BFCSD Named Organization of the Year By Local Chamber of Commerce
At their annual dinner on January 18, Bondurant-Farrar Community School District was named the 2018 Organization of the Year by the Bondurant Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Ostrem, high school assistant principal, and Dr. Powers, superintendent, are pictured accepting the award on behalf of the district.

This award is a true testament to the excellent work of our students, staff, and administration. Through the support of our school board, parents, and community members, our district is able to meet the needs of all Bondurant-Farrar students. We appreciate your partnership in education, and thank you for your continued support and trust.
Students Compete at Regional Basketball Skills Competition
Last month, several Bondurant-Farrar students competed in the Special Olympics Regional Basketball Skills Competition. The athletes rotate through three stations focusing on the skills of passing, dribbling, and shooting. The athletes have been working hard this season and have shown much improvement. 

Several B-F participants earned 1st place in the regional competition, thus qualifying for the state competition to be held in Iowa City on March 15-16.

If you see these athletes around, please congratulate them and let them know how proud we are! Thank you to the coaches, teachers, support staff, and others who helped this event run smoothly. 

The Bondurant-Farrar athletes who participated in the event were Aspen Essink, Mia Fine, Alivia Romesburg, and Treyner Ramus. The team was assisted by fellow student, Kinsey Cameron, and led by Ms. Simpson, Ms. Maeder, and Ms. Anderson.
The District's Counseling Program Receives Statewide Recognition
The BFCSD counseling program, led by Megan Barber, Lisa Miltenberger, Lisa Rinehart, Jennifer Hurley, Tammy Kaufman, and Casey McMurray, has been honored as a District of Distinction by the Iowa School Counselors Association (ISCA).

This designation recognizes school districts that are committed to implementing comprehensive school counseling programs which address the career, academic, and social-emotional development of all students.


Please join us in congratulating this group of professionals, and thanking them for their dedication to our students!
Mental Health Awareness Opportunity On February 25, 2019
The Bondurant-Farrar K-12 School Counseling Team will be hosting a community mental health awareness night on Monday, February 25 during parent/teacher conferences. This night will be held from 5-8pm at the high school. We will host a variety of organizations/agencies that will have tables to share resources with our families and students. Childcare will be available throughout the night.

We will also offer two presentations, one from 5:30-6:30pm and the other from 7-8pm in our high school auditorium. The first will be “Mental Health and Our Youth” presented by Shellane Albaugh from Stepping Stone and will cover signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as different coping skills that can be used to deal with these two mental health issues. The other presentation will be Ryan Nesbit from the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention entitled “Talk Saves Lives.” 

The K-12 school counselors look forward to sharing important mental health awareness information with our community. We hope that you will be able to attend this event. With questions, please contact your student’s school counselor.
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Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
In observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on January 21, students throughout the district honored his life and learned about his legacy as a civil rights activist.

Examples of learning activities included:
  • At Morris, students read King’s biography, wrote poems, and declared their big dreams.
  • At Anderson, students read the book, Martin's Big Words, and talked about the importance of his words.
  • At the middle school, students discussed peaceful sit-ins, viewed and reflected on King’s "I Have a Dream” speech, and discussed the merits of peaceful vs extremist protests.
  • After viewing the same speech, students at the high school discussed it’s theme and meaning, and reflected on the nation’s current state in regards to civil rights.
Cancellations & The Impact On 2018-19 School Calendar
As of today, February 8, 2019, the district has cancelled three full school days as a result of winter weather; those days have been January 22, January 23, and January 30. The first two cancellations are built into the existing school calendar and will not be made up. The third day will be made up on Thursday, May 30. Should the need arise to cancel additional school days, those too will be added to the end of the school year. We will update you should that become necessary.

Other Weather Related Notes & Reminders:
EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS:
Several families and staff members are experiencing a delay in email notifications sent by the district. These emails are often being received 12-24 hours after the original message had been sent. There is a common theme - those experiencing delays are Gmail users. Our technology team is working to address this issue, and it appears to be resolved. Please contact your building secretary if you continue to receive delayed emails.
BREAKFAST:
We wanted to remind families that breakfast is not served on days when school is delayed due to weather. Once students arrive, we are near the point of serving our first lunch group. Please know, we do not want anyone going hungry. In unique situations the district can provide a snack for your student(s). Please contact your building secretary and they will communicate with the kitchen.
It is the policy of the Bondurant-Farrar Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district’s Equity Coordinator; Chad Carlson, Director of Administrative Services, 300 Garfield St SW, Bondurant, IA 50035, 515-967-7819, carlsonc@bfschools.org .; or Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661-7204, (312) 730-1560, OCR.Chicago@ed.gov.

Questions, comments or concerns?
Please email Jessica Hartgers of the
Bondurant-Farrar District Office.