We look forward to next week when we welcome students to learn at our school site. We are so happy the kids are coming back. Please check the BOUSD website for the Reopening of Schools and the COVID Safety Plan. Please read the information below for information specific to the Falcon Academy. Feel free to call or email me if you have any additional questions.

Drop Off

• The Falcon Academy campus is closed to parents/visitors. Parents will NOT be permitted to walk students to class (with the exception of TK and Kinder parents). Parents need to say “goodbye” to their students at the bottom or top of the ramp by the Kinder classrooms or by the driveway entrance if students are walking to campus.
  

• TK/Kinder parents ONLY are permitted to walk their students to the kindergarten playground gate. Parents are not permitted inside the gate and they will need to immediately exit campus. Your are asked not to linger or visit with other parents on the school site. Parents and students must wear masks at all times on campus.

• Drive thru drop off: for all grades drop off will be in front of the school. Please make sure students have their supplies/backpacks and are ready for a timely exit.

• Under no circumstances may students be dropped off earlier than 8:30 a.m.

• 8:42 a.m. - first bell rings

• 8:45 a.m.- School starts

• Students in grades 1-6 will line up outside their classroom door to wait for the start of school (they will not "walk and talk" on the blacktop as they did last year).

Campus Routine

• All students will be required to wear masks. Please prepare your students by "practicing" wearing masks for longer periods of time while at home in preparation for Hybrid Learning. Students will gain stamina in mask wearing!

• Students will be encouraged to wash hands and/or use antibacterial gel throughout the day.

• Portable wash stations, antibacterial gel, and antibacterial dispensers available in strategic locations on the campus.

• Students will line-up practicing social distancing.

• Students enter classrooms from the outside doors.

• Students will stay with their class cohorts (groups) at all times, including recess.

In-Class

• All students TK-6 are to wear masks at all times.

• Tri-fold barriers for all students serve as an added precaution when space limitations do not allow for six feet distance between students.

• Barriers will be sanitized nightly.

• Students should bring the following supplies to school every day:

• Water bottle with their name

• 1st grade students only: Chromebook and charger (students in grades 2-6 with have access to classroom laptops and will not have to bring their Chromebooks back and forth to school)

• Headphones

• Work packets

• Snack (this is very important! They will be eating lunch at home after dismissal!)

• Your child's teacher may request other supplies in addition to the above list

Recess

• Classes will have recess with their own cohorts and will not play with students from other classes

• Swings and playground equipment/structures are off limits at this time

• Hula hoops, jump ropes and other independent equipment may be provided for single student use

• “Clean” container will hold sanitized items and will be clearly marked

• Students will place used items in a container clearly labeled “dirty” for later sanitizing

Dismissal

• Staff will monitor students to ensure social distancing as they move to their pick-up location

• class lines will be clearly marked with social distancing in mind

• Students will be monitored by a supervisor until they are picked-up

• ALL students may take advantage of a free “grab-and-go” lunch upon dismissal located in the cafeteria (one direction entrance and exit)

• Walkers: parents should determine a meeting place off campus as parents will not be allowed on campus.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter. We want to keep everyone safe!

Monday, Feb. 22 - 4th-6th grade students 1:10-2:15

Tuesday, Feb. 23 - 3rd grade students. 1:10-2:15

Students will be able to have lunch on campus. If your student is a Distance Learner or Zooming on testing day, please bring your student to school by 1:00. They will eat lunch on campus if they. choose and will be seated to test by 1:10.

More info will be sent home to the parents who signed their students up for testing next week.

GATE Screening
BOUSD assesses third grade students for the GATE program by administering the CogAT assessment as an initial screener. Students in fourth through sixth grade are eligible to take the assessment based on either parent or teacher recommendation.

Beyond the CogAT test results, an additional two levels of screening will be used to identify our gifted students.

• The Secondary Review considers GATE Characteristics, and will include a Teacher Inventory, Parent Inventory, and Creativity Activity.
• The Tertiary Review evaluates Academic Achievement, and will include a Portfolio presentation and report card review.

Parents will be notified prior to Summer break if their student has qualified for GATE. This notification is followed by a meeting with the classroom teacher, during parent-teacher conference week in October of the following school year, to discuss and establish goals for the student’s Individual GATE Plan.

The Testing Clinic will operate every Wednesday from 7:00 am - 4:00 pm for all BOUSD employees, students and related dependents.* If you are under 18 years old, a parent/guardian must accompany you to the appointment. This is being offered at no-cost as the US Department of Health and Human Services has mandated that all insured essential employees, staff and dependents have zero cost for PCR COVID-19 testing, including all copays and deductibles. Individuals without insurance or who are under-insured are also able to test at no-cost as mandated under The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, ensuring that COVID-19 testing is free to anyone in the U.S.

*Although walk-ups are accepted, scheduling an appointment is recommended as it will provide faster service.

At the February 11, 2021 Regular Board Meeting, the academic calendars for the next two school years were approved. The calendars for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years are now available on the www.bousd.us website under 'Our District'. For easy access, please click on the following link:

BOUSD Academic Calendars