Paw Print

We've all felt it. That pull to throw the covers over our head and ignore the world for a bit longer. It's usually on a day when we're facing a task that is just a bit outside of our comfort zone and we're maybe even doubting our ability to manage without breaking or flailing or melting down. It's okay. Once in awhile. If that feeling is coming too often, though, something needs to change. The reality is that what may seem like the hardest thing to change, is actually the easiest factor to shift because we are in fact, in complete control of it. It's us. I'm talking about ourselves. More specifically, I'm talking about our own thoughts and attitudes and opinions and choices. We all have to ask ourselves, "what's the next good choice I can make right now to get unstuck?" Your strategy might just be to tell yourself, "MOVE!" Maybe your strategy is to repeat a cherished mantra that brings you peace, like, "I am strong. I am enough. I can do hard things." Some of us say a quick prayer to share a strength more powerful than our own. On the flip side, making the next best-for-me choice might mean that you've planned ahead and removed distractions that are getting in the way of success. Personally, I think I need to hide my phone in the morning when I wake up and after 7:00pm. I would be more likely to get physically moving in the morning instead of jumping into my email or puzzles and spiraling for way more time than I should. Just an example. Examples are important because each of us are the first and most important example of how to do anything and everything that our children see and watch and mimic and mirror and around whom they eventually cue their own habits. That's deep thought. So, I ask, what are your children learning from you, your words, your habits, and most importantly, from how you handle doing the hard things that maybe you don't want to do or are unsure about if you can do even though you know you must do those things. Hard things, like reading that last crazy sentence. Ha. Just so you know, I challenge our team with this same message on the regular. Because, let's face it...we see your kiddos a lot! As a parent, your influence will always be stronger, but as educators, we know that our words and actions are also impactful.

Do you have affirmations or family mantras that help drive your courage to try new things and get the job done? We'd LOVE to hear them!! In fact, I'd LOVE to make a family mantra/affirmations bulletin board to help us all keep going! Please, send them in!!

Did you do any cleaning over that LLLLOOONNNGGGG Winter break? Find any books that your kids have outgrown or that multiplied into doubles on your shelves? Please, send in your family's gently used books to be given new life as BINGO prizes here at Belmont on Friday, February 7! Books may be sent in with your children or dropped off at the office now through February 3. That will give us a few days to sort them all out and prep for our big event!

We would also love a little bit of help the night of, so click here if you are able to lend a helping hand. All volunteers get 5 free raffle tickets for their time. Thank you so much!

It's time to pre-order your child's yearbook (totally optional purchase, of course) if you want to be guaranteed a copy at the end of the year. Although we do order a few extras to be sold on a first-come, first-served basis in May, they go quickly and we don't want anyone to get left out! Yearbooks are full color fun, $15 each, and can be purchased directly from Inter-State using either the QR code above or by visiting inter-state.com/order and entering this code: 91988W

January 13 🌻 BE Spelling BEE, Cafeteria, 2:00pm

January 13 🌻 5th Grade Band Concert, MVHS, 6:30pm

January 14 🌻 PTO Meeting rescheduled from 1/13

January 15 🌻 BE Night at Chipotle, 4-8pm (See code below)

January 20 🌻 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, No School

January 30 🌻 2nd Grade Music Program, Gym, 9am & 6:30pm

February 7 🌻 PTO BINGO Night, 6:00-8:00pm

February 11 🌻 BE a Friend Day Celebrations

February 12 and 13 🌻 Parent/Teacher Conferences

February 14 and 17 🌻 No School

Visit the BE Online Calendar of Events (by clicking on the button below) for a more complete list of activities!

11:00-11:30 1st Grade

11:20-11:50 Kindergarten

11:40-12:10 5th Grade

12:00-12:30 4th Grade

12:20-12:50 3rd Grade

12:40-1:10 2nd Grade

Reservations are required to join your child for lunch- when we are ready, you'll be able to CLICK HERE to reserve your family table!

It's a WatchDOGS revival in the Belmont DogHouse! With at least a week's notice, we'll welcome a DAD (gotta be a significant adult guardian or relation) each Wednesday to work a day at BE. There will be a schedule provided that will include a variety of tasks including building safety, academic assistance in classrooms, and logistical support during lunch, and the reward...RECESS! We guarantee you'll have the opportunity to enjoy lunch and recess with your own child(ren) and around that, we'll put you to work in the classrooms where your extra hands will be the most helpful! Do YOU have the opportunity to take a day off to hang out with about 370 beautiful children and the adults who love learning with them?

Access the WatchDOGS Sign Up HERE.

We need TWO MORE special people to join our Connections C team! We've been making the magic work by pulling people from their other jobs, but we would sure rather provide consistency for our students with the same staff every day. How about you? Are you pretty consistent? Do you love kids? Do you think it's pretty cool to work with other pretty cool people? We laugh. We cry. We hug it out. (To be clear...hugging is completely optional.) We celebrate. We learn and we grow. Come grow with us!

Your future "I didn't know how much I'd love it!" opportunity starts by clicking here.

We are blessed to have such an amazing team here at Belmont! Would you love an opportunity to formally show appreciation...without spending a dime? Through the generosity of the Great American Bank and the USD 232 Education Foundation, we have the opportunity to recognize staff members who go above and beyond in their daily interactions with students. All you need to do is click on the link below and fill out some general information about the deserving nominee. Thank you for helping our team know that their dedication is appreciated. I appreciate your time and gift of gratitude if you've recently nominated, or plan to nominate a Belmont team member for their service.

Making a Difference Nomination Link

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Community partner Country Club Bank is providing support to ensure this service is available in USD 232.

Email: phargrove@usd232.org
Website: be.usd232.org
Location: 5805 Belmont Drive, Shawnee, KS 66226, United States
Phone: (913)667-1810
Facebook: Belmont Elementary Bulldogs
Twitter: @BEBulldogs