Baltz Bulletin - Family Edition

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This year's theme is Ready. Set. Grow! We will focus growing student achievement through a dedicated approach to equity and many other ways that our students can take actions to be safe, be kind, and be on-task!

Dear Baltz Families,

We hope this message finds you well! Please remember that there is no school on Monday and Tuesday this week, as we observe a grading day and Election Day. We encourage you to take note of the important events and opportunities in the bulletin which includes:

• Delaware School Counselor of the Year: It's time to nominate outstanding school counselors for Delaware School Counselor of the Year! Nominations are due by November 4, see the link below!
• Dream Center Turkey Drive Donations Due - If you'd like to support our community by contributing to the Dream Center's Turkey Drive, please send donations in to school by the morning of November 8.
• Fifth Grade Choice Open Houses: For our fifth-grade families, please see the flyer with details about upcoming Choice Open Houses to help explore middle school options.
• Important Reminders:
• Bears Den Meeting - Join our meeting next week (see calendar) to help finalize our family and community engagement plan for the year, and to plan for upcoming seasonal events.
• Our Chick-fil-A fundraiser is next week - see calendar
• The Book Fair Coin Drive begins next week to support our "Share the Fair" initiative. Please check the flyers below for more information on the Book Fair which begins on November 25.
• No Latex Policy: A friendly reminder that our district has a strict no-latex policy due to allergies. Please avoid bringing any latex balloons to school or after school events.
• November menus are posted below!
• ESL Classes - Don't miss important information from Ms. Ocasio on contacts for local ESL classes for families.
• Restorative Practices - Finally, we're excited to share that our staff recently participated in a day of training on restorative practices to further enhance our school's sense of community (see the updates below). We look forward to sharing more about how restorative practices will strengthen our sense of community and support positive relationships across our school.

As a quick reminder, if you haven’t already, please review, sign, and return the Title I Compact. Your partnership is essential to your child’s success, and we truly value your involvement in this process.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement!

Warm regards! Ready, Set, Grow!!!

Ms. Gallagher, Mrs. Palma and Mr. Wright

Sunday, November 3: Daylight saving time ends, clocks roll back one hour at 2 a.m.

• School Counselor of the Year nominations due - November 4, 2024
• DE School Counselor of the Year Nomination Form 2024-2025
  

Monday, November 4: No School - Grading Day, Office Open; School Choice will be open from 11/4/2024 through 1/8/2025 for the 2025-2026 school year. Visit schoolchoiede.org to apply.

Tuesday, November 5: School & Office Closed - Election Day

Wednesday, November 6: School resumes. Please return all signed Title 1 Compacts.

Monday, November 11: School & Office Closed - Veteran's Day

Tuesday, November 12 (until November 22): Coin Drive Begins - see flyer below

Wednesday, November 13: Next Bear's Den Meeting, Baltz Cafeteria - 6-7PM - come to help plan for

December and January events!

Monday, November 18: Chik Fil A spirit night

Wednesday, November 20: MP 1 Grades Available/Distributed; Board of Education Meeting - 7PM

Saturday, November 23: Turkey Give Away at the Dream Center with Reservation Only

Monday & Tuesday, November 25 and 26 - School Closed - Parent Teacher Conferences; Evening conferences will be offered on Monday, November 25.

Monday, November 25 (until December 6) - Scholastic Book Fair - see flyers and letter below

Wednesday, November 27 - School Closed - Professional Learning Day

Thursday & Friday, November 28 and 29 - School & Office Closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

A few families have reached out for information regarding local ESL classes. Ms. Ocasio wanted to share contact information for the following organizations that may offer ESL classes/resources for families:

Latin Community center( Centro Latino)
(302) 655-7338
403 North Van Buren Street
Wilmington, DE 19805

Literacy Delaware
(392)658-5624

Red Clay Center ( Groves Education Center)
(302) 651-2709

Brandywine Valley Church
(392) 478-4255

On Friday, our dedicated staff took part in a day of professional development focused on restorative practices, a powerful approach that helps build positive relationships, resolve conflicts, and foster a stronger sense of community without our school. We are excited to embark on this journey, as these practices will support our goal to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment where every student feels valued and empowered.

This agreement between families, students, teachers and administrators explains how we will work together to make sure all students get the support they need to reach and exceed their goals. Please be sure to sign the agreement and return it to your child's teacher by this Tuesday, October 29. Thank you for your partnership.

Families, please be sure to use the online attendance request form when submitting an absence. Please note that all medical notes/excuses from a physician's office must still be turned in.

Please call us if you need help with attendance. We will do our best to listen and partner with you so that our children have a successful year! We are working to make our school environment a place where everyone can be safe, healthy and learning. Review the Attendance Matters flyers posted below to learn why daily attendance at school is so important for your child/children. We ask our families to do their best to ensure that students are on time each day, and that early dismissals are limited to emergencies only. Students are engaged in class instruction until 3:45 PM daily. Please use the Red Clay calendar posted below to assist with planning during days off/vacation. Thank you for your support.

To ensure the safety of our students and campus, early dismissals will not be granted after 3:15 PM. We thank you for your cooperation and support.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uAP20J_KJ4ujH-1BxwtM3AI_YzYl7OoGLgdWXLdwYHE/edit

🏥 Did you know that we have a School Based Health Care Center right here at Baltz? If your child registered last year, they do not need to register again. If your child didn't register yet, see the forms below for more information!

Please help us to keep our parking lot and crosswalks safe! Use extreme caution when dropping off or picking up students from school. Drive slowly and watch for children at all times. Please adhere to the guidelines and procedures when entering and exiting the school parking lot.

ARRIVAL:

Drive your vehicle single file through the drop-off lane. Arrival staff will direct you to move to the cone as far up as possible. Once you have moved to the cone as far up as possible, wait for arrival staff to open the passenger side door for your child/children to get out. After your student(s) have exited your vehicle, please wait for the vehicles in front of you to be directed to begin moving, and follow the line in a single file lane to exit the school parking lot safely.

DISMISSAL

Parents who arrive by car should join the car line. We have received reports about neighborhood traffic congestion and blocked roadways/driveways. Parking nearby and walking over is not permitted. For parents of children picking up by car, please stay in your car and enter the car line on the district side of the building.

Please be sure that your car tag is clearly displayed in your window. Move up as far as possible so that the maximum number of vehicles can enter the car line. As you drive through the car line, and pull into your pick up lane, PLEASE DRIVE SLOWLY, as we have many students boarding cars, and staff members assisting them.

Thank you for working hard to keep our children safe, by avoiding the use of cell phones and being mindful of other distractions while driving on our school campus.

As a reminder, please review our full arrival and dismissal procedures (posted previously) below.

Administration is in the process of going to each classroom to present important parts of the Student and Family Handbook. Each family will receive a copy of the handbook by the end of this week, if you haven't already received it.

https://sites.google.com/redclay.k12.de.us/baltzosob2024/home

Dear families, because the safety and security of our children is our number one priority, we practiced our first round of safety drills last Thursday, September 5, utilizing our Standard Response Protocols Below are some handouts to familiarize you with our district's common language and procedures. Please discuss the drills with your child/children and do not hesitate to contact us with any questions.

This year all Red Clay Elementary schools will continue using the Remind App for home - school communication.

The district has created accounts for you. Check your email or text messages for an account invitation. If you can't find the invitation, contact your child's teacher. Once you click on the invitation, you will be able to choose the type of communication you prefer in Remind. Choose one or a combination of text messages or email for using the Remind App. Families can select the preferred language for all communications.

For more information about getting started...check out the information and video below.

Please encourage your child to wear their badge each day as they get onto the bus. Having their badge ready on their lanyard will help students to scan and board quickly and safely.

Please discuss safety on the bus with your child.

Riders need to:

• Follow all directions from their driver & sit in assigned seats.
• Talk in quiet voices to those around them.
• Sit in the seat with their bookbags on their laps and their "back against the back and their bottom on the bottom" of the seat.

As a reminder, Kindergarten students must be met by an adult or they will be returned to school for pickup.

Would you like to track the location of your child's bus? Sign up for the free Where's the Bus App!

Visit www.WheresTheBus.com.

1. Click Create Account
2. Select Red Clay School District (DE) from the school drop-down list.
3. Add the student info (Last Name and Student ID) for the student you want to signup
4. Finish the account set up by entering your email and creating a password

Questions about Transportation? Call 302-322-0251.

Bus transportation is a privilege, not a right. Repeated violations may cause bus service to be suspended. The parent is responsible for providing transportation during any bus suspension.

Expectations for student behavior while riding the bus are included in the section about Discipline.

• The school day is 9:00- 3:50. Doors open at 8:45 am. Dismissal begins at 3:50 pm.

  
  

  Arrival

  The Doors open and Grab & Go Breakfast begins at 8:45. Students should not arrive on campus before 8:45 am. There is no student supervision until 8:45am.
  

  
  

  • Bus Riders will de-board the bus in the front circle and enter the front doors.

  • New this year, walkers will enter the school from the side door by the little playground (they will not enter from the front by the buses).

  • Parents of Car Riders will join the car line on the district side of the building to drop off your child(ren) in the back lot. Please have your child ready to exit the passenger side of the car. Staff will be present to open the doors and assist students as they get out of the car.

  
  

  Our parking lot is very busy in the morning. Parents will not be allowed to enter the parking lot in the morning to drop off children, all cars should come through Car Line. Parking nearby and walking over is not permitted. These routines are designed to keep everyone safe.
  

  
  

  Late Arrival: Students arriving after 9:00 AM must report to the School Office to get a late slip. It is imperative that students arrive on time to be in class by 9:00 when the instructional day begins, to maximize learning.

  
  

  Dismissal

  Early Dismissal
  

  Students leaving school before dismissal for any reason must be signed out in the office. For the protection of our students, a photo ID will be required to sign out any student. In order to maintain the safety of all of our students, we are a closed campus after 3:15 PM. There will be NO early dismissals after this time, unless previously arranged.

  
  

  Dismissal Procedures:

  In order to provide safety for all of our students, we have a closed campus beginning at 3:15. No students will be released for early dismissal after 3:15 unless it has been pre-arranged with the office.

  Our dismissal will begin at 3:50 p.m.

  *Families will receive Dismissal Number Tags at the Meet and Greet Event.

  
  

  At Dismissal:

  • Family members who are meeting walkers should meet them by the gated area near the little playground. Parents for students in grades K-2 will need to check in with your family’s number before moving to the gate to pick up your child. Students in grades 3-5 will not need to check in. More information about the new Walker Area during dismissal is below.

  • Parents who arrive by car should join the car line. Parking nearby and walking over is not permitted.

  • For parents of children picking up by car, please stay in your car and enter the car line on the district side of the building.

  • Bus riders will be escorted to the bus by staff members.

  
  

  Thank you for your cooperation in helping to keep our students safe.
  

  
  

  More Details about Procedure for Walkers at Dismissal for K-2 Students
  

  
  

  At Dismissal:
  

  
  

  • Walking- Family members who are meeting walkers should meet them by the gated area near the little playground. Parents for students in grades K-2 will need to check in with your family’s number before moving to the gate to pick up your child. Students in grades 3-5 will not need to check in.

  • Students in grades 3-5 will be considered independent walkers. Those being picked up by family members who are also picking up a student in K-2 will come to meet their family at the gate.

  • Students in Grade 2 can be independent walkers with completion of this form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ioya4-W6Xv0apSRq0ll8TK4QUDZ1tv9M-nbBhv15XhI/edit?usp=sharing

  • If this form is completed they will be dismissed from the Gated area to walk home(without parent pick up).

  • Form will be available in English and Spanish at the Meet & Greet Event

At Baltz Elementary School, we follow an Off and Away Policy. Cell Phone and electronic device use is prohibited. It is our expectation that all cell phones and electronic devices are kept off and in backpacks during the school day. Any visible cell phone or electronic device may be confiscated. Confiscated items will need to be picked up by a parent or guardian in the main office.

Pautas: Los estudiantes deben usar ropa limpia que no tenga agujeros ni roturas y que sea apropiada para la estación.

The Red Clay Consolidated School District offers a voluntary low cost accident insurance for your student. Families can choose either during the school day or 24-hour coverage. The brochure is attached. Applications and fees should be sent directly to the Philadelphia Insurance Companies. There is no obligation to purchase this insurance.

Link to English Brochure

Link to Spanish Brochure

Facebook:

Follow our school on Facebook for up to date information! https://www.facebook.com/BaltzBears