Bernardo Parent Bulletin #2

August 6, 2023

Bernardo Parent Guide

To provide information and answers to some frequently asked questions about procedures and guidelines here at Bernardo, we've created a Parent Guide. This guide is linked on our Bernardo web page so be sure to check it out as a first stop when you have a question or would like more information about a variety of topics.

Please feel free to contact our front office if you have any questions about anything in the parent guide or if you have a question that is not addressed.

Class Enrollment

Our staff spent a great deal of time in organizing balanced classes for this year. Class placement is a complex task that involves reviewing factors that include academics, social needs, behavioral concerns, learning styles, and friendship groups. There was also an opportunity for parents to provide their input last Spring that helped provide thoughts to the grade level teams who organized the classes for this fall.

While we are always happy to discuss any questions or concerns that parents may have, please know that we do not grant requests for specific teachers and will not make any changes to class assignments during these first two weeks, except when their are dire extenuating circumstances.

Message from our school nurse, Jeri Morlet

Welcome back to school! I love working here at Bernardo and I am looking forward to a new school year with all of our new and returning students.

The office is now open and available to accept student medications. To accept any medications, I will need the Drs. orders with both physician and parent signatures as well as the medication in original form (labels from the pharmacy, students name, and DOB on the medication). Please know that students who require emergency medications (epi-pens, rescue inhalers) cannot start school until the medication and orders are in the Health Office.

Since we typically have such hot days at the start of the year, please be sure to keep your children hydrated, apply sunscreen regularly, and check for chapped lips.

Please feel free to contact me at any time with any questions or concerns at jmorlet@eusd.org

Drop-Off Procedures for first week of school

Parents are welcome to walk their children onto campus during the first four days of school. Beginning on Monday, August 21, students will need to say goodbye to their parents at the entrance gates.

We will have many staff members and student helpers present every morning to help students find their way to the playgrounds so students won't get lost. If you do need to come on campus for any reason, please check-in at our front office and obtain a visitor's badge.

First Day of School Arrival (August 15)

Our front gates will open at 7:30 a.m. on this first day only.
On the first day of school, students are to go directly to their classroom.
A few minutes after school begins, teachers will ask parents to say goodbye.

Days 2-4 School Arrival Process (August 16-18)

1st-5th Grade students will drop off their belongings at their class number and can go to the playground until the bell rings at 7:55.
TK & K students will go their class line location inside of the TK/K playground gates.
Our front gates will open at 7:40 a.m. beginning on Day 2 and for the remainder of the school year.
Parents may walk their children onto campus.

Day 5 (August 21) and Beyond

Parents will say goodbye at the front entrance gates and students will walk themselves in.
We will many staff and student helpers present to help our youngest students.

Students may be dropped off at one of the front gates beginning at 7:30 as that is when our supervision begins (Please don't drop off at back gate until 7:40). Up until 7:40, students will line up at an entrance gates until the gates are opened.

New Back Gate Option for Drop-Off & Pick-Up!

We are excited about a new student entrance and exit gate that we had installed at the back corner of our field located off of Bernardo Avenue and Oak Lane! We are hoping that this location will provide some relief from the congestion at the front of our school.

Below are the guidelines that we are asking everyone to follow:

This gate is for 3rd-5th grade students along with their siblings. TK-2nd grade students without older siblings will need to be dropped off and picked up at the front of the school.
Students will walk along the dirt path just inside of the fence along Bernardo Drive to enter and exit campus.
Parents can park in the dirt lot or in Carriage Hills for easy access to the gate.
Please DO NOT stop or wait along Bernardo Avenue as that will block traffic and create more congestion.
Direct students to use the crosswalk and follow the directions of the crossing guard as well as Bernardo staff that will be positioned at that location.
For the first four days of school, parents may enter the back gate since we'll be allowing parents to walk their children onto campus. However, from the fifth day of school on, any parent who wishes to enter campus will need to go through our front office and not through this gate.
Supervision will begin at the back gate beginning at 7:40 so we ask parents to please not drop off at that gate until that time.

We will monitor this new gate over the first month of school to determine whether it is a viable long-term solution to some of our traffic challenges.

Ways To Stay Informed

Our goal is to help families stay informed and involved as strong partners with us in educating and supporting our students. We strive to maintain close communication from the principal as well as each classroom teacher. Here are resources we use to keep our families informed:

Each Monday evening, we send out a weekly parent bulletin that will contain important information in a concise and upbeat manner.
Lots of helpful information found on our Bernardo School web site.
For those on social media, we have an active Bernardo Facebook page.