DJ Bakie School Newsletter

January 6, 2017

IMPORTANT DATES

January 11

Early Release 1:00 PM

January 16,
No School in observance of M.L. King Jr.

February 2,

Bakie & Memorial Band Concert SRHS 6:30 pm (Snow Date 2/9)

February 23

Spaghetti Dinner TBD

February 23,

Math Night 4 - 7

February 27 - March 3rd

No School

Winter Break

March 17th

No School Teacher Workshop

March 24

Father Daughter Dance 6:30 - 8:00

Bakie Gym

April 12
Early Release 1:00 pm

April 17 - 21
Scholastic Book Fair

April 24 - 28
Spring Break

A Message from Principal Bamforth

Happy New Year! Well, it turns out that the new year will be bringing some big changes for Bakie School and for me personally. I want to share with you that after 40 years in education and 10 years as the principal of Bakie School, I will be retiring this June. It is, of course, a bittersweet decision for me. I have loved working with the children, the families and the staff at Bakie School. This progressive learning community continues to keep abreast of the recent research on both what our children will need in the 21st century as well as the ever expanding knowledge on how we learn. We truly believe in Learning for All and continually find ways to make that happen. It has been so exciting to be a part of this important work. But, after 40 years, I'm ready for a little more time for my family and other interests that I would like to pursue.

I do have one concern that I'd like to share with you and that is the need for participation by our parents in the budget process for our schools. I'd like to share some information about this process with you. As the Bakie principal, I start to develop our budget in September by gathering information, receiving budget requests, and determining staffing a year in advance of the actual school year. The first set of cuts occurs at this point as I work to limit spending while still meeting the needs of our students. Next, the superintendent reviews all of the budget proposals. While principals look at their individual schools, the superintendent is charged with looking at the "big picture" needs and keeping in mind the long-range goals of the school district. The superintendent then makes the second round of cuts.

The superintendent's budget is then sent to the School Board and the Budget Committee for weeks of discussion with an extensive amount of supporting information provided by school district personnel to provide detailed answers to many lengthy questions. The budget committee determines the bottom line that they are willing to support and makes a third round of cuts. It is this budget that goes to the Public Hearing, where community residents have the chance to ask questions and learn what has changed from the prior year's budget. This year the Public Hearing is scheduled for next Thursday, January 12th at 7:00pm at the Sanborn Regional Middle School in Newton. Please note the change in venue. I encourage you to attend this important meeting and learn about the budget committee's proposed budget for next year and how that budget will affect your child.

The next step is the Deliberative Session on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at 7:00 pm at the high school, at which point the School Board and the Budget Committee with possible input from local residents determine the exact amount that will be presented to the voters for approval in March. This meeting is critically important. People who attend the Deliberative Session can make motions during that meeting and vote to decrease or increase the proposed budget that will be presented to the public for voting in March.

And the final step is, of course, the public vote on the budget on March 14th at which voters have the option to either approve or defeat the proposed budget. If the budget is defeated, there is a default budget which would then be put in place.

You will note that parents have no part in the budget process in the above description other than to ask questions and make comments until the Deliberative Session. Most of the school board and budget committee members do not have children in our schools, so the voices of parents are not well represented in the budget process. Our schools rely on the taxpayers for much of our funds. We get it that no one wants to pay more taxes, but without those funds, some programs will have to be cut back or eliminated, class sizes will rise, and staff will continue to leave our schools to work in better paying districts. We truly need parents to come out to support a school budget that is realistic and reasonable. Please attend the Public Hearing next week and the Deliberative Session at the Sanborn Regional High School on February 8th at 7:00pm. Be informed and be represented.

Would you like to be a part of this process? Would you like to contribute to your community and feel that you make a difference? Please consider running for a seat on the School Board. It would be great to have parent representation on the board so all viewpoints may be considered. Thank you for taking the time to read this. May 2017 be a healthy and prosperous year for all!

If your child will be five years old by Sept. 30, 2017

and you are a resident of Kingston, please

click here

to begin the registration process.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED

FOR SANBORN REGIONAL INTEGRATED PRESCHOOL PROGRAM

The Sanborn Regional Integrated Preschool Program is offered at both the

D.J.Bakie Elementary School in Kingston, NH and at the Memorial Elementary School in Newton, NH. We are currently accepting applications for the 2017- 2018 school year for the three year and four year old preschool programs.

The three year old program is held Mondays through Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM. Eligible children must be three years old by September 30, 2017 and be residents of Kingston or Newton, New Hampshire.

The four year old program is held Mondays through Thursdays

from 12:00-3:00 PM at each school for residents of Kingston and Newton.

Eligible children must be four years old by September 30, 2017. There are limited openings in the four year old program at both schools.

Tuition for the three year program is $165 per month and the four year old program is $200 per month. A tuition agreement form must be completed and returned in order to participate in the program. Enrollment is limited, and the deadline for submitting an application is Friday, February 24, 2017.

All applicants must participate in a developmental screening process. Please note that this is not a Child Find. You may call to schedule a Child Check Appointment if you are questioning a possible educational issue. For more information, or to register your child for the lottery, please call Robin Baker at 642-5272 or email at [email protected].

Did You Know?
Annie Collyer, Chairman, Sanborn Budget Committee

Did you know that the Sanborn Regional School District Budget Committee (BudCom) met during the snowstorm on Thursday, December 29, to do more work on preparing the budget proposal to bring before the voters at the Deliberative Session on February 8? BudCom was visited by four hardy souls from the public as well, and their input was welcome.
BudCom members reviewed the many budget suggestions they have made individually, with attention to the needs of the District and of the communities. The budget process takes many months, by many participants, including the Administrators of the District, the School Board, parents, students and other citizens, as well as the BudCom members. It is BudCom's duty to amass the input, assess the prudent use of public monies, and then to make a recommendation to the voters at the Deliberative Session. At that session on February 8, the voters present then determine by secret ballot the final budget proposal that will go before all voters at the voting booths on March 14.
The budget preparation process is still continuing for BudCom. One of the key inputs will be from our citizens at the Public Hearing on January 12, snow date January 13, 7 PM at the Middle School Gym in Newton. This proposed budget is now $33,717,382, an increase of about $67,000. This is not the final proposal from BudCom. The final number will be the one presented at the District Deliberative.

Thank you to Becky Moreno and Danielle Watson for taking on our Box Top program.

We have received a check from Box Tops in the amount of

$882.70.

Please continue to send in your Box Tops.
Thank you to everyone for making this possible for our School.

Please click here for more information on ordering your book today!

Attention soccer players!

Futsal at Sanborn Regional High School's gym resumes this Sunday, Jan. 8.

It's not too late to join us. Just show up, sign up and play. The registration form is attached if you want to fill it out in advance, but we'll have them at the gym, too.

This will be the third of 10 weeks for our U10-U13 travel/middle school program and our high school age group. This week will be the first week for our U8 and U10 recreation player group.

Here's the schedule:

10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.: U8 and U10 recreation players (first of five weeks).

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for U10 to U13 travel soccer team players and middle school soccer players, girls and boys.

1 to 2:30 p.m. for varsity and JV high school soccer players, girls and boys.

All details are on the registration form, which is attached and can be found at fremontathleticassociation.org .

If you have questions anytime, email me or David Richard at [email protected].

Click here for more information

Please continue to send your Box Tops in all year and collect throughout the summer. Our next collection will be in the early fall and we will want to be prepared with thousands of Box Tops. Remember, each one is worth TEN cents. One small handful makes a big difference to the effort.

This money has helped to provide a scholarship to Camp Lincoln, support field trip or guest speaker expenses, purchase needed supplies for the school, and toys for the playground such as shovels and pails for the sandbox. The box top money certainly makes a difference to Bakie School.

Sometimes things change...

Did you know that if you qualify, your child can receive free or reduced lunch and breakfast?

We invite our Bakie families who qualify

to save money through applying for
Free or Reduced Meals.

This is a wonderful way for your child to enjoy a healthy breakfast for only .30 cents per day and lunch for only .40 cents per day!

. . .

So many families are surprised that
they are eligible ~ why not apply!?!

Your application and information are completely confidential, and students and teachers never know who receives free or reduced-priced meals.

Please click here for the

Free or Reduced-Priced Meals Application.

Applications are also available at Bakie School

Click here to read the latest edition of

Fresh Picks Cafe Health & Nutrition Newsletter

Each month, their newsletter will contain interactive links, activities, and blog entries to inform you about health and nutrition. We highly encourage every family to apply for free or reduced lunch and breakfast.