Bear Bulletin
Week of May 3 - 7, 2021
From the Principal
Dear BES families,
A few weeks ago, BES families received an email regarding the SC State Department of Education Parent Opinion Survey. Although the Parent Opinion Survey has been administered for many years, only parents of students in the highest grade in elementary and middle schools and parents of 11th graders in high schools previously were afforded the opportunity to respond to the paper survey. This year we are excited that the survey has been moved to an online platform and is accessible to ALL parents of students in grades K-12!
We will be re-sending the survey to BES families this coming week. If you have not already completed this survey, please consider taking a few moments to provide feedback so that we can continue to ensure that Ballentine Elementary is the BESt it can be for our students and their families! We value your input!
Upcoming Dates & Links
Monday, May 3
- Spring Book Fair starts!
Friday, May 7
- School Lunch Hero Day - We are so thankful for our cafeteria staff!
- PTO Meeting, virtual - 9:00am
Monday, May 10
- D5 School Board Meeting, 7:00pm
- Unified Champion Spirit Week (more details coming soon!)
- National Police Officer's Week - We are so thankful for our School Resource Officer, Deputy Myers!
Thursday, May 13
- Early Release Day, dismissal at 11:40
- FIVE students - Device Check & Cleaning 12 - 2 (see info below)
Tuesday, May 18
- SC Ready - ELA (in-person students only)
Wednesday, May 19
- SC Ready - ELA (in-person students only)
Tuesday, May 18
- SC Ready - ELA (FIVE students) Details coming soon!
Friday, May 1
- SC Ready - ELA (FIVE students) Details coming soon!
Monday, May 24
- D5 School Board Meeting, 7:00pm
Tuesday, May 25
- SC Ready - Math (in-person students only)
Wednesday, May 26
- SIC meeting, 7:00am
- SC Ready - Math (FIVE students) Details coming soon!
It’s Book Fair Time!
We are so excited about the spring book fair this coming week, May 3 - 7! While each class will have the opportunity to come look at and shop for books, we would love to have families join us! With the current restrictions, this will be a little different than in previous years. Family shopping time will be scheduled after school hours. We will be limiting the number of people in the library at one time, as well as the amount of time a family has to shop. Please use the link below to sign up for a time for your family to come in. Make sure to use the arrows at the top left of the screen to get to May 5th & 6th. Reservation times are limited so make sure to sign up soon! Here is a link to the digital flyer. This is only a small portion of the books that will be in the book fair. If you send money with your child, please be aware that you will need to add 8% sales tax and any check needs to be made out to BES. Click HERE to sign up for your family shopping time.
Chromebook Check & Cleaning
***FIVE students will need to come by the school on Thursday, May 13th, between the hours of 12:00 - 2:00. Just pull up to the front of the school and the device (including the case and charging cable) will be checked and cleaned while you wait. The process only takes a few minutes!***
From the PTO
Mother Son Bowling Night! Pre-order your Mother Son Date Night Kits for $10 by April 30th through this online portal
https://besmotherson.cheddarup.com
Each kit will include a voucher for one game of bowling and shoe rental for both an adult and a child at Anchor Lanes in Irmo and two Lil' Sundae vouchers from Highway 55 in Ballentine.
Extra child kits can be ordered for $5 that will include one game of bowling and shoe rental plus one Lil' Sundae voucher. Highway 55 vouchers are valid through May 31 for dine in or carry out orders and Anchor Lane vouchers can be used through July 31. Kits will be sent home with students or available for office pickup on May 6th.
Appreciation Station! Would you like to show your appreciation for our hard working BES teachers and staff? If so, please click the link below to donate to our “First Friday” Hospitality fund for the month of April. We will be collecting donations and putting them towards purchasing treats to be distributed during Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week (May 3 - 7.)
Student Spotlight - Spanish Students of the Month!
Andrew L.
Shanel H.
Kinless M.
JuleeAn M.
Anna K.
Liliana A.
Evan W.
Christopher B.
Ashlyn W.
Gavin P.
Important Information for Parents of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders
This spring, students in grades 3, 4, and 5 across the state of South Carolina will take standardized assessments in math and English/Language Arts. Students in 4th grade will also take SCPASS for science. To help with your planning, testing dates and details are below. Please help us by ensuring that your child is well rested, has a good breakfast, arrives to school on time, and avoid early dismissals on these days.
Unlike MAP, SC READY and SCPASS cannot be administered virtually. The test can only be administered in-person in a secure testing environment. (Specific testing details and logistics for FIVE students will be communicated directly to those families.)
Information on SC READY and SCPASS can be found on the South Carolina Department of Education website at https://ed.sc.gov/tests/
A Peek at Our Week
Virtual Author Visit with Bridget Heos
Writer's Workshop
Inspired Writing!
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.
More Recycling Opportunities
Plastic bags and plastic film - Although the contest is over, we are still recycling! THANK YOU to the staff members who have helped with the drop off of the collected plastic!
Dutch Fork Elementary School is hosting its 3rd Annual Compost Sale. This is the compost that they help to make through their use of SMART Carts for food items that can be composted. If you are needing compost for your own yard and gardens at home, we hope you will support their sale. See the attached flyer if you would like to purchase a bag. If you have any questions, please email Amy Umberger, at aumberge@lexrich5.org or call the front office at DFES at 803-476-3900.
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.