BPMC #32 Updates & Announcements

“It’s the first days of autumn! A time of hot chocolatey mornings, and toasty marshmallow evenings, and, best of all, leaping into leaves!” — Winnie the Pooh

Happy Fall! 🌰 🍂

Your Administrative Team - (Erika, Rene' Mark, Cameron)

The Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition (ECRJC) invites students, families, educators, and community members to its 5th Annual Dignity for All Student Pushout Event. This event focuses on listening to young people and learning from their experiences to help create more supportive, inclusive, and welcoming schools and communities.

Who should attend?

• Students: Share your experiences, ideas, and suggestions for improving schools and community supports.
• Parents & Caregivers: Contribute your perspectives and experiences to help shape positive change.
• Community Partners & Educators: Listen, learn, and explore ways to better support youth and families.

Participants will:

• Hear directly from students about their experiences.
• Discuss the impact of student pushout and exclusion.
• Engage in meaningful conversations across different perspectives.
• Explore restorative practices that promote dignity, belonging, and inclusion.
• Identify ways schools, families, and community organizations can work together.

This event is an opportunity to ensure that youth voices are heard and valued while encouraging adults and community partners to listen and take action. Everyone is encouraged to attend and help build stronger, more connected communities where all young people can succeed. Please see the attached flyer for event details and RSVP information.

School Hours

9:10am – 4:05pm

Student Arrival time

9:10am

Dismissal times

3:35pm - 3-6 classes

3:45pm - 5-7 & 6-9 classes

3:55pm - 9-12 & 12-14 classes (siblings are dismissed by the oldest child's time)

If you will be picking up your child from school, please park on surrounding streets or pull up to the Cedar Street door.

- ID is required for student pickups. Please be prepared to show your ID at all times.

- ALL changes in dismissal require school notification. A parent signed note is best, and phone calls can be accepted before 2:00pm. Limited emergency requests after 2:00pm will require administration approval.

- It is very important that you keep your child’s contact information update-to-date of designated adults allowed for pickups.

- Early Dismissal: (Pick-up before 3:00pm). This is strongly discouraged. Completing the full school day is important to your child’s success.

Important changes for the 2026-2027 School Year:

• Report cards will NOT be mailed home
• Progress reports will continue to be available online in the parent portal
• Parent Portal will be the primary way to view student report cards and progress reports
• Families can access grades, attendance, schedules, and more through Parent Portal

At least one parent or guardian should have an active Parent Portal account.

Parent Portal helps families stay informed and support student success.

Need an account? Click the link below for more information.

https://www.buffaloschools.org/o/dept-accountability/page/parent-portal

Regardless of where our BPS students attend- ALL families, students, staff, and community members are welcome! If you have never attended, they truly are an event you do not want to miss. All 22 of our community locations offer a unique experience and are 100% free.

Mark your calendars, bring your family, and get ready for another amazing year of learning, discovery, and community connection.

Important Information

• Parents are encouraged to download our bus tracking app, FirstView, to receive information about possible bus delays.

• Bus drivers are authorized to assign seats.

Terminal Phone Numbers

200 (716) 874-0544

300-400 (716) 835-5410

500 (716) 826-4771

600 (716) 896-1171

700-800-900 (716) 894-4778

In compliance with the NYS Distraction-Free School Zones Law and the BPS Code of Conduct, student use of personal, internet-enabled devices (including Bluetooth accessories such as headphones/earbuds) are prohibited during the entire school day including all instructional and non-instructional time (e.g., homeroom, lunch, recess, study hall, hallway transitions). These include but are not limited to:

• Any personal device used for audio, video, text communication, or any other computer-like instrument.
• Smartphones, tables, smartwatches, laptops, gaming consoles, Fitbits, Smart Glasses, VR headsets, MP3 players, iPods, and iPads.

Students must store their internet-enabled device in designated on-site storage areas during the school day. In the case that a device is confiscated within the policies of the Code of Conduct, parents/guardians will be notified.

At BPMC, the following procedures will be in place:

• Preschool to 3rd grade: Students will be given the option to turn it in to their teacher or place it in their locker powered off. They will receive their device at the end of the day.

• 4th to 8th grade: Students will place their device in their baggie and upon entering the building, place it in their homeroom bin. Late arriving students will report first to their homeroom to place their device in the lockbox before reporting to class. They will receive their device at the end of the day.

Middle school students may use Schoology to contact parents outside of instructional time if necessary. Please sign up for a Schoology account online at buffaloschools.org.

Important: If you need to reach your child about an urgent matter or relay important information after arrival or before dismissal, please contact the Main Office at (716) 816-4603. Please DO NOT use Seesaw or ClassDojo for issues that need to be addressed that day.

Following the Buffalo Public Schools Facebook page is one of the best ways for families, students and staff to get updates, see celebrations from across our schools, and stay connected to district news.

The Volunteer Application link will remain the same. Volunteers will have to reapply each year like they have in the past. If the volunteer was fingerprinted this past year, they will not have to be fingerprinted again. However, if they plan on going to an overnight or out of state trip, they still have to make the selection in the application and follow the steps provided in the Volunteer Handbook.

If you are interested in volunteering and/or chaperoning a field trip with your child's class, please complete the following form:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=nNCgtVioaUS_aFWqCu5g2m_Dj-eUI9xCk2pnIAxywVFUNjNQVVE2MzM4NU9NM0dOQ1UzMkVIMzBCSSQlQCN0PWcu

The BPS Family Resource Centers are open to all BPS families, students, and staff! Located conveniently across the city, our FRCs offer free programming and resources year-round.

https://www.buffaloschools.org/o/dept-family-and-community-engagement/page/familyresourcecenters

School District Website:

• https://www.buffaloschools.org/o/ps32

Facebook:

• “Bennett Park Montessori BPS 32 Community”
• “Bennett Park Montessori News and Events”
• Buffalo Parent Teacher Organization (BPTO)

Instagram:

• bennettparkmca

Administration:

• Erika LaMar (Principal) - elamar@buffaloschools.org
• Rene' Cooley (Assistant Principal) - rcooley@buffaloschools.org
• Mark Przybysz (Assistant Principal) - meprzybysz@buffaloschools.org
• Cameron Stelmach (Assistant Principal) - cstelmach@buffaloschools.org

Engage students in cognitively demanding tasks that require reasoning, sense-making, and problem-solving.

Let's Break the Key Strategy Apart:

Cognitive Demand - engages students in rigorous thinking and intellectual challenge.

Reasoning - requires students to justify and explain their thinking.

Sens-Making - encourages students to construct understanding through exploration and discussion.

Problem-Solving - challenges students to develop and apply strategies to address complex tasks.