Bears Bulletin

Hello Parents!

We extend a warm welcome to students, parents, and families of Sierra Bonita Elementary, Home of the Bears. We look forward to working with each member of our school community to achieve our school mission statement:

In partnership with parents and community, our mission at Sierra Bonita Elementary is to create high levels of learning for every student, celebrate individual differences and abilities, and inspire responsible citizenship and lifelong success.

During this upcoming school year, working together as partners, we will ensure that all students experience this success. Thank you for your support for Sierra Bonita Elementary!

Jennifer Grant – Administrative Intern - Welcome back to school!  It’s going to be another great year at Sierra Bonita!  My name is Jennifer Grant and I have the privilege of working with Mr. Larsen as an administrative intern.  I have worked in Nebo District for 13 years teaching 3rd and 4th grades at Art City Elementary.  I love to scrapbook, play tennis, and ride four-wheelers.  I’m excited to be here at Sierra Bonita and thrilled to get to know your children and see their successes.

Back-to-School Night
Our Back-to-School Night will be held this Wednesday, August 26, and will begin at 6:30pm. We plan to be finished by 7:30pm. The first few minutes will be spent in a general assembly in the auditorium. We will introduce staff members and take care of a little business. After this general session, teachers will welcome parents for two 15- minute sessions in classrooms. We hope you will be able to attend this event. Students are not expected to attend our Back-to-School Night.

School Picture Day
School Picture Day for all students will be held this Friday, August 28.  Picture information sheets have been sent home with students.

School Carnival Fundraiser
We invite all Sierra Bonita families to attend our school carnival that will be held on Monday, September 14, from 5-8PM.  Wristbands, Tickets, and Meal Cards will be on sale in the front office beginning September 1 and will continue through Carnival Night. Each person with a wristband will be able to enjoy unlimited rides and games (food not included). Tickets may be used for rides, games, and to purchase food. The money the school receives from our fundraiser will be used to further educational offerings for students. Thank you – We hope to see you at our carnival!

PTA Fundraiser
PTA Annual Fundraiser will be October 5-9.  The PTA is trying something new this year and will be asking for Direct Donations.  100% of the donations go back into Sierra Bonita and will provide and allows us to continue to fund student activities, programs, teacher support items, school needs, family activities, and much, much more!  We will be having drawings for fun prizes for participation and for different amounts of donations.   Also an easy and effective way to double your contribution is to see if your employer has a matching gift program to Non- Profit Organizations. We look forward as a PTA Board and as families of Sierra Bonita to give back to our school.  

School Community Council Elections
School Community Council Elections were scheduled to be held August 18-26 to fill four parent representative positions on the council. We ended up not needing to hold elections because there were enough vacant positions on the council to receive the parents that indicated their desire to be placed on the election ballot. We welcome Tatum Baker, Larisa Hicken, April Moody, and Kristina Weston as new parent representatives on our School Community Council. 

Student Education Plan (SEP) Conferences and Sign-Ups
We are excited to share that we will be using SignUp Genius, an online tool for creating and managing group sign up lists, to sign up for our October and January SEP conferences. (Our March Student Led Conferences will be according to a different schedule).

On Monday, August 31, a message will be sent to your email from the school through Parentlink, that will provide a link and information on how to sign up using SignUp Genius. If you have any questions, please contact the school at 801-798-4480. Thank you!

Sierra Park
We are all excited to see that the new Sierra Park just north of the school is nearing completion.  At this time, the park has many open trenches as a sprinkler system is being installed, and soon, hydro-seeding will take place.  We remind students, for their safety, to be sure to remain out of the park while under construction.

Pick-Up Zone & Parking
We appreciate the efforts of all parents and staff members in providing for the safety of students in our drop-off and pick up zones. Please help us to ensure that all students are accompanied by an adult when crossing through the pick-up zone.  Also, thank you for reserving our handicapped parking spaces for those who have need for these parking stalls. We have great appreciation for everyone’s efforts to increase safety in our parking lots and drop off and pick-up zones before and after school.

Note: By law, bus zones cannot be used as drop off and pick up zones even if there are no busses present!

School Checkout Procedures
Please follow the following procedures when you need to check a student out from school before the end-of-school bell rings.  First, share with an office secretary that an early checkout is necessary, second, fill out information and sign name on the checkout sheet located in the office area, and third, wait in the office area until your student arrives in the office. Thank you.

End of School Day Checkout
We ask for your help in reducing the number of interruptions classes could experience at the end of the school day due to students being checked out early.  Our teachers are instructing right up to the end of each day, and it is increasingly difficult for them and the class when students are checked out early. Unless it is an emergency, we ask that students not be checked out during the last 15 minutes of the day.  This practice helped last year and will continue to help teachers and students to make the most of every minute of the day.

Students Walking, Riding Bicycles/Scooters & Crosswalks
We have many students who are walking and riding bicycles/scooters to school each day. We have provided training for students to use sidewalks and to follow the instructions of adult supervisors and our crossing guards. We have instructed students use the crosswalk in front of the school when crossing 1800 East. Faculty members will serve as crossing guards at this crosswalk. We ask that all parents please instruct their children on these and other safety measures to better ensure that students safely make their way to and from school each day.

Spirit Day
We have school spirit at Sierra Bonita, and have designated each Friday as our School Spirit Day. We have nice school shirts and encourage children to wear their school shirts (this year’s and past years’ shirts) or school colors (blue and maroon) on Fridays.  We have a lot to be proud of at Sierra Bonita and want to do all we can to build school pride.

Calendar of Events for September
Wednesday, August 26…………………………………………………………..Kindergarten Begins
Wednesday, August 26….…………………….…….…….Back to School Night (6:30 p.m.)
Friday, August 28..… ......……………………….……….………...…………...School Picture Day
Friday, August 28………………………………………………….Room Mother’s Tea (3:30 p.m.)
Tuesday, September 1……….…………………...….……………….…..PTA Reflections Begins
September 1-14………….……….….Carnival Tickets/Wristbands on Sale in the Office
Thursday, September 3……………………….….Hearing Screening for grades K, 1, 3, 6
Monday, September 7 ………...…...…………….………...…….……...Labor Day/ No School
Tuesday, September 8 …………....School Community Council Meeting (3:45 p.m.)
Monday, September 14.…..………..…....…..…..….……..……School Carnival (5-8 p.m.)
Wednesday, September 16…………………………………………School Dismisses at NOON
Thursday, September 17 ……...…...………………………………………..... Constitution Day
Tuesday, September 29……………………………………....……………..…..Vision Screening