BES Newsletter

Monday, December 15: Holidays in the Halls 6:00pm (Tonight!)

Reindeer Games: Tuesday, December 23

PTO Meeting: Thursday, January 8 at 6:30 pm

Winter Break: Wednesday, December 24 through Friday, January 2

We are nearing "substantial completion" of the building. Work is scheduled to be completed in January. At this point, I believe one wing is done and cleaned. Finishing touches are being put on the remaining wing. All of the brand new furniture should be delivered in the spring. The only major thing that needs to happen before we get students into it net fall is for the traffic work to be completed. There will be an opportunity for tours as we get into this spring and summer. I'm not sure what exactly that will look like but we will keep you posted. Next time I am there I will have more pictures to share of the finished spaces.

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:

• The Snip-It: Vocabulary is the bridge between decoding a word and understanding its meaning. Arts & Letters introduces rich, contextual vocabulary, often using Knowledge Deck Cards and visual art to deepen understanding.

• The Tip: Create a "Word Wall" on Your Fridge. When your child encounters an interesting new word in a book or hears it in conversation, write it on a sticky note. Discuss the student-friendly definition, use the word in a new sentence, and even try to draw a small picture to represent it (connecting to the art-based approach in Arts & Letters). Challenge the family to use the word throughout the week.

If you've received a call from the school health room, it's often because your child is ill or injured. While that may be your only direct interaction, the Certified School Nurse (CSN) does so much more than take temperatures and apply Band-Aids®. They are a vital part of our professional staff, dedicated to promoting a healthy and safe learning environment for students, families, and the community.

In Pennsylvania, a CSN is a highly qualified professional, holding graduate-level education and an advanced practice certification. Their work is guided by the Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice, focusing on five key areas:

• Standards for Practice

• Care Coordination

• Leadership

• Quality Improvement

• Community and Public Health

A Glimpse into the CSN's Impact

While providing first aid and managing daily illnesses and medications are essential duties, the CSN's role extends far beyond the health room door:

• Health and Wellness: They conduct health screenings, track immunizations, and ensure compliance with required dental and physical exams.

• Chronic Condition Management: The CSN provides essential care coordination. They work closely with students, teachers, administrators, and community healthcare providers to manage chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes, developing critical Individual Health Plans (IHPs) and Emergency Action Plans.

• Public Health Leadership: They are crucial in monitoring for and preventing the spread of infectious disease outbreaks. They promote wellness and provide health education to students, faculty, staff, and parents/guardians.

• Advocacy and Oversight: CSNs supervise LPNs and RNs in the health room and serve on school committees to advocate for student well-being and a safe environment. They are dedicated advocates and lifelong learners, working to support public education and policy change.

The ultimate goal of this dedication and hard work? To keep students healthy, safe, and in the classroom, ready to learn.

Framework for 21st century school nursing practice. (2022, December 5). National Association of School Nurses. https://www.nasn.org/nasn-resources/framework

Meet your Certified School Nurse:

Say hello to our Certified School Nurse, Rachel Griel ("Griel" rhymes with "while").

Dr. Griel is our Middle School Certified School Nurse (CSN) and has an impressive 32 years of nursing experience. She is a highly credentialed professional: a doctorally prepared Registered Nurse who holds both a state school nurse certification and a national school nurse certification.

Her extensive educational background includes Geisinger Medical Center School of Nursing, Penn State, and Eastern Mennonite University. Dr. Griel honed her expertise in critical care and administration at Mount Nittany Medical Center before becoming a school nurse.

In addition to her clinical duties, Dr. Griel is a leader in our district, serving as the Nurse Department Chair. She actively contributes to our school community on the Safety Team, the Student Assistant Program (SAP) Team, and the Professional Development Committee. She covers Marion-Walker, Bellefonte Elementary schools, and the middle school.

If your student is in need of any winter clothing to help keep them warm please contact Mr. Baughman. We have hats, coats and gloves that are donated. We are happy to get them to you if you need them!

We know that there is a lot of uncertainty right now regarding of the status of SNAP benefits. Below is a list of documents where you can access food resources if needed.

Food Pantries List 2025

Food Distribution Locations 2025

Thanksgiving Blessing in a Box

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.

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