January Family Newsletter
2023-2024 School Year
Dear Barley Sheaf School Community,
Happy New Year! We hope that you enjoyed a restful winter break surrounded by family and friends. As we step into the new year, we want to extend a warm welcome back to all of our staff, students, and families. We're excited to embark on 2024 together, filled with new opportunities for growth and learning. Our school community looks forward to continuing the journey of education and discovery with your child.
December was an exciting month at Barley Sheaf! Our PTO hosted our Scholastic Book Fair for students and donated many books to our wonderful teachers. Thank you to all of our parent volunteers who made this shop a huge success! The PTO also organized our Holiday Hands drive, providing gifts to local families. We are so grateful for the generosity of our school community. December also brought our first annual Family Heritage Night! A very special thank you to our families who volunteered to share their special food, customs, and traditions. This event was a huge success and we look forward to more families joining our celebration next year.
In January, we are excited for our Fourth Grade Winter Concert! Ms. Kaetzel and our fourth grade students in the Chorus program have been working very hard to prepare for their upcoming performance. We also look forward to the start of After School Enrichment Clubs, organized by our PTO. We have many wonderful opportunities available to our students!
With great appreciation,
Amy Switkes, Principal
Kimberly Bostory, Vice Principal
Save the Date
1/2/24- Classes Resume
1/3/24- PTO Dine Out Day
1/5/24- Spirit Day!
1/15/24- School Closed, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
1/22/24 through 1/26/24- The Great Kindness Challenge
1/23/24- Early Dismissal Day for Students, 1:20 p.m.
1/25/24- Fourth Grade Winter Concert 7:00 p.m.
Is Your Contact Information Updated?
Families, please be sure to log into the Genesis Parent Portal to make sure your contact information is updated. This includes phone numbers and email addresses. As winter weather approaches, we want to make sure you get your school closing or delayed opening notifications.
Attendance
Please note the following:
- Students entering the building after 8:55 a.m. must be signed in by a parent and will be marked as tardy. Students who are picked up early before 3:25 p.m. will be marked as early dismissal. In accordance with our attendance policy, 3 tardies or dismissals will equal 1 absence.
Please review these helpful tips for what you can do at home to promote regular attendance for your child.
Safety and Security Procedures
- Visitors must be signed in and wear a visitor badge in the building.
- Do not hold any doors for visitors.
- Only staff and students are permitted on school grounds during school hours.
- For the safety and security of our staff and students, monthly fire and security drills are conducted.
- We have a full time School Resource Officer, Officer John Carney, working at Barley Sheaf every day.
- Please use the crosswalks in the parking lot.
- Please obey the 15 mph speed limit in our parking lot.
Dismissal Reminders
- Please make sure to call or send a note when your child's dismissal changes or if they will be picked up early for any reason.
- If you need to change your child's dismissal after the school day has started, please call the Main Office at 908-284-7586 before 2:30pm and we will be happy to relay the message.
- If your child attends the YMCA after-care and you make a change to their dismissal, please contact both the YMCA and the Barley Sheaf main office regarding any changes.
Cold Weather is Here!
Children should come dressed for outside play every day since they will be going outside for recess. Please remember to send your children to school with a coat, hat, and gloves!
From Our School Counselors
School Information
Send a Birthday Message!
Make your Barley Sheaf child's birthday extra special by wishing him or her a Happy Birthday on the electronic sign in front of the building! Please send an email to Megan Campbell at megan.campbell@frsd.us at least one week before the date and include your child's name, birthdate, grade and teacher. A Happy Birthday message with your child's first name will appear on the sign on their special day. The $10 cash or check donation can be sent to Barley Sheaf either in your child's backpack or via US mail. Checks should be made out to Barley Sheaf PTO.