Big Bend Elementary Newsletter

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Phone: 262.363.4401 OFFICE: #0 / ATTENDANCE: #1 / HEALTH ROOM: #3

Fax: 262.662.1309

Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

School Hours: 8:30-3:35

Happy New Year! I hope everyone has a joyful and restful holiday season. A heartfelt thank you to all our parents and families who joined us for the holiday concert in December,your support and enthusiasm made the event truly special for our students.

As we settle into January, we’re gearing up for winter assessments. These evaluations help us understand your child’s progress and tailor instruction to meet their needs. We appreciate your continued partnership in fostering a positive learning environment, and we encourage you to reach out if you have any questions about the upcoming assessments or your child’s learning journey. Let’s make 2025 a fantastic year together!

Greg Burton

Building Principal

Big Bend Elementary School

w230s8695 Big Bend Drive

Big Bend, WI 53103

262-363-4401 ext. 21500

Did your student receive a high tech gift this holiday? We ask that you remind your student of the school board policy for the district schools including here at Big Bend Elementary. The policy prohibits students from using their own personal communication device - specifically cell phones - during the school day and during school-sponsored activities. Except as authorized by a teacher, administrator or IEP team, students must power off their cell phone and other PCD and store them out of sight at all times once they have entered the building for the school day.

Personal Wireless Devices at Big Bend (including smart watches)

At the elementary level, we discourage students from bringing personal electronic devices unless they are required for a medical condition. This is due to the considerable cost of these devices and the fact that damage or loss could occur. If a student brings a personal device to school, the family agrees to retain liability for the device. School staff will not assume any responsibility for its safekeeping, and it will not be covered under district insurance policies.

Winter weather is here! Be sure to review MASD's procedures for closing school due to extreme cold or unsafe roads.

The following rules are in place to help keep students safe:

1. Any day it is below 50º students are required to wear a coat.

2. Any day it is below 35º students are required to wear hats and mittens

3. Kindergarten – 3rd grade students are required to wear snow pants & changeable boots if they are in the snow.

4. Fourth – 6th grade students are required to wear changeable boots if they are in the snow.

5. Students without boots will stay on blacktop.

As inclement weather becomes more of a reality here in WI, we are asking drivers to follow the procedures below when dropping or picking up your student(s) from the drop off/pick up area.

*Please do not arrive in the drop off up area prior to 8:00am.

*Please do not arrive in the Pick up area prior to 3:00pm.

*No Left turn out of parking lot. This is very dangerous at dismissal time and can hold up the pick up process.

We need to keep the area clear of cars for proper snow removal or salting.

Thank you for your cooperation in advance.

View a real-time, map-based bus located for your child's bus route on your mobile device!

1. Download the Zonar MyView app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Enter our district code (MASD1).
3. Enter your child's school ID number.
4. Create alert zones around drop-off and pick-up points.

When your child's bus enters an alert zone, you will receive notifications by email or text.

Click here to view full parent instructions for the Zonar MyView app or this brief guide with directions.

lies here.

There are now two ways you can report an absence. First, you can always call the attendance line by phone at 262-363-4401 and press 1 for the attendance line. The second "new" convenient way to report an absence is to do it from your parent portal. This includes a late arrival or early dismissal due to appointments. If you could please leave the teacher's name in the comment section it is very helpful. Please note, the teachers do not see the attendance report if done on the portal. Please continue to send in a blue communication note if you have a early dismissal, late arrival the next day, or change in dismissal plans. This way the teacher will have that information as well. If you have any questions regarding this procedure or any other attendance related questions, please contact Mrs. Zimmerman in the office by phone or email.

Your student must be absent for two or more days to request homework. If you are requesting homework to be picked up in the office, it will not be ready for pick up until the end of the school day. Teachers need time to prepare it for your individual student. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

As part of Wisconsin's early literacy law, Act 20, districts are required to offer families of students in Kindergarten through Grade 3 who require additional literacy support a family literacy history survey. Due to the tight timelines we have to collect this information, we are offering this brief 5-question survey to all of our K-3 families at this time.

For all families with students in K-3, click here to access the survey. Families with multiple students in K-3 should fill it out for each child. Please complete the survey by January 22.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

Our 2025 4K Parent Information Night will be held Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. It will be held at the Greenwald Foundation PAC at Mukwonago High School. Don't miss it!

Last Friday, 5th and 6th grade classroom winners competed in our school Spelling Bee. Congratulations to all the spellers- you all did a fantastic job!

Congratulations to our winner, Tristan! He will be moving on to the Regional Spelling Bee- Good Luck!

Students in Band, Orchestra, and Choir have been learning the music for their concert and we are excited to share their wonderful efforts and talents with all of you. Below, please find the relevant details regarding the concert.

Who: 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students in Band, Orchestra, and Choir

Where: Big Bend Elementary School Auditorium

When: Thurs, Jan. 16th at 6:30 PM. Students should report between 6:00 and 6:15pm

Dress Code:

• White Dress shirt (no words or pictures) - Can be long or short-sleeved

• Choir students can wear their white “Choir” T-shirts. If students are in both Choir and Band or Orchestra, please wear a plain white dress shirt, to match the rest of the instrumental ensemble.

• Black Dress pants or jeans, black skirt, or a dress

• Black dress shoes with black socks. Please no high heels for safety.

• Try to avoid bright “neon” colors

• Finally, please be sure that student outfits follow the school dress code

The daytime concert will be on the same day (1/16/25) in the morning at 9:45am.

All students in Band & Orchestra should plan to have their instruments and sheet music at school all day on Thursday January 16th

If you have any questions about the concert, please send an email to:

Mrs. Schroeder, 4K-6th Grade Elementary Music Teacher at BBES; schrobr@masd.k12.wi.us,

Ms. Kosier, Orchestra Director at RHES, BBES, PVES;kosieja@masd.k12.wi.us

or Mr. Warrichaiet, Band Director at CES,BBES; warribe@masd.k12.wi.us

We look forward to seeing you at the concert!

For ultimate school safety, we ask that you please register online if you or other family members plan on attending the Morning concert at Big Bend Elementary. This will save time on the day of the concert. Those that do not pre-register will need to provide a driver's license in the office and be scanned in our security Raptor System. PLEASE NOTE: THIS DOES NOT RESERVE A CHAIR.

*This sign up is only for the 9 :45 am performance on 1/16/25. There is no need to sign up for the evening performance.

9:45 am performance at BBES (guests are asked to pre-register)

PTO MEETING- JANUARY 9th @ 6:30 PM- We encourage everyone to attend our monthly meetings. All are welcome! Meetings are held the second Thursday of the month in the library. You can also attend virtually using the zoom link below!

HOLIDAY SHOPPE WRAP UP- We hope you enjoy your special gifts.

This is always an exciting and memorable day for our tiny shoppers as they choose, what they consider to be, the perfect gifts for their loved ones. Thank you to everyone that volunteered to help the shoppe run smoothly. We appreciate you! We also want to thank our student council members as well. You were a HUGE help!! Plus, an extra big thank you to Shannon T. who purchased the majority of the items for the shoppe as well as Sarah V. for managing the shoppe. We are already thinking ahead to next year's shoppe. We will continue to collect any neutral gift bags. We are not asking you to purchase new. Looking for any used gift bags you have collected this holiday season that you are willing to share. Please send them to the office.

VIRTUAL SNOWMAN COMPETITION- JANUARY 3rd- MARCH 3rd- Let’s hope for some good packing

snow for this year's virtual snowman competition. Take a photo with your snowman and email your entry to julielynnklawitter@gmail.com. Be sure to include your name, grade and teacher with your entry. Awesome prize baskets for the top 5 entries. Check out our facebook and instagram pages this winter to see all of the creative snowmen built by our BBES kids.

SPRING DANCE & BASKET RAFFLE- MARCH 7th from 6-8 PM- The theme for this year's spring

dance has been chosen!! Join us for “A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES”!! Concessions, dancing, raffle baskets and more! Come dressed as your favorite movie character or dressed to impress! Receive any gifts this holiday season that you can’t return? Consider donating them to one of our awesome baskets that will be raffled off on the night of the dance. Basket raffle classroom coordinators still needed for KH, KL, 2G, 2J, 3M, 3V, 4RB, 4W, 5C, 5G, & 6S. Please sign up using the link below if you are able. More details regarding this event will be shared after winter break!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for our upcoming events. Please sign up if you can help. THANKS!!

• SPRING DANCE BASKET RAFFLE CLASSROOM COORDINATOR:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0E4EA5AB2DABFB6-51865382-spring

What’s Coming Up...

• VIRTUAL SNOWMAN COMPETITION- 1/3-3/3

• FEBRUARY PTO MEETING- 2/13 @ 6:30 PM
• SPRING DANCE AND BASKET RAFFLE- 3/7 from 6-8 PM

PTO MEETING ZOOM LINK

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87433901291?pwd=KC1W5xCQFpn3jgSbV54aX1sah5ceIt.1

PASSCODE- 970099

LIKE us on Facebook: Big Bend PTO ~ JOIN our Instagram @BIGBENDPTO

To get up to date information on events, fundraisers, and PTO happenings, check out the BIG BEND PTO Facebook page.

Don't forget to scan your receipts for Box Tops! Many products still have Box Tops, but you no longer have to cut them out. All you have to do is download the app, create an account, and scan your receipt. Any eligible products will automatically be found and the rebate will be added to your BBES account.

https://www.boxtops4education.com/