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Bellmont Elementary
Be BRAVES - Respect, Community, Growth
BES Upcoming Events
- Tuesday, October 3 - BES and BMS picture retake day
- Friday, October 6 - DFD brining fire trucks for PK to see (AM @ 9:00 - PM @ 1:15)
- Wednesday, October 11 - End of the 1st 9 weeks of school
- Thursday, October 12 - Parent/Teacher Conferences (3:30-7:00)
- Friday, October 13 - Kindergarten to the Pumpkin Patch (Steele Farms)
- October 16 - October 20 - Fall Break - No School
- Friday, October 27 - 5th Grade field trip to Biztown
- Monday, October 30 Callithumpian Parade (7:00-9:00)
- Tuesday, October 31 - 2nd BRAVES Day at BES - (Monster Mash)
- Wednesday, November 8 - Flex Day - No School
- November 9 and 10 - Safari Dental visiting North Adams Community Schools
- Friday, November 17 - Mid-Term for 2nd 9 weeks
- November 22-24 - Thanksgiving Break - No School Wednesday-Friday, IMPORTANT NOTE *************Wednesday, November 22 is a POTENTIAL inclement weather make-up day
- Thursday, December 21 - end of 2nd 9 weeks and end of 1st semester
- December 22-January 2 - Christmas Break - No School (Students return on January 3rd)
Parent Teacher Conferences
BES Fall Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 12 from 3:30-7:00. Please be on the look out for an invitation from your child's teacher to schedule a time to come in to school. This is a great opportunity for you to come in and talk to your child's teacher early on in the school year to come up with a plan to help your child be successful all school year. Our second P/T Conference date will be in early spring (typically in February).
Attendance is VERY Important
- If your child is absent, a phone call to (260) 724-3137 or send an e-mail to claghornk@nadams.k12.in.us is required before 8:30 a.m.
- Students who are absent without a parent/guardian contacting the school are marked as unexcused. Unexcused absences will have disciplinary consequences.
- Students need to be in their classroom by 8:10 a.m. or they are considered tardy to school.
- Students have five (5) days per semester they can be absent with a parent call. Anything beyond 5 days in a semester requires a doctor's note.
- Below is a link to the BES Student handbook. Attendance starts on page 14.
Chronic Absences - 15 or More Days Absent
- Excused and unexcused absences represent lost time in the classroom and lost opportunities to learn
- Missing just one day every two weeks can add up to 15 days in a year. Absences add up before you even know it.
Warning - 8-15 Days Absent
- Students who are absent an average of 15 days a year miss a year's worth of school before their senior year.
- When students miss a day of school it actually puts them two days behind their classmates.
Good Attendance - 8 or Fewer Absences
- Students with good attendance generally achieve higher grades and enjoy school more.
- Children benefit and make the most of their educational opportunities if they attend school regularly and on time.
ZoomQ
For those of you that may be experincing a "refresh" screen on ZoomQ, or it is slower than normal, please see the attachment below. The developers think it may be a browser issue on the phone and the cache needs to be cleared. Attached are some instructions on how to clear your cache on both androids and IPhones.
Car Rider Arrival and Dismissal
In an effort to keep all kids safe at car rider arrival and dismissal time, we ask that you pull all the way forward behind the car in front of you when letting out or picking up your children from school. In the morning, we DO NOT let the outside lane go around to exit because there are adults and children walking from the parking lot coming in to the school. We do allow the outside lane to go around in the afternoon because all of the kids are coming from the building. Thank you for your cooperation.
October Lunch Menu
Please see the attachment below to access the October lunch menu
Counselors Corner
Why in the world do primary students have homework anyway?
The homework process teaches students valuable study skills for life! When I was a middle school counselor, I noticed some students never acquired study skills early on. Homework teaches your child to plan long range (like for projects), learn organization skills, and how to manage their time. These were all the skills parents said their child did not have when I was helping them in middle school. So start early!!
Homework teaches students responsibility. Through homework, students learn skills they must develop if they are to grow to be independent, successful adults.
The homework process also has the potential to increase a student’s self-esteem. When parent and child work together, the child knows that he/she is important enough for the parent to stop what he/she’s doing, put down the cell phone, pay attention, and get involved. And that is a good feeling for your child to have!
Parent HW Tips
Tip #1:
Set up a study area. It should be well lit, quiet, have all the necessary supplies, accommodate the child’s learning style (quiet, music, etc).
Tip #2:
Create a homework survival kit. Don’t waste time frantically looking for supplies. Have a kit available (pencils, sharpener, crayons, glue stick, scissors, tape, ruler).
Tip #3:
Schedule daily HW time. Don’t let time run out. Make time and have kids stick to it. It is best to have your student do it as soon as possible after school with adult help.
Tip #4:
Encourage children to work independently. Only offer to help once the child has used all of their own resources for independent work.
Tip #5
Motivate children with praise. Your opinion and support matters to your child! You increase their self -confidence when you praise them. They will develop a sense of pride in personal achievements, as you motivate them to do their best!
Community Mental Health Services
Bowen Center Services @ Bellmont Elementary
Bowen Center offers an array of services for families at Bellmont. If your child qualifies for Medicaid, services such as skills coaching can be provided to your child at no cost. Rather than focusing on deficits, Bowen Center focuses on strengths, improving on your child’s skills in the classroom. Skills coaches help modify behavior and teach the skills necessary to achieve success and independence based on patient goals. Bowen also offer outpatient therapy, psychological evaluations, medication management, and visits to psychiatrists.
Park Center Decatur @ Bellmont Elementary
If you have private insurance, Park Center Decatur offers outpatient therapy, psychiatry, and medication management. If your child qualifies for Medicaid, Park Center Decatur offers case management at school and home. Case managers work with clients to live a more functional life with the behaviors or diagnosis they are living with.
Adams Memorial Behavioral Health
If you have private insurance or Medicaid there are services offered at school, school-based counseling. Outpatient counseling, medication management and psychiatric services are all offered at AMBH.
Hero Meals
Hero meals are easily transportable bags of food will be available for your child to pick up at the end of the school day each Friday (or the last day of the school week in case of holidays). The bags will be at the main office doors or elementary bus doors. This program is free for your family. Please see attached for more information and an application for the program.
Safari Dental
Anyone that attends North Adams Community Schools that is interested in taking advantage of having Safari Dental look at your child's teeth for free, please visit the website that is listed on the flyer below. Hard copies will be coming home soon as well. They will be at Bellmont on November 9th and 10th.
Callithumpian Week
Many different activities happen in the city of Decatur the weeks leading up to the Callithumpian Parade. Please click here to see the events happening. I would encourage you to take you kids to some of the events, they will have a blast!!