BUE Family Newsletter
January 2, 2023
There is no school on Tuesday, January 3rd. Students return to school on Wednesday, January 4th.
Tuesday, January 3rd, is a teacher work day.
Students return to school on Wednesday, January 4th.
It is going to be rainy and snowy this week. Please help your student(s) dress appropriately for outside recess at school.
If your student(s) need help with winter clothes, please contact the BUE office at (970) 285-5703.
Be on the lookout for information on the 4th Grade Winter Ecology Trips happening at the end of January and beginning of February.
Each year, our local Kiwanis Club takes our 4th grade students snowshoeing on the Grand Mesa where they learn all about Winter Ecology including:
- Types of trees and animals on the Grand Mesa, with a focus on beavers and their habitat
- How to find cardinal directions in the wilderness (N, S, E, W)
- Basic Survival Skills
- Water Cycle
- Lake and Ice Safety
Our 4th graders were able to explore the Grand Mesa this fall and the winter trip will allow them to compare and contrast the ecology of the Grand Mesa during two different seasons.
Here are the dates:
- Wednesday Jan. 25 and Friday Jan. 27
- Wednesday Feb. 1 and Friday Feb. 3
More details will follow soon!
Garfield 16 Overarching Mission Statement:
As a result of our efforts, all students will be successfully prepared for life in a safe and nurturing environment.
Our School Mission:
BUE is a caring community providing students with a meaningful and authentic education.
Our School Vision:
We strive to empower our students to pursue their passions and to be kind, ethical people.
SCHOOL HOURS
We are a four (4) day school week
Tuesdays to Friday
1st Morning Bell rings at 7:30 a.m.
End of Day bell rings at 3:40 p.m.
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH NEWS
Our district has qualified for a free breakfast and lunch program for SY 2022-2023.
To continue to qualify for this grant, we need all families to please fill out an application for free or reduced meals, regardless of family income. The application packet will be sent home the first day of school and it can also be found using this link: Nutrition Links. This will help us to continue to qualify for this program for next school year. Thank you!
Breakfast Program: All students can receive breakfast free of charge. It is important that your child arrives at school on time as breakfast is served at 7:30 a.m.
Lunch Program: All students can receive lunch free of charge. If your child brings lunch from home, please make sure it does NOT need to be heated in a microwave as there are no microwaves available.
Please do not send soda pop in your child’s school lunch. We ask that you send a healthier choice such as juice, water, or milk.
Parents wishing to eat lunch with their child may do so, however to be in the school during the school day requires a background check (see the section above on school safety).
Please call the school office by 9:00am if you would like to order a hot lunch. The charge for an adult lunch is $4.25 and for a visiting child it is $2.75. Please remember that the school only accepts cash or a check for payment.
Menus can be found on our school district Nutrition Website.
Meal Prices for Visitors:
Student Lunch $2.75
Milk $0.70
Adult Lunch $4.25
Please keep in mind that menus have the potential to change A LOT depending on staffing issues, and product availability. Our Nutrition Department does their best to honor the posted menus, however they can be heavily impacted for a variety of reasons. If you ever have any questions, please call 285-5701 ext. 4180 with any questions or email jwilliams@garfield16.org
RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
Please do not hesitate to reach out to our School Based Family Resource Center for more information.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Claudia Flores Cruz
Center Coordinator
970-285-5262
Visitor, Volunteer, and Background Check Procedures
Dear Garfield 16 Community,
Beginning September 6, 2022, any visitors entering a school during the school day will go through a screening process in the office. Visitors will be screened through the Raptor system which checks registered sex offender databases. The system produces an ID badge sticker with the visitor’s name and picture that the visitor wears for the duration of the visit.
How does it work?
The visitor provides his/her driver’s license to the secretary for scanning. Once scanned, the visitor is stored in the school’s system as an approved visitor. The visitor received an ID badge sticker with the visitor’s name and picture and date of the visit. If the visitor returns, the information is stored in the system so the visitor just has to give his/her name to the secretary, and the secretary can print out a new badge with a new date.
What if the visitor doesn’t have a driver’s license?
The secretary can enter the visitor’s name in the database. This takes a bit more time, so having a driver’s license is helpful.
What happens if someone with a sex offense record tries to come into the school?
The Raptor system sends an alert to the principal who will handle the situation. If the visitor is a parent and must attend a meeting for his/her child, the parent will be escorted by a staff member at all times.
Does the Raptor database show a person’s full criminal record?
No. It only links to the sex offender database for all 50 states.
Who will need to go through the screening process?
Anyone who is visiting the school will go through this screening process. Examples include:
Parents coming into the school for a meeting, activity, or event that occurs during the school day. This includes parents who may be helping in the school during the school day.
Guest speakers, contractors, and other visitors authorized by the principal.
What about volunteers?
Volunteers will also be screened using the Raptor system, but they also need to have an FBI background check that includes fingerprinting. Volunteers may be alone with students or supervise students, so we have this added layer of protection to keep the students safe. Contact the school’s principal for more information about volunteers.
Will the schools use Raptor for after school events?
No. Raptor will only be used during the school day when students are in school.
Our goal is to keep our students safe. We encourage parents to attend activities and events to support their children, and we want to make it easy for parents to attend. We believe the Raptor system will be a faster and more convenient way to register as a visitor to the school.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Baugh
Interim Superintendent of Schools
Find our archive on our website: https://www.garfield16.org/o/garfield16/page/district-newsletters
Bea Underwood Elementary School
Email: aclark@garfield16.org
Website: http://bue.garfield16.org/
Location: 0741 Tamarisk Trail, Parachute, CO 81635
Phone: 970-285-5703
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Garfield-County-School-District-No-16-216528061787894/