The Gladden Gazette
A School Newsletter for Gladden Families - September 2025
Dear Gladden Families -
I hope this message finds you well. As we wrap up the first two weeks of the school year, I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for your continued support and partnership. I also want to thank you for your patience as we have ironed out our arrival and dismissal procedures.
Our students have been settling into their new classes with great enthusiasm, and it has been wonderful to see their eager faces each day. Teachers are already engaging them in dynamic lessons and activities that set the stage for a productive and enjoyable year.
We appreciate your support, especially as our students adjust to new routines and environments. Your cooperation and communication have been invaluable, and we encourage you to continue to stay involved and share any feedback or questions you may have.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our school community. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!
Sincerely,
Karen Snider
Principal, Gladden Elementary
September 1:
Labor Day - No School
September 5:
Chiefs Season Opener - Wear red or Chiefs gear!
September 8:
PTA Meeting from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in GES Cafeteria
September 8-12:
Book Fair open from 8:30-3:00 daily
September 11:
Math & Science/Grandfriend's Night from 5:00-6:30
Title 1 Parent Meeting 5:00-5:30
Book Fair Open from 5:00-6:30
September 18:
Healthe Kids Screenings (more details to come)
September 22:
No School - Staff Professional Development Day
September 23:
Fall Picture Day
September 26:
Cass County Dental Screenings (more details to come)
October 2:
School Custodian Appreciation Day
School attendance and punctuality is a very important factor in student academic progress. We wish to work together with parents and guardians to ensure your child’s continued success.
Our goal as a district is to keep lines of communication open with families to impact student attendance and education positively.
Acceptable absences are defined in Board Policy as extenuating circumstances, such as severe illness and/or injury; religious observances; or visits with a parent or legal guardian who is an active duty member of the military who has been called to duty for, is on leave from or is immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting, with permission of the superintendent or designee.
The pieces listed below are not the only actions the district and Belton Police Department will pursue; other interventions and supports will be enacted to assist the student and family as needed.
- All absences for illness must include a doctor’s note to be excused.
- COVID-19-Related Absences (as of Aug. 2022)
- Submit a photo of the positive test to the school
Note: The test must have the child's name and date clearly written on the test
- Submit a photo of the positive test to the school
- Acceptable absences (listed above) may be excused if accompanied by documentation.
- All absences not covered above are considered unexcused.
- When children reach five (5) days, eight (8) days and eleven (11) days of excused and/or unexcused absences, a note from the school district will be sent to the family.
- When a student reaches 8 days of unexcused absences, documentation will be given to the School Resource Police Officer, and they will make direct contact with the family.
- When a student reaches 11 unexcused absences, a citation will be written by the Belton Police Department, and the student’s parents will be required to appear in Municipal Court. (See City Ordinance Section 15-289, Truancy)
- If a student continues to accrue absences, parents/guardians will continue to get ticketed at 16, 21, and 26, etc. unexcused absences.
- If a student accumulates more than 11 absences, additional actions will be taken including the possibility of Education Court with the Juvenile Office.
Please call the school office at 816-489-7530 anytime your child will be absent from school or late to school for any reason. You may call after school hours and leave us a message if it is about the next school day.
You may also email Gladden office at gladden@bsd124.org.
Come join us at Gladden Elementary on Thursday, September 11th for our Math & Science/Grandfriend's Night from 5:00-6:30 p.m. There will be fun math activities and science experiments! Snacks will be served, and you will have an opportunity to visit the Book Fair!
The purpose of Title 1 is “to provide all children the opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, and to close educational achievement gaps.” (Title 1, Section 1001 Statement of Purpose) Grace Early Childhood Center, Cambridge Elementary, Gladden Elementary, Wilckens STEAM Academy at Hillcrest, and Kentucky Trail Elementary are all school-wide, Title 1 schools.
We will have a short presentation to help our families learn more about how we support students to improve their reading and math skills through Title 1 services in the buildings.
Please join us on Thursday, September 11th from 5:00pm - 5:30 pm at Gladden Elementary for our Title Presentation. Please let us know if you plan to attend by calling at 816-489-7530 and if you need an interpreter. If you are not able to attend, feel free to contact the school office for more information. Childcare is not available.
It is not too late to join the Gladden PTA!
Here is a link to our PTA Membership Form.
Our next meeting will be held on Monday, September 8th from 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Welcome back to another exciting year in the library! We are already off to a great start. This year, students will once again participate in two special reading programs sponsored by the Missouri Association of School Librarians.
Grades 1–4 will enjoy listening to the Top 10 Show Me Award Nominees.
Kindergarten will listen to the Top 10 Missouri Building Block Picture Books.
After hearing all of the books, students will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite. Their votes will be combined with students from across Missouri, and the winning authors will be recognized and celebrated at the state librarian conference in the spring.
During the first week of school, all students completed Internet Safety Training. Our goal is to keep students safe online by teaching them how to recognize “Internet Outlaws” and the importance of telling a trusted adult if they ever run into something unsafe. To make learning fun and engaging, we used the video Router’s Birthday Surprise.
Save the Date!
September 8th–12th – Our first Book Fair of the year!
Open daily from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Open late Thursday for our Grandfriends Event from 5:00–6:30 p.m.
If you are a registered volunteer and would like to help, please email Mrs. Stegmaier at mstegmaier@bsd124.org.
All proceeds from the Book Fair go directly back to our school to support students and teachers.
Stay tuned for next month’s newsletter where I’ll share more about an exciting new literacy resource recently purchased from Scholastic to help spread the love of reading in our community.
Here’s to a wonderful year of reading and learning together!
— Mrs. Stegmaier
Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing many familiar faces from last year AND getting to know those students and families who are new to Gladden. We have such a wonderful school family and are so thankful that you are part of it!
This year marks my 20th year as a School Counselor, and 11 of those years have been served right here at Gladden Elementary! I have the pleasure of visiting with ALL students in their classrooms throughout the course of the school year. It is through these classroom lessons that we focus on building positive connections with one another while learning how to resolve conflicts, utilize coping skills, make healthy choices, explore careers, and much more. I am also able to meet with students individually or in a small group setting to further support their academic, social-emotional and career development. Students, staff and parents/guardians may request for students to meet with the School Counselor. One way to do so is to complete this School Counselor Request Form.
Gladden is also fortunate to have a School Based Therapist, Denise Ponds, who is able to provide more intensive support for students and their families. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you feel your student could benefit from this service or any of the counseling services mentioned above!
In need of something? Let us help you get connected!
We have a number of resources available within the Belton School District and throughout our community to help your student have a successful school year! Use the QR code above to access a short form where you can request school supplies, weekly BackSnacks, hygiene items, winter gear, and more.
We have a building filled with lots of caring adults here at Gladden Elementary who want to partner with you and help your student have a fantastic school experience! Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns, or ways in which we can work together to better serve your student.
Should you need to make transportation changes for your student, please do so prior to 2:30 p.m. by emailing the office at gladden@bsd124.org or by sending a handwritten note. For the safety of students, we do NOT accept transportation changes over the phone.
In order to ensure that all students make it to the correct dismissal location, we will not be releasing students after 3:10 p.m., unless the checkout has been pre-arranged with the office.
If you have not filled out the Meal Benefit Application, we encourage you to do so. Even though the form says it is for Free/Reduced Lunch opportunities, completing this form could approve your family for other district discounts: childcare, technology fees, high school testing, etc.
Click the following link to apply: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application
Gladden Elementary School
Email: gladden@bsd124.org
Website: https://www.beltonschools.org/Page/14
Location: 405 Westover Road, Belton, MO, USA
Phone: 816-489-7530
Facebook: facebook.com/GladdenElementary