicken Express
• Chick-fil-A Epps Bridge Pkwy
• Cici's Pizza
• Ferrando's Pizza
• Fox's Pizza
• Inoko Express
• Sonic Drive-In
• McDonald's
• Stevi B's Pizza
• White Oak Homes, Inc.
• Zaxby's
• Curbside Services, Inc.
• Brett's Casual American
• Barberitos
• Georgia Aquatic Center
• Home Depot
• Kroger
• Lowe's
• Oconee Properties, Inc.
• Oconee State Bank
• Publix
• Walmart

MBES hosted the second
annual Cake Auction
where each class puts
together their own
“themed” cake and
family & friends come
and bid on the cakes.
There is a silent auction
of items from local
businesses as well as a
live auctioneer who
auctions the cakes.
All of the students and
community members
really have fun with this
event!

Recycling Program
Two years ago MBES partnered with a
local sanitation company, Curbside
Services, Inc., to start a recycling
program at our school. We were the
first school in the county to begin a
recycling program and now MBES
students are responsible for separating
plastic, aluminum and paper for
Curbside Services, Inc. to pick up for
FREE!
MBES also recycles phone books, ink
cartridges and cell phones too!

In honor of Veteran’s Day,
MBES held a school-wide
solicitation where
students brought in items
to send to our troups
oversees. Once again the
S.O.A.R. students from
the 5 th grade leadership
program organized the
items and MBES
partnered with The
Commercial Bank in
Crawford and Winterville,
Georgia to ship the items
abroad. There were many
boxes accumulated and
The Commercial Bank
paid for the shipping cost.

Summary
Malcom Bridge Elementary School will be
diligent stewards of your donation should we
be fortunate to receive funding from the
Kroger Earning Plus Learning program. Your
donation will positively impact EVERY
student at MBES.
Thank you for the opportunity you have given
us to share all of the wonderful things we are
doing at our school!

MBES Contact Information
Principal Andrea Roper
2600 Malcom Bridge Road
Bogart, GA 30622
(770) 725-6700
Please check out the Malcom Bridge Elementary
School website at:
www.oconee.k12.ga.us/mbes