Bethel Springs Elementary School
April 8, 2019
Jaguar Color Dash Kick-off Meeting Monday, April 29th at 7:00 PM in BSES Library!
We invite you to attend the official BSES HSA Jaguar Color Dash Kick Off Meeting on Monday, April 29th at 7:00pm in the BSES Library. Come check out the existing Library space, as well as hear from BSES Administrators about their plans to update the Library to keep pace with our 21st century learners! A digital rendering of the revitalized Library will be on display, as well as examples of furniture planned for the future space. The first 50 attendees will receive Jamba Juice coupons, and all attendees will receive a raffle ticket for a prize drawing at the end of the night!! Prizes to be raffled are a Buffalo Wild Wings sauce three-pack plus free item coupons, a Zoe’s Kitchen insulated cooler filled with sauces, spices and coupons, and a $200 Gift Certificate to Ivory Tree Portraits! We look forward to seeing you on April 29th at 7:00 on the BSES Library!
Take Your Child to Work Day
April 25th is "Take Your Child to Work Day." Children who take the day to be with parents at work will be marked absent, but the absence will be excused. Absences should be reported using the Safe Arrival app as is the usual procedure. While we see the value in this learning and family bonding experience, we find ourselves with a scheduling conflict for our students in grades 3 to 8. April 25th is a PSSA testing day. The state assessment calendar is dictated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. It is important that students be present for the testing. The test make-up window is limited and providing make-up testing for large numbers of students would be very difficult. If your child is in grades 3 to 8, please have him/her attend school on April 25th. Consider another date if you choose to have your child visit your place of work. We ask that you would avoid all dates for PSSA testing listed below:
English/Language Arts: April 24-26
Math: April 29,30
Science (Grade 4 only): May 1, 2
Thank you for your understanding!
Important Meeting at GVMS for Parents of 5th Graders!
Middle School Schedule and Course Selection Meeting:
We are cordially inviting all of our current and future middle school families to hear more about not only transitioning to the middle school but also our course selection process for next year.Please join us on Wednesday, April 10th in the Garnet Valley Middle School Auditorium. During our presentation, we will share exciting information in regards to the new implementation of the middle school schedule that will start in September 2019. This means not only will we begin our typical transition communication, but we will also unveil our new course selection process for student choice within our elective programming.
Parent Night Schedule:
For Incoming 6th Grade Parents
·Schedule Overview: 6:00 – 7:00 PM in the Auditorium
*Time built in for transition between presentations for arrival and departure purposes.
For Incoming 7th & 8th Grade Parents
·Schedule Overview: 7:30 – 8:30 PM in the Auditorium
All incoming 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students will participate in a course selection student assembly on Thursday, April 11th. Students will come home with a paper copy of the course selection form to share and discuss with you. After the parent presentation night, the GVMS Course Selection Guide will be available electronically for you to reference as you have your family discussion. Please review the course selection form with your child and send the form back with selections and signatures on Tuesday, April 23rd.
All information from the parent night and the student assembly information will be posted on the GVMS Scheduling website on April 12th. The link is below.
https://sites.google.com/garnetvalley.org/gvmsupdate/home
End-of-Year Information for Parents of 5th Grade Students!
STAY IN THE LOOP, 5TH GRADE PARENTS!!
Yearbook Questionnaires Needed!! While we have received baby pictures for ~95% of the 5th Grade Students, we have received less than 65% of the Questionnaires. It will be sad if there's nothing in the text box between your 5th grader's current and baby pictures in the yearbook, so please set a couple of minutes aside to answer the questions in this Google Form: 5th Grade Yearbook - Questionnaire Submissions.
Coming this Week - Time Capsule Submissions!! This week you will receive information about contributing to the “Class of 2026 Time Capsule.” The time capsule will contain memorabilia from your children’s elementary school experience and will be opened at the Post Prom Senior year. You will receive this REQUEST to write a letter to your child, a “Life as a 5th Grader” survey for your 5th grader to fill out, and a prelabeled envelope that you can use to submit the letter and survey.
5th Grade Promotion Assembly: Thursday, June 13th 1:30 PM BSES Gym
All of this info and more as it’s updated can be found on the HSA Website on the 5th Grade Events and Submission Page.https://goo.gl/forms/6d3mCxJVE3pUvW3v1
Reading Olympics
Field Day T-shirt Design
After Spring Break Visitors Must Present and Scan ID, Such As Driver's License, As New Security Measures Are Implemented in GV Elementary Schools
Dear School Community,
Garnet Valley School District is pleased to announce that we will begin using the Raptor Visitor Management System in all of our schools to strengthen our program of campus safety for students and faculty. Although Raptor is already used at the secondary level, all elementary schools will begin implementation after spring break. Part of keeping students and faculty safe is knowing who is in our buildings at all times, and the Raptor system will allow us to do that. The Raptor system will better allow us to screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools and provide us with a safer environment for our students and staff.
Upon entering a district building, visitors will be asked to present an ID such as a Driver’s License, which can either be scanned or manually entered into the system. If a parent or guardian for any reason does not have a US government-issued ID, the school staff member can use any form of identification and manually enter the person’s name into the Raptor system. The Raptor system will check to ensure that registered sexual offenders are not entering our school campuses without our knowledge. The Raptor system checks the visitor's name and date of birth for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the Raptor system. No other data from the ID is gathered or recorded and the information is not shared with any outside agency. Once entry is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of his/her visit. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork.
The safety of our students is our highest priority and the Raptor visitor management system allows us to quickly identify those that may present a danger to our students. Thank you in advance for your understanding and your support in enhancing the school safety protocols in our district. Especially at the elementary level, our principals will continue to communicate with parents as we implement the system after spring break.
Sincerely,
Dr. Marc Bertrando, Superintendent
Garnet Valley School District
Another successful Nature Trail Clean-up!
April Fitness Challenge
Trailblazers Club, Camps, and Events
Dear Garnet Valley Families,
With spring migration on the horizon, we are super excited to announce three programs for the upcoming season: BSES Birding Club, GVES Nature Club, and Spring Birding for Adults! Check out specifics of each below:
Programs
Trailblazers Spring Birding for Adults
Learn all about the birds found in our area! Participants will learn how to identify birds by both sight and sound on the BSES Nature Trail. Any level of birding experience welcome, but one should be able to walk on the nature trail for approximately one mile during a session. Binoculars are available for borrow as well! Participants in this course must be at least 18 years of age.
Leaders: Mr. BQ
Location: BSES Nature Trail Entrance
Meets on the Following Wednesdays from 6:00pm – 7:30pm: 5/1, 5/8, 5/15, 5/22
Program Tuition: $40
Check out a flyer for more information and how to register here:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=17fF9i3u7BVbUSqpglukJq9GbRuABprt8
We also have a brand new event for the spring:
Trailblazers Mommy & Me Mother's Day Weekend Bird Walk
Saturday, May 11, 9am – 11am
Join Trailblazers as we celebrate spring migration and Mother's Day at the same time! We will be spending our Saturday morning on the BSES Nature Trail in peak spring migration as we learn about the migrating bird species that visit the nature trail. Be prepared with proper footwear and clothing to walk on the BSES Nature Trail. Also, you can bring your own binoculars or borrow a pair from Trailblazers! Leaders: Mr. BQ
Location: BSES Nature Trail Entrance
Meets on Saturday, May 11th, 2019
Activity Tuition: $15.00 per family
Check out a flyer for more information and how to register here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MIuiVrwEwauBjFYfTeYyoDB1rtk50HCW/view?usp=sharingSummer Camps
Our summer camp offerings are filling up quickly! Here are the dates of all three sessions of camp along with a link to the flyer with more information on each:
Trailblazers Adventure Summer Camp - June 25th-29th, 2019 - 9am-3pm
Trailblazers High Adventure Summer Camp - July 22nd-26th, 2019 - 9am-4pm
Trailblazers High Adventure Summer Camp - August 5th-9th, 2019 - 9am-4pm
Check out the flyer here for more information and how to sign up:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1rf8eziphAMkC8BHpuV0UO0Ki3br4m8FuFree Events
Over spring break, I will be speaking at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia! Come check out this free talk for the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club, where guests are welcome (especially when it's not a school night):
"Birding with BQ in Arizona" by Mr. BQ at the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club
Thursday, April 18, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
The Academy of Natural Sciences - 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Southeastern Arizona is a birder's paradise! On my first-ever trip to this region, my friends and I made the most of our time exploring as many hotspots as we could fit into our five days. Through photography and digiscoping, we were able to observe many of the species that make Arizona a premier birding destination in the United States!
Looking forward to our most exciting spring yet!
As always, please let me know if you have any questions,
Brian "Mr. BQ" Quindlen, M.Ed.
Bethel Springs Elementary School
5th Grade Teacher
610-579-3040
Get involved with GV Trailblazers!
Summer Camp Opportunities in Garnet Valley!
Below is a link to all camps taking place in the district:
https://www.garnetvalleyschools.com/news/what_s_new/summer_programs
Pictured below are camps taking place at Bethel Springs:
PSSA Testing Dates for Students in Grades 3, 4, 5
Math: April 29,30
Science (Grade 4 only): May 1, 2
Make-up Dates: April 29-May 3
It is important that students be present in school during testing dates. Thank you.
Link to Bethel Springs Weekly Announcements on Website!
School Calendar
https://bses.garnetvalleyschools.com/calendar
The link for the calendar "School Calendar" is in the drop-down menu under "Our School" on the Bethel Springs website.
Place Your Yearbook Order!
Last Chance to Order Field Day T-shirts!
Jaguar Color Dash Kick-off Meeting on Mon. April 29th!
Please Read These Important Announcements from the BSES HSA!
LAST CALL FOR FIELD DAY T-SHIRTS: Each year on Bethel Springs’ Field Day, it has been a long standing tradition that students wear their Field Day T-shirts, and their classmates and teachers sign the shirts for posterity. The deadline to order those Field Day T-shirts is Monday, April 8th!!! Please click HERE to view the order form; please print and submit your completed form and payment (cash or checks made out to BSES HSA) immediately.
Please remember to submit ONE form for every T-Shirt ordered; siblings need to have separate forms. Homeroom parents and volunteers are encouraged to order shirts if interested! We will NOT have extras to purchase the week of Field Day. If you have any questions, please contact Sherie Higgins.
GET YOUR YEARBOOKS HERE! Be on the lookout for the 2018-2019 Yearbook Order Forms coming home with all students! (And if you cannot locate your flyer, feel free to print out the second page from HERE.) Yearbooks can be purchased for $20 up until Monday, April 29th, and payments can be made via checks written out to BSES HSA or MySchoolBucks. The order form portion of the flyer must be handed into school no matter which payment type you choose; please write your check number or MSB confirmation number on the order form when you submit it.
Volunteer Spotlight:
Oasis Family Fun Night: We had another even more successful evening at Oasis Family Fun Center on Wednesday, April 3rd! Thank you to Carrie Douglas (committee lead) and the GVHS Interact Volunteers for all of their hard work!! And thank you to everyone who came out to support our school!!
Nature Trail: Thank you to the Hauske Family for taking such great care of the Nature Trail this past week!
Upcoming Dates:
April 8 Field Day T-Shirt Order Forms Due
April 15-22 No School Spring Break
April 29 Jaguar Color Dash Kick-Off Meeting (BSES Library at 7pm)
April 29 Yearbook Orders Due
For the most up to date information check the HSA Website: BSES HSA
Follow us on social media-
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bseshsa/
Instagram: @bethel_springs_hsa
Twitter: @bseshsa1
Discover Greece!
This Week's Fact About Greece: The Greeks revolutionized the art of sculpture. Instead of stiff poses and blank faces, Greek artists began to carve statues of people that showed both movement and emotion.
ARCHIVE OF FACTS ABOUT GREECE
GREEK FACT FROM 9-10-18
https://www.smore.com/zjy34GREEK FACT FROM 9-17-18
GREEK FACT FROM 9-24-18
GREEK FACT FROM 10-1-18
GREEK FACT FROM 10-8-18
GREEK FACT FROM 10-15-18
GREEK FACT FROM 10-22-18
GREEK FACT FROM 10-29-18
GREEK FACT FROM 11-5-18
GREEK FACT FROM 11-12-18
GREEK FACT FROM 11-21-18
GREEK FACT FROM 11-26-18
GREEK FACT FROM 12-3-18
GREEK FACT FROM 12-10-18
GREEK FACT FROM 12-17-18
GREEK FACT FROM 12-31-18
GREEK FACT FROM 1-7-19
GREEK FACT FROM 1-14-19
GREEK FACT FROM 1-21-19
GREEK FACT FROM 1-28-19
GREEK FACT FROM 2-4-19
GREEK FACT FROM 2-11-19
GREEK FACT FROM 2-18-19
GREEK FACT FROM 2-25-19
GREEK FACT FROM 3-4-19
GREEK FACT FROM 3-11-19
GREEK FACT FROM 3-18-19
GREEK FACT FROM 3-25-19
GREEK FACT FROM 4-1-19
Parent Education Opportunities
Important Dates Coming Up!
April 15-19 and 22: Spring Break Students return on Tuesday, April 23rd
April 24-May 3: PSSA Testing for Grades 3, 4, 5
Garnet Valley Celebration of the Arts
The Celebration of the Arts is just around the corner. In fact, it's next month. The students of Garnet Valley have been diligently working in the Visual Arts, Technology, and Family and Consumer Science Departments. The Celebration of the Arts is our opportunity to demonstrate our creativity, talents, and dedication. So please mark your calendars and plan to attend. The opening exhibition is Tuesday, May 7 from 6:00 - 8:30 pm in the HS new gym.
Additional viewing times are:
Tuesday, May 7, daytime from 8am - 6pm
Wednesday, May 8 daytime from 8am - 3pm
Wednesday, May 8 evening from 6:00 - 8:30 pm
Thursday, May 9 daytime from 8am - 3pm.
It’s FREE to the public! We are looking forward to seeing you there!