Monte the Tiger's Weekly Update
News from Buena Vista Montessori ~ September 17, 2021
Hello Tiger Families!
We are so grateful for our wonderful children and their terrific families! The community that has been built within the grounds of this school warm our hearts every day.
There is no school on Monday, September 20th so our staff may spend a day in professional development to continue the life-long process of learning! We take these days, twice per year, to grow individually and as a staff so we may provide the very best learning opportunities for all our children.
We very much look forward to seeing all of our children on Tuesday!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Ms. Shannon
Included in this Issue . . .
- Upcoming Events
- Montessori Moments
- School Highlight
- Coronado Homecoming Parade!
- D11 Attendance Policy Refresher
- School Accountability Committee
- News from Your PTA
- News from the Health Room
- Museum at the Fine Arts Center
- Picture Day is Coming!
Upcoming Events
Monday, September 20th
- No School - Staff Professional Development Day
Tuesday, September 21st
- PTA Meeting - Virtually at 6:30pm
Saturday, September 25th
- Coronado Homecoming Parade
Friday, October 1st
- Picture Day!!
- Student Count Day
Friday, October 22nd
- PTA-Sponsored Fall Carnival!
Montessori Moments
Walk Around the Sun
The passage of time is an important concept for the children to understand. With each birthday, children start to have an understanding that they are growing older with every passing year. Maria Montessori introduced a beautiful ritual to help the children to understand the passage of time on their birthday.
A light, representing the Sun, is set in the middle of the room. The children (and teachers or family members) sit in a wide circle around the Sun while the birthday child stands next to it holding a globe to represent the Earth. The child then walks around the Sun as many times needed to reach his age. As the child walks, the family may talk about important milestones reached during the year, or provide a picture to show the child at that age. When the child reaches their current birthday, the class sings a birthday song and celebrates their friend!
We take this opportunity to provide simple explanations about the Earth revolution around the Sun, saying that the Earth took one year to go around the Sun.
School Highlight - Primary
Cultural / Geography
Sandpaper Letters / Sounds Basket
Fine Motor Skills / Practical Life
Coronado Homecoming Parade!
Join us as we bike, skate, and march down Colorado Avenue showing off our Tiger Pride!
Stay tuned for more details coming mid-week next week about the time and place to meet. Let's support the Coronado Cougars and show the community how great our BV family really is!
D11 Attendance Policy Refresher
ATTENDANCE POLICY
When a student misses more than 10 percent of any marking period, whether excused or unexcused, they are chronically absent from school. When a student misses any part of a school day, with no approved reason provided by the parent/guardian, the student is truant. Habitually truant students are those students who have four or more days of unexcused absences in a month, or ten days of unexcused absences in one year. Chronic absenteeism and truancy affect a student’s achievement and may delay a student’s academic progress. Students and parents/guardians who willfully violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary action at the school and through the judicial process.
Approved absences include the following per Colorado Revised Statute 22-33-104:
- A student who is temporarily ill or injured or whose absence is approved by the Principal of the school of attendance.
- A student who is absent for an extended period due to physical, mental, or emotional disability.
Please note that Colorado state law does not excuse vacations, time off to spend with family, or oversleeping.
Exceptions can be approved by the Principal for extenuating circumstances. When your child is away from school for any reason, it is imperative that you contact Buena Vista. You have 48 hours to excuse an approved absence; otherwise, your child’s absence will be marked as unexcused.
Excusing an approved absence can be done one of two ways at Buena Vista: 1) by calling 719-328-4100, or 2) by e-mailing alison.yorke@d11.org.
For more, please see the Student Conduct, Discipline and Attendance Code at https://www.d11.org/cms/lib/CO02201641/Centricity/Domain/69/StudentHandbook.pdf. Pages 7-8 summarize the district policy on Student Attendance, Absences, and Truancy, including a complete list of what is an approved absence and what is not.
Please be aware that students may not participate in after-school activities if they have been absent that day.
Tardies
Per board policy, a student will be considered tardy if they arrive to class after the bell rings at 8:00 a.m. but before 8:20. After 8:20 the student is considered absent unless the absence is excused by a doctor’s note. Extenuating circumstances may be approved by the Principal.
News from Your PTA
We send a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who donated to this year's Un-Fundraiser!!
September PTA Meeting
Tuesday, Sep 21, 2021, 06:30 PM
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School Spirit Gear
We have plenty of kids sized Buena Vista logo face masks available for purchase in our PTA store. https://bvmontessori.new.memberhub.store/store
Mason Jars & Water Bottles
We also have stainless steel, 25oz water bottles that measure 3"x10" and feature a screw-on lid and double wall vacuum insulation to keep drinks at optimal temperatures. Get your water bottle for $18!
Additionally, we have 4.5oz farmhouse style mason jar mugs. Perfect for small servings and little hands! The mini mugs are $6.50 each or 4 for $24.
Please contact the PTA at bvmontessoripta@gmail.com to purchase! Cash or check is preferred and they can be picked up before or after school at your convenience.
Youth Masks $6.00 Each
Metal Water Bottles $18.00 Each
Mini Mason Mugs $6.50 Each
Easy Ways to Help Out the BV PTA
To enroll your Loyalty Card with BV:
- Log on to www.kingsoopers.com/communityrewards and click "Enroll Now" to sign in to your account. If you have never used your Loyalty Card online before you will have to create an account. You will need an e-mail and your Loyalty Card number or your alternate ID (often your phone#).
- Find Buena Vista Montessori School (programs are listed alphabetically) or use our Code: UQ795 as the program you want to support!
- You are DONE! THAT'S IT! Now whenever you shop you are earning BV PTA money!
- This program is a big "Free Money" maker that helps to fund many great BV and PTA events and equipment.
AmazonSmile
Sign up to support the BV PTA through AmazonSmile.
- You can select Buena Vista Montessori PTA as your charity recipient when you shop online at amazonsmile.com.
- AmazonSmile is also now available in the app on your Apple or Android devices. You can set this up in the app under "Settings">"Programs & Features".
- If you shop for girts on Amazon, this is an easy way for you to support our students and school.
- Be sure to ask your friends and family to select BV on AmazonSmile, as well.
News from the Health Room
My Child is Not Feeling Well. Now What?
The list below refers only to new symptom or a change in usual symptoms. A student should not be kept home for usual symptoms they experience due to a chronic condition unless they are worse than usual. These guidelines are in additional to your regular school guidance (for example, a student with vomiting symptoms should also not attend school based on usual school guidance).
If you student is experiencing any potentially life-threatening symptoms, please call 911.
If any of the following symptoms are present, keep the child at home / stay at home. Inform Ms. Karen B. in the office via phone call (719-328-4100) or email karen.bleibaum@d11.org.
- Feeling feverish, having chills, or temperature of 100.4F or higher.
- New or unexplained persistent cough.
- Shortness of breath.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Loss of taste or smell.
- Fatigue.
- Muscle aches.
- Headache.
- Sore throat.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Runny nose or congestion.
COVID Protocol Updates
These updates are current as of 2:00pm on Friday, August 6th. Should the protocols change, the district and our school will notify all community members as soon as possible.
- For students of any age, and staff riding D11 buses for any purpose (e.g., to and from school, activities, field trips, etc.), in alignment with the Federal mandate, face coverings on all D11 buses are required.
- For students ages 11 and under, in alignment with local and state guidance, face coverings are strongly encouraged while learning indoors, but are not required.
- For students/staff ages 12 and over, in alignment with local and state guidance, face coverings are strongly encouraged for anyone who is 12+ years and not fully vaccinated but are not required.
- We honor and respect the decisions of parents and staff when it comes to facial coverings, whether wearing one or not. As a district, our schools and central administration offices are expected to be welcoming and supportive of everyone and we will uphold a positive culture throughout the District. Should mask mandates be put back in place by state or local public health agencies, we will communicate that information. Please be informed about vaccinations and safety protocols so we can keep students in class as much as possible this year.
Hand Washing:
- We will continue with our diligent handwashing and sanitzing efforts throughout the school day. Including, but not limited to; after recess, before and after lunch, before and after specials, etc.
Classroom Cleaning:
- Our children and staff will continue to clean and sanitize the classrooms daily. Our custodial staff will clean and sanitize the building and playgrounds daily, as well.
Social Distancing:
- The current guidelines indicate a three-foot space between each person. We will do our best to honor that guideline throughout the school day. However, due to the structure of our learning community, the social distancing is not always possible.
For additional resources and information from the State and local health agencies, please visit the following links:
Updated Return to Learn
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nhgGIbakyAJY3XJ2TW44sw7btXXqISBR/view?usp=sharing
Who Needs to Quarantine
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S-bXk2yFdFAjBPUMfT-KvNMvz6EA2A9r/view?usp=sharing
At Home Symptom Screening Tool
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rM77eLlnivcOuoqv0zy0pXXtjnY-fREN/view
Addressing Symptoms as School
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-qAUd4g8tYDZ4KKIlbCc_yG0wkEHjiXV/view?usp=sharing
Museum at the Fine Arts Center
D11 Visual and Performing Arts has partnered with the Museum at the Fine Arts Center at Colorado College to offer a special event just for District 11 families for four Saturdays in October. The FAC welcomes you and your family to the museum for guided experiences and activities on October, 9th, 16th, 23rd or 30th. This program is offered to D11 families to celebrate Arts Month! Please select the day and time you would like to attend. Each day has limited capacity, so families should sign up right away! Filling out this form is your registration and you will receive a confirmation email. The family day experience is ideally suited for children ages 4 and up. This experience is free and the FAC can accommodate accessibility needs. Sign up today!
Buena Vista Elementary
Email: karen.bleibaum@d11.org
Website: www.d11.org/buenavista
Location: 924 West Pikes Peak Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Phone: 719-328-4100
Facebook: www.facebook.com/buenavista.d11.org