Bulldog Paw Prints
Week Ending October 20, 2023
Parents can begin signing up for their elementary student’s (K-6th grade) lunch
Lunch program begins Oct. 30
Parents should have received an email on Thursday, Oct. 19 inviting them to sign up to purchase lunch for their elementary-age student (K-6) if they choose. Parents can sign up and begin ordering lunch now but the program begins the week of Monday, Oct. 30.
The lunches can be ordered through MyMealOrder (www.MyMealOrder.com) and are made by District 58’s food service provider Quest. The online program gives you the ability to manage and pay for your student’s meal purchases and they will be delivered to your child’s school. To sign up, visit: https://MyMealOrder.com and click the login button, then click on “Register for a Free Account.”
You will need your student’s ID number, last name and school to complete registration. In the Oct. 19 email, you received your student’s ID number. This document shows detailed step-by-step directions to set up an account and to begin placing orders. Once you finish registration, you may log in to begin managing your student’s account instantly. Students who currently receive a lunch under the free/reduced lunch eligibility will continue to do so, and should not use the MyMealOrder system at this time.
ALICE Drill
Next up, we will hold the ALICE drill (Active Threat Drill) with the Downers Grove Police Department. This will take place this coming Tuesday, October 24. This drill helps students understand what steps they would take if there was ever an active threat within our school. Students will learn how to recognize an active threat within the building, follow adult directions, and practice getting to safety.
Our district now practices the ALICE model. For more information on ALICE, you can visit: LINK HERE,
ALICE Information
The first PTA meeting was on September 26, and it was successful. As part of the principal report, I focused on school safety. This presentation was more focused on the pieces that we have in place that have been planned and implemented behind the scenes--much more focused on what the district/schools have in place and the trainings that have been provided rather than on student expectations.
Those who were present commented that the information presented was valuable and informative. I have attached the slide deck with voice-over for you to be informed.
One piece that PTA attendees asked for me to highlight is on Slide 14, "Our #1 Priority is Returning Students Safely to Their Families." This slide focused on the ways parents can support our efforts in the event of a school emergency. A parent's first instinct may be to rush to the school. Please don't do that. We need to keep Belle Aire Lane and our parking lot open and clear for emergency responders.
There is a lot of information in the slides, so please reach out to me if you have any questions.
Gr. 4 flower dissections
Student Attendance
Health Guidance for Going to School
Belle Aire School has not been immune to having a larger-than-normal number of students who are chronically absent. At this point in the school year. A student who has missed 10 percent of school is considered chronically absent, and at this point in the school year.
Our Positive Behavior Student Support Team (PBSST), made up of special service providers, classroom teacher, our school nurse and admin, will continue sorting through our attendance data and will be reaching out to families falling into this category to offer support, to problem-solve, and to see what barriers may be impacting student attendance.
Gr. 4 learning how moss and ferns reproduce
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Reading Games Registration is Open! (Repeat Item)
The Reading Games is a fun reading competition for District 58 students in grades 3-8. Students read books from the book lists, then face other teams to answer questions about the books they've read. It is a great opportunity for kids to read new books and discuss them with friends. Teams are made up of 5-8 students, and may include students from different grades and schools. However, due to space limitations, participation in the Reading Games is limited only to DG58 students. Teams will read books and be asked questions from Book List 1 (3rd-4th grades) or Book List 2 (5th-8th grades).
Team Registration
Completing the team registration form below reserves your spot as a team to compete on Saturday, February 24, 2024. You do not need to identify the students that will be on your team for this registration, so there is time to finalize the team members. Before Winter Break, you will be asked to provide more information about your team, including team name. Each team should plan to have the following overall adult participation:
*1 Adult Team Volunteer - This person will fill a role separate from the team on the day of the event, as a moderator, scorekeeper or other needed role. (This can be the Team Contact or another parent)
*2 Adult Team Chaperones – These people will stay with the team on the day of the event to supervise the team. (The Team Contact can fill one of these roles, or both can be filled by other team parents. This is in addition to the separate Team Volunteer listed above and would not be the same person)
Click here for TEAM REGISTRATION
Individual Registration
If you have a child who would like to participate but does not have a team, you may request a spot using the individual registration form. Although we cannot guarantee a spot on a team, we will do our very best to match children to existing teams, or to assist you in creating a new team.
Halloween Party, Parade, and Costumes (repeat item)
Many of our students are already brainstorming costume ideas, and it's been fun hearing about so many options.
We are looking forward to hosting Halloween at Belle Aire School, and I have some very general and initial information to share today.
If they so choose, students will be able to wear a costume to school on Tuesday, October 31. The key to this is that the costumes need to allow the students to participate in classroom activities as they would on a typical day. While costume masks may be worn for the all-school parade, they won't be worn during the school day.
As an alternate option, students can wear part of their costume (sweatpants, shorts, leggings, shirt, etc.) and then slip the remaining pieces of the costume over that later in the day. There will be a very short amount of time to allow this to take place before our parade.
*I'm excited to see the final costumes that each student chooses, and I ask for your help in making sure that the choices remain free from references to violence, drugs, and alcohol.
*Any desired make-up, hair color, hair spray all need to be applied at home prior to the start of the school day.
*Any accessory or play weapons (axe, arrows, swords, etc.) that go along with some really great costumes need to stay at home.
The costume parade will be held outside of the school and really makes for some great photo opportunities. Classroom parties are scheduled to take place after the parade, and Mrs. Yoho (THANK YOU) has been looking to identify parents to facilitate a party in each classroom. Be on the lookout for information from her, and check the PTA website to volunteer!
As of now, we are planning the parade to start at 2:00 p.m. with classroom parties concluding at 2:45 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, we will have a modified, indoor parade for families to see.
District 58 has a rich and diverse population in our learning community. District 58 staff members recognize that many families have different beliefs; and because of religious, cultural, or personal reasons, some families may choose to not be involved in Halloween activities. If you would not like your child(ren) to participate in Halloween activities, please communicate this with your classroom teacher and with me. We will then find an alternative location and activity for your child during the Halloween activities.
District Calendar, 2023-2024
Mark Your Calendars
Monday, October 23: 2:00 Dismissal for Students
Tuesday, October 24: ALICE Drill; Let's Code It Club (3:05-4:05 p.m. for those enrolled); Run/Walk Club (3:00 p.m. - 3:35 p.m for those registered.)
Wednesday, October 25: BAM Theater (after school for those enrolled)
Friday, October 27: Pizza Hot Lunch (for those who ordered)
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Monday, October 30: Picture Re-take Day