Bear Bulletin

Here are the top Need-to-Knows for this week

• the menu for the week & how to set up or add to your child's lunch account
• how you can opt-in to a student directory
• nominations for our SIC and PTO positions are closing soon
• First Friday and other volunteer opportunities
• BES Preview dates for your calendar
• important information about special snacks at school

We are already collecting memories for our yearbook and we'd love for you to be a part of this. If you have pictures from the first day of school that you'd like to share with us, please send them to abeasley@lexrich5.org. Include your child's name and grade so we get them sorted with the right grades.

As we recognize Patriot Day on September 11, we would love to welcome first responders into BES classrooms as special guest readers! If you are a first responder, or know someone who may be interested, we invite you to sign up to read to a class the morning of 9/11 between 8:00-9:00am.

Books will be available, or guest readers are welcome to bring a favorite book of their own. We’ll also send you on your way with a thank-you breakfast from Chick-fil-a as a small token of our appreciation not only of your time to read to our students, but for your service to our community.

Interested in joining us? Use this link to sign up!

So that we have time to finalize schedules, a response is requested no later than Friday, September 4th.

On August 24, all D5 parents/guardians will receive an informational email regarding Google Classroom Guardian Summaries. This option allows you to receive regular updates about your student’s activity and assignments in Google Classroom.

Please keep in mind that at BES, most student assignments are completed in person during the school day, and not all assignments are posted or linked in Google Classroom. Because of this, your student’s Google Classroom activity may appear limited and may not provide a complete picture of your child’s assignments or progress. It is also possible for your child to have an incomplete or missing classroom assignment that does not appear in Google Classroom.

Low Google Classroom usage simply means that your student does not use the platform frequently and is not, by itself, a reason for concern.

We hope this helps provide a little context as you begin receiving Guardian Summaries. As always, your child’s teacher is the best source of information if you have questions about specific assignments, classroom work, or your child’s progress. Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s learning throughout the year!

We’re excited to offer a BES Student Directory to help families connect outside of school! This is a completely optional, opt-in list that can make it easier for families to arrange after-school activities, send birthday invitations, and help students stay in touch with friends.

If you choose to participate, you may share:

• Student name

• Parent/guardian name

• Parent phone number

• Parent email address

The sign-up window will be open through Thursday, September 10.

Once compiled, the directory will be shared via email with BES families only.

This is a great way to strengthen our school community and make it easier for our students and families to connect beyond the school day!

These parent information evenings are a great opportunity to learn more about what your child will be learning this year, classroom routines and procedures, and important Read to Succeed information. You’ll also have time to get to know your child’s teacher and ask questions.

Don’t rely on neighborhood hearsay, the group chat, or social media to figure out what’s happening in your child’s classroom - come straight to the source and be in the know! It’s also a great opportunity to begin building that important parent-teacher relationship and work together to set your child up for a successful year.

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.

Taking turns during the zip-merge helps keep our car line moving safely and smoothly. Please be considerate of other drivers by allowing one car from each lane to merge at a time - one from this lane, one from that lane, and keep it moving! (Not sure what we mean by zip-merging? Watch the brief video below.)

And a big shoutout to our Bears and families! We’ve already cut about 15 minutes off our afternoon car line time - I think we have set a record! Our students are learning their car numbers, routines are clicking, and dismissal is moving much more efficiently. Thank you for helping us keep it going!

A quick reminder from our School Resource Officer as we begin the new school year and welcome many new families to BES.

South Carolina law requires children under age 8 to be properly secured in an appropriate car seat or booster seat based on their age, size, and the seat manufacturer’s guidelines.

• Under age 2: Rear-facing car seat until height or weight limits are exceeded
• Age 2+: Forward-facing car seat with a harness until those limits are exceeded
• Age 4+: Booster seat after outgrowing the forward-facing seat
• Age 8 or 57 inches tall: May use an adult seat belt when it fits properly

Our goal in sharing this reminder is simply to help keep our Bears and their younger siblings safe every time they’re on the road. Drivers may receive a ticket if children are not properly secured. For more information, visit the South Carolina Department of Public Safety Child Passenger Safety website.

***SEAT BELTS: If your child needs assistance with the seat belt, please use one of the parking lots so you are able to park and safely get out to help.***

The School Improvement Council is an advisory group that meets once a month at 7:00am which makes it a great opportunity for working parents to get involved. The SIC brings together parents, staff, and community members to provide input on school goals, improvement efforts, and ways to support student success. Members serve as an important connection between the school and the broader Ballentine community.

***We have two open seats for the upcoming year.

Nominations are being accepted now. See the link below .***

The PTO is a more active group with members being seen throughout the building on a regular basis organizing school-wide activities and supporting teaching and learning through fundraising and volunteering their time.

***The PTO has one open position on the Executive Board and is

accepting nominations for a Communications Coordinator.***

The person is responsible for creating engaging and informative social media content that promotes PTO events, school activities, volunteer opportunities, and important announcements.

Responsibilities:

• Develop monthly communications content to be included in the school newsletter, the PTO newsletter and on social media featuring upcoming PTO events, reminders, volunteer opportunities, fundraising initiatives, and school highlights.
• Work collaboratively with the PTO Board and school administration to ensure content is accurate, aligns with school and PTO goals, and reflects the organization's voice.
• Submit the monthly content calendar to the PTO Board and school administration for review and approval prior to publication.
• Make requested edits or revisions based on board and/or administration feedback.
• Once approved, provide the finalized content to the school principal and school secretary for scheduling and posting on the school's official social media accounts.
• Coordinate with board members to obtain photos, graphics, and event information as needed.
• Ensure all content is positive, inclusive, family-friendly, and representative of the PTO's mission.
• Meet established deadlines to allow adequate time for review and scheduling.

This year, District Five is transitioning from the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment that students have taken for many years to i-Ready assessments in reading and math. Similar to MAP, i-Ready will be administered three times during the school year to measure student growth and help teachers determine next steps for instruction. Our first round of assessments will take place between August 17 - 28.

These assessments will help us better understand each student’s strengths, areas for growth, and instructional needs throughout the school year. While we do not want students to feel anxious or pressured about testing, it is important that they take their time and give their best effort, as i-Ready results may also be used for other educational decisions and requirements.

What is i-Ready?

i-Ready is a digital, adaptive assessment in reading and math. This means the questions adjust based on how a student responds. A series of correct answers may lead to more challenging questions, while incorrect answers may lead to questions that are a little less difficult.

Because the assessment is designed to determine what each student already knows and what they are ready to learn next, students will likely encounter some questions they do not know how to answer - and that is okay!

The assessment does not result in a classroom grade, but the results do matter. In addition to helping teachers plan instruction:

• Like MAP, i-Ready is an approved measure that may be used as one of the dimensions considered for Gifted and Talented (GT) identification.

• Students whose reading performance falls below the state-established cutoff are required to have an Individual Reading Plan.

For these reasons, we want students to approach the assessment without unnecessary stress while also understanding the importance of working carefully, independently, and doing their best.

What can you do to support your student?

Please encourage your student to:

• Get a good night’s sleep and eat a healthy breakfast on the day of the assessment.

• Take their time and give their best effort on each question.

• Work independently so the results accurately reflect what they know and can do.

• Not become discouraged by questions they do not know yet. Challenging questions are a normal part of an adaptive assessment.

Our goal is to help students become comfortable with the format, understand that they are not expected to know every answer, and recognize that their best effort gives us the most accurate information to support their learning.

If you have any questions about i-Ready or the assessment process, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or the school. As always, thank you for your continued support and partnership in your student’s learning.

Shout out to Splash Master Exterior Cleaning - a family owned business out of Chapin SC serving the Midlands. They did some work for us this summer to get us all shiny for the first day of school, and boy were we impressed!

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

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.