Bulldog Bulletin Weekly eNews
Here's What's on Top at Buena Vista - February 8, 2023
Turn Up the Heat!
Students and staff are supporting our Red Envelope Drive this week!
WCEF supports our school programs
Weekly Art, Science, and Music!
Please donate whatever you can, support Buena Vista and ALL of our Walnut Creek Schools!
#SendInYourRedEnvelope
#PopsiclesForAllStudents
Note from the Principal
Greetings Buena Vista Parents,
We have kicked off Turn up the Heat Campaign this week, it's Black History Month with activities and learning planned and BV Multi-Cultural Night is coming! February is jam packed. Read below for more details. Here is what is happening at Buena Vista Elementary!
Attendance Matters
I just want to remind all of you how important it is that your child attend school everyday. A missed day is a missed learning opportunity. I have noticed an increase of absences for our learners and these are not always tied to illness. Please do you best to make sure you are building good learning habits early. Studies prove chronic absenteeism (10 or more days per year) is a learned behavior. Attendance is tied directly to student achievement. If you need support please reach out to me and I will do my best to support you and help build those good learning habits early.
Student Learning
This week I was able to visit our Learning Center to see all the excited learning that happens in there. Mrs. Lucas our resource specialist was working with a small group giving just right instruction to a small group of students that are building their reading skills. They practiced their letter sounds, practice reading and writing words and even practiced tricky snap words that appear frequently in our books for reading. It was great. to see them use kinesthetic strategies and use their whole bodies to practice stretching sounds and reading new words. What I love about our learning center is while this is going on, Mrs. Lasky was working with a small group who are learning English and Mrs. Thompson, our reading specialist was working with our 2nd graders to help them work on their comprehension skills. So much learning and growing was happening.
I also had the pleasure of visiting Mrs. Fairholm's second grade class. They were working on using different units to measure and compare sizes of various things. They did AMAZING math thinking today even though they were using unusual units to measure including bricks, door marks, hammer and envelops. I was blown away when they starting discussing using partial units and having to use fractions like 1/3, 1/2, and even 2/3. Very tricky, but they were highly engaged and loved thinking about different ways to compare measurements. Great job second graders!
Quick Reminders:
Please complete this year's intent to return form for the 2023-2024 school year by Wednesday, February 15th.
Secure Campus Drill Today
We completed a secure campus drill today. The students and staff did a great job. If you'd like more information, please click here.
Turn up the Heat - Support WCEF!
We have kicked off the annual participation drive for WCEF. Turn Up the Heat is a great way to show love for amazing programs and classes that would not exist without your generous donations to WCEF.
Bonus Alert! The school with the highest increase in participation gets a popsicle party! We won that popsicle party last year! Let's keep it going. Let's give what we can and return the red envelopes Feb. 8-10.
Why Donate? Without donations to WCEF our [TK-5 art, music and science lab programs; Tice: TK-5 art, music and science lab programs and additional middle school electives; WCI: elective program driven by what students want to take] would not exist. Plus, what you donate stays at our school. WCEF supports all grades from TK-12 meaning our entire community comes together to make more possible at our award-winning schools.
What should I donate? Every dollar counts. Give any amount right for your family. The more families who give, the more programs our students have! If you have donated, thank you!
Learn more about WCEF, the programs funded through donations to WCEF, and more at wcefk12.org/tuth.
It's a Great Day to be a Bulldog!
Respectfully,
Angela Gramlick
Principal
Join us for Multicultural Night at BV!
February 22, 2023 –6-8 pm Multicultural night returns to Buena Vista Elementary. Join together and let’s share our food, watch a Tahitian dance performance and celebrate with our kids in a cultural Fashion Show. There will be little passports for our kids to get stamped which will to help them engage with other families, to learn about their food, customs, and traditions.
Our goal is to offer food stations from 6 different continents and have the kids (and adults) go around, try the food and ask questions. Once they learn about a dish or country, they will get their passport stamped. At the end of the evening the kids with the majority of stamps will earn a reward.
There will also be a fashion show for the kids to show off and share information about their traditional garments.
Please complete this google form by February 10th if you plan to attend Multicultural night and bring a dish or dessert so we may prepare for a fun and festive evening.
Schedule for the evening:
5:45pm: Bring dishes
6:00-6:45pm: Meet families, enjoy food, and get passports stamped
6:45-7:15pm: Performance
7:20pm: Fashion show (If you'd like to participate, please wear clothing representing your culture)
7:45pm: Passport rewards
We Need You!
The PTA is looking for volunteers to help with various committees for Spring initiatives. See Sign Up Genius below. We appreciate any and all support!
Save the Dates!
- February 6-10 - WCEF’s Turn up The Heat campaign
- Monday, February 13 - Rescheduled Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Meeting, 3pm
- February 16-20 - Presidents Day weekend, NO SCHOOL
- Wednesday, February 22 - School Site Council Meeting, 3:15pm
- Wednesday, February 22 - Multicultural Night
- Friday, February 24- End of Trimester 2, SHORT DAY TK/K dismissal at 11:30am & Gr 1-5 dismissal at 12:25pm
It’s time to Turn Up The Heat !
WCEF’s annual campaign to increase participation and fulfill our $1.4 million pledge to our districts is here! Let’s join together and fund programs not paid for by the state. Red envelopes are going home on Monday, February 6 and WCEF is asking all families to donate and return their red envelopes February 8-10.
BONUS ALERT! The school with the largest participation increase wins a popsicle party and trophy! Buena Vista topped four-time champion Indian Valley last year—who will take the crown this year? Plus, when you donate, you help fund our TK-5 Art, Music and Science Lab programs; Electives at WCI and Tice Creek; and more classes and the Wellness Center at top-ranked Las Lomas.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
1. On Monday, your child brought home a red envelope and donation form.
2. Fill the envelope with a donation and return it to school this week.
3. Join the movement and help us ignite a brighter future for all.
4. You can also donate online with Venmo, Paypal, or a credit card!
Each gift, in any amount, makes a difference for your child and every student. Donate today! Not sure if you have donated? Email database@wcefk12.org.
Real Estate Partner Spotlight: Rebecca Burns
A 25+ year resident of the East Bay, Rebecca Burns has a unique background in tech-advertising, loves analyzing market stats, and has a knack for negotiating. The one thing not in her repertoire? The "live long and prosper" hand signal from Star Trek!
We absolutely love her informative videos, including her thoughtful analysis of how to deal with a home that doesn’t appraise.
Residing in Walnut Creek with her husband Dave, son Quinn, daughter Sybelle, and dog Penny, Rebecca is an East Bay native, UCLA Bruin, Belgian beer imbiber and dog lover!
Community News
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Important Links and Resources!
Is your child home from school?
Parents, please remember to call the attendance line if you student will not be coming to school: (925) 944-6822 ext 3801
Thank you!
It's a great day to be a bulldog!
Angela Gramlick-Principal
Email: agramlick@walnutcreeksd.org
Website: https://www.walnutcreeksd.org/Subsite001
Location: 2355 San Juan Avenue, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
Phone: 925-944-6822