Barbara Morgan S.T.E.M Academy
Parent Newsletter ~ March 28, 2021
Important Dates
March:
29 - Early Release 2:10pm
30 - PTO Fundraiser at Panda Express 10Mile (See flyer below)
30 - Class Picture Day (See info below)
April:
2 - Roaring Readers Reading Logs Due (See Below)
5 - Early Release at 2:10pm
9 - No School (Grades K-8) - Teacher Inservice Day
12 - Early Release at 2:10pm
14 - PTO meeting in BMSA Gym at 4:15pm
19 - Early Release at 2:10pm
19 - Kindergarten Registration (by appointment only)
20 - Kindergarten Registration (by appointment only)
26 - Early Release at 2:10pm
We hope you had a wonderful week!
As the weather continues to improve, please remind your child to bring in their jackets after lunch recess and learning breaks. As students play, they get warm and tend to throw their jackets off. Then, they forget to bring them inside. Students are always encouraged to go back to get their jackets or to search our Lost and Found for missing items.
Also, please remind your child to wear running shoes (sneakers) on PE days. If you are not sure which rotation your child has PE, please email your child's teacher. (Attached is our Specials ABCD rotation calendar for your reference.)
Reminder: NO School Friday, April 9 (grades K-8) due to Staff Inservice/Training.
Playground Usage Before School
Morning Playground Rotation
A sign, such as the one above, will be posted in students' classroom windows so they know if they are to remain outside in the morning.
If the sign is NOT posted in their classroom window, students must enter their classrooms and not not allowed to play in the morning.
We will provide morning announcements about this change so our students are aware.
Safety Reminders - Preventing the spread of Covid19
- Masks are required and must be worn properly, covering the nose, mouth and below the chin. We have noticed many masks have stretched and are no longer fitting properly. Please help ensure your child's mask is fitted properly to prevent it from falling below his/her nose.
- Frequently sanitize/wash your hands.
- Maintain social distancing.
- Please keep your child home if he/she is experiencing any of the following symptoms:
Congestion
Runny Nose
Cough
Headache
Fever
Chills
Muscle Aches
Sore Throat
Shortness of Breath
Fatigue
Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea
Loss of Smell or Taste
- If a family member is exhibiting Covid 19 symptoms, or has tested positive, please keep your child home for the recommended 10 to 14 day exposure window.
- Call our school Health Office if you have any questions about symptoms and/or possible exposure: 208-855-4430.
Thank you for helping prevent the spread of Covid 19 within our school community.
Class Picture Day - Tuesday 3/30/21
We will be having our Spring Portraits and Class Pictures on March 30th!
With social distancing and mask protocols still in place, we have decided to go digital on our Class Picture Day using "green screen" technology. Dorian Studios will photograph every student individually in front of the green screen, as a "no contact" way of creating treasured class photos.
Individual Spring portraits will also be available for purchase with the select backgrounds.
BMSA PTO Fundraiser - Tuesday 3/30/21
PTO Fundraiser ~ Panda Express
Or, order Online: Enter 322254 in the promo code box during online checkout at order.pandaexpress.com. (Orders must be placed on the event day.)
Parent Survey - Closes 3/31/21
Please take a moment to complete the Idaho Engagement and Satisfaction Parent Survey
One of the pieces of Idaho’s school accountability system is a parent survey. This survey asks for your input on several topics to help measure how our schools are doing in meeting your student’s needs. The survey should take 5-10 minutes to complete and your responses are anonymous. You can submit your survey until March 31, 2021.
We will use these survey responses to identify opportunities for improvement. Additionally, the state will report the results and the number of responses on Idaho’s new school report card (https://idahoschools.org/districts/002/profile).
Please log in to this anonymous survey at the link below, select your school from the drop-down list and complete the survey. If you have students attending more than one school and do not want to take the survey multiple times, please select the school attended by your oldest student. If you do not mind filling out the survey for each of the schools your students attend, please feel free to do so.
Take the survey: Parent survey link
https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/149869/p31849
To take the survey you must log in to the link above.
If you would like to preview the survey it can be found at the link below. https://sde.idaho.gov/assessment/surveys/ Copies of the surveys are under the “Files” tab on the website.
Thank you in advance for your participation in this survey.
Roaring Readers Reading Logs - Due Friday 4/02/21
Roaring Readers can earn a Roaring Springs Waterpark Day Pass
Our school is participating in the Roaring Springs Waterpark Roaring Reader Program. By participating in this program, your child can earn a FREE day pass to Roaring Springs Waterpark! This program is designed to encourage children in elementary school to read for fun.
Every student who completes the required minutes of recreational reading before the school’s deadline of April 2 is eligible for a free admission ticket. Please log the minutes on the Roaring Reader Student Chart.
We hope that you have fun encouraging your child to reach this goal!
Here’s what you need to know:
- Students attending your elementary school in grades K-5 are eligible to participate. Students can only earn one ticket.
- Review the Roaring Reader Student Chart that your child brought home. Your child should use this sheet to record what and how long he/she reads. Please date and initial each reading session. If your child is in grades K-4 they must complete 600 minutes of recreational reading to be eligible for the free ticket. If your child is in grades 5-6 they must complete 800 minutes.
- Your child can read books, magazines, newspapers, or comic books. Reading for homework or a class assignment does not count. Remind your child to return the student chart to his/her teacher by the due date. LATE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
About the tickets:
- Tickets will be available for pick up from the Roaring Springs Ticket Booth starting May 08, 2021. Tickets will not be distributed through the school.
- The free ticket is valid from May 08, 2021-July 4, 2021 only, no exceptions. From July 5 - September 06, 2021, the ticket will be valid for a 'Buy One General or Junior Full-Day Ticket, Get One Free’ offer. The buy one get one free offer is not valid on Saturdays or with any other coupon, promotion, daily special, or discount. General/Junior Full Day Tickets must be purchased at the Roaring Springs Ticket Office to receive the buy one get one free offer. Redemption for equal or lesser value only.
- The ticket may only be used by the individual who earned it. The ticket cannot be used for group events or school outings. Lost, stolen, or damaged tickets cannot be replaced.
Mindful Mornings Extended through May
8:35-8:45 Mondays-Thursdays
BMSA Library
Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4FA8A622ABF58-mindful
or sign up by calling the Counselors at 208.855.4432
Research on mindfulness in schools has been shown to positively impact students in the following areas:
- paying attention,
- self-control,
- classroom participation,
- positive school culture,
- and respect for others
Basic Needs and Mental Health Resources Available
Basic Needs and Mental Health Resources Available
- Weekend Food Bags (students take a bag home each week)
- Food Banks
- Housing Needs
- Clothing Needs
- Mental Health Resources
If you're not sure how to get help or what kind of help is out there, please call Counselor Lindsay or Counselor Kristin at 208.855.4432. You can email at wright.lindsay@westada.org or wright.kristin@westada.org.
Yearbooks Available
Purchase Your BMSA Yearbook Today!
Order your BMSA Yearbook today for $25.00. (Yearbooks will be distributed in June.)
Order online at:
School ID # is 95423
Lunchtime Supervision Needed
We are also looking for a few caring individuals to assist us with crosswalk duty before and/or after school.
For more information, please contact Sarah Brown at 208-855-4430 or brown.sarah@westada.org.
Nutrition Food Tech Position Available
Interested in working in a classroom?
PBI Paraprofessional:
37.5 hours per week
In this position, you would be working directly with our Positive Behavior Intervention (PBI) teacher to support individual students as they work towards social and academic goals. Click here for more details. If interested, but not able to commit to full time, please contact Principal Wright for more information: 208-855-4430 or wright.lauri@westada.org.
Substitutes Needed
For more information, visit: https://www.westada.org/SubstituteInfo
BMSA is hosting Camp Invention this summer!
https://www.invent.org/programs/camp-invention
Discover all the fun you’ll have at camp: https://youtu.be/aX4r8bQSsJA
Kits for Kids
Children's Museum fundraiser for Kits for Kids - STEAM box kits
The CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF IDAHO inspires and nurtures future explorers, innovators and critical thinkers. The need for quality hands-on educational material is overwhelming during this pandemic and the staff of the Children’s Museum is reaching out to children in need by assembling Kits for Kids and distributing them throughout the Treasure Valley.
Each kit contains quality materials for building, exploring, creating, and are given FREE to children ages 4-7 living in shelters and low-income families in the Treasure Valley. Your donation of $20 per kit, will provide a child with games, activities, and projects that are both educational and fun! Donations on this site will help fund Kits for Kids living in the Treasure Valley. Every $20 donation will provide a kit filled with games, puzzles, and activities. Kits are valued at $35+ but priceless to a child in need. You are invited to unlock the power of imagination and help us, help those in need, by donating today.
For more information, please visit The Children's Museum of Idaho website:
https://www.cmidaho.org/ or donate to Kits for Kids by accessing: https://k4k.raiseitpro.org/#/home
Boise Bicycle Project offers Free Bikes and Repair
Boise Bicycle Project has kicked off their Mobile Fix-it season, where they set up a pop-up bike repair shop in the community and fix kid's bikes with the help of volunteers! They will be out in the community every Wednesday afternoon 3:30-5:30 from now until October (as well as a few Friday days).
Dates for the rest of March are:
March 17th, Whitney Community Center 3:30-5:30
March 24th, Latah Village Apartments, 3:30-5:30
March 31st, Northwest Pointe Apartments 3:30-5:30
Also, they are starting the BASH Bike giveaway and safety course this April, in which children ages 4-11 are given a bicycle, lock, helmet and lights after completing an hour long safety course. This is in addition to our Teen Bike Giveaway, in which teens in need of reliable transportation as well as mental/physical health relief are matched with bicycles! More information as well as enrollment for both programs are available at the Youth Giveaways tab of the website, https://www.boisebicycleproject.org/kids.
Finally, if you are interested in volunteering to help these programs, check out the volunteer tab: https://www.boisebicycleproject.org/covid-volunteer-page-1
Contact US
Secretary Connie Adams - adams.connie@westada.org
Website: https://www.westada.org/Domain/9
Location: 1825 West Chateau Drive, Meridian, ID, USA
Phone: (208) 855-4430
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraMorganSTEMacademy