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Bear Tracks
Bear Creek Elementary
2500 Table Mesa Drive
Boulder, CO 80305
Kent Cruger, Principal
April 10, 2015
In this issue
Project Share Update
Over the past few months our 4th grade students interviewed staff members
about their character word and then created artistic buttons for the whole school.
Last Friday every student in the school received a button. Then, they watched a
video to see which staff member's word they got. It was an exciting day as students connected with the staff member who was the inspiration for their button.
For Project Share this year, every staff member chose a word that was important
to them and that they feel comfortable modeling -- a word that serves for them as
a lens through which they do character work with students every day. They
chose traits like kindness, positivity, perseverance, respect, curiosity, teamwork
and responsibility. Our goal this year was to find a creative way to share these
words with students.
~ Kent Cruger
BC At-A-Glance
2
PTO
3-5
Classroom Clips
6-8
BC Monthly Calendar
9, 10
BVSD
11-14
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
As you are looking for activities for your children to participate in before and after school, I just wanted to give you a
"heads-up" about where to look for activities that are happening at Bear Creek, and which ones are Bear Creek and
BVSD sponsored.
BEAR CREEK CALENDAR
AT - A - GLANCE
Friday, April 17 & Monday, April 20
Lifelong Learning, which is part of BVSD's Community Schools
Program runs many wonderful activities for students in
schools across the district. If you go to their web-page you
can find great kid classes, many of which will happen right at
our school! Lifelong Learning will send you mail alerts of activities that are happening at Bear Creek. You can sign up for
classes at any location, but parents have found it particularly
accommodating when classes happen right at Bear Creek. This
fall at Bear Creek Lifelong Learning will offer at Bear
Creek such things as chess, basketball, Spanish classes, and
Lego building.
NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, April 22
BVSD Bike to School Day
Earth Day
Tuesday, May 5
Fun & Fitness Day (Wed., May 6 Raindate)
I spy missing volunteer
badges?
Thursday, May 7
Mandatory 4th Grade Meeting @ 6PM- CalWood
1st Grade Program @ 2:15
If you have a badge hanging from
your car mirror or living in the bottom of your
purse, would you please return it? We are
down to just a couple……
Monday, May 11 - Friday, May 15
Book Fair
Wednesday, May 13
K-3rd Nature Club
Nature Club will be meeting in Kallio/Martin’s room on Mondays, April 27,
May 4, 11, 18 from 3-4:30 for attendance & snack. We will be outside
exploring nature through games and nature journaling. Please have your
child bring a water bottle, snack, and dress for the weather. Sign up at
debsrun@comcast.net and I will confirm. Free, limit 15 students.
Spotlights Concert @ 9:00 & 6:30
Tuesday, May 19
2nd Grade Program
Thank you,
Deb Martin, Early Childhood Educator/Naturalist
Wednesday, May 20
Band Concert @ SoHills @ 6:30
Cruger Cup
There are still weeks available for children to
take the “Cruger Cup” home this year. Please
stop by the office, check the list of “winners”
from last year, and choose a week.
Thursday, May 21
Drumming Concert @ 1:30 & 6:30
Friday, May 22
Kindergarten Graduation @ 9:00
Green School Newsletter
Monday, May 25
NO SCHOOL—Memorial Day
Thrive Update Newsletter
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3
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PTO PULSE
PTO Board Meeting – April 14, 6-7:30 pm
All are welcome to attend the PTO meetings. It is not too late to get involved with the PTO! If you are interested in
how and why the Tools for Learning Challenge Fundraiser is critical to the school, this is a good meeting to attend.
We will be discussing next school year's PTO budget and how the TLC money will be used next year.
Thank You to this Year's PTO Board!
Finally, thank you to this year's PTO Board for doing such a fantastic job. Not only do they work hard, but they are a
fun bunch to work with!
Meridith Bacus, Lisa Cook, Kristin DeLorenzo, Sean Elliot
Janine Fitzpatrick, Sonya Gary, Annie Haselfeld
Jane Henderson, Sun-Young Hendrick
Mindy Munger, Robyn Savage, Brigetta Stephenson
Amy Viverito, Camila Weise
Michelle Wellington
Thank you to the following parents for bringing Teacher Appreciation Snacks:
Patty Prazen, Narisa Wild, Michelle Williams
Heather Burhop, Kelly Eisner
Library News
We are continuing with the Overdrive ebook pilot program. Students can access ebooks and audiobooks through this
program. Click the picture below to access the Overdrive catalog or type in URL bvsd.lib.overdrive.com. The link is
also available on the Bear Creek Library webpage. Students will log in with their regular computer username and
password. (Username: First letter of student's name, up to seven letters of last name, last four digits of student number, (e.g. lbrockwa4567 Password: bvsd.student number + the letter a(e.g. bvsd.234567a)
Click on a book cover to read a summary and see interest and reading levels. Either choose to read the book in your
browser or download to Kindle or Nook. Download the free Overdrive app for use with Ipads, etc. Students will also
see ebook options when searching the Bear Creek library catalog. Let me know what you think!
Mark your calendars for the next Scholastic Book Fair, May 12-15th. Details will be coming soon.
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Spring Fingerprinting
BVSD policy requires volunteers to perform a background check before they can begin working with students. There are two screening processes; the TCLogiq background screening is the process many of
our volunteers used this year because it requires less time to receive clearance. The other screening
process is through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This application must only be completed
once. The background screening will be good for the entire time you and your children are with
Boulder Valley Schools. The only problem with the screening process is that it can take up to 16 weeks
to get the results.
Because of this process taking so long, we encourage you to complete the CBI application process this
spring so you are ready to volunteer in August 2015.
For the CBI application process, you will need to have your fingerprints taken. A convenient location to
get fingerprints taken is at the Boulder County Sheriff Office at 5600 Flatiron Pkwy in Boulder,
303.441.3600. They are open Mon - Fri, 11 am to 4:00 pm. For Boulder County residents, it is $10.00 per
card. (Cash or check only.) When you complete your fingerprints, please bring your fingerprint card and a
check for $39.50 made out to the Boulder Valley School District to the Bear Creek front office. Remember this process may take up to 16 weeks to receive approval from CBI so please start now.
We love our parent volunteers! Thank you for your time!
ART ROOM NEWS:
The fifth graders' Chihuly sculptures will be on display at the…
K-8 Art Show
Friday, April 17, 2015 – Friday, May 1, 2015
Boulder Public Library
1001 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder CO 80302
Boulder Library Hours:
Dale Chihuly Sculpture
Monday–Thursday: 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Friday–Saturday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m.–6 p.m.
Reception:
Sunday, April 26, 2015 (1:00 pm – 3:00 pm)
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2015-2016 School Year Class Placements
The following is the process for class placements for the 2015-2016 school year.
This process was reviewed in March of 2006 by the teachers, the principal,
and the School Accountability Committee.
Teachers, specialists, and the principal work through a thoughtful and deliberate process to
derive a class list:
1. First, all the teachers from your child’s current grade level get together to build balanced class lists. They consider student abilities and achievement levels, learning styles, behavior, special needs, gender, peer relationships,
and leadership qualities of all the students.
2. Next, teachers from previous grades are asked to review the lists.
3. Then, specialists (art, music, PE and special education) review the lists.
4. Finally, the lists are given to the principal, who considers any special circumstances that might necessitate
changes to the lists. The principal then assigns the next year’s teacher names to the lists, using all the input from
the previous steps.
5. As a double check, the lists are given one final review by the current year teachers and then are considered
‘final’.
Most families have communicated throughout the year with their teachers so that we understand students’ needs and optimum learning environments. However, we know that at times there
are special circumstances that you would like us to consider. If this is the case, please send an email to Mr. Cruger and copy the current classroom teacher by April 25th to express these considerations. Your concerns will be placed into the process as described in step 4 above. Requests for
specific teachers will not be accepted.
Previous enrollment in a teacher’s class does not affect a sibling’s class placement the following
school year. Though we understand the relationship you may have developed with a particular
teacher, we must consider the overall classroom dynamic for every child’s success. Every new student and every new teacher is an opportunity for a fruitful and lasting relationship.
Thank you,
The Bear Creek Staff
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P.E Reminders:
On snowy days please remind your children to bring their Gym shoes on P.E. days. Running in the gym with snow boots on will not
allow students to be skilled or safe movers. Although Jump Rope Club and Intramurals begin at 7:45, your children should not arrive
before 7:40 as they will be unsupervised ..in the gym.
Fun and Fitness Day
Dear Parents,
On Tuesday, May, 5th we will have our Fun
The schedule is as follows:
and Fitness day (weather permitting; our rain
date is May 6th).
AM Kind. & 1std Grade
8:45 – 9:45
Fun and Fitness Day is designed to give students the opportunity to showcase the many
skills they have practiced and developed
5th Grade
throughout the year. We want to give students the opportunity to interact with their
Parents, Teachers, and Peers. We will have lots
of stations, and games set up outside on the
4th Grade
field and in our gym. Parents friends and family are all invited to participate in the fun.
9:50 – 10:50
10:55 – 11:55
PM Kind. & 2ndt Grade
12:40 – 1:40
Fun and Fitness Day will take place on the
Bear Creek field, and in the gym, so bring
your tennis shoes and sunscreen. I hope to
see you there.
3rd Grade
1:45 – 2:45
James Soole
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April 2015
Sun
5
Mon
6
Tue
7
Wed
Thu
Fri
1
2
3
4
8
9
10
11
Boulder Ballet
all school
assembly
@ 9:00
12
13
14
Garden
Committee
@ 8:45
19
20
Bear Tracks
15
16
PTO @ 6:00
21
22
23
27
28
18
29
30
9
24
Bear Tracks
Earth Day
26
17
NO School
BVSD Walk to
School Day
NO School
Sat
25
May 2015
Sun
3
Mon
4
Tue
Wed
5
6
Fun & Fitness
Thu
7
Fun & Fitness
Raindate
Fri
Sat
1
2
8
9
15
16
22
23
1st Grade
Program @ 2:15
4th Grade
Calwood
Meeting @6:00
10
11
12
13
PTO @ 1:30
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Spotlights
9:00am &
6:30pm
Book Fair Monday - Friday
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18
19
8:45 Garden
Comm.
20
21
SOHIlls Band
Concert @ 6:30
Drumming
Concert 1:30pm
& 6:00pm
2nd Grade
Program @2:15
24/31
25
Memorial
Day
26
Kindergarten
graduation @9
27
28
Awards
Assembly
@ 9:00
29
Awards
Assembly
@ 9:00
5th Grade
Pool Party 10-2
No School
10
30
5th Grade
Graduation
1:00 PM
11
12
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Student accident insurance 2014-2015
Low-cost student accident insurance is again being offered by Markel this year. They have changed their enrollment method from
paper to electronic and will not be providing print outs to schools to distribute to students. Attached is a PDF of their enrollment
information. This information is also available on the district website at
http://www.bvsd.org/employees/AthleticsActivities/Athletic%20Insurance%20Information/Forms/AllItems.aspx.
Healthy Kids Initiative
Another possible option for parents whose students need health insurance is the Boulder County Healthy Kids Initiative which
helps families enroll in Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) and Medicaid. CHP+ and Medicaid are free and low-cost health insurance
plans that provide dental, medical, prescription, mental health, and vision benefits. There are no monthly premiums, and co-pays
range from $0 - $15 depending on family income. CHP+ has higher income eligibility limits than many public assistance programs,
so many working families can qualify. Assets are not considered when determining eligibility for these programs. Some families
who have not previously qualified may be able to qualify now due to new income guidelines.
Eligibility specialists are available to serve families at all BVSD schools. Call 720-515-1454 today to talk with a specialist or to make
an appointment!
More information is available on the district website at http://www.bvsd.org/healthykids. A link to this page is on the front page of
the district site: Go to www.bvsd.org and click the Healthy Kids Initiative logo at the bottom of the page.
BVSD Community Connections: Resources for Kids & Teens
BVSD’s online guide, Community Connections: Resources for Kids & Teens can be found at http://guide.bvsd.org. The goal of Community Connections is to connect the BVSD community with groups and individuals offering youth-oriented activities and services. Categories include academics and tutoring, health and support services, camps and classes, sports and fitness, the arts, teens, adventure, college planning and more. We
strive throughout the year to make Community Connections a valuable resource for fun, educational and transformative opportunities for kids
and teens.
To learn more about Community Connections or to discuss advertising options, please contact Marla Riley at 720-561-5977 or marla.riley@bvsd.org.
NONDISCRIMINATION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
In compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, Colorado law and Board of Education Policy AC
(Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity), Boulder Valley School District does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex,
sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, religion, ancestry, need for special education services, age, marital status, genetic
information, or physical characteristics in admissions, access to, treatment, or employment in educational programs or activities which it operates. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees and members of the public. The following person has been
identified as the compliance officer for the district:
Superintendent
Boulder Valley School District6500 Arapahoe Rd.
Boulder, CO 80301
720.561.5114
Superintendent@bvsd.org
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