Bulldogs Newsletter October 2, 2023

Dear Basswood Families,

I am pleased to announce that we have hired Leslie Bachman as our new Co-director of First Impressions. As you visit Basswood, you will see a new smiling face at the front desk. Please be sure to introduce yourself to her when you are in the office.

Basswood Career Fair: Each year, we host a Career Fair for our 5th grade students, and this year it will take place on May 15 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. We are looking for about 15 more volunteers to share about their careers and workplace roles.

Please come help our 5th graders learn more about career opportunities by signing up through the Career Fair Volunteer Sign-up Sheet. For more information contact Amy Paton at PatonA@district279.org or by calling her at 763-315-7671.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Steven Schwartz

Basswood Principal

#WeAreBasswood!

Our annual All School BBQ will be on Friday, May 22. We will be sending home a flyer soon!

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.

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.

Our school carnival is scheduled for Friday, May 1, 5:30pm to 8pm. A flyer went home this past Wednesday with details on how to purchase wristbands. You can order online by scanning the QR code, by visiting BasswoodPTO.org, or by paper form.

This is always such a fun event for all ages with lots of games, activities, and food! Fair Faves, Brick Oven Pizza Bus, and Brain Freezze Ice Cream are the confirmed food trucks!

Can't wait to see you there!

Maple Grove Middle School would like to invite current 5th grade students to the 6th Grade Information Night on Tuesday, May 5. There will be presentations beginning at 5pm and 6pm. At the end of the presentations, families are encouraged to take a self-guided tour of MGMS.

• April 27 - No School/Staff Workshop Day
• April 28 - 5th grade Band Concert 6:30pm (OMS)
• April 29 - School Spirit Day: Wear BLUE for Autism Awareness
• April 29 - Evacuation Drill 2:35am
• May 1 - PTO Carnival!!

• May 5 - 5th grade families: 6th grade Information Night at MGMS at 5pm & 6pm
• May 7 - 5th grade Orchestra Concert 8pm (Osseo Middle School)
• May 11 - Evacuation Drill 2:35pm
• May 14 - PTO Meeting 6:30pm (Media Center)
• May 15 - 5th grade Career Day (Media Center)
• May 22 - All School BBQ (during student lunch)

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!

• 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

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.

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.

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