Bett District Update

Paul Norton Elementary kindergarten students recently celebrated the 100th day of school. Needless to say, they had a blast! They ate special snacks, did special activities to 100, and even dressed like grandmas and grandpas!

Returning families can now complete their 2024-25 Annual Updates (online registration) through their IC Parent Portal. To access registration information from Infinite Campus, click MORE on the link underneath the menu on the left-hand side of your Parent Portal account then click "Online Registration" to launch registration. Please be sure to register your student(s) by Thursday, February 29 for placement.

It’s time to register kindergarten students and new families in the Bettendorf Community School District for the 2024-25 school year. Please be sure to register your student(s) by Thursday, February 29 for placement. Link to more information

If your child will be four years old on or before September 15, 2024 he or she may attend the Bettendorf Schools Early Childhood Program for the upcoming school year. Families that meet the free and reduced criteria are given first placement in the Bettendorf Community School District program. Children who do not qualify for free or reduced lunch will be placed in the program if space allows. More Information / Applications

Funding provided by the state of Iowa in support of The Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program also allows us to support children four years of age in other local preschool programs. Families of preschoolers in this program can receive preschool education at no charge for 10 hours per week with the balance of time attending the local preschool paid by parents.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, which has been promoted for 75 years. This is a great opportunity to schedule an appointment for your child to see a dentist. Children should have their first dental visit by 12 months and continue to see their dentist as recommended to avoid oral concerns such as cavities and gum disease. Remind your child to brush 2 times everyday and use a fluoridated toothpaste.

For more information on dental health or to find dental care for your child, call your local

I-Smile™ Coordinator at the Scott County Health Department at 563-328-4114 or visit their website.

Find American Dental Association activities sheets for kids at the bottom of their webpage.

Calling all BHS Seniors! Bettendorf High School seniors are invited to apply for BCSF scholarships through March 18. Read through the criteria, there is something for everyone! Learn more at bit.ly/BHSSeniorScholarships.

Agenda | Live Stream

School Board Website

• SEIBA Junior High Honor Band - BMS 8th graders Samantha Hodgini (clarinet), Owen Blades (trumpet), and Luke Leavitt (euphonium) were selected by audition to participate in the 2024 Southeast Iowa Bandmasters Association Honor Band. The event was held on campus at The University of Iowa on Saturday, January 20th. Luke Leavitt was also named as an alternate for the All-Iowa 8th Grade Honor Band.
• Speech/Debate - District Congress Results - Bettendorf High School has earned their first slot at the National Speech and Debate Association's National tournament this summer, which will be held in Des Moines, IA from Sunday, June 16th - Friday, June 21st. Congratulations to Charlie Silver for qualifying to attend in the Senate for Student Congress! Connor Hetner finished as 3rd Alternate (5th place overall) for the House in Student Congress. Bettendorf High School finished in 2nd place in the Congress Sweepstakes Awards.
  
• Speech/Debate - Husky Howler Results - The Speech and Debate Team ended this weekend with the following students returning with trophies:

  Cata Fernandez and Cameron Ritchie - Quarterfinalist in Public Forum Debate

  Charlie Silver - 2nd place in U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking and 3rd place in Spontaneous Speaking

  MaKaylee Wilson - 3rd place in Program Oral Interpretation

• BHS Future Business Leaders of America - Congratulations to the following FBLA members for their success at the District Leadership Conference this weekend. Marcu Cope: 1st place Accounting 1, 1st place Personal Finance, 3rd place Business Calculations; Charlie Silver: 1st place Economics, 1st place Sales Presentation; Sreya Alla: 1st place Human Resources; Winston Shaner: 1st place Marketing; Mateo Troche: 1st place Intro to Public Speaking; Maya Miller: 3rd place Sales Presentation; Delainey Sullivan & Sreya Alla: 1st place Digital Video Production.

• BHS Robotics - The BHS FTC Robotics teams competed at their regional league tournament on Saturday, January 27th at PV High School. Top Bot, a brand new team, was the 2nd place alliance captain and received a superior execution in industrial design of their robot. UBett won the Innovate Award for mastering creativity and ingenuity in solving robot problems with custom solutions. Both teams now advance to the state FTC tournament on March 2nd in Coralville.

• BHS Girls State Wrestling - Congratulations to the girls’ wrestling team 1st place at regionals and 8 state qualifiers: 100 - Olivia Hernandez, 110 - Emily See, 115 - Taylor Strief, 120 - Nesa Selmani, 125 - Hannah Rogers, 130 - Lexy Petersen, 135 - Morgan Strief, and 140 - Izzy Giza.

  Shout out to the following finishers at state: Hannah Rogers 3rd, Lexi Peterson 5th, and Morgan Strief 6th.

• BHS Boys Wrestling - Congratulations to the boys wrestling team as the three-time defending MAC champs. Jace Luna received his 150th win. Congratulations to the boys wrestling team for their second-place finish at the State Dual Tournament last weekend. Come out and watch them this Saturday as we are hosting the District Tournament.

• BHS Boys Swim Team - Congratulations to the boys' swim team for their 3rd place finish at the Dubuque Districts Saturday. State Qualifiers include: Kiefer Roemer, Hudson Weaver, Mateo Surma, Ricky Zillmer, Jacob Mitvalsky, Trey Gross, Nick Schmidt, Oscar Schmit,

  and Gage Rath.
  

• Legislative Updates - Leaders from the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency spoke with directors about their programs and services and proposed legislation.
• BHS & BMS Access Control Upgrade - The board held a public hearing and approved and advertisement for bids for replacement of the access control system at Bettendorf High School and Bettendorf Middle School.
• Approval of Addition and Renovation for the New Thomas Edison Academy Bids - Directors approved Bill Bruce Builder Inc.'s bid of $2,709,000 for the Addition and Renovation to the New Thomas Edison Academy.
  

5th grade parents! Join us for Bettendorf Middle School 5th Grade Parent Night beginning at 6:30 pm on Thursday, Feb. 15. Learn about the transition to middle school, courses available to 6th graders, the Moving to Middle program, and so much more.

The BHS Cultural Diversity Club is having a t-shirt sale. 🌍👕 Embrace unity in diversity with our Cultural Diversity Club t-shirts! 👕🌍 February 6-20. Use the QR code or link to order: https://classical-graphics.printavo.com/merch/bettdiversityclub

Help support the work of the Bettendorf Community Schools Foundation while also supporting our elementary and middle schools and their students!

Purchase a Major Saver card for $15 and enjoy entertainment and dining discounts. Purchase through an elementary or middle school student or online at https://www.majorsaver.com/cards/ and identify a student/school to benefit from your purchase. #BETTerTogether

Be sure to keep your contact information (phone numbers and email) up-to-date throughout the school year.

• Remain Close to Your Phone - Remain close to your sources of communication, phone or email, to ensure you are receiving accurate and timely updates on the emergency from district staff.
• Keep Roads & Lots Clear! - DO NOT go to the incident site ahead of school communication regarding student reunification. Keeping roads and lots clear of additional traffic is crucial for our EMS responders!
• Picking Up Your Student - The district will communicate to parents how, when and where to reunite with their student. Parents will be directed to a specific location that could be located off campus. It is important that parents follow these directions for the safety of all students, staff and parents.
• Emergency Contacts Only - A student can only be released to an adult who is documented as an emergency contact. Be sure to keep your student’s emergency contacts up-to-date throughout the school year.

• Bring Photo ID - If we need to have a controlled release of students, parents, guardians and emergency contacts will need to show proper identification before the student will be released.
  

Circumstances may occur at the school that require parents to pick up their students in a formalized, controlled release. This process is called a Family Reunification and may be necessary due to weather, a power outage, hazmat, or if a crisis occurs at the school. A reunification may occur at a different location than the school.

• Look for Direction - Signage will be available to identify where parents park and check-in.
• Please Be Patient - We care about you and your students! Please be patient as we work to get you and your student back together as quickly as possible while working to ensure the safety of all.

Thank you to Jayme Olson and Rhonda Nelson for hosting this week's Bett Academy at Herbert Hoover on our core curricular areas - language arts, math and science! It was great information and discussion. Check out the presentation -https://5il.co/2ee21 #BETTerTogether

Enjoy an adults-only night raising funds for Grant Wood Elementary School! Doors open at 6 pm and Bingo starts at 7 pm. There will be a silent auction during the event. Attendees are invited to bring their own food, but no crock pots are allowed. Alcohol and food will be available for purchase through the Golden Leaf. A BIG thank you to our Event Sponsor: Advanced Business Systems!!

Click the following link to register for an individual ticket ($15) or a table of 8 ($100): https://forms.gle/D3sVMfns7CQvvZ5S6

The sixth-grade science department is hosting a blood drive on Monday, February 12 from 2:30 - 6:30 pm in the BMS cafeteria. Please help us in recruiting donors for the blood drive so that we can make it as successful as possible! To schedule an appointment, contact Mrs. Maddox or go to www.bloodcenter.org and use group code #1544!

Don't miss this free, hands-on event for all Quad Cities students and their families to explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Families travel through the middle school to discover a variety of opportunities from our community partners. Snacks & drinks available in the BMS cafeteria. Learn more

2024 Exhibits

Beekeeping! | Bettendorf Police Department | BHS Conservation & Science Clubs | Building Futures: Explore Career Management Opportunities | Chemistry with SAU | Girl Scouts | Illowa Council Cub Scouts | Instrument Petting Zoo | John Deere Manufacturing | Math Puzzles | Metronet: Fiber Optic Fun | Mississippi River Navigation and Locks and Dams | Mural Painting | Parker Audiology The World of Wax | Physical Therapy Obstacle Course | Planetarium | Putnam Museum and Science Center | Quad Cities Clean Energy Center | Quad City Steamwheelers "How to throw a spiral" | Raptors of Iowa | Robotics with HNI | Science Applied to Life by 3M | Screen Printing | Sensational Seeds | Spin Art with the Figge | St. Ambrose Center for Health Sciences Education | STEAM @ the Bettendorf Public Library | The Adventures of Veterinary Medicine | University of Iowa Health Care | Watershed Education | Wild about Woodpeckers | Write More Light Into Your Life

Mark Twain Elementary will be hosting a Girls on the Run Program this spring! Practices will take place on Tuesday and Thursdays after school. Students from all elementary are welcome to join (parents will be responsible for transportation). If your daughter is interested in joining us for the spring session, you will need to register online. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Jordan Drane, Girls on the Run Coach/Site Coordinator.

Safe+Sound Iowa is a free anonymous K-12 school safety reporting system to help prevent violence, unlawful possession of weapons, self-harm, and other forms of victimization and threatening behaviors in schools across Iowa. Students, school staff, parents, and concerned community members can report safety concerns three ways:

1. Downloading and using the free Safe+Sound Iowa app
2. Going to SafeandSoundIowa.gov, or
3. Calling 800-224-6018

There's an app for that! Apple | Android

The Bettendorf Community Schools app is now available for download! Check out news, events, staff, alerts, athletic calendars, links to the district and school websites, and more. Select the option to receive school notifications by school through the app.

Check out the 2023-24 family handbook for: District Information | General School Procedures | Climate & Safety | Curriculum & Assessments | Programs & Supports for Students | Health & Wellness | Student Rights & Responsibilities | Attendance & Absences | Parent Information & Resources | Registration/Enrollment | Elementary Information | Bettendorf Middle School Information | Bettendorf High School Information | Links to Forms

https://www.gobound.com/ia/schools/bettendorf

Reconnect, engage, give back! With BettConnect, a joint initiative by Bettendorf Community School District and Foundation, alumni can now connect while supporting current students. Let's bridge the gap and build a stronger community! BettConnect.com #AlumniPower #BETTerTogether

• CONNECT - Alumni can stay in touch with other Bettendorf graduates

• GIVE BACK - We are looking for local mentors for current students and recent graduates

• CAREER CONNECTION - Share job/career information and opportunities with current students and recent graduates

• NETWORK - Expand your professional network

• SUPPORT - Stay informed about the current work of the Bettendorf Community Schools Foundation and learn how to support current students and teachers

• KEEP IN TOUCH - Stay up to date about what's going on in Bettendorf High School and the Bettendorf Community School District

Staff, Parents, Community Are Welcome to Join
Many features are available for staff, parents and community members. Please join and let us know which categories represent you.

Business Directory - Alumni and community members are welcome to add their businesses to the BettConnect Business Directory and update with offers.

Currently enrolled high school students will eventually have access to mentorship connections through Haleigh Hoyt, BHS Career Readiness Coordinator.

Get Your Bulldog Gear!

Check out the Bett Boosters Online Store! Orders will be processed every two weeks and can be picked up locally from Brand 2306 or shipped. BETTerTogether wear NOW AVAILABLE!

Bettendorf Athletic Boosters will be selling apparel and merchandise at all home football games. We have many new designs we can't wait for you to see. Go Bulldogs!

Join Our Team! Apply Online!

• Bus Drivers
• Guest Staff (teachers, paras, nurses, custodians, bus drivers, etc.)
  
• Special Ed Paraeducator (Multiple Positions)
  
• Special Education Teachers

Items are posted for informational purposes only. This does not imply Bettendorf Community Schools District's endorsement of them. Follow us on Facebook!

NEW THIS WEEK

• Putnam Museum - Spring Break Camp for grades 1-4 - March 11 - 15
• Southeast Little League Online Registration Now Open 6-12 year olds Evaluations Feb. 17 & 24
  

VIRTUAL BACKPACK

• Iowa State University - ACT Raising Safe Kids - Tuesday evenings starting Feb. 27 | Friday afternoons starting March 1

District | BHS | BHS Athletics | Edison | BMS | BMS Athletics | GW | HH | MT | NA | PN

FEBRUARY

9 - GW Rock & Roll Bingo 6 pm - Golden Leaf

12 - BMS Blood Drive 2:30-6:30 pm - Commons

19 - NO SCHOOL - President's Day

20 - Bett Academy - Student & Family Supports 5-7:30 pm - MS Cafeteria

21 - School Board Meeting 6 pm

26 - 5th-12th Grade Parade of Bands 7 pm - BHS Gym

29 - HS Show Choir Showcase 7 pm

Educating & Empowering Every Student Every Day in Pursuit of Educational Excellence.

3311 18th St., Bettendorf, IA
(563) 359-3681
www.bettendorf.k12.ia.us
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