We are closing in on the 2016-17 Bluffton school year. Here's information about the elementary school from the school website:
SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Click here for school supplies. Kindergarten student supplies will be furnished in their classrooms.
MEET THE TEACHER: We will hold our “Meet the Teacher” on Friday, Aug. 26, from 2: to 3 p.m. in the elementary school.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Bluffton Schools will hold open house on Monday, Sept. 26. The following times are scheduled:
• Elementary from 6 to 7 p.m.
• Middle School from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• High school from 7 to 8 p.m.
SCHOOL DAY: School begins at 8:10 a.m. daily (M-F). Parents may drop off students in front of the elementary school between 8 and 8:10 a.m. Students that ride buses will be dropped off in front of the middle school. Dismissal for students who walk, or are picked up after school, will be at 3 p.m. from the Elementary entrance. Students who ride buses will be dismissed at 3:05 p.m. from the Middle School parking lot.
WALKERS AND STUDENT DROP OFF BEFORE SCHOOL: Please do not drop off or allow your students to arrive at school before 7:55 a.m. unless they are eating breakfast at the school.
BUS CHANGES FOR 2016-2017: If you have a transportation change for next year, notify the school before Friday, Aug. 19. Any changes submitted after Aug. 19 may take up to two weeks before the actual change takes effect.
Click here for bus pass form, Kindergarten bus form, medication form, records release, registration form, student vacation form or transportation form.
BREAKFAST PROGRAM: A small grab-n-go breakfast (cereals, pop tarts or granola items with milk) will be served before school on a daily basis from 7:35-8:05 a.m. in the Middle School Cafetorium. The price of a breakfast is $1.50. Free and reduced prices will be honored in accordance with the lunch program form given to every child on the first day of school.
LUNCH INFORMATION: A school lunch costs $2.50 and extra milk is 50 cents. The lunch menu will be sent home with students but parents may also view it on our website. A computerized debit system is utilized for payment.
Students may deposit money in their accounts any day of the week before school. They need to place their money in a sealed envelope with their name and ID number on the front, in a locked box in the cafeteria.
Students may buy extra items from the lunch menu. Parents may block this feature by calling the cafeteria. The food service is willing to help students who have lost or forgotten their lunch money on occasion but lunch charges are for emergencies only.
For more information see “Meals Plus Info” in the elementary section on the school website or click here.
FREE SCHOOL SUPPLIES: School supplies are available for Free or Reduced Lunch Program students in Bluffton Schools. You may request supplies from St. John’s United Church of Christ by calling 419-358-5641. Office hours are 9 a.m. to noon weekdays. St. John’s UCC is at 223 W. College Ave., Bluffton.
HELP ME GROW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS: Developmental screenings (children birth through 5 years of age) will be available Tuesday, Oct 4, from 4-7 p.m. at Market St. Presbyterian Church, 1100 W. Market St., Lima. Registration ends at 6:30 p.m. Parents/guardians must accompany their child.
BLUFFTON EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOLS ALERT SYSTEM: If you would like to be notified of delays and/or cancellations via a text message on your cell phone, visit the school’s website at www.blufftonschools.org and sign up for this service. Or, click here.
On the website’s home page under the “Parents/Community” heading click on “Parent Alert System” and follow the simple steps to subscribe to alerts. Contact the office if you have any questions. Or click here.
DELAYS OR CANCELLATIONS: When it is necessary to close or delay school due to bad weather, announcements will be made on the WLIO.com (School closings) website, radio stations: WIMA, T102, and WFIN, and on WLIO TV 35.
Please do not call the school offices for delay/cancellation information. See “Alert System” below for information on how one may sign up to get alert text messages for delays or cancellations.
TWO YEAR KINDERGARTEN DELAY SCHEDULE PLAN B: When school is delayed for two hours, the two year Kindergarten class will go to Plan B. This means that the two year kindergarten students will attend school, but will stay in school one hour later than usual. The two year kindergarten class dismissal for walkers and bus students is noon.
THREE HOUR DELAYS: If school is delayed three hours, the elementary starting time will be 11:10 a.m. and will dismiss at the normal time. Lunch will be served within 20 minutes of the normal time. Two year kindergarten will be cancelled.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURES: Please remember that if your child is going home a different way than normal, he/she will be required to have a note from a parent. If your student does not have a note, then he/she will be sent home the normal way. A Bus Request form must be signed in the elementary office if a parent is changing a daily pick up or drop off.
TRANSPORTATION CHANGES BY 2 P.M: No transportation changes will be made after 2 p.m. for the current day. Written notes by parent/s must be turned into the office by 9 a.m. for same day changes.
WORKBOOK FEES: Workbook fees for the 2016-2017 school year are as follows:
2 Year Kdg.-$18
Kdg.-$52.00,
1st grade-$33.00,
2nd grade-$32
3rd grade-$45
4th grade-$36
5th grade-$37
You may send one check for all your elementary students. Please note on the memo line your child and grade level. For security reasons, please send the check in a sealed envelope marked “Student Workbook Fees” with the student and teacher name. Please pay your child’s workbook fees by Oct. 15.
August-September dates to remember
Friday, Aug. 26 - “Meet the Teacher” K-5, 2-3 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 29 - First day of school - Grades 1-5
Monday-Tuesday, Aug. 29-30 - KRA testing for Kindergarten students
Wednesday, Aug. 31 - First day of school for Kindergarten
September
Monday, Sept. 5 - No School – Labor Day
Monday, Sept. 12 - P.T.O. meeting, 6:30 p.m. – Elementary Library
Monday, Sept. 26 - Open house
Wednesday, Sept. 28 - 2-hour delay-teacher professional development
