BFHS Bluejay Beat
DECEMBER 2023
BONDURANT-FARRAR HIGH SCHOOL CORE VALUES
- Communicate and Collaborate Effectively
- Solve Problems
- Persevere
- Be Culturally and Socially Respectful
MESSAGE FROM MR. GARNASS
Thanksgiving break has come and gone... We are now staring down the approach of our winter break which also means another step closer to the end of semester one! End of the first semester info will be shared prior to winter break.
As I continue classroom visits, it's exciting to see the many learning activities our teachers are producing and the large amount of student engagement that is taking place. A collaborative environment is essential to creating a positive learning environment for all.
The registration process for the 2024-2025 school year will be underway before we know it. Registration will take place in January and February. More information will be provided regarding changes for each of the departments and courses in the coming weeks.
2nd Semester PE Info: Click here
I hope you enjoy the rest of December and have a Happy Holidays!
Respectfully,
Erik Garnass
@erikgarnass
Follow us...
Facebook: BondurantFarrarHS
Twitter: @BF_HighSchool & @BlueJayNation
Website: bfschools.org
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT BFHS?
November Students of the Month
- Art: Claire Meislahn (11)
- CTE: Lauryn Fuchs (11) - AG
- Lang Arts: Bailey Hainline (11)
- Math: Sasha Comegys (112)
- Music: Landon Boyer (10) - Band
- PE/Health: Bradley Hughes (10)
- Science: Will Wilson (12)
- Social Studies: Maddie Martin (9)
- World Language: Grace Etuknwa (9)
November Bus Riders of the Month
Mariahrose Sercy (10) - Very pleasant and follows the rules on the bus.
The RANT
DECA Competes At Districts
Congratulations to all our DECA students who participated this past November in the District DECA competition this past Wednesday at Simpson College. Roughly half were new participants this year. There were many honorable mention awards that were received along with the following place winners:
Hannah Hill - 3rd place - Principles of Marketing
Hailey Adams- 2nd place - Hotel and Lodging Management
Eden Coy and Ava Schoen - 2nd place - Hospitality Services Team Decision Making
Connor Criswell & Claire Meislahn - 1st place - Sports & Entertainment Team Event
Also, a huge shout out to Mr. Liston. He was chosen as the Central IA DECA Advisor of the year in only his 1st year leading the DECA crew!
First in B-F History
Congratulations to Lauren Watson (9) who participated in the 2023 State XC meet in Fort Dodge. Lauren was the first in the history of BFHS to qualify in the girls 5K.
Fall Sports Award Recognition
Congratulations to the following fall student-athletes on attaining recognition in respective sports.
Dance Rocks It At State
2023 All-State Band
Congratulations to senior Ishan Nichols (Flute) and freshman Abigail Chambers (French Horn) who recently participated in the 2023 Iowa All State Band.
Drake Honor Band
Congratulations to Max Fick (12), Ishan Nichols (12), Nate Payne (11), Abigail Chambers (9) & Annaleigh Lex (9) who participated in the Drake Honor Band December 1-2 @ Drake University.
Bondurant-Farrar Activities Homepage
Check out the Bondurant-Farrar Activities homepage for the most up to date information:
NFHS Crisis Text Line
SAFE2DRIVE
Here's an exciting opportunity for your school to offer Driver Education to your students online. Safe2Drive’s Iowa Parent-Taught Driver Education course allows parents to teach their teens Driver Education in order to qualify for their driver’s license. The course consists of online coursework and an instruction manual for parents to teach the behind-the-wheel component of Driver Education to their teen. As of July 1st, the Parent-Taught Driver Education online course is no longer exclusive for families of homeschooled children but is available to any student who would otherwise qualify and who is currently attending a public school or accredited nonpublic school, or who is receiving homeschool education under chapter 299A.
If you’d like to offer your students Safe2Drive’s online course, we can provide you with a promo code for your students to get a discount on the course price, or we can pay you an affiliate fee for each student you refer—it’s up to you! This is a great way to provide a low-cost and convenient option for your students to fulfill their Driver Education requirement and get their driver’s license. Your school can even earn money while doing it!
So, what are you waiting for? Promo code: BFHS10
We look forward to working together to provide Iowa’s teens with the education they need to be safe on the road.
Sincerely,
Penny Beaty, Marketing Manager
Suggestion Box
Please fill out the fields below to outline the issue you want to address and a solution you think would be helpful. While not all suggestions may not be implemented, all will be reviewed and considered.
You can submit your suggestion and remain anonymous if you like.
You only need to submit your contact information IF you want to receive feedback regarding your suggestion.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Many of our families have utilized our electronic form to submit COVID-related questions and comments throughout the pandemic. Because of its success, we've created a new form to electronically submit GENERAL comments, questions, and concerns. This is in an effort to increase opportunities for two-way communication with district stakeholders. The link is referenced in this communication guide and can be found anytime in the footer of our website. Visit: www.bfschools.org/contactus
High School Counseling Department
Tammy Kaufman
Mrs. Kaufman is the high school counselor for all grades, last names , A-G
Her email is kaufmant@bfschools.org
Jacob Guenther
Mr. Guenther is the high school counselor for all grades, last names, H-O
His email is guentherj@bfschools.org
Casey McMurray
Mrs. McMurray is the high school counselor for all grades, last names, P-Z
Her email is mcmurrayc@bfschools.org
COUNSELORS CORNER
College Visits: Juniors and Seniors are encouraged to take college visits to explore colleges they are thinking about attending after high school. In order for the day to count in attendance as a college visit, a parent/guardian needs to email Sara in the main office! College visits are a great way to get on campus and determine if the college would be a good fit. Some great college visit activities are to meet with admission counselors, financial aid officers, sit in on classes, take a tour, and of course have lunch! We also have a college visit checklist on our website that can be helpful as you are planning your visit and questions to ask: https://www.bfschools.org/Page/932
The end of the semester is in only a few short weeks away and will end on January 12th. It’s important to finish the semester strong. We did post grades on December 1st and this is our last grade post until the end of the semester. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions regarding your child’s progress in any class.
FAFSA Info for Seniors
We are still awaiting word on the opening of the 2024-2025 FAFSA form. As soon as this is open we will send an email out to parents/guardians and seniors. In order to complete the FAFSA form you must have an FSA ID. Both parent(s) and senior need an FSA ID. Information to set up an FSA ID and who needs one can be found here: https://www.icansucceed.org/media/cms/FSA_ID_Full_sheet_9E971CD707F34.pdf
BFHS will be hosting two FAFSA events this winter! The first will be a FSA ID Night. If you need any help registering for your FSA ID, you can come and complete it during this time. It will be on Thursday, December 7th from 5:00-7:00 P.M. in the high school library.
BFHS will be hosting a FAFSA night on Thursday, January 11th from 5:00-7:00 P.M. in the high school library With the delay to the opening of the FAFSA there is a shorter time to complete it. Get help completing and submitting the FAFSA during this time!
Scholarship Information for Seniors
We do have some scholarships on our school counseling website. Please click here to check them out. Also, make sure you are checking with the colleges you are applying to for scholarship opportunities. If you have any questions about scholarships or post-secondary planning, please email your school counselor. The majority of our local scholarships will not be available until early March. We will have a meeting with seniors in March prior to spring break to discuss the application process for local scholarships and a timeline for the remainder of the senior year. It is important that seniors’ are checking their school email as we will send all scholarship opportunities we receive to them!
Managing Stress
As we come to the holiday season and the end of our semester, it is important to manage the stress that can come with these times. Below are some helpful ways to deal with some of the stress that you may experience in the coming weeks.
Be in the moment - Put away cell phones, computers, and other distractions so you can focus on the people who mean the most to you and take a brain break.
Be sure to get enough sleep - Getting enough sleep enables us to stay focused and able to use our thinking and decision-making skills.
Delegate responsibility - Plan and ask others to help you, this will decrease your chance of setting yourself up for feeling frantic and overwhelmed. For example, ask your family to help you with cooking and cleanup. Work together with music in the background and make it an opportunity to spend quality time together.
Make time for exercise - Exercising for 30 minutes a day, a minimum of three days per week has consistently been shown to improve mood, sleep, and to reduce anxiety. Stretch/Walk/Run Take your dog out for a walk they will love you for it!
Set aside differences - Try to accept family members and friends as they are. When possible, set aside another time to sort out family conflicts and grievances.
Take some time for yourself - Take a few extra minutes at night to read a good book, have a hot cup of tea, take the dog out, play with play-doh, or yarn or dig in the dirt, color in a coloring book, do a puzzle, or have a bubble bath.
Use Relaxation Techniques - Deep Breathe or Meditate - Lie on your back and focus on your breathing. Download a relaxation app on your phone and take 10 minutes for yourself. Have a massage or do
some yoga.
Communicate with Others - It’s ok to be a little stressed and to let someone know you need to talk through your feelings or have some time to yourself. We need to express our emotions instead of keeping them bottled up so long you blow up.
Learn to say No - You can’t do it all and others will understand if you can’t do everything. Set small achievable goals.
Seek professional help if you need it - Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, sometimes even unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for a while, talk to your doctor or mental health professional — below numbers that are available 24/7, call and see your local physician if you are having problems.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Text or call- 988
Looking ahead
Winter Break Dec 23rd-January 2nd
January 12th - End of Semester
January 16th - Start of 2nd Semester
January 18th - Lat Day to Change Classes on your 2nd Semester Schedule
Project Recovery Iowa
7-12 School Social Worker
You can contact Mr. Hotek at hotekm@bfschools.org
RESOURCES WHEN IN NEED
REMINDERS
Just a reminder of a couple things at the beginning of the year.
All Juniors need a second dose of the meningococcal vaccine to be able to return to school next fall. If you completed CPR during health 1, this completes the graduation requirement.
2) All 9th graders need a dental screening.
3) All athletes need a sports physical prior to participation - this includes marching band, as well as cheerleading, dance and sports.
4) Finally, a reminder of the policy regarding medications at school as listed below (from the handbook)
FF. Administration of Medication to Students
A. Proper labeling:
Prescribed medication: All prescribed medications shall be maintained in the original prescription container and labeled with the following:
Name of student
Name of medication
Directions for use/storage
Name of physician
Name and address of pharmacy
Date of prescription
Over the counter medication: All over the counter medications shall be maintained in the original container in which they were purchased.
B. Parent/Guardian written consent on a dated statement:
A parent/guardian signature on a statement requesting and authorizing the school personnel to administer the medication must accompany the medication. BP 507.2
C. Record of administration:
Each time the medication is administered, a record shall be maintained in the nurse's office.
The record shall include the student's name, date, time, name of the medication, amount
given per electronic charting.
D. Medication reactions:
Any unusual conditions or behaviors following the administration of medication
should be reported to the school nurse, if available or to the parent/guardian
immediately. Reactions to medication should be recorded.
E. Definition of medications:
Those health products covered by the medication policy include all prescription medications and over-the-counter products, including but not limited to: pain relievers, cold remedies, cough syrups, antacids, cough drops, throat lozenges, etc.
F. Security:
No medications are to be carried during school hours by students nor stored in pockets, purses, school bags, lunch boxes, lockers, teacher desks, sports equipment bags, etc. The only exception would be with a physician’s written orders and a parent/guardian written authorization for a student to carry the medication with him/her for
self-administration as necessary (ie. inhalers, diabetic supplies, emergency medications).
ALL medications, either prescription or over-the-counter, must be brought to the school nurse by a parent or other authorized and approved adult. Absolutely no medications are to be transported to/from school by any student. Any student found with unauthorized medications will be referred to school administration.
All medications will be stored in a secure area, accessible only to those who are authorized to administer the medication.
The building principal shall designate those in each building who are
authorized to administer the medications. Those authorized will receive
instructions from the school nurse concerning administration and confidentiality
of medications.
ATTENTION 11TH GRADE PARENTS/GUARDIANS
SPORTS PHYSICALS
FROM THE DESK OF MR. SCHNUR (SRO)
Winter Driving
This is Iowa and we all know how the winters can go here. One day you’re in shorts and the next your digging out your driveway from a blizzard. Since this wonderful and unpredictable time of you year is once upon us again, I wanted to remind everyone on some major things to do this winter when it comes to safe driving. Some of you may have been driving for a few years now and some may have just got a school permit. Either way, these rules are a good standard to go by and will help keep you safe this winter.
Taking Extra Time: Take the time to warm up and clean off your vehicle before you hit the streets. We all get in a hurry, get up late and have scatter brains at times. Taking the time to clean off your car allows other drivers to see your brake lights and allows you to use your headlights properly. This helps you to see the road more clearly and allows cars behind you to not rear end you because they could not see you were stopping. Lastly, we’ve all seen those people who clean off a four-inch square of their windshield and that’s it. Don’t be that guy or gal, because you might as well be looking through an empty toilet paper roll.
Being Prepared: Always bring extra cold weather gear/clothing in your vehicle. I’m just as guilty as most when It comes to throwing on a hoodie and thinking nothing out of the ordinary will happen. In reality you always want to have an extra coat, blankets, snacks and maybe some hand warmers packed in your vehicle just in case. That way, if something were to happen like your car dies or you go in the ditch you have those extra items in case. Its better to have it and not need it then the latter. It never hurts as well to have a small shovel, scraper and some ice melt in case you get a little stuck and can dig yourself out.
Double Check Weather: Before you head out, check the weather conditions to see what the weather is doing and will be doing later on in the day. We all know how fast the weather can change here and you want to be prepared. On those warmer days that we do get, after the sun goes down that can quickly lead to black ice due to the melting snow from the day. This can create areas of black ice which can be very had to see until you’re sliding.
Know Your Vehicle: Every car, truck and SUV drive differently when it comes to snow- and ice-covered roads. Taking the time to learn how your vehicle handles in winter weather is important to do for a number of reasons. It allows you to feel how your tires and brakes feel when you hit slick spots and lose traction. Your vehicle’s height can also determine if you drive over snow of plow it with your bumper. Knowing your vehicle’s limitations and style can play a large role in how you drive throughout the winter months. If possible, you can practice responsibly in an empty parking lot to get a better feel for your vehicle. This however does not mean aggressively testing your lack of traction in circles. You know what I mean..
Leave Early: Finally, it’s always a good idea to budget your time a leave a little early. Just because the road conditions are decent where you live, does not mean they are where you are going. Taking the extra time ensures that you arrive safely. Taking the extra time also prevents you from being in a rush and driving in a manner that is not safe for the road conditions. In addition to this, please stay off your phones while driving whenever possible. This echoes to all driving but it only takes a split second on poor road conditions to lose control and be involved in an accident.
All and all, take the time to prepare, clean your vehicle and plan for your trip. It doesn’t matter if its two blocks or two hundred miles. Winter weather can throw a lot at us and it can take years of practice to hone winter driving skills. As always, be safe, have fun and my door is always open if you need anything.
Bondurant-Farrar High School
Email: garnasse@bfschools.org
Website: bfschools.org
Location: 1000 Grant Street North, Bondurant, IA, United States
Phone: (515) 957-8191
Twitter: @BFHS_News
It is the policy of the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district’s Equity Coordinator; Chad Carlson, Director of Administrative Services, 300 Garfield St SW, Bondurant, IA 50035, 515-967-7819, carlsonc@bfschools.org. -OR- Director of the Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661-7204, Telephone: (312) 730-1560, Facsimile: (312) 730-1576, Email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov