Bowling Green Elementary

BGR-1 Families, As a follow-up to my communication yesterday, I find that a need for an additional update is needed in light of continued anxiety and rumors. To reiterate, there has been no threat uncovered of any sort or type of shooting and no list with any names on it and no date identified for anything like this to take place. What has been fabricated from a simple “hitting” type of communication between two students has been augmented and changed and passed around creating anxiety. We have gotten permission from the family to share this information (since we typically do not share information related to student discipline). But we need our families to help stop the spread of these rumors and refrain for posting them on social media. This continued focus causes anxiety in our students and staff and disrupts the educational process. People speculating at every little item they notice and turning these into something they are not is not helpful for any of us. Safety has and continues to be one of our district’s top priorities. Over the last five years, we have taken many important steps to help further safeguard our school community and ensure a safe learning environment for our students, staff, and visitors. Some of these improvements have been the addition of card readers and airphone/buzzing in system at school entrances, safety film added to exterior glass, a School Resource Officer, and two new guidance positions (and we are planning to add another counseling position for next year paid for by a grant we recently were awarded). We have also increased the availability of counseling services through partnering agencies. The BGR-1 Schools regularly participates in drill exercises and advanced training to ensure everyone is able to respond swiftly and appropriately if an incident occurs. Table-top simulations with local first responders, reunification plans, unified threat-response plans, and ALICE (Active Shooter Civilian Response) trained expert led training have been a very important part of our prevention plan. While we hope we will never need to deal with the worst imaginable situation, we train in hopes of minimizing or even preventing incidents. One of the common threads of recent national and state safety audit reports for schools points out that “A risk assessment can identify vulnerabilities and enable the development of a strategy to address any security gaps,” and that “effective security plans use a layered approach across all three areas of a school: entry points, the building envelope, and the classroom.” Both reports go on to emphasize the need for school resource officers, additional counseling resources, and training. Many have noticed new entrances we built with Prop S funding and buzzing in capability at every entrance. These entrances are monitored by staff to ensure only those who are supposed to be in the building enter. We have enclosed our courtyards, so students have places to experience them without exposure outside. Additionally, our classroom doors that were still hollow core type doors were replaced with intruder prevention approved solid doors and locking systems. These and other improvements mentioned before, and most importantly, training have been instrumental in our prevention. We do and have shared real threats when we unconsider them to be viable with our community. We do not, however, share every little discipline event where there might be a physical altercation event or suspision of one with our public. After hearing that this had grown into something unrecognizable from its orgin by Tuesday night, we had messages to our community the next morning. This update is another attempt to ask for help in squelching the misinformation. Being vigilant, while very important, is very different from expanding and sharing ideas that are not founded in truth. We teach students to think critically about every claim or counter claim, and we ask for your help to make sure this is an area of focus. Matthew L. Frederickson, PhD Superintendent Bowling Green R-1 School District 700 West Adams Street Bowling Green, MO 63334 Phone: 573-324-5441 Fax: 573-324-2439 http://www.bgschools.k12.mo.us/ Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/BGSUPT or @BGSUPT For our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bowlingreenbobcats/

BGE Reminder- Christmas Concert tomorrow night for 2nd grade at 6pm and 4th grade at 7pm in the BGMS Gym Doors will open at 5:30. Attendees of the 4th program please do not enter the gym until the 2nd grade program is over. Students need to report to their classrooms no earlier than 15 minutes before their showtime. Students with special roles have different report times from Mrs Maier.

Bowling Green Families, Opaa! Food Management is in search of a qualified candidate to Manage the Middle School Kitchen in the new year! If you are interested or have questions regarding the position please contact the food service director Whitney Keith 573-639-2338 or Email @ wkeith@opaafood.com. Apply to the Link Below: https://jobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/home/HomeWithPreLoad?PageType=JobDetails&partnerid=26579&siteid=7047&Areq=9465BR

We are so excited to share that Kailey Flowers Luebrecht, a junior at Bowling Green High School, will perform with Saint Louis Ballet in the Nutcracker at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center on the University of Missouri - St. Louis Campus, December 17-23. During the Nutcracker, Kailey will be seen as a Lady Mouse during the Battle Scene between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker. Kailey also has a special role as a Flower where she dances on pointe with the Dew Drop Fairy during the Waltz of Flowers. Tickets for the performances are available at https://www.stlouisballet.org/nutcracker. Saint Louis Ballet is the only professional, resident ballet company of metropolitan St. Louis. The Ballet’s Executive and Artistic Director is Gen Horiuchi, who performed as a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. Kailey has been training at the Saint Louis Ballet School for the past nine years and has performed in such Nutcracker roles as grey mouse, lead white mouse, red soldier, blue soldier, and party girl. In each of her roles, she has had the opportunity to rehearse with the Saint Louis Ballet professional Company dancers and has been directed by Mr. Horiuchi. Kailey takes classes six days a week at Saint Louis Ballet and trains during the summer at intensive ballet programs. This past summer, Kailey attended the Ballet Arizona Summer Intensive in Phoenix for six weeks. Kailey is the daughter of Daryl and Krista Flowers Luebrecht and the granddaughter of Judy Flowers. Photograph: Kailey Flowers Luebrecht, Photograph by Pratt + Kreidich #BGBOBCATPRIDE

There will be a public school board meeting Tuesday December 14th @1:30 p.m. in the Frankford Elementary gym.

As we head into December and winter approaches, we want to remind parents how they can stay informed when inclement weather affects school. The decision to delay the opening of school, dismiss early, or close school for the day due to weather conditions is never an easy one. Our priority is always the safety of the children. School closings, or early school dismissal, will be announced on the district website and sign as soon as the decision is made. In addition, we will send emails and autodial phone calls and text messages to BGR-1 families. Our community will also find accurate information about school closings on the following television stations: WGEM, KTVI (Ch.2), and KSDK (Ch. 5), both TV and online, on the Townsquare Media Quincy/Hannibal KHMO‐AM/KICK‐FM/KRRY‐FM/WLIQ‐AM and KJFM (Eagle 102) radio stations and websites, The Bowling Green Times and Peoples' Tribune online broadcasts, and on our District Facebook page. When we experience inclement weather conditions, safety is the most important consideration. Parents can help their students and the district prepare. Make plans ahead of time and communicate them with your children so they understand what to expect during an early school dismissal due to inclement weather. Understand that school closings are for the safety of children throughout the district. While the condition of your neighborhood streets may be fine, other areas of the district may be experiencing harsher weather. Please review the information you have listed as emergency contacts and make sure that the numbers are updated in our Student Information System by contacting your building office. Lastly, I am thankful we have not had any snow days within the first semester of this year so far. You may know that schools can attend remotely this year on days where schools are closed due to inclement weather and can count these for attendance and not be made up. This was new last year. We still plan to use the first five of our built-in snow days as regular nonattendance days if we have to close for inclement weather before using this remote option, otherwise known as AMI (alternative methods of instruction days). If we have more than five snow days, our plan is to use our Alternative Methods of Instruction plan approved by our state education department. Look for more information about this after the first of the year.

BGE Families the FFA Reading Rodeo is coming to town tomorrow, Thursday the 18th. Book fair opens at 5:00, dinner served at 5:30, FFA station rotations start at 6:00. Hope to see lots of you there! Mr. Kessler

Today, on the 11th hour on the 11th day, of the 11th month, we honor several Americans who have heeded the call to serve others in our community, our state, and our nation and abroad. We celebrate Veterans Day, and honor the more than 25 million Americans, living Americans, who have served in our Armed Forces. We are so proud of our Bowling Green R-1 School District Veterans!!! Please make time to thank them for their sacrifice: Craig Smith-USAR, Tiffany Koester-USN, Gene Zbleski-USAR, Dan Grimes-USMC, Bill Holford-USAF, Don Farris-USAF, and Matt Frederickson-USAR (ret). Also Bob Kirkpatrick, Board Member-USAR and Vietnam Veteran As a reminder, Bowling Green Middle School is proud to serve free meals for veterans today at 11 a.m. for coffee and tea and lunch at 11:15 a.m. and the Veterans Program at 12:15 p.m. with guest speaker Major General (ret) Michael Zerbonia . Thank you all for helping to remember our veterans and making sure our students learn the importance of service to others before self. #VeteransDay #BGBobcatPride

BGE PTO meeting tomorrow 11/9 at 6:00pm in the BGE multipurpose room. Hope to see lots of parents!

BGE Reminder: All cash and check donations are due tomorrow for our STEAM Engine fundraiser. Thanks for all your help and generosity! - Mr. Kessler

Hey BGE. It’s not too late. You can still enter 10 emails and complete your golden ticket. We’ll do another round of prizes tomorrow!

BGE is currently experiencing difficulties receiving outside phone calls. If you need to get ahold of school please email jrwatts@bgschools.k12.mo.us

Hello, Parents and Families! We are excited to offer a way to give back to Bowling Green Elementary! On October 25th we will be kicking off our fall fundraiser to help benefit our students and staff. Our STEAM ENGINE fundraiser, more specifically will help with funding our student/teacher incentive recognition fund and our PTO funds to start up and outdoor classroom. It is going to be AWESOME, and we are excited to get started! A few things to note: • This fundraiser will be very easy for you. It only requires about 10 minutes of your time. • Your students can earn great prizes, just for their effort. No money required! • This is an online, donation-based fundraiser, and the donation requests can go to people you know anywhere in the world. That means, no direct pressure on your shoulders. Students will be bringing home more information next week after our Launch Party Assembly. Please help your student register and complete the Golden Ticket assignment THAT VERY NIGHT! All students who complete the Golden Ticket assignment will receive fun PRIZES and it does not require any money to register. We will also be doing some fun drawings for an iPad and TWO Mini Party Fridges stuffed with CASH! I will be sending a few more emails throughout the two-week fundraising period. Please contact me directly if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for your support! Sincerely, Mr. Kessler BGE Principal

BGE Reminder: No School on Thursday, October 21st or Friday, October 22nd. Parent Teacher Conferences will take place on Thursday.

Last call for parent teacher conference sign ups: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044CAAAB29A1F85-20211 Teachers will begin calling any parents not scheduled by the end of the school day tomorrow. Thanks for your help!

Dear BGE Parents and Guardians, You are all invited! Please find attached an agenda for our first BGE Parent Advisory session to be hosted tomorrow evening, Tuesday, October 12th @ 5:30pm in the BGE Library. Come join us to learn more about the two of us and how we are working to improve BGE for your students. Additionally we invite you to submit questions, ideas, and/or suggestions to add to our agenda via the google form found here: https://forms.gle/o9Ms2p7KAsqEiWQa8. Only items submitted via this form will be discussed at the chat session. We also ask that you not bring private student and/or staff concerns to this meeting. Either of us would be happy to schedule private appointments with you to hear those concerns. We hope that this session kick starts a positive, robust atmosphere of parent/staff collaboration to achieve our common goal of student improvement and excellence. Please stick around afterwards for our October PTO meeting @ 6:00 pm in the BGE Library and discover other ways to get involved on our campus. Cordially, Cory Kessler and Maggie Brown Principal and Assistant Principal

PTO meeting this Tuesday, October 12th @ 6:00 PM. Mr. Kessler and Mrs. Brown will also be hosting a principal's roundtable discussion @ 5:30 PM in the BGE Library. Come share with us your thoughts and ideas on how to make BGE an even better school for our community. More details to come tomorrow about specific discussion topics and how to participate. All parents are invited and welcome to attend both of these events. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you on the 12th.

Sign up now for a parent teacher conference time slot on Thursday, October 21st from 1pm to 7pm. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044CAAAB29A1F85-20211

BGE Reminder: School will not be in session on Monday, October 4th due to a staff PLC (professional learning community) day.

We've had an awesome first five weeks of school. Please check out the first edition of the BGE Times here https://5il.co/zkmx. Have a