Bear Bulletin
The Week of June 7 - 11
From the Principal
If you have a rising kindergarten student or know someone who does, we are currently enrolling for the upcoming school year. Registration information can be located on the BES or the D5 websites. Once the online portion is completed, please contact our Registrar, Mrs. Spell, to complete the process. We look forward to meeting the newest BES Bears!
Finally, this is a good time to check out the lost and found by the cafeteria for jackets, sweaters, and sweatshirts that may have gone missing during the winter. You may drop by between 3:00 - 5:00 at the door nearest the cafeteria. Any clothing items left at the end of the school year will be donated to charity.
Upcoming Dates & Links
June 9 - Senior Walk, 1:45 (See important details below)
June 10 - New Kindergarten Student Welcome & Orientation (rising kdg students), 4:30 - 5:15
June 16 - Bear Blast
June 17 - Half day, dismiss at 10:45am, BES Spirit Day at Highway 55 (details below)
June 18 - Last day for students, dismiss at 10:45am, FIVE Celebration drive -through 11:30 am
Help us spread the word to former BES Bears!
*** Please note, due to COVID restrictions, only students will be allowed inside the building for the Senior Walk. Pictures may be taken outside of the school.***
From Mrs. Colchin - Art Info
803-476-4581. Frames are $25 each. Payments can be made to BES or cash. The last day to request a framed art piece will be Friday, June 11.
End of the Year Events
Grade levels and homeroom teachers will be planning and communicating details about end of year special events. Here are a few to start putting on the calendar!
- For our newest Bears - Kindergarten Welcome Orientation - June 10th, from 4:30 - 5:15. This outdoor meet & greet will let students see the kindergarten teachers and administrators, collect important information, and purchase BES spirit wear. More info to come!
- 5th Grade Celebration & Promotion will be on Friday, June 11th all day with special activities and an end of the year recognition for parents to join virtually. Specifics will come from the homeroom teachers as the celebration will be held in individual classes.
- We will have our annual school-wide Bear Blast on Wednesday, June 16th. It will be a full day of activities that is sure to be a fun ending to a memorable year!
- FIVE Reunion Celebration on Friday, June 18th from 11:30 - 12:00 will be a drive through opportunity for our virtual students to see all BES staff one more time to wrap the year up. This will take place in the front car line.
Planning for Next Year
I know it is hard to believe, but we are already starting to plan for the 2021-2022 school year! An important part of this preparation is building our master schedule and class lists. The staff spends a great deal of time and effort to ensure that the individual needs of all students are met. If you have specific concerns, however, about your child’s academic needs, please put them in writing to Mrs. Bright, Principal, by Friday, June 4, 2021. ***A letter is not needed unless your child has specific needs that need to be considered during class placement. Requests for specific teachers will not be considered. All letters must be received by Friday, June 4, 2021.***
Yearbook Distribution
Yearbooks will be distributed to 5th graders on Friday, June 11th, in time for their 5th Grade Celebration Day! All other students will receive theirs on Wednesday, June 16th, in time for Bear Blast. If you have not ordered yours yet, there is still time, although quantities are getting limited. You may purchase yearbooks in the front office, but with such a limited number of books remaining, they will be first come first serve. The cost of the yearbooks is $35.00.
Medication Pick Up from the Health Room
The end of the school year is almost here and we are making preparations for the closing of the Health Room. If your child has medication here at school, a parent or guardian will need to pick up the medication before 12:00 pm on Friday, June 18th.
For safety reasons, we do not send medications home with students and medications cannot be stored over the summer months. Any medications remaining will have to be disposed of according to DHEC regulations. Please stop by the health room to pick up your child’s medications before 12:00pm on Thursday, June 18th. If you need to make special arrangements, please call the nurse at 803-476-4509.
Also, if your student will need prescription medicine to be given at school or if they have a chronic medical condition, an Individual Health Plan and/or medication form for the 2021-2022 school year will be available for you when you pick up your child's medication from the health room.
Any health care plans that have not been picked up will be mailed to you at the beginning of summer so that you can have them reviewed and signed by your medical doctor prior to school starting in August. This is extremely important! It helps us start the year off being able to fully take care of your child's medical needs at school. This is also helpful to your doctor as they get an overload of medication permission forms and IHP approval forms to sign at the beginning of the school year!
A Peek at Our Week
Proof of Residence Required of All D5 Students
Once again this year, all District 5 students will be required to provide THREE proofs of residence for the upcoming school year. In order for your child to be scheduled into a homeroom, you will need to provide the following prior to August 13:
1) Property tax bill / Lease / or Real Estate Closing documents
2) TWO bills dated July 1, 2021 or later. These can be electric, water, sewer, cable, satellite, phone, vehicle tax or voter registration card.
You may drop by the school at your convenience as this process truly takes about two minutes. Our front office is open from 7:00am – 4:00pm through June 18. From June 21 – August 6, the school hours will be 7:00am – 5:00pm, Monday – Thursday.
You can also fax them to BES at 476-4520. Please write your child(ren)’s name(s) on them so we can make sure the info is recorded for the appropriate student(s).
When a student and his/her parent/legal guardian move in with a family in an existing home/apartment, the parent/legal guardian must still provide proof of acceptable address through the affidavit process. The homeowner must provide the three proofs of residence above and an affidavit must be completed and notarized. Please call 476-4500 and speak to Mrs. Spell, our registrar, if you have any questions.
Kindergarten Registration for 2021-2022 Now Open
BES is currently registering students for five-year-old kindergarten for children who will be five years-old on or before September 1, 2021. Parents and guardians of children meeting this eligibility can go to the District’s Registration Page online to begin registering your child at http://bit.ly/D5Register5K. In-person registration may be available at zoned elementary schools. Required documents include:
The student’s legal birth certificate
- A current South Carolina Certificate of Immunization, or a South Carolina Certificate of Medical or Religious Exemption
- A property tax receipt or a rental lease showing all occupants
- Two utility bills showing the current home address
Students that are in the 4-year-old kindergarten program and in PowerSchool should not complete the new student process, as current students will roll into 5-year-old kindergarten at the end of the school year. Parents will be prompted to update their information in Registration Gateway over the summer.
For more information on School District Five’s 5-year-old kindergarten program or the online registration form, contact Mrs. Spell, BES Registrar at 476-4500.
How to Reach Us...
Parent input and feedback are always appreciated as we work through new routines and procedures. Whether through a phone call or an email, we welcome your thoughts and ideas. The Administrative Team at BES is always available to help in any way we can! You can contact us by calling the main office at 476-4500 or emailing us directly.
Principal Robin Bright rbright@lexrich5.org
Assistant Principal Zach Keister zkeister@lexrich5.org
Assistant Administrator Amy Sgorrano asgorran@lexrich5.org
Follow BES on social media as well!
Facebook @BallentineElementarySchool
Twitter @BallentineElem
Our Mission…
The mission of Ballentine Elementary School is to join together community, staff, students, and families to ensure that all students are provided a world-class, rigorous education.
Our Vision…
In partnership with the community, staff, students, and families, Ballentine Elementary School will exemplify excellence in education in a positive, safe and nurturing environment in order to prepare our students to be fully participating citizens and leaders. We will foster the development of creative thinking, encourage curiosity and problem solving, promote respect for individual differences and uphold high ethical standards.