BUE Family Newsletter
April 5, 2023
Welcome Spring
We wish you a beautiful upcoming weekend with family and friends.
Spring is hopefully going to make its way to Parachute and Battlement Mesa. Spring weather can be very unpredictable in Colorado, which we found out with the recent wind and snow. As the weather warms up, we encourage students to continue to dress in layers as weather can change very quickly. It is always a good idea to have a jacket handy!
April is bringing a lot of activities to BUE:
- April 6: GVMS staff will be visiting with 5th graders at BUE to prep them for the transition day in May when all 5th graders will have the opportunity to travel to GVMS, tour the school, and meet 6th grade teachers
- April 7: We have rescheduled the Family Art Night for this Friday and hope you can join us.
- April 7: We have an All School Crew on Friday to recognize our Terrific Kids for the month
- April 11 - 14 and 18: CMAS testing (see below)
- April 13: 5th Grade will travel to GVHS for a preview of their Spring Musical "The Addams Family" - please look for permission form
- April 18-21: The Spring Book Fair (see below)
- April 20: Parent Meeting for the 5th Grade Camping Trip
BUE Family Art Night
CMAS Testing Information
Dear BUE Families,
This spring our students are joining students throughout Colorado in taking a set of state tests called the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS). CMAS assessments at BUE include the content areas of English Language Arts and Math for grades 3-5 as well as science for grade level 5.
Here are some of the ways the schools and the state of Colorado use the assessment:
Have a full picture of your child’s academic achievement, to see how they are progressing in meeting academic expectations for their grade level.
Gain feedback on if we have helped your child achieve at least a year’s worth of academic growth over a year’s time.
It is a gauge for taxpayers to account for the results of their public investment.
The state of Colorado uses state testing data to create the school accountability reports. Schools may receive lowered performance ratings because not everyone took the assessment. Inaccurate ratings impact teacher and student morale and paint an inaccurate picture of a school’s achievement.
Our School will be testing during the week of April, 11th. During this week, students will be taking 1 session of CMAS a day in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. 5th grade students will also be taking Science. They will take 2 sessions of Science on April 14th and the remaining session on the 18th.
During CMAS testing, we will be collecting students' personal devices during testing times according to state testing guidelines. They will be collected by the teacher, and returned to them after the testing session has finished. This includes things like cell phones and smart watches. Students also have the option to turn off their devices and place them in their backpacks during testing.
During CMAS testing, we will continue to have specials, lunch, recess and learning taking place throughout the day. Our goal as a school is to keep students learning and engaged throughout the testing season.
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel free to contact me at 970-285-5703 or email me at jjohnson@garfield16.org
Thank you for your continued support of our school and your student!
Jessica Johnson
School Assessment Coordinator
5th Grade Preview of the Addams Family
Grand Valley High School (GVHS) has invited the 5th grade class at BUE to a special preview of their Spring Musical “The Addams Family”. This field trip will be a wonderful opportunity to expose students to the theater and student actors.
This field trip will be the afternoon of Thursday, April 13th, 2023.
We will leave BUE at 12:15 p.m. and return to BUE at 3:15 p.m.
Students will eat lunch at GVHS that day.
5th grade parents, please check your students backpacks for a Field Trip form. Please return the permission slip by Friday, April 7, 2023 so we will know who is attending.
Self Managers at BUE
Students are working hard on their self manager badges. This is one part of our Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) Program with the goals of:
- Decreasing bullying, and
- Increasing respectful actions towards classmates, teachers, parents, school and our whole community.
The program provides ways for students to earn positive rewards in the form of prizes, privileges, and even field trips when they show positive behavior at BUE.
The Self Manger Program is:
- Preventative: changes the focus from negative behaviors to positive expectations and interactions.
- Focused on 5 Habits of Learning and Scholarship: Collaboration, Respect, Integrity, Service, and Perseverance. As students demonstrate these habits, they can earn positive rewards, prizes, and even field trips.
The Self Manager Program at BUE positively recognizes students who consistently model CRISP habits of behavior, meet our school behavior norms, and are kind, responsible, and ethical leaders.
How to Become a Self-Manager
Students can pick up an application form from the office.
There are 3 Levels of Self Management at BUE:
Level 1: Self Manager
Level 2: CRISP Kids
Level 3: BUE Ambassador
If you have any questions about the Self Manager Program, please reach out to BUE office at (970) 285-5703.
Scholastic Book Fair
Book Fair Hours will be from 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. each evening.
If you would like to volunteer to help us, use sign up using this link: Volunteer Sign Up
4/5 and 2/3 Spring Concerts
- Join us for the BUE Spring Concert April 20, 2023. 4th grade at 6:00 pm. 5th grade at 7:00 pm.
- Join us for the BUE Spring Concert April 25, 2023. 2nd grade at 6:00 pm. 3rd grade at 7:00 pm.
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.
SCHOOL HOURS
We are a four (4) day school week
Tuesdays to Friday
1st Morning Bell rings at 7:30 a.m.
End of Day bell rings at 3:40 p.m.
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH NEWS
Our district has qualified for a free breakfast and lunch program for SY 2022-2023.
Breakfast Program: All students can receive breakfast free of charge. It is important that your child arrives at school on time as breakfast is served at 7:30 a.m.
Lunch Program: All students can receive lunch free of charge. If your child brings lunch from home, please make sure it does NOT need to be heated in a microwave as there are no microwaves available.
Please do not send soda pop in your child’s school lunch. We ask that you send a healthier choice such as juice, water, or milk.
Parents wishing to eat lunch with their child may do so, however to be in the school during the school day requires a background check (see the section above on school safety).
Please call the school office by 9:00am if you would like to order a hot lunch. The charge for an adult lunch is $4.25 and for a visiting child it is $2.75. Please remember that the school only accepts cash or a check for payment.
Menus can be found on our school district Nutrition Website.
Meal Prices for Visitors:
Student Lunch $2.75
Milk $0.70
Adult Lunch $4.25
Please keep in mind that menus have the potential to change A LOT depending on staffing issues, and product availability. Our Nutrition Department does their best to honor the posted menus, however they can be heavily impacted for a variety of reasons. If you ever have any questions, please call 285-5701 ext. 4180 with any questions or email jwilliams@garfield16.org
RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
Please do not hesitate to reach out to our School Based Family Resource Center for more information.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Claudia Flores Cruz
Center Coordinator
970-285-5262
Visitor, Volunteer, and Background Check Procedures
Dear Garfield 16 Community,
Beginning September 6, 2022, any visitors entering a school during the school day will go through a screening process in the office. Visitors will be screened through the Raptor system which checks registered sex offender databases. The system produces an ID badge sticker with the visitor’s name and picture that the visitor wears for the duration of the visit.
How does it work?
The visitor provides his/her driver’s license to the secretary for scanning. Once scanned, the visitor is stored in the school’s system as an approved visitor. The visitor received an ID badge sticker with the visitor’s name and picture and date of the visit. If the visitor returns, the information is stored in the system so the visitor just has to give his/her name to the secretary, and the secretary can print out a new badge with a new date.
What if the visitor doesn’t have a driver’s license?
The secretary can enter the visitor’s name in the database. This takes a bit more time, so having a driver’s license is helpful.
What happens if someone with a sex offense record tries to come into the school?
The Raptor system sends an alert to the principal who will handle the situation. If the visitor is a parent and must attend a meeting for his/her child, the parent will be escorted by a staff member at all times.
Does the Raptor database show a person’s full criminal record?
No. It only links to the sex offender database for all 50 states.
Who will need to go through the screening process?
Anyone who is visiting the school will go through this screening process. Examples include:
Parents coming into the school for a meeting, activity, or event that occurs during the school day. This includes parents who may be helping in the school during the school day.
Guest speakers, contractors, and other visitors authorized by the principal.
What about volunteers?
Volunteers will also be screened using the Raptor system, but they also need to have an FBI background check that includes fingerprinting. Volunteers may be alone with students or supervise students, so we have this added layer of protection to keep the students safe. Contact the school’s principal for more information about volunteers.
Will the schools use Raptor for after school events?
No. Raptor will only be used during the school day when students are in school.
Our goal is to keep our students safe. We encourage parents to attend activities and events to support their children, and we want to make it easy for parents to attend. We believe the Raptor system will be a faster and more convenient way to register as a visitor to the school.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Baugh
Interim Superintendent of Schools
Bea Underwood Elementary School
Email: aclark@garfield16.org
Website: http://bue.garfield16.org/
Location: 0741 Tamarisk Trail, Parachute, CO 81635
Phone: 970-285-5703
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bea-Underwood-Elementary-School-104774432345862