Paw Print

Ooooh! Oooooh! Oooooh! I've got a positive to celebrate!! BELMONT PARENTS are doing a pretty good job in the carloops!! THANK YOU! Here are just a couple of quick reminders, but I'm leaving the L O N G logistics info down below for one more week. Please share the pics and info with any loving grandparents or other caregivers who may be doing the pick-up duties throughout the year.

• Phones down. Eyes up. Please listen to and don't run over the adults guiding traffic.
• Drivers in the loops stay in the car. Kids exit on the sidewalk side unless they absolutely cannot because it is impossible in your vehicle. Wave us over and we are happy to come to the kids to escort around to the sidewalk because no child should get out of the car on their own on the far side of the loop. It. Is. Not. Safe. To. Do. So. So. Please. Do. Not. Do. That. Ever.
• Children should be buckled into a seatbelt in the loop. If your child hasn't mastered that on their own, please practice. If needed, tell the helper adult they need help and we'll help, or pull over into a parking space to provide your own assistance before driving away.
• Pull up within a couple of feet of the car in front of you so that we can skootch as many cars into the loops and off of the street as possible. In the morning, be sure to use both lanes of the front loop.
• Walkers, thank you for allowing us to hold up the parade every now and then to move cars safely in and out so that we aren't blocking the street. You are so appreciated!
• YOU are doing a FABULOUS job of wearing your patience pants and ALMOST EVERY CHILD is making it to school within the 8:30-8:40 pocket! Yay!! Not too early, not too late!

The Belmont Elementary Site Council meets four times yearly and participates as an advisory council with liaison expectations in the community. As a committee, we have no actual authority, however, the Kansas State Board of Education, through Kansas legislation, requires schools to solicit feedback from their stakeholders. This group of individuals comes together to better understand the goals and functions of each school community. If you'd like to be a part of our Site Council, please email me ASAP! We will meet (virtually) from 4:30-5:10 pm on September 9, November 4th, January 27th, and April 7th.

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Keep an eye out on Monday evening for Mr. Holle who will be pumping up the volume for a WatchDOGS revival in the Belmont DogHouse! With at least a week's notice, we'll welcome a DAD (gotta be a significant adult guardian or relation) each Wednesday to work a day at BE. There will be a schedule provided that will include a variety of tasks including building safety, academic assistance in classrooms, and logistical support during lunch, and the reward...RECESS! We guarantee you'll have the opportunity to enjoy lunch and recess with your own child(ren) and after that, we'll put you to work in the classrooms where your extra hands will be the most helpful! Do YOU have the opportunity to take a day off to hang out with about 370 beautiful children and the adults who love learning with them? Look for our Top Dog, Mr. Holle and get your name on the calendar!

Access the WatchDOGS Sign Up HERE.

Check out the 24-25 BE Choir Handout below to sign your sweet little songbird up for choir! Parents of interested 4th or 5th grade students should sign up and pay choir fees by August 30th.

Contact Choir DIrector, Stephanie Martin, with questions! smartin@usd232.org

August 26 🌻 General PTO Meeting, 6:30pm in the Cafeteria

August 29 🌻 BE Night at Papa Johns (see flyer below)

September 2 🌻 Labor Day - No School

September 3 🌻 BE Night at Skate CIty, 6-8pm

September 13 🌻 PTO BULLDOG DASH FUNdraiser!

September 25 🌻 Conferences

• 12:10 Dismissal, No Lunch Served

September 26 🌻 Conferences

• No School for Students

September 27 🌻 Building Closed

• No School for Students

Visit the BE Online Calendar of Events (by clicking on the button below) for a more complete list of activities!

11:00-11:30 1st Grade

11:20-11:50 Kindergarten

11:40-12:10 5th Grade

12:00-12:30 4th Grade

12:20-12:50 3rd Grade

12:40-1:10 2nd Grade

Reservations are required to join your child for lunch- when we are ready, you'll be able to CLICK HERE (it's not ready yet) to reserve your family table!

Family members, vendors, and other visitors to the school will now be required to scan their identification (driver’s license) to gain access. The system will automatically search public offender registries to help prevent unauthorized access, and will print a sticker displaying the visitor’s name, photo, and intended destination as entered by the visitor. The sticker will be worn by the visitor throughout their time in the building, and a simple scan of the sticker upon leaving will record their departure.

We understand a new system of this nature can create concerns, but hope those concerns are alleviated by the fact we only use a visitor’s identification to search information already available to the public, and that nearly every peer school district in the county is using a similar system. Knowing who is in our buildings, and where they are, with a more comprehensive visitor management system strengthens our efforts to better secure our facilities.

We are SO VERY EXCITED to welcome our students back to the building on the 14th! As parents, other than knowing that your child is happy and learning during the school day, next in importance is often knowing how to safely get your kids TO school and then how to get them back FROM school.

Lucky for you, we are providing this sUpEr LoNg list of helpful information to help your first day, and every day go well at Belmont! We'll also provide visuals (like the one below) to help!

• OFFICE HOURS are 7:45-4:30 p.m. but there are no kidsitters employed here, so please do not drop off your children prior to 8:30 a.m. when the building opens to students (the only exception is 8:25 breakfast program) and make sure that they are collected prior to 4:00 p.m. at the end of the day.
• All ELEMENTARY students should be dropped off between 8:30 and 8:40 a.m. Students will find it difficult to make it to their lockers and be in their desks ready to learn by 8:45 if they arrive later than 8:40 to school. Students who are tardy to class not only disrupt the classroom routine, but more importantly, begin their day already behind and frazzled.
• KINDERGARTEN and 1st GRADE STUDENTS (and family groups or carpools that include kindergarten or 1st grade students) should be dropped off in the FRONT LOOP- see visual guide below. Students should stay in their cars until reaching the front sidewalk, and must exit on the sidewalk as the parking lot can be quite busy on the driver's side. Drivers should stay in line until the cars in front have completed drop-off.
• 2nd GRADE THROUGH 5th GRADE STUDENTS should be dropped off in the BACK LOOP- see visual guide below. Cars should watch staff and pull up as far as possible before releasing children from the car. Students should exit on the sidewalk side if at all possible. Drivers should stay in line until the cars in front have completed drop-off.
• LATE TO ARRIVE STUDENTS (8:40 a.m. or later) should be dropped off in the front loop. Students arriving at or after 8:45 a.m. must be signed in by a parent.
• Special circumstances may require an alternate drop-off and/or pick-up site for some students- don't be crabby if you see something happening that is different than this plan...it's most likely just a different plan for a very good reason.
• BREAKFAST is served from 8:25-8:45 in the cafeteria. Students may go directly to the cafeteria to eat prior to going to their classroom. This is not a social time, but meant to efficiently provide nourishment to participating students prior to their school day.
• BUS STOP INFORMATION is located in Skyward in your Family Access Account. Click here for How to Find Bus Route Information in Family Access.
• HELMETS are expected for bike and scooter riders and permission from parents should be on file in the office. Bikes and scooters should be walked on the school grounds.
• GOLF CARTS are now street legal in limited areas, but they should not be utilized as transportation in the car loops. Sorry. I know they're fun.
• The SPEED LIMIT on Belmont Drive is 25, but 20 is PLENTY. Please watch out for our kids on the streets and sidewalks. When students enter a crosswalk, it is the law to stop for them. Drive slowly and watch closely. Oh, and put your cell phone down. Kids are only kids for such a short time. Enjoy them.
• PLEASE, help us to be good neighbors by NOT blocking or turning around in driveways of residents near the school. That's just not cool. You might also pay attention if a neighbor is trying to enter or exit their own driveway. Pay it forward and let them out!
• TRANSPORTATION CHANGES should be communicated to the office either by calling 913-667-1810 or by emailing smccann@usd232.org, klee@usd232.org and your child's teacher. All changes should be made at least 45 minutes prior to dismissal.

See! I told you we'd help you out! If you have questions, don't hesitate to call or email to ask!

Email: phargrove@usd232.org
Website: be.usd232.org
Location: 5805 Belmont Drive, Shawnee, KS 66226, United States
Phone: (913)667-1810
Facebook: Belmont Elementary Bulldogs
Twitter: @BEBulldogs