Bulldogs Newsletter October 2, 2023

Dear Basswood Families,

Spring is filled with so many big events. Today our Four Star students performed The Three Piggy Opera. It was a lovely show and it was great to see so many parents and grandparents today. This week we also had a band concert and orchestra concert. Thank you to our music department for making spring such a special time at Basswood.

We had a career fair today for 5th graders as well. There were over 30 different careers represented through our community, thank yo to those that volunteered your time to invest in the 5th graders. I saw a lot of students that looked quite professional today and they were eager to learn about potential careers.

Our PTO gathered last night for the final meeting of the year and it was a very productive time. The parents that gathered voted and approved the 2026-27 PTO budget and they also voted in the next PTO board. Thank you PTO for your ongoing support of our school community!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Steven Schwartz

Basswood Principal

#WeAreBasswood!

You are invited to our annual All School BBQ on Friday, May 22, during your student's lunch time. You can pre-purchase your meal ticket ($5.50) by scanning the QR code. Basswood students do not need a purchased meal ticket.

Our picnic lunch will consist of hamburgers fresh off the grill with all the fixings, fresh fruit & veggies, chips, milk/water, and dessert! Tickets will also be available the day of the BBQ.

Remember to bring your blanket or chair to picnic on, and cross your fingers for nice weather!

Please join us on Tuesday, May 19, from 5-8pm at the Culver's by HyVee to support Basswood Elementary. Have a delicious dinner and 10% of all sales will be donated back to Basswood.

Thank you for your support!

Let's celebrate the end of the school year with some fun in the sun! Decathlon days are Friday, May 29, and Monday, June 1. Come watch your student participate in some fun events! Park in the main lot and walk around the outside of the school to the back field. No need to stop in the office. Please send your student to school in active wear, tennis shoes, and a full water bottle on the day of their assigned Decathlon.

If you visit Basswood during the school day, you’ll notice a new Raptor Visitor Check-In iPad at the front office. This updated system was implemented as part of a district-wide effort to better support safety and security across our school district.

Two ways that visitors are able to utilize this new system:

1. NEW: Visitors can utilize the Raptor Safe app. This app can be downloaded for free through your phone’s app store. Families can set up an account, and then each time they visit can open the app and use the iPad to scan a personalized QR code located in the app for a faster check in. After following the prompts, a badge will then print with your photo, name, date, time, and visit location. Visitors must wear the badge at all times inside the building.
2. Visitors can scan a drivers license or Minnesota state ID using the iPad camera. After scanning, visitors will follow prompts on the iPad to select their destination inside the building. Following the prompts will produce a badge to wear.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our school safe. If you have questions or need support, please contact Basswood office at 763-494-3858.

We have had a change in Basswood's health office. Our School Nurse, Sarah Loiotile, has taken a leave from the district and will not be returning to Basswood. We will have a district nurse covering the health office daily, but it may not always be the same nurse.

If you have questions or need to send in paperwork regarding your student, please reach out to the Licensed School Nurse who oversees Basswood, Becky Christensen. She can be reached via email at christensenr@district279.org.

• May 19 - PTO Take Out Tuesday - Culver's by HyVee 5-8pm
• May 22 - All School BBQ (during student lunch)

• May 25 - No School/Memorial Day
• May 26-29 - Scholastic Book Fair
• May 28 - PTO Ice Cream Social 4:30-6pm
• May 29 - Decathlon: 4 Star Express, Kindergarten, 1st grade, 2nd grade
• June 1 - Decathlon: 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade
• June 4 - Senior Walk 2:30pm
• June 5 - Last Day of School!!
• June 5 - All School Sing-Along 2pm
• June 11 - Report cards available on ParentVUE

• 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

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.

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, Lisa Yamaya. 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, BW 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. Please note that we are moving away from Twitter (@BWPrincipal279) for Basswood social media. Click here to follow us.

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.

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