The Morris Minute
April 2019
Welcome to The Morris Minute!
Email: andersonb@bfschools.org
Website: bfschools.org
Location: 700 Garfield Street Southwest, Bondurant, IA, United States
Phone: 515.967.6361
Twitter: @BonduMorrisJays
From The Desk of Mr. Anderson...
Hello Morris Families!
We had a great turnout at our annual Kindergarten Information Night! It is always nice to see new faces and try to help answer any questions that typically come with first time parents to our building. We understand just how important it is when you are sending us your children, especially the really young ones! The good news is, all of us have been there and we are here to support you, no matter if you are thinking your questions is minor or major, just ask! We will decide later on down the road, as numbers keep coming back, just how many sections we will need and please remember, class lists won't be available until we are sure of who and how many are showing up! This could be July, this could be five days before school starts in August.
Hopefully Spring can officially get here? Fresh air at recess has been a wild card for us and we want our kids outside and playing. Unstructured play time is so important for many reasons, but especially in the area of problem solving in a social setting. This skill starts at a young age and we have to assist and teach them how to put their heads together and come up with reasonable solutions. Often we hear "that's not fair", but when we can sit down together and specifically talk about results and how we can prevent the disagreements in the future, often we see excellent results!
Activities are ramping up and seeing kids outside as I am out and about in the community truly make me smile! Encourage those activities with kids. Encourage them to go outside and play. Ride bikes to the park. Walk your family pet together. All of these are things that our children say they love to do when we are talking at lunch, or in the hallway! We have great kids and families in Bondurant and at Morris Elementary! I am very glad to be a part of such an awesome community.
One more Morris Minute coming your way before we release kids for the summer! That's crazy!
Sincerely,
Mr. Anderson
Important Dates to Remember
April 1 - 2pm Dismissal
April 2 - After School Spanish Classes Begin (every Tuesday & Thursday til May 2)
April 4 - 6:30pm - PTO Meeting - Morris Library
April 8 - 2pm Dismissal
April 12 - Progress Reports go home
April 15 - 2pm Dismissal
April 22 - 2pm Dismissal
April 29 - 2 pm Dismissal
April 30 - First Grade Field Trip to Chichauqua (Caffrey, Current, Garton, Jones)
May 2 - First Grade Field Trip to Chichauqua (Hartman, Patten, Shield, Wiltgen)
May 2 - 6pm & 7pm - Kindergarten Concerts at High School
May 6 - 2pm Dismissal
May 10 - Kindergarten Field Trip to the Zoo
Pictures of our new wing!
Looking down the hall toward the existing building.
One of the preschool rooms (vinyl flooring)
One of the regular classrooms (carpet)
A few reminders from the Nutrition Department
Reminder: You can apply for Free/Reduced Price Meals anytime during the school year, even if you have been turned down before & your circumstances have changed. You can find the 2018-2019 Iowa Application for Free & Reduced Price School Meals on the school website under Departments and Food Services. You can also pick up a hard copy in any building office or contact Karen Miller at millerk@bfschools.org and request to have one mailed to you.
Also look for last minute menu changes on the school website under the menus tab.
Morris Artists Win Bicycles in the Shrine Circus Coloring Contest
First Grader Tessa Pfantz and Second Grader Lily Clute pose with their winning entries in the coloring contest! Congrats ladies!
Backpack Program
The Backpack Program is a partnership between The Food Bank of Iowa and Bondurant-Farrar Elementary Schools. The goal of this program is to help end childhood hunger in Iowa and assist preschool through fifth grade families that are experiencing financial hardship or food insecurity. On Fridays, a Backpack food bundle is put into the backpack of each participating student. The Backpack bundles are made up of packaged food items that can easily be opened or prepared by children for a two-day weekend. If you are a family who would like to participate in this program or have more questions, please contact Mrs. McConnell at mcconnellk@bfschools.org.
A few notes from Ms. Jen
I feel as if I mention Mother Nature being off her medication quite a bit, but it makes it really hard on our kiddos. Please continue to look at the actual feels like temperature in the morning in making clothing choices. Our students go outside for recess long before we hit the projected high for the day. Please send them with warm enough coats to be able to enjoy their time outside. At least we are over snow gear (we hope!)
Our last day of school is still scheduled to be May 30. (Fingers crossed it stays there - c'mon Mother Nature!) I know Mr. Anderson has said it as well, but these last few months will fly by! We will have some field trips in first grade and Kindergarten coming up, Kindergarten concerts, Field Days (in May - days are still undecided), a senior walk, and lots of fun end of the school year activities too. Look for emails from me and from your student's teacher to be sure you don't miss anything.
We are excited to open our new academic wing and new gymnasium next school year - and thrilled to welcome the preschool teachers and kiddos down from Anderson as well. Look for those emails over the summer that tell you it is time to register! :) Have a FABULOUS April and enjoy making memories with your kids as the school year winds down.
jen