School Start Specifics
Please see the following information regarding the start of school for Blackford Bobcats!
We are so excited for all our Bobcats to start the 21-22 school year! We can't wait to see everyone! Our theme for the year is "Better Together," and we can't wait until we are all together on August 19th!
The first day of school is Thursday, August 19th.
SCHOOL START TIME: 8:13 a.m. is our Warning Bell and instruction begins at 8:15 a.m. All students are expected to be in their classroom by 8:15 a.m. so instruction can begin promptly.
Our front gates will open at 8:05. Parents are welcome to walk their student(s) to their classroom door and must exit by 8:15 when we will close our gates for the day. Adults will not be permitted to enter classrooms during drop-off time. You must wear a mask while on campus.
DISMISSAL: 2:30 p.m. / 2:40 p.m. (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday)
2:30 TK/Kindergarten - 3rd Grade
2:40 4th & 5th Grade
WEDNESDAY DISMISSAL: 1:30 / 1:40
Every Wednesday is a shortened day. Please mark your calendars for the early pick-up times.
1:30 TK/Kindergarten - 3rd Grade
1:40 4th & 5th Grade
GATES AND VEHICLE DROP-OFF AREAS
There are walk-in entry gates in the front of our school located on Willow Street.
We have three front entrance gates into the school campus which we will be using this year. One gate will be for our TK-1 students, another for our Grade 2-3 students, and the third gate is for our Grade 4-5 students. We will have signage, along the drive-thru curb, to indicate the specific locations of each grade level entrance gate. Please drive especially cautiously as you come through to drop off your student. Thank you for being mindful of others who are also dropping off children or walking to school.
BREAKFAST PROGRAM
We will be serving breakfast, free of cost, for students. Breakfast is served from 7:40-8:10 a.m. Students will enter through the MU (Multi-Use Room) in front of the school. Students will be supervised and expected to stay in the eating area until they are dismissed to go to class. Staff will escort younger students to their classrooms.
FREE SCHOOL LUNCH FOR ALL
Every student who wants a school lunch can have one at no cost! Each morning your teacher will take a count of students who want a lunch that day. Please take a look at the lunch menu at https://www.campbellusd.org/food.
DISMISSAL PROCESS
Our school uses an app called iDismiss to faciliate dismissal. On the first two days of school, parents/family members can stop by the tables in front of the school to pick up their student's iDismiss placard. Each student will be assigned a number. (Siblings are given the same number.) Also please note: Placards will be a different color from last year, and your child(ren) will be given a new number as well. Please discard your 20-21 placard.
If you are driving to pick up your child(ren): As you enter our parking lot, there will be a staff member who will alert the classroom teacher that you have arrived to pick up your child(ren). Please be sure to place your child's placard on your rearview mirror in order to help our staff member quickly notify the classroom teacher. Once the teacher receives the alert, he/she will send your child(ren) up to their grade level gate. Students will be greeted by a staff member at the gate, who will then direct them out to the vehicle once they see the numbered placard hanging from your rearview mirror and the vehicle approach.
If you are walking to pick up your child(ren): You will walk to your child's assigned grade level gate. Once there, please tell the staff member at the gate your child's iDismiss number or show the placard, and the staff member will then alert your child's teacher that you've arrived to pick up your child. Your child's teacher will then send your child up to meet you at the gate.
Here is a video which demonstrates how the iDismiss app works:
https://idismiss.org/how-it-works/
COVID-19
The health guidelines to which we adhere are dynamic and evolve with the conditions of the pandemic. This is the link to updated guideline information.
CLASS LISTS
Class assignments will be available at 4:00 P.M., Wednesday, 8/18. We will post class lists on our website. Please remember, you will need your child's Student ID number. (Students will not be listed by name due to confidentiality.)
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
-Back To School Night, Thursday, September 16th, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Our Back to School Night will be held virtually on Zoom. More info. will be sent home by your child's teacher about the event.
-Parent Conference Week is 10/4-10/8-Conference dismissal schedule is listed on the Bell Schedule.
ONGOING COMMUNICATION and PARENT PARTICIPATION
Please don't forget to sign up to be a member of our Blackford PTA, as well as sign up to receive our weekly newsletter.
Thank you for taking the time to read through our Student Handbook (English) (Spanish) and our website articles. We look forward to meeting you soon, and having all our Bobcats back in person! If you have any questions or concerns, please never hesitate to contact the school office, site admin, or your child's teacher.