Bulldogs Newsletter October 2, 2023

Dear Basswood Families,

The Basswood PTO is sponsoring the 5th annual Medallion Hunt for BW students. Once again, our amazing clue givers will be Tammy Flanigan and Jessica Kasper!! The Medallion Hunt will begin on Monday, January 20, and run through Friday, January 24, or until someone finds the medallion!

Clues will start on Monday, January 20, and be released each day of the hunt until the medallion is found. Students can search before and after school but not during the school day. Find details, rules, and clues here: https://sites.google.com/apps.district279.org/bwpto-medallion-hunt/home!

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

Steven Schwartz
Basswood Principal

We’re almost there - just a few more students to go before we reach our goal. There’s still time to make a difference. Take action today! Your family can become lifesavers by learning Hands-Only CPR, how to recognize the warning signs of a stroke, understand how the heart works, and by raising awareness and funds to help those with special hearts. Together we can create healthier futures!

Here is how you can get involved and make a Life-Saving difference:

• Download the FREE AHA Schools App for Apple or Android and click on “Register Now” then scroll down to join your school's team.

• Next, click on “send a text today” to easily reach friends & family!

• OR click HERE. and choose “Sign Up” to get started.

Thank you for being an essential part of the Kids Heart Challenge, supporting our school and the American Heart Association. Your commitment and involvement truly make a difference!

As shared this fall, elementary and middle school attendance boundaries are being adjusted in order to balance student enrollment across the district.

Proposals are currently being created using the community-built parameters developed earlier this fall. These will be finalized over the next few weeks and shared online at district279.org/boundaries the evening of Jan. 14. Community members will be welcome to provide feedback on these proposals via an accompanying feedback form.

Additionally, Community Informational Meetings are scheduled for Jan. 15 and 23. These evenings will start with a half-hour presentation detailing the proposals and then transition to small groups, where community members will be able to share their thoughts and ask questions with district leaders.

• RSVP for the Wednesday, Jan. 15 Community Informational Meeting at Brooklyn Middle STEAM School: https://forms.gle/bKiBcapurLEgkAZ98

• RSVP for the Thursday, Jan. 23 Community Informational Meeting at Maple Grove Middle School: https://forms.gle/gim3uRG1mw3oGtW86

More details at district279.org/boundaries

The purpose of this charitable outreach program is to provide free care to low-income children in need. Thousands of dental professionals volunteer their time to this program because they understand the pain and embarrassment many children experience due to untreated dental problems. Since the program’s inception in Minnesota in 2003, 86,000 children have received free care through Give Kids a Smile.

Find a Participating Clinic - some clinics may offer an alternative date.

1. Parent/guardian – locate a clinic and call to make an appointment.
2. Patients generally have to be 18 years of age or younger.
3. Patients must be accompanied by parent/guardian.
4. Assistance: Families who need help with finding a clinic/scheduling an appointment can call United Way 2-1-1 (800-543-7709) Monday-Friday 8 am– 5 pm.
5. Translation services: Referral specialists can assist in scheduling via 3-way call to dental clinic and making an appointment for those who speak Hmong, Somali, & Spanish.

You can find more information here:

https://www.mndental.org/events/give-kids-a-smile/find-a-participating-clinic/

Welcome to ordering Basswood Elementary 2024-25 Yearbook!

Your school’s yearbook is available for sale for $10! Yearbooks will be on sale until 04/04/2025.

Click here to order.

When bringing forgotten winter gear or instruments or lunches to Basswood, please do your best to have them to Basswood by 10:30am. We have morning deliveries each day at 10:30am for all of these forgotten items so they get delivered before lunches begin. This way these are items are delivered to the classroom and we do not have to call to interrupt instructional time. Thank you for your consideration!

• January 20 - No School - MLK Jr. Holiday
• January 20-24 - Medallion Hunt for Students
  
• January 22 - PTO Meeting 6:30pm in Media Center
• January 22 - 5th grade District Choir Concert 7pm at OSH
  
• January 24 - 5th grade Orchestra Rehearsal 9:30am

• January 27 - 5th grade MGMS Registration (virtual)
• January 30 - 5th grade Orchestra Concert 6:30pm at OMS
• January 31 - PTO Read-a-thon Kickoff
• January 31 - 5th grade DARE Graduation at 11:30am
• February 3 - NO SCHOOL
• February 6, 10, 12 - Conferences
  

• 2nd grade: 10:45 - 11:10am
• 4th grade: 11:15 - 11:40am
• 1st grade: 11:45 - 12:10pm
• 3rd grade: 12:15 - 12:40pm
• 5th grade: 12:45 - 1:10pm
• Kindergarten: 1:15 - 1:40pm

First bell rings at 8:40am letting students into the school. Second bell rings at 8:50am letting students know they should be in their classroom ready to start the day! At 8:50am, the front doors are shut and student will need to come through the office to get a late pass.

We welcome and encourage volunteers at Basswood. You can complete an online volunteer form online at apps.raptortech.com/Apply/Nzg0OmVuLVVT and work with our volunteer coordinator, Lezlie Northagen. Volunteer information will go home the first week of school. Activities in a normal school year include being a classroom assistant, helping with classroom parties, helping with PTO sponsored activities (Carnival, Turkey Bingo, Book Fair, etc.) along with numerous other opportunities. We continue to follow state guidelines and adjust our volunteer program accordingly.

Yes! You will be able to follow us on Facebook. Our first posts went live on September 5th. Please note that we are moving away from Twitter (@BWPrincipal279) for Basswood social media. Click here below to follow us.

Every parent or guardian of enrolled students of Basswood Elementary is an automatic member of the PTO. We encourage you to join one of our next general meetings - or just send us a note if you have a question. You can find more information on our PTO website: https://sites.google.com/view/basswoodpto/home?authuser=1 or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BasswoodElementaryPto

If you are planning a family vacation or just time away from school, please remember to call your student's absence into the attendance line. You can call 763-494-3858 and press 1 to leave a message with your student's name, student's teacher, reason for absence, and dates that your student will be gone. We really appreciate your assistance!

Our district Community Education department offers a variety of after school classes. If you do sign your student up for one of these classes, please remember to let your student's teacher know about the class and when your student needs to stay after school.

The District Transportation department only allows students to ride their assigned bus to and from school. If you have questions, you can reach out to the Transportation Department at 763-391-7244 or transportationreques@district279.org.