Be Respectful

Excellent Effort

Stay Safe

Take Responsibility

To be a productive citizen, you will able to...

• Communicate and Collaborate Effectively
• Solve Problems
• Persevere
• Be Culturally and Socially Respectful

We hope everyone had a relaxing spring break and are ready for the home stretch to conclude the 2024-25 school year.

There are many events/activities happening between now and commencement (yes, commencement isn't far off...).

• Seniors and senior parents/guardians, were recently sent information regarding a timeline for events leading up to commencement on Sunday, May 18th.

We often hear the phrase, "Do The Right Thing."

One of the hardest things to do in life is to do the right thing. What you think is the right thing. Not what your friends, family, teachers, boss and society thinks is the right thing. What is the right thing? That's up to you to decide. Often you have a little voice in your head that tells you what the right thing is. Or a gut feeling. It might tell you to get up from the couch, stop eating those snacks and go to the gym instead. Sometimes you will put on your exercise clothes and go. Sometimes you will not.

When you see someone who is struggling either physically, emotionally, etc. Do the right thing. Stand up for that individual and support them through the issue(s) they face at that given moment. Don't take a back seat and "assume" everything will be ok... Be the difference that helps them through that very moment. Seek a trusted adult for assistance and support. Don't walk away or turn your shoulder because you don't want to get involved or don't want to seek help. Take a stance and HELP! Too many times friends don't stick up for others in times of desperate need. You can change that! "Just Do The Right Thing."

Academic Awards Recognition: We are looking forward to celebrating our Evening of Excellence recognition honoring students who have maintained a 3.5 cumulative GPA at the conclusion of semester 1. This will be held on Wednesday, April 23rd @ 6:30 in the auditorium.

We will recognize the following:

• 9th grade - 66 students

• 10th grade - 82 students

• 11th grade - 50 students

* 65 Seniors will be recognized during Senior Awards Night on May 14th.

Prom 2025

Will be Saturday, April 26th. Please see more information below and also an article from SRO, Deputy Schnur regarding information and statistics related to underage drinking.

LOOKING AHEAD...

Next Grade Post: is on Tuesday, April 29th.

We hope everyone enjoys the remaining days this month of April and we look forward to a great end to the school year. Be your best YOU!

Respectfully,

Erik Garnass

@erikgarnass

Follow us...

Facebook: BondurantFarrarHS

X: @BF_HighSchool & @BlueJayNation

Website: bfschools.org

Congratulations to the following students for being recognized as 2024-2025 March Students of the Month in respective departments!

Congratulations to the March Students of the Month:

Art - Chiara Bertozzi (12)

AG - Jaiden Bailey (10)

Business - Peyton Minion (11)

FCS - Ila O’Braza (10)

Industrial Technology - Drew Farver (11)

Language Arts - Paige Gossard (12)

Math - Caelyn Wipperman (10)

Music - Theo McNew (10)

PE/Health - Gabby Hobbs (9)

Science - Charley Smith (11)

Social Studies - Brynn Tate (11)

World Language - Avery Levenhagen (11)

Important Dates:

April 8th-11th: ISASP Testing

April 11-13th: Once Upon a Mattress

April 14th: Softball Mandatory Meeting Parents & Players - 6-7pm

April 15th: Webb Scholarship must be postmarked

April 21st: No School – Professional Development for Teachers

April 26th: PROM

May 1st: Post-Secondary Decision Day
May 30th: Last Day of School (students) – 1:00 Dismissal

UPCOMING SENIOR DATES

• April 12th- Graduation speeches are due to Mr. Garnass

• April 15th- Webb Scholarship due- must be postmarked no later than this date

• April 18th- Deadline for the majority of local scholarships

• May 1st- Post Secondary Decision Day

• May 13-14th -- Senior semester assessments

• May 14th @ 7:00 p.m. -- Senior Awards Night--Scholarships, Department Awards, etc.— High School Auditorium

• May 15th -- Last Day for Seniors — Senior checkout, Senior Walk

• May 16th @ 9:30 a.m. — Senior luncheon, commencement rehearsal

• May 18th @ 2:00 p.m. -- Outdoor Commencement

It’s hard to believe that May is right around the corner! Our last grade check before the end of the year is April 29th. Finish strong! With spring now here, and hopefully sunny and nice weather here to stay (no more snow), make sure you are taking the time to get outside and practice healthy self-care!

Scholarship Information:

All of the local scholarships are due this month! Please make sure you check out our website for a list of the local scholarships that are available for students to apply to! Students need to use the transcript request link on the high school website for all transcript needs. Please request transcripts now! Also, make sure you have asked for your letters of recommendation now as well. You want to give those writing your letter plenty of time! We will have WIN sessions for seniors to come and work on the scholarship applications and/or ask any questions they have on the applications.

The online local scholarship application will be closed at 3:30 P.M. on Friday, April 18th. All online local scholarship applications must be submitted by that time and date. The paper applications due on April 18th must also be turned into the school counseling office by 3:30 P.M.

Webb Scholarship: This application needs to be postmarked by April 15th. This application has many components, so please get started on it now!

Post-Secondary Planning Tidbits:

Seniors will need to accept their financial aid packages from the institution they will be attending. Most likely, this was emailed to the student or the student received an email to access the award letter on a college account if they have one already. If you have not received or accepted your financial aid package and need any help with that process, please reach out to your post-secondary school, your school counselor, or Ms. Riley.

May 1st is National Decision Day! We will still celebrate all our seniors' post-secondary plans on National Decision Day, Thursday, May 1st. More details will be sent to seniors and parents later this month. Just a reminder that seniors should accept admission to the college they will attend by May 1st.

Post-secondary institutions will receive a final transcript after senior check outs are completed. The final semester of the senior year does count the same, and colleges will look at the final grades and the cumulative GPA. If your senior has received a scholarship that is contingent on a cumulative GPA, it could be removed from the financial aid award if they no longer meet the requirements.

If you have any questions about upcoming senior activities or questions regarding post-secondary planning, please contact your student’s school counselor.

Upcoming dates:

April 8th-11th: ISASP Testing

April 15th: Webb Scholarship must be postmarked

April 18th: All Local Scholarships are due

May 1st: Post-Secondary Decision Day

BF Bluejays

Check out the latest episode of The Rant. It features:

• Tour & update of the new HS Wing
• Profile of a unique artist
• Variety show highlights
• State Wrestling Recap
• FFA Breakfast
• Jaywalking

TICKETS ON SALE!

The link to tickets is:

https://my.hometownticketing.com/agency/80213d55-f163-4f97-836b-5ac5d848ba22

April 11-12 @ 7pm

April 13 @ 2pm

Our musical cast welcomed some community members for a breakfast with the royals event on Saturday, March 29th. They performed some songs, made some crowns, and had a great time!

Pre Prom Doors open at 4pm - Promenade 4:30pm

The Dance - 8-11pm

Post Prom - Doors open at 11:30p -

Prom tickets are to be purchased through Revtrak, and may ONLY be purchased by BFHS students & their parents. Please make sure to enter First & Last names of each dance attendee you purchase tickets for. Please follow the link below to purchase tickets.

https://bfschools.revtrak.net/r1#/f/BFHS-Prom-Tickets-2025

Prom is an event for juniors and seniors at BFHS, but you are more than welcome to invite guests!

Underclassmen at BFHS are welcome to attend as the guest of a junior or senior, just make sure to select the appropriate grade level when purchasing tickets, and complete and return a guest form.

Students are allowed to invite guests from outside BFHS, to be allowed entry into the dance a guest approval form must be completed and turned into the office by Wednesday, April 23, 2025. This form can be picked up from Sara in the office.

Ticket sales will close, and guest forms have to be turned in by 3:15pm on Wednesday, April 23rd.

NO exceptions will be made.

Who's ready to sail on the After Prom BondVoyage Cruise?

Please navigate the BondVoyage website for all the information you will need.

https://bondvoyage2025.weebly.com/

What will the website tell you....

-how to purchase tickets

-where to sign permission slips

-Find out what all the BondVoyage cruise has to offer

-Parents Volunteer Needs

We hope all juniors and seniors join us for a fun and safe night on the BondVoyage Cruise!

For individual links: please use:

https://bondvoyage2025.weebly.com (Website)

https://form.jotform.com/240596060039152 (Permission slip)

Bondurant Farrar After Prom: 2025 After Prom (Volunteer Sign Up)

https://www.vancoevents.com/us/events/landing/53276?qr=true&qr=true (Tickets)

The music department held their annual Solo/Small Ensemble festival at the high school with a record number of participants! Everyone did really great work in preparing and then performed in front of a judge who wrote comments and gave them a rating - the below students were picked as the best of the night.

At state individual speech, BFHS brought 17 events. Out of those 17, seven were recognized as all-state, one of the highest achievements in the Iowa High School Speech Association.

Paige Gossard, Isabelle Edge, Karissa Duden, Skylar Smith, Sienna Lewis, and Theo McNew all received this honor, with BOTH of Sienna's pieces being recognized.

Seven events were selected for all-state speech, and five performed at UNI on Monday, March 31st (Sienna Lewis, Isabelle Edge, Karissa Duden, Skylar Smith, and Theo McNew)

The BFHS Variety Show featured Concert Choir, Select Choir, Jazz Choir, and many other talented acts

Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) partners with Iowa schools to deliver career development programming, including leadership training, career education, individualized guidance, and employer engagement.

7th period Personal Finance class. 43% of my class are celebrating birthdays in a span of 2 and a half weeks (March 21- April 9).

The NFHS has partnered with Crisis Text Line to encourage mental health support for teens across the country. Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention in English and Spanish by empowering a community of trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need. Crisis Text Line promotes mental well-being for individuals, wherever they are. Individuals are encouraged to text the keyword “SHIELD” to 741741 if they are experiencing a mental health crisis – anything from suicidal thoughts or abusive relationships to difficult conversations with parents or anxiety about school workload.

Here's an exciting opportunity for your school to offer Driver Education to your students online. Safe2Drive’s Iowa Parent-Taught Driver Education course allows parents to teach their teens Driver Education in order to qualify for their driver’s license. The course consists of online coursework and an instruction manual for parents to teach the behind-the-wheel component of Driver Education to their teen. As of July 1st, the Parent-Taught Driver Education online course is no longer exclusive for families of homeschooled children but is available to any student who would otherwise qualify and who is currently attending a public school or accredited nonpublic school, or who is receiving homeschool education under chapter 299A.

If you’d like to offer your students Safe2Drive’s online course, we can provide you with a promo code for your students to get a discount on the course price, or we can pay you an affiliate fee for each student you refer—it’s up to you! This is a great way to provide a low-cost and convenient option for your students to fulfill their Driver Education requirement and get their driver’s license. Your school can even earn money while doing it!

So, what are you waiting for? Promo code: BFHS10

We look forward to working together to provide Iowa’s teens with the education they need to be safe on the road.

Sincerely,

Penny Beaty, Marketing Manager

www.safe2drive.com

We have quite a few openings for classes starting soon at Bondurant HS.

"Driver education classes are currently available for registration at Bondurant HS at StreetSmartsDriversEd.com or you may call our office to register over the phone at 515-279-1112 Monday through Friday from 8 am - 4:30 pm. Currently we have classes starting 1/4, and 2/17."

Street Smarts Driver Education

Click here: Prepare your teen to drive!

As a valued member of our school community, your input is wanted and valued. We all have a vested interest in making sure that Bondurant-Farrar High School meets the needs of our stakeholders. We encourage your thoughts on solutions to problems you see from your perspective. Do you see a process that can be improved upon? Do you have a solution to improve current practices? Do you have creative insight into how we can grow in serving all of our students? We want to hear it!

Please fill out the fields below to outline the issue you want to address and a solution you think would be helpful. While not all suggestions may not be implemented, all will be reviewed and considered.

You can submit your suggestion and remain anonymous if you like.

You only need to submit your contact information IF you want to receive feedback regarding your suggestion.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Parent/Student/Community Suggestion Box

Many of our families have utilized our electronic form to submit COVID-related questions and comments throughout the pandemic. Because of its success, we've created a new form to electronically submit GENERAL comments, questions, and concerns. This is in an effort to increase opportunities for two-way communication with district stakeholders. The link is referenced in this communication guide and can be found anytime in the footer of our website. Visit: www.bfschools.org/contactus

CLICK HERE for FREE virtual counseling and assistance for all Iowans needing support

If you or someone you know is in need of resources dealing with mental health or addiction, please visit our link HERE. Please reach out to our school counselors at any time!

You can contact Mr. Hotek at hotekm@bfschools.org

February was ❤️National Heart Month❤️!
Every building now has 2 PhysioControl LifePak CR2 AEDs.

Per the handbook (and Iowa Code 281-14.1 and 281-14.2)

Definition of medication:

Those health products covered by the medication policy include all prescription medications and over the counter products, including but not limited to pain relievers (Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Alieve, etc) cold remedies, cough syrups, antacids, cough drops, throat lozenges, etc.

Written consent on a dated statement:

A parent/guardian signature on a statement requesting and authorizing the school personnel to administer medication must accompany the medication (Policy 507.2)

Security:

No medications are to be carried during school hours by students, nor stored in pockets, purses, school bags, lunch boxes, lockers, sports equipment bags, etc. The ONLY exception would be with a physician’s written orders and a parent/guardian written authorization for a student to self cary. (IA code 280-16.1)

ALL medications, either prescription or over the counter, must be brought to the school nurse by a parent or authorized and approved adult. Parents/authorized adults will be required to double count and sign a form for all medication (initial, refills and returns) Absolutely no medications are to be transported to/from school by any student. Any student found with unauthorized medication will be referred to school administration.

Just a reminder of a couple things at the end of the year.

1) All Juniors need a second dose of the meningococcal vaccine to be able to return to school this fall. If you take CPR over the summer, please bring a copy of it to school so you can get that graduation requirement checked off. If you completed CPR during health 1, this completes the graduation requirement.

2) All incoming 9th graders need a dental screening.

3) All athletes need a sports physical prior to participation - this includes marching band, as well as cheerleading, dance and sports.

4) Finally, a reminder of the policy regarding medications at school as listed below (from the handbook)

Administration of Medication to Students

A. Proper labeling:

Prescribed medication: All prescribed medications shall be maintained in the original prescription container and labeled with the following:

• Name of student

• Name of medication

• Directions for use/storage

• Name of physician

• Name and address of pharmacy

• Date of prescription

• Over the counter medication: All over the counter medications shall be maintained in the original container in which they were purchased.

B. Parent/Guardian written consent on a dated statement:

A parent/guardian signature on a statement requesting and authorizing the school personnel to administer the medication must accompany the medication. BP 507.2

C. Record of administration:

Each time the medication is administered, a record shall be maintained in the nurse's office.

The record shall include the student's name, date, time, name of the medication, amount

given per electronic charting.

D. Medication reactions:

Any unusual conditions or behaviors following the administration of medication

should be reported to the school nurse, if available or to the parent/guardian

immediately. Reactions to medication should be recorded.

E. Definition of medications:

Those health products covered by the medication policy include all prescription medications and over-the-counter products, including but not limited to: pain relievers, cold remedies, cough syrups, antacids, cough drops, throat lozenges, etc.

F. Security:

1. No medications are to be carried during school hours by students nor stored in pockets, purses, school bags, lunch boxes, lockers, teacher desks, sports equipment bags, etc. The only exception would be with a physician’s written orders and a parent/guardian written authorization for a student to carry the medication with him/her for self-administration as necessary (i.e. inhalers, diabetic supplies, emergency medications).

2. ALL medications, either prescription or over-the-counter, must be brought to the school nurse by a parent or other authorized and approved adult. Absolutely no medications are to be transported to/from school by any student. Any student found with unauthorized medications will be referred to school administration.

3. All medications will be stored in a secure area, accessible only to those who are authorized to administer the medication.

4. The building principal shall designate those in each building who are authorized to administer the medications. Those authorized will receive instructions from the school nurse concerning administration and confidentiality of medications.

At the end of the school year or the end of the dispensing time, remaining medication must be picked up by the parent or an authorized and approved adult within two weeks of the last day of school. All medication not picked up will be disposed of in an appropriate manner in accordance with medication disposal guidelines as set forth by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency)

ATTENTION 11TH GRADE PARENTS/GUARDIANS

As you are making your student’s doctor’s appointment for their physical this year, please remember that the meningococcal vaccination is required after the age of 16, but before they can enter 12th grade. The Iowa Department of Public Health made changes to the Iowa Immunization laws several years ago There is NO grace period for this requirement. In order for your child to attend the first day of school in August 2024, written proof of these vaccinations must be provided to the High School Health Office.

On July 1, 2013, the Iowa Legislature made a change to the Iowa administrative code to require a second dose of the Meningitis (Meningococcal) vaccination for all adolescents enrolled in the 12th grade. This dose must be given after their 16th birthday. All students entering their senior year are required to have these vaccinations on file with the school nurse prior to the first day of school. Please call your healthcare provider or the Polk County Health Department for more information and to set up an appointment to receive this important vaccination or to obtain a properly executed medical or religious exemption form.

All athletes need a sports physical before participation - this includes marching band, as well as cheerleading, dance, and sports .

As the School Resource Officer for the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District, I will distribute preventative information regarding several topics directed towards students and parents/guardians each month. Some topics will include, internet safety, tobacco use, drugs, alcohol use, stranger danger, vandalism/criminal mischief, assault, sexual crimes, gang activity, peer pressure, texting and driving just to name few.

Alcohol is the most widely used substance of abuse among America’s youth, and can pose enormous health and safety risks.

- The consequences of underage drinking can affect everyone, regardless of age or drinking status. We all can feel the effects of the aggressive behavior, property damage, injuries, violence, and deaths that can result from underage drinking.

Statistics:

• By age 15, about 35% of teens have consumed alcohol
  
• By age 18, about 68% of teens have consumed
  
• 52% of 10th graders believe it’s easy to obtain alcohol
  
• 8.7 million people aged 12-20 consumed alcohol in the past month
  
• 35% of high school students drank alcohol in the past 30 days
  
• People aged 12-20 drink 11% of all alcohol consumed

Underage Binge Drinking: On average, a teen drink’s more alcohol in a single sitting than adults do. The excitement of drinking, mixed with peer pressure and an overabundance of alcoholic beverages, can cause kids to drink excessively and get dangerously inebriated.

• What is binge drinking? Consuming an excessive amount over a short period of time.
  
• When does binge drinking typically occur? College and high school parties and social events.

Binge Drinking Stats:

• 1 in 6 teens binge drink
  
• Only 1% of parents believe their teen binge drinks
  
• 21% of high school students binge drank within the past 30 days
  
• 90% of alcohol consumed by teens involves binge drinking
  
• 210,000 ER visits are related to underage drinking
  
• 88,129 deaths in all ages are caused by excessive drinking each year
  
• 4,300 underage deaths are caused by excessive drinking each year

• 1,580 deaths from motor vehicle crashes average per year
• 1,269 from homicides average per year
• 245 from alcohol poisoning, falls, burns, and drowning average per year
• 492 from suicides average per year

Underage drinking and driving facts:

• Teens drink and drive approximately 2.4 million times a month
  
• 1 in 5 teen drivers involved in fatal crashes have alcohol in their system
  
• 85% of high school students who drink and drive say they binge drank
  
• In the past 30 days, 22% of high school students rode with a driver who’d been drinking
  
• Kids who start drinking young are 7 times more likely to be in an alcohol-related crash

Additional risks include:

- Impairs judgment: Drinking can lead to poor decisions about engaging in risky behavior, including drinking and driving, sexual activity (such as unprotected sex), and aggressive or violent behavior.

- Increases the risk of physical and sexual assault: Underage youth who drink are more likely to carry out or be the victim of a physical or sexual assault after drinking than others their age who do not drink.

- Can lead to other problems: Drinking may cause youth to have trouble in school or with the law. Drinking alcohol can also be associated with the use of other drugs.

Increases the risk of alcohol problems later in life: Research shows that people who start drinking before the age of 15 are 4 times more likely to meet the criteria for alcohol dependence at some point in their life.

- Interferes with brain development: Research shows that young people’s brains keep developing well into their 20s. Alcohol can alter this development, potentially affecting both brain structure and function. This may cause cognitive or learning problems and/or make the brain more prone to alcohol dependence.

Iowa Code:

Operating while intoxicated, Iowa Code 321J.2A: A person who is under the age of twenty-one shall not operate a motor vehicle while having an alcohol concentration of .02 or more.

First time offense with a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) level less than 0.08, minors will have their license suspended for six months and are not eligible for a temporary restricted license. For offenses involving a BAC of 0.08 or higher, punishments include license suspension as well as up to one year in prison, and a fine of up to $1,250. You will also need to complete a course for drinking drivers and undergo a substance abuse evaluation or treatment program.

Public intoxication, Iowa Code 123.46: A person shall not use or consume alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer upon the public streets or highways. A person shall not use or consume alcoholic liquor in any public place except premises covered by a liquor control license. A person shall not possess or consume alcoholic liquors, wine, or beer on public school property or while attending a public or private school-related function. A person shall not be intoxicated in a public place. A person shall not simulate intoxication in a public place. A first offense public intoxication charge is a simple misdemeanor, usually resulting in arrest and mandating a fine of $65 to $625 and up to 30 days in jail.

Why do teens drink?

As teens mature, it is natural for them to assert their independence, seek new challenges, and try taking risks. Underage drinking is a risk that attracts many developing adolescents and teens. Many want to try alcohol, but often do not fully recognize its effects on their health and behavior. Other reasons young people drink alcohol include:

• Peer pressure
  
• Increased independence
  
• Stress

In addition, many youths may have easy access to alcohol. 95.1% of teens reported that they got it for free the last time they drank. In many cases, youths have access to alcohol through family members, or find it at home.

The Role Parents Play

Parents and teachers can play a big role in shaping young people’s attitudes toward drinking. Parents in particular can have either a positive or negative influence.

Parents can help their children avoid alcohol problems by:

• Talking about the dangers of drinking
  
• Drinking responsibly, if they choose to drink
  
• Serving as positive role models in general
  
• Not making alcohol available
  
• Getting to know their children’s friends
  
• Having regular conversations about life in general

• Connecting with other parents about sending clear messages about the importance of not drinking alcohol
• Supervising all parties to make sure there is no alcohol
• Encouraging kids to participate in healthy and fun activities that do not involve alcohol

Resources:

https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/UnderageDrinking/UnderageFact.htm

https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/teen-addiction/teen-drinking-stats/#gref

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/ico/chapter/321J.pdf

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/123.46.pdf

Email: garnasse@bfschools.org
Website: bfschools.org
Location: 1000 Grant Street North, Bondurant, IA, United States
Phone: (515) 957-8191
Twitter: @BFHS_News

It is the policy of the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district’s Equity Coordinator; Chad Carlson, Director of Administrative Services, 300 Garfield St SW, Bondurant, IA 50035, 515-967-7819, carlsonc@bfschools.org. -OR- Director of the Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661-7204, Telephone: (312) 730-1560, Facsimile: (312) 730-1576, Email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov

Many of our families have utilized our electronic form to submit COVID-related questions and comments throughout the pandemic. Because of its success, we've created a new form to electronically submit GENERAL comments, questions, and concerns. This is in an effort to increase opportunities for two-way communication with district stakeholders. The link is referenced in this communication guide and can be found anytime in the footer of our website. Visit: www.bfschools.org/contactus