BUE In-Person Parent Newsletter
August 28, 2020
Please check out the short videos below for information on the 1st day of school
The first day!!
We could not be more excited to see our kids on Tuesday, September 1, 2020!
It has been far too long since the laughter and excitement of children have filled our halls. We believe children learn best when they attend school in person. Schools provide more than just academics to children. For many children schools are safe places to be while parents or guardians are working. Schools are a fun place where children can socialize and see their friends. Last but certainly not least, schools are a safe place with trusting adults who offer encouragement, support, and provide opportunities for children to learn and explore the world around them.
Life during the COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for many people. Children especially have a hard time processing this complex situation and some have felt lonely as they were separated from school, lost time with their friends, and have likely overheard information related to the Pandemic from news, TV, family, etc that they may not fully understand. All of this can be both stressful and confusing to children. We are looking forward to welcoming children back into BUE to help provide a feeling of normalcy, provide access to their friends, and keep their education and minds active and growing.
Getting back into school may take a little effort as children may not have followed the routines of bedtimes and getting up early to get ready for the school day during summer break. You can help your child get back in the swing of things by establishing routines at home that support education such as:
- limiting tech time,
- modeling a positive attitude and excitement for your child about going back to school,
- speaking with them about social distancing, washing their hands frequently, and wearing face masks,
- talking with your child about their hopes and fears for the school year,
- setting up a plan for the 1st day, including bedtime for the night before, an early rise time as everyone is likely out of routine, and discussing what to wear on the first day.
I hope you can feel our sense of excitement as we welcome children back to school. If you need anything at all or have any questions, please reach out to us!
Mrs. Clark
Principal Bea Underwood Elementary School
and
Mrs. Frees
Assistant Principal Bea Underwood Elementary School
Important Bus news for the 1st day of school.
This is a quick reminder from our Director of Transportation that all students must have a waiver to ride the bus on the 1st day of school. You can print out the waiver using this link: GCSD16 Covid-19 Activity Waiver. Bring this waiver, fully filled out and signed to the bus stop on the first day of school in order to ride the bus. Without a waiver your child cannot ride the bus on the first day of school.
Also, all students must wear masks on buses, regardless of age, as we cannot physical distance on buses. Please contact our director of transportation, Steve Gardner, for any questions or for more information at (970) 285-5700 ext 5130.
Drinking Fountains are turned off as a safety precaution during the Pandemic
We have 3 water bottle fill stations at BUE, which will remain open and available for use. However, with only 3 fill stations it is requested that children come with a full water bottle each day to limit foot traffic in the hallways as we practice social distancing. Children can access tap water at their classroom sink.
Hats at school
Children can wear hats on the bus, at recess, and during outdoor PE.
Hats cannot be worn for inside. When we have indoor recess or indoor PE hats must stay put away.
What to expect on the 1st Day
The first day of school is September 1st, 2020.
Most students arrive at school either by bus, walking, or parent drop off. We provide a bike rack in front of the school for bike riders.
Drop off is between 7:15-7:30 a.m.
Pick up is between 3:40-3:50 p.m.
We have dedicated "Kiss and Go" lanes at BUE to facilitate safe student drop off in the morning and pick up in the afternoon. Please see our parking lot diagram below.
Parents are welcome to walk their students to the front door on the 1st day of school, however they cannot come into the building until Pandemic guidance changes. Parents are requested to wear approved face masks on school property at all times and to follow all physical distancing guidance.
BUE teachers and staff members will be at the main doors facilitating temperature checks and answering any questions. We will have a translator present in front of the school to help answer question for our Spanish speaking families. Classroom teachers will be in hallways greeting all students and ensuring they can easily find their classrooms and feel welcomed and cared about in our school. We have practiced the 1st of Day of school as a staff and feel confident we have everything in place to make sure the 1st day runs smoothly and feels warm and welcoming to children.
We are dedicated to return to school as normal as possible, yet some things may look and feel different to students. Please spend time helping your child understand that safety guidelines are being used to keep everyone healthy so we can come back to school and stay back to school! Please talk with them about mask use, the importance of washing their hands with soap and running water, and that classrooms may look a little different than they did last year. We will also speak with students about masks, hand washing, etc and help to build understanding and comfort with safety measures. If you have any questions about safety measures at school please take a moment to read our Plan for Reopening Schools, which contains our safety procedures for the year (En Espanol).
As a reminder, all 4th and 5th grade students are required to wear masks that meet Colorado Dept. of Health and CDC guidelines. While not required, all 2nd and 3rd grade students are also encouraged to wear masks to school.
Our district website is www.garfield16.org and has a wealth of resources and communication points for families. The BUE website has additional information specific to BUE and can be found using this link: BUE Website
Online School Information
Links to the Online Learners Newsletters can be found on the BUE website at http://bue.garfield16.org/ on both our home screen and in the Resources of Families tab. Look for the Parent Newsletters, which has both the newsletter for online learners and in-person learners.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: September 1, 2020
Q: What are school start and end times
A: 7:30 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.
Q: Who will my child's teacher be?
A: In the past, we have co-taught with 2 teachers - one teacher for literacy and one teacher for math. This year children will have one teacher for both literacy and math. This means children will stay with their homeroom teacher all day this year, except for during specials. Your child's teacher will reach out to you to introduce themself to you. Some placements have changed over the summer, so teacher names may be different than what were posted on last year's end of the year report card. If you have not heard from your teacher please call the BUE office (970) 285-5703.
Q: What school supplies will my child need to provide?
A: This year our school district is able to provide all elementary students with their own, individual school supplies. That said, please do provide a backpack and tennis shoes. Students will have PE three days a week and will go outside for recesses and breaks.
Q. Are drinking fountains open for use at school?
A. No, drinking fountains are closed as a safety precaution during the Pandemic. Please send a water bottle with your child. Our water bottle filling stations are open so children can refill their water bottle with filtered water at school.
Q. Can my child wear a hat?
A. YES - at specific times. Your child can wear a hat on the bus and anytime they are outside. In fact we encourage all children to bring a hat to school as they will be spending more time outside with extra recess and with outdoor PE everyday (as long as the smoke in the valley is clear and our air quality permits outside activity).
Q: Can my child ride a bus to school?
A: Yes! We have bus routes for BUE which can be found online using this link: Bus Routes. All families must submit a GCSD16 Covid-19 Activity Waiver form to ride the bus. Bring this waiver to the bus stop on the first day of school in order to ride the bus. Also, all students must wear masks on buses, regardless of age, as we cannot physical distance on buses. Please contact our director of transportation, Steve Gardner, for any questions or for more information at (970) 285-5700 ext 5130.
Q: How much are school lunches?
A: We provide BOTH breakfast and lunch at school. Even better, breakfast and lunch are free to ALL BUE students regardless of family income. All families will receive a Free and Reduced Lunch application on the 1st day of school. Please, we need all families (regardless of income) to fill this application out every year as this is how we receive our funding for our free breakfast and lunch programs. Again we request all families fill out the Free and Reduced application regardless of income as this ensures we can keep our FREE breakfast and lunch programs.
Q: What kind of technology will my child have access to?
A: All students at BUE will have their own Chromebook. They will be able to take their Chromebook home with them. We highly encourage you to purchase Chromebook insurance to protect you in case of accidental damage. Technology insurance forms will be sent home in the packet you receive on the 1st day of school.
Q: What safety measures are you taking during the COVID-19 Pandemic?
A: Our school district has published our Plan for Reopening Schools, which contains our safety procedures for the year (En Espanol). Also, all staff and students will have a temperature check and symptoms questionnaire every morning. If you have questions after reading through the Plan for Reopening Schools, please reach out to our Principal, Mrs. Clark, who is always willing to visit and share information - (970) 285-5703.
Q: Will students be required to wear masks at school?
A: It depends on their age. All 4th and 5th grade students are required to wear masks at BUE. All staff members are required to wear masks too. While we have not mandated that 2nd and 3rd grade students wear masks, we highly encourage ALL students to wear face masks.
Q: Will there be a back to school event this year?
A: Unfortunately no. We will not be hosting a back school event, which we are very sad about.
Q: Will parents and volunteers be allowed in the building this year?
A: Unfortunately no. In an effort to keep our building as healthy as possible, visitors and guests will be limited to the entryways and not permitted in the buildings. As the Pandemic diminishes, visitors will be welcomed back inside our school. Our vision is to always create a welcoming environment and please know we will work to develop strategies that encourage family participation during the Pandemic. As always, we encourage families to reach out to their child’s teacher with any questions. Teachers will also be reaching out to families on a regular basis.
Q: What if I do not feel comfortable sending my child back to school right now?
A: We understand every family is impacted by the Pandemic and encourage you to please call our Principal, Mrs. Clark, to visit about options.
Q: Where can I find more information about BUE, such as dress code and Code of Conduct?
A: BUE has a school website with lots of information about our school including our student handbook, information for families, and teacher contact information. You can access our Student Handbook using this link: Handbook. You can access our school website using this link. If you cannot find the information you need, please reach out to us as we love to be helpful! (970) 285-5703
Q: I didn't see my question here, who do I ask?
A: Your homeroom teacher will be able to answer most of your questions. You are always welcome to call our office at (970) 285-5703. You are also always welcome to reach out to our school principal Mrs. Clark via email (aclark@garfield16.org) and she will get back to you as soon as possible.