BEAR MAIL

Hi everyone,

Today was Mr. B's last day at BCE. We appreciate all that he's done for BCE and we will miss him, but it's not goodbye. He is leaving as BCE's lead Janitor and moving on as an electrician for SLVUSD. Congratulations, Mr. B.!

Open House is next Thursday. We would love to have 100% of our families join us. We will start the magical evening with our spring sing lead by Mr. G. Each class needs to be on the field by 4:50. We will have our annual plant sale, pizza and snacks (fundraiser for Science Camp) and of course, there's a chance to check our amazing classrooms. The teachers and students can't wait to show off all the work they have been doing all year long.

Mrs. Thomsen's class did a wonderful job this week performing Robin Hood. So great to see the kids performing and having so much fun.

Hope to see you at Bites and Brews tomorrow. It is one of the Parents Club's biggest fund raisers of the year. It should be a fun day!

Book Fair is next week. Please see details below. Always a fun event at school.

Have a great weekend! 29 School days and counting until Summer Break!

Gerri Fippin

Principal, BCE

Dear Families,

Based on family feedback from our Annual Parent Survey, there was a need to enhance our work around Spelling and Phonics. Our school has been piloting two instructional programs designed to strengthen students’ foundational literacy skills: UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) and a Zaner-Bloser spelling curriculum.

The purpose of these pilots is to ensure we are using high-quality, research-based instructional materials that support students in developing strong skills in reading, spelling, and word recognition. Throughout the year, teachers have been implementing these programs and monitoring student progress to better understand their impact on learning.

Families often see growth in ways that may not always be captured in classroom assessments—such as increased confidence, willingness to read, or changes in how students approach spelling and writing.If you’ve noticed any changes in your child’s reading or spelling this year and would like to share your feedback, here, we would welcome it. Your perspective helps us better understand the impact of these programs. Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

Mrs. Thomsen’s class entertained us with their performance of Hoodwinked: A Play About Robin Hood! This production was a wonderful example of PBIS in action. Students built confidence, collaboration skills, and a strong sense of community. It was amazing to see their hard work come to life on stage! They demonstrated the BCE Way by encouraging each other, learning their lines, and following through by preparing costumes and sets for an awesome production! A big thank you to Mrs. Thomsen for leading this incredible opportunity and to our families for supporting your students. We are so proud of this class!

Our 3rd–5th grade students will be participating in CAASPP State Testing from May 4th–May 15th. This is an opportunity for students to show what they’ve learned and celebrate their growth!

Families play an important role in helping students feel confident and prepared. Here are a few ways you can support your child:

💙 How Families Can Help

• 💤 Prioritize sleep – A good night’s rest makes a big difference
• 🍎 Eat a healthy breakfast each morning
• ⏰ Arrive on time so students feel calm and ready
• 💬 Encourage a positive mindset – remind your child to just try their best

💙 Tips for Students

We are encouraging students to:

• Take their time
• Use scratch paper for math
• Double-check their work
• Stay focused and do their personal best

💙 Celebrating Our Students

To celebrate their hard work and effort, we will be hosting an Ice Cream Float Party at the end of testing for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders! 🍦🥤

Isadora from Teacher Behn's class earned enough Bear Paws to play basketball with Mrs. Fippin! It was a lot of fun and Isadora won! At our June 2nd Bear Paw Store, BCE Bears can sign up to play GaGa Ball with staff members before we leave for summer break!

THE BOOK FAIR IS NEXT WEEK and the kids are so excited!!!

While we hope you are able to visit the Book Fair as a family, if you choose to also let your child shop independently with their friends and classmates, an EWALLET is the way to go! Here is the link:

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/bouldercreekelemschool

Volunteer here. Sign up for just one shift! We need you!:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4FACA92AA5FCCF8-63256943-bcescholastic#/

The PowerSchool registration is now open for 2026-2027 school year, please follow these instructions below to complete the online forms. We need your up-to-date contact preferences, student health data, parent/student permissions, as well as other important information verified or completed within one week of receipt or prior to the first day of school whichever is first. Having all the necessary information will help us with student placement and scheduling. Your timely input and cooperation are greatly appreciated.

An email will be sent this week from PowerSchool Enrollment. Please follow the directions below to complete your registration form.

Directions to follow:

1. Please find in your email an email from PowerSchool Enrollment

2. Title of the email will read : SLVUSD POWERSCHOOL ENROLLMENT (ONLINE REGISTRATION)

3. Locate the yellow box on the email. In the yellow box will be the link for you to click to complete the online registration form.

4. You will use your student's date of birth to access the form, once you click the link in the yellow box.

5. Please use Google Chrome or a Firefox browser to complete the form

6. You will receive one email for every student you have that will be returning to SLVUSD. Each student will need to complete the registration process.

For any technical difficulties encountered during the enrollment process, please contact PowerSchool using the below channels:

• PowerSchool Support: https://help.powerschool.com/t5/reg
• Phone: (866) 752-6850, Listen carefully and follow the prompts; select Option 1; Monday through Friday, 8AM -5PM EST

School Contact Information:

• Boulder Creek Elementary - 831-338-6413 x510
• San Lorenzo Valley Elementary - 831-335-4475 x410
• San Lorenzo Valley Middle School - 831-335-4452 x310
• San Lorenzo Valley High - 831-335-4721 x210
• Special Education and/or Ludlow Preschool - 831-336-9678 x141
• SLVUSD Charter School - 831-336-5167 x610

Please reach out to the school Registrar and ask any general questions about the form or the Student Registration process. .

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in the upcoming new school year!

We are the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) teachers and Instructional Aides form Boulder Creek Elementary School, and we are so excited to welcome new learners!! If you have a child who will turn 4 before September 1st, they are eligible for TK and we are happy to enroll them!!

Tk is a wonderful bridge between preschool and kindergarten. Our classrooms focus on social emotional growth, early literacy and math skills, and lots of hands-on, play-based learning in a a positive and nurturing environment. Best of all it's part of the public school system- so it's free!

If you're still deciding between preschool and TK or have any questions about TK, please email us or call the BCE Office at 831-338-6413. We love helping families make the best decision for their little ones.

Look forward to a great year of learning and growing together!!

The TK Team at Boulder Creek Elementary

Robynn Nunns- Meghan Albano

rnunns@slvusd.org- malbano@slvusd.org

Helping Kids Stay Calm During Testing

CAASPP testing can bring up big feelings for 3rd - 5th grade students—nervousness, pressure, or even frustration. The good news is that a few simple strategies can help children feel more calm, focused, and confident.

Try these easy calm-down tools at home:

• Practice deep breathing: Encourage your child to take slow breaths—in through the nose, out through the mouth. Even 3–5 breaths can help the body relax.
• Use positive self-talk: Simple phrases like “I can try my best” or “I’ve got this” can build confidence.
• Take mindful breaks: After school, allow time to rest, play, or be creative to recharge.
• Keep routines steady: Consistent sleep, meals, and morning routines help kids feel secure and ready.
• Normalize mistakes: Remind your child that tests are just one way to show learning—and it’s okay not to know everything.

With support and encouragement, children can learn to manage test-day stress and feel proud of their effort!

Drop Off and Pick Up

We have had several issues the past couple of weeks at both drop off and pick up. Please know that all of us out at the cross walk are only trying to keep our students and families safe. I wanted to remind everyone to please first be Kind and Patient. Here are a few reminders about pick up and drop off

• You can drop off on either side of Laurel Street.
• You can NOT drop off coming up on Lomond street.
• You can only leave your car in designated parking spots on Laurel street.
• Make sure you are not parking in front of our neighbors drive ways
• On Lomond Street, you need to park in the right direction. Buses are not able to get through when cars are away from the side and parked in the wrong direction.
• When walking down Lomond Street please use the sidewalk. We have had a few close calls with kids and parents walking in the center of the street.

Thank you everyone for helping ensure safety of all of our students. Below is the parking map again for reference.

We're looking for volunteers to help create this year’s unforgettable yearbook! If you're interested in contributing, please sign up today or email yearbook@bceparentsclub.org. Parents, make sure to secure your copy of the yearbook and treasure these memories for years to come. Order yours now!

Purchase Link: https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=10152329238788

Volunteer signup: https://bit.ly/BCEYB2526-volunteer