Brimfield Basics
Family Edition February
Upcoming Dates:
2/5- School Counselor Week (Thank you Mrs. McGrath)
2/14- Early out 1:50
2/16- Early Out at 11:30
2/19- Presidents Day
2/21- School Board Meeting @ 7
2/26- Read Across America Week
2/28- Early Out 1:50
3/13 and 3/14- Parent Teacher Conferences
3/15- No School
3/19-3/28 IAR (Illinois Assessment of Readiness 3rd-8th)
3/23- BGS School Carnival
4/9-4/11- ISA (Illinois Science Assessment) 5th and 8th
4/15- Spring Break
5/16- 8th grade graduation (barring any major school cancellations)
From Our Music Department
Mrs. Gibbs is so excited to be back making music with our BGS students! Students in K-4 are learning new rhythm patterns, solfege pitches, and many fun songs. We have been having a blast using instruments and our singing voices to help practice new concepts. Our 5th grade choir is prepping for our next concert and working on acting skills with some small group skits. 6th grade students are prepping for the upcoming 6th grade spring musical which is titled "The Ever After: A Musical!" Junior high choir students are selecting songs for our spring concert and several students are preparing to participate in IESA Solo and Ensemble contest.
January and February Musicians of the Week are:
Lin Manuel-Miranda
Johnny Cash
Fredric Chopin
Miles Davis
The Temptations
Nat King Cole
BB King
Note From Our Counselor
The classroom lesson topic for January is growth mindset. The K-4 students have made vision boards of what they would like to accomplish this calendar year. We read The Magical Yet and talked about some things in life/school are hard/challenging, but as long as we are willing to learn and keep trying, we will get there. Coming up in February we will be partnering with the American Red Cross to learn about healthy habits and being kind to our bodies. Stay tuned for more information about Wellness and Kindness Week in mid-February. Also in early February the 6th and 7th graders will begin a career exploration unit.
Illness Policy Reminders
Return to School Illness Guidelines
-students must be fever free without medication, vomiting/diarrhea free for 24 hours before the student can return.
-if a student is on antibiotics for anything contagious (ie. strep throat, pink eye) they need to be on the antibiotic for 24 hours before they can return.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Sumner at 309-446-3366 or lonna.sumner@brimfield309.com
5 Essentials Survey
http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/
Brimfield School District 309 will join the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in the statewide survey of school climate and learning conditions. The survey provides a unique opportunity for students, teachers and parents to have a voice in improving their schools. Students and teachers will be asked to take a research-based survey to help identify strengths and weaknesses in their school’s learning environment. The parent survey supplement will also be administered during the same survey window. These surveys will serve as an opportunity for schools to reflect on progress since the last statewide implementation. The Illinois 5Essentials Survey provides a comprehensive picture of a school’s organizational culture in an individualized report measuring five “essentials” critical for school success:
● Effective Leaders
● Collaborative Teachers
● Involved Families
● Supportive Environment
● Ambitious Instruction
Important Information
Visitors- Just a reminder, visitors to the school will need to enter the main entrance and wait to be let in by office staff. Upon entering the building, visitors will be asked to present a US government issued ID such as a Driver’s License, which can either be scanned or manually entered into our electronic sign in system. Once entry is approved, a badge will be issued that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of his/her visit. Upon exiting the school, visitors will be asked to give their visitors badge to the office staff when checking out.
Brimfield Class Party and Birthdays- Just a reminder that if you child is brining birthday invitations they must be sent to all children in the class. If only certain students are invited these need to be sent outside of school. All food items brought into the classroom to be shared with others must include the following:
No homemade food
No bakery items such as cupcakes, donuts or cookies
Food must be store bought and pre packaged and must contain the following
An ingredient list
A nutrition label
Great examples of food to share are: Little Debbies, individual ice cream cups, Hostess Cupcakes, popsicles, Oreos, Gogurt
Check with your child’s teacher regarding any food allergies in the classroom
****Valentines Parties 2/14******
K-4 Curriculum Update- Our K-4 Classrooms will continue with Wit and Wisdom through February and then CKLA for March and April. Your child's teacher sent a note explaining this process there is a spot on our district website to share any questions, insights, and feedback about anything related to this pilot.
Topics right now for ELA are:
K- The Five Senses "How do our senses help us learn?"
1st- A World of Books "How do books change lives around the world?"
2nd-A Season of Change "How does change impact people and nature?"
3rd-The Sea "Why do people explore the sea?"
4th- A Great Heart "What does it mean to have a great heart, literally and figuratively?"
Brimfield PTO Information
2/28- Crumbl Cookie Day
3/23- School Carnival
Spirit Days for PTO
March 8 Crazy hair Day
March 22 Favorite Sports Team
April 12 Clothes inside out Day
April 26 Dress like a Teacher Day
May 3 Mismatch Day
May 17 Spirit Wear Day
Attendance
Anytime you are reporting an absence, early pick up, late arrival, or change in pick up/drop off you must notify the office directly. You are welcome to also notify your child's teacher but the office must be notified as well. You may call 3094463366 or email bren.dwyer@brimfield309.com
WHAT ARE BGS PROCEDURES?
Bren will call to confirm an absence if a student is absent and we have not been notified.
Families will receive notification once their student’s absences add up to seven or more full-day absences in a semester.
A referral will be made to a truancy officer after a student has accrued ten unexcused absences.
A referral will be made to the Regional Office of Education Student Success Team after your child has accrued twenty or more absences.
Drop Off/Pick Up/Bus Information
1. Stay in your assigned seat at all times.
2. Sit on your seat - no standing or leaning over seats.
3. No fighting, tripping or pushing others.
4. No eating.
5. No yelling or bad language.
6. No damaging bus or other’s property.
7. No disrespectful behavior.
*1st consequence is a written warning
*2nd consequence is a written warning, phone call home.
*3rd consequence is a written warning, phone call home, restrictions on the bus or possible suspension from the bus (minimum 3 days)