Greetings Parents and Guardians,
The superintendent and transportation department are closely monitoring the weather for potential late starts, early dismissals, or school closures. While decisions cannot be made too far in advance, we want to prepare for a Just In Case situation. Current weather predictions suggest the schedule below; however, forecast changes are always possible, so please ensure your phone number and email address are up to date in Aspire:
Wednesday, Oct. 21: Full Day
Thursday, Oct. 22: Potential school closure (At Home Learning/Virtual Day)
Friday, Oct. 23rd: TBD
In the event of a full-day closure, the following requirements apply:
1. Your child’s classroom teacher will connect with you at least once during the day via text, email, phone call, or video conference.
2. Your child must have at least one assignment to complete.
*If road conditions prevent you from reaching the bus stop while buses are running, please let us know so we can establish an At-Home learning plan with you.
**If you have a child attending another school, such as ARL or SJH, staff at that school will coordinate with you to provide At-Home/Virtual learning opportunities.
Moving forward, we will always maintain a Just In Case plan. With a very wet season anticipated, being prepared will help everything run smoothly.
Bluff Elementary is committed to communicating with you as promptly as possible. Once the Superintendent makes a decision regarding schedule changes, I will share the update within 15 minutes. As with this message, I promise to provide as much advance notice as possible. IF YOU DO NOT HEAR ANYTHING, SCHOOL IS ON.
Teachers will ensure students have assignments ready and will establish a convenient communication method with you. Depending on the situation, coursework may consist of a single daily assignment, a packet, or a project spanning multiple days.
We ask that parents and guardians create an emergency plan for early dismissals, late starts, and full school closures. Please also verify that your contact numbers and email addresses are current in Aspire.
All school closure announcements will be posted on sjsd.org as well as the Bluff Elementary news feed at https://www.sjsd.org/o/bluffes.
While we always prefer learning together in person, your safety is our top priority. Stay safe and enjoy the rain!
Ahehee’
Mrs. McDermott
Bluff Elementary Principal
The Superintendent has declared an early release day due to current and future road conditions due to the rain. Students will be released at 12:30pm today. As far as we know, school will resume as usual tomorrow.
Thanks!
Ms. McDermott
There is a new Senate Bill (S.B. 241: Early Literacy) that has some new mandated laws so please read below to learn more about it. This bill focuses on helping young children from kindergarten through 3rd grade learn to read better. The good news is that we already do many of these things and we will continue to tighten it up even more. Here is what it means for you and your child, explained in plain language:
Extra Help for Struggling Readers: Children in kindergarten through 3rd grade will have their reading tested regularly. If a child falls behind, the school will build a personal learning plan just for them and work with parents to provide targeted help (like tutoring, after-school reading, or summer support).
Staying Back a Grade (Retention):
For kids in K–2 who struggle, schools and parents will discuss whether staying back a year could help them catch up.
Starting in the 2029–2030 school year: If a student finishes 3rd grade and is not reading at grade level, they must repeat 3rd grade unless they qualify for a special exemption (for example, if they are learning English, have an IEP, or complete summer reading programs).
Better Training for Teachers: Schools will train teachers and classroom aides using proven reading methods in the "science of reading”. Currently, Bluff Elementary has three teachers and a principal fully trained and the remaining are working on it. We have a targeted intervention system that all staff, including paraeducators, are getting trained on.
Keeping Parents Informed: Schools must notify you in writing if your child is behind in reading, keep you updated on their progress, and explain ways you can practice reading together at home.
What to Expect Next:
1. You will be receiving a letter from the San Juan School District office if your child has fallen below or well below grade level in our Acadience reading assessment.
2. Your child’s literacy team (classroom teacher, principal, and possibly another member) will work on an individualized reading plan.
3. A meeting will be scheduled within 45 days to discuss the plan.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at: 435.678.1298
Email: vmcdermott@sjsd.org
Thanks for all that you do!
Ms. McDermott
Sheepherder Baskets:
Leia
Josie
Lily
Tony
Caleb B.
Desbah
The winner of the sheep is:
Grayson and Olive!
Thanks to our parents for showing up whether it was on CCR day or rescheduled for another time! We look forward to more visits and drawings in the future!
Ahe'hee!
Mrs. McDermott
Dear Parents and Families,
We are very grateful for those who made it to CCR day last Tuesday. We understand that people who did not show up might have had to work or simply could not get there that day so we are giving everyone a chance to visit with their child's teacher before we do our drawing. We have 4 sheepherder baskets and one sheep we will be giving away as a thank you for making time to support your child/ren's education. The drawing will be on Tuesday right before school ends so if you want your name in there it's not too late! Please contact your child's teacher as soon as possible to get yourself in the drawing!
Ahe'hee'
Mrs. McDermott
Due to heavy rain, muddy conditions, and flooded roads, schools in Bluff, Montezuma Creek, and Monument Valley will be closed on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
Students who reside in or around these communities and travel to schools in Blanding will be excused from attendance tomorrow due to unsafe travel conditions.
School bus routes serving Bluff, Montezuma Creek, Monument Valley, and surrounding areas, including routes that transport students to Blanding schools, will not operate tomorrow due to road conditions.
The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. We will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates as needed.
Bluff Office Staff
We are looking for volunteers to help at the Book Fair, if you can help, please call the school at 435-678-1296 or stop by the school, and sign up for a time to volunteer. Students are excited about the Book Fair coming up!
Times available to help are from 7:40-8:15 am and 11:10-12:00 pm on Monday to Friday. Thank You!
Hello Parents,
Due to a brief power outage last night, our phone service is currently experiencing a disruption. Our IT department is working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
In the meantime, please reach out via email or other available communication channels if you need assistance. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Thank you
