Buffett Bulletin
September 30, 2020
Remote Learning Conferences
October means conference time! Buffett's conferences will be held virtually on Oct. 14 from 4:00-7:00 and Oct. 15 from 12:00-7:00.
How will that look in this new school environment? Normally, students lead the conferences at the middle school level. This time, however, conferences will have more of a parent-teacher focus. Here are three things to expect this time around:
Who will you conference with?
*Note that final report card grades will be mailed home and will not be available at conference time.
How long is the conference?
Will my student have a role this year?
How will Conferences be Scheduled?
How will the Conference be Held?
4-Block Schedule
In an effort to decrease hallway transitions, Buffett will follow a 4-block schedule with homeroom embedded into the block in which your child eats lunch. We will still have an alternating A-B schedule as in the past.
Passing periods between classes will be staggered to reduce hallway traffic.
Arrival to School
- School begins at 7:40 a.m. and concludes at 3:05 p.m. daily.
- The school building is open at 7:25 a.m. Students are not to be in the building or on property before this time. Doors will be unlocked from 7:25-7:45 a.m. and then once again locked until the end of our school day, which is at 3:05 p.m. Additionally, at 3:15 p.m., our doors will be locked for the day.
- Students will go to their first block class rather than reporting to hallways, the gym, or cafeteria upon arrival to school.
- See breakfast information below.
School Bus Procedures
Bobcat Breakfast
Grab-and-go breakfast from the cafeteria is available each day from 7:25 a.m. – 7:40 a.m. Breakfast is free to all students and available every morning.
If students wish to eat breakfast, they will grab it from the cafeteria and then head to first block class to eat it.
Lunch Time
Staggered Dismissal Times
In order to reduce foot traffic after school, our students will follow a staggered dismissal.
- At 3:03-bus riders will follow teachers out
- At 3:04-walkers will be dismissed
- At 3:05-car riders will follow teachers out
Students will also all use separate exits from the building.
- 5th grade will dismiss out the main doors.
- 6th grade will dismiss from the east doors by the green space (hill).
- 7th grade will dismiss from the bus loop doors.
- 8th grade will dismiss from the west doors (top of the stairs by the track)
End of the Day
Keeping Every Bobcat Safe
Face Coverings
Handwashing/Sanitizing
Social Distancing
Health and Safety Signage
Enhanced Cleaning and Safety Procedures
New Faces of Bobcat Nation!
Cherie Scholten is Buffett Middle School’s new Digital Media teacher! For the past 12 years, Mrs. Scholten taught at Picotte Elementary school just down the road! Before coming to OPS, she taught in Kansas City for 8 years. While in Kansas City she earned a Master’s degree in Teaching and Learning K-12 and pioneered technology for some of the youngest learners in her district. Then, it was time to travel north to make a new home in Omaha! Since starting in OPS she has piloted technology used across the district and even earned the Microsoft Innovated Educator Expert award given to teachers around the world for using technology in new and innovative ways with students. A few years ago, she earned yet another degree in the area of technology instruction which led her to her new AMAZING job at Buffett Middle School!
Mrs. Scholten is married to her husband of 19 years, Sam. They have two wonderful, talented young men at home named Nathan and Evan. They keep her busy and on her toes with all of their activities! Nathan is getting ready to go to college next fall, so it is definitely a bittersweet school year! As a family, they love kayaking, watching movies, and having in depth debates about current events at the dinner table! Their sweet, little dog Abby runs the house with an iron fist, but lets the family take her for walks once in a while! Welcome, Mrs. Scholten!
Tips for Assisting Your Student in Remote Learning
Refresh Apps
When apps aren't performing the way they should, your first step is to close the app completely and reopen it. To close an app, swipe the app up. Then swipe up again, to fully close apps that are open.
If closing the app doesn't work, try reinstalling the app from the Manager App.
- Tap and hold on the app
- Choose delete from the popup menu
- Open the Manager app
- Find the app you deleted
- Tap update/reinstall
Questions about the Transition to 3/2 Model?
Upcoming Dates to Remember
- Oct. 1 and 2 - Building Based Professional Learning Day. -No remote instruction for elementary and middle school students.
- Oct. 5 - Phase 3- Early childhood, elementary and middle school students return in the Family 3/2 Instructional Model
Nov. 3rd - Professional Development, no in-person or remote learning for students
- Nov. 4 - Building Based Professional Learning Day for staff-No in-person or remote learning for students
- Dec. 14- Jan. 5 - Winter Recess*
- Jan. 15 - Building Based Professional Learning Day-No in-person or remote learning for students
Alice Buffett Magnet Middle School
Website: buffett.ops.org
Location: 14101 Larimore Avenue, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: 531-299-2320
Twitter: @BuffettMagnet