RBS Principal’s Notes
August 27, 2021
Parent Resources
Procedure to report COVID Cases or Contact Traces for NON SCHOOL HOURS
Please use THIS FORM to report if your child has tested positive for COVID.
Please use THIS FORM to report if your child has been contact traced.
IN THE NEWS:
RBS Staffing Changes
I wanted to let families know of a couple staffing changes at RBS:
Amy Moskwa (former 4th grade teacher) is now our Digital Learning Specialist (i.e. “Technology Teacher”). Our former Digital Learning Specialist, Deb Rodd, has retired.
Tracy Andrew is our new secretary replacing Patty McMahon. If you need to contact our main office, you can reach out to Tracy Andrew (andrewt@sau25.net) or Mel Kraus (krausm@sau25.net).
Anti-Bullying Partnership Agreement
Please keep an eye out for a document going home with your child next week about bullying. The District Bullying Task Force developed a Partnership Agreement among students, teachers, and families to better understand and address student conflict, and what is and is not considered bullying. We are asking all families to read, discuss, and sign this document to help ensure a happy, safe, and nurturing environment for all. Please click HERE if you would like an electronic copy of that agreement.
In addition to the above agreement, teachers will be having a discussion with students about expectations and following "the Golden Rule" of treating everyone the way they would want to be treated.
Strings Club
If your child is interested in participating in Strings Club this year, please take a look at THIS LINK for more information.
BHS Basketball Clinic
Calling all basketball players! The Bedford High School girl’s and boy’s basketball teams are hosting clinics for Bedford students in grades 3-8. The two-day clinic will be held on 9/12 and 9/19 in the BHS gymnasium. Registration is $50. Please click HERE for more information.
Kinship Support (A Message From Our District Social Worker)
Support for families involved with Adoption, Foster Care, DCYF, or Legal Guardianship. Waypoint has many services available. Click HERE for more information.
PTG News and Information
BACK TO SCHOOL GREETINGS FROM THE PTG! We look forward to a new school year full of fantastic programs and events for our students, staff and families.
SUPPORT THE PTG: Through our Support Drive, 100% of your donation goes directly to the schools and students of Bedford. Consider supporting the PTG by making a donation via PayPal by clicking HERE or by checks made out to Bedford PTG (turn into your child’s school or mail to PO Box 10077 Bedford, NH).
LOOKING TO VOLUNTEER: We will have information about volunteering for Bedford Schools in the upcoming weeks. Links to a Volunteer Google Form for each school will be available at that time. You will need to fill this form out in order to hear about volunteer opportunities at the schools or district wide. Currently, some schools are looking to fill open school coordinator level roles.
PTG VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR RBS:
It’s a GAS (Guest Artist Series) coordinator
Gift Card coordinator
Grandparents Day coordinator
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION with Superintendent Fournier: Hosted by the PTG, Superintendent Mike Fournier invites you for “Conversation & Coffee” on Friday, September 10th, 9:30 a.m. at the SAU Building. This will be a small, informal gathering to discuss Bedford School District happenings. Questions and comments are encouraged. You must RSVP to attend; seating is limited. Click HERE to sign up.
MEET THE PRINCIPALS EVENT SEPTEMBER 24TH: You are invited to meet the Principals from all six schools at our annual "Meet the Principals" event on Friday, September 24th from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. It will also be broadcast live on BCTV. This is a great opportunity to hear what each school has in store for the year. Please email questions before Sept. 22 for the Q&A session that follows the presentation to bedfordnhptg@gmail.com.
REMINDERS:
Reminder from the Health Office Re: Allergy Symptoms
If your child has seasonal allergies, please get a note from your child’s physician for Mrs. Ouellette to keep on file for this school year. Please keep in mind that DHHS recommends COVID testing for any new or unexplained symptoms, and our school district follows that recommendation. I know it may be frustrating, but please understand that Mrs. Ouellette is doing her job. PLEASE be kind and respectful to her.
PM Buses (Start of School Year)
Typically, for the 1st week and a half or so of school, we give more time for our students (particularly grades K & 1) to line up for their buses. Consequently, it delays the departure of buses about 10-15 minutes. However, it's worth it in the end as it provides the little ones with a better sense of security and understanding during this hectic time of the day. We appreciate your understanding and patience with this!
Dismissal Information & Identification
When providing dismissal information (i.e. who will be picking up your child(ren) from school), please use proper names instead of grandmother, nanny, neighbor, friend, etc. Staff members doing parent pick-up duty may need to ask for ID for those people they don't know, and therefore, need a name to go with the ID. Please be patient with staff members at the start of the year as they get to know parents/care takers.
Guest Riders on Buses
I wanted to let families know the district’s decision about riding on a bus that’s not your child’s assigned route. Busing for child care will be allowed. Busing for playdates, birthday parties and organizations (DI, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc.) will not be allowed. If your child does have a child care situation, please provide their teacher with a note containing the details.
Principal/Parent Communication
As my primary form of communication, I will be sending you an email update every week—typically on Friday afternoon/evening. The email will include action items (highlighted in yellow), reminders, and other important information. I will also archive all of my notes on the RBS web page (Principal’s News). Parents, it is important that you review these notes each week and act on the action items, when necessary. I appreciate your partnership in this.
Automated Attendance Call
Again this year, families in the Bedford School District will receive a phone call confirming their child's absence via our "School Messenger" system. Once we have taken attendance, a message will be generated confirming your child's absence. The elementary calls will go out at approximately 9:30 AM, McKelvie and Lurgio will go out at 10:30 AM and the BHS at 11:00 AM. If this call comes to you in error, please contact the Main Office, so that we can correct the attendance report.
Drop Off & Pick Up Procedures
Drop Off (7:30 AM - 8:00 AM):
Starting at 7:30 AM, parents/guardians will drop off their children at the back circle (as you’ve typically done). However, depending on the traffic flow, you may be directed to the front of the building to drop off. Children will need to exit their vehicles on the passenger side. Staff members will be present to help direct traffic and guide children into the building.
Pick-Up (2:20 PM)
By 2:20 PM, students will be in the gym and ready to be dismissed to their parents/guardians' vehicles outside of the two gym doors. Parents/guardians will proceed to the back circle and loop around to the side of the gym. Staff members will be present to help direct traffic and dismiss children. Children will need to enter their vehicles on the passenger side. Each vehicle should have a clearly labelled and visible sign with the first and last name(s) of the child(ren) being picked up, and parents/guardians must be prepared to show identification until duty people are familiar with you.
*Please have your children practice exiting and entering your vehicle independently.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
September 6 – Labor Day Observance – NO SCHOOL
September 6-8 – Rosh Hashana
September 9 – RBS School Pictures
September 9 – Grade 1 Orientation (6 PM-RBS Gymnasium)
September 10 – PTG Coffee with the Superintendent (9:30 AM BCTV)
September 13-16 – RBS Fall Book Fair/Sale (Mon. & Tues. 2-5PM, Wed. 2-8 PM)
September 14 – RBS Open House (Grades K, 2, 3 & 4):
A-K: 5:30-6:30 PM
L-Z: 6:30-7:30 PM
*If you have a blended family, please feel free to attend only 1 session.
September 24 – PTG Coffee with the Principals (9:30 AM BCTV)
October 11 – Columbus Day Observance – NO SCHOOL
October 12 – District Workshop Day – No School for Students
October 15-16 – Yom Kippur
October 16 – RBS Harvest Festival (1-3 PM)
October 29 – End of Quarter 1
October 31 – Happy Halloween!
November 3 – RBS Picture Retake Day
November 5 – Report Cards Released (Grades 2-4)
November 11 – Veterans’ Day Observance – NO SCHOOL
November 24-26– Thanksgiving Break
