Bulldog Bulletin Weekly eNews
Here's What's on Top at Buena Vista - February 1, 2023
Buena Vista's Kindness Matters Campaign was a huge success. Thank you to our Buena Vista Student Leadership and teachers for making it a great success!
Note from the Principal
Greetings Buena Vista Parents,
Here is what is happening at Buena Vista Elementary!
Black History Month kicks off today. Teachers will be including lessons and read alouds in their daily instruction. This is a wonderful time to celebrate the contributions and achievements of Black Americans.
I am also excited to share that last week week we celebrated the start of the Lunar New Year (Jan 22nd) and the Year of the Rabbit. Many of our classrooms did activities and lessons to teach our students about the East Asian cultures that celebrate the traditions and celebrations connected to the Lunar New Year. We had an amazing lion dance performance at our assembly last week where the students learn
There are so many things to learn about at school throughout the year. It is important to take some time to really focus on specific areas of interest and importance around as they come up on our calendar. I am including some resources for parents who may want to learn and talk more about Black History Month with your children at home. Please watch for upcoming opportunities and celebrations happening at Buena Vista including Multicultural Night, February 22nd hosted by our very own PTA.
Resources:
Celebrating and Learning about Black Culture (ReadingRockets)
50 Resources for Black History Month (KQED)
Black History Month for Kids and Families in the Bay Area (510 Families)
Student Learning
I was able to visit Mrs. Butler's kindergarten class and watch the wonderful phonics learning that they were doing singing songs and playing matching games. I was very excited to see many of our kindergarten students already putting those sounds together and practicing reading with Mrs. Butler. They were able to identify tricky snap words and answer important information about the text.
I was also able to visit Ms. Mes' transitional kindergarten class. I was so happy to join during their morning meeting where they were learning the days of the week and months of the year. They were also practicing counting during number corner and looking for important color patterns. The practice listening and math skills during a read aloud about Teddy Bears and went on the search of the letter "R" in their morning message. They found ALL five of them! So much important learning happening in TK.
Quick Reminders:
Please complete this year's intent to return form for the 2023-2024 school year by Wednesday, February 15th.
Secure Campus Drill next Wednesday, February 8
Throughout the school year, all schools in WCSD practice a variety of safety drills. Next Wednesday (2/8), as part of our annual safety drills at Buena Vista, we will be holding a campus wide Secure Campus drill in the morning. The purpose of the drill is to allow for dialogue surrounding safety drills and developing situational awareness in the event of a true emergency. This our second Secure Campus drill this year. If you'd like more information, please click here.
Turn up the Heat - Support WCEF!
Next week begins the annual participation drive for WCEF. Turn Up the Heat is a great way to show love for amazing programs and classes that would not exist without your generous donations to WCEF.
Bonus Alert! The school with the highest increase in participation gets a popsicle party! We won that popsicle party last year! Let's keep it going. Let's give what we can and return the red envelopes Feb. 8-10.
Why Donate? Without donations to WCEF our [TK-5 art, music and science lab programs; Tice: TK-5 art, music and science lab programs and additional middle school electives; WCI: elective program driven by what students want to take] would not exist. Plus, what you donate stays at our school. WCEF supports all grades from TK-12 meaning our entire community comes together to make more possible at our award-winning schools.
What should I donate? Every dollar counts. Give any amount right for your family. The more families who give, the more programs our students have! If you have donated, thank you!
Learn more about WCEF, the programs funded through donations to WCEF, and more at wcefk12.org/tuth.
It's a Great Day to be a Bulldog!
Respectfully,
Angela Gramlick
Principal
Thank you to One Tribe Martial Arts Academy and our PTA.
Join us for Multicultural Night at BV!
February 22, 2023 –6-8 pm Multicultural night returns to Buena Vista Elementary. Join together and let’s share our food, watch a Tahitian dance performance and celebrate with our kids in a cultural Fashion Show. There will be little passports for our kids to get stamped which will to help them engage with other families, to learn about their food, customs, and traditions.
Our goal is to offer food stations from 6 different continents and have the kids (and adults) go around, try the food and ask questions. Once they learn about a dish or country, they will get their passport stamped. At the end of the evening the kids with the majority of stamps will earn a reward.
There will also be a fashion show for the kids to show off and share information about their traditional garments.
Please complete this google form by February 10th if you plan to attend Multicultural night and bring a dish or dessert so we may prepare for a fun and festive evening.
Schedule for the evening:
5:45pm: Bring dishes
6:00-6:45pm: Meet families, enjoy food, and get passports stamped
6:45-7:15pm: Performance
7:20pm: Fashion show (If you'd like to participate, please wear clothing representing your culture)
7:45pm: Passport rewards
We Need You!
The PTA is looking for volunteers to help with various committees for Spring initiatives. See Sign Up Genius below. We appreciate any and all support!
Please check lost & found!
Save the Dates!
- Monday-Thursday, January 30 - February 2 - 5th Grade Environmental Camp
- Monday, February 13 - Rescheduled Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Meeting, 3pm
- February 6-10 - WCEF’s Turn up The Heat campaign
- February 16-20 - Presidents Day weekend, NO SCHOOL
- Wednesday, February 22 - School Site Council Meeting, 3:15pm
- Wednesday, February 22 - Multicultural Night
- Friday, February 24- End of Trimester 2, SHORT DAY TK/K dismissal at 11:30am & Gr 1-5 dismissal at 12:25pm
Turn Up The Heat is Coming Feb. 6-10!
Get ready to Turn Up The Heat for our school! To fulfill our $1.4 million pledge to our districts, and help fund additional programs not paid for by the state, WCEF is asking all families to donate and return their red envelopes February 6-10. Help us show gratitude for our TK-5 Art, Music and Science Lab programs; Electives at WCI and Tice Creek; and more classes and the Wellness Center at top-ranked Las Lomas by donating during Turn Up The Heat. As a bonus, the TK-8 school with the highest participation increase wins a popsicle party!
On February 6, your student will bring home a red envelope and donation form. Fill the envelope with a donation and return it to school. Now is the time to join the movement and help us ignite a brighter future for all.
Each gift, in any amount, makes a difference for your child and every student. Donate today! Not sure if you have donated? Email database@wcefk12.org.
Support WCEF with Corporate Matching!
Did you know that many companies offer corporate matching gift programs that can double or even triple the impact of your donation? If your company has a matching gift program, you can significantly increase the reach and impact of your gift. In 2021-22, corporate matching brought in nearly $200,000 – IT ALL ADDS UP!
Click here to see if your company will double or triple your WCEF donation.
Community News
WCSD Flyers
Important Links and Resources!
Is your child home from school?
Parents, please remember to call the attendance line if you student will not be coming to school: (925) 944-6822 ext 3801
Thank you!
It's a great day to be a bulldog!
Angela Gramlick-Principal
Email: agramlick@walnutcreeksd.org
Website: https://www.walnutcreeksd.org/Subsite001
Location: 2355 San Juan Avenue, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
Phone: 925-944-6822