Bushy Bear Tales
Edition 1- August 21, 2019
Bushy Park Elementary School
Keith West, Assistant Principal
Email: julia_bialeski@hcpss.org
Website: http://bpes.hcpss.org
Location: 14601 Carrs Mill Road, Woodbine, MD, United States
Phone: (410) 313-5500
Twitter: @hcpss_bpes
Welcome to the 2019-2020 School Year!
What an exciting time! This morning, we welcomed our incredible BPES staff back for their opening week, and we are looking forward to welcoming over 600 students for the start of an incredible year. We hope that this newsletter provides your family with valuable information you need to prepare for the 2019-20 school year at Bushy Park!
This summer, we enjoyed engaging with returning and new BPES families during our Popsicles on the Playground, New Families Picnic, and Kindergarten Play Date! In addition, we met one on one with over 40 staff members to learn about the traditions and culture of Bushy Park. In collaboration with our staff, our PTA President, Mr. Randee Wilding, and the PTA executive board, we have been planning for an exciting year full of opportunities to build connections with one another.
The Bushy Bear Tales will be sent out bi-monthly. We encourage you to read it in order to stay up-to-date on what is happening at BPES.
We look forward to beginning a memorable year together. Is there something you are wondering about that we haven't included here? Please feel free to contact either of us at any time. We are here to serve your family and provide each and every child with a place to belong at Bushy Park!
Fondly,
Julia Bialeski, Principal
Keith West, Assistant Principal
Thank you to the BPES PTA!
Important Upcoming Events!
Who Will Be My Child's Teacher?
All elementary parents who have updated their child's Family File for the 2019-20 year will be able to log in and view homeroom teacher assignments on Wednesday, August 28. Please see below for further information regarding how to log in to HCPSS Connect and update your Family File information. This must be updated each year for each child enrolled in our school.
School staff will also be available to assist families with identifying the name of homeroom teachers during our Open House programs next week.
Family File Emergency Form is Open in HCPSS Connect
HCPSS Connect is open to update your Family File. This information is very important and must be updated every year! Please take time to do this before the first day of school. In addition to ensuring that we have accurate information from you in the event of a health, safety, or medical emergency with your child, you will also not be able to view your child's homeroom teacher on Wednesday, August 28 if you have not yet updated this information.
You will be asked to update or provide the following information:
Parent/guardian contact information. Please provide the most current contact information.
Emergency contacts. Who do you want to pick up your child in case you cannot? We will only be able to release your child to those you have identified in Family File.
Medical information
Arrival and dismissal procedures. How will your child arrive to school and be dismissed on a daily basis? Additionally, provide what procedure your child should follow in case of an unscheduled early closing of schools.
Media coverage.
Data confidentiality.
PTA directory. What information do you want included in our BPES PTA Directory?
BUS UPDATE
Returning this year: Green Notes!
The Green Note was created as a way to provide safeguards for the following:
Documentation of the reason for student absence.
Documentation of alternate dismissal procedure:
Student being picked up early and documentation of who will pick them up.
Student attending an after school activity.
Student being picked up by car rather than riding the bus.
Student riding another bus for daycare purposes.
The Green Note has proven to be a reliable and valuable tool to monitor the safe comings and goings of 600+ students. Since every student is able to be a bus rider, the Green Note helps us document the exceptions. It also helps to forecast changes in a child’s usual schedule.
The PTA has ordered additional green notes for new BPES families and families who ran out last year. We are also looking for a way to collect extra, unused green notes that you may have at home.
It is urgently requested to have all green notes brought in at the beginning of the school day. Green notes are collected by homeroom teachers and sent to the office in the morning.
The office staff sorts green notes based on their purpose. Having them first thing in the morning helps us keep your child safe and ensure an efficient response to your request.
Here are some examples of how we monitor and support your family after receiving Green Notes for the following reasons:
Aftercare Program (Our staff ensures your child checks-in with the aftercare coordinator each day.)
After School Activity (These are submitted each day of attendance to the activity.)
Change in Transportation (For example, when a child will be a car rider rather than bus rider)
Early Pick-Up (Our office will be prepared to more quickly call down your child.)
In order to keep the process of accounting for alternate arrival and dismissal for our students, we ask the following:
Please strive to send a Green Note in the morning with your child.
If you need us to respond to an emergency that occurs after the start of the school day:
Call the office prior to 2:45 PM. and describe your situation. An Orange Note will be completed to respond to your request.
BACK THIS YEAR: ORANGE NOTES!
Documenting a request that has been phoned in by a parent after the school day has begun and prior to 2:45 p.m.
Documentation of an emergency alternate dismissal procedure:
This will include verification of permission for alternate activities or a different person picking up your child. This person would need to be on your Emergency Card to ensure their safety.
Mrs. Bialeski and Mr. West will receive a copy of each orange note in order to be notified of the emergency needs and to be responsive should anything in addition be required.
Supply List for 2019-2020
Coming Soon: PTA Fall Book Fair!
- Monday, September 23, 3pm – 7pm
- Tuesday, September 24, 8:30am – 12pm* and 3pm – 8pm Raffle Night
- Wednesday, September 25, 3pm – 7pm
- Thursday, September 26, 3pm – 7pm
*Special morning hours for Book Fair. Visitors may ONLY visit the mini auditorium.