Dear BCE Families,
Student Author Fair ~ Please join several of our staff members, tomorrow at the Capitola Mall. 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 pm and there is an opportunity for students to read their book aloud to the visitors. Hope to see you there!
Open House ~ I'm looking forward to seeing everyone on Thursday for our annual BCE Open House. The Parent Club BBQ starts at 5:00 pm, the Book Fair opens at 5:30 pm. The band performance begins at 5:45pm and the classrooms will be open from 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Don't forget the Art Masterpiece display that will be open in the MP from 5:00 – 7:30 pm.
Coins for Nepal ~ BCE is interested in helping victims in Nepal with a "Coins for Nepal" drive to send relief money to the earthquake victims. Please help by bringing in your coins as often as you like! There is a collection bin in every classroom. This is a great opportunity for our students to help others in need and see how our small individual contributions can become a generous donation when we work together. Thank you for your support.
GATE Family Night ~ Please find attached an invitation to all parents of GATE students to attend a parent education evening on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 6:00-7:30 PM in Room 12, at SLVUSD District Office. The focus of the meeting is on "How to Support your Child in Dealing with Stress and Anxiety" and will be hosted by Debi Bodenheimer and Lynn Chappell. You do not need to be the parent of a GATE student to attend this event. Please see the attached flyer for additional information.
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.
Up Coming Dates to Remember
- 5/4 – 5/8 = BCE Book Fair
- Thursday 5/7 = 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 pm, BCE 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:
There is a direct correlation between good attendance in kindergarten and 1st grade and academic success in 3rd grade. Students can become at risk by missing nine days during their kindergarten and first grade years. The risk of the absences negatively impacting their achievement become high when students miss 18 or more days in each of those two years.
Thank you for supporting your student by getting them to school every day and on time!
Safety Tip of the Week:
One of the best ways to help BCE keep your student safe is by providing us with current contact numbers, emergency pick-up list, and health updates as needed.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!
Incoming 6th Grade Parent Night
Tuesday, May 12, 6:00 pm
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.
The BCE Way: BE RESPECTFUL, BE SAFE, BE RESPONSIBLE
BCE PARENT CLUB EVENT & MEETING REMINDERS:
Help support BCE students attend Science Camp in 2016 by volunteering at the Beverage Ticket Sales Booth either Saturday, May 30th or Sunday, May 31st, at Roaring Camp in Felton. The percentage of proceeds we receive is based on the volunteer hours we put in.
Please visit this link to sign up http://slvrmf.ivolunteer.com/beverageticketsalesboothtwo. Sign must be completed by May 25.
Admittance is free for volunteering adults. Children 12 and under are free.
QUESTIONS? Contact Nicole at 831-331-3431 or Nicole.berridge@gmail.com
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY LINK
Please click on the following link to view a variety of opportunities for your child(ren) that are offered throughout the valley and Santa Cruz areas by various organizations, such as Boy/Girl Scouts, Sports, Arts-Drama-Theater, Local Events, Community Service, Quest/YMCA (before/after-school child care), etc. Link here: https://sites.google.com/a/slvusd.org/community-link/
This link is provided as a courtesy for parents & students, by the San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District, to receive information of current local events and opportunities. The San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District does not sponsor or endorse any of the organizations or events that are located here.
The Flyer Process for San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District is posted on the "home" page of the District website at www.slvusd.org. The flyers and/or blurbs are no longer inserted into the school newsletters or distributed to the children. The District is making an effort to reduce the amount of paper that is sent home with your child(ren) and is working together to streamline the newsletter so that you read about the most important information regarding your child's school. The District has created a website where all of the approved flyers will be posted (Community Opportunity).
