Bonny Doon Elementary School

MonFeb 8

School Board Meeting (tentative)

TueFeb 93:30pm

Site Council Meeting

WedFeb 1011am

Kindergarten Open House and Valentine Making Party

FriFeb 12(no school)

Lincoln Holiday

MonFeb 15(no school)

Washington Holiday

FriFeb 199am-10:30am

Student Variety Show

Principal's Message

by Stephanie Siddens

January, 2010

Dear Families,

I hope you all had a restful and happy Winter Break. I enjoyed spending time with my daughter, who was home from college in Wisconsin. She sure enjoyed our beautiful weather!

I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, but the last few months have provided me with many opportunities to feel grateful for my life. I am grateful for my family and my work. The Bonny Doon School students, in particular, are a constant reminder of all I have to be grateful for.

My New Year's resolution this year is to express my gratitude to those who work hard to help our school and our children. I'll start with you: Thank you so much for what you do as a parent and as a supporter of our school. You are sincerely appreciated.

Happy New Year!!!

Sincerely,

Stephanie Siddens

General News

Registration for the 2010-2011 School Year

Bonny Doon Elementary School (BDES) is accepting registration for the upcoming school year for children residing in the Bonny Doon School District including incoming kindergarten age (5 years of age on or before December 2, 2010) in the office at 1492 Pine Flat Rd. A copy of the student's birth certificate and up-to-date immunization records is required.

Here is what your children can look forward to:

A solid record of academic achievement - consistently ranking in the top percentage of elementary schools in Santa Cruz County on the State Academic Performance Index (API)
A unique and natural mountain environment only minutes from Santa Cruz
A staff of veteran teachers, classroom aides and support personnel, including music and arts specialists
Student support services including a Resource Specialist, Title I services, Psychologist, Speech/Hearing Specialist, and Student Success Teams
A library containing more than 6,500 volumes, visual aides and displays, and computers in every classroom

Parents are invited to visit the school, meet with the principal and observe a classroom. Call the school at (831) 427-2300 to arrange an appointment.

Kindergarten Open House and Valentine Making Party

All 2010-2011 kindergarten students (who will be 5 years of age on or before December 2, 2010) are invited to come to the Kindergarten classroom (#14) on February 10th at 11:00 a.m. to meet the teacher and prospective school friends, make a special Valentine and see what makes Bonny Doon School the special place that it is. Please call the office to RSVP.

2009-2010 SARC Results

The latest School Accountability Report Card for Bonny Doon Elementary is available in the Curriculum section.

Vandalism at Bonny Doon School

The community's help is needed. There have been numerous acts of vandalism including setting fires, break-in attempts and alcohol consumption on campus. (Ed. Code violation) Please keep your eyes open when driving by the school during non-school hours or days and immediately report any suspicious activity to 911 and notify the office know when it reopens.

The Bonny Doon School Site Council Needs You!

Due to his appointment to the school Board, Cres Fraley has had to resign from the Site Council. This leaves an opening for a new parent representative.

The Site Council is made up of a group of dedicated parents, classified staff, and teachers. We meet once a month from 3:30-4:30 to discuss allocation of funds, the school plan, and the school survey, which is conducted once per year. The Site Council is also working on the school safety and emergency plan. The Site Council is NOT a fundraising group, but is a group focused more on curriculum and instruction.

If you think you would be interested in serving on the Site Council, please stop by the school office to pick up a form. Normally, Site Council members are elected, but because we are almost halfway through the school year, we will be appointing someone instead.

We hope you will consider joining us in our work!

Science Room Update

A couple of years ago, a group of people from the school got together and began to discuss the idea of remodeling Room 10 to create a comprehensive science classroom. We are finally ready to begin this process.

First, we are fine tuning the preliminary plans in order to best utilize space and meet the needs of the children. Then, we will choose an architect to help guide us. The science room will include space for storage of our current science materials, sinks, a stove, and current technology, among other features.

The remodel of the room will be paid for with developer fees that the district has accumulated over the last few years. These developer fees need to be used for facilities upgrades and improvements. We will still need money to purchase supplies and technology for the classroom and are looking for a corporate sponsor who would be interested in supporting this project. Donations from individuals are also welcomed and appreciated!

Attendance Update

Thank you families, for following guidelines and keeping your children home when they are ill. Despite our best efforts, and due to the H1N1 flu virus, we have still had more absences than usual this year. Please continue to keep your children home if they are sick, but please also ensure that they are in school each day they are healthy. Our school continues to lose funds due to student absences, whether they are excused or not. We can't control when students are sick, but if they come every day they are healthy, we will not lose as much. Thank you for your efforts to keep your children in school!

Life Lab News

Our Life Lab Website!!!

Check out our new Life Lab website http://sites.google.com/site/bonnydoongardenclub/, developed by parent Stacey Knapp, and you will be able to see the wonderful things going on in the garden! Sarah Clarkson, another Bonny Doon parent and our Life Lab director, has done a wonderful job working with the children to create a beautiful place for science learning. If you are interested in volunteering time or making a donation to our Life Lab, please contact the school at 427-2300.

The Bonny Doon Community School Foundation Needs You!

The Bonny Doon Community School Foundation is made up of a dedicated group of Bonny Doon residents, parents, and staff who work together to raise money for our school. Their main fundraiser is the wonderful Bonny Doon Art & Wine Festival held in the spring. Without the support of the Foundation, we would not be able to continue to provide extra programs like art, music, and P.E. Due to the economic crisis in California, in the next couple of years, Bonny Doon School will need to make some significant cuts to our budget. We need the support of the Foundation more than ever!

Meetings are held from 5:30-6:30pm once a month in the staff room. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 8th. Please consider joining the Foundation; I think you will find the time well spent! If you have any questions, please call me at school at: 427-2300.

Thank you, and I hope to see you at the next meeting!

What Do the Teachers Do on Wednesday Afternoons?

Have you ever wondered what the teachers do on Wednesday afternoons after the students go home early?

At the beginning of the year, they create a calendar of topics for each Wednesday afternoon meeting. They then meet from 1:15-3:30 discussing the topic for the day. Just a few of the topics covered so far have been: Choosing a new reading assessment for all grade levels, planning a formal intervention process for all students who need to move forward in any particular area, revising the School Plan, and working on writing lessons for a grant. Three of our teachers, along with myself, are also attending a series of leadership training sessions, and after each session, the teachers share what they have learned.

I have been impressed with the teachers' commitment to professional growth. They actively look for ways to improve their teaching to maximize student learning. Their discussions are rich and meaningful. I'm proud to work with such committed professionals!

You Can Help!!!

As you have probably heard, schools have had their budgets slashed by the state. Basic Aid districts, like ours, that rely on property tax revenues have historically been immune to drastic budget cuts in the past. Now, however, the state has introduced something called, "Fair Share", which specifically targets Basic Aid districts by imposing significant new cuts.

There are several ways you can help us maintain the quality programs that have made our school so successful: the Drive for Schools Prius Fundraiser, the Halloween Festival, and E-Scrip.

E-Scrip

If you have not yet signed up for E-Scrip, please do it this month! E-Scrip has the potential of to really help our school financially. It's easy! Go online and sign up for E-Scrip, or renew your subscription online (if you are already registered, you still need to renew each year). What you will do is sign up your debit and credit cards. Then, when you make purchases at certain stores, a percentage of the sale goes directly to the school. It doesn't cost you a thing, and is such an easy way to earn $$$ for our school. If even half of our families signed up, we could earn thousands of dollars a year! Go to www.escrip.com and follow the directions provided. If you have any questions, please call the office and we'll try to answer them for you.

Need/Want After-School Care?

We have a wonderful After-School program available here at Bonny Doon School. If you need/want after-school care for your child, please call Beth Hill at 427-3860 for information.

Buy Your Bus Pass and Bus Tickets Now!

Bus passes and bus tickets need to be purchased by the end of the second week of school, at the latest. Please see Petra to purchase or call her at 427-2144.

Swine Flu Update

Prevention, prevention, prevention!!!

This is the number one way we can avoid an epidemic of the H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu) at our school. Frequent and prolonged hand washing is the #1 way we can prevent infection. Students have learned to sing, "Happy Birthday" two times while washing every surface of their hands and between their fingers. They are also being reminded to cough into their elbows, not their hands. Please reinforce these same procedures at home. We have increased custodial time in each classroom in order to regularly disinfect all surfaces and doorknobs. You will be receiving more information in your child's Back-to-School packet about how to prevent infection from the H1N1 Virus and what to do if you think your child may be infected.

Thank You, Students!

This year, the teachers at every grade level have decided to emphasize manners with their students. Students are being taught and reminded to say "please" and "thank you", and to be active listeners. Being an active listener means remaining quiet and looking at the person speaking. It means saving questions until the person speaking is completely finished. This is a difficult skill for children and sometimes us adults as someone says, "Hello" to us. I want to thank all of the students who have been practicing these things at school and at home. It is such a great feeling to walk around the school campus and hear, "Hi, Mrs. Siddens!" in a cheerful, friendly voice.

Site Council Survey Follow-Up

Last year parents and students were asked to complete a survey about our school (click here to see survey results) in order to help us continue in our efforts to improve. Although the staff is discussing ways of improving in all areas of the survey, three main issues emerged as a focus for this year: Behavior on the bus, recess supervision, and computer availability. At our staff development day on August 25th, the staff and I discussed different ways to address concerns. Beginning this year Petra, our bus driver, will begin using a new communication system with parents, teachers, and the front office, so that behavior/safety issues can be addressed quickly and effectively. We also discussed using a positive reinforcement system with students on the playground when they successfully solve problems with each other. I am in the process of reviewing how technology is used at our school and looking at how we can improve the way we use technology as well as update the equipment we have. I will give you an update in future newsletters as to our progress in these areas.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye ! ! !

We have lots of school t-shirts and hoodies available for purchase in the office. All sizes are now available, so come and get one while they last!

Pictures

*Science Fair 2008*	*Dine-Out November 2007*	*2007 Halloween Parade*	*2007 Halloween Festival*
*Field Renovation*

Reminders

Keep Your Child Healthy

Healthy Families Program: The office can assist you in obtaining and completing an application for this low cost insurance plan for children. More information on the Healthy Families Program can be found at http://www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov.

Influenza: An effective procedure to prevent the spread of the flu and any other infectious disease is frequent hand-washing procedures and the proper covering of ones mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing. This practice is highly recommended by the Santa Cruz County Health Department.

Guidelines for Foods and Beverages in the Classrooms:

The Governing Board recognizes the important connection between a healthy diet and the students' ability to learn effectively. The Board also acknowledges that schools play a vital role in childhood nutrition and fitness, and as a part of the larger community, schools have a responsibility to promote good nutrition and to provide a strong foundation for the future health and well-being of its students. It further recognizes that significant research indicates a positive relationship between adequate nutrition and learning, resulting in academic success.

Bonny Doon Elementary School recognizes that a healthy school community is accomplished through a multi-faceted approach towards the students' education. To accomplish this goal we utilize the following programs for all students: Regular Physical Education, Life Lab, Waste Free School, Conflict Resolution, TRIBES and Life Skills.
We encourage families to follow the nutrition recommendations of the United States Dietary Guidelines:

No more than 30% of total calories from fat (averaged over a week)
No more than 10% of total calories from saturated fat (averaged over a week
Fruit and vegetable drinks containing 50% or more full-strength fruit with no added sweetener
Not more than 35% of the total weight of the food item, excluding fruits or vegetables, is composed of sugar
Milk that is nonfat, 1% or 2% fat or soy, rice or similar non-dairy milk

Class celebrations are traditions in Public Schools. We ask that you consult with the teacher before bringing foods/snacks to the classroom. It is important to keep into consideration students who may have allergies or special dietary needs.

Parking Lot Safety

When dropping off or picking up your student please slow and pay attention to who might be running into the parking area. Slow down, pull forward and close to the curb and look around carefully before backing up.

Emergency Contact Telephone Numbers

Have you changed your telephone number recently or the names of the people on your student emergency card? If the answer is "yes" please stop by or call the office with new telephone number.

Absence from School and missed work/assignments

When a student is absent from school whether for illness or a family vacation s/he is expected to make-up all missed classwork, homework or other assignments. The status of the absence, excused or unexcused is not what determines if the work should or should not be made up. The expectation is that students will make up all work missed. Please contact your student's teacher if you have any questions or concerns regarding these expectations.

Student Attendance

We are asking for help in raising our 93% attendance rate which is much lower than what it should be and lower than many other schools in the county. When students are frequently absent or tardy it is not possible for them to receive the full value of their education. While this attendance rate is of concern primarily because of the impact it has on student academics, it also is of concern because of the impact it has on our budget. Please help your child(ren) as well as your school by planning trips during holidays or breaks and not when school is in session.

Volunteers Needed

Please call the office at 427-2300 if you would like to help in any of the following areas:

Library assistance
Landscaping hill on upper play area
Leaf-blowing around the campus grounds
Simple plumbing repairs
Sharing your special interest with students
Volunteering in a classroom

Emergency Preparedness

As part of our Safe School and Emergency Preparedness Plan we are asking all parents/guardians to provide an emergency food and water bag for each of their children.

We ask that you provide the following in a gallon size Zip-Lock-type bag for each of your children:

A small bottle of water in a sealed plastic bottle. (No glass)
A substantial snack of commercially sealed and unopened non-perishable food items which do not require any preparation or utensils such as crackers, dried fruit, granola bars, jerky, personal size box of cereal, or nuts.

Please clearly label each bag with the student name(s).

This emergency/disaster package should be given to classroom teacher(s) no later than February 2nd.

If you have items such as extra flashlights, battery operated lanterns, blankets, sheets, tarps, folding cots, wheelbarrows, large rolling containers, large storage tubs with lids, or other equipment you feel would be useful in an emergency please contact the office. Donations of gallon size bottled water, hand wipes, waterless soap, paper plates and cups, rolls of paper towels, sponges, ice packs and first aide items would also be appreciated.

If you have not yet provided an emergency food and water packet for your student(s) please do so ASAP. During stormy weather the school may loose power and need to either dismiss students early or close down. Please be sure to keep the school up-to-date with your home, work and emergency phone numbers.

Thank you for your contributions.

Student Attendance Procedures

Please report absent or late students to the office. We are experiencing an increase in absences and tardiness. Please keep in mind the following:

Unexcused absences: Student absence impacts both the student and the teacher; the student misses valuable instruction, the teacher spends time and energy assisting the student in catching up on the missed schoolwork. Absences for trips are unexcused absences and not only affect the studentsí academic performance but also effects funding the district receive. Trips should be planned during time when school is not in session. (According to the CA. Ed Code excessive unexcused absences lead to a truancy designation.)

Tardy arrivals: When a student is late to class it is disruptive to their learning and interruptive to the students who have arrived when the bell rings. Part of our responsibility is to prepare students for the world beyond Bonny Doon. Arriving on time for school is an important skill for life and the best time to practice this skill is now. Please plan ahead so your student arrives on time.

PHONE CALLS TO STUDENTS & TEACHERS

We make every effort not to interrupt classrooms during the school day. Phone calls into classrooms are restricted to those of an emergency nature only. The office staff is unable to guarantee delivery of last minute messages to the students. An arrangement for after-school activities should be made prior to your studentís leaving for school.

Teachers may be reached after class dismisses or you may leave a message with the office. Typically messages will be noted and conveyed to teachers during their lunch time.

Parking Lot Safety

I sincerely appreciate all of your patience and input as we transitioned to a new way for drop off and pick-up of students. I recognize the beginning was a bit confusing and sometimes frightening; however I am pleased that all this is behind us. I have noticed some unsafe behaviors that are a cause of concern for me and others who have observed these behaviors. Now that the path to lower campus is open students and parents are taking the ìshortî cut by climbing over the fence or walking into the parking lot to create a different path. I recognize that sometimes this appears as though it is the quickest route; however it is not the safest as students have darted in front of the bus and moving vehicles. When your car is parked on Ice Cream Grade please have your child exit or enter on the side of the car nearest the curb. In the upper campus parking lot it is important to either pull into a spot or follow the yellow ling and pull up as far as possible at the curb beyond the office. Please do not have your student exit on the parking lot side of the vehicle, nor should they run out into the parking lot without an adult present. Our ultimate goal is to insure the safety of our students and I appreciate your cooperation.

Cold and Flu Season

The cold and flu season has certainly arrived at Bonny Doon Elementary School. Many of our students have missed school as a result of the flu and other assorted illnesses. Some of the steps the teachers are using to fight germs that cause colds and flu are:

Reminding students to wash their hands the right way frequently, throughout the day: before and after they eat, after they use the restroom, with warm/soapy water, for at least 20 seconds (about the time it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice)
Do the elbow cough coughing and sneezing into their elbow, not their hands

The teachers are also disinfecting surfaces regularly in an attempt to reduce the spread of infection. You too can help by reminding your student about these basic steps.

Bonny Doon Elementary School - Welcome