Hello Keystone Families and Staff,

We hope everyone is having a wonderful November thus far!

We have a full week of school this week. Next week there will be an early dismissal, Wednesday, November 27th and no school on Thursday, November 28th and Friday November 29th.

Also next week is a Red Robin fundraiser to support the Keystone PTO. It will take place on November 26th from 5:00-9:00pm. Please mention that you are there to support Keystone.

We hope everyone has a fantastic week!

Smencils will be sold.

Pretzels $1

(Money needs to be turned in by Thursday to get a pretzel on Fridays.)

Wear Keystone Paw Shirt

3605 Horizon Blvd, Trevose, PA 19053

November 26, 2024 5PM - 9PM

November 27th

November 28th & 29th

December 11th

December 11th at 7 pm

December 12th-18th

Evening conferences- Thursday, December 12th

December 19th

December 20th

December 23rd-January 1st

March 6th

(More information to come later in the year)

April 1st

March 24-28th

Evening Conferences- Monday, March 24th

April 21-25 ELA

April 28-May 2- Math, Science, Make-ups

Wednesday, May 14th, with a rain date of Thursday, May 15th.

May 14th at 7 pm

Education Support Professionals (ESP) Day is celebrated annually on the Wednesday of American Education Week. In 2024, ESP Day will be on November 20.

The day recognizes the contributions of school support staff, including:

Bus drivers, Cafeteria workers, Custodians, Nurses, Paraprofessionals, and Office staff.

ESP Day was first celebrated in 1987 after the NEA's Representative Assembly called for the day to honor the contributions of school support staff.

On this special day, we want to express our deep gratitude for all that you do to support our students and school community. Your dedication, hard work, and kindness do not go unnoticed or unappreciated.

Your role in our school is invaluable, and we truly could not operate without each and every one of you. From ensuring our students arrive safely to providing nourishing meals, maintaining a clean and welcoming environment, keeping our students healthy, providing additional support in the classroom, and managing the daily operations of our school - you all play a crucial part in creating a positive and supportive learning environment.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment and for going above and beyond to support us all. We are incredibly grateful for everything you do, and we wanted to take a moment to express our sincere appreciation.

With heartfelt thanks,

Mr. Wilicki and Mrs. Smith-Herman

20% OF FOOD SALES will got back to the KEYSTONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTO

FUNDRAISER DETAILS

November 26, 2024 5PM - 9PM

3605 Horizon Blvd, Trevose, PA 19053

Please consider joining the Keystone News Network for awesome videos of school wide events!

This month we are talking about Responsibility. One way to define Responsibility is “taking action and understanding the impact of our choices.” Taking action can mean doing the right thing or completing the tasks you have been assigned. Understanding the impact of our choices means that our actions matter. Positive and responsible actions can help people and irresponsible actions can hurt others. Responsibility is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Strong. Throughout the school, students will be developing skills like focusing, organizing, and goal-setting.

We have all demonstrated Responsibility in our lives. Many of us have seen people practice Responsibility in ways that have inspired us. Stories are powerful tools for connecting as a family. Protect time this week to share stories about Responsibility with each other. At the end of the conversation, think of 1 way you can practice Responsibility this week.

Review Responsibility as a family! Responsibility is taking action and understanding how our choices affect others. Choose 1 household chore (or more!) that requires multiple steps. Then have each member of the family select 1 step to complete to help get the job done! Maybe it is washing the dishes, doing laundry, cleaning the living room, or unloading the groceries - whatever it is, see who can be the quickest or most effective at their task!

As a family, think of ways in which you might make someone’s life a little easier by helping a neighbor or family friend with 1 of their Responsibilities. Could you bring the garbage to the chute or out to the curb? Could you carry things in from the grocery store? Could you invite someone over for a meal or a show?

Have some fun connecting as a family this month while practicing Responsibility.

On November 15th, students and staff of Bristol Township wore red to show their support for students who are experiencing homelessness. The goal was to to raise awareness for the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which helps make sure students have a stable and consistent education. Let's all work together to make sure every student has the support they need to succeed!

As we continue our journey through this academic year, we wanted to take a moment to share some valuable information about our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) process. This approach is at the heart of our commitment to ensuring that every child in our community has the support they need to thrive. The MTSS process is designed to use a preponderance of data to assess and understand each student’s unique strengths and areas for growth. Here’s how it works and how it benefits your child:

1. **Comprehensive Data Collection**: We gather information from various sources, including assessments, classroom performance, and observations. This helps us get a complete picture of your child's academic progress and behavior.

2. **Informed Decision-Making**: Our dedicated team of educators analyzes this data to identify trends and patterns. By understanding where each student excels and where they may need additional support, we can make informed decisions that cater to their specific needs.

3. **Tailored Support and Enrichment**: Whether your child requires extra help in certain subjects or is ready for more advanced challenges, the MTSS process allows us to implement targeted interventions and enrichment opportunities. Our goal is to ensure that every student is engaged and making progress.

4. **Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustment**: We believe in the importance of continuous assessment. We regularly check in on each student’s progress and adjust our strategies as needed, ensuring that we are always meeting their evolving needs.

We are excited about the positive impact this process has on our students and are committed to partnering with you in this journey. Your involvement is crucial, and we encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns regarding your child's educational experience.

Thank you for being an integral part of our Bristol Township community. Together, we can create a nurturing environment where every child can flourish!

Please read the attachment below in regards to the Title 1 Family Engagement Policy for 2024-2025.

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and togetherness. As you prepare to celebrate, prioritize safety and health.

• 30 Thanksgiving Activities for the Entire Family
  
• Your Guide to Perfect Portion Sizes for 10 Thanksgiving Dishes
• 7 Thanksgiving Safety Tips To Keep In Mind

Keystone Families,

We invite you to have a chance to be featured in our weekly newsletters, yearbook, and possibly on our school and district's social media pages! We would love to showcase your family or child(ren) participating in any outside-of-school events or activities.

Please submit a photo along with a brief summary that captures the essence of the event or activity. Whether it's a memorable vacation, a thrilling sporting event, or a cherished hobby, we want to celebrate these moments with our school community.

Please make sure to include your child(ren)'s names and grade level.

Please send all submissions to KeystoneNewsletter@bristoltwpsd.org for a chance to be selected for our Keystone Family Spotlight!

• Reminder, when your child is absent a written excuse note is required.
• For the first 10 absences the note may be from the parent.
• It can be in an email to the school secretary who handles attendance, at heather.saeger@bristoltwpsd.org
• If your child misses more than 10 days of school, then we only accept a medical note.
• Please email or send in the note within 10 days of their return to school, this is a PA State Law.

Outside Food Snack Policy- Per the district's Wellness Policy, " No outside foods may be brought in by students for classroom parties. Shared snacks are not permitted in District schools." If you would like to send something in to celebrate their child's birthday or a classroom party, you may send in non food items such as stickers, pencils, play dough etc.

In order to maintain the safety of all our learners, we are asking that families alert teachers, in writing, (written note) for any transportation/dismissal plan changes prior to 9:00am each morning.

We do understand that emergencies may arise throughout the day that requires a change to a child's dismissal plan for that particular day. For those situations, please make sure you are alerting the office staff as soon as possible, so they can communicate the change to the teachers as soon as possible.

We thank you for your support in helping us ensure the safety and wellbeing of each of our learners.

Bullying Prevention

Bristol Township School District is committed to providing a physically safe and emotionally secure environment for all students and staff. Local school policies assist school personnel in identifying bullying, intimidation, and harassment, and provide a framework for an appropriate response that reinforces positive conduct. The district defines positive behaviors as those which evoke non-violence, cooperation, teamwork, understanding, and acceptance toward all students and staff in the learning and teaching environment. It takes a community to prevent bullying of children--stopping bullying behavior needs a team of school people, students, and families. Together we can intervene to stop bullying behaviors.

In September 2023, Bristol Township School Board of Directors approved three new elementary Anti-Bullying/School Climate Specialists. These staff members focus on putting practices and approaches in place that prevent bullying and build positive relationships for the district’s youngest students.

The main role of the Anti-Bullying/School Culture Specialists is to lead the investigation of incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying in each school; and to act as the primary school staff member responsible for preventing, identifying, and addressing incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying in the school.

They are also responsible for coordinating and strengthening the school’s policies to prevent, identify, and address harassment, intimidation, and bullying of students, and help establish a positive school culture.

Reporting Procedures

Anyone who is the victim of or has witnessed bullying please submit the incident form to the Anti-Bullying/School Climate Specialist, Steve Pierce, (steve.pierce@bristoltwpsd.org ) and building administration. Students can also report bullying to guidance counselors, teachers, or any other adult in the building.

To access the bullying form please click on the attached form below.

Title 1 Teachers at Keystone

Mrs. Stacy Cooke

stacy.cooke@bristoltwpsd.org

Mrs. Aimee Ramos
aimee.ramos@bristoltwpsd.org

For more information about Title 1 please visit; https://www.bristoltwpsd.org/administration/state_and_federal_programs_/title_i .

Social Worker
Mrs. Jody Como
jody.como@bristoltwpsd.org

Counselors

Mrs. Tammy Surdo

Grades- K, 2, 4
tammy.surdo@bristoltwpsd.org

Mr. Brian Gianfrancesco

Grades- 1, 3, 5
brian.gianfrancesco@bristoltwpsd.org

Mr. Steve Pierce

Email: steve.pierce@bristoltwpsd.org

Phone: 267-599-2481

Michele Gentilcore

Certified School Nurse 267-599-2473 or 2490

michele.genticore@bristoltwpsd.org

Jessica Williamson

Staff Nurse 267-599-2496

Nurses' fax number is 215-788-1516.

Address:

940 Tulip Ave.

Croydon, Pennsylvania 19021

School phone: 267-599-2470

School fax: 215-788-1041

School Principal: Mr. Mark Wilicki

Email: mark.wilicki@bristoltwpsd.org

Principal's Secretary: Mrs. Marianne Mensinger

Email: marianne.mensinger@bristoltwpsd.org

Assistant Principal: Mrs. Crystal Smith-Herman

Email: crystal.smith-herman@bristoltwpsd.org

Assistant Principal's Secretary: Heather Saeger

Email: heather.saeger@bristoltwpsd.org

Special Education Supervisor: Jessica Kelch

Email: jessica.kelch@bristoltwpsd.org

For additional information please click on the buttons below.