BES Newsletter

Thursday, October 9: PTO Meeting at 6:30

Friday, October 10: Picture Day

Friday, October 17: No School for Students

Friday, November 7: Parent/Guardian Conferences - no school for students

Thanksgiving Break: Wednesday, November 26 through Monday, December 1

Date: Friday, October 31

Start Time: 1:15 pm

Parade Length: approximately 15-20 minutes

The parade will be held outside weather permitting and family members are welcome to come and line up along the parade route to view the parade. If the weather is poor that day, the parade will be moved inside and will be for students only. I will send out a message and an email that morning to alert you if the outdoor parade is cancelled. We will stream the parade on Facebook Live on our Facebook page either way.

Please see the picture below for a map of the parade route. Also, yes, it has been brought to my attention that my graphic design skills need a lot of work. The parade route is marked in red and the areas where parents can view the parade is marked in yellow. The sidewalk along Linn St. is left open as this is where students will stop on their second lap so that they can see the costumes of the older students. We do ask that you stand on the sides of the sidewalk and leave the center open for the students to walk through.

Kindergarten will lead the parade with the older grades following, each group will make two laps through the parade route. The parade starts and ends at the pumpkin, which marks the Main Office Doors.

As we have in the past, we are coordinating with the Bellefonte Police Department and our School Resource Officers to have marked police presence outside of the school during this time. If you see marked police cars present, they are just there as an added precaution and to see all of the costumes!

When the students return to their classrooms, they will take part in their classroom party until the end of the day.

Click here to access the Food Services section of the district website which contains information about free and reduced lunches, lunch payments and more!

The lunch menu for this month is below:

KRISPY KREME PICK UP WEDNESDAY the 8th!

Auditorium Lobby 2:30-6:00!

PTO MEMBERSHIPS DUE

FRIDAY OCTOBER 10th

Join for a chance to help your kids classroom win an ice cream party!

Forms can be found on the PTO website.

Attending school regularly is the first thing that everyone can do to help ensure success in the classroom. However, life happens and we know that there are times when students should stay at home, especially if they are sick. A complete overview of our attendance guidelines can be found on pages 16-18 of the Student Handbook. Below are some main points to remember.

• Remember to turn in a written excuse anytime your student is absent. Sending an email to our Attendance Clerk at beatt@basd.net is usually the easiest way. Even if you call in, we still need a written note for our records.
• Always get a note from your doctor when your child is absent for an appointment. Most offices will fax excuses directly to the school. If they do this, give us a call the next day to make sure we received it.
• Students are marked late/tardy if they arrive between 8:10 and 8:45 am. After 8:45, students will be marked absent for either a whole day or half day am. If students are tardy 15 times in a school year, truancy proceedings may be initiated with the District Magistrate.
• If a student is absent and no excuse is turned in, or the reason for an absence is not one of the valid reasons we can excuse, the absence will be marked as illegal. If a student accumulates 3 illegal absences, a meeting will be called to allow us to work together and avoid any further illegal absences. If a student accumulates 6 illegal absences, truancy proceedings may be initiated with the District Magistrate.

Ultimately, our goal is to make sure that our students are in school and that we are working with you to make that happen and also help you to make sure that their absences are recorded correctly. Please reach out to us with questions and allow us to help you if needed.

Educational Trips:

We see the value in traveling as a family and taking your children to see and experience different places and events. Below is information on how to make sure these absences are accounted for.

• Students can now take up to 10 days of Educational Trips each school year.
• An Educational Trip Form must be submitted at least seven calendar days prior to the trip. You can send that form to our Attendance Clerk at beatt@basd.net.
• This form can be found on the District Website, I will also include the link our back to school newsletter.
  

• BASD Website > Menu> Attendance > Educational Trip Request Form

Please click on the files below to learn more about Cartwheel. We partner with Cartwheel to provide mental health services to students and families.

For the safety and well-being of all students, the Bellefonte Area School District nurses will administer medication during school hours only when absolutely necessary. We appreciate your cooperation in adhering to the following guidelines:

• Orders for Medication: Parent permission and an order from a health care provider (DDS, DMD, MD, DO, PA-C, or CRNP) must be provided to the school nurse for medications that need to be given at school. The form can be found on the BASD website under nursing services, then health forms, or by clicking here.

• Delivery of Medication: All medications must be brought to the school nurse by a parent, guardian, or responsible adult. Please do not send medication to school with your child.

• Original Packaging Required: Medications must be in their original, properly labeled pharmaceutical container. This includes the pharmacy label or original manufacturer packaging.

• Required Information: For any medication to be administered at school, the container must display:

1. The student's name

2. The physician's name

3. The date of prescription

4. The pharmacy's name and phone number

5. The medication's name, dosage, route, and frequency of administration

• Student Possession of Medication: For safety reasons, students are not permitted to carry medications with them at school. The only exceptions are epinephrine pens and bronchodilator inhalers, as specifically allowed by School Board policy.

• Medication Pick-Up: All medications brought to school must be picked up by a parent or guardian on or before the last day of school. Any medications not claimed will be disposed at the end of the last day of school.

Your understanding and cooperation with these policies help us ensure a safe and healthy environment for all students. If you have any questions, please contact your school nurse, Rachel Griel at rgriel@basd.net. District Policy 210 can also be referenced for more information about medications.

Anyone who plans on volunteering in our buildings during the school day or at school-sponsored events, must become a registered volunteer and be approved by the School Board. Examples of volunteering opportunities that you must be an approved volunteer for include but are not limited to:

• Field Trip chaperones

• School dance chaperones

• Classroom/building helpers

• Volunteering at classroom parties

• Field Day volunteers

• Holiday Shop volunteers

• PTO/Parent Group events in the buildings during school hours

Registered volunteers will be approved by the Bellefonte Area School District Board of Directors after they have submitted the following documents:

1. Volunteer Form

2. Statement of Confidentiality

3. Residency Affidavit & Arrest/Conviction Report

4. PA Child Abuse History Certification

5. PA Criminal History clearance

All registered volunteers will need to update their clearances every five years.

If you plan on volunteering at all during the school year, it is best to get this process completed early. Please contact the main office or our volunteer coordinator, Liz Stone (lstone@basd.net) if you have any questions.

Click Here for the Volunteer Program section on the BASD website.

Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook for more updates and information on all of the great things happening here at BES!

https://www.facebook.com/bellefonteelem

100 W. Linn Street

Bellefonte, PA 16823

Website: https://www.basd.net/Domain/388

Phone: 814-355-5519

Fax: 814-353-5338

Attendance Email: beatt@basd.net