Baltz Bulletin - Family Edition

“School climate is the heart and soul of the school. It is about that essence of a school that leads a child, a teacher, an administrator, and a staff member to love this school and to look forward to being there each school day.” (Freiberg & Stein, 1999, p. 11).

We have a translate feature! Simply click "translate newsletter" and you can pick from many different languages!

¡Tenemos un botón de traducción! Simplemente haga clic donde dice "translate newsletter" y podrá elegir entre muchos idiomas diferentes.

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!

Dear Baltz Families,

We’re kicking off this week’s message with a huge shout-out to our incredible student artists who are featured in the Red Clay Art Show at the Delaware Art Museum! We are so proud of their beautiful work, and we’re beyond grateful to Ms. Diaz for her dedication and effort in supporting our students and coordinating their artwork for the show.

Friday was a big day for our Brilliant Bears! Both our girls and boys basketball teams had events at McKean High School, and our Baltz Cheerleaders brought the spirit to both games. A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Wright for organizing these events and to our basketball coaches—Mr. Bowden, Mr. Toy, Mrs. Nork, and Mr. Eeastep—as well as our cheerleading coaches—Ms. Anderson, Ms. Uhrick, and Ms. Todd. We also thank all the staff and families who came out to cheer on our students—it meant so much to them!

We’re also giving a big round of applause to Mrs. Personti, who organized our Spring Book Fair and went above and beyond by staying late most evenings so families could enjoy shopping together. Tomorrow is the final student day to visit the fair for the following classes: Corcoran, Anderson, Lyons, Bowling, and Ellis.

Looking ahead, it’s a busy week at Baltz:

• Tuesday: Our fifth graders head to the Stroud Water Research Center for a hands-on science adventure.

• Thursday: Our school counselors will host the Career Fair for fourth and fifth graders.

• Friday: It’s March Madness Day! Students can cash in 25 Bear Bucks to participate and wear their favorite athletic gear.

Two important family engagement items this week:

1. Wednesday evening, our Bear’s Den family team will meet to plan for Teacher Appreciation Week and a Spring Family Event. We’d love your ideas and input!

2. Please complete the School Climate Survey (links below)—as of Friday, we’ve only received 8 family submissions. Your feedback is essential to helping us grow and improve for our students.

Thank you for being such a supportive and involved community. Let’s make it a great week at Baltz!

With gratitude,

Ms. Gallagher, Mrs. Palma and Mr. Wright

• 3/24: Last Day of the Book Fair for the following classes: Corcoran, Anderson, Lyons, Bolling & Ellis
• 3/25: 5th Grade Field Trip - Stroud Water Research Center
• 3/26: Bears Den Meeting 6PM (Agenda: Spring Family Event & Teacher Appreciation Week)
• 3/27: Counselors host Baltz Career Fair for grades 4 & 5
• 3/28:
• End of 3rd Marking Period
• March Madness Events - 25 Bear Bucks to Participate, Dress in Athletic Gear
• 3/31: School Closed - In-Service Day
• 4/18-4/25: School closed - Spring Break!
• 4/28: Classes Resume - Welcome Back Baltz Bears!

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

Please utilize these links and/or QR Codes.

Home-English Survey link for all enrolled schools: https://delaware.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9H9enF3fK60sVtI

Home-Spanish Survey link for all enrolled schools: https://delaware.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_39236hyAJ9crA3A

T-shirts will be distributed in April for Autism Acceptance Month and are to support our Eagles Autism Foundation Fundraiser.

The t-shirt was designed and created by a class at Marbrook!

The fundraiser is open for two weeks and will end on March 24th.

Autism Acceptance Tshirt Fundraiser

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.

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
(302)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