Hello Bryant families,

Two school weeks in the books! With every day we see less tears and more independence. Year after year, our Bryant students always amaze me.

Instruction has started in every class. You may begin to see assignments students are expected to work on at home. Please be sure to montior the classroom communication system for any messages sent by the classroom teacher. More details regarding "homework" expectations will be shared at Back to School Night which will be held on August 31st at 6:00 pm. The level of work assigned will vary. If you have any questions please reach out to your child's teacher.

Lastly, as instruction begins to progress you may find there are some areas that may be easy for your child and some my be more difficult. This is normal! Everyone has areas of strength and weakness. If you notice there is a concept your child is having difficulty understanding, reach out to the teacher. We are here to help!

As always, thank you so much for being such wonderful partners. Have a fantastic week!

NJ

One way to help children learn how to self-regulate is by providing them with calm down corners. A calm down corner is a designated space in a home or classroom with the sole intent of being a safe space for a child to go to when they feel their emotions are running too high and they need to regain their emotional and physical control. These spaces are equipped with comforting objects and soothing materials that can promote mindfulness, breathing and reflection. Great job kindergarten!

This year at Bryant we have a focus on guiding our students through the process of working together as they learn math. They are not just talking, they are collaborating. Students in collaborative math classrooms make sense of mathematics. By exploring and investigating big ideas, such as place value, addition and subtraction, fractions, or shapes, students have the opportunity to reason with one another and develop conceptual understanding. Our first and second grade students are off to a great start.

Parent, we need you! Joining one, two, or all of Bryant's parent groups are a wonderful way for you to get involved in what's going on with the school community. We are always looking for enthusiastic new members to join our team. Be part of planning school activities, fundraising, budget planning, etc. Most meetings are held after school with the option of attending virtually or in-person. We look forward to seeing you at one of our meetings.

Bryant has the honor of being identified as one of eight Core Knowledge (CK) Schools of Distinction across the nation. As part of the CK curriculum, students have the awesome opportunity to participate in daily music, art, and technology "specials" rotations. The purpose of "specials" is to help students deepen their understanding of the content being learned in class. They learn how art and music may have influenced the time period or culture being studied. In the tech rotation, students will develop skills to be used to create a digital artifact that aligns to the content. When you ask your child about their day at school, be sure to ask how special was your special rotation.

Bullying is defined as repeated aggressive behavior where one person (or group of people) in a position of power deliberately intimidates, abuses, or coerces an individual with the intention to hurt that person physically or emotionally. Acts of bullying can be physical, verbal, or relational. As documented by Promote/Prevent bullying, incidents of bullying must include all 3 of these characteristics:

1) Intentional- the behavior was aggressive and a deliberate attempt to hurt another person
2) Repeated- these aggressive actions occur repeatedly over time to the same person or group of people

3) Power imbalance- the person bullying has more physical or social power than the child or children being bullied

Unfortunately, some students do engage in acts of "unkind behavior". However, those incidents may not always rise to the level of bullying as defined above. Any act of treating someone in a manner that is less than respectful is not acceptable. At Bryant, we pride ourselves on ensuring our school environment is safe and welcoming for all. This is evidenced by what is taught as part of our social-emotional learning and Core Virtues programs. Please help us by speaking to your child about the importance of being kind to all. It is never ok to make another person feel uncomfortable in any way. Bryant is a place where KINDESS MATTERS! Thank you for your support with reinforcing this message with your child.

Regular school attendance is the best predictor of a students success. If you child is at school on time every day, teachers have a better opportunity to identify and address any needs your child may have. It also helps to ensure your child feels as if he/she is part of the learning community. It can be very hard to enter into an enviornment when you feel as if you don't have a good grasp on what is going on specifically because you have been absent from school. This includes being tardy. Routines. schedules, and expecations for the day are established in the first few minutes of class. Although it may seem like it's not important, it helps classes establish community. Let's be good Bryant Bees! Please ensure your child is at school, on time, every day!

We are looking for parents to join our team. School Site Council helps to support the administrative team in finalizing the categorical budget, monitoring school safety procedures, etc. There are 7 scheduled meetings to be held throughout the school year. Parents have the option of attending the meetings virtually or in-person. If you are interested in joining, please print and return the attached form to the front office by September 1, 2023.

We are so happy to welcome volunteers on campus to offer support or to attend field trips. This is a great way to ensure the school site, community, and families are all connected. If you are interested is being a volunteer, some important information you will need to know is captured below:

• All volunteers are required to be checked into RAPTOR Visitor System & be cleared via the Volunteer Clearance List for 2023-2024. If you are not on the Volunteer Clearance List you will not be allowed on campus for any reason. Volunteers will not be allowed on campus prior to 8:10 am unless cleared by administration in advance of the visit.
  
• The Adult Volunteer Participation process is a 4-6 week process (may be longer if there is a fingerprint processing delay).
• Be sure to inform staff of the timeline to acquire clearance for scheduled events and field trips.
• All chaperones, no matter the duration of the field trip or school event, must be fingerprinted and complete the process

Volunteer clearance renewal:

• To complete the renewal process (volunteers previously cleared during the 2022-2023 school year) all volunteers are required to complete the annual online volunteer training and confirmation form
• Tier 1 volunteers, previously cleared during the 2022-2023 school year may renew their Tier 1 clearance for the 2023-2024 school year.

If you would like to begin the volunteer clearance process, please access one of the links below.

• Adult Volunteer Participation Form Link English
• Adult Volunteer Participation Form Link Spanish

I am so happy to announce we will be bringing back E3! Please read the attached letter for more details. We hope many of you are able to volunteer.

E3 Volunteer interest form

The data confirmation window for 2023-2024 will be July 17, 2023, through September 30, 2023. For the 2023-2024 school year, every parent/guardian of returning students MUST use the online Annual Data Confirmation process. Returning parents will not be required to print and submit hard copies of the Emergency Card. If you have questions or need support with completing the data confirmation online, please contact the main office. We will be happy to help.

Please take a minute to read/review the 23-24 Parent-student handbook with your child. Information in the handbook includes, but is not limited to: attendance, bully policy, birthday parties, riding bikes to school, etc. When finalizing your data confirmation you may be asked to confirm that you have received/read the handbook. Please contact the main office if you have any questions.

It's time! Bryant has one of the best, if not the best, HEARTS after school enrichment programs in all of RUSD. If you would like for your child to attend HEARTS for the 23-24 school year, please complete the HEARTS application by clicking on the link. You can also print out a hard copy of the application and turn it in to the office. All students must complete a new application each year. You may contact Mr. Carlson if you have any questions.

We are so excitedf to continue our partnership with the Riverside Arts Academy (RAA). The program is offered to all 5th and 6th grade band students. Students will extend their love of music from our day program to RAA after school. RAA band will be offered to both grade levels two times per week. Don't miss out on signing up your child for this wonderful opportunity. RAA is scheduled to begin on September 11th. The sign up dealine is September 5th.

Enrollment form

Parents and families are encourage to join RUSD engagement opportunities

• 8/29/23 Affordable Connectivity Program Eligible families will qualify for a $30 discount covering the monthly fees of a low-cost home internet plan.

• 9/11/23 Opening Doors/Abriendo Puertas Builds early literacy skills and promotes positive parenting practices and family interactions.

• 9/11/23 Transición a la Universidad (Transition to College) Enhances the family’s ability to support their student’s last year in high school and the transition into college, emphasizing the role of the family, financial decisions, and common questions and challenges.

• Various dates: Digital Equity Program Families receive a free refurbished computer after 8 hours of instruction.

Additional resources:

• FRC Flyer 2023 FRC Fall Flier (updated quarterly)

• FRC calendar of activities https://bit.ly/FRCCalendar-of-Activities

Riverside College & Career Fair

RUSD students and families are invited to attend the 19th Annual Riverside College and Career Fair taking place on September 28, at the Galleria at Tyler from 4:30 to 7:30 pm.

The event is hosted by the Riverside Chamber of Commerce and will feature over 100 colleges and professional organizations. View the event flier here.

Natanya Johnson, Principal

Melissa Gonzales, Assistant Principal

School Office Hours - 8:00 am - 3:30 pm

Email: njohnson@riversideunified.org
Website: http://bryant.riversideunified.org/
Location: Bryant Elementary School, 3rd Street, Riverside, CA, USA
Phone: 951-788-7453
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BryantAandI