School News

On Friday, September 3rd we will host our first "Coffee with the Principals" via Zoom.  Our meeting will be held virtually on Zoom from 8:30-9:30 AM.  Our Community Liaison, Mariza Ramans, will be discussing family/student resources and various outreach programs our district partners with to support families.  She will also talk about our ELAC (English Language Advisory Committee).  Our PTA president, Julie Tate-Judge, will also be joining  our meeting to introduce the PTA and also explain how you can get involved in the PTA.  The principals will give an update regarding school happenings, as well as disucss upcoming events.  Please join us!  A Zoom link will be emailed to parents who complete the registration form below.

Registration form 

Please let us know what future topics you would like to see discussed or presented:

Future Topics for Coffee with the Principals

At Blackford, we use an app called iDismiss.  This app has helped faciliate a smoother, safer process when we are dismissing students at the end of the day.

To begin with, each family will be assigned a numbered placard.  Siblings are given the same number.  You can pick up your placard in the front of the school on August 19th and 20th.  Tables will be set up in front of the school and staff will be there to assist you.

Starting Monday, August 23rd, when you, a family member, or an identified person listed on your child's PI Card come to pick up your child:

if driving:  As you enter the front parking lot, a staff member will be looking for your orange numbered placard hanging from your rearview mirror or they will ask you for your placard number.  Please hang the placard from your rearview mirror before you enter the parking lot.  Once our staff member has identified your placard number, they will notify your child's teacher, who will then release your child to walk to the front grade level gate.  As you proceed through the drive thru, your child will meet you as you approach.

if walking:  Please approach your child's grade level gate and inform the staff member of your placard number.  Our staff member will then notify your child's teacher, who will release your child to walk to the front grade level gate.  Your child will meet you at the gate.

if your child walks home independently: Please let your child's teacher and our front office know that your child will be walking home each day.  This way we can inform our staff and when your child approaches the gate, your child will communicate with our staff member, who will exit them from the gate.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding our process, please do not hesitate to call our front office.

Here is a video which demonstrates how the iDismiss app works: 

https://idismiss.org/how-it-works/

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.

Here is our Student Handbook in both English and Spanish.

Blackford Student Handbook (English)

Blackford Student Handbook (Spanish)