Here are the top Need-to-Knows

Starting this year, report cards will be distributed electronically through PowerSchool Parent Portal - see how to access your child's grades below.
We have some NEW volunteer opportunities
Boosterthon continues this week and the BIG DAY is Thursday! See below for Fun Run information (and a deliciously special way for your family to participate!)
It’s time to put your creativity to work! All current BES students are invited to design a wordless front and back cover for our 2026–27 yearbook. Entries are due to homeroom teachers by October 16, so be sure to check the flyer below for all contest guidelines and details.
Welcome to our new PTO Board & SIC members!

Welcoming Our New PTO & SIC Members

Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote in our recent PTO and School Improvement Council elections! We are excited to welcome our newly elected members and are grateful for their willingness to serve our BES community.

PTO Communications Coordinator: Whitney Railey
School Improvement Council: Kim Smith and Courtney Rohman

We also sincerely appreciate all of the parents who volunteered to be considered for these roles. Your willingness to get involved and support Ballentine means so much. We look forward to a great year of working together for our students, staff, and families.

Parent Portal & Report Cards

This year, all District Five report cards will be sent electronically through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. PowerSchool Parent Portal is also a great way to stay informed about your child’s attendance and grades throughout the school year.

Many families have already created an account. If you have not, please contact Tracy Tomlin, BES Registrar, to receive the access information specific to your child. As part of the process, identification is required. You may stop by the school for a quick two-minute visit with the registrar, or send a copy of your driver’s license along with a written request for your PowerSchool Parent Portal access information. (This can be via email.)

We encourage all families to make sure their PowerSchool Parent Portal account is set up and accessible before report cards are issued.

You can view your child's grades at any point with the PowerSchool Parent Portal app. To see your child's quarterly report card and comments, you will sign in to PowerSchool through a browser.

Cafeteria Updates

Pricing Updates

This year, pricing for student lunches, adult lunches, extra snacks and treats is as follows:

Student lunch - $3.50
Adult lunch - $5.75
Ice cream - $1.25
Large chips - $1.25
Small chips/popcorn - $1.00
Fruit Snack - $1.00

Please note that students with a negative cafeteria balance will not be able to purchase extra snacks or treats until the balance has been paid in full.

Meals offered during unanticipated school closures:

In the event of an early dismissal due to inclement weather, our Student Nutrition Department will make meals available to students before they leave school. Students who receive a meal will be charged according to their regular meal status.

If you do not want your child to receive a meal during an inclement weather early dismissal, please email NutritionServices@lexrich5.org in advance of the weather event.

Set up or add money to your child's lunch account

Click here to set up or add money to your child's lunch account

Apply for free / reduced meals

Click here to apply for free / reduced lunch. This must be done annually.

Boosterthon wraps up this week!

Thank you, BES families, for the incredible support of Boosterthon so far! We are officially halfway to our fundraising goal, and we are so grateful for every donation, share, and word of encouragement. We still have some ground to cover, and we need your help to get us all the way there!

Along the way, our students are learning about patience, generosity, creativity, reliability, and adaptability - character traits that make Boosterthon about more than just fundraising.

Your support makes a big difference at BES. Each year, our PTO gives back more than $30,000 to our school through classroom supplies, family nights, staff appreciation, professional development, and special projects and upgrades like our digital marquee and theater sound system.

And the best part is almost here - the Boosterthon Fun Run on Thursday, September 24! Every student will receive a Boosterthon t-shirt and participate in this fun BES tradition.

Thank you for helping us build school spirit, support our students and staff, and make BES such a special place. We’re halfway there - let’s finish strong!

Sign your child up now at MyBooster.com

*Need help signing up? View video instructions.

What’s Cooking, BES?

Share a Recipe with Character!

This year’s Boosterthon Global Kitchen Club is serving up more than great food - it’s helping our Bears explore what it means to be patient, generous, creative, reliable, and adaptable. And really, those same qualities show up in our own kitchens: patiently waiting for something to bake, creatively adding your own twist, adapting Grandma’s recipe, generously sharing a favorite dish, or relying on that one recipe everyone asks for again and again!

We’d love to hear what’s cooking in your family! Send us a favorite family recipe along with a few sentences about why it is special to your family. Maybe it has been passed down for generations, connects you to your culture or heritage, is part of a favorite tradition, or simply brings everyone to the table.

We’ll feature BES Family Recipes in upcoming morning announcements and in our newsletters throughout the year. Adventure, character - and now a little BES family flavor - are on the menu!

Share your family recipe here!

A huge thank-you to Cakes by Brianne for spoiling our BES staff with the most AMAZING homemade cookies! There were so many delicious flavors that we couldn’t possibly choose a favorite… so of course, we had to try them all! Such a sweet surprise and the perfect mid-day pick-me-up for our staff!

Volunteer Opportunities

Mon, Sept 21 - Boosterthon Posters!

Help Us Get Ready for the Boosterthon Fun Run!

Join us at the Ballentine Library (1200 Dutch Fork Road) for a fun poster-making event as we get ready to cheer on our students during the upcoming Boosterthon Fun Run! The poster-making event is drop-in style from 10am-12pm.

Families are invited to come create colorful signs, posters, and encouraging messages to help make Fun Run day extra exciting.

Space is limited, so please RSVP to save your spot!

Bring your creativity — we’ll bring the fun! 💙

**Sign up closes at 9pm on Sunday, September 20th or when room capacity is met**

RSVP Here

**Sign up closes at 9pm on Sunday, September 20th or when room capacity is met**

Boosterthon Fun Run Hydration Station - Thurs, Sept 24

Our Boosterthon Fun Run is right around the corner. It's a great family event and volunteers are needed to help keep our runners hydrated! Use the link below to sign up.

Fun Run Water Station - Sign me up!

Sign up here to sponsor a month

CLick here to see which month is available

Oct 2 - First Friday

The theme for October's First Friday is a Caramel Apple Bar! We will provide a selection of apples and a variety of toppings for staff to build their perfect tray of caramel apple "nachos".

If you are able to send your items ahead of time, you can send them to the office with your student labeled PTO First Friday. Otherwise, we ask you have your items to the Cub House no later than 7:30 on Friday morning (10/2/26) to have time for set up before the PTO meeting.

Yes, I'd like to bring something!

Click here to see what's needed and to sign up.

I can't bring anything, but would like to help!

Click here to contribute to the purchase of items.

Friday, Oct 16 Duty Free Lunch

As we head into fall, this is an easy way to say a little "thank you." Teachers will enjoy a quiet lunch with colleagues while parents help other BES staff supervise kids in the cafeteria.

For the safety of all students and to allow volunteers to fully participate and assist with supervision, we ask that younger siblings not accompany parents while they are volunteering.

Count me in for Duty Free Lunch!

Click here to see available times.

Tuesdays & Fridays // LIBRARY HELPERS

Mrs. Price and Mrs. Cox are looking for regular volunteers who are enthusiastic about all things LIBRARY! Duties may include but are not limited to assisting the library with new book inventory, shelving, book fair/events, etc. The commitment is semester long (or year long based on interest).

Weekly shifts are available on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8-9am in the library.

**Space is limited. Completion of the interest form does not guarantee placement. We strive to accommodate all interested volunteers at their requested times combined with the library schedule.**

I'm interested!

September is Attendance Awareness Month

During the weeks of Sept 7 and Sept 14 we have had a friendly competition among the classes to promote strong attendance. The class at each grade level with the highest attendance percentage at the end of the two weeks will win a surprise.

As of today, here are our winning classes!

Kdg - Mrs. Davis

1st - Mrs. McClure

2nd - Mrs. LaRosa

3rd - Mrs. Cahill

4th - Mrs. Topps

5th - Mr. Herold and Ms. Hudson are tied

Special Snacks - Need to Know

Mark Your Calendar

How to Reach Us

Front Office - 803-476-4500

School Nurse - 803-476-4509

Cafeteria - 803-476-4508

School Counselor - 803-476-4534

Library - 803-476-4518

Parent input and feedback are always appreciated. Whether through a phone call or an email, we welcome your thoughts and ideas. The Administrative Team at BES is always available to help in any way we can! You can contact us by calling the main office at 476-4500 or emailing us directly.

Follow us on social media as well!

Facebook @BallentineElementarySchool

Mrs. Bright

Principal

rbright@lexrich5.org

Mr. Keister

Asst. Principal

zkeister@lexrich5.org

Mrs. Babb

Asst. Administrator

ababb@lexrich5.org

Our Mission…

The mission of Ballentine Elementary School is to join together community, staff, students, and families to ensure that all students are provided a world-class, rigorous education.

Our Vision…

In partnership with the community, staff, students, and families, Ballentine Elementary School will exemplify excellence in education in a positive, safe and nurturing environment in order to prepare our students to be fully participating citizens and leaders. We will foster the development of creative thinking, encourage curiosity and problem solving, promote respect for individual differences and uphold high ethical standards.

Special Thanks to our Business Partners

K-5 Proficiency Expectations & Success Criteria by Grade Level

2026-2027 School Calendar

BES Parent & Student Handbook

BES PTO Site

Order BES Spirit Wear Here

Bear Bulletin

Back to School Edition

Welcoming Our New PTO & SIC Members

Parent Portal & Report Cards

Cafeteria Updates

Pricing Updates

Meals offered during unanticipated school closures:

Boosterthon wraps up this week!

What’s Cooking, BES?

Share a Recipe with Character!

Volunteer Opportunities

Mon, Sept 21 - Boosterthon Posters!

Boosterthon Fun Run Hydration Station - Thurs, Sept 24

Oct 2 - First Friday

Friday, Oct 16 Duty Free Lunch

Tuesdays & Fridays // LIBRARY HELPERS

September is Attendance Awareness Month

Special Snacks - Need to Know

Mark Your Calendar

How to Reach Us

Mrs. Bright

Mr. Keister

Mrs. Babb

Special Thanks to our Business Partners

Welcoming Our New PTO & SIC Members Welcoming Our New PTO & SIC Members

Parent Portal & Report Cards Parent Portal & Report Cards

Cafeteria Updates Cafeteria Updates

Pricing Updates

Meals offered during unanticipated school closures:

Boosterthon wraps up this week! Boosterthon wraps up this week!

What’s Cooking, BES? What’s Cooking, BES?

Share a Recipe with Character!

Volunteer Opportunities Volunteer Opportunities

Mon, Sept 21 - Boosterthon Posters!

Boosterthon Fun Run Hydration Station - Thurs, Sept 24

Oct 2 - First Friday

Friday, Oct 16 Duty Free Lunch

Tuesdays & Fridays // LIBRARY HELPERS

September is Attendance Awareness Month September is Attendance Awareness Month

Special Snacks - Need to Know Special Snacks - Need to Know

Mark Your Calendar Mark Your Calendar

How to Reach Us How to Reach Us

Mrs. Bright

Mr. Keister

Mrs. Babb

Special Thanks to our Business Partners Special Thanks to our Business Partners

Welcoming Our New PTO & SIC Members

Parent Portal & Report Cards

Cafeteria Updates

Boosterthon wraps up this week!

What’s Cooking, BES?

Volunteer Opportunities

September is Attendance Awareness Month

Special Snacks - Need to Know

Mark Your Calendar

How to Reach Us

Special Thanks to our Business Partners