Thank you to families for helping us pull together a wonderful experience for the students this week. It was engaging, fun, and filled with rich reading experiences. We celebrated Read Across America Week the following ways:

• Monday - We wore BME gear to celebrate our connectedness
• Tuesday - Students wore something that made them feel powerful.
• Wednesday - Staff and students dressed up like someone they admire.
• Thursday - Everyone wore their most favorite or unique clothes.
• Friday - My favorite...comfy clothes and a blanket to get cozy with books.

Kindergarten "Strong Start" & Incoming Kindy Registration: Kindergarten registration is now live. Spread the word to your friends and family that live within ZCS boundaries that they can register their new students for August. Early registration assists us in planning and preparation for the upcoming school year. Read more below and share with neighbors and community friends.

NWEA testing window opens March 15th and runs through April 1st. Your child's teacher will communicate dates of testing for their classes.

IREAD testing begins next week for 3rd Grade: In-person third graders will complete their IREAD assessments on Tuesday, March 9th and Wednesday, March 10th. Students returning to in--person learning for fourth quarter will take IREAD the week of March 15th-19th. Please see your child's teacher for specific information.

End of 3rd Quarter is March 12th. Student progress reports will be released in PowerSchool on March 23rd.

Remote Learner Families - Next materials pick up date is scheduled for March 16th. Watch for news from your child's teacher.

Dine for Dollars - Our next scheduled PTO Dine for Dollars opportunity is scheduled for next Wednesday, March 10th, with Marco's Pizza. 20% of proceeds return to the school!

Have a great weekend and enjoy the wonderful weather!

In this together,

Tom

March - Women's History Month

March 9th & 10th - IREAD testing for 3rd grade (in person)

March 10 - Dine for Dollars (Marco's Pizza)

March12 - End of Quarter 3

March 14 - Daylight Savings Time

March 15 - NWEA testing window opens (details of testing dates to come from classroom teachers)

March 16 - Remote Learner materials pick up

March17 - St. Patrick's Day

March 17-20 - ZCS "Do Days"

March 23 - Student Progress Reports made available through PowerSchool

March 28 - Palm Sunday/Passover

April 2 - April 9 - Spring Break

April 2 - Good Friday

April 4 - Easter

April 13 - Ramadan Starts

April 15 - ZWest Music visit to BME

May 5 - Cinco de Mayo

May 13 - Eid

May 26 - Last day of school

May 27 - Teacher work day

May 31 - Memorial Day

Child Find is the process for locating, identifying, and evaluating individuals with suspected disabilities who may need special education services, regardless of the severity of their disabilities. This is the responsibility of ZCS regardless of whether a parent affirmatively requests an evaluation. ZCS provides a Free Appropriate Public Education to any child who qualifies as having a disability, in accordance with federal and state laws. ZCS is responsible for locating all children ages 3 through 22 years of age with a suspected disability who reside within the boundaries of its district. With early identification and intervention, frustration and academic failure can be prevented, which in turn creates a positive learning experience for students. Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), which encompasses academics and/or social and emotional learning, is an essential component of the child find process. Utilizing screening assessments, the ZCS team members identify students in

need of intervention, implement action plans, and monitor the response to the targeted interventions. In addition, the evaluation referral procedures in ZCS provide the framework to refer students with suspected disabilities for evaluation.

Speech Assistance Program

The Speech Assistance Program is designed to provide support to students with single sound articulation errors that are not age appropriate within the general education setting. Following the MTSS approach, this program allows for early identification and treatment of mild articulation disorders so students receive assistance without having to be identified under special education. The Speech Assistance Program is a three-tiered system in which progress is monitored to determine if additional supports are needed. If adequate progress is not demonstrated, a referral for evaluation will be prompted to determine eligibility under special education.

Dear Families of BME Walkers & Bike Riders –

Safety is one of our highest concerns for students and staff at BME. Please read carefully in effort to partner for your child’s safety as they utilize the crosswalk, especially during dismissal at the end of the day.

• In effort to provide families the opportunity to utilize the car rider line on tricky weather days (or dodge construction on fire hydrants), all walkers/bikers will be dismissed last each day. You will note that our car line will have approximately 10-20 cars remaining in line when we call walkers/bikers from their classrooms for dismissal. This results in your child leaving the building and being escorted to the crosswalk 5-10 minutes later than you are currently accustomed.
• Secondly and whenever possible, please meet your child(ren) at the crosswalk. BME staff can assist students to the edge of school property, and they will serve to assist students as they cross South Main Street. As we consider the safety of students and staff, we are unable to assist students to the pool/playground parking lot at Clark Meadows as BME staff cannot be liable for safety (crossing streets, traffic, etc…) once off school property.

As always, we thank you for your partnership as we strive to keep students and staff safe.

Please click HERE (or the "mask up" image) for information regarding:

• Quarantine guidance
• Screening information
• Close contact information
• Secondary Hybrid schedules
• Parent Resources
• and other important information.

Below, you will find some updates regarding arrival and dismissal:

Car Riders:

• Thank you for keeping our fire lane clear until signaled by staff to pull up. The fire lane must remain clear as much as possible for potential emergency needs and school deliveries.
• Displaying car/family numbers in an easy to see manner is greatly beneficial. Ball point pen writing on a post it placed on your dash is hard for my old eyes to see, so bold numbers hanging from the rear view mirror or attached to the passenger sun visor assists in moving vehicles efficiently through the line.
• Please reduce idling when possible. The build up of vehicle emissions is not only harmful for the environment, but also creates unhealthy air quality for staff and students.

Walker/Bikers:

Safety is one of our highest concerns for students and staff at BME. Please read carefully in effort to partner for your child’s safety as they utilize the crosswalk, especially during dismissal at the end of the day.

• In effort to provide families the opportunity to utilize the car rider line on tricky weather days (or dodge construction on fire hydrants), all walkers/bikers will be dismissed last each day. You will note that our car line will have approximately 10-20 cars remaining in line when we call walkers/bikers from their classrooms for dismissal. This results in your child leaving the building and being escorted to the crosswalk 5-10 minutes later than you are currently accustomed.
• Secondly and whenever possible, please meet your child(ren) at the crosswalk. BME staff can assist students to the edge of school property, and they will serve to assist students as they cross South Main Street. As we consider the safety of students and staff, we are unable to assist students to the pool/playground parking lot at Clark Meadows as BME staff cannot be liable for safety (crossing streets, traffic, etc…) within your neighborhood.

As always, we thank you for your partnership as we strive to keep students and staff safe.

Significant weather (walkers/bikers) - When weather is inclement with heavy rain, heavy snow, sleet, etc...walking to school is highly discouraged. The office team will make the decision if staff will be present at the crosswalk.

• If families decide to walk to school and no crosswalk staff is present, an adult or family member must safely escort students to the front doors. The doors will open at 7:50 for arrival, and families should wait at the front doors with their students until the doors open.

• Dismissal on inclement weather days: Walkers and bikers will be dismissed after car riders (approximately 2:35). This allows families to use the car line for pick up. Simply display your family number while you are in line and pick up your child(ren) at the front door with staff assistance.

• In the event of questionable or severe weather, families must utilize the car rider procedures instead of walking/biking. (stormy weather, lightning, sleet, you need to get Toto before going to the Land of Oz...)

• Please do not bypass the car rider line and request to pick up students from the parking lot, other school sidewalks, etc... Again, we must adhere to all procedures for the safety of students and staff.