Beginning of School Year Update

Hare Krishna. I hope that you have all enjoyed a great summer break. It is hard to believe that we are less then a week away from the beginning of the 2013-14 school year. 

First off, I would like to thank each and every one of you who has been part of our school expansion fundraiser. It has been great to see so many friends (previous and new) come forward in support of our effort to expand the grades we offer here. Throughout the year we have collected well over $100,000 in donations and pledges, with $45,000 of that in just the last 4 weeks! We still have a ways to go, but are certainly headed in the right direction.

The entire educational team has put a lot of work into preparing for the start of school and are looking forward to a great year together with our new and returning families and the inaugural year for our new Krishna Sharanam Middle Years Program.

Below are some notes, updates, and reminders as we approach the start of school on Monday. 

Welcome Packets
By now you should have all received welcome packets in the mail containing the school calendar, class introduction letters/supply lists, parent handbook, and other important forms and documents. If you have not, please contact the school office at386-462-2886 or at office@bhaktischool.org right away so we can get this information to you.

Family Welcome Meeting & Orientation
Our family welcome meeting and orientation will be held on Friday, August 16th at 6:00 p.m. Attendance at this very important meeting is required for new families and highly recommended for families of returning students, so please plan on attending.

Uniforms
As we announced during the summer, we have contracted with a new uniform provider in India. It has taken a lot of work to sort out the kinks for our first order with them, so unfortunately, we don't expect uniforms to arrive before the start of school. They are being manufactured now and are due to ship this week. We expect them in by August 28th. 

Until the new uniforms arrive, we ask that students who do not have uniforms adhere to the following dress standards:

Boys and Girls

Students should attend school in clean, properly sized, and weather appropriate clothing.  Shirts and other clothing with writings, slogans, characters, or pictures are not permitted.  Please—no blue jeans or denim.   

Boys

Boys should preferably wear a kurta—if not available, a plain colored T-shirt or, collared shirt is acceptable. Pants or shorts (in hot weather) should be plain, neutral colors, such as khaki, beige, etc.  No blue jeans.

Girls

Girls should wear modest dresses, punjabis, or modest skirts and blouses. Dresses and skirts should be of modest length—no spaghetti straps, tank tops, T-shirts, etc.  During physical education, or other play activities, girls may change into pants, etc. 

Lunch Program
Radha's Kitchen will continue to provide lunches 3 days per week, starting in September. Sign-up forms will be available at our family community meeting on Friday and in the office. 

Excuse Our Dust
We are in the midst of replacing the old Madhurya Bhavan (Upper Elementary) classroom building. This will be the new home for Audarya Bhavan and the school office. Our contractor is endeavoring to get everything in place for the start of school but work is on-going, so please excuse the temporary dumpster, porta-potty, and other construction related equipment you may find around the school campus. 

Campus Beautification Work Day (changed date due to on-going construction activity)
Bhaktivedanta Academy's annual campus beautification work day is this Sunday, August 18th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We need lots of help to moving furniture, spreading mulch, pressure washing, landscaping, painting, and many other tasks as we make the final preparations for the start of the new school year. Lunch will be provided for everyone, but we need to know how many to expect, so please call the school office at 386-462-2886 or use the online form to tell us if you are coming.

I, along with the rest of the teaching and support staff are looking forward to seeing you all very soon and continuing our efforts to provide an educational program designed to give children the opportunity to grow to their highest potential — academically, socially, emotionally, and physically — all the while developing their spiritual identities in a nurturing and positive environment.

Yours in service,

Visvambhara das
Head of School

Si usted tiene alguna pregunta y necesita ayuda en español,  puede solicitarla llamando al 386-462-2886 (oficina).