The Gladden Gazette

The mission of Gladden Elementary, the lighthouse that illuminates the journey to greatness, is to ensure all students become extraordinary thinkers who pursue limitless possibilities with purpose, integrity, compassion, and resilience, through powerful school experiences distinguished by:

• dynamic learning opportunities for all students
• healthy environments of support and encouragement
• vital partnerships with families and communities

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! We hope you are having a wonderful summer. We are excited to welcome back our Gladden Pirates and are looking forward to a great year of learning!

My name is Karen Snider and this will be my first year as principal at Gladden Elementary. I have been in education for 21 years, most recently as a principal in the Center School District. Prior to being in the Center School District, I was the Coordinator of Professional Development in the Grandview School District. I am excited to join the Belton team and can't wait to meet all of you!

In this newsletter you will find important back to school information that will help you get ready for first day of school. If you need anything at all, don't hesitate to reach out to our office at 816-489-7530.

Sincerely,

Karen Snider

Principal, Gladden Elementary

August 15:

Meet the Teacher Night from 4:30-6:30

August 19:

First Day of School

September 2:

No School - Labor Day

September 6:

Healthe Kids Screenings (More details to come)

September 9-13:

Book Fair

September 12:

Math & Science Night/Grandfriends Night from 5:00-6:30

September 16:

No School - Staff Professional Development Day

September 18:

Fall Picture Day

Teacher Assignments will be accessible through the Parent Portal beginning Wednesday, August 14th. Here is a link to the "Families" page on the district website where you can access the Parent Portal.

Meet the Teacher Night is Thursday, August 15th from 4:30-6:30. Come meet your child's teacher and drop off school supplies. You will also be able to get bus, lunch, SAC (before and after school care), and PTO information.

Here is the link to the page on the district website that will provide you with School Supply Lists for the 2024-2025 school year.

• School starts at 8:30 a.m. Students should be in their seats and ready to learn at or before 8:30 a.m.
• Dismissal starts at 3:31 p.m. During the first week of school dismissal will take more time so that we ensure each student makes it home safely.

• Students will be allowed to enter the building starting at 8:15 a.m.
• Students who arrive before the time listed above will be placed in the school age care program for supervision. The school-age childcare (SAC) program will charge parents for this service. Placement in the SAC Program is for the safety of your child.
• On the first day of school, you are welcome to walk your child to class, but please plan on making a timely exit at 8:30 a.m. so we can get school started. We will have extra staff available to assist students to class during the first week.
  

• Dismissal will take more time during the first week of school as we want to ensure that each student makes it home the correct way. Please do not wait at the front doors of the school. This delays the dismissal process and adds to the time we are already taking to ensure students are safe. We ask that families allow their student(s) to dismiss on the first day of school just as they will the rest of the school year. Our dismissal plan improves greatly when families follow the pick-up processes. Thank you in advance for your patience.
• Students who are not picked up by 3:45 p.m. will be placed in the school age care program for supervision. The school-age childcare (SAC) program will charge parents for this service. Placement in the SAC Program is for the safety of your child.
  

Should you need to make transportation changes for your student, please do so prior to 2:30 p.m. by emailing the office at gladden@bsd124.org or by sending a handwritten note. For the safety of students, we do NOT accept transportation changes over the phone.

We will be collecting information for car rider signs during Meet the Teacher Night. If you know that your student will be a car rider for this school year and do no recieve a sign, please call our office at 816-489-7530 to have us get a sign ready for you. You will need to come into the school and show ID.

The district provides a fee-based before and after school child care program (School Age Childcare or SAC) for parents needing this service. Hours begin at 6:00 a.m. and end at 6:30 p.m. For full details, visit their page on our website: School-age Childcare

Please call the school office at 816-489-7530 anytime your child will be absent from school or late to school for any reason. You may call after school hours and leave us a message if it is about the next school day.

You may also email Gladden office at gladden@bsd124.org.

All schools in Belton have a call box at the locked front entrance doors. All entrance doors will be locked when school is in session. Office staff will ask for your name and the reason for your visit before the door is unlocked. Each time a parent or a family member visits Gladden, a photo ID is required to check out a student or enter Gladden beyond the school office area. Individuals who are allowed to check your child out must be identified in your child’s enrollment information.

Breakfast will continue to be free for all students. Student lunch costs $3.10. If you would like to pay electronically, you can do that via the Parent Portal. If the cost of lunch is a hardship for your family, you can apply for free or reduced cost lunches

Here is the link to the district's Food and Nutrition page where you can access additional information and view the lunch menus.

If you have medication that needs to be dropped off, Nurse Teresa will be at Gladden this week from 8am-3:30pm. The medication drop off procedure will be as follows:

• When you arrive to drop off your student’s medication you will need to ring the doorbell.

• Over the doorbell intercom, state that you are dropping off medications for your student.

• You must present your picture ID when dropping off your student’s medication.

• You will be asked to wait outside and Nurse Teresa will assist you.

• Medication may not be sent to school with students due to safety concerns.

Also, if your child has any health care needs such as asthma, seizures, food allergies please bring needed documentation for the health care plan. These would include asthma action plan, seizure action plan, etc. If you need a special food form you can ask me when you come to school.

Thank you,

Teresa Knoll, RN

Gladden Elementary

Phone: 816-489-7531

Please note the following important reminder from the Student Handbook:

• "The Belton School District prohibits treats being sent in for birthdays and other celebrations in your child’s classroom to maintain safe environments for students and staff with specific allergies."

Please also refrain from sending in trinkets, toys, etc. on birthdays.

Thank you for your attention to this reminder, and for helping us keep our Gladden family safe!

Students may bring cell phones to school, but they must abide by the district cell phone guidelines, outlined here: Guidelines for Elementary Student Cell Phone Use.

Please take the time to read the district's K-6 Elementary Handbook which will give you additional information about our policies and procedures.

Gladden Office: (816) 489-7530

Gladden Fax: (816) 489-7535

• Secretary - Amber Branson
• Office Para- Emma Kesler
• Counselor - Amber Webel
• Principal - Karen Snider

Gladden Health Room: (816) 489-7532

• Nurse - Teresa Knoll

Gladen Cafeteria: (816) 489-7532

• Cafeteria Manager - Ka'Treena Fairlie

Gladden SAC (before and after school care): (816) 489-7300

• Site Director: Lucy Culbertson
• District Children Services Coordinator: Luke Startwood

DS Bus Lines: (816) 331-3200

Email: gladden@bsd124.org

Website: https://www.beltonschools.org/Page/14
Location: 405 Westover Road, Belton, MO, USA
Phone: 816-489-7530
Facebook: facebook.com/GladdenElementary