Bear Families,

Veterans Day is truly a special day at Bluffsview. We feel honored to get to celebrate our Veterans with their families, especially their children and grandchildren. The conversations that we get to have leading up to the assembly really help students think about the gratitude we owe our veterans. Having Mr. Adam Long speak to our students helps to put a face to the stories and make it real. Seeing all their loved ones and the loved one of their friends and our staff helps to show how many people have made this sacrifice. Lastly, our 4th grade students did a tremendous job sharing their musical talents and leading the assembly. A special thank you to Mrs. Daubney on all her work organizing, to the teachers who helped with the reception, to Mr. Long for his speech, but mostly to all our Veterans. We owe you so much and we thank you for being exemplars for our students of what it means to be a Leader, Thinker and Friend.

Honored to be a Bear,

Julie L. Payne, Principal

Parents,

Progress reports are an important way we communicate with each family on how their child is performing at school in each academic area and how they are doing socially and with work skills. This Saturday, November 16th our first trimester progress reports will be available on Infinite Campus. There are some changes to our Elementary Progress Reports this year. Please click on the link below to listen to and watch a video about these changes or you can read the attached document that also helps understand these reports. Our teachers spend a lot of time on these reports to give you an accurate view of how your child is progressing. We appreciate you taking the time to look them over and partner with us to help your child be as successful as possible.

Sincerely, Julie Payne, principal and Alexandra Skura, counselor

Our lobby really filled up throughout the week with so many donations! We can't wait for them to be put to great use at the Worthington Food Pantry! THANK YOU for your kindness and generosity.

Be on the lookout next week as we'll be sending home a flyer and collection envelope with all the details about Turkey Trot 2024!

Interested in volunteering for the event? Sign up here.

Please mark your calendars and join us!

Our goal to is create the most focused learning environment possible. Students have been doing a great job keeping watches and cell phones in backpacks this year. As our district works to finalize their cell phone and smartwatch policy, I just wanted to send out a reminder.

Update on Elementary Technology Practices

As technology continues to become more present in our student’s lives, Worthington Schools has been seeking to better understand the impacts of technology in our classrooms. All schools in Ohio are required to adopt a policy regarding cell phone use by July 2025. Superintendent Dr. Bowers recently presented student, community, and staff feedback regarding cell phone use in our schools and Worthington’s progress toward defining a cell phone policy which you can view here.

Based on this feedback, we are adjusting our technology practices at the elementary level. Students at our elementary schools have always been asked to silence cell phones and are required to keep them in their bookbags during the school day. Now, this practice will also apply to smartwatches and other wearable technology.

This change supports a more focused and distraction-free classroom environment while still allowing students to access technology for communication to and from school. We understand that many families find value in features like location tracking, and this adjustment allows for these needs to be met without interrupting the school day. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to create the best learning experience for all our students!

Should you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

WABFE Newsletter

The Worthington Alliance of Black Families & Educators (WABFE) fall newsletter is now available. You will find it below.

WABFE Fall Newsletter

Worthington Schools Special Education department is thrilled to partner with Cover to Cover Books for the first Inclusive Book Fair November 11-18.

The book fair will showcase a variety of K-12 books by diverse authors on topics such as disabilities, inclusion, and cultural appreciation. Please see the link below for more information.

Inclusive Book Fair

Do you enjoy art, music, or dance? Do you have an interest in writing, producing films and taking photos? Then join us and have fun unleashing your inner artist with the return of PTA Reflections!

Each year, there is a new theme chosen, and artists are to Reflect on what the theme means to them. They then interpret the theme by creating their choice of artwork! Use the arts to share your personal Reflections on this year's theme : "ACCEPTING IMPERFECTION"

Learn more, and get inspired HERE and HERE

Artists can enter any of the following Categories:

1. Dance Choreography

2. Film Production

3. Literature

4. Music Composition

5. Photography

6. Visual Arts

7. Special Arts*

Arts will be placed into divisions for Judging, based on grade level:

1. Primary: Kindergarten- Grade 2

2. Intermediate: Grades 3-5

3. *Special Arts Division- Students who identify as having a disability and may receive services under IDEA or ADA: Section 504. Welcomes students from all grades and abilities and offers non-artistic accommodations for students to participate.

Awards: Student winners will be selected based off of the following:

1. Interpretation of the them

2. Creativity

3. Technical Skill

Timeline & How to Enter:

· CALL FOR ENTRIES: Now through Friday November 22nd.

· How to Submit Entries:

Ensure that submissions follow the Category rules on pages 1-2 of attached documents.

Fill out the attached Student Entry form in its entirety.

Submit your entries to homeroom teacher, Related Arts teacher, front office, or by emailing riddlecl@gmail.com

· Announcement of Winners: Week of December 2nd!

· Winners in each category will be submitted to the District PTA Reflections program. If a Bluffsview artist is selected at the regional level they will be sent on to the State PTA January 2025, and then on the National PTA in the Spring!

We are hopeful that you will join us this year with Bluffsview Reflections! Questions? Email Colleen at riddlecl@gmail.com

• Nov 26- Turkey Trot
• Nov 27-29- No School – Thanksgiving Break

The calendar for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year is at this link.

Worthington Schools is planning a change in how our Infinite Campus email is delivered. We plan to make the change before the end of this calendar year.

Prior to the change, all parents of students in Worthington Schools should view the brief parent guide linked below to ensure that emails continue to get delivered to your email inbox.

Parent Guide to Ensure Email is Received

When your child can't come to school it is important to let the office know. You can do this in two ways-

1) Call 614-450-5100 and report the absence.

2) Email bluattend@wscloud.org

Please be sure to communicate your child's name, date of the absence and reason for the absence.

THANK YOU! If you communicate it in any other way it might not get communicated to the right people and we may call looking for your child. This causes undue panic. Thanks for your help on this!

IF you missed it and you need help with technology, here are the things that were shared so that you can make sure you are receiving all the information and are able to help your child at home.

HelloID

Infinite Campus

Worthington App

Free and Reduced Application for Breakfast and Lunch