The Bellflower Beat 9.12.22
Bellflower Middle/High School Newsletter
One Month Completed!
Thank you all for a great first month of school! Students are now hard at work, learning content in all of their classes. Listed below are just a few reminders:
- Bellflower Middle/High School does not permit any drop-offs or deliveries of food or other items. Please ensure that your student is prepared for the day when coming to school in the morning with their lunch, supplies, money, etc.
- Wearing a mask. At this time, wearing a mask remains optional. We follow the required regulations based upon the LA County Department of Health.
- Dress Code. Please be sure that your student follows the dress code and wears appropriate clothing and accessories. Bellflower hats are also the only school approved hat that can be worn at school.
- Headphones/Earbuds. Headphones/Earbuds of any sort may not be worn while on campus, unless used as an instructional tool for one of your classes. Such devices cannot be used between periods. It is a matter of safety that students are able to hear directives from adults on campus.
- No returning back to campus. If a student has an early release (7th or 8th period), once the student leaves campus, they may not return to campus.
For a full list of student policies on attendance and dress code, please click here.
Minga - Digital ID Cards
Bellflower Middle/High School students are utilizing the app called Minga as a digital ID card! The app enables staff to create hall passes, reward students for doing well and helping others, and the digital ID card will help students have an easier time entering or leaving campus. The digital ID has a "live" interface, with a running digital clock and a moving background, thus preventing students from using a screenshot. Students use their school email (via Google) to log in. The app is safe to use, uses very little data, and doesn't require access to any of the information stored on your phone. If your child does not have a smartphone, don't worry - they can go to the ASB Office to request a printed "Early Release" ID card as well, which lists the home periods.
Click here to read more about Minga, and how students sign in with their school email.
Senior Portraits
Ahoy Class of 2023!!! Classic Image is our vendor for your senior pictures! If you have not taken your senior pictures yet, please make an appointment with Classic Image to do so ASAP! Their hours are 9-5 Monday-Friday, so plan accordingly! The information about the packages is on the image attached to this message, listed below. Please contact Ms. Jass (Room 202) if you have questions, but you need to contact Classic Image for scheduling and questions about picture packages.
Make-Up Picture Day & Senior Portraits: Friday, October 7th
The Make-Up Picture Day will take place on Friday, October 7th, 2022. This will be for students that have not yet taken a school photo.
In addition, any senior who has NOT taken his or her Senior Portrait through Classic Image at the studio may also take his or her yearbook photo on this day.
Homecoming Game and Dance!
It's almost time for our Bellflower Middle/High School Homecoming Game! The homecoming game will take place on Friday, September 30th at 7:00pm, when our Bellflower Buccaneers will play against the Ghar Gladiators. The prices for the September 30th game are:
-Free for students with their ASB Card (ASB Card either printed or on Minga)
-General admission is $7
-Senior Citizen admission is $5
-Veteran with ID admission is $5
-Student/Youth admission is $5
You can click here to purchase your football ticket online in advance.
The Homecoming Dance will be held on Saturday, October 1st at the Portuguese Hall in Artesia (also known as Artesia D.E.S.), located at 11903 Ashworth St., Artesia 90701. Students in grades 9 through 12 are invited to this dance! The dance permission slips are available in the ASB Office, which must be signed and submitted when paying for your ticket in the ASB Office. Planning on bringing a guest who is not a Bellflower High School student? Then the guest section of the dance permission slip must be filled out properly, AND, you must also have the guest approved by a Bellflower High School administrator as well (Mr. Lundgren, Ms. Gasper, or Dr. Tehrani). The Bellflower High School student and guest must pay at the same time. If you have any questions regarding payment, please see our school accountant in the ASB Office. If you have any questions regarding the dance itself, please see Mrs. Hovis (room 411), our High School Activities Director.
PSAT!!!
Bellflower High School is administering the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) on Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at 8:00 am in the Gym. The PSAT/NMSQT measures what you're learning in school, determines if you're on track, and opens doors for opportunities to prepare and pay for college. The cost to take the PSAT/NMSQT is $18. Students may sign up in-person in the ASB Office or through the online web store (link below) by Wednesday, September 14, 2022.
Free Virtual Parenting Workshop
Join us for ChildNet Youth & Family Services' free virtual workshops to learn parenting skills provided in English and Spanish, on September 16 (Managing Difficult Emotions) and Oct 21 (Understanding Mental Health Stigma). Please see the flier attached below, which contains the information regarding the virtual meetings.
School Holiday Approaching!!!
Just a reminder that there is NO SCHOOL on Monday, October 10.
Cool Class Spotlight!
In today's newsletter, Bellflower Middle/High School wanted to highlight our Forensic Science class, led by Ms. Sarah Schuessler. Recently, the forensic science students in her class had the opportunity to create their own crime scene photos for a project based exam, based on the 7 Steps of Processing a Crime Scene!
Recap: Back to School Night: Tuesday, August 30th
Back To School Night took place on Tuesday, August 30th. We had a great turnout! Thank you to all of our families that came to learn about what makes Bellflower Middle/High School a wonderful place to learn. We hope that families also took advantage of our Buc Family Resource Center giveaway as well.
Thank you to our Link Crew and ASB students, who helped families navigate from one location to the next throughout the night. Thank you to our wonderful teaching staff for providing a warm and welcoming environment for our families. And thank you to our custodial staff for getting the school ready for Back To School Night.
Go ahead and put this on your calendar: Navigation Night is currently scheduled for Thursday, January 26, 2023! We hope to see many more families then!
Recap: Buc Tailgate!
The Bellflower Middle/High School Buc Tailgate was a huge success! Our Buc Tailgate took place on Friday, September 2 at 5:45pm in front of the ASB Office. Students and staff enjoyed pizza, chips, a beverage, admission into the football game (Bellflower vs. Calvary Chapel), and a shirt!
For those who wish to know in advance, below are the remaining games that our varsity football team will be playing:
Fri 9/16: Bellflower vs Santa Paula (Away game)
Fri 9/23: Bellflower vs Whittier (Home game)
Fri 9/30: Bellflower vs Ghar (Home game, Homecoming Game!)
Fri 10/7: Bellflower vs Firebaugh (Away game)
Fri 10/14: Bellflower vs Norwalk (Away game)
Fri 10/21: Bellflower vs Lynwood (Home game)
Come and visit us during one of our games! You may even have the chance to meet our mascot, Billy the Buc! Students are also invited to sit in the student section of the bleachers, named "The Ship."
Football Game - Band
Buc Tailgate - Cheerleaders
Buc Tailgate - Playing games
Recap: Bookfair
Scholastic Book Fair August 29 - September 2, 2022
Thank you to everyone that visited our Bellflower Middle/High School Scholastic Book Fair! Our library staff are very appreciative of your support.
NWEA Map Growth Exam - Happening Now!
School Meals Information
Just a reminder that Bellflower Unified School District will participate in the California Universal Meals Program and will implement the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). This means that all K-12 BUSD students will receive one Breakfast and one Lunch during the school day at NO CHARGE.
Please visit the school district's website in order to learn more about the meal program. In addition, the district website lists information about the meal menu for both breakfast and lunch. Please click here to visit the school district's school lunch program website for details.
COVID-19 Information
CDPH recommends that antigen tests be considered the primary option for detecting Covid-19 in schools. Test kits are available for students/staff who are symptomatic considered a close contact, or for any employee needing to test weekly at their school site. Additionally, free test kits mailed directly to your home may be obtained by visiting https://www.covid.gov/tests.
When To Get A Test:
If you have COVID-19 symptoms (i.e. fever, chills, cough, sore throat, headaches, congestion, runny nose, nausea, body aches, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, short of breath, loss of taste or smell)
If you have been a close contact to someone with COVID-19
If you have COVID-19, to see if you can end isolation early
If you had COVID-19 within the last 90 days, testing is not recommended unless you have symptoms.
If you have symptoms and you have a negative test, it is recommended that you keep staying away from others and get another test 1-2 days later. This is because these tests are more likely to miss early infections. For self-tests, make sure to read and follow all test instructions correctly. You can also retest with a molecular test, i.e. PCR.
Isolation Instructions:
If you test positive for COVID-19 – stay home and away from others for a minimum of 5 days from the onset of symptoms. Inform your close contacts of possible exposure. You can leave isolation on day 6 or later if all of the following conditions are met:
You get a negative result taken on or after day 5
You have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicine
Your symptoms are improving, or you have no symptoms
Wear a mask indoors through day 10
OR You can leave isolation on day 11 without testing, as long as you have not had a fever for at least 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicine.
Instructions for Close Contacts:
You do not need to quarantine for being a close contact as long as you have no symptoms. You are required to:
Get tested 3-5 days from last exposure or earlier if symptomatic
Wear a mask indoors and outdoors when in close contact with others for 10 days
Continue to monitor your health for 10 days and test right away if symptoms start
College & Career Center
The College & Career Center (Room 401) is here to assist students with college applications, scholarships, financial aid, resumes, work permits, and other college and career information. Office hours are Monday: 10am-1pm, and Tuesday-Friday: 8:30am-11:30am.
Need assistance? Students can contact Ms. Ochoa at alejandraochoa@s.busd.k12.ca.us
Title I Parent & Student Evaluation Survey
Bellflower Middle and High School is asking for your input regarding school services, so that we may continue to improve parent involvement opportunities that result in improved student achievement. Please complete the survey accessible by clicking on the link below. As we work together to improve BUSD Title I schools, we appreciate your input with our continuous analysis and improvement process. Results of this survey will be used to create the School Plan for Student Achievement. Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback about our school.
Counselor Assignment Changes For the 2022-2023 School Year
Join PTSA!
SENIOR STUDENTS! Did you know that several PTSA groups in our community offer scholarships? But, you can only qualify to receive a PTSA scholarship if you are a member! So, join today!
Click here to be redirected to TOTEM, the website that our PTSA uses for online membership payments. Or, you can also go to the front office to pick up a membership envelope as well, if you prefer to pay with cash or check.
Thank you in advance for joining our Bellflower Middle/High School PTSA!
Bellflower Middle/High School
YouTube: @wearebellflower
Email: bhsprincipal@busd.k12.ca.us
Website: www.bellflowerhigh.org
Location: 15301 McNab Avenue, Bellflower, CA, USA
Phone: 562-920-1801
Facebook: facebook.com/wearebellflower
Twitter: @wearebellflower