Dear BCE Families,
Student Author Fair ~ Next Saturday, May 2nd, many classes at BCE will be participating in the Student Author Fair at Capitola Mall. Student books will be on display from 10:00 – 3:00.
Open House ~ Please see the attached flyer with information regarding Open House on May 7th.
Are you returning to BCE? ~ Please return the yellow forms you received approximately two weeks ago asking if your kindergarten through 4th grade students would be retuning to BCE in the fall. This information is critical for us as we try to staff and plan for next year. Thank you for your support.
Update ~ Some of you and/or your students may have seen a sheriff's car on campus this afternoon and been curious about it. I wanted to let you know that everyone is fine, it was not an emergency or dangerous situation.
Family Information Meeting ~ On Wednesday April 29th the Middle School will host an Informational meeting in their library. The purpose of the meeting is to inform families of the Districts plan to move to 1:1 devices for our 6th through12th grade students. The meeting will begin at 6:00pm.
Please see below legislation regarding this topic and answers to some of the frequently asked questions.
Up Coming Dates to Remember
- 5/4 – 5/8 = BCE Book Faire
- Thursday5/7 = Open House
- 5/11 – 5/22 = 3rd – 5th grade California State Testing
- Saturday 5/16 = BCE Carnival
- Tuesday 5/12 = Parent Club Meeting, 6:30 Library
- Thursday 5/21 = Family Dinner Night, Taqueria Los Amigos
- Monday 5/25 = No School (Memorial Day)
- Wednesday 6/10 = NO Early Out
- 6/11 = Last Student Day, Early Dismissal (12:15 Dismissal for grades 1 – 5)
Attendance Facts:
I know it sounds like a no-brainer, but if you consistently find yourself running five to ten minutes late every day, start your morning routine 15 minutes earlier. You'll be modeling for your students the power of making small changes that will lead to positive outcomes.
Thank you for supporting your student by getting them to school every day and on time!
Safety Tip of the Week:
Unless you have a handicap placard, please do not drive on campus to drop off or pick up students. Thank you for keeping our students and staff members safe!
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!
The BCE Way: BE RESPECTFUL, BE SAFE, BE RESPONSIBLE
BCE OPEN HOUSE
THURSDAY MAY 7
Boulder Creek Elementary
Students & Staff Invite You To Come Share in Your Student's Accomplishments
EVENT SCHEDULE
Book Fair in the Library 5:30 – 7:30
Parent Club BBQ
5:00 – 6:15
Art Masterpiece Display
5:00 – 7:30
Band Performance 5:45 – 6:20
VISIT CLASSROOMS, COMPUTER LAB
& SCIENCE LAB 6:30 – 7:30
Students visiting computer & science labs must be accompanied by an adult.
Parking will be available on the lower playground & in St. Michael's Church parking lot.
Information and FAQ's regarding Districts transition to 1:1 devices for 6th -12th grades.
Assembly Bill (AB) 1575
AB 1575 specifies that students may not be required to pay fees, deposits, or other charges (such as the costs of supplies) for his/her participation in an educational activity that is an integral fundamental part of a school district's educational program. (See also, District Board Policy 3260.). However, AB 1575 does not prevent schools from offering or recommending supplemental materials for parents to purchase for school or home usage. Furthermore, AB 1575 does not prohibit any fee, charge, or deposit that is otherwise expressly permitted by law. The sale and lease of laptop computers to parents of students is expressly permitted by California Education Code Section 17453.1. (See also, District Administrative Regulation 3260.)
Please note that students are not required to bring their own electronic devices to school, SLVUSD will provide ChromeBooks for school use to all students who do not have their own device. We will also assist families in purchasing devices who need assistance.
Know Your Rights - Free Public Education in California
Frequently Asked Questions
May a school charge students for elective classes or extracurricular activities?
· No. Schools may not charge fees for participation in classes or extracurricular activities. It does not matter if the class or activity is compulsory or elective. Prohibited fees include required security deposits or required purchases of materials or equipment necessary for participation in the class or extracurricular activity.
Does AB 1575 prohibit any student fees that were previously legal?
· No. AB 1575 explicitly states that it is "declarative of existing law and shall not be interpreted to prohibit the imposition of a fee, deposit, or other charge otherwise allowed by law." (California Education Code Section 49011(e).) The goal of AB 1575 is to ensure all students' constitutional rights are protected by improving awareness of existing law and providing a means for resolving concerns swiftly and without costly litigation.
May a school charge fees only to those students who can afford them and offer waivers for those who cannot?
· No. A waiver process based on financial need or inability to pay does not make an otherwise impermissible fee permissible.
Are there any fees that a school may charge?
· Yes. There are some specific fees, charges and deposits that are legally permissible because they are specifically authorized by state law and not otherwise prohibited by the state constitution. For example, schools may charge for: optional attendance as a spectator at a school or district-sponsored activity (e.g., attending a school dance); food served to students, subject to free and reduced price meal program eligibility and other restrictions; the cost of replacing school books or supplies loaned to a student that the student fails to return or willfully damages (up to an amount not to exceed $10,000); sale or lease of Internet devices or computers to parents of students within the school district.
For information on other fees authorized by state law:
· Reference guidance issued by the California Department of Education regarding student fees: http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/lr/fm/
· District Board Policy 3260 and Administrative Regulation 3260
May a school request and receive donations from parents and guardians?
· Yes, of course. Schools, districts, school programs, teachers and coaches can, and do seek, and accept voluntary donations of funds and property. The key point is that the donations must be truly voluntary. A student's participation in a class, program or activity cannot be conditioned upon receipt of a "donation." To avoid any misinterpretations, AB 1575 includes a provision that states that the bill "shall not be interpreted to prohibit solicitation of voluntary donations of funds or property, voluntary participation in fundraising activities, or school districts, schools, and other entities from providing pupils prizes or other recognition for voluntarily participating in fundraising activities." (California Education Code Section 49011(c).)
What can I do if I believe I am being charged an illegal fee?
· You may raise your concern with school or district administrators and request reimbursement where appropriate. As described above, you now have the option of filing a complaint at your school and seeking reimbursement through the simple Uniform Complaint Process. The District's complaint procedures as they relate to illegal fees are set forth in Board Policies 1312.3 and 3260. If you wish to explore all of your legal options, you should consult with an attorney.
Where can I find more information about the legality of specific types of fees?
· While we can offer no endorsement or assurances of accuracy, you may find the following resources useful: the California Department of Education distributed a fiscal management advisory regarding pupil fees, deposits and other charges to all County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators on November 9, 2011: http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/lr/fm/. California's Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) has posted Guidelines for Student Fees, published by the Tulare County Counsel, on its website: http://wwwstatic.kern.org/gems/fcmat/StudentfeesguidelinesTulareC.pdf.
· Many school districts have information about student fees on their websites now. For example, San Diego Unified School District provides an overview of how the law regarding student fees has developed: http://www.sandi.net/Page/3094.
Where can I get a copy of Assembly Bill 1575?
· The text of the bill is posted at: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_1551-1600/ab_1575_bill_20120929_chaptered.pdf.
Yearbook – Don't miss out on a yearbook this year! They are now on sale for $20. The deadline to order is April 30th. That's next Thursday!
It's not too late to share your photos with our yearbook staff. Email them to bouldercreekyearbook@gmail.com. Please include the name of the event in your email.
Open House BBQ – Please join us for the annual Open House BBQ & Bake Sale on May 7th. You'll enjoy a tasty BBQ while catching up with community friends. Fill your belly before heading into the classrooms to see your child's amazing work from the year. All proceeds will benefit the 4th grade students going to science camp next year. If you are a parent of a current 4th grader, please email bcepc.execs@gmail.com to help volunteer with cooking, tending the register, set up and take down.
BCE Carnival – Whoohooo!! The annual BCE Carnival and Silent Auction are around the corner, and the valley is buzzing with excitement!! Join the magic on Saturday, May 16th from 10:30 to 3:30. Enjoy a variety of games, bounce houses of extraordinary fun, a dunk tank, face painting, a photo booth, delicious concessions of the tasty persuasion, a free section of hula-hoops, balls, and bubbles, and much much more!
Carnival Volunteers - We need you! Please sign up with your child's teacher on the orange sheet posted outside his/her door. You are more than welcome to sign up for more than one timeslot. If you would rather help with the Silent Auction, the BBQ, a bounce house, or roam to where help is needed at the moment, please email Tammy Schultz at bcepc.execs@gmail.com.
Parents Club Meeting – Please note that our May meeting is not on a Thursday, but rather a Tuesday – May 12th. It was switched due to Open House. It will still be at 6:30pm in the Library. As always, free childcare will be provided.
Officers & Committee Chairs Needed – We will be voting on next year's officers at the Tuesday, May 12th meeting. Please join us if you would like a position. We are also looking for committee chairs for Drive for Schools, Family Dinner Nights, Family Science Night, a webmaster, Ice Cream Social, and Movie Night. Please consider how you can help BCE.
Email us at bcepc.execs@gmail.com
Visit us at https://sites.google.com/site/bceparentsclub/
