Bulldogs Newsletter October 2, 2023

Dear Basswood Families,

We had a great time at the K-2 Decathlon today! It was a perfect day for playing on Basswood Field and everyone had a great time!. It was great to see so many families at school today supporting their students. Thanks for coming!

A special shout out to our volunteers today. This event could not happen without your support! Thank you for giving your time so our students could enjoy their field day event! Thank you!

Volunteers needed Monday: We do the 3-5 Decathlon on Monday and we are in need of additional volunteers. Click here to sign up to volunteer for a volunteer shift on Monday. Thank you!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Steven Schwartz

Basswood Principal

#WeAreBasswood!

Let's celebrate the end of the school year with some fun in the sun! We had a great turn out for our first day of the decathlon on Friday! The next Decathlon day Is Monday, June 1, for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. 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.

The 2025-26 Basswood Yearbooks have arrived and will be handed out during the last week of school. We do have a limited amount of extra yearbooks for purchase. We will be sending out a flyer with details on how to purchase and price.

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.

• June 1 - Decathlon: 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade
• June 2 - 5th grade End of Year Celebration
• June 4 - Graduating Senior Walk 2:30pm
• June 5 - Last Day of School!!
• June 5 - All School Sing-Along 2pm

• June 5 - 5th grade Parade Walk at 2:50pm - parents are welcome to attend!

• June 11 - Report cards available on ParentVUE
• August 26 - New Family Orientation 11am
• September 2 - Open House 4:30pm - 6:30pm
• September 8 - First Day of School
• September 28 - Student Picture Day
• October 2 - Fun Run Event

• 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