Monte the Tiger's Weekly Update
News from Buena Vista Montessori ~ March 4, 2022
Hello Tiger Families -
It’s hard to believe we are wrapping up our 3rd quarter of the school year! Our students have learned and experienced so much this year. It has been a great joy to watch them grow and develop in their academics as well as their character and social emotional learning.
Today students celebrated the culmination of the quarter with Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) time! Lower Elementary students enjoyed reading to primary students and others were found snuggled up quietly enjoying a good book.
Reminder: Monday and Tuesday are teacher work days. We look forward to having students back on campus Wednesday, March 9th.
Enjoy your long weekend!
~Ms. Shannon
Included in this Issue . . .
- Upcoming Events
- BV is Hiring!
- Safety Reminders
- Clubs Updates
- Read to Feed: A Fundraiser for Heifer International
- Montessori Moment
- News from Your PTA
- News from the School Accountability Committee
- News from the Health Room
Upcoming Events
Monday and Tuesday, March 7th and 8th
- No School ~ Teacher Work Days
Monday, March 14th
- Deadline to Order the 2021/2022 Yearbook
Tuesday, March 15th
- PTA Meeting ~ Time and Place TBD
March 21st through March 25
- No School ~ Spring Break
Thursday, March 31st
- SAC Meeting ~ 2:40 ~ BV Library
BV is Hiring!
Special Education Educational Assistant
Long-Term Sub position open immediately through the end of this school year
Support students through their day in different classrooms throughout the building. Instrumental in assisting with transitions and classroom work.
If you are interested, or would like to learn more, please reach out to Ms. Karen B. in the office! (karen.bleibaum@d11.org)
Safety Reminders
- Please use the crosswalk. Not only is jaywalking illegal, it is incredibly unsafe. Grown-ups, small eyes are always watching and when they see you jaywalk, they think it is okay to as well.
- Please kiss and go in the Kiss and Go Lane. The curb from the cross walk west to the front steps is designated as our Kiss and Go Lane. Please do not park and exit your vehicle there. We understand that parking is at a premium; but, the Kiss and Go Lane is an important part of our morning drop off.
- Please do not park in the bus zone. The curb directly in front of the front steps is for bus parking only.
- The rock wall in the big playground is over 60 years old. The district does take very good care of maintaining the wall to make it as safe as possible. However, our staff has been instructed to not allow the students to climb up the wall, or to walk on top of the wall. We appreciate you reinforcing our school rule before and after school.
- Please remember staff supervision of the playground ends at 2:40pm. If any child cannot identify the grown-up responsible for them, the child will be taken to the office and a grown-up called.
We take the safety of all of our children very seriously and thank you for your cooperation.
Clubs Updates
4th Quarter sign ups went home in Friday Folders today! Please check in with your child to see which club(s) they would like to sign up for! Please return the sign ups no later than Thursday, March 10th. Permission slips for the clubs the children are lotteried in to will go home in Friday Folders on March 11th.
We are looking forward to finishing out the year with a 4th great session of After-School Enrichment!
News from the Library
Original Mission Parameters FAILED
If you are interested in accepting the mission of shelving, collection development, and/or bulletin boards, please reply to this email before cyberspace strikes again!
I await your response. (marni.zabel@d11.org)
Librarian out,
Ms. Marni
Read Across America
Why celebrate reading you may ask?
Well, as a librarian I LOVE books but more importantly the simple act of reading at least 20 minutes every day has been shown to improve student's academic prospects. In one year a child who reads 20 minutes a day hears 1,800,000 words!!
Would you like to be part of the celebration?
Reach out to your child's classroom teacher to find out about classroom based reading opportunities!
Here is a schedule of our events!
March 9th - 11th
Across the States: Classes will read books from different states.
March 14th - 15th
Across the Cultures: Classes will read books from different cultures.
March 28th - April 1st
Across the Animals: In recognition of our READ to FEED fundraiser, classes will read books with animals as the main characters!
April 1st
We invite your child to dress up as their favorite animal for the final day of the READ to FEED Fundraiser! I wonder what their teacher will dress up like??
Please come join in on the fun!!! Reach out to your classroom teacher to find out how families can be involved!
Read-To-Feed
Families,
It's not to late to sign up for Read to Feed: A Fundraiser for Heifer International!
By participating in this reading program with other students at Buena Vista Montessori, you are helping Heifer International to end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth. Gifts of livestock and training help lift families from poverty to self-reliance. All money raised will go directly to the purchase of livestock and trainings.
For more information feel free to visit their website, www.heifer.org.
Send your child's green enrollment form in to school and we will send them home with a packet the next day!
Happy Reading!
-Ms. Marni
Montessori Moment - Geometry
News from Your PTA
Your PTA Needs YOU!
The PTA is looking for three volunteers to serve Buena Vista on the PTA board starting in July. There are two positions for Co-President and one position for Secretary. The term for the new board members is for the next two years. Our current treasurer will still be on the board next year. If you are interested in running please email bvmontessoripta@gmail.com to learn more – we would love to have you join us!
Easy Ways to Help Out the BV PTA
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.
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.
News from the School Accountability Committee
What is the School Accountability Committee (SAC)?
SAC Chair Position Opening
"A chair will be elected from the SAC membership. A vice chair or co-chair and secretary may also be elected. The term of office will be one or two years, and may be renewed at the discretion of the SAC. The chair, co-chair, and/or vice chair should be a parent/guardian elected from the parent/guardian representatives on the SAC. Officers will be elected by the majority of the membership present at the last meeting of the existing school year or at the first meeting of the next school year but no later than September 1 of each year.
The Chair will preside at all meetings, appoint subcommittee chairs as needed and, in general, conduct the business of the committee. The Chair or Secretary (if elected) will take minutes of the meetings, record attendance and provide a written copy for the records. The Chair will also ensure that the school community has been notified and has the opportunity to participate in DAC/SAC/Parent/Guardian work sessions and conferences sponsored by the District DAC."
If you have a heart for BV and feel that you would like to chair the SAC at Buena Vista, please reach out to Ms. Karen B. (karen.bleibaum@d11.org).
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
Mask Wearing:
- 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 not required, but still recommended (as of Monday, December 13th) while learning indoors.
- For students/staff ages 12 and over, in alignment with local and state guidance, face coverings are not required, but still recommended (as of Monday, December 13th) for anyone who is 12+ years regardless of vaccination status.
Hand Washing:
- We will continue with our diligent handwashing and sanitizing 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 link:
Updated Return to Learn
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