Paw Print

READY TO LEARN!!

You may have heard an adult ask your child, probably right after getting them out of your car, how they came to school today. It's not a trick question! It is, however, how we started the year and BEgin our days!

We're here to learn! It's our job and we're all about it. It was such a great feeling welcoming our Bulldogs to the building on Wednesday! I called it Gotcha Day! I even hung up a sign I found on clearance at Walmart. It was the best fifty cents I've spent in a long time.

People celebrate 'Gotcha Day' when they've added someone to their family through adoption of some kind. I told the students that I was celebrating Gotcha Day on Wednesday because we were adding 362 Bulldogs to our Learning Community and I couldn't be more excited to lead this team and these children through the 23-24 school year. I love nothing more than to see every smiling face come through the school doors (on time, please) every morning. The first day of school will always be momentous and deeply meaningful to me. I hope that your Bulldogs shared my excitement this week, and that every day, they come to school READY TO LEARN!

Oh, and for you parents, some of whom may be sending your kiddos off to school for the first time..we've gotcha. Team BE is ready to learn, too! Thanks for joining us on the journey.

If your child tells you that they didn't get to go out for recess, they're probably telling the truth and they aren't in trouble!! It's just too hot. USD 232 has some pretty clear guidelines for extreme weather and we'll be following them. Check out the graphic below for the details.

It’s choir time! Any 4th or 5th grader at Belmont can join choir. It is a before school activity from 8-8:30am on certain days of the week and students will need a ride to school on those mornings. Check out more information below with a QR code within to sign up! Please read all about it here:

Mrs. Martin's 4th and 5th Grade Choir Information

Thanks to our PTO Oversight Board and all PTO members (psst...that's YOU) our Bulldogs enjoy many activities throughout the year along with extra excitement in their classrooms through experiences and materials alike. Our team feels the love all year long through the Grant Fairy Program that funds classroom needs. We'll all be in great communication this year through Seesaw. Field trip fees are generally almost completely covered by our PTO and the list goes on and on and on.

Our BIG FUNdraiser of the year is the Bulldog Dash! This year, we'll hit the back field to run our hearts out for Belmont during the school day on Friday, September 8th. Each grade level will have an assigned time and I assure you that fun will be had by all. Our students really believe that every lap run earns money for our school. We love that our students get to be a part of our school wide fundraising in this way. Our kids tell me everyday how much they love our school. Nothing makes me happier as a proud principal!

We all know, however, that the funds come from YOU, the parents, and the grandparents, and the extended family, and the co-workers, and maybe a neighbor or two. Our goal is to raise about $15,000 to fund our programs. If each child could raise about $50, we'll blow that goal out of the water! We ask for funds early so that we can enjoy family and student activities all year long. Almost every dollar goes right back into our classrooms. Thank you, truly, for whatever you are able to help your children earn. I know that when my daughter brought my grandson to my front door and he gave me his practiced speech about helping his school...well...I was sold on the spot. Please don't send your children door to door, and we promise that we'll never ask you to sell cookie dough or wrapping paper or anything else you don't need. We'll just ask for your family's support as you are able. All celebrations will be grade level or school wide related...no child will be singled out for the amount of money they do or don't bring to school.

Want to know more about how the PTO operates?? Join us in the cafeteria on Monday evening at 6:30pm for our first general meeting. Please park in back and enter through the west cafeteria door. It's go time!! Woohoo!!

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August 21 General PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Belmont Cafeteria

August 22 or 23 5th Grade Band Info Zoom with Mr. Harvey

August 24 BE Skate Party, Shawnee Skate City, 6-8 p.m.

August 30 BE Papa John's Night

September 4 No School, Labor Day

September 5-8 Bulldog Dash Spirit Week

September 8 Bulldog Dash!!!

September 27 Early Dismissal at 12:10- No lunch served, Conferences

September 27 & 28 Conferences

September 29 No School, Building Closed

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

11:15-11:42 1st Grade

11:25-11:52 Kindergarten

11:55-12:22 5th Grade

12:05-12:32 4th Grade

12:35-1:02 2nd Grade

12:45-1:15 3rd Grade

Reservations required to join your child for lunch- when we are ready, you'll be able to CLICK HERE (it's not ready yet) to reserve your family table!

We are SO VERY EXCITED to welcome our students back to the building on the 16th! As parents, other than knowing that your child is happy and learning during the school day, next in importance is often knowing how to safely get your kids TO school and then how to get them back FROM school.

Lucky for you, we are providing this sUpEr LoNg list of helpful information to help your first day, and every day go well at Belmont! We'll also provide visuals (like the one below) to help!

• OFFICE HOURS are 7:45-4:30 p.m. but there are no kidsitters employed here, so please do not drop off your children prior to 8:30 a.m. when the building opens to students (the only exception is 8:25 breakfast program) and make sure that they are collected prior to 4:00 p.m. at the end of the day.
• All ELEMENTARY students should be dropped off between 8:30 and 8:40 a.m. Students will find it difficult to make it to their lockers and be in their desks ready to learn by 8:45 if they arrive later than 8:40 to school. Students who are tardy to class not only disrupt the classroom routine, but more importantly, begin their day already behind and frazzled.
• KINDERGARTEN and 1st GRADE STUDENTS (and family groups or carpools that include kindergarten or 1st grade students) should be dropped off in the FRONT LOOP- see visual guide below. Students should stay in their cars until reaching the front sidewalk, and must exit on the sidewalk as the parking lot can be quite busy on the driver's side. Drivers should stay in line until the cars in front have completed drop-off.
• 2nd GRADE THROUGH 5th GRADE STUDENTS should be dropped off in the BACK LOOP- see visual guide below. Cars should watch staff and pull up as far as possible before releasing children from the car. Students should exit on the sidewalk side if at all possible. Drivers should stay in line until the cars in front have completed drop-off.
• LATE TO ARRIVE STUDENTS (8:40 a.m. or later) should be dropped off in the front loop. Students arriving at or after 8:45 a.m. must be signed in by a parent.
• Special circumstances may require an alternate drop-off and/or pick-up site for some students- don't be crabby if you see something happening that is different than this plan...it's most likely just a different plan for a very good reason.
• BREAKFAST is served from 8:25-8:45 in the cafeteria. Students may go directly to the cafeteria to eat prior to going to their classroom. This is not a social time, but meant to efficiently provide nourishment to participating students prior to their school day.
• BUS STOP INFORMATION is located in Skyward in your Family Access Account. Click here for How to Find Bus Route Information in Family Access.
• HELMETS are expected for bike and scooter riders and permission from parents should be on file in the office. Bikes and scooters should be walked on the school grounds.
• GOLF CARTS are now street legal in limited areas, but they should not be utilized as transportation in the car loops. Sorry. I know they're fun.
• The SPEED LIMIT on Belmont Drive is 25, but 20 is PLENTY. Please watch out for our kids on the streets and sidewalks. When students enter a crosswalk, it is the law to stop for them. Drive slowly and watch closely. Oh, and put your cell phone down. Kids are only kids for such a short time. Enjoy them.
• PLEASE, help us to be good neighbors by NOT blocking or turning around in driveways of residents near the school. That's just not cool. You might also pay attention if a neighbor is trying to enter or exit their own driveway. Pay it forward and let them out!
• TRANSPORTATION CHANGES should be communicated to the office either by calling 913-667-1810 or by emailing smccann@usd232.org, klee@usd232.org and your child's teacher. All changes should be made at least 45 minutes prior to dismissal.

See! I told you we'd help you out! If you have questions, don't hesitate to call or email to ask!

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