Byrd Elementary School

Week of 9/30/2024

Updates and Reminders

Help us achieve our October Food Pantry goal! This week we are collecting cake mixes, cookie mixes, icing and cooking oil
Upcoming spirit nights! October 4th at the Goochland Restaurant and October 10th at Bella Sicilia!
BES Schoolstore Fundraiser will be sent home on Monday!
Picture retakes are Monday, October 7th!
Join our next BPG meeting at 6:30 on Monday, October 7th!
Help the Byrd Parent Group restock the workroom!
Mark your calendars for our Read for a Treat Night on Thursday, October 24th!
The Fall Book Fair will be at school October 21-25!

Byrd Is Collecting for Our Local Food Pantry

We have a challenge for Food Pantry Friday! We are going to set a BIG goal for October and when we reach it Mr. Meiller is going to dress up as whatever WE CHOOSE and celebrate with us! YOU get to vote on what Mr. Meiller will be! Here are your choices: SHREK playing kickball with classes outside A UNICORN enjoying recess with us A sumo man on the playground Mr. Clean keeping us all shiny From Sept. 30-October 11 we are collecting: cake mixes, cookie mixes, icing and cooking oil. Let's FILL each classroom donation box!

Support Our School With Spirit Days at Local Restaurants!

Picture Retakes

Lifetouch picture retakes are on Monday, October 7. If you need a picture form you can let the office know, and we will provide one.

Byrd Parent Group (BPG) - OCTOBER 7TH MEETING!

We welcome all to join our group of parents and guardians in the BPG (which is like our school PTA). Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 7th in the library from 6:30-8. If you cannot join us in person, then we would love to have you join virtually (link to be published soon)!

Help the BPG show some love to our hardworking teachers by stocking the workroom! CLICK HERE to sing up to send in an item!

Read for a Treat Night is Coming on October 24th!

The Fall Book Fair will be at school during the week of October 21-25th. We will have a family night on Thursday, October 24th from 5-7 with indoor trick-or-treating. Please send in a bag of candy for this event if you are able!

COMING SOON... Byrd Elementary School’s Fall Fundraisers!

Faith Photography is partnering with Byrd Elementary’s BPG to offer Fall Family Portrait Mini-Sessions in October. Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 26th. More information and a link to book your family’s time slot for a mini-session will be available soon.

https://faithphotography.net

The BPG is also coordinating an apple fundraiser with Dickie’s Brothers Orchard in Afton, Virginia. We will offer 1/4 peck, 1/2 peck and bushels of Pink Lady and Granny Smith apples. Order forms will come home mid-October. Apples will be available at school for pick up on November 21st, just in time for holiday baking!

September Attendance Awareness Month Wrap-Up

As we wrap up attendance awareness month, we wanted to remind families that everyday counts and can make a significant difference in your child’s overall learning and development. Please see some important stats below regarding attendance and the impact on a child’s learning as well as some tips for good attendance!

Facts:

Why September?

Students who miss 2-4 days in September are 5 times more likely to be chronically absent than students who are absent fewer than 2 days.

Literacy instruction is frontloaded in early grades, so if a student misses too much instruction, they lag behind classmates in reading.
By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school.
By 9th grade, good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores.

Tips:

Build regular routines for bedtime and morning.
Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up.
Avoid scheduling trips or appointments when school is in session.
Don’t let your child stay home unless truly sick.
Keep a chart of your child’s attendance at home.
Talk about the importance of attendance with your child.
Reach out to your school if you have concerns or needs that we can help address!

Library Purchasing Information

If you would like to know more about he process for purchasing titles for our library, then please read more about our district procedures outlined here.

Community News

Helpful Links & Info

Please notify the office about transportation changes via email at beseagles@glnd.k12.va.us. If you have daily transportation needs, please make sure you provide changes at the beginning of each week for the entire week. Please make sure you have all transportation changes in prior to 1:00 PM, this allows staff time to communicate all necessary changes and avoids confusion when a call is not received. We appreciate your support.

Parents who wish to chaperone a field trip or volunteer regularly in our school must submit to a background check every 2 years using the BIB portal. The process is completely electronic. If you are having problems with the system, contact Demetra Harris at dharris@glnd.k12.va.us.