Bulldogs Newsletter October 2, 2023

Dear Basswood Families,

Although we are expecting snow this weekend, it is officially spring now. Spring is a very busy season at Basswood and you will see a long list of important events in the This Week at Basswood and the Coming up sections of our newsletter. Of special note are the dates of MCA testing, kindergarten orientation, a teacher workshop day and the Basswood carnival. Please mark your calendars.

Nurse Update: We have a change in the health office, as Nurse Sarah has had to step back from her role to care for her family. Please see the contact information below for Becky Christensen, who will serve as your primary contact through the spring.

MCA Testing: Spring is when we administer the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) at Basswood. To help facilitate a great testing experience for your child or children. Please help make sure they have wired headphones for testing, get a good nights sleep, eat healthy breakfast and attend school on their testing days. Thank you!

I want to close by wishing those that are celebrating the end of Lent a blessed Easter and a wonderful time with your families.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Steven Schwartz

Basswood Principal

#WeAreBasswood!

Basswood Elementary School 2025-2026’s yearbook is available for sale! Order your yearbook by 04/09/2026.

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.

Maple Grove Middle School would like to invite current 5th grade students to the 6th Grade Information Night on Thursday, April 30. 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.

Community Education’s Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program is currently offering a Parenting Your Child with Special Needs online class through May for families with children from birth through grade 3, with a focus on supporting parents/caregivers raising children with special needs, delays, disabilities, or medical needs. Here is the registration link:[tce.me/jgNMsy]

Other details:

• While the online class has already started, continued enrollment is encouraged.
• No family will be turned away from participating due to inability to pay the sliding scale class fee.
• Any questions about the online class can be directed to Kari Sawyer, coordinator of ECFE or the main office staff at 763-391-8777.

• April 8 - Booster Dance Party during recess!
• April 9 - MCA Testing Grade 5 Reading (Part I)
• April 9 - Severe Weather Drill 1:45

• April 10 MCA Testing Grade 5 Reading (Part II)

• April 14 - MCA Testing Grade 3 (Reading Part I)
• April 15 - MCA Testing Grade 3 (Reading Part II)
• April 16 - MCA Testing Grade 4 (Reading Part I)
• April 16 - Kindergarten Information Night 5-6:30pm
• April 17 - MCA Testing Grade 4 (Reading Part II)
• April 23 - 4th grade Recorder Concert 6:30pm
• April 24 - At Home Learning Day for Students
• April 27 - No School/Staff Workshop Day
• April 28 - 5th grade Band Concert 6:30pm (OMS)
• April 30 - 5th grade families: 6th grade Information Night at MGMS at 5pm & 6pm
• May 1 - PTO Carnival!!

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.

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.

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, Lezlie Northagen. 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, Turkey Bingo, Book Fair, etc.) along with numerous other opportunities. We continue to follow state guidelines and adjust our volunteer program accordingly.

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