Back-to-School Checklist 2023-24

Review AND Update Your SchoolPass settings

SchoolPass will be used for the following:

• Report an absence

• Report a scheduled Late Arrival

• Report an Early Pick-up

• For EC and LS students ONLY - see instructions in section 8 below

  • Facilitate pick-up on foot

  • Manage carpool changes

You must update your approved drivers list (do not add other parents to your list - use move to carpool instead)

Click here for comprehensive instructions on how to use SchoolPass.

Download SchoolPass for Apple or Android. 

Registration for fall 2023 BZ Beyond: After Care and Enrichment opens Thursday, August 10 via Campbrain!

Here are a few important deadlines to remember before you begin registering:

• The BZ Beyond fall session will begin on Tuesday, September 5 and conclude on Friday, November 17. 

• We will be offering a "Back to School" session if you require after school care during the first week of school—Monday, August 28 - Friday, September 1. For this option, be sure to add the "Back to School" session of BZ Beyond: After Care to your cart during registration.

• Registration for BZ Beyond: After Care and Enrichment will open Thursday, August 10 at 10:00 a.m. via Campbrain and will close Tuesday, August 29 at 5:00 p.m.

Register

View BZ Beyond: Enrichment Offerings 

visit the Parent Portal on our website TO COMPLETE

• Health Forms (Multiple forms per student. Follow the instructions in the Health Office to access the BE WELL Health Portal to submit health forms for your students.)

MIDDLE SCHOOL ONLY: Complete the following forms in BZ Connect:

• Middle School Technology Loan and Use Agreement (One Parent & Student to sign) 

• Science Lab Guidelines (One per Middle School student)

All school supply lists for each division can be found at bernardzell.org/schoolsupplies. Please contact division heads Abby Aloni, Karen Leavitt or Emily Crane with any questions regarding school supplies. 

School Supply Lists

*Note for Lower School and Middle School Families:

If you have already purchased supply kits from EPI, thank you—you are all set! Your child’s school supplies will be waiting for them on the first day of school.

As the online ordering through EPI is closed please click on the link above for your school supply list.

Summer reading is fun way to exercise your child(s) reading muscles to reinforce their progress from the previous school year. Plus, it's all online! 

To learn everything you need to know about the Bernard Zell Summer Reading program for students entering first through eighth grades, visit bernardzell.org/summerreading to quickly access reading logs and book recommendations. 

Every student who completes their summer reading will also receive a fun reward when school resumes in the fall. Perhaps best of all, any book that you read to your child can count toward their summer reading!

Summer Reading Logs

Class lists for all divisions will be available on Monday, August 21 at noon. Teachers and advisors will reach out directly to set up intake conversations. 

To view the lists: 

• Login to the Parent Portal on our school website.

• Click on the BZ Connect button on the right hand menu. 

• Click on your child's picture/name in the upper left hand corner. On their Progress Tab, click on their Homeroom, Gibush or Travel Group class to view the roster. 

• To see a list of all the students in your child's grade, click on the class named "Lunch". 

*Note: Complete student schedules will be visible on the first day of school. 

Mark your calendars for the Classroom Preview day on Friday, August 25. From 9:30 - 10:15 a.m., families are invited to campus to meet their teachers, visit your student(s)’ new classrooms and preview all that’s to come before the first day of school on Monday, August 28. Those unable to attend the Classroom Preview day will have car decals, placards and yearbooks delivered to their child on the first day of school.

Parents and caregivers are asked to accompany their Early Childhood and Lower School children to their classrooms. In addition to the above, stop by the following stations during the event:

PICK UP YOUR CAR DECALS, PLACARDS AND YEARBOOK IN YOUR CHILD'S CLASSROOM

• All families will receive two car decals and two placards for 2023-24. Decals must be affixed to the interior passenger side windshield of all vehicles driving onto campus. Placards are to be placed in the passenger side window of your car when you arrive on campus for dismissal.

• Placards are not needed for pick-up on foot at the Plaza.

• If you need more than two placards, fill out this form.

Drop off student medications and meet Ms. Samantha Mor, Bernard Zell’s school nurse 

• Medications to be administered at school should be dropped off during Classroom Previews. Please keep all medications in their original packaging and inside a sealed bag labeled with your child's name, grade and homeroom teacher/advisor. Parents and students will also have an opportunity to meet Ms. Samantha Mor, Bernard Zell’s full-time school nurse. If you have any questions, you can contact Ms. Mor directly at 773-572-1277 or by emailing bznurse@bernardzell.org.

Morning Drop-off

• Watch this useful video of Eddie the Eagle demonstrating the drop-off procedures!

Afternoon Pick-up

Middle School students will self-dismiss in the afternoons and are able to pick-up any Early Childhood or Lower School sibling from their classroom.

Early Childhood and Lower School students may be picked up on foot or in the carline. When picking up on foot, you will use the SchoolPass app to alert the school that you have arrived. 

• Making changes to persons authorized to pick up your student(s). 

• Alerting teachers that you have arrived for an on foot pick-up. (please note we do not use the drop-off function.)

When picking up by car, please be sure to have your car placard with your SchoolPass carpool number clearly visible in the passenger side window. You do not need to do anything with the SchoolPass app when arriving in carline. School personnel will queue you according to when you arrive.

Attendance Reporting

We will continue to use SchoolPass to manage student attendance. Please review the following videos for help.

• Reporting an absence

• Reporting late arrivals

• Reporting an early dismissal

View more detailed information regarding SchoolPass and pick-up here.

Click the link below to view Chef Ben's lunch menu and add it to your favorites or as a bookmark for quick access! Please note: the menu will go live before the start of school on Monday, August 28. 

SAGE/Bernard Zell Lunch Menu

Visit our new Spirit Store open year-round to purchase your BZ Gear!

All Bernard Zell Students are strongly encouraged to have a Bernard Zell branded shirt to wear for certain school events, such as the Hanukkah Music Festival and on Grandparents and Special Friends Day.  

You can purchase these items from BZ's official Spirit Store or from Land's End.

We are gauging interest to determine whether families would be interested in transportation to/from school next year through RideAlongNow. Should you like to learn more (with no obligation), please fill out the form by clicking the button below. 

RideAlongNow Interest Form