Baron Elementary Family Newsletter
October
October is National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month
"I wish learning and thinking differently wasn't viewed as a barrier to success, but as an opportunity for everyone to reimagine the ladders to success." - Natalie Tamburello
Our October PurposeFULL People theme is perseverance. With this theme in mind, we will continue to celebrate differences at Baron Elementary. As you may be aware, we are fortunate to have a Deaf & Hard of Hearing class at our school. We have tremendous pride in seeing these young learners overcome barriers and demonstrate growth in their learning each and every day. Mrs. Lynch and her team do an outstanding job of providing these learners with the ideal learning environment needed for success. We love to see our learners engage and build relationships with our deaf and hard of hearing learners...it just comes natural for younger kids...we can learn a lot from them!
Beginning its 2nd year at Baron Elementary is Baron Time. It is a period of time in their day where learners can explore interests and expand on the learning that is occurring in their classrooms. One of our most popular sessions that continues to gain interest is our sign language studio. Mrs. Lynch has volunteered her time to work with our learners to help them communicate more easily with their new friends. The kids are excited to persevere through the challenges of learning this new skill!
Understood is an organization that embraces differences as strengths that can help everyone thrive. October observances are: National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month, ADHD Awareness Month, and National Disability Employment Awareness Month. It is also the 31st anniversary of the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Reading...One Step at a Time!
We are excited to see our learners grow and develop positive reading habits each day at Baron Elementary. With your help, we can continue to celebrate the joy that reading can bring at school and at home. Your child's teacher is keeping track of the amount of STEPs that your child reads each day (15 minutes = 1 STEP)...or more! Please make a point to review and sign reading logs that come home each night...your child is also earning points for their House Color! We encourage you to have conversations and share your excitement and interest in reading with your child. WE all can be difference makers in helping to build a community of readers at Baron Elementary!
Baron's Best Program
PROMOTING ALL LEARNERS TO BE RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE, AND SAFE...
Baron Elementary is excited to announce our new and improved Baron's Best process for this school year! We will continue to recognize learners who demonstrate positive behavior choices in any area of our school with a yellow Baron’s Best ticket. What’s new? Learners who earn a yellow Baron’s Best ticket can CHOOSE which container/s they would like to select for an entry to a variety of monthly raffle drawings. Some of the choices include: Chess with Mr. Pyle, Lunch with Miss Coonan, Take a Walk with Ivy, AR, VR, and extra iPad time with Mrs. Bridgette, Inchy Coins to receive a new book from the book vending machine, etc. In addition, each yellow Baron's Best ticket will earn their house color one point. At the end of each month, winners will be pulled randomly and will be announced on the morning announcements.
PINK Baron's Best Tickets: To continue to infuse PurposeFULL people into our existing programs, we will also utilize a monthly recognition system to promote the character trait of the month. For example, in September, learners that demonstrated COURAGE had the opportunity to earn a Pink Baron's Best ticket, stating the reason they demonstrated this trait. Pink tickets will earn two points for their house color, learners will be recognized at the monthly house color assembly, and receive a certificate to take home and show their families.
Up Next: The PurposeFULL People Character trait for the month of October is Perseverance!
4-Houses...1-Baron Family
Our 4-Houses...1-Baron Family project is off to a great start! Our learners are excited to help their Housemates accumulate points each week at Baron Elementary. At the end of the month, we will recognize the House that has the most points during our assembly. This Friday, we recognized the Reflective Raccoons as the House with the most points!
How can learners gain points for their House?
1.) Earn a Baron's Best
2.) Earn a Badge
3.) Complete their At Home reading goals
4.) Complete Power Goals
Our House Names and Colors are...
Critical Thinking Cobras (Blue)
Collaborating Crocodiles (Green)
Innovative Impalas (Red)
Reflective Raccoons (Yellow)
*Please have your child wear their House Color on the day of our 4-Houses Assembly
Learner & Parent Handbook
The 2023-24 Learner and Parent Handbook is set to be uploaded on the district website this week. Please access the link below to review our policies and procedures throughout the school year.
Attendance Reminder
Important Excuse Note Reminders - Students who are absent, arrive late, or leave school early are required to provide a written excuse signed by the parent or guardian. It is preferred that excuse/early dismissal notes are sent into school with your student. The date and reason for the absence, tardy, or early dismissal should be clearly indicated on either a school excuse card or home stationery. All written excuses are to be turned into the office on the day of an early dismissal or when the student returns to school after an absence. After the third day with no written and signed excuse, the absence will be recorded as unlawful. You may email a photo of a signed excuse to the attendance office:
Email: BEAttendance@manheimcentral.org
Phone: 717-665-8903
MCSD School Calendar
Please access the school calendar from the Manheim Central School District website to keep up-to-date on events and special days.
We are excited to partner again with the team from STEM Spark to bring free learning opportunities to our preschool age learners in the Manheim community. Please access the QR code in the flyer linked below and sign-up for this event at Baron Elementary on Oct. 18th. There are two sessions, Fairytale Engineering and Science Superheros, feel free to come to one or both!
Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
In efforts to provide a safe arrival and departure for our learners to and from Baron Elementary, I would like to remind you of our Car Rider and Walker process.
Car Riders (anyone traveling to school in a car): Parents need to use our two Car Rider Lanes to pick-up their child. We are noticing that parents are parking along Hazel Street or in our staff parking lot and then picking up their child. This is creating safety concerns with the traffic flow as learners leave Baron Elementary. To access the Car Rider lanes, please review the map below. Your child can be picked-up any time between 2:10-2:30PM at these two locations. Please do not park in our Car Rider Lanes before 2:05PM each day.
*Please stay alert and drive with caution when traveling to and from Baron Elementary.
Walkers (anyone without a car traveling to school): Parents can pick-up their child at the designated dismissal areas. Kindergarten is located at the library doors and Grades 1-4 is located out of the main entrance. Please remind your child to remain on sidewalks and cross streets at designated crosswalks. Kindergarten Parents are encouraged to use the Kindergarten Car Rider Line and not park along Hazel Street to pick-up their child.
If dismissal plans change for you and your child, please notify our main office as early in the day as possible by calling (717) 665-8900.
STEM Spark Event (for Preschool ages 3-5)
Junior Achievement
Our Junior Achievement program is a wonderful way to connect with our community of learners at Baron Elementary. If you are interested in volunteering your time to help with this program, please review the information attached below.
Junior Achievement Information (FAQ)
Junior Achievement Program Overview
If you have questions, please contact Mia Welaish at mwelaish@jascpa.org
PTO Information
Our PTO does a tremendous job helping to make Baron a special place for our kids! If you are interested in helping our PTO this year, please feel free to contact them at BaronElementaryPTO@gmail.com . You are also welcome to attend any of our monthly meetings at Baron Elementary. Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 2nd at 6:30PM in the Music Room at Baron Elementary. Child care is provided by the High School Interact Club.
Our PTO has lots of fun upcoming events planned for our school year. Please consider volunteering for a time slot at the Book Fair (Sign-up is below). We needs lots of volunteers to help it run smoothly and are excited to see everyone at Family Night at the Book Fair on Thursday 10/19. if you haven’t already, please fill out our Volunteer Interest Form to stay best up to date with upcoming events!
Please review the calendar of events scheduled this year in the attachments below...
Baron Elementary PTO Officers:
Co-Presidents: Kalysta White and Andrea Wade
Vice President: Steph Koser
Treasurer: Amy Nissley
Secretary: Kristin Boer
Scholastic Book Fair Information - Oct. 16-20
We appreciate the work that our PTO does with organizing the Scholastic Book Fair. Please access the link below for more information...
Book Fair Information (Spanish)
Trunk or Treat Event
The MC High School Student Council is having a Trunk or Treat event on Thursday, October 26th from 6:00PM-8:00PM in the parking lot of Baron Elementary. A competition to see which HS Club has the best decorated trunk will take place...of course...treats will be given to all elementary learners who attend the event!
Food Services
Please review the Food Services link below to access your child's account. Information about free & reduced options are also available here.
Elementary meal prices for 2023-24...
Breakfast is FREE
$2.70 for paid lunch...$0.40 for reduced lunch and $0 for free lunch
If you have any questions, please contact Sara Payne at paynes@manheimcentral.org or (717) 664-8432.
After School Care
If you are interested in after school care for your child, please see the information listed below. The After School Program will take place at Doe Run Elementary.
Important Dates...
Oct. 4... Wear Maroon and Gray (HS Fall Pep Assembly)
Oct. 6...Fall Picture Day
Oct. 11...Early Dismissal (11:10AM)
Oct. 12-13...No School
Oct. 16-20...Scholastic Book Fair / Parents to Lunch
Oct. 19...Family Reading Night at the Book Fair (6:00PM-8:00PM)
Oct. 23...Manheim Central School Board Meeting (District Office, 7:00PM)
Oct. 26...Trunk or Treat Event (Baron Elementary Parking Lot, 6:00PM-8:00PM)
Nov. 2...Baron Breakfast (Baron Elementary, 6:30AM)
Meet the Learner of the Month for September!
Andrew Snavely was recognized as Baron Elementary's Learner of the Month for September. We appreciate how Andrew is being a Difference Maker at our school! Pictured with Andrew is Mrs. Brackbill.