Breckenridge Texan

In person or online, Breckenridge students to start school Wednesday, Aug. 19

In person or online, Breckenridge students to start school Wednesday, Aug. 19
August 18
18:17 2020

Wednesday, Aug. 19, is the day Breckenridge kids, parents, teachers and school administrators have been waiting for since Spring Break…the first day of school. The BISD staff worked all summer to create a plan for the 2020-2021 school year.

Sierra Longoria, left, takes a picture of her kids, Kenzie Blackman, fifth grade, and Braden Blackman, third grade, at South Elementary’s Meet the Teacher event on Monday. The first day of school will be Wednesday, Aug. 19. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

After months away from the classroom because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Breckenridge Independent School District faculty, staff and administrators have returned and are ready to educate. The students will return on Wednesday — some will attend in person and others will learn remotely, staying at home to avoid exposure to the novel coronavirus.

BISD employees will be required to wear a mask or face shield, and students will be encouraged to wear a mask or face shield but will not be required to do so, according to the latest information from the school district. Visitors to schools will be limited, and those who do visit the schools will be required to wear face masks/shields.

In addition to changes brought on by COVID-19, the school district also is undergoing some changes with a new superintendent, new athletic director/head football coach, new band director and several other new staff members. Also, over the summer, the district shut down North Elementary and reorganized the grade levels within the remaining schools.

Click here to download the BISD 2020-2021 Calendar.

Read the following sections for more information about each campus:

Breckenridge High School

Classes will begin at 8:10 a.m., and all students will need to enter through the school’s front doors. On the first day of school, all students will need to pick up a new schedule upon entering the building. The schedule may be the same as one they already picked up, but they still need to pick up the new print-out.

All students who are attending in-person should bring a mask to school and be prepared to wear it when they cannot social distance from others, Principal William Paul said. Students who are taking part in remote learning, must participate in every class period every day in order to be counted “present” by the school and receive credit.

Paul is joined by Assistant Principal Cory Boles.

Although classes begin on Wednesday, some students have already been participating in a variety of activities. Buckaroo athletes have played some games and/or inter-squad scrimmages, and the cheerleaders held a fundraising car wash on Sunday. Check out some photos and information on those events:

The 2020 Buckaroos Football Season

First Football Practice of the Season Photo Gallery

BHS Cheerleaders Fundraising Car Wash Photo Gallery

Breckenridge Junior High School

Junior high classes also start at 8:10 a.m. for in-classroom and remote learners. With the reorganization of the grade levels, BJHS now includes sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Students who did not pick up their schedule during last week’s Bronco Roundup need to get their schedule from the school office on Wednesday morning.

Another change for the junior high this year is that Laura Gibson is the new principal, and Monica Pearce is the assistant principal.

Restaurant food may not be delivered to the school (by parents or others) for students’ lunch this year. Students may bring their lunch, which can include restaurant food, or buy their lunch in the school cafeteria.

South Elementary School

South Elementary now includes third, fourth and fifth grades. School will be from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. each day.

Kenna Rainey is the South Elementary Principal, and RaKel Paul is the Assistant Principal. South Elementary held a Meet the Teacher event on Monday, Aug. 17.

East Elementary School

There are quite a few changes at East Elementary this year. The school now includes students in Head Start through Second Grade. Barbara Collinsworth is the Principal, and Shannon Deen is the Assistant Principal.

First Grade teacher Deborah Gonzales helps Campbell Cornwall pick out some props for a photo in the classroom on Meet the Teacher night. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/ Breckenridge Texan)

Normally, school will be from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but the first three days of school will have a staggered start time so that parents can walk their kids into the school while still helping to practice social distancing. For Aug. 19-21, Second Grade will begin at 7:55 a.m.; First Grade will begin at 8:15 a.m.; Kindergarten will begin at 8:30 a.m.; and, Pre-K and Head Start will begin at 8:35 a.m. Students in Pre K and Head Start will enter through the Hartford Street Gate Entry, and all other grades will enter through the front doors. All parents coming into the school must wear masks. Bus riders will follow their regular schedule.

Beginning Monday, Aug. 24, parents will not be allowed to walk students into the building.

The drop-off and pick-up routine will be different than in past years, as well. In front of the school, Elm Street is now one-way going East. Hartford Street is one-way going North. Parents need to follow the drop-off and pick-up schedules listed below:

Pre-K and Head Start

  • Drop Off- 7:55 at the Hartford St. gate by the Pre-K portable.
  • Pick Up -Prek 3:15 at the 2nd set of stairs on Hartford St.
  • Pick Up-Headstart at 3:15 at the East door on Graham St.

Kindergarten

  • Drop off -starting at 7:30 at the front loop.
  • Pick Up on Hartford St. in 2 inside lanes at 3:30, stay in vehicle

First Grade

  • Drop Off- starting at 7:30 at the front loop
  • Pick Up- at the front loop at 3:30; inside lane; stay in vehicle

Second Grade

  • Drop off- starting at 7:30 at the front loop
  • Pick up- at the front loop at 3:30; outside lane; stay in vehicle

For more details, see the afternoon pick-up maps at the end of this story.

Kindergarten teacher Ronda Martin, standing, talks to the Morehart family, including, from left, Siler, third grade; Mark; Davis, kindergarten; Gabe, Wee School; and Sonya; at Meet the Teacher night. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/ Breckenridge Texan)

Story by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

Cutline, top photo: First-grader Damian Palacios poses for a picture taken by his new teacher Deborah Gonzales at Meet the Teacher night. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)


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