Hello Everyone,

We have an excited 2 weeks at BCE. Here are a fun things that have occurred; Bike Safety (5th grade), Drumming with Ebu at the board meeting, Bear Paw Store, field trips, and 5th grade vs staff dodgeball. Want to send a BIG shout out to all the families that supported with the Bear Paw store today and for all the donations. The kids have such a great time shopping. Please make sure to ask your kids why they are earning Bear Paws and more about the BCE.

Next Friday is Crazy Hair Day. Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with. We will also be doing our first school wide Life Skills Assembly. If your child is being honored this month, your teacher will be reaching out.

We are excited to announce that BCE has received the highest award possible from the state of California for PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support), Platinum. We are so proud of our staff, student and community in helping build BCE as a space of safety, care, respect, and responsibility. We have worked hard to put systems and structures into place over the past 2 years. Thank you to all for helping to promote the BCE WAY!

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California Department of Public Health has recently updated the criteria/ recommendations for when to keep your child home from school. Please see the flyers below with the latest information.

Please see the Google from below regarding School Site Council. Our school is in need of two- three parents/guardians who would like to serve on School Site Council (SSC). SSC is a group of parents/guardians and school staff who are charged with authorizing and monitoring the safety plans for the school and School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) for BCE. The SPSA is a document that is required by the State that lays out what the school plans to do for the year and where we spend our money. There is a requirement that members must be elected. If you are interested in serving, then please complete the form below with a short bio/statement of interest. There are only 4 meetings per year, and they are from 2-3PM Please consider helping out.

Have a great weekend! The next Bear Mail will come out on Friday October 4th.

Gerri Fippin

Principal, BCE

BCE will welcome New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Lang, writer of the funny and charming Grumpy Monkey books! Grades TK through 2nd grade will meet her and hear her read her latest book at an assembly on Thursday, Sept.26th.

15% of sales of Grumpy Monkey books -signed by Ms.Lang!- will go back to the BCE Library! You can also order an adorable plush toy to accompany the book Come by the BCE office or Library for an order form. Or, you can get the order form here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DW1RtzWpspf3LP5Rksv6p8iooRtL_BFt/view?usp=sharing

From Parent Club-

Students can collect pledges per lap or a one-time donation, with a goal of raising $50 each. 100% of the funds raised help support BCE Parents Club sponsored programs and activities like school supplemental funding needs, staff appreciation and support initiatives, student scholarships, student enrichment programs, community building events and campus beautification/infrastructure improvements.

BONUS: Every student will receive a FREE Spirit Wear T-shirt at the event!

We are in need of Volunteers at this event: Sign Up Here. Volunteers must be cleared through the district office.

Cheer on Students: Families are welcome to attend and cheer for their students but must check in at the front office.

Walk/Jog-a-thon Schedule:
8:45-9:15 – TK/K
9:15-9:45 – 1st Grade
9:45-10:15 – 2nd Grade
10:15-10:45 – 3rd Grade
10:45-11:15 – 4th Grade
11:15-11:45 – 5th Grade

New This Year:Families can create an online pledge page for their child! Which can then be shared on social media, email, or by text. For those who prefer, paper pledge forms are also available.

Set up a student pledge page: Create a Page

From Parent Club

Each year, The Boardwalk hosts a Drive for Schools drawing, offering prizes such as five $1,000 cash prizes and a $25,000 grand prize. All funds raised go to BCE Parents Club to help support BCE enrichment programs and activities for students and teachers.

Tickets can be returned with payment to the school or your student's teacher. Additional tickets can be picked up at the BCE office or students teacher. You can also purchase more via credit card on campus on Tuesdays after school near the MP ROOM (Sept 17 – Oct 15).

Families can also purchase tickets at our Drive4Schools table in the community or on campus. The Parents Club invites you to consider volunteering to help us with ticket sales.: Sign Up Here.

Important Deadlines:

• Tickets and payments due by 8:30 am on October 18th.

• No tickets or payments will be accepted after the deadline.

For questions or extra tickets, please contact:
drive4schools@bceparentsclub.org

New Emergency Procedures

All Santa Cruz County Public Schools are implementing new shared Emergency Procedures.

This means that all schools, law enforcement, fire, and rescue will now all use the same terminology and language for emergency situations.

Students and staff training we will begin having drills with these new procedures soon.

Below is an explanation of the new procedures.

EVACUATION (Green)

When: Fire or Smoke, Gas Leak, Hazardous Materials, Natural Disasters, Building Structural Issues, Bomb Threat

Notification: Evacuate the building... Evacuate the building… Evacuate the building

Action: GET OUTSIDE! Evacuate the building, Bring belongings if possible, Teacher grab go bag, Evacuate to a Safe Place based on what is occurring

Take Attendance and notify Office if students are missing/injured or if you have other teachers’ students with you

REVERSE EVACUATION (Blue)

When: Dangerous situation outside of the building, Hazardous material, Dangerous Weather, Air Quality, Law Enforcement Activity in the general vicinity

Notification: Return to the Building... Return to the Building… Return to the Building

Action: GET INSIDE! Bring everyone inside, Take Attendance and Notify Office if students are missing / injured or if you have other teachers’ students with you

HALL CHECK (Yellow)

Similar to what we used to call “Shelter in Place”

When: Unknown person in the school, Student behavior escort/room clear,

Law Enforcement activity near school, Medical emergencies, other circumstances on or near campus

Notification: Hall Check.... Hall Check…. Hall Check

Action: Return immediately to Classroom. Lock Doors. Do Not Open Door. Continue Teaching

LOCKDOWN (Red)

When: If there is an immediate and credible threat inside or near the school premises, such as an armed intruder or an act of violence, a lockdown may be ordered to protect students, teachers, staff, and visitors.

Notification: Lockdown.... Lockdown…. Lockdown

Action: Lock Doors, Turn off Lights, Close Windows, Close Curtains/Blinds, Create Barricades, Take Attendance, Maintain Silence

We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make this year’s BCE Yearbook unforgettable! Whether you’re a budding photographer, a creative designer, or a detail-oriented organizer, we have a spot for you. Be part of a fun and rewarding experience as we document the highlights of the school year and create a keepsake that everyone will treasure.

Visit https://bit.ly/BCEyearbook25 or email us at yearbook@bceparentsclub.org for more information.

Drop Off and Pick Up

We have had several issues the past couple of weeks at both drop off and pick up. Please know that all of us out at the cross walk are only trying to keep our students and families safe. I wanted to remind everyone to please first be Kind and Patient. Here are a few reminders about pick up and drop off

• You can drop off on either side of Laurel Street.
• You can NOT drop off coming up on Lomond street.
• You can only leave your car in designated parking spots on Laurel street.
• Make sure you are not parking in front of our neighbors drive ways
• On Lomond Street, you need to park in the right direction. Buses are not able to get through when cars are away from the side and parked in the wrong direction.
• When walking down Lomond Street please use the sidewalk. We have had a few close calls with kids and parents walking in the center of the street.

Thank you everyone for helping ensure safety of all of our students. Below is the parking map again for reference.

We will continue to provide free lunch to all students this year. We do ask that you complete the application on the district webpage. It is very important that ALL families complete this form, as it helps us with funding in several different areas.

If your child will be riding the bus this year and will need a bus pass, please make sure you purchase your bus pass online here. Once you log in to LinqConnect you will see "School Store" on the bottom right hand corn. Click that to buy your pass. Any questions contact the transportation department at 831-336-2223

Please also complete the following form for all students riding the bus.