BUE Family Newsletter
December 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.
December News
There are only 3 weeks (12 days) of school in December.
Annually in December BUE hosts the:
- Book Fair
- Penguin Patch
- Holiday Parties
- NWEA and STAR Winter Testing.
It is also the time of year when weather is unpredictable and parents need to help children come prepared for cold weather and possibly snow. Please read below for lots of information on all the things and stuff happening at BUE this December.
We wish you all a lovely holiday season!
Scholastic Book Fair News!
Scholastic Bookfair is this week!!
November 29 to December 2, 2022
Dear Parents,
We have had only 2 volunteers sign up to help with the Book Fair. Without volunteers, the Book Fair will not be able to run. Please do not hesitate to reach out the BUE office for more information on how to help at (970) 285-5703.
Here is the Volunteer Sign-up Sheet and it is also linked below! Please sign up to help, as we will not be able to host Book Fair shopping if there are no volunteers during a specific time slot.
- This year, say goodbye to cash and hello to eWallet—your child’s digital payment account. Before the Fair, set up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute! Share each child’s eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy.
- If you can’t make it to the Fair, then shop at our school’s Online Book Fair. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Your online orders will also benefit our school.
- Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping: BOOK FAIR HOMEPAGE
See you at the Fair!
Penguin Patch
We are hosting the annual Penguin Patch®️ Holiday Shop to let our students experience the joy of giving during the Holiday Season. BUE has hosted the Penguin Patch®️ annually for more than a decade!
Each year the Penguin Patch®️ Holiday Shop offers over 100 different gifts that can be purchased for as little as $.25 and up to $10.00 each. The gift items offered are Kid Tested Mom Approved. This is sure to be one of the most exciting events that your child will participate in this year!
We will send home the Penguin Patch Budget Envelope in Tuesday Folders on December 13th, after they have had the chance to preview the Penguin Patch. Please ensure that the Gift List Budget Envelope is completed and returned (with cash or check) to the school on December 14th so they can shop. Don’t let your child miss this opportunity to experience the spirit of giving!
Where: BUE
When: December 13, 14, 15, and 16 during the school day
We need your help in assisting them as they shop for friends and family.
Will you volunteer to help us with the shop? The excitement of the students will warm your heart!
Please sign-up today!
Like the Book Fair, the Penguin Patch will not be able to run without parent volunteers. Please use the sign-up sheet below or reach out to the office for more information on how you can help with this wonderful program for our BUE students!
Holiday parties at BUE
Classroom Holiday Parties at BUE 2022
Dear BUE Families,
The holiday season is here! BUE Classrooms will celebrate the season with Holiday Parties on Friday, December 16th, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. Parents are invited to join classroom parties. Please only provide store packaged goodies and treats. Classrooms will have a craft time and other fun activities. We hope you can join us!
NWEA MAP Winter Testing
NWEA is a research-based, not-for-profit organization that supports students and educators worldwide by creating assessment and learning solutions that precisely measure growth for students in both Literacy and Math.
NWEA is given 3 times a year to help us gauge how much growth students are making in the academic school year. NWEA tests are given at the Fall, Winter, and Spring of each school year.
As opposed to state level testing (CMAS), NWEA provides teachers and students with immediate scores of how much growth a student is making. You received your student's Fall (Beginning of the Year) NWEA test results at Student Led Conferences in November. These results showed you how your student was doing when they started school.
The Winter NWEA test is given each December to see how well students are making progress. It is not quite a midyear test, as we have fewer school days August - December than we have the second half of the year - January - May. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher for more information.
You will receive a hard copy of the Winter NWEA test during February Student Led Conferences, however you can request a copy at anytime from your student's teacher.
NWEA Math is taken by all students at BUE (Grades 2 - 5)
NWEA Reading is taken by all students in Grades 4 and 5 at BUE*.
*Students in grade 2 and 3 take the state mandated STAR Reading Test in lieu of the NWEA Reading Test. See below for more information on STAR Assessments.
If you have any questions on NWEA please reach out to your child's teacher.
Star Assessment
In 2012, Colorado passed the READ ACT. The READ ACT focuses on early literacy development for all students, and is especially targeted for students at risk to not read at grade level by the end of the third grade. To determine if a child is on-track with their reading, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) mandated the use of specific literacy tests to track student reading in elementary school. Garfield 16 uses the CDE approved STAR Assessment.
Star Assessments are short tests that provide teachers with learning data. Star tests are computer adaptive, which means they adjust to each answer your child provides. This helps teachers get the best data to help your child in the shortest amount of testing time (usually about 20 minutes).
STAR Assessments are given to all Garfield 16 students in Kindergarten through Grade 3. Students who are not reading at grade level according to Star Assessments are placed on a READ Plan. Students who are on a READ Plan take STAR Assessments past their 3rd grade year, until they reach grade level.
STAR Assessments are taken several times a year as both progress monitors (every 4 weeks) and benchmark tests (Fall, Winter, and Spring). In December, students take the STAR Assessment winter benchmark.
If you more questions about the Colorado READ Act or STAR Assessments please click on the resources below or reach out to your child's teacher.
Check out our Facebook Page
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
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/