Pirate Scroll

Our newsletter is regularly updated with the latest news, events, and announcements. Refresh this page often to stay up-to-date! All new information will be added to the top of the newsletter.

Due to the AMI and recent snow days, we have made adjustments to our Black History Month activities. As a result, the door decorating contest will no longer take place.

Spirit Week will now take place on (February 24-28)

Monday – Unity Day- Wear all black to show unity.
Tuesday – Throwback Tuesday: 90’s Hip Hop Day – break out your freshest throwback fits!
Wednesday – HBCU Day: Represent your favorite Historically Black College or University with a shirt or its colors!
Thursday – Dress for Success: Wear your Sunday Best and dress to impress

Friday – Belton Pirate Day: Rock your Purple & Gold with pride!

Parents and Students,

As we begin February, we want to take a moment to thank you for your patience, flexibility, and commitment to ensuring a smooth start to the semester despite the winter challenges January brought us. We look forward to making February a month full of achievements and learning at BHS.

Please review the below information with your student(s).

Save the Date: Enrollment Night (February 20th)

Please plan on attending Evening Enrollment night on February 20th from 4:00-7:30 pm to meet with your student's teachers & finalize their 25-26 course enrollment. Counselors will meet with all 9th-11th grade students in the next 3 weeks to assist them in selecting classes for the 25-26 school year. Students will receive an updated transcript that will include their most current GPA, credits earned and credits needed to meet graduation requirements. We encourage parents to review their students' transcript and the courses they have selected to take next year. Additionally, applications for Cass Career Center (CCC) will be made available to students interested in attending CCC during the 25-26 school year. CCC applications will be due February 13th.

PowerSchool Access

We encourage all parents to frequently check PowerSchool for grades and attendance. bsd124.powerschool.com/public

Click Here to access the BSD PowerSchool Parent Guidelines.

Semester 1 No Credit (NC)

If your student has an NC on their official Semester 1 grade report, it means they successfully completed the course but did not earn credit due to excessive absences. CLICK HERE for more information about NCs and how to remove them from your transcript.

AMI Attendance

As a school building we saw a significant level of absenteeism during AMI days. It is essential for students to engage with and complete their AMI assignments to ensure they remain on track academically and that their attendance is accurately recorded. To highlight the current situation, here are the recent attendance data from our AMI days:

• January 7: 274 students marked absent at least once, 406 total absences.

• January 8: 269 students marked absent at least once, 400 total absences.

• January 9: 346 students marked absent at least once, 531 total absences.

• January 10: 354 students marked absent at least once, 550 total absences.

State Attendance Requirement: 90%
BHS Attendance Goal and A+ Requirement: 95%

Additionally, students with 5 or more unexcused absences (U) in a class per semester are in danger of receiving a "No Credit" (NC) grade. "NC" transcript grades do not count toward graduation requirements and can prevent students from graduating and walking at Commencement.

We kindly ask for your support in the following ways:

1. Encourage Participation: Please ensure that your child logs in and completes all AMI assignments on scheduled days.

2. Monitor Progress: Check in with your child to verify that their work is completed and submitted on time.

3. Communicate Issues: If there are challenges preventing your child from completing their assignments, please reach out to their teacher or our administration team promptly.

Together, we can work to improve our attendance and engagement on AMI days, fostering a stronger academic foundation for our students and helping them stay on track for graduation.

School Restroom Reminders

• Restroom Behavior: Bathrooms are intended for personal use only and should not serve as gathering spaces.
• Vandalism: Any vandalism to school property will result in immediate consequences. Incidents will be reported to the Belton Police Department, and students will face juvenile referrals, school disciplinary actions, and restitution for damages.
• Vaping: The use of vapes or any other prohibited substances on campus violates our school policies and will be met with appropriate consequences.

Thank for your your continued support of our students and school community.

Have a great month,

BHS Administrative Team

February 1: Winter Play, 7 pm

February 2: Winter Play, 7 pm

February 3-7: Chiefs Super Bowl Spirit Week

February 8: ACT @ BHS | Wrestling Tournament, 8:00 am

February 13: Academic Awards, 5:30 pm, Check email for invitation | Cass Career Center Applications Due

February 14: No School, Teacher Professional Development

February 17: No School, President's Day

February 18: Girls & Boys Basketball vs Platte County, 5:30 pm

February 20: Evening Enrollment 4:00-7:30 pm | Girls & Boys Basketball vs Chrisman, 5:30

Black History Month is here, and we are excited to celebrate it here at BHS. This is a time for education, reflection, and, most importantly, celebration of the rich contributions African Americans have made throughout history.

Once again, we are organizing a door decorating contest that we encourage everyone to participate in. This is an opportunity for creativity and collaboration, and we look forward to seeing the vibrant and inspiring doors throughout the school. The contest will conclude on February 27th, so please make sure to complete your decorations by then.

Additionally, we have planned some engaging activities for the month:

Trivia Week (February 10th-14th):

A daily trivia question video will be sent out at 9:30 am.

• Once you have the answer, a student must call the front office at Ext. At 9:45, with the correct answer. Caller number 5, with the correct answer, wins.

Freshman students received their Academy Designation and participated in an academy celebration event with their academy teachers & classmates.

Over the month of December the FCS Department completed and obtained 2 DESE 50/50 Career Education Grants, 1 for Culinary and 1 for Fashion. Our Fashion Program will be ready to print and produce Belton wear, sports wear, and spirit wear not only in full color, but completely in house by the beginning of next school year!

Congratulations to Ms. Derner, NBCT, TESOL Instructor at Belton High School, for earning the Hancock Excellence in Teaching Award from the College Football Playoff Foundation. This honor is given to a veteran teacher with over 25 years of experience who is making an impact in their school.

Congratulations to the Freshman class for choosing their college and career academies for their 10th-12th grades. On February 3rd and 4th, the freshmen will go over their individual career and academic plans (ICAPs) to plan out their classes for enrollment.

There will be a senior class meeting on March 12th during Anchor.

All Seniors must make plans to attend.

Contact your guidance counselor for more information.

Graduation: May 9, 2025, TIme: 6:30 pm

Location: Cable Dahmer Arena, 19100 E Valley View Pkwy, Independence, MO 64055

The Student Success Center is open Monday-Thursday:

• 3:00-4:15 pm
• Room 412/414
• A free after school snack will be provided for students
• Activity bus will provide transportation at 4:15 pm

The Student Success Center (SSC) provides a quiet study atmosphere for all students to receive tutoring, work on academics, serve attendance hours for NC removal and serve detention hours. Math tutoring will also be provided.

Senior Signing Day

All families who submit the Free & Reduced Lunch Application by will have their technology fee waived, regardless of program acceptance.

Negative Impacts of Cell Phones on the Learning Environment:

• Distractions: Cell phones can significantly distract students from lessons, leading to decreased attention and engagement during class.

• Cheating: The presence of cell phones can facilitate cheating during exams and assessments, undermining academic integrity.

• Cyberbullying: Cell phones can be a medium for cyberbullying, which negatively affects students' mental health and the overall school climate.

Benefits of Not Having Cell Phones at School:

• Improved Focus: Without cell phones, students are more likely to concentrate on their studies, leading to better comprehension and academic performance.

• Enhanced Social Interaction: Students engage more with peers and teachers, fostering stronger relationships and a more cohesive school community.

• Reduced Anxiety: The absence of cell phones can alleviate the stress and anxiety associated with constant connectivity and social media pressures.

We appreciate your support in reinforcing this guideline to ensure our students thrive in a productive and positive educational environment. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We appreciate your ongoing support in creating a safe learning environment for our students.

Due to recent incidents and injuries, we are taking a hard stance against fighting on school grounds. Our priority is student and staff safety. We believe in a proactive approach to ensure a positive and secure educational environment.

Effective immediately, school resource officers will arrest students if they are fighting. In addition to legal repercussions, we will follow our policies and procedures prohibiting fights. Please review Board Policy JG-R1: Student Discipline for more information.
We believe open communication is important and encourage you to discuss these changes with your child. Please emphasize peaceful conflict resolution and respectful behavior.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.

If your student has an NC on their Semester 1 grade report, it means they successfully completed the course but did not earn credit due to excessive absences. CLICK HERE for more information about NCs and how to have them removed from your transcript.

90% attendance is the minimum acceptable attendance level at BHS

The Missouri Department of Education sets a minimum attendance goal of 90% for students. The BHS “No Credit” (“NC”) policy is in place to reinforce this state goal.

• More than four (4) periods of unexcused absence per class per semester, will be considered excessive.

• Please see the BHS Student Handbook for guidelines regarding “unexcused” versus “excused” absences.

• Students who accumulate 4 or more unexcused absences in a class will be in danger of losing credit and earning a “No Credit” (“NC”) transcript grade.

• Students can “make-up” attendance hours in the Students Success Center to avoid “NC’s”.

• Documentation for “excused” absences must be turned into the front office in a timely manner.

• “Make-up” attendance hours must be addressed by the end of the school year, otherwise summer school and the Attendance Recovery Course will be required to earn back credits.

• More information on this policy can be found in the BHS Student Handbook pages 8 - 10 or visit the BHS website and the related “Why” paper.

Email: bhsoffice@bsd124.org

Website: beltonschools.org
Location: 801 West North Avenue, Belton, MO, USA
Phone: (816) 489-7500