December 4, 2020

Grizzly eNews 12-04-2020

Principal’s Message

When I came across the picture above today, the first thing I thought of was, “That looks like a Google Meet!” It’s sad that this is where my mind went first, but it is our reality at this time. The good news is that students, staff and parents are doing an amazing job of making the best of this situation. I have observed a few sessions and worked with students over this past week. Children really are the best at adapting and overcoming.

We look forward to seeing the students return on December 10th. This will also be the first of two collection days for our Grizzly Kids Cereal Drive which will help to support the Batavia United Way Adopt-a-Family holiday event. Students can bring in any new, regular sized unopened cereal to donate to the drive. Students are welcome to bring in more than one box, but they must be able to carry what they bring to the cafeteria when they arrive. Thanks for supporting our Batavia community!

~Principal Jeff Modaff

District/Grace McWayne News:

End Date for Adaptive Pause

Our school district is nearing the end of the “adaptive pause” that was recommended by the Kane County Health Department. Gold students and everyday students (including kindergarten students) will return onThursday, December 10th; Crimson students will return on Friday, December 11th. The full Crimson/Gold schedule can be found here.

Notification of Student Absences

For in-person learning families, it is important that you continue to self-monitor your family members and notify the school if your student is unable to return to school in-person next week due to illness or quarantine. You do not need to wait until their in-person return date to report the absence.

Winter Break and Beyond

Our winter break begins on Monday, December 21st, and classes will resume on Wednesday, January 6th. We will resume our Crimson/Gold rotation for most in-person learners on January 6th, which is a Crimson Day. Some identified groups, including kindergarten and the addition of first grade students, will be in everyday mode starting January 6th. District families can plan for this to be the schedule for the remainder of the school year. We are not currently planning on adding any additional grade-levels to the everyday mode. We will continue to monitor the impacts of the pandemic on our community, and make adjustments if deemed necessary for the health and safety of our staff and students.

Report Symptoms and Covid-19 Positives Now

For in-person learning families, it is important that you continue to self-monitor your family members and notify the school if your student is experiencing symptoms or someone in your household has tested positive for Covid-19. Please do not wait until our in-person return date (12/10) to report Covid related information. The school nurse can be reached at 630-937-8106.

Honor A Teacher (BFEE)

BFEE Honor A Teacher Campaign

Show your teachers and staff that you honor them, while donating money to the very organization that gives directly to the schools and students!

The Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence’s Honor A Teacher Campaign for 2020 will be dedicated to our teachers, staff and administrators who are working tirelessly to provide quality online and remote learning to our students during this global health crisis. Your gift will provide critical support and bolster the work of the Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence (BFEE) mission of enhancing and enriching public education during this difficult time.

Over the past 15 years, BFEE funded grants totaling over $375,000, thanks to the generosity of our donors. Your gift supports BFEE’s grants to educators in the Batavia Public Schools to explore new instructional methods and to implement valuable enrichment programs for students. Like all donations to BFEE, your contribution is tax deductible.

All exemplary educators may be honored including teachers, paraprofessionals, librarians, art, music, media, physical fitness and science specialists, coaches, guidance counselors, support staff, custodians, etc throughout our district who have made a positive difference in the life of a Batavia student. Monies raised go directly to fund teacher grants, awarded each Spring, which carry out our mission: “Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence will be a partner with our schools and community, fostering innovation and expanding opportunities to ensure BPS101 students are always learning and always growing.”

There is no minimum donation amount, and you may honor up to 10 teachers with a single donation (donations are not charged per teacher). Your honoree(s) will receive a certificate that includes your child’s name (but not the amount of your gift). When you give a gift, you are paying tribute to your child’s teacher(s) while simultaneously supporting innovative educational programs.

Head on over to www.bataviafoundation.org to honor your teachers today!

Grizzly Kids Cereal Drive UPDATE

The Grizzly Kids club is hosting a cereal drive to help out Batavia United Way as part of the Adopt-A-Family holiday event. Due to the Adapted Pause, the collection dates have changed!

Gold students should bring their donation on Thursday, December 10th.

Crimson students should bring their donation on Friday, December 11th.

In order to keep everyone safe, students who come to school with cereal boxes will be directed to bring them straight to the multipurpose room upon entering the building before going to class. Please consider donating!

PTO News:

Bingo Night – Round Two!

Virtual Family Bingo Night is TONIGHT from 6:30-8PM.

Join your fellow Grizzlies for an evening of Musical Bingo! Grab your computers, tablets, or phones and be ready to have fun as a family AND as a school community!

There will be three rounds of play and each round will have a $25 gift card for the first place winner and a $15 gift card for the second place winner. Gift cards will be from 5 Below, Learning Express, and Target.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact Mary Bruno at 630-890-8841 or mbruno06@sbcglobal.net

**When registering for tickets, we would suggest getting one or two tickets for your family to work together to check for the answers as opposed to a ticket for each participant (especially if your kids are younger and would need help with reading their bingo cards). For instance, we will register our family for two tickets. So we will have two virtual bingo cards for each round of play that we will work together to check for answers. Make sense? Have questions? Feel free to reach out to me at mbruno06@sbcglobal.net or 630-890-8841.

Toys For Tots

Please consider donating to Toys for Tots through the Alf Family (a Grace McWayne Family).

There is a plastic bin outside The Alf’s front door until December 9 for new, unwrapped gifts.

720 Alberosky Way in Batavia

Donations can also be dropped at St. Charles Toyota 2651 E. Main St., St Charles

Parent Volunteers

The PTO and teachers have received several inquiries about room parents for this school year. Since there are no in-school events/parties, we have not officially assigned room parents. However, if you are interested in helping with some morale boosting projects for students and teachers, please contact Lisa Bambalas bambalas1@sbcglobal.net.

Winter Wonderland

As you may have guessed, Winter Wonderland will not be happening this year. While we are bummed about the kids and families missing this fun event, we’re hoping to promote the message of “service” this year through the Penny Wars, Grizzly Kids and other groups working together to help those in need in our communities. If you have other ideas or would like to help in any way, please contact us at vp-communications@gmspto.org.

Yearbook

Families can now order the 2020-2021 GMS Yearbook! Visit https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/ and enter code 2309221. From there, you can select a standard yearbook ($15) or add a personalized cover ($5 additional).

We also need photos for use in the yearbook! Please send your email address to our yearbook advisor (Mandy – mlfaretta@gmail.com) so she can send you an invitation to join our Shutterfly ShareSite for quick and easy photo uploading. Thank you!

Local Business Spotlight – Prairie Path Cycles

SPOTLIGHT LOCAL : SUPPORT BATAVIA

If you are looking to purchase a bicycle for yourself or someone for Christmas or a birthday head to Prairie Path Cycles NOW! They have a BIG inventory. Free local delivery, curbside pickup, and even three customers are allowed in the store at a time to shop around. This is an amazing bicycle shop and the owner, Mike, has been in the business for 40 years! Please shop local and support this business!

Prairie Path Cycles

160 West Wilson Street in Batavia

630-406-9749

IMPORTANT DATES

Dec. 4 – Virtual Bingo Night

Dec. 21 – Jan. 1 – Winter Break

Jan. 4 – 5 – Institute Days no school for students

Jan. 18 – Martin Luther King Day – no school

IMPORTANT LINKS

Batavia Public School District website: https://www.bps101.net/

Restore BPS 101: https://restore.bps101.net/

Grace McWayne Contacts: https://gms.bps101.net/staff/