Head Start is now accepting applications for the 2020-2021 school year. Applications can be found at https://www.bismarckschools.org/Page/2616 or call BECEP at 701-323-4400 to request an application be mailed to you. There is a black drop-box to the right of BECEP’s front door to return applications and required documents. BECEP is located at 720 North 14^th Street.

Bus Registration Reminders for 2020-21:

1. Your child will automatically continue to receive busing if they rode the bus during the 2019-2020 school year.
2. If busing is no longer needed, please contact the Transportation Dept. by email or call 701-323-4500. 
3. If you are new to busing, please fill out the Transportation Registration Form found here: https://www.bismarckschools.org/Page/655 
4. If you register AFTER July 15, it may take up to 30 days from the start of school before students can ride because our contracted vendor needs time to set up routes, line up buses and drivers, and send schedules to parents who have already registered.
5. If you have moved recently, please notify your school or the Registration office of the change. You must fill out the Address Change Form and supply one Primary Proof of Residence to complete the change.

Bismarck Public Schools offers a FREE summer lunch program for local kids ages 18 and under Monday-Friday through Friday, July 24, 2020. Starting Monday, July 6, there are two changes for families accessing free summer lunches for children ages 0-18 in Bismarck. Instead of school buses delivering meals, watch for a white food truck or BPS van. Also, at the Kiwanis Park and Ministry on the Margin sites only, there will be no meal service on Fridays but two meals will be provided on Thursdays. REMINDER: there will be NO MEALS SERVED July 1-3 at any of the sites, and meal service ends for the summer on Friday, July 24.

11-11:30 am: Lions Park, Centennial Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, Solheim Elementary, Miller Elementary, and Kiwanis Park (*no meals on Friday).

11:30 am-12:30 pm: Wachter Middle School, Century High School, Bismarck High, Moses Elementary, Legacy High, Lincoln Elementary, and Liberty Elementary School.

11:45 am-12:15 pm: Will-Moore, Grimsrud Elementary, Pioneer, Myhre, and Murphy Elementary Schools, and Ministry on the Margins @ 201 N 24th St, east parking lot (*no meals on Friday).

12:30-1 pm: Sunrise Elementary School.

We are asking for donations of diapers, wipes, tampons, and feminine pads. These donations will help serve children 0-18 that receive support from the BPS Students in Transition program, BECEP, South Central High School, all BPS social workers working with families in need, Healthy Families of Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota, and the Adopt-A-Block program.

We have seen an evident need to help people in our community with basic items such as diapers, wipes, and feminine hygiene products. This underlying need in our community is now exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting rising unemployment. WIC and SNAP benefits help with food, but do not help with these items or other personal hygiene items for children and families in our community. A group of organizations along with faith leaders are working with families and have come together with the goal of meeting the current above-mentioned needs and building relationships between churches and organizations to continue and increase the scope of support into the future.

Our first goal is to collect and build resources so the above organizations can distribute to families in need. Donations can be dropped off at:

Century Baptist Church (205 Colt Dr.) Monday & Thursday 11:00 am-1:00 pm.

Evangel Church (3225 N 14th St.) Wednesday 12:00-1:00 pm.

J&R Vacuum (223 E Main Ave) Monday-Friday 9:00 am-6:00 pm. Drop off at loading dock and call 258-5619 at time of delivery.

To have donations picked up, call Becky Matthews at 701-220-5271. To learn more about the Needs Nook, contact her at rebecca239@bis.midco.net or 701-220-5271.

Donate to Family Assistance Fund
The Bismarck Public Schools Foundation (BPSF) has established a COVID-19 BPS Family Assistance Fund.  Those that wish to donate may do so through the foundation website or by mail. To donate online, go to https://www.bpsfoundation.com/donate/ and click “COVID-19 BPS Family Assistance.” To donate by mail, send checks to the BPS Foundation at 806 N. Washington St., Bismarck, ND 58501 and write “COVID-19” in the memo line. Families seeking assistance are encouraged to reach out to their counselor or social worker who will connect them to established community resources as well as submit requests for funding needs that cannot be met within existing resources. The BPSF thanks those who have already reached out to volunteer and/or provide monetary donations to help those within our community who are struggling.

Donate to Student Feeding Efforts
BPS has had many kind offers to help with student feeding. If you want to make a monetary donation to help feed students in need, go to https://www.bismarckschools.org/Page/3381 and follow the instructions listed. If you are not currently a MyPaymentsPlus user, you can set up an account! 

New Teacher Orientation will be Aug. 3-6. More information at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SzvUFHzejCxgjP_W7_8AjfwuqkNVCvr3iIVlLGsqk1M/edit?usp=sharing