BES Back-to-School Newsletter

August 27 6:00-8:00 pm - PTO Back to School Bash

Tuesday, September 1 - First day of school!

Students do not have school on the following days:

Friday, September 4

Monday, September 7

• Mrs. Michelle Pincus - Main Office Secretary
• Mrs. Jess Siegle - Main Office Secretary
• Mrs. Sharon Cook - Attendance Secretary
• Mr. Daniel Park - Principal (grades K-2)
• Mr. Michael Baughman - Principal (grades 3-5)
• Mrs. Brooke Knight - School Counselor (Grades K,2,4)
• Mr. Pat McDermott - School Counselor (Grades 1,3,5)
• Mr. Chris Cipro - Dean of Students
• Mr. Scott Rossman - School Police Officer

Life Skills: Mrs. Chelsea Zink will replace Ms. Kiara MacMath. Mrs. Zink will be joining us in October, so until then, Ms. Megan Range will start the year and run the classroom.

4/5th Grade Math: We are in the process of hiring a teacher to replace Mrs. Lisa Crawford as the 4/5th grade math teacher. Once that teacher is approved by the our School Board of Directors, we will communicate with those families. Ms. Molly Basik will start the year in that classroom until approximately mid-October.

• Please make sure to communicate your child's dismissal information with their homeroom teacher. It is very important that we have this prior to the first day of school.
• It is important to note that there will most likely be significant traffic in the area of the school, especially in the morning. Please plan accordingly.
• If your child's dismissal changes, please notify their teacher and the Main Office by 1:00 pm if possible.
• Please use patience and caution if you are dropping off or picking up students.
• Arrival and dismissal may be slow during the first two weeks. All students and staff will be learning new procedures. It is also very possible that we will need to adjust some procedures after putting them into practice. If this happens, we will communicate this to you. Thank you in advance for your patience.

• Doors will continue to open to students at 7:35 am as this is when we have staff available to supervise students. They are encouraged to be in the building by 8:00 am.
• Breakfast is once again free for all students K--5.
• Any student who arrives after 8:10 am will need to sign in through the Main Office and will be marked late.
• Parents/Guardians who are dropping off their student(s) should only use the entrance noted above.
• Follow the road and pull up to the curb in the unloading zones.
• We strongly encourage students to exit the car on the passenger side. This is the safest option as students are not passing in front of vehicles and aren't in harm's way if someone tries to pull around your vehicle.
• Wait for traffic to move forward and follow the car in front of you. Do not pass at any time unless directed to do so by school personnel.
• Please try to have students exit the car in an efficient manner. It is important to keep the drop off line moving so traffic does not back up through this process.
• Follow the loop around and exit where you came in.

• Just like arrival, parents who are picking up their student(s) should use the entrance noted above.
• Pull up as far as you can.
• School personnel will ask you what child you are there to pick up.
• Please be prepared to show photo ID to verify your identity as we may not know you yet with the combining of two schools.
• Once we get the year started, we will implement a numbered system to increase security and help the process move more efficiently. We will share more information when that time comes.
• Wait for traffic to move forward and follow the car in front of you. Do not pass at any time unless directed to do so by school personnel.
• If there is a delay in getting your student out, we may have you pull into a parking spot to wait for them. If this occurs, a staff member will walk your child out.

• Students who are classified as walkers will exit out of the cafeteria doors by the Gym Lobby Entrance.
• If you are coming to pick up your students who walk, use the sidewalk and report to door A4. Once the buses leave, the walkers will be released.
• Please be prepared to show photo ID to verify your identity as we may not know you yet with the combining of two schools.
• When exiting, please use the sidewalk.

Where do I park when coming to the building?

• The visitor parking spots are displayed in blue on the map above. There are also signs noting where these spots are. If you are coming for a meeting or will be here for more than a few minutes, it is best if you use a visitor spot. Also, if you come near the end of the day, using a visitor's spot is the best option. If you are stopping by briefly, it is ok to just pull up to the curb as long as it is not during or close to arrival/dismissal.

• All visitors should use the Main Entrance, A2, when entering the building. You will need to ring the doorbell and enter the secure vestibule where you will be greeted by our secretaries. We ask that you allow the secretaries to buzz families in one at a time and not hold the door open for others. For safety and security reasons, it is important that we control entrance to the building.

Are there any new processes to sign into the building or get my student?

• The rest of the process will be similar to what you have experienced in the past if you've been to either building. You will need to present your ID and have it scanned by the secretary. If you are entering the building they will print you a visitor's badge. If you are signing a student in or out, there will be a Chromebook in the vestibule to do so. Please ask the secretaries if you have any questions.

What is the proper way to exit the building?

• Check in with the secretaries and give them your visitors badge. You can then exit through the main exit doors. You should not exit back through the secure vestibule.

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

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 September is posted below.

Effective communication and collaboration with our families and community is important to us. Below are the general methods of communication that Bellefonte Elementary School will use to communicate with you about information that is specific to this building.

• Newsletters: Messages like this one will be sent out approximately every other week by Mr. Baughman and Mr. Park. The two principals will communicate jointly for the most part.
• Class Dojo: Your teachers as well as building principals will post news items in Class Dojo as well as create events.
• Reminder Texts/E-mails: Emails and text messages will be sent periodically to remind parents about upcoming events or draw attention to important topics.
• Call/Text/E-mail Notifications: We will notify you of important events by sending out recorded audio calls that will be followed up by text messages and/or emails.
• Facebook: We will post news and different reminders on Facebook as well. If you are not following us, CLICK HERE to go to our facebook page!

Our teachers will contact parents by email, phone and class dojo. If you have a preferred method of communication, please let your child's teacher(s) know that at the beginning of the year.

If at any point you feel that you are not getting the communication that you need from our teachers or building administration, please let us know so we can work with you to make sure you are informed.

We currently have some items such as backpacks, lunch boxes, and school supplies that have been donated to us. If your student is in need of anything like this, please contact Mr. Baughman or Mr. Park so we can arrange to get the items to you.

Bellefonte Area School District is fortunate to have our very own Director or Safety and Security, Officer Brett Hanlon. We are also fortunate to have our own School Police Officer at Bellefonte Elementary, Mr. Scott Rossman. Officer Rossman has his own office in our building and this is his primary location.

Officers Shawn Luse and Mike Lyons are Bellefonte Borough Police Officers who are contracted with the school district as well. They are in our buildings and on campuses daily to interact with students and provide an added layer of security.

Early in the school year, we will conduct our first school security drill of the year at BES. School security drills are designed to practice procedures to respond to emergency situations such as an act of terrorism, armed intruder situation or other violent threat. The Bellefonte Area School District uses the ALICE program and partners with local and state law enforcement/first response agencies to implement safety procedures. The physical and psychological safety of our students and adults is our number one priority, and we recognize the importance of having procedures in place and practicing them throughout the school year. We try to ensure that our drills are done in a calm manner and are appropriate for the young learners in our building. Any accommodations that need to be made for students with disabilities will be planned for as well. The mental health of our school community is important and we aim to offer support for our students and adults to accompany these drills.

Before the Drill:

• If you are concerned that your child may need extra support, please contact their teacher and their school counselor, either Mrs. Brooke Knight or Mr. Patrick McDermott, so that we can partner with you to support them. We will also do our best to identify students who may need support and reach out to work with you through this process.

• Emphasize that school is a safe place and the adults here are working to keep them safe everyday. Remind them that it is part of our job here at school to practice safety skills so we know what to do in an emergency. Just like we practice fire drills, we practice security drills even though we may never need them. This practice helps make our school an even safer place.

• Make connections to safety habits that are already in place and your child may be familiar with, such as wearing a seatbelt while riding in a car or a helmet while riding a bike.

• Discuss calming/coping strategies with your child that they can use if they have a stressful reaction. Help your child identify an adult at school that they can talk to if they feel upset. If you are worried that your child will not go see an adult and want to make sure they do, please let us know so we can check in with them.

• Let your child know that schools perform security drills throughout the school year and that students will be told by their teachers before it happens that day. Security drills that take place in school are centered around teaching and rehearsing safety procedures and do not involve any simulation of active shooters or intruders.

After the Drill:

• You will receive a notification directly after the drill to make you aware that it has occurred. This notification will be sent on the same day close to the completion of the drill.

• Our School Counselor will make arrangements to follow up with classes, particularly in younger grades.

• It is important for your child to know you and the school are working together to help care for them. Let them know that the school made you aware that a school security drill took place today.

• Ask your child if they would like to talk about it and let their response guide you, you know your child best. Some children will not want to talk about it, and that is okay, too. Other children may simply want to spend time with you and younger ones may process through play. Everyone reacts differently and there is no right or wrong way.

• If your child says that the drill did not impact them negatively, you can reinforce that practicing the drill will help them know what to do and will help to keep them safe.

• If your child does feel sad, nervous, stressed or scared, validate their feelings and help them to utilize helpful coping skills. Contact their teacher and the School Counselor so that we are aware and can help support you and your family. Recognize that it is completely normal and ok for both children and adults to be emotional around these topics or situations.

• Maintain your normal routines. This helps everyone feel more calm and safe overall, it is especially important after a security drill or any other event that could result in feelings of stress, fear or sadness.

• Monitor your child and make time to talk with them. This is also important all of the time, but especially around these types of situations.

If you would like to follow up at any time or have concerns you would like to discuss, please reach out to the school. Remember that we are here to work with you to support your child and help them grow academically while addressing any social-emotional needs that may arise.

School Board Policy 805 as well as page 8 of the Student/Parent/Guardian Handbook provide more information on this topic.

Additional Resources:

Talking to Children about Violence: Tips for Parent and Teachers

ALICE Website

• 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.

Students may bring their own snacks in to have during snack time. If they do not have any, snacks will be provided by the school. Please make sure that you are mindful of any allergy considerations in your child's classroom.

The policies that are adopted by our School Board of Directors help to provide a framework for how our district functions. It is helpful for you to have an understanding of these policies as they can have a direct impact on your children. The board policies for the school district can be found on our website. Below, you will find a link to this section of the website as well as a list of notable policies that you should be familiar with. Please take some time to read over them and reach out if you have any questions.

Click here to access the School Board Policies

• 200 - Enrollment of Students
• 203 - Immunization and Communicable Diseases
• 203.1 - HIV Infections
• 204 - Attendance
• 209 - Health Examinations/Screenings
• 209.1 - Food Allergy Management
• 209.2 - Diabetes Management
• 210.1 - Possession/Administration of Asthma Inhalers/Epinephrine Auto-Injectors
• 218.1 - Weapons
• 222 - Tobacco and Vaping Products
• 226 - Searches
• 235.1 - Surveys
• 236.1 - Threat Assessments
• 237 - Electronic Devices
• 246 - School Wellness
• 247 - Hazing

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