Growing Green & Gold Pride BFA: Friday, October 16, 2020 Weekly Administrative Update

Dear BFA Community:

As I walk around the school, I am continually impressed by the resilience and respect shown by our students. This resilience, however, needs to be understood for what it is, and guide us with where we need to go with our students. Unlike any time before, students are rightfully uncertain as to what the immediate future holds as no guidelines are there to be had, and the world they were used to has been altered. This seems obvious, but knowing that, there is an obligation from everyone to see our students have multiple means to be directly connected with class, classmates, and clubs.

This week it was invigorating to meet with the Athletic Council, and their advisors, to listen to their proposal for a BFA Spirit Week. The Student Council also continues to work on a communitywide event for early November. The Robotics Club met today with a solid number of students excited about participating. This Monday is our first Student-led Assembly using YouTube live. Yesterday after school, several BFA/NCTC faculty gathered in Taylor Park to film parts of our Veteran’s Day Assembly which will be broadcast on Tuesday, November 10 at 8:30 AM. More information will be forthcoming as this most important assembly involves several of our students, as well as members of the community, and three veteran organizations. At next week’s MRUSD School Board meeting, BFA Student Representative Quincy Fournier will be presenting a Senior Privilege Form, as well as giving any school update the Board requests; it was a pleasure to (virtually) meet with Quincy today. The Video Game Design and Development Club will be meeting today from 3-5 pm and I am very interested to see what they accomplish. Our Interact Club is hosting a community blood drive at City Hall on October 28th (https://www.redcrossblood.org/). BFA/NCTC student-thespians and stage crew are also meeting after school today with hopes for a Theater production as soon as next month. Additionally, for some great reads written entirely by our students, please check out the BFA Mercury (https://bfamercury.org/).

As these tremendous opportunities continue to be expanded upon, I would be remiss if I did not remind all students and parents/guardians of the importance of attending classes five days a week. Our hybrid learning model bears little resemblance to what may have occurred during the rapid closing of schools last spring. As our teachers continue to review how their classes are going, and work towards improving all that we do, we must have students in the classroom during in-person days and joining their class virtually during remote days. In other words, we will continue to expand student opportunities, and provide high-quality learning experiences, but we must have our students engaged every school day (and hopefully beyond those days). Students and parents/guardians should be checking their PowerSchool Unified Classroom for progress in their courses. Links for signing up for virtual parent-teacher conferences will be sent out soon and we encourage all parents/guardians to connect with their child's teachers. If the times offered do not work for you, please reach out via email to any teacher and a mutually convenient time is sure to be arranged.

Enjoy the weekend.

Sincerely,

Brett Blanchard

Principal