BG eNews

SEPTEMBER

9/16 - Picture Day (Retakes are on 11/4)

9/25 - Early Release 2:35 Dismissal

9/25 - Chipotle PTO Fundraiser

OCTOBER
10/2-10/4 - Book Fair Previews for all students on assigned days

10/4- Fall Fest @ Windy Acres

10/7-10/9 - Book Fair Shopping for all students on assigned days

10/7- Book Fair Shopping Night for Parents 3:30-7:00

10/9- Walk & Roll to School Day

10/9- Lou Malnati's PTO Fundraiser

10/7-10/9 Student Book Fair Shopping Days (contact teacher for specific class shopping day)

10/10- Parent/Teacher Conferences (NO SCHOOL)

10/10- Family Book Fair Shopping during conferences 8:00-4:00

10/11- Parent/Teacher Conferences (NO SCHOOL)

10/14- Columbus Day (NO SCHOOL)

10/24- Old Towne PTO Fundraiser

10/24- PTO Zoom Meeting

When will the pictures arrive to Bell-Graham?

On average, 3-4 weeks. They will likely arrive by the second week of October.

Why would I pre order without seeing the pictures first?

To avoid a shipping fee.

What if I want retakes after prepaying for pictures?

Simply send your child in with the picture package you ordered on the day of retakes. (Retakes are on 11/4) They will return the first set of photos to the photographer. When retake photos are printed, your child will be sent home with the same picture package you originally ordered, but with the retake photo.

What if my child is absent on picture day?

They will have an opportunity to have their picture taken on retake day, 11/4.

The designated kiss & go spot for parents to part from their walkers is the grass in front of the bus circle. Students are to walk around the bus circle on the sidewalk or cross at the bus circle crosswalk with a staff member. It has been reported that students are crossing at the crosswalk without a staff member during bus arrival. There is no staff supervision outside until 8:50 am. Please remind your child to utilize the bus circle sidewalk, or to wait for a staff member to help them cross the bus circle safely at the crosswalk.

• PE Ms. Seidling
• STEM
• Music Ms. Molidor

You can email your child's teacher directly from HAC. After logging in, click on the "classes" image on the top menu. You will be able to view your child's schedule. Each of your child's teachers are listed under "teacher." If you right click on a name, you are given a "copy email address" option.

Our beloved Campton Hills Police Department K-9, Koda, is retiring!

Koda has brought smiles to many BG faces over the past couple years with frequent visits.

If you'd like to help us celebrate Koda's retirement by making a toy donation, please have your child bring it to the office by 9/18.

Bell Graham is committed to supporting all students in showing their BG Best: Being respectful, responsible, and safe. In the past years we have focused on extrinsic rewards with having students purchase items from our BG Shop with their earned BG coins and Bucks. This year we are moving away from this system and looking to reward students with staff, parent, and community connections. In order to do this we are seeking your help. We are looking for parents to volunteer before school or during school to play a game or build legos with students, make a craft, teach students a new skill, such as sewing or crocheting, or anything else you would like to share with our Bobcats. Please sign up today and Dr. Dieckman will be reaching out to you to schedule a date and time for you to share your talents and time with our students.

Thank you for your continued support. We could not do this without you.

BG Monthly Parent Support Raffle

*Remember that you must have a liability waiver form on file before you volunteer. You are welcome to email completed forms to Mrs. Cloy kristin.cloy@d303.org.

BG Monthly Parent Support Raffle

If you are visiting the school, for any reason, you MUST have your ID with you. Your ID needs to be scanned before you are permitted to enter the building.

If you intend on volunteering at any point this school year, the office MUST have a liability waiver form on file for you. Please do not sign up for any volunteer opportunities unless you already have a form on file for this year. This is an annual form that needs to be completed every school year. You are welcome to email completed forms to Mrs. Cloy kristin.cloy@d303.org.

Field Trip volunteers will have to follow additional steps to volunteer.

Our lost & found is conveniently located in the lunch room where every student has a daily opportunity to look for lost items. Please encourage your child to check for misplaced items. Don't forget to label as much as possible. We regularly donate unclaimed items with no names on them.

• Absences should be called in by 7:45 AM
• You can leave a message 24 hours a day
• State your child’s name, their teacher's name and the reason why your child is out.
• If they are ill, please list their symptoms.

You are also welcome to email Mrs. Cloy in the main office. kristin.cloy@d303.org

Please call the office when you are 5 minutes away and we will have your child ready and waiting for you at the office. You will have to press the buzzer to come inside the vestibule to sign them out on our iPad. 331-228-2100.

Please turn in your required health forms to the Health Office! If you are missing any health records you will be contacted in the next week.

Kindergarten and Students new to Illinois- Physical, Vision, Dental, Health survey Students who are new to Illinois need to have these on Illinois forms.

2nd Grade- Dental

3rd Grade- Updated Health Survey

All of the forms are linked here for your convenience or you can go to the District Website and find them in the parent section under Forms. We will be sending home letters to the students who have missing medical records after Labor Day weekend.

Please reach out if you have any questions. Feel free to send any communication, including health forms, to bel-nurses@d303.org to ensure that all of our Bell Graham nurses receive this important information pertaining to your student(s)The health office direct line is 331-228-2104.

Thank you!

Kerisa Martini Espinosa, RN
LeeAnna Anzaldi,MSN, RN, PEL-ILSN

• 1 lunch with a loved one per student per school year for bday (1 TOTAL, not 1 with grandma, 1 with aunt, 1 with mom )
• ONLY bring food for your child and/or yourself. No sharing food/treats with friends at the lunch table.
• Stay for lunch ONLY, recess is not included
• Bring your ID for check in. No ID, no entry
• You do not need to give advance notice, but are welcome to email the office the day of to speed along the check in process.

Click here to see what time your child eats lunch.

This week, we spotlight HOLLY GERHART who chairs our New Family Welcome Breakfast and Informational Meeting. Holly served on the BG Board as Treasurer for two years and has been an active member of the BG PTO for over 7 years. She also runs a super fun Escape Room session during ASE in February. This is her last year at Bell Graham, and she will certainly be missed. Bell Graham would not be the place it is without this amazing mom. Thank you Holly for all you have done!

MUMS & BAKERY FUNDRAISER - PRESALE ENDS 9/20

Bell Graham and Windy City Acres Farm are partnering up for a fundraiser! From outside decor to delicious treats, there is something for everyone! Pre-sale orders can be placed through Friday, September 20! All items purchased will be delivered to Bell Graham for pick-up on Tuesday, September 24. Click here to start your order!

While you're ordering, check out the option to donate baked goods Bell Graham's Annual Fall Fest for our famous cake walk! Fall Fest will take place on Friday, October 4 at Windy City Acres Farm, 4-7p. More details to come. If you have any questions or would like to be a part of our Fall Fest committee, please contact Candace Kloss (candacedanko19@hotmail).

CHESS CLUB

We need your help to make Chess Club a success! Please consider volunteering to help with setting up the chess boards and checking students in/out of the session. Sign-up today! Chess Club Volunteer Sign-up

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR

The book fair is open for STUDENT shopping Monday 10/7, Tuesday 10/8, & Wednesday 10/9. Each class has a specific shopping day/time that will be communicated by your teacher.

We will also be hosting a shopping night on Monday, October 7th from 3:30-7:00p and a shopping day during conferences on Thursday, October 10th from 8:00a-4:00p.

In order for our Book Fair to be a success, we need your help! Please consider signing up for a spot to work the Book Fair…all volunteers get 20% off! Click here to sign up!

How can I simplify the shopping experience?

Parents can create an eWallet for students to make purchases without cash (one linked

email for all students of a family-no need to create individual child accounts). Cash is

accepted, but please keep in mind to account for tax. Please click here to set up an eWallet for your student: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/bellgrahames.

SHOUT OUTS

Did your kiddo make an awesome play at their baseball game? Did they win an event in gymnastics? Is it their birthday? Do you just want to make a random day special for them? Send them a SHOUT OUT!! For $10 you can have 5 pictures along with a message displayed on the TV screen outside of the LRC for an entire day. After making your purchase in the Square Store, please send an email to Alicia Flint at aliciafulgencioflint@yahoo.com with your pictures, message and date to be displayed. Pictures MUST be sent 7 days prior to the desired display date or we cannot guarantee your message will be loaded in time. SHOUT OUTS PAYMENT

STAY CONNECTED

Check out these great ways to stay connected and find out more information on the PTO!

Bell Graham PTO Webpage

Bell Graham PTO Facebook page

Bell Graham Monthly Calendar

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Any questions or comments? Please email the PTO at bgeblast@gmail.com. All comments or questions will be discussed at our monthly Board meetings and responded to accordingly.

We are happy to report that we will have a therapy dogs visiting us again this year. Please reach out to Dr. Dieckman or Julianna Harmon if you have any questions.

We use a Visor Tag System. Each family has received a car tag that has the family last name and the class codes of students in the family. The use of this visor tag expedites our car rider line tremendously as staff members are able to get students ready for their cars as the cars pull up! Please display the tag on your passenger side visor, or passenger side window, so that it is visible to the BG staff as you pull through the pick-up line.

If you need additional visor tags, please email Mrs. Kirincich.

Mrs. Amy Klueppel - Principal

Website: bellgraham.d303.org
Location: 4N505 Fox Mill Blvd St. Charles, IL 60175
Phone: 331-228-2100
Facebook: facebook.com/BellGrahamElementary
Twitter: @BellGrahamD303

In D303, we value the opportunity to provide a community of care and support to our families, especially those faced with financial hardship. If your family is currently experiencing a significant financial need, our community partnerships have several supports available for families, including school clothes/shoes, winter coats/accessories, school supplies, toiletries, holiday meals, and/or holiday gifts. If you would like to be considered for any of these supports, please complete the Family Resource Form by September 13, 2024.

Interested in supporting the Park District’s Before the Bell program at District 303? They’re seeking additional staff to assist students in grades K-5 from 6:45-8:45 a.m. during the school year. This could be a great opportunity for parents with flexible morning hours or high school students who have first period off. Application information is at www.stcparks.org/jobs or contact Jaz Lara at 630-513-4331 or at jlara@stcparks.org.