by Carin R. Kirkegaard

The 2006-2007 school year promises to be full of opportunity and celebration for Buffalo Ridge Elementary School (BRE).

The first full day of classes will begin August 16 for grades first through fifth. Goal setting conferences will be held on August 14 and 15. During these conference days, parents can open or add to an existing lunch account, take school pictures, complete an emergency enrollment form, register email addresses, sign up to volunteer in the classroom, as well as meet the specials teachers. Parents can contact the BRE main office at 303-387-5575 from August 1 through August 10 to sign up for a time to meet with teachers. Kindergarteners will begin on August 17.

BRE will not only welcome returning students, teachers and staff, but will also extend a warm welcome to new members entering the school for the first time. Included in this welcome will be BRE’s new principal. Allyson “Ally” Berggren will serve as the new principal and help mark a major milestone with the school’s ten-year anniversary.

“We are looking forward to welcoming Berggren as the new principal of BRE and anticipate a great start to a new decade of serving the BRE community,” said Tia Lundgren, Buffalo Ridge Education Alliance (BREA) President. Berggren accepted the position of principal in February. The position became vacant when Principal Barry Meigs retired at the end of the 2005-2006 school year.
To help commemorate reaching the great achievement of running a school for ten years, the BREA has shaped the school year around the theme: “Buffalo Ridge Elementary: Ten years Strong building futures shaping lives." BRE families can look forward to exciting new programs and activities themed around the power of ten.

One focus for the upcoming year will be on the character development of BRE students. The BREA will introduce “Character Counts” as a new program for the year. Character Counts will focus on the six pillars of character (trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship) used in the National Character Counts program. Each pillar of character will be assigned a month where students from each grade level can participate in essay contests for recognition and awards.

Residents should save the date for the BREA Spring Fling and Silent Auction, at The Sanctuary on April 21, 2007. This is a great opportunity for residents to support a local school as well as have a night on the town. Sandy Haworth-South is now accepting auction items from businesses and families. To donate, please contact her by email at haworthsouth@comcast.net. This is shaping up to be the event of the year.

To learn more about BRE visit its website at www.dcsd.k12.co.us/elementary/bre.