Buena Park School District’s partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park is providing socio-economically disadvantaged students with a safe place to participate in remote learning, allowing them to learn and grow in a fun environment. Director of Child Welfare and Attendance Dr. Elsie Briseno Simonovski said the partnership was created to provide students who live in motels, shelters, camp sites, cars or share residences with other families, with a daily space to work during distance-learning lessons. Students involved with the free program can use the Boys & Girls Club facilities, its high-speed internet and its staff for homework help.
Beatty Middle School will provide 20 students with backpacks, physical education clothes, notebooks and writing utensils thanks to a $2,000 donation from the Orange County Korean American Lions Club (OCKALC). Members of the OCKALC were welcomed to the campus, where Principal Erik Bagger led a tour of the school’s science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) lab, offices and classrooms. Bagger said the money will go a long way to make students feel at home at Beatty. Photos are available.
Buena Park School District buzzed with excitement as 1,454 students reunited with old friends and favorite teachers for the first day of in-person instruction for the 2020-21 school year. Students were welcomed to the District’s eight schools by teachers and administrators eager to have them back after nearly eight months of virtual instruction. Each campus was fortified with protections against COVID-19, including hand washing stations, hand sanitizer stations, transparent desk shields, physical distancing markers and temperature checks.
Career Technical Educator Shelley Andros’ unending drive to encourage her students to excel in coding, engineering, robotics and horticulture has earned her recognition as a California’s Teacher of the Year finalist. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond presented the award during a virtual ceremony, lauding Andros and her fellow winners for empowering their students and communities.
Buena Park School District will resume in-class learning on Monday, Nov. 9, a decision reached after review of the latest health data and positive community feedback. The decision was made during an Oct. 26 Board of Education meeting after Superintendent Dr. Ramon Miramontes and Director of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Yvette Cantu outlined safety protocols.
Gordon H. Beatty Middle School students will learn to fly the virtual skies and pilot drones through a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) Pilot program. The school has received 10 flight simulators and 20 drones for the program, which will teach concepts such as geometry, the degrees of freedom in flight, and physics. Science and STEM Pilot program teacher John Kopaczewski is preparing the simulators and drones for use when in-person instruction resumes.
Gordon H. Beatty Middle School has chosen the mighty Bronco as its new mascot after gathering votes from the school’s parents, students and staff members and factoring in student essays detailing their preferred symbol. Principal Erik Bagger said the decision to update the former elementary school’s longtime mascot, the Colt, was to show its maturation into a middle school. Bagger said the Bronco is a great way to honor the past mascot and create a connection to Buena Park Middle school, whose mascot is the Stallion.
Buena Park School District provided its community with another means to stay healthy as it administered 247 flu vaccinations to students in pre-school through eighth grade during its first drive-thru flu clinic. The District teamed with the Orange County Health Agency, Kaiser Permanente and Cal State Fullerton’s School of Nursing to deliver vaccinations to families who lined a parking lot and surrounding area of Buena Park Middle School. Students, staff, parents and volunteers wore masks and followed social distancing rules to maintain safety
Buena Park Learning Center Principal Mary Beckelheimer loves taking care of people – she exudes cheerfulness and positivity when connecting with parents, families and students to create a comfortable atmosphere wherever she goes. Her new role as principal for the Buena Park Learning Center, which includes the Buena Park Early Learning program and the recently launched Academy for Accelerated Learning, gives her the opportunity to build relationships with parents of young students and parents who want an additional level of safety in regard to COVID-19.
Buena Park School District to Provide Meal Distribution Program
Buena Park School District will continue to provide daily drive-thru meals to parents and students of the community. Meals will be distributed from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at Emery, Whitaker, Corey, Gilbert and Pendleton schools. The District will be strictly adhering to social distancing rules and all guests must wear masks when picking up their food.
