BB 05-16-25

BRADFORD BULLETIN

VOLUME XVII, ISSUE 41

MAY 16, 2025

 

FROM THE OFFICE

FOR ALL: 
  • ZIPCAST – As you look forward to summer break, there can be uncertainty and maybe even some anxiousness, about what the days are going to look like and how you will maintain some semblance of order in your home.  Be sure to listen to Monday’s Zipcast!  There are some great suggestions for how to enjoy the change of pace that summer brings without spiraling into the abyss of chaos! 
  • IMMUNIZATIONS:  REQUIREMENT – All students in rising Kindergarten, 7th grade and 12th grade are required to receive and submit updated immunizations.  These must be on file with the school prior to the first day of the 25/26 school year.  Please schedule appointments and submit the records via TADS.  
LOWER SCHOOL- IMPORTANT NOTES:
  • 4th Graders:  Band Mtg on Tues, 5/20 at 5:45 pm – Please reply to the survey Mrs. Mitchell sent this week.  
  • Vacation Bible School at Grace Reformed Baptist Church (where lower school is housed)
  • Lower School Field Day Sign-up – We need 7 more volunteers for 3rd/4th grade stations.

 

UPPER SCHOOL- IMPORTANT NOTES:

Varsity Sports Awards Ceremony: 

  • Who:  7th-12th grade students who participated on varsity sports teams are invited (with their families) 
  • When:  Tuesday night (5/20) at 7:00pm 
  • Where:  at the lower campus picnic shelter. 
  • Please bring: drinks or a dessert to share.

LAST HOT LUNCH on Thursday: 

  • The weekly menu locks at midnight on Sunday night – so be sure to place your orders and check out in time. Once your account is set up, it should be easy for the rest of the year! ORDER HERE  
FROM MRS. MITCHELL:  

Summer is a great time to hone fine motor skills and strengthen a tripod pencil grip.  In addition to fostering better reading skills (attention to detail) here is a list of benefits that spring from the joy of coloring:  

    • concentration and focus skills
    • a sense of accomplishment and self-esteem
    • patience and staying on task to complete a project
    • enhances memory
    • spatial awareness
    • sequencing and patterning
    • builds endurance for writing
  • Quick Tip: inviting children to lay on their stomachs while coloring on the floor helps to stabilize the shoulder and isolate this fine motor movement.

UPCOMING

NEXT WEEK:
  • Tues, 5/20:  
    • 5:45 – Band meeting for Rising 5th grade students – lower school 
    • NEW 6:00 – Class of 2026 Senior Trip Meeting #1 – lower school auditorium
    • 7:00 – Sports Award Ceremony – lower school pavilion
  • Thurs, 5/22:  
    • TK last day of school:  Parents please arrive at 11:00 to celebrate with your student!
    • NEW Spring Fine Arts Program:  Upper school at Mebane Presbyterian Church
      • 6:00 – Light reception and tour of visual arts at Upper School Campus
      • 6:45 – Doors open at Mebane Presbyterian Church
      • 7:00 – Concert begins
UPCOMING:
  • Mon, 5/26:  Memorial Day – no school
  • Wed, 5/28:
    • K – 4th grades:  Verse Bee at lower school auditorium
      • K – 1st:  9:00 
      • 2nd – 3rd:  10:00
      • 4th: 11:00
    • 4:45p – 11th – 12th grades:  Gala at the White House on Washington
  • Thurs, 5/29:
    • 10:00 – Baccalaureate (upper school)
  • Fri, 5/30:  Last day of school!  **ALL STUDENTS WILL BE AT THE LOWER SCHOOL CAMPUS!**
    • 6:45 – Seniors breakfast with Mr. Johnston at Hursey’s
    • 8:30 – Kindergarten certificate ceremony – Parents are welcome to attend!
    • 9:00 – 10:30 – Field day (lower school) / ultimate frisbee (upper school)
    • All students dismissed at 12:00 pm
    • Graduation, 7pm
  • FRI, JULY 4TH:  Bradford will be participating in Mebane’s 4th of July celebration downtown.
    • 9:00 – 12:00
    • Students will help Mr. Johnston recite the Declaration of Independence
    • Students can bring their bikes or scooters to the decoration station and then join in the parade.
    • Please let us know if you can join us!  

FROM THE TEACHER’S DESK

 

GRAMMAR SCHOOL

 

Transitional Kindergarten (Mrs. Grubb and Mrs. Weber)

     TK students enjoyed our last theme week at school. It was dinosaur week in TK! Students enjoyed dinosaur books, art projects, sorting dinosaurs by what they eat, and making dino dirt cups for our last kitchen activity of the year. Students also dissected green beans and tomatoes and were able to pretend to be plant eating dinosaurs and try them! It was a great week! We wrapped up our math lessons this week by identifying spheres, learning to cover one half of a shape and then learned to play dominoes. War and dominoes would be excellent summer activities for your student! Students finished up lowercase letters with v, z, and x as well as the capital partners. We completed several letter review pages as well to complete our D’Nealian workbook to prepare for cursive. Students also had reading buddy time with the first grade classes. Another highlight of the week was arriving at school to find our butterflies had emerged from the chrysalis. We released 14 butterflies on Tuesday and finished up our life cycle books. We finished up the Jesus Storybook Bible by reading “A Dream of Heaven” from the book of Revelation in the Bible. We discussed how this dream was given to John to write down so that Jesus’s followers can wait with excitement for His return.

      Next week is the last week of TK! Our last day is Thursday, May 22nd. As a reminder all students will be dismissed at 11:45 am on 5/22. Please see my previous email this week for all of the details regarding the last week of school. It includes everything you need to know to be prepared for next week, but please reach out with any questions. 

 

Lower School P.E. (Mrs. Bennington)

K – 4th
  •   Students worked on field day games this week as well as inside brain games. Students have grown so much this year in the areas of following instructions, team work, responsibility, accountability, and integrity. 

Lower School Music (Mrs. Bennington)

K-4th 
  •   Students, in all grades, worked hard on the hymn, “And Can It Be” in music this week. Third grade students also played through several songs on their recorder using the notes G, A, and B.  Fourth grade students learned about brass and woodwind instruments. 

Kindergarten (Mrs. Rivera and Miss Burdeshaw)

This Week
  • Our kindergarten scholars are quickly approaching the end of the school year! They have worked so hard and it has been a pleasure to see how they’ve grown. In math, we learned how to identify one half, one third, and one sixth, how to use comparison symbols, how to identify dollar bills, and a review of how to add nine to a number. In phonics, we continued to work on our reader, “Runs from Guns,” and repeated last week’s spelling list. In history, we discussed the story of how  Mebane came to be and its city council. In art and science, we continued to work on our human body project. As we anticipate our exciting Bible Bee, please be working with your student on all the verses we have learned this year. 
Memory Work:   
  • Review all verses

1st Grade (Mrs. Cantaffa & Mrs. Smith)

This Week
  • This week in first grade was filled with joyful learning and meaningful discovery! In Math, we practiced subtracting 5 and 4, and we took on the challenge of subtracting two-digit numbers. Our students are growing in confidence and precision as they work through each problem with perseverance. In Reading, we enjoyed Fathers’ Faith, a beautiful reminder of the strength and guidance. In Grammar, we read The Boy Who Cried Wolf, sparking rich discussion about honesty and trust. We also reviewed and tested our knowledge of the parts of speech, continuing to build a strong foundation for communication. In History, we read about Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin, learning how God can use our talents—even at a young age—for His glory. The students were fascinated by Benjamin West’s artistic gift and how his story reflects the truth of Psalm 139:14—that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. In Art, we colored vibrant worksheets showing the butterfly life cycle, marveling at God’s design in creation. Science was equally engaging as we explored the states of matter—solid, liquid, and gas—and discussed how God brings order and structure to all things. It is a joy to see the students learn, grow, and wonder at the world God has made!
  • Review all verses!! 
2nd Grade (Mrs. Hedgecock & Mrs. Eng)
This Week
  • Welcome to Ancient Egypt!  What a great week as we brought together many of the aspects of Egypt that we have learned throughout the year.  We have had many amazing adventures this week. We have traveled down the Nile River, spotted wildlife near the Nile, learned hieroglyphics, stood near the pyramids, built pyramids, created Egyptian art, listened to Egyptian music, sampled Egyptian foods, decorated a sarcophagus to put our wrapped mummy in, etc.   The highlight of the week was seeing the students’ projects and learning from them. Thank you for assisting your child with their project.  Where do mummies like to swim?  In the Dead Sea!

3rd Grade (Mrs. Clark and Mrs. Meredith)

This Week
  • In 325 A.D., Constantine summoned nearly 300 Christian leaders to discuss the disputed doctrine of Arianism. Out of these discussions, what we now know today as the Nicene Creed, was constructed. The Nicene Creed is the most universally accepted foundational document among Christians across denominations and states, “We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father; God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God; begotten not made, one in being with the Father.” Students discussed the importance of this doctrine to their faith as well as the importance of knowing God’s word so that we do not fall prey to false teachings. In science, we made our own lava lamps to learn about density and polarity, pulled an egg into a bottle to demonstrate atmospheric pressure and the effects of heat and cooling on air, and learned about cohesion by placing drops of water onto a penny.  We also finished reading The Odyssey this week and completed our final character analysis of Odysseus. Students  enjoyed comparing and contrasting The Iliad to The Odyssey. Ask your student which of Homer’s epic poems was their favorite this year!

4th Grade (Mrs. McDorman and Mrs. Rankin) 

This Week
  • We had a full fun week in fourth grade! In history, we studied John Knox, the bold Scottish reformer whose leadership helped spark the Scottish Reformation. Influenced by John Calvin, Knox returned to Scotland with a deep conviction that Scripture must govern both church and society. He fearlessly opposed Mary, Queen of Scots, and helped establish the Presbyterian Church. In math, students deepened their understanding of geometry, identifying and classifying straight, right, acute, and obtuse angles, as well as exploring parallel and perpendicular lines. We also introduced strategies for calculating unknown angles, laying groundwork for more advanced reasoning. Our science focus was Newton’s Three Laws of Motion. To demonstrate the First Law, we used an egg-inertia experiment—removing a support swiftly and watching the egg drop straight into a glass (if all went well!). It vividly showed how objects at rest stay at rest unless acted upon by an external force. We explored the Second and Third Laws through additional hands-on activities illustrating motion, force, and reaction. We started reading our final book for this year, The Dangerous Journey, an allegorical tale that sparked rich discussion about perseverance and faith, while in writing, students started drafting their autobiographies, using their outlines to reflect on God’s providence. 
Upcoming:  
  • Bible Bee (study ALL verses)

 

LOGIC SCHOOL

 

Mrs. Bennington

5th-10th Band

 

  •  Students are making massive strides on preparing their music for the concert! I am so proud of all of the Band students! We have reached a point in all classes where we are able to go beyond notes and rhythms and really start growing in the areas of interpretation and expression. Students are starting to listen to one another, decipher how their part fits, and execute precision in individual and group performance.  Students are looking forward to showcasing all of their hard work at the Spring Concert next week, Thursday May 22nd at 7pm. The concert will be held at Mebane Presbyterian Church. Students should arrive in their dress uniform at 6pm to warm-up. Families and Friends are encouraged to go to First Baptist Church after drop off to view the Art Exhibit between warm-up and when the doors open for the concert at 6:45pm. 

Mrs. Johnston

5th – 8th Chorus, Bradford Chorale
  • We are on the home-stretch and into full-on concert mode. This week we really honed in on memorization, the emphasis on listening to one another and listening ahead to anticipate what comes next. It’s really fun when we recognize how our part fits with another part because that allows us to truly harmonize well and also enjoy the music we are singing. Please remember that the concert, next Thursday May 22, will be at Mebane Presbyterian Church at 7PM. Call time for musicians at Mebane Presbyterian Church is at 6PM, and we encourage parents to take advantage of the opportunity to view the Art Exhibit at the Upper Campus between the call time and when concert doors open at 6:45PM.

5th Grade (Mrs. LaTour and Miss Johnston) 

This Week
  •   We are finishing strong in 5th grade! With two more weeks left in the school year, we are pushing through! We are nearing the end of our book, Treasure Island, and only have 1 more history card to go for the year! This week, we studied the War of 1812, wrote about the Westward Movement, and worked on converting units of measurement! The Lord has been so kind to us this year, and the thought of not being with our students each day in a few more weeks is getting more and more real. We will miss them! Our prayer is that they would finish this year strong and retain what they have learned. 6th grade is getting a great group of kids! 

Things to be aware of : 

  • Math Test: Thursday, May 22nd 
  • Memory Test (Passage Fill-in-the-blank): Mrs. LaTour’s Class: 5/23, Miss J’s Class: 5/28
Memory Work:  
  • Proverbs 15:16-17

6th Grade (Miss Stevenson)

6th Reading and Literature
  • We are continuing to work through Around the World in Eighty Days. The travelers completed their trek across the U.S and are working on a way to get back to the U.K. 
6th Grammar and Writing
  • Since we are officially finished with required Grammar and Writing assignments for 6th grade, I spent our G&W time giving them extra punctuation information. We finished up the comma rules and started on apostrophe rules.
6th Bible
  • This week we read Titus, Philemon, and James.
6th History
  •  This week in History we learned about the Space Race. We watched a two-part documentary on the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs.
6th Science
  • In Science this week we discussed the genetics of blood types and sex-linked traits. 
6th Logic
  • We finished up our Logic curriculum this week! Students took their test on propaganda fallacies this week and will be presenting their propaganda findings next Wednesday. 
6th Latin
  •   We finished Chapter 8 in Latin this week. We will take the test on that chapter next Thursday. 

Mrs. Crotts

6th Math
  • 6th Graders dove into Chapter 14; for some this was review and for a handful this chapter was new.  Chapter 14 involved basic geometry and areas of various shapes.

Mrs. Palmer 

6th Art
  • This week we continued working on our oil pastel complementary color drawings.  Students have nearly finished these and they will soon be displayed. 

Dr. Wright

7th Composition 
  • Students continue to grow their vocabulary with terms from their reading; currently Lewis’s Screwtape Letters.  
7th Omnibus – Literature, History, Bible
  • Students are working their way through Screwtape Letters.  We are also reviewing every major book read this year, with students addressing summative questions about themes.  A final reflection exercise remains.  
7th Logic
  • We have focused significant time on logic.  Students continue to work through the workbook. 

Mrs. Frueh

7th Science
  • We wrapped up our Docendo Discimus project this week with the last round of student presentations. Each student chose a different astronomy topic to study for the duration of the quarter. After becoming an expert on the topic, each student had the opportunity to teach the class an 8-10-minute lesson. This week’s presentations taught us more about Mars and its exploration rovers, Saturn and its rings, constellations and their historical importance, comets, Jupiter’s moons, and different types of telescopes. This project builds the rhetoric skills that students will continue to hone throughout their high school years. 
7th Pre-Algebra
  • The students added many valuable geometric tools to their math toolbox this week as they learned to use the Pythagorean Theorem, as well as how to calculate the volume and surface area of pyramids and cones.  We also learned how to use multiple unit multipliers to make conversions of volume between the metric and English measurement systems.

Mrs. Palmer 

7th Art
  • Students continued working on their colored pencil botanical drawings.  These are very detailed and students have done a great job with them.

Miss Johnston

7th Latin
  •   We began our next (and last!) chapter. The students learned about the different uses of the ablative case and worked on some vocab memorization. 

Dr. Wright

8th Omnibus 
  • History: Students have submitted final copies of their biographical research papers.  In-class presentations, with costumes and props, are ongoing. 
  • Literature:  We have finished reading Lord of the Rings, and after reflecting on Tolkien’s themes, we will have a summative reflection on every book read this year.  
  • Composition:   Students had their final vocabulary quiz of the year, and their work on biographical research papers has included an emphasis on proper citation. 

Miss Johnston

8th Latin
  •  At the beginning of the week the students successfully translated about two paragraphs of the first chapter of Julius Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico. The last half of the week, the students began their in-class,  “Impact of Latin” project. 

Mrs. Frueh

8th Science
  • We continued our survey of the periodic table with a study of the groups of non-metals and metalloids.
8th Algebra I
  • It was an exciting week in Algebra as we learned how to use graphing calculators and/or online graphing simulators to graph quadratic functions. Once we learned how to graph the functions, we used our calculation tools to determine the “zeros” of the parabola, as well as the maximum or minimum value. 

Mrs. Palmer 

8th Art
  •  Students have been working on an end of the year clay project.  

Mr. Crotts

8th Logic
  • Students translated everyday arguments in English into categorical form in order to examine & analyze them.

RHETORIC SCHOOL

 

From the COLLEGE COUNSELING Office:

9th-12th: 

 

  • Career Day was Friday, May 16.  They heard about a variety of careers including graphic design, education, aeronautics, accounting, nursing, occupational therapy, and public safety.  It was very kind of these volunteers to take time out of their lives to invest in the students’ lives.
  • Scholarship Opportunity:  
    • A Call to Freedom: A Call for Papers
    • Exploring North Carolina’s Role in the American Revolution and America’s Founding
    • Visit  johnlocke.org for details.

“As part of the John Locke Foundation’s NC250: Freedom Vanguard initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we invite students, scholars, historians, and writers to submit papers exploring North Carolina’s role in the American Revolution and the founding of the United States. This project seeks to highlight the state’s contributions to the struggle for independence, the ideals of liberty, and the shaping of the American Republic.  Prize money will be awarded to the top three submissions of $5,000, $3,000, and $2,000. Please submit abstracts to submissions@nc250.org .“

  • Rising 11th and 12th Graders continue to study options for electives and some are even taking summer classes through various universities and community colleges.

Mrs. Palmer 

9th Spanish 
  • Students presented country projects this week.  Students shared about everything from climate to cuisine to tourism and attractions in the country they presented.  These were well done! 

Mrs. Frueh

9th Geometry
  • It was a bittersweet day in Geometry as we wrapped up our last unit on circles by learning five new theorems regarding chords, tangents, and secants. Every algebra skill was put to the test this week as we solved for unknown angles, arcs, and chord lengths.  There is a great sense of accomplishment in finishing a year-long course of study and finishing it well. The students should be commended for a job well done! For many of the students in this class, this was the last math lesson with me as their teacher after four years (and literally hundreds of lessons) of math together!  What a joyous and beautiful journey it has been!

Mr. Crotts

9th Logic
  • We have been reading through the Wisdom Books of the Bible to find arguments. The Proverbs utilize many “if-then” statements. The story of Job teaches several ultimate truths about God, Satan, evil, sin, and consequences.

Dr. and Mrs. James

9th Biology
  • This week we continued our study of God as Creator, focusing on some key Hebrew terms and structure used in Gen 1 and 2.  
  • Next week the students will take their final test of this quarter. 

Mrs. Crotts

9th Literature
  • 9th Graders concluded watching To Kill a Mockingbird, and then learned about Ernest Hemingway’s worldview and particularly through The Old Man and the Sea.

Dr. Byrd 

9th Bible 
  •  This week we have finished the Pastoral Epistles. We learned about the work of God in Timothy’s life. The Lord used a man from a small town, Debe, to become an important servant of Christ in the churches of the New Testament. God can use our lives too.
  • Memory verse for next Wednesday: II Thessalonians 3:16 

Coach Johnston

9th History
  • Students have begun a short summary of the modern civil rights movement. This week we’ve briefly learned more about Booker T Washington, WEB DuBois, Emmitt Till, Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. 

Coach Johnston

10th History
  • Students have begun preparation for their final exam. We’re reviewing geography, alongside the ancient history of Israel, Greece and Rome.

Coach Johnston

9/10th PE
  • Students took advantage of a rain day on Tuesday to do extra school work before enjoying the return of sunny weather on Thursday to play tennis again together. The students have really improved over the three weeks that we worked on it!

Dr. James

10th Chemistry
  • This week we concluded our study of acids and bases, and the students were given a practice sheet to help them prepare for the test. 
  • Next week we will review this material, and the students will take their last test of the quarter. 

Mrs. Palmer 

10th Spanish
  • We spent time reviewing past grammar and vocabulary this week.  Students also gave group presentations in which they shared about a certain aspect of a Spanish-speaking country and used the target language throughout. 

Mrs. Byrd

10th Algebra II
  • We concluded our unit on Conic Sections this week.  After a test next week, we will complete a CSI Style project using our Conic Section knowledge as well as work on a brief unit on the hexadecimal number syster.

Mrs. Crotts

10th Literature
  • 10th Graders concluded edits to essays about Deism and Christianity in tandem with Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.  They will begin research to fuel a creative writing project about the history of “the yellow house.”

Miss Oldham

10th Rhetoric I
  • Students wrapped up their Teeny Tiny Theses. They will be presenting these starting on Monday. 

Dr. Smith

10th Historical Theology
  • Students continue reading and discussing Christianity and Liberalism. We are currently discussing the chapter on salvation and will conclude with the chapter on the doctrine of the church.   

Mrs. Palmer

11th Spanish III
  • Students took their final Spanish III exam this week.  We also spent time reviewing past grammar concepts and vocabulary.  

Mrs. Byrd

11th Precalculus
  • We completed our study of sequences and series and began a brief study of conic sections.
11th Physics
  • We wrapped up our unit on current electricity and began a brief look at magnetism and power generation.  Our final test for the quarter will be next Wednesday.

Miss Oldham

11th Literature
  •  We finished Romeo and Juliet. The final exam is on Wednesday. 

Dr. Smith

11th NT Greek
  • Students are working on translating 1John 2. 

Mrs. Fairchild

11/12 Art History Elective

We made it to the Impressionists! We are still attempting to make it all the way through the history timeline. The students are especially hoping for some good discussion and debates centered around Salvador Dali, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Marcel Duchamp and Makoto Fukimura. 

Coach Johnston

12th History
  •  Students have begun a very brief overview of the Cold War. This week we tackled its origin and how America and the world seek to end World War Two (and engage in the world following that conflict) in a way that reflects the lessons from those wars in order to effectively avoid a third world war without caving to appeasement again. We’ve discussed America’s economic (Marshall plan), diplomatic (United Nations and Truman Doctrine) and military (NATO) response to the threat of communism. We’ve covered the Korean War and a brief element of the space race. Next week we’ll consider the key events of the Kennedy, LBJ, Nixon, and Reagan presidencies.

Miss Oldham

12th Literature
  •    We finished 1984 this week. Their final exam is on Wednesday. 

Mrs. Byrd

12th Calculus
  • I’m proud of the students for their hard work this year.  AP Takers completed the 4 hour long AP exam on Monday and will await their scores in mid July.  Non AP Takers complete a 2 hour final exam that covered content from whole course.  Enjoy your summer!