Pioneer Post
BJHS Weekly Newsletter for September 11-17, 2017
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 11 - PTA Meeting - Library - 6:00pm
September 15 - Back to School Dance - Gym - 6:30pm
September 18 - School Site Council - Large Conference Room - 3:00pm
September 19 - 6th Grade Science Inventions Showcase - MPR - 6:00pm
September 29 - Picture Retake Day
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Thank you for the over 500 of you who attended an inspiring Back to School Night! I've had so many teachers tell me how encouraged and energized they felt after meeting with you all. 2,000 parents. 1,000 kids. 100 staff. Our Bidwell Community is STRONG!
One message I hope you all heard loud and clear last Thursday night was, "Your kids are physically and emotionally safe at this school." Period. We won't accept anything less for any student. If there is one student out of 1,000 that doesn't feel like they're a part of our Bidwell Family, I want to know about it. There are two basic types of incidents that compromise that feeling of safety for kids. They are RARE but significant for the students involved. If you could have a quick chat with your kiddo about them--especially asking them to keep an eye out for these issues happening to OTHER kids--we can make these cases even more scarce:
- Kids (sorry, but this one is almost always boy-related) not keeping their hands to themselves. A little friendly horseplay is how the vast majority of little skirmishes begin. "We were just messing around and then he got all mad." I catch a few of these a day before they escalate, but a little preventative maintenance on the home front would help a lot. Please let me know right away if your kiddo feels like a real problem is developing at school with another student.
- Kids talking about other kids. This one is tough but if kids could quickly recognize the early signs of "not cool" talk, we could nip a lot of the social problems in the bud. The gossip stuff usually doesn't start off as mean-spirited, but quickly hurts kids' feelings as the "telephone game" gets going. If just one kid in a group recognized when talk was going negative and said, "Hey, this conversation isn't cool anymore. Let's talk about something positive," it would have an amazing effect on the campus.
Just to be clear, these are not "rampant" problems at Bidwell. They are just the two biggest patterns I've observed in these first three weeks and I'd like your help in being proactive in addressing them. Together, we can help all of our kiddos not only "get through" these challenging junior high years, but actually thrive in them.
It is an honor to serve you and your children. Thank you for your support!
David McKay
Principal
Bidwell Junior High School
Chico Unified School District
(530) 521-9228
NEW PIONEERS GET SETTLED IN!
JOIN THE MULTICULTURAL CLUB!
CALIFORNIA JUNIOR SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
Back-to-School Dance
Friday, Sep 15, 2017, 06:30 PM
Bidwell Junior High School, North Avenue, Chico, CA, United States
BIDWELL WRESTLING
JOIN THE GAMES CLUB!
TUTORING AVAILABLE THROUGH CSU CHICO
The Tutorial Program is a free service offered by CAVE to help Chico Unified School District students grades 1-12 with their homework and study skills. Each child is paired with a collegiate volunteer to provide one-on-one attention and help. CAVE was established in 1966 as a volunteer association and is the largest student-led organization on the Chico State campus. Annually, more than 2,000 students provide 60,000 plus hours of community service through CAVE!
Find us on the 3rd floor of the Bell Memorial Union (2nd and Chestnut Streets) in Room 309. The program starts Tuesday, September 19th, and runs for 10 weeks on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:00pm to 6:30pm. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to sign them in and must be picked up by a parent or guardian to be signed out.
MS. PURL'S DRAMA CLASS HAMMING IT UP!
AR UPDATE
Students have 5 more weeks to make their AR goal!
Track your progress, sign up to receive e-mail updates, and access your AR bookshelf at Renaissance Home Connect (https://hosted12.renlearn.com/288231/HomeConnect/). Don't forget to look up your book levels and point values at AR Book Find ( http://www.arbookfind.com/UserType.aspx ).
PICTURE RETAKE DAY
LOST & FOUND
The Lost & Found is located in the MPR (Multi-Purpose Room)
If your child is missing anything, have them look in the Lost & Found! There are currently over 50 items (ie: lunch boxes, shirts, pants, sweatshirts, swimsuits, towels, shoes, water bottles, binder, etc) in the lost & found after only a few weeks of school.
Items that are labeled with student's names are more to get back to them. Each month, items on the cart will be marked with a colored piece of tape (light blue this month). After 4-6 weeks, a new color piece of tape (orange next month) will be placed on newer (more recent) lost & found items. Any items left from the previous month, (with the old colored tape) will be donated.
Last year, approximately 500+ items were never claimed and they were donated. Please make sure P.E. clothes, lunch boxes, jackets, etc. have the student's names on them.
Jewelry, phones, wallets, or smaller expensive items will be placed in the office where they can be picked up.
FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEAL PROGRAM
· Application Deadline is October 2nd.
· Applications MUST be filled out each school year even if there has NOT been a change in income.
· Applications need to be submitted to the Nutrition Office by Sept. 20th to avoid the possibility of a lapse in benefits.
· If you qualify for reduced meals they are now FREE!!
The current application can be downloaded here. Please submit current applications to Nutrition Services, 2455 Carmichael Drive, Chico, CA 95928. After submission, please expect 3-10 business days for processing and receipt of Notification of Benefits letter. For assistance, please call 530-891-3021 x203.
Also, please remember, if you are bringing food on campus for a celebration or reward that it needs to meet the nutrition requirements set by the USDA.
AFTER SCHOOL SCHOLARS
ATTENTION, STUDENTS
PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION
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SUICIDE PREVENTION IS EVERYONE'S BUSINESS
Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 10 – 16, 2017. During this week individuals and organizations around the country and the world join their voices to broadcast the message that suicide can be prevented, and to reach as many people as possible with the tools and resources to support themselves and those around them. Here are a few basic things you should know and that you can share with those around you:
Suicide can be prevented. Most of us have been touched by the tragedy of suicide. We may have lost someone close to us or been moved by the loss of someone we may have never met. When a suicide happens, those left behind often experience deep shock. Even if they knew the person was struggling, they may not have expected suicide would be the result. However, many people who find themselves in a suicide crisis can and do recover. Suicide can be prevented; you can help by taking the following actions:
· Know the Signs: Most people who are considering suicide show some warning signs or signals of their intentions. Learn to recognize these warning signs and how to respond to them by visiting the Know the Signs web site (www.suicideispreventable.org).
· Find the Words: If you are concerned about someone, ask them directly if they are thinking about suicide. This can be difficult to do, but being direct provides an opportunity for them to open up and talk about their distress and will not suggest the idea to them if they aren’t already thinking about it. The “Find the Words” section of the Know the Signs web site (www.suicideispreventable.org) suggests ways to start the conversation.
· Reach Out: You are not alone in this. Before having the conversation, become familiar with some resources to offer to the person you are concerned about. Visit the Reach Out section of the Know the Signs web site (www.suicideispreventable.org) to identify where you can find help for your friend or loved one.
The Know the Signs campaign is one of several statewide initiatives funded by counties through the voter-approved Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63). These efforts are administered by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) and are part of Each Mind Matters: California’s Mental Health Movement.
Prevention Works. Many people who feel suicidal don’t want to die. If they can get through the crisis, treatment works. There are programs and practices that have been specifically developed to support those who are in a suicide crisis. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center hosts a registry of 160 programs, practices and resources for suicide prevention. You can learn more about them by visiting http://www.sprc.org/strategic-planning/finding-programs-practices.
Help is available
The Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255- TALK) offers 24/7 free and confidential assistance from trained counselors. Callers are connected to the nearest available crisis center. The Lifeline is also available in Spanish, and for veterans or for those concerned about a veteran, by selecting a prompt to be connected to counselors specifically trained to support veterans.
To find local services and supports, visit the Reach Out section of the Know the Signs resources page where you will find California statewide and national resources as well as links to resources in your county: www.suicideispreventable.org
BIDWELL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Email: lgizzi@chicousd.org
Website: http://bjhs.chicousd.org/
Location: 2376 North Avenue, Chico, CA 95926, United States
Phone: (530) 891-3080
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BidwellASB/?fref=ts
Twitter: @BidwellASB