Notes and Reminders for Week of August 21

It was so nice to see everyone last week for the first couple of days of school. It is an honor to be partnering with you in the care and growth of your children. We are looking forward to a great school year together.

Below are a few notes and reminders as we head into our first full week of school: 

Solar Eclipse

There will be a total solar eclipse on Monday, August 21 from 1:15 - 4:11 p.m. Although, our area of the country will experience a partial eclipse, there will be no outdoor activity due to the possibility of eye damage if the event is viewed without proper eye protection. 

Students will need to be picked up from their classrooms on Monday. The pick-up area will be closed, so we ask that you please park and retrieve your child from their classroom. Overflow parking is available in the grass area adjacent to the drive leading to the school parking lot.

Please let the school office know if you intend to pick-up your child early so we can have them ready for you. 

Friday Folder Forms

Your child’s Friday folder contains some important forms that need to be reviewed, filled-out, and signed. Please send them back to school on Monday.

Beginning of Year Ceremony

Our annual beginning of year ceremony is Sunday, August 27 at 5 p.m. This is a special ceremony in which we inaugurate the start of school with kirtan and vedic ceremony to attract auspiciousness for the coming school year. Students should come well dressed in school uniforms and groomed neatly for the occasion.

Temple Tuesday

Students in Audarya Bhavan, Madhurya Bhavan, and Krishna Sharanam start school on Tuesday at the New Raman Reti Temple at 7:20 a.m. This will begin on Tuesday, September 5. Please come directly to school at 8:00 a.m. on August 22 and 29.  

Tuition Contracts

There has been a delay in generating tuition contracts for families who receive funding from Step Up for Students. The final scholarship amounts were not confirmed until August 11. Contracts will be generated this week, so please be on the lookout for a notification from TADS.

Friends of Bhaktivedanta Academy 

Our Bhaktivedanta Academy private Facebook group can be found at www.facebook.com/groups/friendsbhaktivedantaacademy. If you are on Facebook and are not already part of the group, please join. 

Beginning of Year Welcome Meeting and Orientation

Our annual welcome meeting and classroom orientation is this Monday, August 14. This event is broken up into two parts for new and returning families:

5:30 p.m. New Family Welcome Meeting (required for all families new to Bhaktivedanta Academy)

6:30 p.m. Orientation - Bhakti Bhavan (pre-k/k) and Krishna Sharanam (grade 7 - 10) 

7:00 p.m. Orientation - Audarya Bhavan (grade 1 - 3) and Madhurya Bhavan (grade 4 - 6) 

Students in grade 1 and above are welcome to attend if they are able to remain in the classroom with you. Unsupervised children will not be permitted to play outside. Light refreshments will be served. 

We look forward to seeing everyone here!

Welcome Letter and Supply Lists

Dear Families:

On behalf of the teachers and staff of Bhaktivedanta Academy, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new and returning families for the 2017-18 school year. We are honored that you have entrusted your childʼs education with us and are looking forward to the start of school on Thursday, August 17.

Linked below is important information for your review prior to the start of school:

2017-18 School Calendar

Bhakti Bhavan

• Welcome Letter
• Supply List

Audarya Bhavan

• Welcome Letter
• Supply List

Madhurya Bhavan

• Welcome Letter
• Supply List

Krishna Sharanam

• Welcome Letter
• Supply List

If you have questions about any of the information contained in this packet please call 386-462-2886 or email office@bhaktischool.org. We are happy to answer any question you may have.

Please be on the lookout for additional information and forms that will be sent out to you in the coming weeks as we get closer to the start of school.

Yours in service,

Visvambhara Dasa
Head of School

P.S. Our family welcome meeting and orientation will be held at Bhaktivedanta Academy on Monday, August 14 at 5:30 p.m. for families new to the school. Our returning families are invited to come at 6:30 p.m. Attendance at this very important meeting is required for new families and highly recommended for families with returning students, so please plan on attending.

End of School Year Notes and Reminders

Below are some important notes and reminders as we head into the final week of school: 

Four Day Weekend
Just a reminder that there is no school Friday, May 26 and Monday, May 29. We look forward to having everyone back for the final week of school on Tuesday, May 30. Students in Audarya Bhavan, Madhurya Bhavan, and Krishna Sharanam will start the day at the New Raman Reti Temple at 7:20 a.m.

Uniform Orders
Thank you to everyone who has already submitted their uniform orders. If you have yet to do so, please submit your child's order online by the end of day Monday, May 29.

Blue Springs Admission
Our family fun day at Blue Springs is on Friday, June 2. We must finalize our attendance with the management on Tuesday. If you plan on attending but have yet to turn in your order form please do so on Tuesday, May 30. Click to download and print the form.

School Library Books Due
If your child has any books checked out from the school library, please return them on Tuesday, May 30. Any lost book replacement fees will be billed via TADS.

Ratha Yatra and Kurukshetra Day
We are holding our first ever Ratha Yatra as part of our annual Kurukshetra Day on Wednesday, May 31. Lunch will be provided to all students on this day. All classes will be dismissed at 2 p.m.

We are seeking volunteers to help out with setup, manning activities, cleanup, and making offerings for Lord Jagannatha. Click here to volunteer.

End of Year Ceremony
Bhaktivedanta Academy's end of year ceremony for Pre-K through Upper Elementary is on Thursday, June 1. Our end of year ceremony will have recitations, songs and certificate presentations for our kindergarten, 3rd grade, and 6th grade students and will be divided into two ceremonies:

Bhakti Bhavan
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. in the Krishna Sharanam classroom

Audarya and Madhurya Bhavan
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in the Krishna Sharanam classroom

All students in Bhakti Bhavan, Audarya Bhavan, and Madhurya Bhavan should arrive by 8 a.m. as usual. This is a uniform day, so we ask that all students come looking their best. The 2016-2017 school year will officially end at the conclusion of each ceremony. There is no after care. 

Krishna Sharanam 10th Grade Graduation
Our first ever 10th grade graduation will be taking place on Thursday, June 1 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Alachua Women’s Club. All Krishna Sharanam students should arrive at 5 p.m. for final preparations and pictures. Everyone except for the graduates are required to be in school uniform. Krishna Sharanam students will not be attending class on Thursday.

On behalf of the teachers and staff, thank you for entrusting us with the education of your children and for another great year together. We are looking forward to August 14 when we will welcome our returning students back. We wish you all a happy and safe summer.

We are the Bhaktivedanta Academy...

Over the last year, students and teachers have been working together to determine an identity for our school mascot. We had over 60 student submissions and via school-wide vote chose – Bhaktivedanta Academy Lions!