BUE Family Newsletter
January 3, 2022
Welcome Back to School
We hope everyone had a restful break and enjoyed time with their families. We are excited to welcome students back to school tomorrow.
Winter Weather
Dressing for Cold Weather
Cold weather has arrived in western Colorado! Students will be outside for recess. It's good for students to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, but they need to come prepared for the colder temperatures. Please make sure your student is wearing proper winter attire to school (warm jacket, gloves, hat, appropropriate shoes). Sandals weather is over, please make sure your student(s) have warm shoes/boots for recess.
If your student is in need of winter clothing/shoes, please call the office at 970-285-5703 and we will get you in contact with the School Based Family Resource Center.
Drop Off and Pick Up during Winter Weather:
- Please drop students off using our Kiss and Go Lanes in front of BUE. For more information on Parking Lots, Drop Off and Parking Lot Safety please click here: Student Safety in the BUE Parking Lots
- Please plan on it taking longer than normal to drop students off due to slick roads and parking lots.
- There is no supervision of drop off areas until 7:20 a.m. each morning. Some parents allow their children to walk to school or drop their children off prior to 7:20 a.m. Please make sure to have conversations with your children about safety if they arrive prior to 7:20 a.m.
- Staff supervision begins at 7:20 and we have crossing guards in our parking lot to help with safety, the Kiss and Go Zone, and traffic flow.
- Regular drop off time begins at approximately 7:20 a.m. and we open the front doors for student entry between 7:20 and 7:25 a.m. depending on morning needs at BUE.
- The first bell rings at 7:30 a.m. The late bell rings at 7:35 a.m.
- Children at marked tardy if they are not in their classroom by 7:35 a.m.
New Website
Menus
FOOD SUPPLY CHALLENGES FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR
GARFIELD 16 Supply Chain Shortage
There is a nationwide food supply shortage and labor shortage that many of you may have heard about that is impacting the foodservice industry. Schools are not immune to this shortage. The ongoing I-70 closures have been an added challenge to this school year. We kindly request your patience and flexibility throughout the year as we continuously find solutions. Garfield 16 students will never lack options, or nutritious meals. Menu items may change on very short notice based on product and delivery availability. All menu changes will be communicated to the school secretaries, and posted in the main entryway of all schools. We also will post updates on our webpage. If you have any questions please call and speak to Jody Williams 285-5701 ext. 4180 or email jwilliams@garfield16.org.
COVID Update
With the surge in COVID cases in our area we are working to make sure our schools remain open to in-person learning. Although there are changes in guidance for length of quarantines and masks in some situations, direction from the health department for quarantining has not changed for schools at this time. It may change at any moment.
As in the the past, there are four ways to avoid the quarantine according to public health:
1- All students and staff wear masks (currently not required by GCSD)
2- Students and staff who are willing to show a vaccination card are not subject to quarantine.
3- Students and staff who have been infected in the last 90 days and are willing to share that medical information are not subject to quarantine.
4- Students and staff who are willing to voluntarily undergo a rapid COVID test and obtain a negative result on the voluntary test do not have to be quarantined. The test is VOLUNTARY and schools MUST HAVE PARENTAL PERMISSION for the test to be administered.
Wearing masks is one of the main ways to slow the spread of disease and to avoid closure of schools. During this surge in the spread of COVID, we are highly recommending wearing masks.
Please do not send your child to school if they have any symptoms, or are not feeling well in general. This will help in our efforts to keep our schools open to in-person learning.
COVID-19 SYMPTOMS
The type of symptoms and how severe they are vary greatly person to person. Symptoms of COVID-19 are not limited to those on this list.
Keep track of your symptoms and get tested within 1-2 days if you have any of the following:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
In many cases, these symptoms look very similar to other common illnesses such as the flu.
Even if you get a negative COVID-19 test, you may still be asked to isolate because it is possible to have a false-negative test.
Guidance on isolation and quarantine for schools (which is different than guidance for other organizations)
Garfield County Public Health testing site
Parent Advisory Committee
Our next meeting will be in January 13, 2022. We will continue to meet in-person in the BUE gym and provide an online format for families to participate remotely. We highly encourage families to wear a mask to the in-person PAC due to the surge in COVID in our community.
The topic for January's PAC meeting is the Colorado READ ACT. If you have a struggling reader who is on a READ PLAN this is a fantastic opportunity for you to learn more about the Colorado READ ACT, how we are supporting your student at school, and how you can support your student at home.
READ ACT Fact Sheet (English)
READ ACT Fact Sheet (Spanish)
Future PAC Meetings Dates and Times:
- January 13, 2022 @ 6:00 p.m. in the BUE Gym
- February 10, 2022 @ 6:00 p.m. in the BUE Gym
- March 10, 2022 @ 6:00 p.m. in the BUE Gym
- April 14, 2022 @ 6:00 p.m. in the BUE Gym
- May 12, 2022 @ 6:00 p.m. in the BUE Gym
ACCESS Testing for English Language Learners
ACCESS for ELLs® is an English language proficiency assessment given annually to Kindergarten through 12th graders who have been identified as English language learners (ELLs). It provides educators and parents information about the English language proficiency level in the language domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing.
If you have any questions about the annual ACCESS test please reach out to the BUE office.
Become a Substitute at BUE!
Colorado has been experiencing a teacher shortage since 2010. Substitute teachers are also very limited.
Substituting is a great fit for retirees, college students, part-time workers, stay-at home parents, and those with flexible schedules.
Here are some quick facts:
- Substitute teaching is very rewarding. You get to work with great kids, see how our school works, and get a better understanding of what our students are learning and why.
- It provides you the opportunity to set your own schedule and have a great amount of flexibility. It can fit in your schedule as it works best for you and you get to determine the days you work. You can even use it to supplement another job.
- You can easily sub as many or as few days a week as you would like. You can earn a steady paycheck or several hundred dollars here or there.
- You will make a difference in students’ lives and in our school.
- You’ll have fun! Substitute teaching is really an adventure. The variety found in the day, fast pace, and meeting new colleagues and students, are all a recipe for an exciting day.
Pay
- Certified substitute teachers make $130 / day in Garfield 16. (this is subbing for a teacher)
- Classified substitute teachers make $12.32 / hours in Garfield 16. (this is subbing for a paraprofessional, custodian, food service, etc).
If you do a little math, subbing for a teacher can really add up:
- Working only 2 days a week could earn you over $1000/month ($130x2 = $260 x 4 weeks a month = $1060).
Here is a link to CDE's website on how to apply to become a substitute teacher. LINK
There are 3 steps:
- Submit Fingerprints
- Complete a substitute teaching application LINK
- Contact Garfield 16 to apply to sub in our district Link to Garfield 16 Application
Garfield 16 Overarching Mission Statement:
As a result of our efforts, all students will be successfully prepared for life in a safe and nurturing environment.
Our School Mission:
BUE is a caring community providing students with a meaningful and authentic education.
Our School Vision:
We strive to empower our students to pursue their passions and to be kind, ethical people.