Barbara Morgan S.T.E.M Academy
Parent Newsletter ~ November 15, 2020
Important Dates
November:
16 - This is our first Early Release Monday (see below)
23-27 - No school K-12 due to Thanksgiving break
December:
21-31 and Jan. 1 - No School - Winter Holiday Break
Early Release Reminder
*All students (K-5) attend daily
**Mondays are now Early Release with school out at 2:10pm
Monday: Early Release
9:05 a.m. - 2:10 p.m. (Mrs. Becker's morning and afternoon kindergarten Monday schedule is below)
Tuesday:
9:05 a.m. - 3:55 p.m.
Wednesday: Start time 9:05am
9:05 a.m. - 3:55 p.m.
Thursday:
9:05 a.m. - 3:55 p.m.
Friday:
9:05 a.m. - 3:55 p.m.
Mrs. Becker's Morning and Afternoon Kindergarten Schedules:
Mrs. Becker's Morning Kindergarten
Monday Schedule: 9:05a.m.-11:20a.m.
(Students arriving after 9:10am must check-in at the front office.)
Mrs. Becker's Morning Kindergarten
Tuesday-Friday Schedule: 9:05am-12:07pm
(Students arriving after 9:10am must check-in at the front office.)
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Mrs. Becker's Afternoon Kindergarten
Monday Schedule: 11:55a.m-2:10p.m.
(Students arriving after 12:00pm must check-in at the front office.)
Mrs. Becker's Afternoon Kindergarten Tuesday-Friday Schedule: 12:57pm-3:55pm
(Students arriving after 1:02pm must check in at the front office.)
November Specials Schedule:
11/17 - C
11/18 - D
11/19 - A
11/20 - B
Picture Retakes: Thursday, Nov. 19
BMSA picture retakes will be on Thursday, Nov. 19th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
If you would like a retake, please let your teacher know and return your original photo order as well. If you missed the original picture day then please let your teacher or the office know, order forms are available in the school office and can be sent home with your student upon request.
If your student is absent on Thursday, November 19th, you may contact Dorian Studio directly to schedule a different retake date. Please DO NOT bring your student in for retakes if they are currently quarantined or unable to attend school for any other reason on that date. To schedule an alternate day and time with Dorian Studio please call 208-898-0852 ext. 2 for Emma, she will assist you in scheduling an in-studio retake appointment.
November - Thanksgiving Food Boxes
St. Vincent de Paul is offering Thanksgiving food boxes to families in need. If you'd like to enroll to receive one, you may request a form from Counselors Lindsay or Kristin or print the Thanksgiving Food Box enrollment form here.
December - BMSA Giving Tree
BMSA families take care of each other! For the 6th year in a row, we'll be matching family needs with those able to give through our Giving Tree program. To enroll as a recipient, you may request a form from Counselors Lindsay or Kristin or print the
BMSA Giving Tree Enrollment form here.
Counselor Lindsay: wright.lindsay@westada.org
Counselor Kristin: wright.kristin@westada.org
Counselor's direct line: 208.855.4432
Mindfulness
We also invite you to our website where you can find quick mindfulness resources: https://video.link/w/ojwxb
Mitigating Measures: Social Distancing
As a district, and as a school, we are going to do the best we can to maintain social distancing, require masks to be worn, and to reinforce handwashing/hand sanitizing practices.
Social Distancing:
Six feet will continue to be a goal, but being very realistic, we are not going to solve that issue in the classroom. The reality is that consistently maintaining six feet of physical distancing between students is not possible.
- Our teachers have done their best to position tables/desks/seating to maximize distance within their classrooms. If contact tracing within a classroom is necessary, we will refer to classroom seating charts as the first step of close contact identification.
- Music instruction is being provided in the Music classroom and, with cooler weather upon us, PE has been occurring in our Gym. Teachers have been asked to line students up for PE and Music in an order in which they sit within their general education classroom. This will further help with close contact identification, if needed.
- Students are eating lunch within their classrooms. However, to try to get more distancing during lunches, teachers are allowing students to eat in the cafeteria in order to get six feet or more distancing within classrooms.
- We have separated our playground into zones, with each classroom playing within their zone.
- Please continue to encourage your child/children to maintain distance between them and another person.
We will continue to do the best that we can to provide distancing. We know our plan will not be perfect or complete, but we will continue to refine as the district completes the rewrite of the district plan.
Mitigating Measures: Mask Wearing
- Covers the bridge of the nose, mouth, and chin.
- Should not slip below the nose.
- Should fit snugly, but comfortably.
Parents, we need your help in reinforcing proper mask wearing. As students wear their masks, they tend to stretch, which then causes the mask to fall below the nose. If the mask does not fit properly, please make necessary adjustments.
Cloth masks should be washed frequently.
Please do not hesitate to ask for a new mask, we would be happy to supply your student with one or more as needed.
Mitigating Measure: Handwashing/Hand Sanitizing
- Before eating
- After using the restroom
- Before removing and after replacing your mask
- After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
- Upon entering and exiting the classroom, and when told to do so by the teacher
Mitigating Measure: Watch for Symptoms and STAY HOME if sick
- Fever
- Cough
- Chills
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Congestion/runny nose
- Loss of smell or taste
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
We need you...
We are in desperate need of some noon duty coverage. This position only requires 1.75 hours daily to help supervise students while they eat and play at lunch time. For more information, please contact Sarah Brown at 208-855-4430 or brown.sarah@westada.org.
We are looking for someone to support our PBI students and classroom.
PBI Paraprofessional:
37.5 hours per week
In this position, you would be working directly with our Positive Behavior Intervention (PBI) teacher to support individual students as they work towards social and academic goals. Certain qualifications apply. Please contact Principal Wright for more information: 208-855-4430 or wright.lauri@westada.org.
Substitutes Needed
BMSA is in need of Substitutes. If you or someone you know is interested in working at BMSA or within other WASD schools as a substitute, please click here or copy and paste the link below:
Contact US
Secretary Connie Adams - adams.connie@westada.org
Website: https://www.westada.org/Domain/9
Location: 1825 West Chateau Drive, Meridian, ID, USA
Phone: (208) 855-4430
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraMorganSTEMacademy