The holiday season is in full swing at Birchmount, and there’s a whole lot to be excited about! Here are some important (and very festive) updates for the week ahead. Thank you for taking the time to read our (sometimes lengthy) weekly messages! 

🎄 9th Annual Holiday Gift Mart — Wednesday, December 10

Our Holiday Gift Mart is one of Birchmount’s most loved traditions, and we can’t wait for students to experience it again this year!

On Wednesday, December 10, our Birchmount Bears will get the chance to “shop” for up to two special gifts for the grown-ups in their lives. It’s a joyful day that helps kids practice generosity, surprise, and the fine art of keeping a secret (a true holiday miracle).

To help keep this tradition going, families are invited to make a suggested donation of $2 per child, available now on SchoolCash Online:
https://angloeast.schoolcashonline.com/Home/SignIn

All money donated at the Gift Mart goes toward supporting our Birchmount Family Holiday Gift Fund, which helps us support some of our own Birchmount families during the holiday season. Thank you for helping us spread kindness both inside and beyond our school walls.

🎁 Donations Still Needed!

We are still looking for lots of donations to make the Gift Mart sparkle. Items should be new or gently used gifts that are appropriate for grown-ups (parents, grandparents, caregivers, etc.).

We cannot accept:

• food
• used clothing or bedding
• used earrings
• anything sharp

Donations can be dropped off right up until the end of the day Tuesday. Thank you so much to everyone who has already contributed — your generosity makes this event truly special.

🙋‍♀️ Volunteers Wanted

The Home and School is also looking for helping hands to make the day run smoothly. Volunteers are needed for:

• set-up on Tuesday
• personal shopping assistants
• gift wrapping
• clean up at the end of the day Wednesday

If you’re able to help out, even for a short time, please email:
birchmounthomeandschool@gmail.com

(You’ll earn holiday karma and probably see some adorable “I picked this all by myself!” moments.)

🥫 Birchmount Food Drive Kicks Off Monday!

We are excited to share that our Birchmount Food Drive begins Monday, and we’re inviting all families to participate.

We will be collecting non-perishable food items to go into food boxes for our own Birchmount families in need. This is a wonderful way for students to support members of their school community in a meaningful, very real way.

Please send in items that match our daily themes:

• Monday, Dec. 8: Breakfast Cheer Day!
  Breakfast cereal
• Tuesday, Dec. 9: Pasta Wonderland Day!
  Pasta and pasta sauce
• Wednesday, Dec. 10: Holiday Snack Day!
  Cookies, crackers, candies
• Thursday, Dec. 11: Comfort and Joy Day!
  Canned and boxed goods

The class with the highest number of donations will win a pizza party! (Yes, generosity and pizza. Truly the spirit of the season.) Thank you in advance for helping make sure every Birchmount family feels cared for and supported.

🍿 Popcorn Sale Reminder

The Home and School popcorn sale is happening too!

• Orders open until Monday at noon
• Popcorn arrives Wednesday, December 10

Perfect timing for a cozy concert snack… just saying.

🎶 Birchmount Band & Choir Concert

Please join us for a wonderful evening of music!

Birchmount Band and Choir Concert
📅 Wednesday, December 10
🕡 6:30 PM
📍 Birchmount School

Our students have been working hard and are excited to perform for you. We hope to see you there!

📌 No School for Students — Friday, December 12

A reminder that there is no school for students on Friday, December 12, as teachers will be engaged in professional learning.

Thank you for your continued support, generosity, and holiday spirit. Birchmount is a special place because of the community around it — and this season really shows that.