BFHS Bluejay Beat
NOVEMBER 2023
BONDURANT-FARRAR HIGH SCHOOL CORE VALUES
- Communicate and Collaborate Effectively
- Solve Problems
- Persevere
- Be Culturally and Socially Respectful
MESSAGE FROM MR. GARNASS
Wow! We have entered the home stretch of the first semester and are quickly approaching the holiday seasons. Thanksgiving break is on the horizon!
We all have many things to be thankful for...
Thanks to those who participated in the fall student conferences. We had approximately 610 conferences over the two day span.
Also, we are excited to celebrate Veteran's Day 2023 at BFHS on Friday, November 10th. Students and staff are fortunate to hear from a local veteran.
* Our next progress monitoring grade post is on Friday, December 1st.
Please enjoy more information in the remainder of the November newsletter.
Have a GREAT rest of November!
Respectfully,
Erik Garnass
@erikgarnass
Follow us...
Facebook: BondurantFarrarHS
Twitter: @BF_HighSchool & @BlueJayNation
Website: bfschools.org
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT BFHS?
October Students of the Month
- Art: Kylie Wissler (11)
- CTE: Lauren Watson (9) - Business
- Lang Arts: Janette Uwimana (11)
- Math: Cooper Goodwin (10)
- Music: Bre Wilshire (12) - Choir
- PE/Health: Jill Beukema (9)
- Science: Rillee Mains (12)
- Social Studies: Payton Butler (11)
- World Language: Tatum Behle (10)
The RANT
Domeward Bound!
Central College Choir Visits
RRC Honor Choir
Nathan Broxson (12), Brendan Martinez 12), Dyllan Spooner (11)
Sasha Comegys (12), Maggie Bruce (12)
Natalie Miller (11), Allison Halstead (12)
Zaladet Shonka (11), Isabelle Petzold-Edge (11)
AJ Keeler (12), Nicole Elmer (12)
2023 All-State Band
Heartland Cheer Champs
Off To State!
Bluejays Compete at Special Olympics
Congratulations to our Bluejay athletes who competed at the Special Olympics District Bowling meet at Bowlerama Lanes in Des Moines on Monday, Oct. 19th.
Kinsey Cameron
Zane Davis
Mia Fine
Nick Wyman
Alul Ging
Alivia Romesburg
Trista Jenks
Cayden Obermeier
Drake Davis (Junior High)
Austin Fritzler (Junior High)
Angel Looft (Junior High)
NFHS Crisis Text Line
SAFE2DRIVE
Here's an exciting opportunity for your school to offer Driver Education to your students online. Safe2Drive’s Iowa Parent-Taught Driver Education course allows parents to teach their teens Driver Education in order to qualify for their driver’s license. The course consists of online coursework and an instruction manual for parents to teach the behind-the-wheel component of Driver Education to their teen. As of July 1st, the Parent-Taught Driver Education online course is no longer exclusive for families of homeschooled children but is available to any student who would otherwise qualify and who is currently attending a public school or accredited nonpublic school, or who is receiving homeschool education under chapter 299A.
If you’d like to offer your students Safe2Drive’s online course, we can provide you with a promo code for your students to get a discount on the course price, or we can pay you an affiliate fee for each student you refer—it’s up to you! This is a great way to provide a low-cost and convenient option for your students to fulfill their Driver Education requirement and get their driver’s license. Your school can even earn money while doing it!
So, what are you waiting for? Promo code: BFHS10
We look forward to working together to provide Iowa’s teens with the education they need to be safe on the road.
Sincerely,
Penny Beaty, Marketing Manager
Check out the Bondurant-Farrar Activities homepage for the most up to date information:
Suggestion Box
Please fill out the fields below to outline the issue you want to address and a solution you think would be helpful. While not all suggestions may not be implemented, all will be reviewed and considered.
You can submit your suggestion and remain anonymous if you like.
You only need to submit your contact information IF you want to receive feedback regarding your suggestion.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Many of our families have utilized our electronic form to submit COVID-related questions and comments throughout the pandemic. Because of its success, we've created a new form to electronically submit GENERAL comments, questions, and concerns. This is in an effort to increase opportunities for two-way communication with district stakeholders. The link is referenced in this communication guide and can be found anytime in the footer of our website. Visit: www.bfschools.org/contactus
High School Counseling Department
Tammy Kaufman
Mrs. Kaufman is the high school counselor for all grades, last names , A-G
Her email is kaufmant@bfschools.org
Jacob Guenther
Mr. Guenther is the high school counselor for all grades, last names, H-O
His email is guentherj@bfschools.org
Casey McMurray
Mrs. McMurray is the high school counselor for all grades, last names, P-Z
Her email is mcmurrayc@bfschools.org
COUNSELORS CORNER
College Visits: Juniors and Seniors are encouraged to take college visits to explore colleges they are thinking about attending after high school. In order for the day to count in attendance as a college visit, a parent/guardian needs to email Sara in the main office! College visits are a great way to get on campus and determine if the college would be a good fit. Some great college visit activities are to meet with admission counselors, financial aid officers, sit in on classes, take a tour, and of course have lunch! We also have a college visit checklist on our website that can be helpful as you are planning your visit and questions to ask: https://www.bfschools.org/Page/932
We are over halfway through the first semester of classes. The end of the semester is in a few short weeks away (Jan. 12, 2024). It’s important to finish the semester strong. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions regarding their progress in any class. If you have any questions that you would like to ask to your student’s school counselor, please feel free to reach out to us:
Mrs. Kaufman- Last Names A-G 9th,10th 11th,12th
Mr. Guenther- Last Names H-O 9th,10th,11th,12th
Mrs. McMurray- Last Names P-Z 9th,10th,11th,12th
Mr. Guenther, Mrs. Kaufman and Mrs. McMurray went into the Government and Personal Finance classes to help seniors fill out college applications, look at apprenticeships programs, military, and work. If students need any help filling out applications, they can set up an appointment with their school counselor!
We anticipate the FAFSA form to open on December 1st. However, there is a strong possibility that it may not open on this date. We will send an email out to senior parents and students as soon as we are informed that the FAFSA is open. A FSA ID is required to file the FAFSA. It will take approximately 5-7 days to receive your FSA ID once you request it. This link will give you information on who in your household needs to create FSA ID https://www.icansucceed.org/media/cms/FSA_ID_Full_sheet_9E971CD707F34.pdf
The FAFSA must be completed by the college’s financial aid priority date. If you decide to go to a different school other than the one(s) that you listed on FAFSA, you can go back into the FAFSA (even after it’s been completed) and add the school that you’ve decided to attend in the fall. When financial aid packages are ready in the spring, the student will be notified via his/her school email.
Financial Aid Priority Dates for Iowa’s Public Universities:
Iowa State- February 1st
University of Iowa- February 1st
University of Northern Iowa- February 1st
You can locate other Iowa college financial aid priority dates from ICAN here:
Scholarships-Please check the BFHS scholarship page under school counseling to find newly added scholarships. They were also emailed to seniors. Students should be checking the college financial aid offices of the schools they are looking at attending for scholarships as well. If seniors need any help with this, Mr. Guenther, Mrs. McMurray and Mrs. Kaufman can assist with this.
As we move into the second half of the semester, here are some studying tips and test-testing strategies that may be beneficial for your students’ success!
Studying Tips:
Create a productive study spot
Use mnemonic devices to help remember important information
Make flashcards
Rewrite your notes
Outline your learning
Get copies of graphs, diagrams, and pictures without labels and label them
Use your study guides and spend quality time reviewing them
Begin studying 2-3 days before your test
Test-Taking Strategies:
Circle action words and underline key words
Take your time reading questions
Think about what the right answer is before you look at at your choices
Don’t assume all of the above or none of the above is the correct choice
Evaluate the words the are being used in the questions
Take two minutes to jot down what you don’t want to forget on your test
Go back and review your test when you are finished.
Looking ahead
Friday, November 3 ~ No School
Friday, November 17 ~ University of Northern Iowa during WIN
Wednesday, November 22 ~ No School
Thursday, November 23 ~ Thanksgiving, No School
Friday, November 24 ~ No School
Project Recovery Iowa
7-12 School Social Worker
You can contact Mr. Hotek at hotekm@bfschools.org
RESOURCES WHEN IN NEED
REMINDERS
Just a reminder of a couple things at the beginning of the year.
All Juniors need a second dose of the meningococcal vaccine to be able to return to school next fall. If you completed CPR during health 1, this completes the graduation requirement.
2) All 9th graders need a dental screening.
3) All athletes need a sports physical prior to participation - this includes marching band, as well as cheerleading, dance and sports.
4) Finally, a reminder of the policy regarding medications at school as listed below (from the handbook)
FF. Administration of Medication to Students
A. Proper labeling:
Prescribed medication: All prescribed medications shall be maintained in the original prescription container and labeled with the following:
Name of student
Name of medication
Directions for use/storage
Name of physician
Name and address of pharmacy
Date of prescription
Over the counter medication: All over the counter medications shall be maintained in the original container in which they were purchased.
B. Parent/Guardian written consent on a dated statement:
A parent/guardian signature on a statement requesting and authorizing the school personnel to administer the medication must accompany the medication. BP 507.2
C. Record of administration:
Each time the medication is administered, a record shall be maintained in the nurse's office.
The record shall include the student's name, date, time, name of the medication, amount
given per electronic charting.
D. Medication reactions:
Any unusual conditions or behaviors following the administration of medication
should be reported to the school nurse, if available or to the parent/guardian
immediately. Reactions to medication should be recorded.
E. Definition of medications:
Those health products covered by the medication policy include all prescription medications and over-the-counter products, including but not limited to: pain relievers, cold remedies, cough syrups, antacids, cough drops, throat lozenges, etc.
F. Security:
No medications are to be carried during school hours by students nor stored in pockets, purses, school bags, lunch boxes, lockers, teacher desks, sports equipment bags, etc. The only exception would be with a physician’s written orders and a parent/guardian written authorization for a student to carry the medication with him/her for
self-administration as necessary (ie. inhalers, diabetic supplies, emergency medications).
ALL medications, either prescription or over-the-counter, must be brought to the school nurse by a parent or other authorized and approved adult. Absolutely no medications are to be transported to/from school by any student. Any student found with unauthorized medications will be referred to school administration.
All medications will be stored in a secure area, accessible only to those who are authorized to administer the medication.
The building principal shall designate those in each building who are
authorized to administer the medications. Those authorized will receive
instructions from the school nurse concerning administration and confidentiality
of medications.
ATTENTION 11TH GRADE PARENTS/GUARDIANS
SPORTS PHYSICALS
FROM THE DESK OF MR. SCHNUR (SRO)
Teens And Alcohol: Click Here
Bondurant-Farrar High School
Email: garnasse@bfschools.org
Website: bfschools.org
Location: 1000 Grant Street North, Bondurant, IA, United States
Phone: (515) 957-8191
Twitter: @BFHS_News
It is the policy of the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district’s Equity Coordinator; Chad Carlson, Director of Administrative Services, 300 Garfield St SW, Bondurant, IA 50035, 515-967-7819, carlsonc@bfschools.org. -OR- Director of the Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661-7204, Telephone: (312) 730-1560, Facsimile: (312) 730-1576, Email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov