The Colt Express

Greetings Colt Families,

We are beyond grateful to our incredible families, friends, and community members for your amazing support of our annual PTA Fundraiser! Thanks to you, our students enjoyed an exciting week filled with leadership lessons, fun activities, and awesome prizes brought to us by the fantastic team at APEX!

The energy on campus was contagious as students learned valuable leadership skills while working together toward a shared goal. Your generosity made it all possible, and we couldn’t be more thankful for the way our community shows up for Bonsall West year after year.

Keep scrolling down to see our final fundraising total! One thing is certain: when it comes to supporting our students, we truly have the BEST in the West! We hope you have a relaxing week off with family and friends!

REMINDER: Veteran's Day, Wednesday, November 11th - No School

At Bonsall Unified, we value the voices of our students and families. This November, we will be conducting our Fall School Climate Surveys to better understand what is working well in our schools and where we can continue to improve.

Student Survey (Grades 3–12)

Between November 9–20, students in grades 3–12 will complete a brief survey during the school day. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes and asks students about their sense of belonging, school climate, and experiences as learners.

Student responses will be confidential, and students may skip any question they do not wish to answer.

You are welcome to preview the survey questions:

• English Student Survey

• Spanish Student Survey

If you prefer that your child not participate, please complete the Student Survey Opt-Out Form by Sunday, November 8.

Click on the latest edition of the BWE Colt News here!

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

Our Early Release Days will be on Thursdays:

TK - K dismiss at 1:05 PM

1st - 6th dismiss at 1:15 PM

Please do not park in the drop-off lanes. Some parents have been getting out of their cars to speak with others or walking their students to the gate, which causes the drop-off line to back up. If you need to park or walk your child to the gate, please use a designated parking area instead. Thank you for helping keep the drop-off line moving smoothly and safely for everyone.

As always, scroll down to our Colt's in Action section of the newsletter for pictures!

Sincerely,

Mr. Dominic Camacho

Principal, Bonsall West Elementary School

DREAM BIG BONSALL WEST AND RIDE WITH PRIDE

For additional information on any of our announcements, please contact JoAnn Carruego.

Dear BUSD Families,

Following Friday's safety concern at Sullivan Middle School, we've heard from families who have questions about how we respond to potential threats, when a school goes into lockdown, and how we communicate during these situations. We understand these concerns and appreciate the opportunity to provide some clarity.

How do we determine when a lockdown is necessary?

Every BUSD school has a School Site Safety Plan that guides our response to potential safety concerns. When a concern is reported, school administrators assess the available information, consider the level of risk to students and staff, and work with law enforcement as appropriate.

A lockdown is generally used when there is an immediate or credible threat to campus safety, such as a dangerous individual on or near campus, evidence of an imminent act of violence, or direction from law enforcement.

Not every concerning report requires a lockdown. Depending on the circumstances, other safety measures may be more appropriate, including increased supervision, coordination with law enforcement, and continued monitoring. Our goal is always to respond appropriately to the level of risk and prioritize the safety of students and staff.

What happened on Friday?

When the concerning message was brought to the attention of school administration, staff responded and worked with law enforcement to assess the situation. Based on the information available, there was no known or substantiated threat to campus. Law enforcement did not direct a lockdown, and officers remained on campus as a precaution.

We recognize that families may have heard different accounts of what happened. While we cannot share every detail out of respect for student privacy, we want to assure you that the situation was taken seriously and action was taken immediately.

Communication with families

We understand that families want timely, accurate information when a safety concern arises. Our responsibility is to assess the situation, take appropriate safety measures, and communicate verified information as quickly as possible.

We also recognize that our communication on Friday did not reach every family as intended. Some families received an email but not a text notification, and we understand how concerning that can be when student safety is involved.

We are working with ParentSquare to review our notification procedures and explore options to ensure urgent safety messages reach families promptly. In the meantime, we encourage families to verify their contact information and notification settings in ParentSquare. Our school offices can assist if needed.

Keeping our schools safe:

We know that information can spread quickly, especially when families are understandably concerned about their children's safety. Unfortunately, not all information circulating about Friday's situation has been accurate. We encourage families to rely on official school and district communications and to reach out directly whenever they have questions or concerns.

How you can help:

• Keep encouraging your child to speak up. A student reporting this message is exactly what we want. If your child sees or hears something concerning, in person or online, they should tell a trusted adult right away.

• Talk with your child about online safety. Remind them not to engage with unknown or anonymous senders, and to show you or a staff member any message that makes them uncomfortable.

• Check your notification settings. Make sure your ParentSquare account has your current phone number and that text alerts are turned on. Contact your school office if you need help.

• Come to us first. If you have information or concerns, please contact school administration directly. That way we can respond quickly and with accurate information.

Next steps:

The district will be holding cyber security and safety discussions at all sites to review best practices for students when navigating the online world.

The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and your commitment to keeping our school community safe.

Allen Williams, Executive Director

Student Services

November 11th: Veteran's Day - No School

November 13th: PTA Movie Night! 6:00 - 8:30 PM

November 16th - 20th: Read-a-thon Spirit Week! Check out the flier in the Colt Express!

November 20th: Student of the Month Awards @ 8:30 in the MPR

November 23rd - 27th: Thanksgiving Break - No School

Because of you, our amazing Bonsall West community, our annual Jog-A-Thon was a success! After fundraising program fees and expenses, our PTA received $29,890 in net proceeds to directly benefit our school! Because of your generous donations, we are able to provide online programs including Jupiter Grades and Mystery Science, field trips, Arts Attack, STREAM, playground equipment, assemblies and more! We are grateful for your continued support.

CLICK HERE for more photos!

The PTA's FREE family movie night will be taking place this Friday, November 13th in the Bonsall West Quad. Bring blankets and chairs to sit on! The gates will open at 5:30, and the movie will start at 6:00. This year, the students will be voting on the movie!

On Monday, students will vote in class, and the winning movie will be announced on Wednesday. Families are welcome to bring a picnic dinner to enjoy on the grass. Popcorn will be provided, and candy and soda will be available for purchase. This is not a drop-off event, and as always, alcohol is not allowed on school grounds.

Spirit wear is now online!

You can now order your spirit wear online! Visit our new website (www.bonsallwestpta.org) and click on "Spirit Shop." You will be contacted by email when your items are ready for pick up in the front office.

CLICK HERE for the LINK

https://www.bonsallusd.com/apps/pages/nutrition

* Menu subject to change *

School Spirit is very important to us at Bonsall West and we celebrate the following each week:

Thursdays - College shirt day!

Fridays - Bonsall West spirit shirt day!

One of Mrs. Stegmiller's favorite lessons of the year! After reading Duck for President, our scholars had the opportunity to experience the voting process firsthand. Each student stepped into the voting booth, completed their ballot, cast their vote, and proudly received an “I Voted” sticker! We then graphed the results, and the voters have spoken: Duck is in charge of the farm!

Scholars in Mrs. Mattioda’s second-grade class are sharpening their math skills through engaging activities and hands-on learning.

Mr. Ballew’s scholars have mastered the art of keeping their workspaces clean and organized! A tidy learning environment helps everyone stay focused, work efficiently, and make the most of their learning time. Way to go, Colts!

This week in our math curriculum was an intro to comparison so we learned how to play War with our big buddies.

Our scholars returned to the garden for the first time since last school year—and there’s plenty of work to do! They rolled up their sleeves and got started on some much-needed cleanup. With a little teamwork, care, and TLC, we’ll have our garden looking fresh, beautiful, and ready to grow in no time!

Beyond our monthly awards, we’re excited to recognize students who consistently demonstrate what it means to be safe, respectful, responsible, and to do their personal best each day. When staff members catch students modeling these positive behaviors, they’re rewarded with a raffle ticket, a simple but powerful way to celebrate doing the right thing!

These tickets stay in our raffle spinner all month long, and each Friday at the Flag Ceremony, a few lucky winners are drawn and celebrated. It’s a fun and meaningful way to shine a spotlight on the everyday actions that build our strong school community!

At Bonsall West Elementary, we are honored to have the finest classified and certificated staff in the nation. Their dedication, hard work, and passion for education shine through every day, inspiring excellence in the amazing scholars they serve.

As we begin another exciting school year in Colt Country, we look forward to continued success and growth. Here's to a fantastic year ahead!

If you would like to see what was covered at our first ELAC Meeting, CLICK HERE.

Please click on the link below for additional resources for students of all ages.

Resources

If you have any questions, please reach out to Caroline Carcamo at caroline.carcamo@bonsallusd.com

Be sure to check out our new PTA website!

Visit www.bonsallwestpta.org for information on upcoming events, parent resources, volunteer opportunities, and even your teachers’ favorite things! It’s a great one-stop spot to stay connected with all things Bonsall West PTA.

PTA Website

BUSD Volunteer Packet

Thank you for all your support!

We encourage parents, guardians, and other members of the community to share their time, knowledge, and abilities with students. Volunteer assistance in schools strengthens the schools' relationships with the community.

If you wish to volunteer please read through the Volunteer Handbook as it defines the procedures to protect the safety of students and adults as well as conform with laws related to tuberculosis testing and criminal record checks as required by law. The forms needed in order to be a volunteer are in the handbook. Please complete the forms and turn them in to your student’s school site office manager for processing. You will also need to obtain a LiveScan request for fingerprinting, please contact the Human Resources Administrative Assistant by

e-mail at meghann.cate@bonsallusd.com or by phone: 760-631-5200 x1013

The Bonsall Unified School District prioritizes student attendance for good reason. When students are absent, they miss valuable learning experiences within the classroom, as well as opportunities to engage in programs and activities. We emphasize the importance of daily attendance because it not only contributes to student success but also helps establish a positive pattern that will benefit students throughout their lives.

However, we recognize that there are occasions when students may need to miss school due to illness or unexpected family circumstances. Additionally, we understand that there may be pre-planned family events, significant religious observances, or important cultural activities that may necessitate a student’s absence.

In such cases, if your schedule allows, and your student is well enough to complete assignments, we kindly ask that you contact the attendance line at your respective school to request a Short Term Independent Study (STIS) Master Agreement. This process involves completing a simple form, reviewing the terms, and signing the agreement. The agreement needs to be completed only once per year.

Once the agreement is finalized, and you state the dates of absence, your child will be provided with the necessary work to complete during their absence. This can be picked up at the school or made available electronically. Upon returning to school and submitting the completed assignments, the teacher will evaluate the work and confirm that the required tasks have been fulfilled. This process ensures that students can recover lost learning, allows the attendance clerk to re-code the absence from the student’s record, which helps maintain positive school attendance rates. Additionally, this process preserves financial resources that would otherwise be unrecoverable if there was no Short Term Independent Study Master Agreement in place.

Although our hope is that families would only need to use Short Term Independent Study on one or two occasions, there is an allowance for the schools to recover up to 15 days of absence for each student.

Thank you for your cooperation and for supporting your child's education.

BUSD, Student Services

Click on the link below to learn about this year's Student Attendance Review Team and how BWE and all of BUSD will be working with families on improving attendance. I will explain how all absences, excused or unexcused impact your child's academics.

SART/SARB Process

We need your help in keeping our students and visitors safe by obeying our safety signs when driving onto campus! Please do not park in the bus lane and use the designated drop off lanes. Do not leave your cars unattended and say your goodbyes quickly as you drop off. If you decide to park and walk your child to the gate, please use the appropriate crosswalks and watch for moving vehicles.

Drop off/Pick up Procedures:

To ensure a smooth and safe drop off in the mornings, please do not leave your car unattended or wait too long after your children get out of the car to exit. We want everyone to have enough time to get to class on time each day.

Drive thru or park and pick up for all grades will take place at the front side gate near the TK/K playground. You may park or line up while remaining in your car to wait for your child(ren) to be dismissed from school. No student pick up at the main gate. Only students with a walker ID Tag will be allowed to exit the main gate. If you are wanting to pick up at the back gate they must follow the walker requirements.

Walker Requirements:

· Must be in 1st - 6th grade, TK/K can if they are accompanied with older sibling/s.

· A “Walker” permission slip is sent home with children the first week of school each year and must be filled out yearly.

· All registered walkers are required to have a bracelet keychain, distributed by BWE.

· Registered walkers with their bracelet keychain can exit the main gate in front of the school or the back gate.

E-bikes continue to be a concern on campus - All visitors and students are expected to walk your bike or e-bike on campus. Helmets are required so please be sure that those on the bikes are correctly wearing helmets. Parents/Guardians, it is still being witnessed that older students are riding their e-bikes with younger students on them who are not wearing helmets. Safety is extremely important to the entire Bonsall West community. A big thank you to those of you who are walking your bikes and e-bikes on our school campus.

Dogs - Dogs are not permitted on campus at any time, including outside the campus gates.

Thank you for your attention to these important safety reminders!

Districts receiving Title I, Part A funds are required to jointly develop with, agree upon with, and distribute to parents and family members of children participating in Title I, Part A funded programs, a written parent and family engagement policy.

Bonsall Unified School District has jointly developed with, agreed on with, and distributed to, parents and family members of children participating in Title I, Part A funded programs, a written parent and family engagement policy. The policy describes the district’s plan, how families are involved in the joint development of district and school plans, how parents are involved in the annual evaluation of the policy, strategies for supporting effective family engagement, and how families at school not receiving Title I funds are also engaged.

BUSD Bilingual Community Liaison, Leonor Rodriguez

Check out her monthly newsletter below:

Community Liaison Monthly Newsletter

Boletín Mensual del Enlace Comunitario

Contact information: leonor.rodriguez@bonsallusd.com or (760)631-5200 Ext: 1000

Go to our PTA Corner for the Parent Resource Guide for additional resources.

At Bonsall West Elementary School we are focusing on the Leader in Me to build lifelong leadership skills.

We want our students to focus on the 7 habits:

1. Feel empowered to be proactive and be in charge of themselves.

2. Set goals and begin with the end in mind,

3. Focus on work first then play with put first things first.

4. Have an abundance mindset and think win-win.

5. Listen to our peers and seek first to understand, then be understood.

6. Work collaboratively and synergize.

7. Have school work/life balance and sharpen the saw.

We have a couple of resources that explains the paradigm shifts and habits that we focus on and will get them to you soon.

All students will attend a BWE expectations assembly this week. We will review schoolwide expectations/rules and answer any questions.

At Bonsall West, everyone is inspired to do their best, be respectful, work hard, think of others and dream big!

At Bonsall West, we will focus on the future by setting goals and collaborating to create a culture of leaders that respectfully serve the community.

Email: info@bonsallusd.com
Website: bw.bonsallusd.com
Location: 5050 El Mirlo Drive, Oceanside, CA, USA
Phone: 760-721-8001