
Baltz Bulletin - Family Edition
Week of April 14, 2025
Some Memories from Last Week
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Weekly Message & Updates
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!
Good evening, Brilliant Bear families,
We hope you enjoy the photos from last week’s Brilliant Bear Breakfast! Thank you to all of our families who attended, and a special thank you to Mrs. MacDonald and Miss Uhrick for planning such a wonderful event and all the staff who supported!
A heartfelt thank-you goes out to our Baltz Bears for the thoughtful notes and celebrations shared with Mrs. Palma and Mr. Wright during Assistant Principal Appreciation Week. Your love and appreciation meant so much!
This week marks the final sessions for after-school clubs, which will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday. Stay tuned—we’ll be sharing photo celebrations of our clubs at the end of the week!
We also have a special Bear’s Den meeting on Tuesday evening at 6:00 PM to finalize preparations for two exciting upcoming events: our Family Engagement Night—Brilliant Brushstrokes—on May 1 and Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week, May 5–9.
Please review this week’s bulletin closely for important information. Flyers for Brilliant Brushstrokes will be sent home with students on Monday afternoon. Space is limited and will be secured on a first come first serve basis, so please return RSVP forms by Thursday to reserve your spot.
Looking ahead, state testing for grades 3–5 will begin after Spring Break. Please be sure to check the testing schedule and review the important district and school electronic device policy outlined below.
Summer programming is coming! Spring Into Learning Forms for summer opportunities are linked below—be sure to review and submit them if you're interested.
Reminder: This is a short week. There will be no school on Friday as Spring Break begins. School will resume on Monday, April 28.
We wish all of our families a safe, relaxing, and joyful Spring Break!
With gratitude,
Ms. Gallagher, Mrs. Palma and Mr. Wright
📆 Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendars!
- 4/15
- Clubs
- 6PM: Bears Den - Finish prepping for 5/1 event and Teacher Appreciation Week events
- 4/16
- Clubs
- 7PM: Board of Education Meeting
- 4/17
- MTSS Picnic Lunch - Students can access by using 15 Bear Bucks
- Attendance Egg Hunt - for those with perfect attendance for March dates
- 4/18: No School on Friday this week!
- 4/18-4/25: School closed - Spring Break!
- 4/21 - 4/25: Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week
- 4/23: Administrative Professionals Appreciation Day - We will celebrate on 4/28!
- 4/28: Classes Resume - Welcome Back Baltz Bears!
- 4/30: Kindergarten Registration - 4:45-6:00 PM
- 5/1: Family Engagement Night - Brilliant Brushstrokes - RSVP by Thursday, 4/17
- 5/3: Red Clay Health and Wellness Fair - 7:30 AM-1:00 PM Brandywine Park (outdoors across from Warner Elementary School)
- 5/5:
- Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week - May 5 through May 9
- Kindergarten Lead testing - see flyers and consent information below
- 5/7: State testing commences - please review the schedule below
- 6/10/25 AM: 5th Grade Move Up Ceremony - Save the Date - More Information Coming Soon!
- 6/23 - 7/24 - Spring Into Learning - Summer Programming - Save the dates - Sign up Information coming soon!
After School Clubs Reminders
All families of students participating in clubs (grades 2-5 only) should have received confirmation of club choice. Please contact the main office or Mr. Wright via Remind if you have any questions.
Please note the following:
Club dismissal begins at 5:15pm. Walkers will be dismissed through the walker area. Car riders must be picked up in the back of the building. Students will not be dismissed using the front entrance.
Please note the day of the week each club will take place (some days have changed than previously announced)
Tuesdays: Soccer, Beary Good Readers, Book Club, Cheerleading, SMARTSummer program
Wednesdays: Flag Football, Crafty Bears, Brill-iant Bear Math Club, STEAM social, Book Club, Code Ninjas, SMARTSummer program
Baltz State Testing Information & Schedule for 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders
Red Clay Family Communication - Electronic Devices during Testing
In order to maintain a secure testing environment, RCCSD does not permit cell phones or other electronic communication devices (smart watches, AI glasses, tablets, etc.) into testing rooms. Students should leave these items at home, secure them in lockers or hand them over to their teacher/test administrator prior to starting a testing session. Any student found in possession of a cell phone or other electronic device during a testing session will have their device removed from their possession and turned over to school administration. The device will be returned to the student at the end of the school day following parent/guardian notification. The use of a cell phone or other electronic device during testing is considered a testing violation and students will receive disciplinary consequences for the unauthorized use of a cell phone/electronic device in accordance with the Red Clay Consolidated School District Student & Family Handbook. Any cell phones or other electronic communication devices used during a testing session will be subject to search by a school administrator to ensure the security and validity of testing items.
The spring testing window runs from April 7, 2025 through May 22, 2025. Individual schools can provide details regarding their specific testing dates.
If you have any questions about the RCCSD cell phone and electronic device protocols during State Testing, please contact Dr. Corey Heacock, the District Test Coordinator at corey.heacock@redclay.k12.de.us or 302-552-3757.
For Kindergarten Families Only - Lead Testing Information from Nurse Clark
Community Health Information - from Nurse Clark
Spring Into Learning - Summer Programming
Math and Reading instruction will be skills based and meet students at their instructional level. Strengthening learning and moving students forward to become successful learners
Camp Inventions offers educational programs that combine hands-on fun and creativity with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Kindergarten Registration
Menus
Community Information - Not Sponsored by Red Clay
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.
Early Dismissal Reminder
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.
Chromebook Reminder for Cold Weather
Red Clay Parent Advisory Council (RCPAC) Schedule
Local ESL Classes
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
(302)658-5624
Red Clay Center ( Groves Education Center)
(302) 651-2709
Brandywine Valley Church
(392) 478-4255
School-Based Health Center Information
🏥 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!
Red Clay School District Updated Calendars
Student & Family Handbook
Standard Response Protocols
Communication - Remind Application
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.
Cell Phone Policy
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.
Voluntary Accident Brochure
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.
Facebook:
Follow our school on Facebook for up to date information! https://www.facebook.com/BaltzBears