

Bobcat Family Newsletter 9/5
2023-24
Please Welcome Dr. Heggs!
Please join us in welcoming our new assistant principal, Dr. D'Andrea Heggs. She will begin on Tuesday, September 5th. Welcome Dr. Heggs!
Greetings Bobcat community!
It is my pleasure to serve as the Assistant Principal for the 2023-2024 academic year. I am eager to support and learn along the way. Thank you for the warm welcome!
My name is Dr. D'Andrea Heggs. An alumna of The University of Memphis. This is my 17th year in education. My journey started as an ESL classroom teacher. At year seven, I transitioned to administration. My educational background consists of a dual Honors bachelor's degree with the distinction of Cum Laude in English as a Second Language & African and African American Studies. A Masters of Arts in Curriculum and Instructional Leadership. After completing the Principal Preparation Certification program I completed the Doctorate of Education in Leadership and Policy Studies.
My tenure has been within private, parochial, charter, and public institutions. I have worked with students ranging from Pre-K to graduate school. All of my experiences have shaped and solidified my belief that all students deserve a quality educational experience.
I am new to Rocky Mount and have enjoyed traveling to various neighboring communities. My husband and children thoroughly enjoy the local food and markets! I enjoy reading, animals, and traveling. I am a fur momma of an Orange Tabby cat and two Guinea Pigs.
Reading with Blue Program
BES has been selected to participate in our Reading with Blue Program. Blue, a Black Labrador Retriever, is a certified Reading Therapy Dog. Blue and I have been through a year long training and received our official certification by Taylor King, through Kings K9 Kennel and Training. We are confident this new initiative will be an experience that will accelerate learning and promote a love for reading. Blue and I will visit classrooms one to two times per week to read with small groups of students. Please sign this permission slip and return it to school as a confirmation that you agree to your child’s participation in this program. If you have any questions or would like more information feel free to contact me, Kristen Tedford, at the school. The permission slip will be sent home in Thursday's Folder.
The Candyman Fundraiser has begun!
Out BES PTO Candyman Fundraiser began last Friday. Each student received a packet with all of the details included. This can be done face to face or online. This fundraiser will end on September 19th. Thank you in advance with any help!
Click in the N below for directions!
Link is attached.
Independence Day
Independence Day for EVERYONE is tomorrow Tuesday 9/5. All students who do not ride the bus need to be dropped off in the carline form 7:20-7:55am. If you are interested in your student eating breakfast, please arrive well before 7:55am.
BES School Supply List
Do you need to know your bus route? Click Below
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Arrival
The first day of school, students will not be allowed to be walked to class by a parent. This will need to be practiced on Open House Night 8/22. Please let your teacher know which mode of transportation you would like your student to use during dismissal.
Students can be dropped off in carline from 7:20-7:55am. Breakfast will be served from 7:20-7:55am. After 7:55am, all breakfast will stop being served and cleaned up and instruction will begin promptly at 8am. Students are not to bring outside breakfast after 7:55am. At 7:55am the carline will end and students will need to be dropped off and signed in at the Main Office. The drop off in front of the school is for buses and self-contained EC students only. All car riders must be dropped off and picked up in the carline only at arrival and dismissal times.
Dismissal
Early checkouts will end at 2:30pm to prepare for dismissal. Whole school dismissal will begin at 3:00-3:25pm. We will not check out students between 2:30-3:00pm. Please check your student out before 2:30pm if they have to check out early. Driver's license must be present when checking out a student.
PIKMYKID Dismissal Application
In our ongoing efforts to enhance your children’s safety, we have decided to begin using the PikMyKid Dismissal Application. Throughout the country, it has been proven to simplify dismissal, reduce traffic congestion, and most importantly, improve overall safety.
The unique features of PikMyKid allow you, as parents, to easily change pick up modes, quickly delegate to an alternate individual for pickup, change to an ‘After School’ program, and even schedule for future pickup mode, pickup individual, and after school programs. This app allows you to be in full control of your child’s dismissal and it gives us, the school, complete information regarding dismissal and the ability to acknowledge every change and to instantly check your child’s dismissal status should you have a question. We are very excited about this addition and know you will be too.
Check your emails over the next week for additional information and we will be on our way to a safer, quicker, and more efficient dismissal process. To Learn a little more on your own, please check out the following link that will show you a few of the PikMyKid features. https://www.pikmykid.com/features/forparents
Attendance
Good attendance is necessary to obtain academic excellence. Students and their parents must accept responsibility for regular school attendance. State law requires all pupils under the age of sixteen to be in school each day it is in session. Students absent for a whole day must bring a note signed by the parent explaining the reason for the absence. This note should not be written in the agenda. An excused absence is illness, death in the immediate family, religious holidays, doctor or dentist appointment, trips approved in advance through the office and any other absence considered necessary or beneficial by the administration. Missing the bus and truancy are two examples of reasons for an unexcused absence. Making up missed schoolwork is the responsibility of the student. The student must see the teacher(s) for missed assignments. The teacher will work with him/her in setting up a timetable to submit the missed assignments. If not submitted, missed assignments will be reflected in his/her grades.
Early check outs and late check ins will be charted and monitored due to missing student instruction. Habitually late check ins and early check out students will be provided with an attendance contract and possible retention if this behavior continues to occur.
Benvenue Positive Behavior Plan for the 2023-2024 School Year
PBIS
We have restructured our Positive Behavior Plan for this year. Please click on the link and begin to have discussions on all the ways your student will be rewarded for positive behavior this year.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-eCPD1SdIrRPUl8dwiMGr3iMCnFJyOXKTETiqRdmARo/edit?usp=sharing
BES Breakfast and Lunch
BES will offer free breakfast to all students from 7:20-7:55am and free lunch.
Technology Fees
Each student will need to pay a yearly $20 technology fee each year. This link will allow you to pay this fee online: https://osp.osmsinc.com/NRM/, or you can pay it at BES.
Questions? Suggestions?
Please us the link below to ask any question or share a suggestion? We will get back with you shortly