The Gladden Gazette
A School Newsletter for Gladden Families - October 2025
Dear Gladden Families -
Welcome to October! As the crisp fall air sets in and the leaves begin to change, we are excited to see our students continue to grow both academically and socially. This month brings many opportunities for learning, creativity, and community involvement. From Parent-Teacher Conferences to our Harvest Hallways event, Gladden will be bustling with activity!
At Gladden Elementary, we are committed to fostering a love of learning, and our dedicated staff works tirelessly to create an environment where every child can thrive. Thank you for your ongoing support as we partner together for the success of all our students.
Sincerely,
Karen Snider
Principal, Gladden Elementary
October 2:
School Custodian Appreciation Day
October 13-October 17:
Red Ribbon Week - "Life is a Puzzle, Solve it Drug Free"
October 15:
End of First Quarter
October 17:
Staff Professional Development Day - No School for Students
October 23:
Harvest Hallways at GES from 5:00-6:00 p.m.
October 28:
4th Grade Spelling Bee from 9:00-10:00 a.m. in GES Library
October 29:
Parent-Teacher Conferences from 4:00-8:00 p.m.
October 30:
No School for Students
Parent-Teacher Conferences from 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
October 31:
No School
Gladden Elementary will hold Parent-Teacher Conferences on:
- Wednesday, October 29th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 30th from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m..
Please return the sign-up form to your child’s teacher on or before Thursday, October 16, 2025. This will help ensure we can get you signed up for a time that works best for you and your family. The week of October 20th we will send home conformation forms to let you know your assigned day/time for conferences.
We are striving for 100% participation in conferences and cannot wait to see you there!
During Red Ribbon Week, we will celebrate with some Spirit Days!
- Monday, October 13th - Wear Red
- Tuesday, October 14th - Team Up Against Drugs - Wear your Favorite Sports Gear
- Wednesday, October 15th - Drug Free Head to Toe - Wear Crazy Hair & Socks
- Thursday, October 16th - Too Bright to Do Drugs - Wear Purple & Gold
- Friday, October 17th - No School for Students
Additionally, see the details below about the Red Ribbon Week Poster Contest.
Red Ribbon Week Poster Contest
Belton CARES invites all students K-12 to participate in their Annual Red Ribbon Week Poster Contest.
Win a prize, but most of all, show your commitment to being Drug Free!
Contest Details:
Artwork will be judged based on how creatively and attractively it presents the RRW theme: Life is a Puzzle, Solve It Drug Free.
Artwork may include an original drawing, sketch, charcoal, painting, graphic design, etc. as long as the resulting artwork is a still piece, and it fits onto an 8.5” x 11” piece of paper.
Poster must include the prevention message: “Life is a Puzzle, Solve it Drug Free”.
Must be original artwork. Adults may supervise and encourage students but may not take part in the design or production of the work.
Prizes:
K-8 (Including Scott) - 2 winners from each grade level will receive a Certificate and a Medal.
Scott 9-12 - 2 winners from 9-12: Gift Card or cash prize..
BHS 9-12 (BHS) - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place: Gift card or cash prize.
Poster winners & their parents will be notified through email by October 16th & are invited to the October 17th Belton Football Tailgate.
Winners can receive their prize at the Red Ribbon Week Tailgate in front of Southwick Stadium on October 17 between 5-7pm. Winners and their parents receive FREE admission to the Belton Pirates Football game.
For more information, contact Laura Gibson - lauragibsonteaches@gmail.com.
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, October 6th from 4:00-5:00 p.m. in the GES cafeteria.
Gladden Library News – October Edition
Happy October, Gladden families! Our fall Book Fair was a huge success, thanks to your incredible support. Together we were able to put $1,408.84 worth of free books into classrooms and raised $704.42 in cash to keep our library growing.
One exciting purchase made with our Scholastic Dollars is our brand-new Free Kids Library, located by the bike racks. This special spot is “take a book, leave a book,” so students can always find something new to read—or share a favorite with a friend. Let’s keep promoting literacy and a love of reading in our Gladden community!
Throughout October, we’ll continue exploring our award-winning books and dive into the delightfully spooky Creepy series by Aaron Reynolds—always a student favorite.
Thank you for everything you do to support our readers and keep the joy of books alive at Gladden!
—Mrs. Stegmaier, Gladden Library
Our new Student Ambassadors program is off and running! All 4th grade students were given the opportunity to sign up for leadership groups during their September classroom counseling lesson. Those groups started last week and will last through December at which time they will be able to choose a different leadership group. While the responsibilities of each group vary, they all involve fostering positive connections and actively contributing within our school.
Wayside Waifs visited all 3rd and 4th grade classrooms during the month of September for the No More Bullying Program!
Wayside Waifs will return later this month to visit all kindergarten classrooms for a “PAW-etiquette” (dog safety) lesson as well as all 1st and 2nd grade classrooms to share their “Activating Em-PAW-thy” lesson. All presentations include bringing a dog into the classroom to enhance learning. Look for more information coming home soon!
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.
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