Bonsall Bear News

Dear Bonsall Elementary Families,

Please note: BES is on a minimum day schedule for the entire week of 10/19-10/23. TK & K are released at 12:35, 1st-5th are released at 12:45. Please make arrangements for your child to be picked up in a timely manner. We will be sending home late pick up notifications if students are picked up after 1:15.

Monster Mash update

Monster Mash is on Saturday, the 24th! Presale wristbands are available through 10/21 11:59pm on the PTA website: www.bonsallbearspta.org.

The PTA is accepting donations of candy and/or small prizes for the games at Monster Mash. Please bring in a new sealed bag of candy or non-candy goodies October 19-23. Label the bag with your student's teacher's name. The class with the most pieces wins!

Please Review your Aeries Contact Information

Keeping current and accurate contact information for every BES family is essential. Recently, teachers have reported that some emails to families have been returned as undeliverable.

Please log in to your Aeries Parent Portal this week to confirm that:

1. Your phone number(s) are current and accurate.

2. Your email address is correct.

3. You have multiple emergency contacts listed with current phone numbers.

Accurate contact information helps us communicate with you about your child and reach you or a designated emergency contact quickly when needed. Thank you for taking a few minutes to review and update this important information.

Important Safety Reminder for our BES Parking Lot & Student Drop Off Time

Staff and families have observed students being dropped off in the left lane and walking across the designated drop-off lane in front of vehicles. This creates a serious safety concern.

Students may only be dropped off in the right lane. Our drop-off procedures are in place to keep students safe, and we need every family’s cooperation. In order to further promote student safety, students are not to be dropped off prior to 7:50 a.m. without adult supervision. Students who are being dropped off prior to 7:50 a.m. are playing in the front of the school which can cause safety and discipline issues.

Please review the drop-off information at the end of this newsletter for a refresher. Thank you for helping keep our students and school community safe.

Volunteer Reminders at BES

We love and appreciate our BES volunteers! Your time and support make a meaningful difference for our students and staff. To help protect instructional time and student privacy, please remember the following:

• Volunteers may check in beginning at 8:30 a.m.
• Please remain outside the school office until your scheduled volunteer time, as confidential student matters may be discussed in the office.
• When checking in to volunteer in a designated area, such as a classroom or the library, volunteers must remain in that assigned area.
• Volunteer parents may not join their children for lunch during their volunteer time.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, focused, and respectful school environment. We are grateful for your partnership and all you do for BES!

Upcoming Events

• 10/19 - 10/23 - Minimum days all week for parent/teacher conferences
• 10/19 - 10/23 - Candy Collection Contest for Monster Mash
• 10/24 - Monster Mash
• 10/26 - 10/30 - Red Ribbon Week
• 10/30 - Leader In Me Awards

With gratitude,

Allison Fortney
Principal
Bonsall Elementary School

Get Creating! Our 5th Annual Art Show Is Coming!

Bigger and better than ever—the Bonsall Woman’s Club / Bonsall Unified School District Stages of Inspiration Art Contest & Show returns January 20, 2027, at SMS/BHS!

This year’s theme is “Building a Brighter Future.” All BUSD students (TK–12+) are invited to share their 2D/3D/Photography Art! January is right around the corner—start planning and making your artwork now!

Submit your entries December 1–16, 2026. Read the contest rules & complete the online submission form.

Meet the student artists helping spread the word!

Congratulations to the SMS and BHS art students whose art was selected to promote this year’s show; you will see their posters hanging at all BUSD school sites!

Winning Poster Artist: Charli Nguyen
Selected Poster Artists: Harper Ross, Selma Haven, Lily Winebrenner, and Jessica Clift-Crudo
Poster Contest Runners-Up: Chloe Ferrante, Kenia Delgado, and Brooklyn Knewek

Their creativity is just the beginning—we can’t wait to see yours!

Save the date: January 20, 2027 | SMS/BHS

Thank you to our sponsor, Nessy Burgers, for supporting the arts in Bonsall Unified School District!

BUSD is so very grateful for Love On Your Back, their volunteers, and everyone who supports LOYB to ensure BUSD families are taken care of. Their annual Thanksgiving Drive is underway. Please consider donating today!

Love On Your Back is currently serving 55 local families, and we’re hoping to collect as many gift cards and monetary donations as possible to help provide Thanksgiving meals for these families.

Thank you so much for your continued support!

Please see the flyers below and be sure to get registered for the Jog-A-Thon. If you need help or a device to help you register, please contact the PTA HERE. If you’re interested in getting involved, please check out their website, https://www.bonsallbearspta.org/ and follow their Instagram.

We are gauging interest in the Orchestra Club. All 4th and 5th grade students are invited to join the after school club. As we are still determining the day for lessons, please fill out this form that suits your child (either Advanced Audition or Beginner). Some students who audition for the Advanced group might be placed in the Beginner group to help them fine tune their skills and feel more confident in their playing. It is vital for everyone to be in an ensemble that works best for them! Once the day is solidified I will send out information on how to register. I look forward to working with your students through their string instrument adventure! If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at karen.chisholm@bonsallusd.com

Advanced Orchestra Sign Up

Beginners Orchestra Sign Up

The Bonsall Elementary Foundation (BEF) supports all schools and students! Our teachers are able to provide our students with innovative and engaging activities based on the donations from our families that run through BEF. Click on the link below to support BES!

To enhance the learning environment and minimize disruptions, please utilize the following check-out procedure. We understand that students occasionally need to leave school early for appointments or other commitments. However, calling classrooms during instructional time to retrieve students can disrupt the learning process.

1. Advance Notification:

• Please notify the school office at least two hours prior to the desired check-out time.

• For example, if your student needs to be checked out at 1:00 PM, please call no later than 11:00 AM.

2. Information to Provide:

• When calling, please provide the following details:

• Student’s full name

• Student’s teacher

• Check-out time

• Reason for check-out

• Whether the student will return to school that day

• If your call is not answered, please leave a detailed voicemail with the above information.

3. Preparation for Check-Out:

• A pass will be delivered to your student’s teacher, allowing them to prepare your child for departure. This ensures the student has their belongings, including backpacks and homework, ready at the designated time.

• If the check-out occurs during lunch or recess, the student will still be prepared with the necessary items.

4. Final Steps at the Office:

• The student will arrive at the office with the pass at the designated check-out time.

• Parents or guardians must present valid identification and sign the student release pass to complete the check-out process.

We have a wonderful Community Liaison, Leonor Rodriguez, who is a great asset to our BUSD team. Please click on the following LINK for her newsletter.

All volunteers at BES must be cleared through our volunteer approval process before volunteering on campus or attending field trips. Volunteer clearance must be renewed each school year, even if you have completed a volunteer packet in the past. Please visit the school office to obtain and submit the required volunteer paperwork. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and secure environment for all students.

BES takes pride in supporting our students and families. Attached is our 2026-2027 Parent/Student Handbook. This is to be used as a guide to support our school community and a tool to answer questions you may have from school volunteering to dress code. Please take the time to review this important document.

BES Handbook

Instructional Calendar

We look forward to continuing this tradition and welcoming you out on the field to enjoy a special lunch with your student. Thank you for your continued support in making Paper Picnics a meaningful and enjoyable event for our school community.

As a Purple Star School, BES is committed to supporting the unique educational and social/emotional needs of our military students and families. I am tremendously proud of our commitment to the students and families connected to our nation's military. Thank you to our families, past and present who make so many sacrifices for our country. As the daughter and granddaughter of Veterans, I understand that sacrifice and I am eternally grateful. For more information, please click on the following link that will direct you to our webpage that offers information and support for military families.

*You may not park your car or get out of your car in the loading/unloading zone. This is not only a safety issue, but also causes the traffic to back up.

*You can exit the school on Old River Rd ONLY if you park or drop off your student at the Community Center. The only exit from the school parking lot is via Avenida de los Piños. While following the traffic pattern, there will be no "left" in order to access the exit through the Community Center onto Old River Rd.

*The bus lane is at the FRONT of the drop off line. No cars will be allowed to access the bus lane. Please be aware that this is extremely important as our buses are on times routes and it is imperative that the assigned bus zone is kept clear of cars at all times.

*The ramp from the adjoining neighborhood is available for use. You can park and walk your student up using the ramp. There will be a staff member on duty to provide support at the crosswalk on the campus.

*The lane closest to the curb is for loading/unloading only. Please make sure students exit on the RIGHT side of the car. The left lane is now a passing lane which makes it extremely dangerous for students to exit on the left side of the car. Students exiting cars in the passing lane was witnessed way too often last year. The last thing we want is for someone to get hurt. Cars are not watching for children darting in front of their cars due to being dropped off incorrectly.

*You can use the Community Center for drop off and pick up.

Email: allison.fortney@bonsallusd.com
Website: https://be.bonsallusd.com/
Location: 31555 Old River Rd. Bonsall, CA 92003
Phone: (760) 631-5205