Bear Bulletin

Welcome back BES Families & Happy New Year! We are looking forward to having our BES Bears back with us on Wednesday. This newsletter is packed with information and need-to-knows including a special activity opportunity for kids on Monday, details for the Daughter Dance and how to purchase tickets, details on the Lost & Found, the lunch menu for the week, as well as reminders for procedures for the car line.

As we embrace the hope and excitement a new year brings, we also need to share some difficult news. It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of one of our students, Elsie Garrick, from our Care Bear class, on December 22nd. Elsie was a familiar and beloved presence at our school, and with her older sister who is also a BES student, we know this loss may be felt by many. Your child may come home on Wednesday with questions or emotions surrounding this, and we want you to know that our school counselor will be available to offer support to any student who may need a little extra care during the school day. Please keep Elsie’s family in your thoughts, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need further support for your child.

• Mon, Jan 6 - BES Kids Day at Flight Adventure Park (see details below)
• Tues, Jan 7 - Teacher work day
• Wed, Jan 8 - Student return
• Thurs, Jan 9 - Law Enforcement (SRO) Appreciation Day - we are so thankful for Master Dpty Myers!
• Fri, Jan 10 - PTO mtg, 7:50 in the library - come join us! (PTO PawPrint Newsletter)
• Thurs, Jan 16 - Early Release Day, report cards go home
• Mon, Jan 20 - All D5 Schools & Offices closed in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr Day.

For the month of January, the PTO is providing a Baked Potato Bar for staff on the early release day. If you'd like to help treat the staff to a nice lunch, see the link below to sign up to bring a topping or to contribute to the purchase of the toppings.

Details:

Saturday, February 8th, 2025

6-7:30pm

Union Methodist Church, 7582 Woodrow Street, Irmo, South Carolina 29063

Tickets:

$25 for Couples ticket, $10 for each additional Ballentine girl (must buy couples ticket first.)

Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold at the door.

Ticket sales close Friday, February 7th at 6pm EST.

***No refunds will be issued, all ticket sales final.***

Questions: pto.ballentine@gmail.com

To help get ready for Wednesday's return, please review the car line procedures for AM drop off and PM pick up. Using the image below, the blue/green dotted line shows the entrance/exit for car riders.

• Please note the signs in the car line. Hopefully this will help with establishing routines.
• In the mornings, starting at 7:20, cars should use both lanes of the car line to double-stack cars entering BES.
• In the afternoons, starting at 2:20, cars should use both lanes of the car line to double-stack cars entering BES.
• Once double stacking begins, there is not a passing lane, so during heavy traffic times, drivers needing to access the parking lot may be required to wait a few minutes until traffic is moving.
  
• As cars approach the student drop off area, the two lines of traffic will take turns merging the two lanes into one line. At this point, anyone needing to park will turn left into the upper parking lot.
• Drivers needing to access handicap parking in the lower lot should have parking placards clearly displayed. Families using the drop off area will follow the traffic flow to the right.
• The exit onto Bickley Road is one lane and is RIGHT TURN ONLY.

This traffic pattern has been developed by the SC Department of Transportation and D5 Safety Officers to assure maximum safety not only for you and your child, but for all drivers on Bickley Road. This also provides plenty of space for cars to line up while waiting for arrival/dismissal of car riders. Please pull as far forward as possible so that we may load/unload multiple cars at once. Also, to ensure the safety of all, please remain in your car at all times. Students should have all items gathered and be ready to exit the vehicle when it stops. If parents need to get out of the car for any reason, please park in a designated parking place to do so.

***SEAT BELTS: If your child needs assistance with the seat belt, please do not step out of the car into the carline. We ask that you use one of the parking lots so you are able to park and safely get out to help.***

Front Office - 803-476-4500

School Nurse - 803-476-4509

Cafeteria - 803-476-4508

School Counselor - 803-476-4534

Library - 803-476-4518

Parent input and feedback are always appreciated. Whether through a phone call or an email, we welcome your thoughts and ideas. The Administrative Team at BES is always available to help in any way we can! You can contact us by calling the main office at 476-4500 or emailing us directly.

Principal Robin Bright rbright@lexrich5.org

Assistant Principal Zach Keister zkeister@lexrich5.org

Assistant Administrator Allison Babb ababb@lexrich5.org

Follow us on social media as well!

Facebook @BallentineElementarySchool

Twitter @BallentineElem

Our Mission…

The mission of Ballentine Elementary School is to join together community, staff, students, and families to ensure that all students are provided a world-class, rigorous education.

Our Vision…

In partnership with the community, staff, students, and families, Ballentine Elementary School will exemplify excellence in education in a positive, safe and nurturing environment in order to prepare our students to be fully participating citizens and leaders. We will foster the development of creative thinking, encourage curiosity and problem solving, promote respect for individual differences and uphold high ethical standards.