BFHS Bluejay Beat

Be Respectful

Excellent Effort

Stay Safe

Take Responsibility

To be a productive citizen, you will able to...

• Communicate and Collaborate Effectively
• Solve Problems
• Persevere
• Be Culturally and Socially Respectful

August 25th is quickly approaching...

Move over summer, a new school year is coming! With the start of school, families face new organization challenges. School bells ring--and so do early-morning alarm clocks. Shorter autumn days bring a hectic round of sports, activities and events, and calendars fill with cryptic notes. Can the holidays be far behind? Get organized now for another great school year! I have included an article below, "HOW EVERY FAMILY CAN START THE SCHOOL YEAR OFF RIGHT." One might find this article handy when preparing for the start of a new school year.

2025-26 Student Schedules

Schedules will be released Monday, August 11th. Please review for any inconsistencies. Any adjustments that need to be made will be addressed by our school counselors. Please see the info below...

Schedule Adjustments

School counselors will be available to work on schedule adjustments that meet the below criteria on Wednesday, August 20 (8:00-12:00pm & 1:00-4:00pm)

*Adjustments will be considered for the following reasons:

1. computer error

2. medical/physical restrictions

3. failed prerequisite

4. inappropriate placement

5. administrative discretion

Construction Update

Things are starting to take shape around campus. Our Related Arts addition will be ready to kick off the school year. Construction crews have been moving ground for the new baseball/softball/tennis complex and it appears this process is moving right along with the predicted timeline.

Updates

You can follow @BF_HighSchool on X and BondurantFarrarHS on Facebook for regular updates and information on life at Bondurant-Farrar HS.

We look forward to welcoming our students back on Monday, August 25th.

Enjoy the remainder of your summer break!

Respectfully,

Erik Garnass

@erikgarnass

Follow us...

Facebook: BondurantFarrarHS

X: @BF_HighSchool & @BlueJayNation

Website: bfschools.org

Tuesday, AUGUST 19 DMACC book pick up

HS Library 8a-11:30a & 1p-4p

DMACC classes start on Wednesday, August 20. Students who have signed up for a fall

DMACC class must sign in on Wednesday, August 20.

Login information will be sent directly to the student from DMACC. If you have not received it, please call DMACC Tech Support at 515-965-7300. BFHS does not have access to login information.

BFHS OPEN HOUSE/PICTURE DAY

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20

HOURS: 8-12p and 1-4p

(HS office phones will not be answered August 20)

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO ATTEND:

Get your schedule, find your classroom, find your locker, get your bus pass, get your parking pass, school ID pictures, pick up your yearbook and see some of your classmates! Seniors- your 2026 T-Shirts will be available to pick up if you ordered one.

(parents not required, no appointment needed)

IMMUNIZATIONS...

JR and SENIORS make sure you read the nurse section below for immunizations.

Remington with the BEEF Bunch (missing Libby). Iowa State Fair

Important Dates:

Aug 13th - New to District Student Orientation (2:00-3:00)

Aug 19th - DMACC Book Pick-up (8:00-11:30, 1:00-3:30)

Aug 20th - HS Open House (8:00-12:00, 1:00-4:00)

Aug 25th - 1st Day of School - Early Dismissal (1:45)

Schedules for 2025-2026

Students will have access to their schedules beginning Monday, August 11th. There will be schedule adjustment times for students to come in and meet with their school counselor during the open house in August before school starts. Seniors will need to meet with their alpha assigned school counselor to make changes.

FREE Summer Grief Support Programming for Students and Families

These offerings are designed to provide compassionate, developmentally appropriate support for youth who have experienced loss.

See programming details below and attached flyers.

Braving Grief Support Groups Braving Grief Flyer 2025 All Dates.pdf

• Groups are held for 6 weeks on Monday evenings from 6:00-7:30pm

• Summer dates: July 21- August 25; Mondays, 6-7:30pm

• Support groups serve youth beginning at age 5 through adults.

• Location: 1821 Grand Ave, West Des Moines

Uncovering Grief Day Camp – Thursday, July 10th (Creston) Uncovering Grief Day Camp 2025.pdf

• For youth entering Kindergarten through 8th grade experiencing loss stemming from death, divorce, incarceration, separation from caregiver, or other major life changes.

• 8:30am – 3:00pm

• Location: Trinity Lutheran Church - 800 N Sumner Ave, Creston

As a reminder all programs are free!

BF Bluejays

Congratulations!

CONGRADULATIONS to:

Cole Miller -

Jordan Rial -

Will Pottebaum-

Making 1st Team ALL CONFERENCE and 2nd TEAM DISTRICT

https://bffootball25copy.itemorder.com/shop/home/

The NFHS has partnered with Crisis Text Line to encourage mental health support for teens across the country. Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention in English and Spanish by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need. Crisis Text Line promotes mental well-being for individuals, wherever they are. Individuals are encouraged to text the keyword “SHIELD” to 741741 if they are experiencing a mental health crisis – anything from suicidal thoughts or abusive relationships to difficult conversations with parents or anxiety about school workload.

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

www.safe2drive.com

As a valued member of our school community, your input is wanted and valued. We all have a vested interest in making sure that Bondurant-Farrar High School meets the needs of our stakeholders. We encourage your thoughts on solutions to problems you see from your perspective. Do you see a process that can be improved upon? Do you have a solution to improve current practices? Do you have creative insight into how we can grow in serving all of our students? We want to hear it!

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!

Parent/Student/Community Suggestion Box

CLICK HERE for FREE virtual counseling and assistance for all Iowans needing support

If you or someone you know is in need of resources dealing with mental health or addiction, please visit our link HERE. Please reach out to our school counselors at any time!

You can contact Mr. Hotek at hotekm@bfschools.org

Per the handbook (and Iowa Code 281-14.1 and 281-14.2)

Definition of medication:

Those health products covered by the medication policy include all prescription medications and over the counter products, including but not limited to pain relievers (Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Alieve, etc) cold remedies, cough syrups, antacids, cough drops, throat lozenges, etc.

Written consent on a dated statement:

A parent/guardian signature on a statement requesting and authorizing the school personnel to administer medication must accompany the medication (Policy 507.2)

Security:

No medications are to be carried during school hours by students, nor stored in pockets, purses, school bags, lunch boxes, lockers, 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 self cary. (IA code 280-16.1)

ALL medications, either prescription or over the counter, must be brought to the school nurse by a parent or authorized and approved adult. Parents/authorized adults will be required to double count and sign a form for all medication (initial, refills and returns) Absolutely no medications are to be transported to/from school by any student. Any student found with unauthorized medication will be referred to school administration.

Just a reminder of a couple things BEFORE school starts.

1) All Seniors need a second dose of the meningococcal vaccine to be able to return to school this fall. If you take CPR over the summer, please bring a copy of it to school so you can get that graduation requirement checked off. If you completed CPR during health 1, this completes the graduation requirement.

2) All incoming 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)

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:

1. 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 (i.e. inhalers, diabetic supplies, emergency medications).

2. 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.

3. All medications will be stored in a secure area, accessible only to those who are authorized to administer the medication.

4. 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.

At the end of the school year or the end of the dispensing time, remaining medication must be picked up by the parent or an authorized and approved adult within two weeks of the last day of school. All medication not picked up will be disposed of in an appropriate manner in accordance with medication disposal guidelines as set forth by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency)

ATTENTION 11TH & 12th GRADE PARENTS/GUARDIANS

As you are making your student’s doctor’s appointment for their physical this year, please remember that the meningococcal vaccination is required after the age of 16, but before they can enter 12th grade. The Iowa Department of Public Health made changes to the Iowa Immunization laws several years ago There is NO grace period for this requirement. In order for your child to attend the first day of school in August, written proof of these vaccinations must be provided to the High School Health Office.

On July 1, 2013, the Iowa Legislature made a change to the Iowa administrative code to require a second dose of the Meningitis (Meningococcal) vaccination for all adolescents enrolled in the 12th grade. This dose must be given after their 16th birthday. All students entering their senior year are required to have these vaccinations on file with the school nurse prior to the first day of school. Please call your healthcare provider or the Polk County Health Department for more information and to set up an appointment to receive this important vaccination or to obtain a properly executed medical or religious exemption form.

All athletes need a sports physical before participation - this includes marching band, as well as cheerleading, dance, and sports .

As the School Resource Officer for the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District, I will distribute preventative information regarding several topics directed towards students and parents/guardians each month. Some topics will include, internet safety, tobacco use, drugs, alcohol use, stranger danger, vandalism/criminal mischief, assault, sexual crimes, gang activity, peer pressure, texting and driving just to name few.

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

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