BES Newsletter

Costume Parade and Classroom Parties - Friday, October 30 (1:15 pm)

PTO Trunk or Treat - Friday October 30 (6-7:30)

Picture Makeup Day - Friday, November 6

PTO Meeting - Thursday, November 12 (6:15)

Parent/Guardian Conferences :

• Tuesday, November 10 from 2:45 - 4:00 pm
• Friday, November 13 from 8:00 am - 3:15 pm

Math WIN Time

We are excited to share more about our district-wide Math WIN ("What I Need") time! WIN time is a dedicated block of time designed to ensure every student gets exactly what they need to grow as a mathematician.

During WIN time, students may work in small groups with teachers, math interventionists, or paraprofessionals to strengthen specific math skills. Depending on the activity, some students may work in a quiet area outside the classroom with fewer distractions, while others continue working right in their classroom setting with an adult.

Because no whole-group instruction takes place during WIN time, students participating in small groups would only miss an independent math center activity—never core lesson instruction. We are thrilled to offer this personalized support to help all of our K–5 students build confidence and success in math!

Math Intervention Conferences

During Parent-Teacher Conferences on Friday, November 13, our Math Intervention teachers will be available in Room 106 for parents and guardians to visit us. We highly encourage families of students who qualified for Tier 3 support to drop by. Please feel free to stop in to discuss your child’s progress, review performance data, and learn more about the support they are receiving. We look forward to connecting with you!

Kind regards,

Mike Mussett and Nicole Harris

Math Interventionists

Students worked hard in art class creating beautiful works of art. They will receive Art to Remember order forms coming home on or around November 2! The deadline to order is Monday, November 16. All orders are online this year! If you have any questions, please reach out to Elizabeth Stover by email: estover@basd.net

Thanks for your support of our art program!

Also, conference time is drawing near once again. I am enjoying seeing all of your artists and their wonderful creations! If you would like to schedule a conference time to discuss your child's progress in art class, please email me at the email listed above.

You can also send a check in with your student made out to Bellefonte Area School District. Please send these checks in an envelope clearly marked for the cafeteria.

Free and reduced lunch applications will be accepted throughout the school year. Even if you have completed this form in the past, you will need to complete it at the beginning of each school year. You only need to fill out one form per family. You can find it by going to the BASD website: Menu > Parents > Food Services > Free and Reduced meals.

The school lunch menu for November is posted below.

Big Smiles Coming to Our School!

The Smile Programs Mobile Dentist is pulling up to our school soon, bringing convenient, top-quality dental care right to our doorstep!

Having healthy teeth is essential for overall wellness and helps our students stay focused, confident, and ready to learn. Best of all, this in-school program saves parents time and time off work by taking care of routine checkups during the school day.

Services Offered:

• Comprehensive dental exams and gentle cleanings

• X-rays

• Fluoride treatments and protective sealants

• Restorative care (like fillings), if needed

Dates & Location:

• When: December 4th

• Where: Right here at Bellefonte Elementary School

How to Sign Up: Participation is completely optional, but permission forms must be submitted in advance.

1. Online: Visit My School Dentist to fill out the digital consent form in just a few minutes.

2. Paper Form: Fill out and sign the permission form sent home in your student’s folder, then return it to your child's teacher or the school nurse by October 30th.

Payment & Coverage: The program accepts Medicaid, CHIP, and most private insurance plans, which often cover these preventive services at 100%. Don't have dental insurance? Financial assistance programs are available to ensure every child can participate.

Don't miss this easy opportunity to keep your child's smile bright and healthy. Sign up today!

The updated 2026-27 Student/Parent/Guardian Handbook can be found by clicking below:

Elementary School Handbook

• Remember to turn in a written excuse any time 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.
• If your child will have any sort of extended absence, it is helpful to email their teachers to make them aware.

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 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

• 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

108 Governors Park Road

Bellefonte, PA 16823

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

Phone: 814-355-5519

Fax: 814-353-5338

Attendance Email: beatt@basd.net