BG eNews
November 3, 2023
Notes from Mrs. Klueppel
NOVEMBER
11/8 - PTO Beef Shack Restaurant Fundraiser
11/10 - Veterans Day Ceremony 9 AM (details below)
11/10 - End of 1st Trimester
11/20-11/24 - Non Attendance Days & Thanksgiving Break
11/21 - T1 Report Cards available on HAC
11/29 - 2:10 PM Early Dismissal
11/30- BG Shopping Day for Grades K, 2, 4
DECEMBER/JANUARY
12/25-1/5 Winter Break
1/8 - Teacher Work Day (No Students)
1/9 - School Resumes
1/15 - Martin Luther King Jr Holiday (No Students)
1/24 - 2:10 PM Early Dismissal
BG to Honor Veterans on November 10th
Following a long Bell-Graham tradition, our students and staff will honor our nation's veterans once again this year. The ceremony will take place at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, November 10th, in the B-G Community Room. Prior to that all-school ceremony, we invite all veterans and adult companions of those veterans to join us for a coffee and light breakfast at 8:15 a.m. No students of BG will be able to attend the breakfast, instead our fifth grade cub scouts will be hosting our veterans. So we can honor our veteran-guests, please fill out this form; this will enable us both to announce the veterans' names and know how many of you will attend the breakfast. The students really enjoy seeing the veterans at this ceremony.
BG Best Shop Needs Your Help!
Volunteers Needed for BG Best Shop
Student Handbook & Electronic Devices in School
2023-24 Elementary School Handbook
Electronic Devices in School
Phones/Smart Watches
Students are extended the privilege of possessing phones/smartwatches on school grounds; however, their use is limited to after-school dismissal and non-school days. These devices must be in the off position, or not used once the student arrives on campus until the end of the school day
Bell-Graham Attendance Line
Call 331-228-2100 or email Mrs. Cloy
- Absences should be called in by 7:45 AM
- You can leave a message 24 hours a day
- State your child’s name, their teacher's name and the reason why your child is out.
- If they are ill, please list their symptoms.
You are also welcome to email absence information to Kristin Cloy in the main office.
Prearranged Absence Form:
Prearranged absence forms are to be used for absences known in advance such as a planned vacation.
BG is partnering with Big Hearts & Sponsoring 5 children
We are excited to be partnering with Big Hearts of Fox Valley to help provide gifts to people in need in district 303. This year we have 5 children to provide to for this holiday season. We know BG can do this!
We are thrilled to report that as of 11/2, the signup is full! Don't forget to bring your UNWRAPPED gifts to the office and label them with child A,B,C,D,E. All gifts need to be at the school by Friday, November 10th. Thank you!
If you have any questions, let us know!
Courtney Habas 224-828-3135
Diana Kruis 630-532-4120
Big Hearts of Fox Valley
For the 10th year in a row, D303 is again partnering with Big Hearts of Fox Valley, which supports families in need during the holiday season. Big Hearts of Fox Valley Holiday Giving Program's purpose is to provide holiday gifts for D303 students and their younger siblings whose families face significant financial hardship. Please consider dropping off a brand new, unwrapped toy in Bell Graham’s donation box. The box will be at Bell Graham through November 9th.
Outdoor Clothing
Please be sure to send your child with appropriate outdoor clothing for recess. Students have outdoor recess unless the outside temperature is below 0.
Please label your child's jacket, gloves, hat, etc. whenever possible. It helps us return items to their owner when they end up in lost & found.
Volunteer Process
We appreciate our volunteers and value your time. When you are in the building for any reason, please be respectful of classroom instruction and do not make unexpected visits to your child's classroom. Thank you for helping us minimize classroom disruptions.
Health Office
Cold & Flu Season
Cold and flu season is upon us! Recently, the nurses at Bell Graham Elementary School have been caring for a number of students experiencing fevers and other cold-like symptoms. We are also aware that some students are absent from school because they have been diagnosed with the flu and other influenza-like symptoms. During the months of October through April, each school in District 303 tracks influenza activity in cooperation with the Kane County Health Department. We consult with their staff to determine whether influenza activity in a school warrants additional follow up, and at this time, there are no additional interventions needed. Preventative measures remain the most effective way to reduce the spread of influenza.
Students who present to the Health Office with a fever or are feeling poorly are sent home. To prevent widespread flu in the school, we recommend that your child stay home from school if experiencing flu or cold symptoms. To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines:
Consider keeping your child at home for an extra day of rest and observation if he or she has any of the following symptoms:
● Very stuffy or runny nose and/or cough
● Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep)
● Headache
● Mild stomach ache
Definitely keep your child at home for treatment and observation if he or she has any of these symptoms:
● Fever (greater than 100 degrees)
● Vomiting (even once)
● Diarrhea
● Chills
● General malaise or feelings of fatigue
● Frequent congested or croupy (barky) cough
● Lots of nasal congestion with frequent blowing of nose
To help prevent the flu and other colds, teach your children good hygiene habits:
● Wash hands frequently
● Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth
● Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away and then wash hands
● Avoid close contact with people who are ill
Colds are the most contagious during the first 48 hours. A child who has a fever should remain at home until "fever free" for a minimum of 24 hours without medication. A child who has started antibiotics needs to be on medication for 24 hours before being considered non-contagious and able to return to school. Keeping your ill child at home will minimize the spread of infections and viruses in the classroom.
ALL MEDICATION, including any and all over the counter medications, vitamins and cough drops need a doctor’s authorization/order to be administered here at school. You can find the form(s) on the district website.
Thank you in advance for helping make this year at school as healthy as possible.
Nurse Kerisa (kerisa.martini@d303.org, 331-228-2104)
LeeAnna Anzaldi,MSN, RN, PEL-ILSN
BG PTO
COMMITTEE CHAIR SPOTLIGHT
RESTAURANT FUNDRAISER - 11/8/23
The next restaurant fundraiser will be at Beef Shack on Wednesday, November 8th and will run all day. 20% of the proceeds will come back to BG, so be sure to mention the fundraiser when you order.
HOLIDAY MARKET - DONATIONS NEEDED
Bell Graham’s Annual Holiday Market is coming December 4th - 8th, and we want to help make the holiday season even more special for your children by giving them the opportunity to shop (in secret) for the perfect gift for Mom, Dad, grandparents, siblings, pets and other important people. More details and volunteer opportunities to come!
To help make this event extra special, please drop off NEW gifts for adults, kids, and pets at Bell Graham now through November 17th. There is a box outside the office labeled Holiday Market for your kids to drop your donation. Text Jess with any questions - 847.322.1486.
SHOUT OUTS
Did your kiddo make an awesome play at their baseball game? Did they win an event in gymnastics? Is it their birthday? Do you just want to make a random day special for them? Send them a SHOUT OUT!! For $10 you can have 5 pictures along with a message displayed on the TV screen outside of the LRC for an entire day. After making your purchase in the Square Store, please send an email to Alicia Flint at aliciafulgencioflint@yahoo.com with your pictures, message and date to be displayed. Pictures MUST be sent 7 days prior to the desired display date or we cannot guarantee your message will be loaded in time.
https://bell-graham-pto.square.site
WEBSITE
For additional information on the PTO please visit our website or our Bell Graham Elementary PTO Facebook page.
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Any questions or comments? Please contact our PTO President Kate Bennett at kate.bennett82@yahoo.com or 630.461.7606.
Lunch With a Loved One Guidelines
- 1 lunch with a loved one per student each year
- Only bring food for child and/or yourself
- Stay for lunch ONLY, recess is not included
- Bring your ID for check in
Leaving Early
PICKING UP YOUR CHILD EARLY?
Please call the office when you are 5 minutes away and we will have your child ready and waiting for you at the office. You will have to press the buzzer to come inside the vestibule to sign them out on our iPad. 331-228-2100
Car Tags
For car riders, we use a Visor Tag System. Each family should have received a car tag that has the family last name and the class codes of students in the family. The use of this visor tag expedites our car rider line tremendously as staff members are able to get students ready for their cars as the cars pull up! Please display the tag on your passenger side visor, or passenger side window, so that it is visible to the BG staff as you pull through the pick-up line.
If you need additional visor tags, please email Mrs. Kirincich.
Therapy Dogs
Morning Arrival Therapy Dogs
Please reach out to Dr. Dieckman or Julianna Harmon if you have any questions.
Upcoming Early Release
Bell-Graham Resources
Bell Graham Elementary School
Website: bellgraham.d303.org
Location: 4N505 Fox Mill Blvd St. Charles, IL 60175
Phone: 331-228-2100
Facebook: facebook.com/BellGrahamElementary
Twitter: @BellGrahamD303