Bells Mill Elementary School families have two weeks to gear up before the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 25, and the PTA is already laying out what's ahead.

The Bells Mill PTA's fall Bear Post newsletter, published Sunday, Aug. 9, signals the start of back-to-school season for the Potomac school at 8225 Bells Mill Road. The nonprofit PTA is pushing its annual membership drive at $40 per family, money that funds enrichment programs, facility upgrades and community events throughout the year.

The PTA said membership also gives families a voice in school decisions and helps students and parents build friendships within the school community.

Open house and playdate on deck

Before classes begin, Bells Mill has two events on the calendar:

  • BMES Open House: Friday, Aug. 21, 10 to 11 a.m. at Bells Mill Elementary School
  • Kindergarten and Newcomers Playdate: Saturday, Aug. 22, 11 a.m. to noon at the rear playground

Monday, Aug. 24, is MCPS Student Transition Day with no regular instruction. As we reported Aug. 10, the full MCPS calendar sets Aug. 25 as the first instructional day countywide.

Screen-time toolkit reaches Bells Mill

The PTA also shared the Schools Beyond Screens Parent Advocacy Toolkit with families in its Aug. 6 Bear Post edition. The toolkit, created by MCCPTA Technology Committee members, includes notices families can send to school administrators about the Board of Education's screen use resolution and concerns over Google AI features.

MCCPTA Technology Committee Vice-Chair Erin Hofmann presented results from a summer educator survey to the Board of Education. That survey drew 177 MCPS educator responses in June and July about classroom screen use and cell phone storage.

Bells Mill families can also sign up for The UnPluggEd Project, a challenge of one to five screen-free days running Oct. 5 through Oct. 9. Registration is open through a link in the Bear Post.

How to get involved

Families can join the PTA at bellsmillpta.membershiptoolkit.com, sign up to volunteer through an interest form on the PTA website, or subscribe to the weekly Bear Post newsletter at bearpost.bellsmill.org. The PTA also posts updates on its WhatsApp channel, Facebook (@BellsMillPTA) and Instagram (@bellsmillbears).

Upcoming Bells Mill dates

  • Monday, Aug. 17: MCPS Teacher Preservice Day (no school)
  • Friday, Aug. 21: BMES Open House, 10–11 a.m.
  • Saturday, Aug. 22: Kindergarten and Newcomers Playdate, 11 a.m.–noon
  • Monday, Aug. 24: MCPS Student Transition Day (no instruction)
  • Tuesday, Aug. 25: First day of school
  • Oct. 5–9: The UnPluggEd Project screen-free challenge