Students are doing well following The R.I.T.E. Stuff! Many points are being earned as a result. Remember that Thursdays are House Spirit Days and students can wear a collared shirt that represents their house color.

Current House Points:

Blarney-162, Chaumont-164, Neuschwanstein-185, Red Fort-188, Valdivia-189, Warwick-158, White Heron-159

The Attendance & Truancy Project Team is calling on all students to enter our first poster/video contest. Students are encouraged to highlight what attendance means to them using one of the four themes below in a poster or video.

• EducationThrives When YouKeep It Under Five

• AttendToday, AchieveTomorrow

• Let’s Get Engaged! Be Present, Be Involved,Be Motivated

• Rebound with Attendance

Students are invited to submit a 1-3 minute video, or a poster no bigger than 22 x 28. The top videos or poster winners from each learning community will receive a plaque for his or her school, $100 gift card and a pizza party.

Access contest information here.

Submit to Ms. Chandler (her office is in the gym) by September 30.

This year we have a place where parents can find out information, make requests, donate, and follow links beneficial to parenting. Click here to access. The Parent Educator at Buist Academy is Jill Chandler. Feel free to contact her with any needs or questions. jill_chandler@charleston.k12.sc.us or 843-724-7750, ext. 72711

The Buist Academy Foundation hosts a family directory. This is an opportunity for families to connect. Please click here to update or add your information.

Traditionally, relationships with families have been built through consistent face-to-face interactions. Research indicates that one of the core components of a high quality educational program is building and maintaining strong relationships with families. No matter the circumstances, we want to inform you of our plans and communications. We may not be able to meet in person, but please utilize our newsletters, Parent Resource Site, and digital communications. We hope to offer virtual parent meetings soon!

Parent Links:

Calm Voices, Calmer Kids

The Power of Positive Attention

If your child is sick or symptomatic of any illness, please do not send your student to school.

If your student has tested positive, or been exposed to a COVID positive individual, please notify the school immediately and do not send your child to school.

If anyone in your household has had COVID in the past two weeks or is suspected of having COVID, please keep your child home and call the school for guidance.

If your child is awaiting COVID test results, please do not send them to school.

Your diligence is appreciated in keeping our entire school community safe and healthy for a wonderful year.

SC DHEC released new guidelines last week with criteria for making decisions about moving schools or parts of schools temporarily to virtual learning.

The following scenarios were listed in the recommendations:

• School is unable to maintain operations with current staffing as determined by the school district,

• 30% or higher rate of absenteeism in the school or grade level due to COVID-19 (including students in isolation and in quarantine),

• 5–10% or higher of the student body is in isolation simultaneously after testing positive (or being assumed positive based on symptoms when not tested), or

• When discussed with and recommended by local medical and public health professionals based on the local healthcare system’s capacity.

Click here for the CCSD safe return page.

We are going to have the running club again this year! The plan at this time is to meet at the Mt. Pleasant track off Ann Edwards Lane, from 4-5 pm on Sundays. The first meeting will be on September 19.

We hope to eventually use the newly renovated Stoney Field. It looks like it will be a fabulous facility on the peninsula.

Our focus this year is to train for the City Track meet in the spring. This will be a great opportunity to work on improving your child's speed. We will be timing distances the first few weeks as a baseline and will do periodic checks to see the progress. Distances will be 100, 400, 800, and 1600.

Please send inquiries to Lynn McCollum-Lasher, mccollum.lasher@gmail.com.

I look forward to seeing you all on September 19.