BFA Preschool Newsletter
A Note from Preschool Director, Mrs. Hafner
It’s hard to believe we’ve already completed half of the school year! What a wonderful week it has been, filled with holiday preparations and the joy of the season. I hope you all have a magical holiday break with your families and create many beautiful memories together. We can’t wait to welcome you back in 2025! A heartfelt thank-you for the outpouring of thoughtful gifts and cards to myself and the staff this week. Your kindness has touched us deeply and made us feel so appreciated and special.
A big thank-you to everyone who joined our Zoom Holiday Program over the past two days! Seeing the children’s faces light up as their loved ones appeared on the screen was such a delight—it even left some of them speechless! We’ll be sending out the recordings over the break so you can enjoy them with your family. Feel free to share with family members who couldn’t join or watch it again with your little one!
When we return, we’ll kick off the year with Western Week! A reminder for Preschool 3’s and Busy Bee Full Day families to complete the Google form for the Wrangler lunch by December 27th. As of now, I’ve yet to receive responses for 16 children. If I don’t hear back by December 27th, we’ll assume you’re either packing lunch or opting for a school lunch, as supplies will be purchased based on confirmed responses.
Thank you all for an incredible first half of the year, and here’s to a joyful holiday season ahead!
Our preschool classrooms are bursting with holiday cheer this week! The kids are joyfully singing festive songs and creating colorful crafts, making the atmosphere bright and merry. Their excitement is contagious as they prepare for their upcoming Zoom Holiday Performances in just a week and a half!
We're also gearing up for Holiday Spirit Week, where we'll spread joy from head to toe. The kids can’t wait to perform their holiday songs live on Zoom while wearing their cozy PJs!
Starting January 6 (the first day back after the break), we will implement the following updated morning drop-off procedures to ensure a smoother process for everyone. These changes were also highlighted in Mrs. Simpson’s newsletter.
Attendance Notifications
It is essential to inform us if your child will not be attending school for the day. This allows us to finalize lunch counts and start the day efficiently without unnecessary delays.
- Please email your child’s teacher and copy me on the email. • Teachers may not always have time to check their emails before morning drop-off or after school has started, but I will have my computer during check-in to review attendance promptly.
Morning Drop-Off Times
- Preschool drop-off begins at 8:10 a.m. A preschool teacher will meet you outside to welcome your child.
- T/TH Pre-K students: Drop-off begins at 8:00 a.m.
- Preschool 3’s: Drop-off begins at 8:10 a.m.
PikMyKid App Check-In
Signing your child in and out via the PikMyKid app is a state-mandated requirement. Starting in January, I will begin checking the app again each morning to ensure your child has been signed in before they can enter.
- If your child is not signed in: We will need to call you to complete the process, which will delay their entry.
- Please note that only parents can check in their child unless the person dropping off has access to your account information.
We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation in meeting this requirement. Text message reminders are not resolving the issue, so stricter enforcement will begin in January.
Late Arrivals
If the doors are closed, it means your child is late. Please follow these steps:
1. Park your car and walk your child to the Main Entrance.
2. Sign them in with the Front Office staff.
3. Wait with your child until a preschool staff member is available to escort them to their classroom.
Note: Preschoolers cannot walk themselves to their classrooms like K-8 students. Our staff may be busy settling students into their day, so your patience is appreciated as we assist your child when time permits.
Weather and Traffic
We understand that weather and traffic may occasionally cause delays. To assist families, the doors being propped open or closed serve as a visual indicator of whether drop-off is still in progress.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in following these updated procedures. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
Afternoon Drop Off
When the weather outside is frightful and aren’t able to play outside we will be closing the preschool doors for drop off at 12:20. After that time your child will be considered late, and you will need to take them to the front office to check them in. You will have to wait for a preschool staff member to be free to come down to pick them up. Please be patient with us as we are busy getting the children settled in to start the day.
25/26 Enrollment
Current Preschoolers:
- Current Preschoolers priority has ended. Email Ms. Hafner if you have not completed the registration.
Current BFA K-8 Families:
- "Intent to Enroll" for current BFA K-8 families will open on December 4th at 9:00 AM. This will be on a first-come, first-served basis with a timestamp.
- This form will close on December 11th at 9:00 p.m. and after that date any BFA families that hadn’t expressed interest at that time, will need to fill out the “Intent to Enroll” in January with the public and will lose their priority spot.
- Current BFA K-8 families will receive information about their child’s class placement or waitlist status by December 13th.
Public Enrollment:
- On January 8th, the "Intent to Enroll" will become available to the public at 9:00 am If any seats remain open at this point, they will be offered to the public.
4. Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program
IT IS TIME TO START DRESSING YOUR CHILDREN IN LAYERS AND SENDING APPROPRIATE WEATHER CLOTHING ON THESE COLD AND CHILLY DAYS. WE DON’T WANT OUR LITTLE ONES COLD WHILE THEY ARE PLAYING AND WE DO NOT HAVE EXTRA WINTER CLOTHING FOR THEM. Please talk with your child of where to find their hats and gloves in their backpack so they can easily find them.
We've received some questions about when we will be taking the children outside to enjoy the winter weather. We want to ensure the safety and comfort of our students while also making the most of this season. Here are our guidelines for winter outdoor play:
1. Temperature Threshold: Our general guideline is that we will take the children outside when the temperature is above 20 degrees Fahrenheit. We do factor in wind chill as well to make the experience comfortable and safe for everyone.
2. Dress Appropriately: It's essential that your child comes to school with the proper winter attire, which includes a winter coat, hat, and mittens. Boots are a great addition to keep feet warm and dry. If your child doesn't have boots, we kindly request that they refrain from playing in the snow, as wet and cold feet can be uncomfortable.
3. Snow Conditions: When the playground is completely covered in snow or if the snow is of the "snowsuit" variety, we will not be going outside. Managing snowsuits during our short school hours can be impractical, so we prioritize the children's learning and comfort in the classroom during such conditions.
4. Sunscreen: Please don't forget to apply sunscreen to your child before they arrive at school. If the school day extends beyond 5 hours and we plan to go outside again in the afternoon, we will reapply sunscreen to protect their skin.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we strive to make the most of the winter season while keeping the well-being of the children in mind.
