BES Newsletter

Valentine's Day Classroom Parties - Thursday, 2/12

No School for Students - Friday, 2/13

Snow Make-up Day (currently no school for students but this could change) - Monday, 2/16

I am hopeful that we have encountered the coldest that this winter has to offer. I want to thank you all for your continued support as we battle the cold and this old building. This morning, we had some additional work done on our boilers. At this moment in time, and I don't even want to say it, so please knock on some wood, I believe all of our rooms have heat. Having both boilers functioning the way they are now greatly impacts how the building in general is heated and recovers from cold temps at night.

We did eat lunch in classrooms today but as the building continues to build heat throughout this week and temps stay out of the extreme lows we saw last week, we should be able to eat lunch in the cafeteria for the majority of this week. There were issues with heat in Mrs. Culp's room and Ms. Port's room coming into today but both of those issues have been fixed and the rooms are warm. Again, anytime an issue arose which resulted in a classroom being cold, we were able to move them to a room that was heated. We did not have students sitting in cold rooms throughout the day. I am hopeful that we will be on a better track, but I also know that there will probably be times before winter is over that we have issues arise. If that happens, I'll keep you updated and we will adapt as necessary. The building is in decent shape right now so we will take the wins any time we can get them.

Just a reminder, if you haven't signed and returned your student's envelope for their report yet, please get it back to their homeroom teacher soon!

Matters of the Heart: Celebrating American Heart Month

February marks American Heart Month, a time when organizations like the American Heart Association lead the charge in promoting healthy lifestyles. While this month serves as a vital launching pad for education on heart disease and stroke prevention, the goal is to build habits that last far beyond the leap year.

Start Small, Finish Strong

The secret to a healthy heart often starts in the teen years. By establishing positive routines early, young people can build a foundation for a lifetime of strength and energy.

• Small Steps, Big Family Impact: Set realistic goals by involving the whole family in the planning process.

• Better Nutrition: You can make a huge impact by limiting sugary drinks and processed "convenience" foods whenever your schedule allows!

• Move More, Scroll Less: Teens should aim for 60 minutes of activity daily!

• Stay Proactive: The Yearly Exam: A quick annual visit can make a lifetime of difference.

• Healthy Lungs for Life:. Make it a rule to never smoke around your children.

• Positive Vibes Only Promoting health should feel like a win, not a workout!

Pro tip: Try to reward positive behavior with quality time or fun activities rather than treats to build a healthier relationship with food.

We’re Here to Help. Your family’s health and well-being are our top priorities. If you have questions, concerns, or need assistance securing food or healthcare, please reach out to our Certified School Nurse, Rachel Griel, at rgriel@basd.net.

Health Forms Checklist: Is Your Student Ready? Help us keep our records up to date! Please ensure you have submitted the following required forms:

• Kindergarten: Physical Forms & Dental Forms

• 3rd Grade: Dental Forms

Get ready to rock and roll with BAMS Drama Club as they present Grease: School Version later this month! Set in the 1950s, this high-energy musical follows Sandy, Danny, and the Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys as they navigate friendships, romance, and the ups and downs of high school, all set to an unforgettable score. This School Version includes modified lyrics and content, making it family-friendly and rated G, so audiences of all ages can enjoy the fun, humor, and classic songs that have made Grease a favorite for generations!

Show dates are Thursday, February 26, Friday, February 27, and Saturday, February 28 at 7pm and Sunday March 1 at 2pm.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at the link below! Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students/children and are reserved seating.

https://cur8.com/23428/project/134972

We are also hosting a Grease-themed Sock Hop! This high-energy, family-friendly community event features a live DJ, classic 1950s tunes, dance offs, themed games and activity stations, soda floats, snacks, photo ops, and basket raffles! Plus, enjoy a brief performance by the BAMS Drama Club's cast of Grease School Version. Tickets can be reserved here: forms.gle/LXqrhUm4oPd2Bq8d9 or purchased at the door the night of the event!

Click here to access the Food Services section of the district website which contains information about free and reduced lunches, lunch payments and more!

The lunch menu for this month is below:

• The Snip-It: Phonics and decoding are the rules for connecting sounds to letters. Really Great Reading uses systematic instruction to build these skills.

• The Tip: Find the Syllable Types. Help your child break down longer words into smaller, manageable chunks (syllables). For example, com-pre-hen-sion. Teach them to look for vowels as the 'heart' of each syllable. If they can decode each syllable, they can read the whole word!

If you or someone you know will be registering a student for kindergarten for next year, please mark these dates down. We, along with Benner Elementary, will be completing Kindergarten Registration at the new elementary school building.

You may contact the Main Office for more information. We will begin scheduling appointments in the near future. The dates we will hold Kindergarten Registration are below:

Thursday, April 9 from 11:30 am to 6:00 pm

Wednesday, May 13 from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm

The dates for PSSA testing are below simply for informational purposes. Please remember that the district does not approve educational trip requests that fall on PSSA testing days. More information can be found on page 18 of the Handbook.

English Language Arts - April 20-22

Math - April 27 - 28

Science (5th grade only) - April 29, 30

If your student is in need of any winter clothing to help keep them warm please contact Mr. Baughman. We have hats, coats and gloves that are donated. We are happy to get them to you if you need them!

We know that there is a lot of uncertainty right now regarding of the status of SNAP benefits. Below is a list of documents where you can access food resources if needed.

Food Pantries List 2025

Food Distribution Locations 2025

Thanksgiving Blessing in a Box

Attending school regularly is the first thing that everyone can do to help ensure success in the classroom. However, life happens and we know that there are times when students should stay at home, especially if they are sick. A complete overview of our attendance guidelines can be found on pages 16-18 of the Student Handbook. Below are some main points to remember.

• Remember to turn in a written excuse anytime 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.

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 now 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

Please click on the files below to learn more about Cartwheel. We partner with Cartwheel to provide mental health services to students and families.

Anyone who plans on volunteering in our buildings during the school day or at school-sponsored events, must become a registered volunteer and be approved by the School Board. Examples of volunteering opportunities that you must be an approved volunteer for include but are not limited to:

• 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.

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

100 W. Linn Street

Bellefonte, PA 16823

Website: https://www.basd.net/Domain/388

Phone: 814-355-5519

Fax: 814-353-5338

Attendance Email: beatt@basd.net