Eagle Eye News

August 15th, 2025

At Dishman McGinnis, we are inspiring today's learners to become tomorrow's leaders.

Weekly Principal Update

Parents,

What a great first week at Dishman McGinnis! I want to start by thanking you, parents, for making this first week a huge success for your students. There has been so much support for your students; they are doing so well to start the school year. Next week begins our first whole week of school, so I wanted to give you a couple of reminders. School doors open at 7:30, and students can come in and eat breakfast or head to the gym and wait until their teachers pick them up at 7:50. If you would like to eat breakfast, have lunch, or come in with your student, you must have your ID with you to sign in at the front office. I think I spoke with some of you today, and thanks for being so understanding with this, as we always try to be safety first when it comes to your children. Another safety issue to remember: if your student is a car rider (they get into a car to leave after school), there is no parking in the front parking lot, and you must get into the car rider loop. I know it can be long and feel like forever, but walking students in front of passing car rider cars poses a safety risk to your students and staff. As always if you have any issues, please let me know.

Shawn Perkins

Inclement Weather Plans

Over the next few months, if weather and road conditions prevent us from having school, BGISD will use non-traditional instructional (NTI) days. Please be prepared with plans for virtual learning if NTI days are needed.

If the decision is made to delay or close school, our district will make every effort to notify parents, guardians, employees and the community as soon as possible. With few exceptions, the decision to delay or close school is made by 5:45 a.m., before buses begin morning routes.

As soon as a decision is made, BGISD will send a text to parents and employees. Information will also be posted on the district website, X/Twitter (@BGISD), and Facebook accounts.

Upcoming Events

8/11-Kindergarten Jumpstart 9 AM-11AM

8/11-Open House 4 PM- 6 PM

8/13-First Day of School

8/25- PSP Signing Day for ML students

9/1- Labor Day: No school

School Instructional Schedule

The doors open at Dishman McGinnis at 7:30 A.M. The instructional day begins at 8 A.M.

If your child arrives to school after 8:00 A.M., they must be brought in to the front office and signed in by an adult as they are considered tardy. If you have any questions, the Bowling Green Independent attendance policy is attached below.

Morning Drop Off and Afternoon Dismissal Procedures

Drop-off and dismissal times can be very busy for the school and neighboring homes. We know there is very limited parking available around Dishman, so we ask that you follow our morning and afternoon drop-off procedures as this makes the process safe and efficient for all our students and families.

Morning Drop-Off

1. The front loop of Dishman McGinnis, Glen Lily Road side, is our car riders and walkers only

2. Car riders are to be dropped off in the front of the building for morning drop-off starting at 7:30. There are two lanes, and a teacher will be present to assist in traffic flow and assure student safety from 7:30-8 am

3. Walkers are asked to stay on the sidewalks around the front of the building

4. Any parent or guardian wanting to enter the building MUST SIGN IN at the front office.

Afternoon Dismissal

1. Bus riders will be kept in school until their bus arrives and will be loaded by adults in the back of the building where the bus loop is located

2. Car riders will line up in front of the building. A teacher will radio into the building your student's name and a teacher will escort them to your vehicle as you make your way to the front door.

3. Walkers will be dismissed and escorted by teachers to the sidewalks and then released to their homes. If you are a parent of a walker, DO NOT come to the front door as this will impede car rider duty and can be very dangerous for students as they try and cross car rider/bus traffic.

Visitor Sign-In

During the school year, all visitors (substitute teachers, parents, grandparents, family members, etc.) must sign in before entering the building. The system we use, Vector, requires a photo ID for a smooth process. (For those that don't have an ID, you will have to allow time for manual entry in the front office)

Know that on the first day of school, we understand many parents love to see their students in the building on the first day of school, and you will not be required to sign in, however after the first day, you will be required to sign in and sign out through the front office.

Lastly, after our morning meeting on our first day, all visitors will be asked to exit the building as this makes the school transition easier for students.

Bowling Green City School Calendar

BGISD Backpack Link

Parents:

Here is the BGISD Backpack link. The following links and announcements are from local nonprofit organizations with events and activities that may be of interest to students and families in Bowling Green Independent Schools.

https://www.bgreen.kyschools.us/backpack

Breakfast and Lunch Menu

Click link below to view menus.

https://www.myschoolmenus.com/instance/86/district/24

New Attendance Send It Messages

Beginning soon, Bowling Green Independent Schools will send automated messages to parents of absent students. Phone calls, text messages, and emails will be sent at approximately 9:45 a.m. each school day using the SendIt communication system. These messages are reminders for families to contact the school and turn in a parent or doctor’s note to excuse the absences. Calls will be from the SendIt system with the number (833) 452-3291, and include a pre-recorded voice message from D. G. Sherrill, Director of Pupil Personnel.

The BGISD attendance policy states that students are allowed five days excused from school with parent notes, and seven days with doctor’s notes per school year. After seven doctor notes have been used, a Medical Excuse Form must be submitted to excuse absences and/or tardies.

Bowling Green Independent Attendance Policy

Below is an outline of our school and district's attendance policy. Instructional hours at Dishman McGinnis are from 8:00 am-2:55 pm. If your child gets to school late (after 8:00 am) they are considered tardy, or leave early (before 2:55 pm) they are tardy as well.

To excuse absences or tardies we must receive a written note within 72 hours (examples: doctor's note, hand-written parent note, or an email). Once the note is received by the front office, the attendance code is changed within Infinite Campus from an unexcused absence/tardy to an excused absence/tardy. If a child is quarantined due to Covid, once the quarantine or positive case is confirmed, those absences are automatically adjusted and do not require a written note.

EXCUSED ABSENCES AND TARDIES:

Death or severe illness in the student’s immediate family;
Illness of the student;
Documented military leave/return of a parent or guardian;
Other valid reasons as determined by the Principal, including trips qualifying as educational enhancement opportunities.

EXCUSED:

A student is allowed 5 days excused with parent notes and 7 days with doctor notes per school year. After 7 doctor notes have been used, the district medical excuse form must be submitted for excused absences and/or tardies. Parent and doctor notes must be turned in to the school within 72 hours of the student’s absence.

CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM: Missing more than 10% of the school year, or 17 days, for any reason, excused or unexcused. TRUANCY: A student who has been absent or tardy without a valid excuse for three or more days is considered truant. A student reported as a truant two or more times is a habitual truant. Students reaching the status of habitual truant can expect a home visit from a school district official. Continuing absences or tardies will result in referral to the court system.