BUE Family Newsletter
January 11, 2022
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.
PAC UPDATE
Many thanks to the families who join us for our monthly Parent Advisory Committee meeting either in-person or online.
Due to extenuating circumstances, our next meeting will be in January 13, 2022 is cancelled.
The topic for January's PAC meeting was scheduled to provide parents with information on the Colorado READ ACT. We will reschedule this informational meeting for February.
Future PAC Meetings Dates and Times:
- February 10, 2022 @ 6:00 p.m. in the BUE Gym - Read Act Informational Meeting
- March 10, 2022 @ 6:00 p.m. in the BUE Gym
- April 14, 2022 @ 6:00 p.m. in the BUE Gym
- May 12, 2022 @ 6:00 p.m. in the BUE Gym
COVID Update
Dear BUE Families,
We are seeing a surge in COVID19 cases in our school.
As many of you have seen in the news, guidelines have recently changed in terms of isolation and quarantine periods for individuals who have tested positive for COVID or who have been exposed to COVID.
New guidance shortens the recommended time for isolation for those who test positive for Covid-19. Individuals with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours). The 5 day isolation period is followed by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter.
Additionally, guidance changes the recommended quarantine period for anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19. The new quarantine period is for 5* days after the date of the last close contact with a person with COVID-19 (vaccination status may reduce this period). The 5 day quarantine period is followed by mask use for an additional 5 days. For all those exposed, best practice would also include a COVID-19 test at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19.
Garfield 16 does not have a mask mandate, however under new CDC guidelines students/staff will be asked to wear a mask if they choose to return to school during the 5 day mask window of an isolation/quarantine.
Because guidelines are based on the date of the last close contact, exposure within a family/household is more complicated. Exposure in a family/household situation is considered ongoing till the end of the infected person's isolation period. Additionally, any time an additional household member becomes sick with COVID-19, the quarantine period restarts for those who have not yet been infected.
If there is Covid in your household, please reach out to Garfield County Public Health immediately at 970-945-6614 or in Rifle at 970-625-5200.
We know this can be very complicated and at times confusing. Also, guidance could change at any time. Please contact our school’s health tech, Jen Shaffer, for help calculating quarantine for your household, to answer any questions or for any other assistance your family may need.
The following measures help us keep kids in school
- Symptom Screening at home: Please help our entire community by following symptom screening at home and please keep children home when they are sick.
- Frequent hand washing: Handwashing with soap and warm water is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of colds, flu, and other diseases to others. Please teach your children to wash their hands frequently. We will also teach children how to wash effectively and provide lots opportunities during the day to wash hands.
- Eating well, being active, and getting enough sleep: Drinking plenty of water, limiting sugary drinks, and practicing healthy eating at home and school in an important factor in overall health. It’s also important to help kids get the recommended 60 minutes or more of daily physical activity, as well as the right amount of sleep every night. Teens need at least 8 hours of sleep per night—younger students need at least 9 hours.
- Consider signing your student(s) up for weekly covid testing: We participate in a voluntary testing program to help us catch active COVID cases before too many people are impacted. We encourage all students and staff to sign up for the weekly free covid testing at BUE. Click on the link below to sign your child up and to give consent for testing
at home. School staff can also use this tool to determine if they need to stay at home.
Free, Voluntary Covid Testing at BUE
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) provides all K-12 Colorado schools (public, private, charter and tribal) with a FREE and voluntary COVID-19 screening testing program for the 2021-22 school year. The weekly rapid antigen test is available to all students and staff who choose to participate.
A student may not need to quarantined, or may return to school early if participating in this
program (depending symptoms and other factors).
Please see the information sheets in both English and Spanish below for more details.
Clink on the link below to sign your child up and to give consent for testing
Clicking on the link will take you to DocuSign and ask for the parent or guardian's full name and email address. This is the email address that results will be delivered to. Only one parent/guardian is required. If parents wish to have two parents on the consent form, please write both names under the first name, e.g. Jane and John Smith.
If you have any questions, please call the BUE Office at (970) 285-5703.
The state provides funding for students to receive a small stipend to participate in this program. Garfield 16 does not fund the stipend.
All School Crew and Terrific Kids
We are hosting our All School Crew Virtually to honor our Terrific Kids from November and December on Friday, January 14, 2022 at 3:15 p.m.
You can join us by logging in using the following information:
meet.google.com/fnw-cmvw-kqn
Join by phone
(US) +1 747-236-1839 PIN: 745 390 364#
Terrific Kids is sponsored by our local Kiwanis Club and is a student-recognition program that promotes character development, self-esteem and perseverance. Each month, our teachers choose a Terrific Kid from their class who consistently demonstrates our CRISP Habits.
C.R.I.S.P. is an acronym that stands for:
Collaboration
Responsibility
Inquiry
Service
Perseverance
Winter Weather Reminder
Dressing for Cold Weather
Cold weather has arrived in western Colorado! Students will be outside for recess. It's good for students to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, but they need to come prepared for the colder temperatures. Please make sure your student is wearing proper winter attire to school (warm jacket, gloves, hat, appropropriate shoes). Sandals weather is over, please make sure your student(s) have warm shoes/boots for recess.
If your student is in need of winter clothing/shoes, please call the office at 970-285-5703 and we will get you in contact with the School Based Family Resource Center.
Drop Off and Pick Up during Winter Weather:
- Please drop students off using our Kiss and Go Lanes in front of BUE. For more information on Parking Lots, Drop Off and Parking Lot Safety please click here: Student Safety in the BUE Parking Lots
- Please plan on it taking longer than normal to drop students off due to slick roads and parking lots.
- There is no supervision of drop off areas until 7:20 a.m. each morning. Some parents allow their children to walk to school or drop their children off prior to 7:20 a.m. Please make sure to have conversations with your children about safety if they arrive prior to 7:20 a.m.
- Staff supervision begins at 7:20 and we have crossing guards in our parking lot to help with safety, the Kiss and Go Zone, and traffic flow.
- Regular drop off time begins at approximately 7:20 a.m. and we open the front doors for student entry between 7:20 and 7:25 a.m. depending on morning needs at BUE.
- The first bell rings at 7:30 a.m. The late bell rings at 7:35 a.m.
- Children at marked tardy if they are not in their classroom by 7:35 a.m.
New Website
You may have noticed changes to all Garfield 16 school websites. Our website is still undergoing construction and changes. We know change is difficult, and figuring out a new website can be frustrating. If you need help finding information on our website, please reach out to the BUE office and we will help you find/provide you with any information needed!
FOOD SUPPLY CHALLENGES FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR
GARFIELD 16 Supply Chain Shortage
There is a nationwide food supply shortage and labor shortage that many of you may have heard about that is impacting the foodservice industry. Schools are not immune to this shortage. The ongoing I-70 closures have been an added challenge to this school year. We kindly request your patience and flexibility throughout the year as we continuously find solutions. Garfield 16 students will never lack options, or nutritious meals. Menu items may change on very short notice based on product and delivery availability. All menu changes will be communicated to the school secretaries, and posted in the main entryway of all schools. We also will post updates on our webpage. If you have any questions please call and speak to Jody Williams 285-5701 ext. 4180 or email jwilliams@garfield16.org.
Want to make a little extra money?
Colorado has been experiencing a teacher shortage since 2010. Substitute teachers are also very limited.
Substituting is a great fit for retirees, college students, part-time workers, stay-at home parents, and those with flexible schedules.
Here are some quick facts:
- Substitute teaching is very rewarding. You get to work with great kids, see how our school works, and get a better understanding of what our students are learning and why.
- It provides you the opportunity to set your own schedule and have a great amount of flexibility. It can fit in your schedule as it works best for you and you get to determine the days you work. You can even use it to supplement another job.
- You can easily sub as many or as few days a week as you would like. You can earn a steady paycheck or several hundred dollars here or there.
- You will make a difference in students’ lives and in our school.
- You’ll have fun! Substitute teaching is really an adventure. The variety found in the day, fast pace, and meeting new colleagues and students, are all a recipe for an exciting day.
Pay
- Certified substitute teachers make $130 / day in Garfield 16. (this is subbing for a teacher)
- Classified substitute teachers make $12.32 / hours in Garfield 16. (this is subbing for a paraprofessional, custodian, food service, etc).
If you do a little math, subbing for a teacher can really add up:
- Working only 2 days a week could earn you over $1000/month ($130x2 = $260 x 4 weeks a month = $1060).
Here is a link to CDE's website on how to apply to become a substitute teacher. LINK
There are 3 steps:
- Submit Fingerprints
- Complete a substitute teaching application LINK
- Contact Garfield 16 to apply to sub in our district Link to Garfield 16 Application
Dates in 2021
- October 7
- October 21
- November 4
- November18
- December 2
- December 16
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/