Dear Keystone Families and Staff,

We hope you’re having a great weekend! Here are some important updates and reminders:

📌No School on Monday, February 17th – Students will have the day off in observance of Presidents’ Day.

📌 Tuesday, February 18th- Will be the letter "D" day for special areas.

📌Thursday, February 20th- The Student Council will host Western Day. Dress in your best Western attire and bring in a $1 donation.

❗ No Pretzel Sales This Week – There will be no pretzel sales this week. We appreciate your support. Pretzel sales are expected to resume next week.

🍫 Gertrude Hawk Fundraiser – Our fundraiser runs until February 24th! We’re accepting online orders, cash, and checks (made out to "Keystone Behavior Program"). Visit Gertrude Hawk Fundraising to set up online sales. Orders will arrive the week of March 24th, just in time for conferences! More details can be found below.

❤️ Keystone Gives Back! – So far, we’ve raised $1,025 for RMHC! A huge shout out to kindergartner Hayleigh Minutolo from Ms. Murphy's class, who is currently leading for the most money raised. Our goal is $2,500, and we know we can reach it!

🏆 Classroom Prizes – The class with the most participants will win a special prize, and the class that raises the most money for Read for the House will also receive a special reward. Keep up the great work!

📚 Learning Ally Information Session – Two ways to participate:
🔹 Virtual Option: Join the Zoom session on 2/20/2025 from 6-7 PM.
🔹 In-Person Option: Attend the session at the BTSD Administration Building to receive training materials, work with your child at home, and connect with district personnel. RSVP Here: to attend.

🎭 5th Grade Trip to Once Upon a One More Time – February 26th
🔹On February 26th, 5th-grade students from all three elementary schools will attend a special performance of Once Upon a One More Time at Truman High School. We are thrilled for our fifth-grade learners to have this wonderful opportunity.

Thank you for your support and dedication to our Keystone community!

Have a great week!

Respectfully,

Mrs. Smith-Herman & Mr. Wilicki

Smencils will be sold.

Pretzels $1

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

*No pretzel sales the week of February 17th*

Wear Keystone Paw Shirt

You will reach out to your friends and family who are supporting your reading efforts and collect their donations. You can feel good knowing every dollar you raised will help families in need!

February 10th- February 24th

February 17th

February 20th

Dress is your best Western attire and bring in a $1 donation.

Once Upon a One More Time Play at Truman

February 26th

Read as much as you can throughout the month and keep track of how many minutes you read using the calendar we provide.

March 6th

6:00-7:00pm

Please RSVP- see flyer below

At Keystone Elementary School

March 13th

March 24-28th

Evening Conferences- Monday, March 24th

April 1st

April 23-25- ELA (3rd, 4th, 5th)- AM

*Make-ups in the PM

April 28-29- Math (3rd, 4th, 5th)- AM

*Make-ups in the PM

April 30th-May 1st- 5th Grade Science- AM

*Make-ups in the PM

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

May 14th at 7 pm

June 5th- Kindergarten/First- AM

June 5th- 2nd/3rd- PM

June 6th- 4th/5th- AM

Rain Dates- June 9th and 10th

Friday, June 13th

Tuesday, June 17th

What does America mean to you?

In 2026, the United States will mark our Semiquincentennial: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Today’s young people are the leaders, innovators, and thinkers who will shape the next 250 years — and it’s important their voices are heard as we commemorate this historic milestone.

America’s Field Trip is a contest that invites students across the country in grades 3–12 to be part of America’s 250th anniversary by sharing their perspectives on what America means to them — with the opportunity to earn an unforgettable field trip experience at some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks.

Students are asked to submit writing or original artwork in response to the contest’s prompt: “What does America mean to you?”

Submissions will be accepted until Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

We prefer online orders, but will accept cash and checks. If writing a check please make the checks payable to "Keystone Behavior Program."

We will be accepting orders until February 24th and expect orders to arrive at the school the week of March 24th, 2025.

Click the link below to order.

Remember all students that raise at least $1 will receive a certificate, RMHC Philly button, a free cookie from Famous 4th Street Cookie Company certificate, and a free water ice certificate from Rita's water ice- all coming from the Ronald McDonald House Charity.

The class that has the most participants will win a special prize for their class. The class that raising the most money for Read for the House will also win a special prize.

Please make sure to register at RMHCphilly.org/read .

Please click below to access the parent packet and more information about the Read for the House reading fundraiser.

If you are interested in volunteering for field trips and school events please view the information below in regards to the items needed to obtain your volunteer badge. Once you obtain all your clearances please email them to the following email address; personnel@bristoltwpsd.org .

Curriculum 2024-2025 Presentation - Bristol Townships School District students use learning materials and resources to learn in all content areas: ELA, writing, math, science, social studies, and STEAM. Our curriculum is research-based, and aligns with the Pennsylvania Department of Educational Standards.

DEVELOPING A MATHEMATICAL MINDSET Developing a Mathematical Mindset Presentation - Explains the difference between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset, and how parents/guardians can support a growth mindset at home.

WIT & WISDOM READING Wit & Wisdom Curriculum - A comprehensive K–8 English language arts curriculum crafted to help students build the knowledge and skills they need to be successful readers.

LIBRARY NEWS
Library News Presentation - Explains changes to the elementary library program, including information about what students will learn in the library and how the search feature works.

MTSS Handbook - A guide for all educators, administrators and staff to help support students improve in academic, behavior, and attendance areas.

MTSS Brochure - A quick introduction to our approach to supporting all students learning needs.

MTSS Podcast -Explains how MTSS supports all learners.

Transportation Office Contact Information

Hours of operation:
5:30 AM to 5:30 PM

Phone Number is 267-599-2390

Transportation Coordinator: Traci Williams, traci.williams@bristoltwpsd.org. 267-599-2370
Transportation Secretary: Annie Bulla, annie.bulla@bristoltwpsd.org. 267-599-2370
STA Terminal Manager: Devon Padilla, dpadilla@ridesta.com
AM Dispatch: Joyel Ryan, jryan@ridesta.com
PM Dispatch: Gabrielle Musnuff, gmusnuff@ridesta.com
BTSD Transportation Email address: transportation@bristoltwpsd.org

Read the letter from the Superintendent here.

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

This month is all about Perseverance. One way to think about Perseverance is “pushing yourself through challenges and obstacles.” We all experience challenges in our lives. We all have moments when we feel like we can’t do it or that we want to give up on a big task. It is important to develop tools that help us work through those challenges in order to grow in those moments instead of giving up. How might you practice Perseverance as a family this month? Perseverance 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.

Pursuit #1

Consistency is hard. Have each person in the family commit to 1 thing they will do each day this week. Maybe it is flossing, drinking a certain amount of water, getting to bed at a certain time, limiting screen time, or exercising. Create a place where each person can tally their progress and see who can keep their streak going the longest!

Pursuit #2

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

Story Prompts:

● A time I (or someone else) showed Perseverance was _____.

● An act of Perseverance that changed/challenged me was _____.

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.

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

Interventionist 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 .

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.