BSES Weekly Announcements

BSES Families,

Next week our third, fourth and fifth graders will begin ELA PSSA testing on Monday, April 22nd. On testing days any items that are dropped off in the office for students will not be able to be delivered until after 12:15 PM. We are encouraging families to keep student electronic devices (iPhones, smartwatches, etc.) home during the PSSA window. Any electronic devices that students have will be turned off and placed in backpacks or collected for the duration of the testing window each day. All district iPads will remain in school throughout the PSSA testing window.

Our learners have grown tremendously this school year! To support their success on the PSSA, please ensure your child gets a good night's sleep and eats breakfast each morning. Don't forget that they can take advantage of our FREE breakfast in the cafeteria when they arrive at school.

Last evening we met with our incoming kindergarten families. We are proud of the full-day kindergarten program we have built and look forward to working with these new families and getting to know our youngest learners.

Finally, Happy Passover (April 22 - April 30) to the Garnet Valley Community! May this festival of freedom bring you joy, peace, and an abundance of blessings. Wishing you and your loved ones a meaningful and fulfilling celebration!

Take care.

Tara Allen & Susan Papson

• Tune in each Monday for The Bethel Buzz on Instagram @bethelspringselem to learn more about the week ahead •

April 22, 24 & 25: PSSA ELA Testing

April 23: Teacher Inservice - No School for Students

April 29 & 30: PSSA Math Testing

April 30: Reading Olympics Competition

May 1 & 2: PSSA Science Testing

May 2: Fourth Grade Orchestra Concert @ 7 PM - GVHS

May 6: Fourth Grade Band Concert @ 7 PM - GVHS

May 9: Kindergarten Filed Trip to Tyler Arboretum

May 9: Fifth Grade Orchestra @ 7 PM - GVHS

May 13: Fifth Grade Band @ 7 PM - GVHS

May 15: Third Grade Field Trip to Academy of Natural Science

May 15: Fourth Grade Field Trip to Delaware Museum of Natural Science

May 17: Color Dash

May 22: Art & Literature Fling - 4:30-6:30 PM

May 23: Field Day

May 24: In Service Day - Schools Closed

May 27: Memorial Day - School Closed

Hello Garnet Valley Families,

The Pennsylvania System of School Assessments (PSSAs) are scheduled to be administered to all students in 3rd through 8th grade beginning on April 22nd. We would like to take a moment to share with you the importance of state testing for your child's academic growth and success and the ways in which we will support them through the testing experience.

The evolution of Garnet Valley as a premier educational district is a point of pride for our community. The reality is, our test scores are one way in which our schools are measured and compared with other districts. By encouraging and supporting our students to do their personal best, we are confident that Garnet Valley will continue to demonstrate its excellent track record of preparing all of our students to be successful and productive members of the Garnet Valley community.

These exams provide valuable information to our district, schools, teachers, and students. The data is used to evaluate our current programming and inform future decisions and our teachers use the data to tailor their instruction to meet the unique needs of each student. By having access to test results, teachers can create a targeted academic plan that helps your child excel in their studies. In addition, PSSAs offer an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the academic growth and progress your child has made throughout the school year.

We understand that PSSAs can be challenging. We believe that facing challenges head-on is an important part of learning and growing, and we want to support your child every step of the way. Our teachers are committed to helping students navigate these assessments and embrace a growth mindset.

In preparation for the PSSAs, our teachers will be reviewing with students the Code of Conduct for test administration. Teachers will be promoting a positive mindset by encouraging students to do their best and view the PSSAs as an opportunity to demonstrate personal learning and growth.

If you wish to learn more about the PSSAs, you can review the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) FAQ document. In addition, parents should read PDE’s cell phone / electronic device letter and the PSSA calculator policy. Below, you will find the testing dates for this year’s PSSAs.

2024 PSSA Dates and Information:

For your planning purposes, Garnet Valley School District will be administering the PSSAs on the following dates:

Grades 3 - 8

• ELA: April 22, 24 & 25 (Makeups will follow)
• Math: April 29 & 30 (Makeups will follow)
• Science: May 1 & 2 (Makeups will follow)

*Science is for 4th & 8th grade only

THANK YOU to The Helping Hands Club for their hard work at the BSES Butterfly Garden! The students removed branches and added some lovely pansies in honor of Earth Day on Monday, April 20th!

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is May 6-10th! The wonderful teachers and staff at BSES really do deserve the GOLD! The HSA Committee has planned an exciting week and we would love your help celebrating our special teachers and staff members through the two activities below:

• GIFT CARD LOTTERY: We will be holding a Gift Card Lottery for the staff, and contributions of gift cards (new or ones you have around the house that you know you aren’t going to use) would be much appreciated. Please check out this Amazon Wishlist if you’d like to purchase gift cards, and make sure to select “Bethel Springs Teacher Appreciation Gift Registry Address” so the cards are shipped directly to the Teacher Appreciation Committee. Please send in any additional gift cards not purchased through the Wishlist into school by Friday, May 3rd.

• BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS: We would love your help celebrating our teachers and staff members with a special breakfast on Wednesday, May 8th! Please check out this link (BSES HSA "Breakfast of Champions" for Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week) to sign up to contribute, and send your contributions into school by Wednesday, May 8th or earlier.

• Remember to work with you students on their gold medal notes to favorite staff members! Please return to school by May 2nd!

If you have any questions, please email treasurer@bseshsa.org. Our awesome teachers and staff will definitely be grateful for the appreciation.

As we approach Spring, it is time to start planning for the 2024 Color Dash. This year the event is scheduled for Friday, May 17th with a rain date of May 31st. Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080545AEAF2CA7F58-48358709-colo

For questions please reach out to Nicole Azar - nicoleazar@gmail.com.

Order your yearbooks now!! Follow these steps to order:

● Navigate to https://www.barksdalephoto.com/

● In the “What are you looking for?” dropdown menu, select “Order Your Yearbook.”

● Enter the Bethel Springs Order Access Code 01766YB (Note: password is case sensitive)

● Enter the requested information and pay $25 with a credit card or via PayPal. The sale officially closes on Friday, May 3, 2023, so order yours now! If you have any issues or questions, please reach out to Lauren Withelder: lauren.withelder@hotmail.com

Mileage Club is back for our spring session! We are in need of volunteers during recess, especially kindergarten, to make this successful. If you are able to help or would like more information please email Stephanie Slowik at riggsy32@hotmail.com.

The K students have begun participation in spring Mileage Club but we need your help. Each Friday during outdoor recess, the kids are invited to spend time running or walking the playground loop. They scan their cards after each lap with the help of parent volunteers. After they log 30 laps, they get a colorful toe tag to display on their shoes! If you would are available to volunteer during recess on any Friday from 10:15 - 10:45 and your clearances are up to date, please reach out to Stephanie at riggsy32@hotmail.com.

Join us this Saturday, April 20th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm as we come together for an Earth Week Clean-Up of the Nature Trail! Students, teachers, and families are invited to participate in this meaningful event aimed at preserving our natural environment.

Students will assist in various tasks such as trash clean up, raking, moving trail debris, and other essential maintenance activities. This hands-on experience will not only help maintain the trail but also provide valuable learning opportunities about the plant and wildlife species that call it home.

The event will take place at Bethel Springs Elementary Nature Trail. To sign up, visit Bethel Springs Elementary Nature Trail: Trail Clean up day (signupgenius.com)

Don't forget to bring along your gloves, rakes, and cordless leaf blowers to help make this Earth Week event a success!

Don't forget to bring along your gloves, rakes, and cordless leaf blowers to help make this Earth Week event a success!

Our calendar is getting pretty busy, so if you want to be a BSES Keeper of the Trail, now's the time to hop in! Come on, let's get outside and become the 'Family of the Week'! You can choose any of the remaining weeks to hang out with your student(s) and take care of the beautiful Bethel Springs Nature Trail behind the school." A reminder will be sent with a link to the checklist of what to bring and do. Have a great time observing and exploring with your students! Questions: Jen Mulrooney: jmulrooney1982@gmail.com

Nature Trail 2023-2024: BSES Keeper of the Trail Sign Up (signupgenius.com)

Thank you for being a keeper of the trail! A few trash bags and some gloves are all you need to get started. If you would like, you can also bring a rake and a hand pruner to assist with clean-up.

Here are some things you can focus on as you explore the trail:

• Clear the trail of fallen leaves and use found tree limbs and sticks to line the sides of the trail. Two people should be able to walk comfortably side by side along the path.

• Move leaves or other natural debris from the trail out of the way of the path in the surrounding wooded areas.

• Remove any vines that are growing into the path.

• Sweep away fallen leaves from any wooden structures.

• Pick up and remove any trash you find. Trash can be thrown in the dumpster at the side of the school building.

• Take some pictures and use #BSESJagNation when you post on social media.

• Take note of any needed maintenance or concerns and notify the school office if necessary at 610-579-3000 or email jmulrooney1982@gmail.com for non urgent matters.

Have fun exploring and observing on the trail!

Earth Week on the Nature Trail

ATTENTION 5th Grade Parents!! Your child will be coming home with their 5th grade time capsule packages this week. The package includes the instructions for you to prepare their time capsule, a student questionnaire for them to complete and an envelope with their name on it for you to send back to school. These are due into school by no later than June 3rd. The time capsule committee will be collecting these every Friday between April 19th -June 3rd. These will be stored together as the class of 2031 and will be handed out at their post prom when they are Seniors.

If you have any questions or your child does not come home with a time capsule package, please contact Karen Sholders at kmccollick@hotmail.com.

The Bethel Springs teachers and HSA are finishing up the details with Educational Products, Inc to bring you the option of purchasing prepackaged school supply kits for the 2024-2025 school year. Information on how to order is coming soon!

THANK YOU to The Helping Hands Club for their hard work at the BSES Butterfly Garden! The students removed branches and added some lovely pansies in honor of Earth Day on Monday, April 20th!

We know that there is so much information shared at the beginning of the school year. Please access Garnet Valley's parent portal, which keeps all of our information in one place. Click here to access the parent portal. To get direct access to some of our services please click the following links.

• Alma - Garnet Valley's Student Information System
• Schoology - Garnet Valley's Learning Management System
• My School Bucks - Register your child for our school lunch program
• Safe Arrival - Report an absence

GVSD is on TikTok! Follow us @GarnetValleySD

Email: allent@garnetvalley.org
Website: https://bses.garnetvalleyschools.com/
Location: 3280 Foulk Road, Garnet Valley, PA, USA
Phone: 610-579-3000