Baltz Bulletin - Family Edition

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Believing...Achieving...Learning...Team Building...with Zeal! We are BALTZ!

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!

Baltz Families,

Thank you to the 16 families who joined us on Wednesday for a fun evening of pizza and learning! Our Bears enjoyed some gym time while parents engaged with the I-Ready representative, who guided them through family reports for reading and math and helped interpret the results. Many of you requested the family website—please note that it is linked: https://i-readycentral.com/familycenter/

February is here, which means we are celebrating Black History Month and this week we are recognizing our amazing team during National School Counseling Week! Please join us in celebrating Ms. Uhrick and Mr. Toy, our School Sounselors, along with Ms. Daniago, Ms. Julie Campana, and Ms. Funk, who also have student caseloads and provide essential support to our students. We are grateful for their dedication and the positive impact they have on our school community!

A few important reminders:

• Teacher of the Year nominations are due February 4—please take a moment to recognize a teacher who is making a big impact!

• Behavioral Health Specialist of the Year nominations are due February 19.

• Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for February 14. If your child’s teacher reaches out to schedule a conference, we strongly encourage you to attend so we can work together to support your child’s success.

This Wednesday, our first, third, and fifth graders will have the exciting opportunity to see Beauty and the Beast at Cab Calloway, while our teachers will be participating in professional development focused on restorative practices. We look forward to sharing more updates on how this work supports our Continuous Improvement Plan.

Please see an important notification from our school nurse below.

Lastly, a friendly reminder for families using the car line for student pickup: Please drive slowly when entering campus and put away cell phones and other distractions. We have noticed an increase in unsafe driving, and we want to ensure the safety of all students and staff during dismissal. Thank you for your cooperation.

Wishing you all a wonderful and healthy week!

Thank you for your continued partnership!

With gratitude,

Ms. Gallagher, Mrs. Palma and Mr. Wright

Access testing begins (and the window is open through March 7)

February 1 - Black History Month commences

February 3-February 7 - National School Counseling Week!

February 4 - Teacher of the Year nominations due - see link below

February 5 - 1st/3rd/5th have a field trip to Cab Calloway

February 7 - MP2 Report Cards Release

February 14 - No School for Students - In Person Parent-Teacher Conferences

February 17 - No School for Students, office closed for President's Day

It is also recommended that all students have a full set of extra clothes on hand at school. The nurse office has some extra items for emergencies, but please launder and return all borrowed clothing. Thank you for your assistance and cooperation.

It's that time of year!

We are seeking nominations for the 2025/26 Red Clay Teacher of the Year. Being selected as a Teacher of the Year is one of the highest honors the district bestows on Red Clay teachers.

The nomination window closes on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Teacher of the Year Nomination Form

Do you know a Behavioral Health Professional in your school who is dedicated, inspiring, and making a difference?

If so, please take the time to recommend this person by completing the Nomination Form by February 19, 2025 (by 11:59 pm). School staff, families, students, and community members are encouraged to participate.

BHPOY Nomination Form Link

We want to remind you to ensure that your contact information is up-to-date in our system. Keeping your details accurate helps us stay connected with you, especially during the winter season when weather-related updates or emergency alerts may be needed.

Please take a moment to review and update your contact information with your child’s school to ensure you receive timely notifications throughout the winter months.

We appreciate your attention to this matter and thank you for being an important part of our Red Clay community!

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.

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

🏥 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!

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.

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