BVS Bulldog Buzz Newsletter
October 2024
Each year we work to update our Boston Valley Building Plan, which serves as a sort of road map for our learning community as we make our way through a year of learning and living together. As part of our 2024-2025 BVS Building Plan, we felt it was important to articulate who we are talking about when we reference our "BVS Learning Community." This felt important because we wanted to make sure that parents, caregivers, and family members who don't live and learn with us in our physical building each day still know that they are part of our learning community. You have likely heard the term "it takes a village," and it certainly does as we all work together in best interest of your precious children who are the very reason our BVS Learning Community exists.
A key to our success as a learning community is maintaining clear and consistent communication. You can expect to hear from us in our monthy newsletters, on our social media sites, and via email and text as reminders and updates are shared. You can also expect to hear from various BVS staff members as they reach out to celebrate success or talk across areas of need.
In turn, we hope to hear from you. As we strive to provide the best school experience we can for each BVS student, we love to hear from you when things are going well and we need to hear from you when you have a concern. We often hear parent and caregivers say that they didn't want to bother us with their concern, but communicating concerns is the first step to problem solving together. Please reach out when you need us!
Our office is staffed by Mrs. Olmsted and Mrs. Malloy. Mrs. Cartechine will continue to greet you at the front door.
As a means of streamlining our communication, we now have an email address that allows you to communicate with our office staff and school nurse. By emailing bvs@hcsdk12.org, you are able to share information with Mrs. Olmsted and Mrs. Malloy in the main office, and Nurse Liberti in the Health Office. You are always welcome to speak to someone in person by calling Boston Valley Elementary at (716) 646-3240.
Need to Change Your Child's Regular Dismissal?
As you become aware of necessary dismissal changes, please send a note to school with your child to be turned in to his/her teacher. You are also welcome to email the main office at bvs@hcsdk12.org. If circumstances arise during the day that require a change to your child's dismissal plans, please phone the main office as early in the day as possible so that we can communicate the change to your child and his/her teacher. Please do not email last minute dismissal changes.
A message from BVS Nurse Liberti
Welcome back! As we start the new school year, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind so that we have a smooth transition.
If your child is going to be absent for the day, please notify the school in the morning. You are welcome to email bvs@hcsdk12.org with your child's name, grade and reason for absence. If you prefer, you can call the main office or health offce to report the absence. Phone calls do need to be followed up with a written excuse upon arrival back. If no call or email is received, you will receive the robocall notifying you that your child is not in school.
Monitor your child for illness. There is a 24-hour protocol for students who present with fever, rash or vomiting/diarrhea. (This includes covid/flu). Strep throat or pink eye requires antibiotics for 24 hrs. Lice needs to be treated prior to returning. Any disruptive cough or excessive drainage should be evaluated before sending your child to school.
Contact the health office for students that have medical issues or require medication to be administered during school hours. A doctor’s order is required and medication must be dropped off by a parent in the original container. Orders may be faxed to 716-646-3244.
Physicals are required on all new students and grade K, 1, 3 and 5. Children attending school in New York State must also receive all required doses of vaccines or have a medical exemption on file.
Any other questions or concerns can be directed to the Health Office by emailing bvs@hcsdk12.org or calling 716-646-3242.
We love to welcome family members to school to volunteer in classrooms, at PTSA events, and to chaperone school field trips. Caregivers wishing to join in the fun need to complete the School Volunteer Approval Process, which includes watching a training video, submitting necessary information, and being approved by the Hamburg Schools Board of Education. For parents and guardians, the process begins by accessing the School Volunteer Process in your Operoo Forms Library. Others must contact the school office to get the process started.
You must reapply annually to be a School Volunteer. It is highly recommeded that you complete the process as early in the school year as possible so that you are approved and ready as opportunites arise.
