Family News

Parent Townhalls - Last Opportunity this Thursday, the 13th

BPS's new superintendent Dr. Pascal Mubenga, is hosting Townhalls. He is trying to determine what parents want from the schools. He is trying to find ways to get parents to get students in BPS schools. If anyone can go to be a voice for Charter parents it would be wonderful.

Meetings Third Tuesday of the Month 5:00-6:00 pm. Next Meeting on November 18th.

Attend in person or join the Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 835 2835 0620
Passcode: 726924

Attendance Hints for Parents

To improve student attendance, parents should create consistent routines, communicate with the school about absences, and make school a priority. It is also important to maintain open communication with your child, schedule appointments outside of school hours, and work with the school to address any issues that may be causing your child to miss school.

Establish a supportive home environment

Create a routine: Set consistent bedtimes and morning schedules to ensure your child is well-rested and prepared for the day.
Prepare ahead: Have your child lay out clothes and pack their backpack the night before.
Prioritize school: Emphasize the importance of attending school every day and help your child understand how each day builds on the last.

This video explains the importance of a morning routine for school attendance:

Communicate with the school

Report absences: Notify the school as soon as possible if your child is absent.
Stay in touch: Keep your child's teachers and other school staff informed about any issues that may affect attendance. Schools have resources to help, so don't hesitate to reach out.
Understand policies: Be familiar with the school's attendance policy.

Manage appointments and illness

Schedule appointments wisely:
Try to schedule all medical and dental appointments for after school or during school breaks.
Use your judgment for illness:
Keep your child home only when they are truly sick. Complaints of headaches or stomachaches could be signs of anxiety, so it's important to rule that out and communicate with the school. Address potential issues with your child

Encourage engagement:
Talk to your child about whether they feel engaged in their classes and safe at school.
Talk about peer pressure:
Discuss social concerns with your child, as peer pressure can sometimes lead to skipping school.
Seek help:
If you notice sudden changes in your child's behavior or academic performance, talk to their teacher to see if there are any school-related issues.

Sign up to Volunteer using this link.

https://forms.gle/BWy5c6GEiRomCo1C7

Chaperones

Any parent who wants to chaperone a field trip, must complete the volunteer application.

Safety Drills

At our school, student safety is always our top priority. Throughout the year, we practice different types of safety drills—such as fire, shelter in place, and lockdown drills—so that everyone knows what to do in an emergency. Each year we need to conduct:

Fire Drills - We have completed 6 successful drills.
Lock Down Drills
Early Release Drill
Shelter in place Drills

Please reassure your student that these drills are to practice, and nothing to be afraid of.

Lockdown Drills

A lockdown drill helps us practice what to do if we ever need to secure the building from a threat. This is most like a safety concern in the school building. During these drills, teachers guide students to move away from doors and windows, stay quiet, and wait calmly until it’s safe.

We take care to explain each drill in a calm, age-appropriate way so that students understand it’s a practice and not something to be afraid of. Our goal is to help everyone feel prepared and confident, not scared.

Thank you for talking with your child about the importance of these safety routines and reassuring them that these drills are simply one of the many ways we work together to keep our school safe.

We will be conducting Lockdown Drills on 11/13, 12/8, 2/25 and 4/2,

I will send a reminder message and also let you know how the drill went after each event.