Bulldog Update December 2, 2024

I type this newsletter with fingers full of turkey and filled with gratitude

from the long break with family.

Below you will find new, important information to help you be successful in the upcoming week and key reminders that are foundational to the school year.

• Monday, December 2nd will be an B Day.
• Click HERE for complete A/B calendar.
  

Academic:

• AIMSWeb in ELA on December 3rd and 4th (Winter Benchmark)

Activities

• Monday, Dec. 2:
• 7th Grade Girls 🏀 vs Walnut @ Barr (4:15 PM)
• Tuesday, Dec 3:
• 8th Grade Girls 🏀 vs Columbus @ Barr (4:15 PM)
• 7th Grade Girls 🏀 at Aurora (@ 4:15 PM)
• Thursday, Dec. 5:
• Band Concert at Barr (6:30 PM)
• Friday, Dec. 6:
• MS Boys 🤼 at Westridge (@ 4:15 PM)

Barr community at its finest!

Reminder:
Students will only be allowed into the building after the doors to the school open at 7:45 AM. As the weather gets colder, please send your student in a coat! And remember, after the bell, your student needs to be in their assigned area.

Parents/Guardians, please help communicate the importance of this to your student.

Drop Off: Students need to get out of the vehicle on passenger side- nearest to the sidewalk instead of the driver side- in the driveway through lane.

Parents/Guardians, please help your student be safe at drop-off!

Students are dismissed at 3:45 PM, and they should be exiting on the same side of the building they are dropped off on. Also, students need to be off campus by 4:00 PM or have a plan fro transportation (another bell reminder!).

On December 6th, 7th graders are invited to dress up like:

• Past Perspectives: Wear old-fashioned or vintage attire to represent to past OR
• Future Forward: Black or mysterious attire to embody the ghostly figure of the future OR
• Warm-Hearted Scrooge Transformation: Cozy or festive attire (think scarves, mittens or red and green clothing!).

*Just remember the dress code still applies! 😊

Students are not allowed to have gum or candy during the school day. Please help us in this endeavor by reminding your student not to bring packs of gum or bags of candy.

Thanks for helping us keep our floors, desks, and bathrooms clean!

A BIG BARR thank you to the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Quilting Group. They donated two boxes of quilts for Barr families.

We have been made aware of some complications in trying to email teachers. First, we apologize for the inconvenience as we value open communication with stakeholders. Next, below you will find instructions detailing how you can email teachers from either the website or the app. Finally, thank you for your patience in this process, and if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact the main office.

Here are directions on how parents can email teachers:

On the ParentVUE website:

• Login to ParentVUE

• Select your child from the list

• Click on Grade Book

• Click on the name of the course

• Click on the teacher name in the upper left corner
  
  

On the ParentVUE App:

• Login to the ParentVUE app

• Select your child from the list

• Click on Grade Book

• Click on the name of the Course

• Click on the teacher name at the top left

Phones need to be off (at 7:45 A.M.) and stored in student's locker (at 8:10 A.M.). Phones are also not allowed at school activities or on the bus.

District policy will be followed regarding personal electronic communication devices (ECDs)*.

Please note the consequences for violation of district rules, state/federal law or school board policy:

• 1st Office Referral: The ECD will be confiscated, turned into the school office, and picked up by the student from the principal by the end of the day, unless the device is needed longer for examination by school or district IT personnel. Document MAJOR incident in Synergy
• 2nd Office Referral: The ECD will be confiscated, turned into the school office, and picked up by the student at the end of the day along with parent contact. Document MAJOR incident in Synergy
• 3rd Office Referral: The ECD will be confiscated, turned into the school office, and picked up by a parent at the end of the day along with parent contact. Document MAJOR incident in Synergy
• 4th Office Referral: Insubordination - 1 Day OSS
• 5th Office Referral: Insubordination – Individual student/parent plan
  

(See full policy HERE.)

*ECDs include: cell phones, smart watches, tablets etc...

Have you received a phone call or email about your student's attendance? If so, please know that our team has the best interest of your student in mind while trying to keep the focus on their learning.

An important part of understanding what you are looking at in Synergy is the following:

PR- "Parent Request" this means that the parent called to inform the school of the absence.

ILL- "Illness" means the parent called (which we appreciate!) but is not medically excused.

AB- "Absent" means no call, no show.

MED- "Medical" a doctor's note was received by the school and excuses the student for the dates that are also identified on the note. This is the only absence that does not count against a student's total.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office for clarification.

One more chance to see our students in action! Click HERE to see why we do our "Be Thankful Challenge."

Thanks again to all Barr Families for your participation in giving back to our community.

Homework Club meets Monday-Thursday and is for all students! From 3:45-4:30 PM, students can come and get support on school work.

If your student is going to use this opportunity, be sure to make transportation plans.

For questions, please call the main office so we will come alongside you in supporting your student's learning!

Subject: Exciting December Dash for 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade!

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The teachers at Barr are thrilled to announce the December Dash to Success for all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students! This event will offer a fun mix of activities inside the school or even outdoors (weather permitting) during Bulldog Time. Concession stand snacks will be available for purchase at a discounted price, and all Barr students are invited to participate.

To qualify for the December Dash to Success, students must meet the following criteria from Tuesday, November 12, 2024, through the end of the first semester:

• No more than 2 minor referrals

• 0 major referrals

• No F’s in any class

• No missing assignments

• No more than 1 day of absence (doctor-confirmed illnesses and appointments will not count toward this limit. Please bring in doctor's notes.)
  
  

Students who meet these requirements will join us for a well-deserved celebration on December 19th. We’re excited to recognize the hard work of all of our students, and we hope this motivates them to finish the semester strong!

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to:

6th grade principal Mr. Mac (jmchargue@gips.org),

7th grade principal Mrs. Myers (jmyers@gips.org),

or 8th grade principal Ms. Stockwell (sstockwell@gips.org).

Parent meeting Monday, December 2, 2024 from 6:00-6:30 PM in the Barr Auditorium.

Please plan on attending for important updates and information.

Who: 6th, 7th, and 8th grade choral students

When: Monday, December 16th, 204

Where: Barr Middle School Auditorium

Sponsored by: Director-Rachel Cossey and Collaborative Accompanist- Joseph Swanson

(Flyer created by Evolleth Juarez Marcos designed this - how cool!)

PERFORMANCES:

SAT, DECEMBER 14, 7:30 PM, AUDITORIUM

SUN, DECEMBER 15, 2:30 PM, AUDITORIUM

JOIN OUR GOOGLE CLASSROOM WITH THIS CODE:

xkkjgrt

Barr Junior Thespians Website: https://sites.google.com/gips.org/barrjuniorthespians/home

Join our Remind here: remind.com/join/xkkjgrt

Contact the director, Dr. Garcia, at ekgarcia@gips.org with any questions.

Grandparents, 60 and older, can get free admission to activities at GIPS! To get your activity pass, bring in your valid driver license to the Kneale Administration Building (123 S Webb Rd, Grand Island, NE 68803).

As the sports seasons start up, the admin team from Sr, High wanted to remind the middle schools:

Backpacks and other small bags are NOT allowed at Sporting Events/Activities. You will NOT be allowed in the event with a bag or backpack. You must have your school issued ID to enter.

Students: if you attend with your Bulldog pass (and not with your parents) you are only allowed to visit the concession stand in between sets, quarters, or games. Also, while attending games the expectations from the school day should be followed- including no cell phone use and staying off your computer.

Here is the District Calendar for the 2024-2025 School Year.

This calendar has all the activities at Barr, from volleyball to wrestling to orchestra concerts, and is one you can subscribe to so you never miss an event!

Click HERE to access the calendar! (The rSchool Calendar is on the left hand side!)

Reminder: Please turn in all medications to the school nurse including over the counter medications such as pain relievers, cough drops, eye drops, etc... to ensure the safety of our students and to align to district policy

If you have further questions, please call the front office.

Here is reminder/update on bags at Barr:

• Backpacks need to be put in students' lockers at the beginning of the day
• No smaller bags are to be carried during the day except for medical purposes that have been approved by the nurse

Thank you for helping communicate this to your student(s) and keeping our school a safe place!

Students, your computer case should contain your computer, charger, and a pencil in the outside pocket. You are responsible for computer screens that break due to extra items in your case.

If you have a fine, please plan on paying that this week when you attend parent teacher conferences.

Doors open at 7:45 (do not arrive any earlier as there is not supervision before 7:45).

**Students will not be allowed in the vestibule before 7:45 AM**

Each grade will wait in respective areas (and they can eat school breakfast while they wait!). Please drop off in the following locations (and students will wait in the following areas):

Who:

7th and 8th grade Barr Students

When:

Starts Wed Sept. 4th

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday*

7:30-8:00 Am

*Moved to Thursday to accommodate students also in show choir

Focus of Training:

Strength--Speed--Flexibility--Agility

Conditioning--Quickness--Leadership

Where:

New (north) gym

Enter door 8

Equipment needed:

T-shirt, shorts, gym shoes

Questions Contact:

Coach Felber--cfelber@gips.org

Coach Rodriguez--drodriguez2@gips.org

Water bottles are allowed at school so that students can stay hydrated throughout the day. Please make sure to use clear water bottles and that only water is in the bottles.

Also, cups will no longer be provided during lunch, so students are encouraged to bring water bottles.

Summer:

July 2024

August:

August 4, 2024

August 11, 2024

August 18, 2024

August 25, 2024

September :

September 1, 2024

September 9, 2024

September 16, 2024

September, 23, 2024

September 30, 2024

October:

October 7, 2024

October 14, 2024

October 21, 2024

October 28, 2024

November:

November 4, 2024

November 11, 2024

November 18, 2024

November 25, 2024