• Monday, November 22nd - Friday, November 26th - Thanksgiving Break; No School
  
• Monday, December 6th - Friday, December 10th - Book Fair
• Thursday, December 9th - Holiday Shopping for Grown Ups - Book Fair 4:00-6:00 PM in Library
• Wednesday, December 15th - Holiday Music Performance (info. below)
• Tuesday, December 21st - Early Dismissal 11:30 AM
• Wednesday, December 22nd - Monday, January 3rd - Winter Break; No School
• Tuesday, January 4th - Students Return from Winter Break
• Tuesday, January 4th - First Day of 3rd Nine Weeks/2nd Semester
• Wednesday, January 5th - 2nd Nine Weeks Report Cards Sent Home

Geri Evans is the Bluff Park Elementary School Teacher of the Year! We are so proud and excited for her! She is so deserving of this award!

Do you have Halloween candy laying around your house? We will take it! We are collecting candy donations until Wednesday, December 1st! Candy can be dropped off at the office or given to your child’s homeroom teacher. We appreciate any and all candy donations!

BP is so excited to announce our 2021 Spelling Bee Winner and Runner Up! Our winner this year is Luke H. and the runner up is Noah R. Everyone did so well and worked so hard. This is truly a great accomplishment. Congratulations to everyone who participated!

3rd - 5th grade winners that represented their homerooms are pictured below.

(L to R)

Top row: Vera B., Molly A., Stella M., Micaiah S., Rose G., & Stella S.

Bottom row: Noah R., Paul A., Robert O., Luke H., Noah S., and Noah M.

Not pictured: Easton D.& Charlie R.

Your child will visit the book fair on their library specials day during the week of December 6th - 10th.

We will also have a holiday shopping event for grown ups only. This will be Thursday, December 9th from 4-6pm in the library. There will be no before or after school shopping available. You can preview and purchase books online as well. Visit our school’s book fair page at www.scholastic.com/bf/bluffpark. All book fair proceeds will benefit library needs.

We at Bluff Park would love to have more males around the school, and are hoping to do this through D2 (Dudes on Duty). This group was originally formed in 2019 and we are so excited to announce that D2 will be coming back in action! D2 is a group of dads, grandfathers, uncles, etc. that assist in a variety of ways and allow a male presence at Bluff Park. If you would like to sign up to receive emails from this group about opportunities in the future to help with school activities, please click here to provide your name and email address.

An upcoming opportunity for D2 is to assist in carpool. This will begin on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the first full week in December. Click here to sign up if you would like to assist.

Students will have time with Santa and participate in a musical performance on Wednesday, December 15th. Please see times below for each grade level. The musical performance will be outside on the track and field area and in place of Santa's Breakfast that we have had in the past. Parents are welcome to attend this outside musical event or watch it live streamed (link provided at a later date). Students will have time in the morning with Santa, which will be separate from the music performance. Throughout the day, students will also have the opportunity to participate in fun holiday activities, such as hot chocolate and read alouds with our 5th grade students.

Stay tuned for more information on the opportunity to purchase a class picture with Santa.

Students will sing a song with their class led by Mr. Keyton. Feel free to bring your tailgate chair for the musical performance on the track and field. Travelin' Tom's Coffee truck will be present during all performances for parents and family members to purchase (not available for students). 10% of the proceeds will go back to BPES! Additionally, the Heavenly Donut truck will also be available for parents and family members to purchase (not available for students). 20% of the proceeds will go back to BPES!

Kindergarten - 12:00 PM

1st Grade - 12:30 PM

2nd Grade - 1:00 PM

3rd Grade - 1:30 PM

It’s that time of year again! Students will be able to participate in the Kids Mercedes-Benz Marathon on February 12, 2022. Your student will be running every Friday to complete a goal of running/walking 25.2 miles. If they register for the event, they will complete their last mile of the marathon on February 12th at Linn Park in downtown Birmingham. Registration for the Kids Mercedes-Benz Marathon is only online at https://runsignup.com/Race/AL/Birmingham/BHKidsMercedesMarathon. Online registration is $20 plus a small service fee from Run Sign Up. Price increases after November 15, 2021 at 11:59pm CST. More information will be given through the BPES Newsletter or sent home with your student!

If your child has ANY symptoms of illness, please keep him/her at home until you can determine the cause of the symptoms. If your child has symptoms and they have been tested for COVID-19, they must remain home until the COVID-19 test results are reported to you. Per the ADPH Back to School Guidance, if your child has symptoms and has a negative covid test result, the child should stay home for 10 days UNLESS a healthcare provider issues an alternate diagnosis. We don't need to know the specific diagnosis, but we need to know there is a diagnosis other than COVID-19 to explain the symptoms. When students report to school with symptoms of illness and subsequently test positive for COVID-19, they have exposed countless others, creating multiple close contact individuals and additional COVID positive cases. Please refer to the ADPH Back to School Guidance pages numbered 13 and 15, or your personal Healthcare Professional if you have questions. https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/covid19/assets/cov-school-guidance-073021.pdf

PARENTS, PLEASE DO NOT TO SEND STUDENTS TO SCHOOL WITH ANY SYMPTOM OF ILLNESS UNTIL IT IS KNOWN WHAT THE REASON IS FOR THE SYMPTOM.

BUSES

• If your child rides the bus, please remind him or her that masks MUST be worn at all times while on the bus.

CARPOOL

Please practice having your child get in and out of the car by him or herself. This may include buckling and unbuckling seat belts and getting in and out of the vehicle independently. Please have students gather all their materials (backpack, lunchbox, jacket, etc.) so that they can quickly get out of the car in the morning.This will be extremely helpful at carpool in order to help keep the line moving swiftly. Please be sure to display your carpool tag.

It's that time! 5th graders only, turn in a baby photo of yourself to Mrs. Dolan as soon as possible (before she has her baby!) so that it can be included in the yearbook. Don’t miss the opportunity to take part in this tradition!

You can bring in a hard copy or send it in digitally to adolan@hoover.k12.al.us

First Priority Kids Club meets every Friday at 7:00 am for grades 3-5 in Mr. Keyton's room. Permission must be given online via the link where you can also read more! We will provide a breakfast snack. Email kristimerritt2@gmail.com with any questions. https://www.prioritykids.com/sign-up-your-kid/

Rebounders Basketball League will be at Riverchase United Methodist Church during January and February. The League is Co-ed and the different age groups are 4K-5K, 1st-2nd and 3rd-5th.

Rebounders Basketball Registration

We are thankful to do big and small things with the support from parents and sponsors of BPES PTO. Especially so when it comes to the mental health of our educators. With your help, we were able to provide teachers and staff with some mental health related professional development hours, and that is so important! As we all know, the teachers and staff have been through the ringer the past couple of years, and they need our support more than ever.

We are also thankful to bring tooth holders back to BPES (after 14 years!!). If your kiddo looses a tooth at school this year it will now will come home in its very own tooth holder. No more lost teeth on the playground or in the bottom of a backpack!

So again, thank you parents and sponsors for your continued support of the BPES PTO. From staff birthday cakes, to grants covering much needed costs in and around our school, your support is appreciated.

Abrakadoodle has classes after school on Mondays. Click here for more information and registration instructions.

Common Sense is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. We are in the process of completing our Common Sense Recertification, which is a symbol of Bluff Park Elementary School’s and Hoover City Schools’ dedication and commitment to helping students think critically and use technology responsibly to learn, create, and collaborate. More information regarding Common Sense Media can be found at: commonsense.org. During this recertification process, teachers are engaging in professional development opportunities and students are learning more about digital citizenship! This month, I would like to highlight the importance of Media Balance! Tech can be great, but balance is important because family time is so very precious! Help your kiddies balance their media lives with these 5 Media Balance tips from commonsensemedia.org:

Technology can be great, but balance is important because your family time is so very precious! Help your kiddies balance their media lives with these Screen-Time Tips from the Common Sense Tech Balance text message program. Think about your own habits and consider the following:

1. Try to keep the TV off if no one is watching it.

2. Silence your phone to reduce distractions during family time.

3. Model self-control when it comes to your devices.

In considering the aforementioned, also ask yourself -- am I distracted by my phone or the TV when playing with my kids? What are some “tech-free times” I can set for myself and for the family? Operation take back family time is underway !

Granfamilies: Raising Resilient and Courageous Grandchildren

On this episode of the Roots and Wings podcast we discuss the challenges and joys of raising your grandchildren. We discuss tips for healthy relationships, building communication, and taking care of yourself while you embark on this important journey.

The podcast can be found here or under the Student Services tab of the Hoover City Schools' website.

Anchor.fm https://anchor.fm/kandace-vanwanderham

Breaker: https://www.breaker.audio/roots-and-wings-podcast

Google: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8zZDlhZDUzNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/jf1cmh02

Radio Public https://radiopublic.com/roots-and-wings-podcast-WDEbPA

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1hPKeO4h4onYaut7MiFkzO

The Counselor's Corner has been updated!! Check it out and see what fun we have been having.

https://www.smore.com/z41qa

It's been a great start of the year in the library! It is wonderful to see how many books have been checked out so far. Students can have books checked out for 2 weeks at a time. If they need it longer, they can also renew. Please help me remind them to bring their books back when they are done. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at adolan@hoover.k12.al.us Let's keep them reading! Mrs. Dolan

Grace Klein Community partnered with food distributors and restaurants around Birmingham and rescue food from them on a regular basis. We strive to reduce the huge problem of food waste and get good food into the hands of good people who need it instead of it ending up in a landfill. Thanks to our partners who choose to donate their food to us instead of throwing it away, we are excited to tell you we have 6 drive-thru locations including Hoover, Wylam, Calera, Harpersville, Alabaster, & downtown Birmingham. There are no requirements for families to qualify to receive a free food box, and they may come as often as they need. Maybe money is just a little extra tight this week, or maybe they can use their grocery money saved by receiving food boxes regularly for a time to pay down a debt or meet an unexpected expense. We are so appreciative of our partners and also for our volunteers who spend their time going to grocery stores, restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops and more to pick up this food and deliver it to our office! Without our network of partners and volunteers, we could NOT do what we do!

1. Join our network of volunteers who serve at our drive-thru locations, office location, deliver food those in need, do administrative work for us, and help with special projects. If you have a group who would like to join us, we offer team serve opportunities. We are a great place for individual students to earn community service hours.
   
2. Sign up for our Food Rescue App. This app alerts you to food pick-ups when they are available. You can sign up for a one-time pick-up or adopt a regular route. You choose when and where you want to serve!
3. Become a part of our sustaining members program, Lunch Money. Consider skipping one lunch out a month to contribute to our recurring expenses allowing us to keep serving our community. If we all contribute regularly, it adds up no matter the amount.

Hey Bluff Park! It’s been such a great year so far and I’m beyond excited to be your SRO! It’s been such a joy being able to be around your kids all day and getting to interact with them in different capacities. As you know, this is my first year and I’ve been able to see and learn procedures and how things are done during the school day.

One of the things I wanted to address was the carpool traffic. After talking to the aides that help outside and noticing a few things myself, I came up with some helpful tips for traffic to flow a little better. I believe given the staff we have now and the layout of the school parking lot, the way we travel through now is the most efficient way. My two areas of concern are 1. The kids exiting and entering the vehicles. 2. Traveling through the intersection of Park Ave and the entrance to the school.

First, please have your kids ready to exit vehicles as soon as you stop next to the school. I’ve noticed traffic starts to back up around 7:35ish so if you can get here a little sooner, you will be able to get through the line much faster.

Next, the intersection in front of the school is another area I would like to improve upon. This intersection has a lot going on with kids and neighbors crossing both sides in the morning. Obviously, safety will always be my number one priority, so please always use caution approaching this area. The way that I try to work the intersection is to give priority to the vehicles exiting the schools. This helps prevent back up on to Park Ave. Next, I focus on the kids crossing. I will try to get them across as fast as possible. PLEASE DO NOT try to wave them on to go across. I am fully responsible for the safety of not only the drivers, but all of the kids as well.

I appreciate everyone here showing courtesy for the kids and other drivers, but please follow my directions on traffic control. If you see a child standing next to the intersection, please use caution as we keep traffic flowing. I will come over and stop traffic and make sure they get across safely as soon as I can.

The right turn lane entering the school from Park Ave should not stop unless I stop them or an emergency. Also, there is a sign for no left turns during school hours. You must go further down Park Ave and turn around. This is especially important during the afternoon hours. The school faculty calls carpool numbers which assist us when we call children out for carpool.

Lastly, if we could please limit the traffic on Cloudland Drive from Bluff Road to Savoy Street during school hours. Cloundland becomes very congested in the morning and afternoon with children walking to school and the buses traveling.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns that you may have.

Hoover City Schools is now accepting applications for Substitute Teachers!

Do you enjoy the energy of schools? Do you enjoy being around children?

Come join our team of dedicated substitute teachers to continue the

learning process for our students when classroom teachers are absent.

The work locations and days are flexible!

Want to apply? Visit https://www.hoovercityschools.net/ and look for the Human Resources tab under Departments. You may also contact Sharon Pierson at spierson@hoover.k12.al.us 205-439-1093 for additional information.

Current substitute teacher pay rate:

$85 per day (with valid substitute license)

$90 per day (with Alabama valid teacher certification)

$95 per day (retired HCS teachers only)

We believe it is important for children to develop good habits at an early age and to learn that school is important. Parents, please help us by having your child here on time. Every minute counts! This is a reminder that students not in their seats by 7:50 a.m will be counted tardy. Our academic schedule begins at 7:50 a.m., and therefore, we need all students and staff members ready to go at 7:50 a.m. The first bell rings at 7:40 a.m. The tardy bell (third bell) will ring at 7:50 a.m. If the “your child is now late” sign is out, you will need to park and check your child in at the front desk. For the past week, we have closely monitored carpool and from 7:00 a.m.-7:30 a.m. there is little to no line. If the line is backed up to the road, it takes approximately five minutes for the car at the turn-in to make it to the unloading location. If weather or other extenuating circumstances slow down the carpool process, we will make an exception. Also, please be sure to only drop students off at the designated area. Thank you for your support.

Please click here if you would like to sign your child up to say the Pledge of Allegiance over the intercom in the morning. Be sure to complete the form separately for each child you would like to sign up.

All absence excuses (whether parent, doctor, or court notes) may be submitted electronically. Please save this email address for your convenience: BPESAttendance@hoover.k12.al.us. Parent notes MUST include parent signature - we cannot accept just a straight email with no handwritten signature. In addition, notes should include the student's full name, teacher name, dates of absence, and reason for absence within 3 days of the student's return to school. You may take a picture of a handwritten excuse and email it to this address. Thank you for your cooperation in this attempt to keep us healthy!

Further, if you student is going to be absent for a reason other than those listed as approved by the Hoover City Schools Code of Conduct (e.g., family trip), you may request that the days missed be coded as excused by submitting an Anticipated Absence Form at least three (3) days in advance of the absence. This can be for full day or partial day absences. You can find the form on our school website or by clicking here.

Gifted/enrichment students are those who perform at or who have demonstrated the potential to perform at high levels in academic or creative fields when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment. These students require services not ordinarily provided by the regular school program. Students possessing these abilities can be found in all populations, across all economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor.
Teachers, counselors, administrators, parents/guardians, peers, self, or any other individuals with knowledge of the student’s abilities may refer a student. Additionally, all second grade students will be observed as potential gifted referrals using a gifted behavior checklist.
For each student referred, information is gathered in the areas of Aptitude, Characteristics, and Performance. The information is entered on a matrix where points are assigned according to established criteria. The total number of points earned determines if the student qualifies for gifted services.
To make a referral, contact the enrichment teacher at your child’s school: Meg Copeland at macopeland@hoover.k12.al.us.

Click here to access the breakfast and lunch menu.

Click here for more information on applying for a Free or Reduced priced meal.

Click here for information on MySchoolBucks. You can also check out the website here - https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain?requestAction=home

Due to manufacturing supply shortages and food/supply distribution disruptions, the menu will be subject to change each day. The entree menu may also be limited to only (1) hot choice instead of (2) at times, but we will always offer a variety of vegetables and fruits and provide the USDA required food components. Thank you for your understanding during this nationwide food industry challenge.

YMCA Afterschool Academy - click here for more information.

Hoover City Schools is pleased to announce that the USDA has extended free breakfast and lunch to all students during the 2021-2022 school year.

As always, our Child Nutrition Program staff will continue to offer a variety of entrée options, featuring a wide array of fresh fruit and vegetables.

(Notice of Nondiscrimination for all Mass-Distributed Publications/Mass Communications)
Updated 2018

EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

(Board policy, 6.6) No student will be unlawfully excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any program or activity offered or sponsored by the Board on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, disability, creed, national origin, sex, immigrant or migrant status, non-English speaking ability, or homeless status. All career and technical education opportunities are offered to all students regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability. The district also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.

Mrs. Claire Jones-Moore, IDEA Coordinator
Mrs. Anna Whitney, Section 504 Coordinator
Dr. Debra Walker Smith, Title I Coordinator
Dr. Autumm Jeter, Title II Coordinator
Dr. Debra Walker Smith, Title III Coordinator
Dr. Tera Simmons, Title IX Coordinator

Hoover City Schools
2810 Metropolitan Way
Hoover, AL 35243
(205) 439-1000

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

(Board policy, 5.14.1) The Board is an equal opportunity employer. Personnel actions and decisions will be made without regard to factors or considerations prohibited by federal or state law (as such laws may from time to time be amended), including but not limited to race, gender, age, disability, national origin, citizenship, and religious preference. Subject to the limitations set forth in 4.6.2, the general complaint (grievance) policy (4.6.1) may be used to present any complaint alleging unlawful discrimination or harassment. Inquiries regarding compliance and complaint procedures can be directed to:

Mary Veal, Equal Opportunity Employment Coordinator
Hoover City Schools
2810 Metropolitan Way
Hoover, AL 35243
(205) 439-1000