THE BESSIE BRIEF

THE FORMAL NEWSLETTER CAN BE FOUND AT THIS LINK: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E9acohXGZl0ZMUEb4L1qiiB-rVn36bnc8YPMDkrXHPU/edit?usp=sharing

Friday, October 25, 2024

Message From the Principal

Welcome to the Bessie Brief!  A way for families to stay connected with school happenings and important reminders.  We will release our Bessie Brief every 2 weeks and it will be available on our website, emailed to families, and sent home in your child’s backpack.  We hope that this newsletter helps you feel more connected to our school community! 

We are well into the Fall Semester! The first marking period has concluded for our Middle School students and will soon conclude for our Elementary students as well with parent teacher conferences and student-led conferences being held the week of November the 18th!

In community,

Ms. Bell

Dates to Remember

10/28: Principal Chat, Little Bessie Parent Room, 9:20am 

10/31: Costume Parade, 9:30am - 10:15am,  Little Bessie Yard

10/31: Fall Dance, Big Bessie, 3:18pm 

11/02: Bike Practice & Safety Class; Big Bessie, 11/2

11/11: No School; Veterans Day

11/18: Big Bessie Fall Picture Day

11/18 - 11/22: Parent Teacher Conference Week; Early Release all week

11/20: Little Bessie Retake Picture Day

SPIRIT WEEK 10/28 - 11/01

Join us in celebrating Fall with Spirit Week! Monday - Pajama Day; Tuesday - 2000’s Day; Wednesday - Anything but a Backpack Day; Thursday - Costume Day; Friday - Twin Day

Thursday costume policy is as follows, 

• Students must arrive in their costume
• No props that resemble weapons
• No fake blood
• No face masks 
• No costumes that represent a culture other than your own (no cultural appropriation)

COSTUME PARADE @ LITTLE BESSIE (10/31/2024)

On Thursday, Oct. 31, we will have a costume parade at 9:30am on the yard. For those who can not participate, we will have the library open for arts and crafts during the parade.

CLASSROOM VISITS AND VOLUNTEERISM

We are committed to fostering a collaborative environment where families and educators work together to support student success. We strongly desire and appreciate your support  for your child’s learning experience firsthand. However, in accordance with the United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) agreement, we kindly ask that parents provide at least 24 hours' notice before volunteering in the classroom or scheduling a classroom observation. This policy helps ensure that: 

Teachers can prepare adequately: Just like in any professional setting, teachers need time to plan and organize their classrooms to provide the best possible learning environment. This notice allows them to maintain their focus on teaching while accommodating your visit/volunteerism.

Minimizing disruptions to learning: With prior notice, we can ensure that your visit occurs at a time when it will have the least impact on classroom routines and schedules.

Better collaboration and communication: With advance notice, teachers and parents can work together to plan for tasks that you can do as you volunteer or a productive observation that allows for meaningful insight into your child's progress.

Please note that while this 24-hour notice is part of the UESF/District agreement, some teachers may be more flexible and open to same-day observations, depending on their schedule and the day’s lesson plan. We encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher to discuss their availability and preferred approach.

We are also working on a plan that will support parent volunteers throughout the school community and not only your child’s class.  We hope to provide more information on this in the near future. 

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in following this protocol. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to schedule a visit.

SOMA HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL

Bessie Families!  The annual Soma Halloween Carnival will be happening at VMD Park this Halloween 10/31 from 4-6:30 pm!  Please bring your kids for games, food and fun!  Adults MUST be accompanied by a child!  This event is FREE and family friendly!  Any questions or to volunteer please email misha@unitedplayaz.org!

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL BIKE

Join us at 10 am on Saturday, 11/2, for a drop in bike safety & practice session organized by SFMTA, San Francisco County Transportation Authority, and Safe Routes to School SF.  This class works on giving students the tools they need to ride safely and smartly on city streets.  Loaner bikes and helmets will be provided with limited availability.  RSVP here, https://tinyurl.com/bikepractice.