Barkley Elementary News
Weekly Updates from Dr. Nic 12-8-23
UPDATES!!
Hello Barkley Families!
Just a few more weeks until winter break!
Reminder: Please be sure to follow morning arrival procedures to ensure the safety of all students. If you are dropping a student off by car you must use Quick Street. Please do not park in the bus lane on Third Avenue. We appreciate your help.
This update contains a lot of important information so please carefully review.
Well Wishes,
Danielle Nicolino, Ed.D.
Principal
Barkley Elementary School
STARS OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to our STARS of the Month for November! These students worked hard all month following our Barkley STARS behaviors and earning Dojo Points!
Classroom of the month: Mrs. Lovell
5th Grade
- Enzo Orellana Carranza – Wismer
- Mason Anderson - Lovell
- Gio Briones Cordero – Chadwick
- Caterina Rodriguez – Williams
4th Grade
- Fionnuala McClure – Huxta
- Bri’El Hodges – Bardley/Peterson
- Sofia Siolek – Williams
3rd Grade
- Fernanda Mejicanos-Guzman – Kryder
- Dilan Medina Carcamo – Holler
- Luke Mueller – Battista
- Levon Denny – Majcher
2nd Grade
- Princess Mendez Yoc – Sidlo
- Addison Ford-Bey – Simmons
- Mirabelle Clearwater-Kenney – Ferguson
- Cecilia Cianciosi – Haines
FIRST IN MATH
Next week we will be starting a FIM competition!
Here are the details:
The competition includes only the stickers students earn from Dec. 11 - Dec. 20.
There will be one top class for each grade level and one top student in each class.
There will be one school champion.
The reward will be a frozen treat for each winning HR and top students will also get a certificate and medal. Overall top winner will also get a trophy. All winners will get an extra 20 min. recess.
Reward will be given on Thurs., Dec. 21.
Please encourage your child to participate in this challenge at home. The goal of this competition is to get them excited about FIM and to be motivated to do more math outside the school day.
Good Luck to our STARS!
IT'S GETTING CHILLY OUTSIDE
If your child needs a jacket, just let us know and we can help!
SECOND STEP! Lesson 10!
This week in Second Step: Lesson 10 will be delivered on Monday, December 11. We have started a new unit on Emotion Management. See below for information on this unit.
- Emotion Management: Students learn how to identify emotions in themselves and others and apply strategies to manage their emotions.
You’ll receive weekly communications from me to help you reinforce Second Step language, skills, and goals at home. If you have any questions about Second Step Elementary, please don’t hesitate to contact me for more information. Thank you for your support as we work to build a safe and supportive school community!
During this unit your child(ren) will be working on: Click the Grade Level Below!
This week, chat with your child(ren) about:
- Grade 2: How Do You Feel? In this week’s lesson, your child will explain why their classmates have a different feeling from theirs in the same situation. Try This at Home: Ask your child to tell you what they learned about their classmates’ feelings and their own feelings.
- Grade 3: Strength of Feelings: In this week’s lesson, your child will practice identifying different intensities of the same feeling by giving personal examples. Try This at Home: Ask your child if they can give examples of times they felt strong emotions like furious or excited.
- Grade 4: Rethink It! In this week’s lesson, your child will work with a team to see how many different ways they can rethink a variety of situations. Try This at Home: With your child, create a “Rethink It!” chart to display at home. Make a list of questions that everyone can use to rethink when emotions are taking over and you just need a little help to see things in a different way.
- Grade 5: Making a Change: In this week’s lesson, your child will practice identifying two changes they could make in a recurring personal situation to manage their strong emotions. Try This at Home: Ask your child to tell you about a situation at home that causes them to feel strong emotions, like anger or stress. Ask them what they could change about the situation to better manage their emotions. Talk about what you can do to help them implement the change.
BARKLEY'S MITTEN TREE
We are happy to have our Mitten Tree this year!
Donate at least one NEW pair of mittens, a hat, scarf, gloves, and/or socks to the Mitten Tree to participate in the spirit week!
DECEMBER 18 - DECEMBER 22
- Monday: Warm and Cozy Day: Wear a favorite hat and/or comfy cozy socks to stay warm
- Tuesday: Winter Wonderland Day: Wear white, just like the snow!
- Wednesday: What Not to Wear Day: Wear mismatched clothes, or your favorite “ugly” sweater.
- Thursday: Festive Feeling Day: Wear anything festive to celebrate the holiday season!
- Friday: T’Was the Day Before Break: Wear your comfiest pajamas to school. No slippers, please
ESS ART CONTEST
We are excited to announce that the ESS Art Contest 2024 starts tomorrow, Friday, December 8th! The contest is open to public and charter school students in grades K-12 throughout the continental United States.
Quick Facts About the Contest
- The contest information is located at ArtContest.ESS.com.
- To enter, students must submit a traditional or digital drawing or painting with an image representing “Imagine going to school underwater, what would your day be like?”
- The contest ends on February 25th, 8:00 pm Eastern Time.
- The top five finalists in each Grade Group will be featured on ESS’ Facebook and Instagram for public voting during the week of March 18th.
- Public voting ends on March 24th, 8:00 pm Eastern Time.
- Winners will be announced on March 27th.
- Winning students will receive a $500 American Express gift card, plus $500 for their school.
- ESS corporate employees’ children cannot win.
- Teams in the field can start announcing the contest to our clients and potential clients on Friday, December 8th. Materials for the Art Contest are in Canto under Art Contest 2024 (located at the bottom of your thumbnail portal). If you want printed copies of the flyer, please submit a Printed Material Request Form. The request form link can be found in your Canto portal.
- Social media posts for the local pages will be posted for you on Friday.
- Any questions, email ArtContest@ESS.com.
HSA ANNOUNCEMENTS
BOX TOPS
Box Tops for Education! – Did you know you can support Barkley students every time you grocery shop? No clipping or counting required! Download the Box Tops app at BTFE.com, select Barkley as the school you want to support and then scan your receipts (or upload digital ones) after you shop. It’s that easy! For every receipt scanned in the month of October, Barkley will be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 bonus to the school.
CLUBS/ACTIVITIES
Clubs
CLUBS THIS WEEK
- Math Club - 3rd Grade/4th Grade
- Reading Club - 5th Grade
- New Directions Homework Club
Tuesday
- Crescendo
- Math Club - 5th Grade
- Reading Club - 2nd Grade
- New Directions Homework Club
Wednesday
- Crescendo
- Math Club - 3rd Grade/4th Grade
- Reading Club - 5th Grade
- New Directions Homework Club
- Pickleball Club
Thursday
- Crescendo
- Math Club - 5th Grade
- Reading Club - 2nd Grade
- New Directions Homework Club
Friday
- Crescendo
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Winter Concert - December 14 @ 6:30
Winter Parties - December 22
Winter Break - December 23-January 1
Exact Path - Math - January 9
Exact Path - Reading - January 11
Schools Closed - January 15
PASD Schools Half Day - January 19
Elementary Beginner Band Concert - January 23
Elementary Beginner Orchestra Concert - January 24
REOCCURING INFORMATION!
DRINKS, SNACKS, AND BIRTHDAY TREATS!
Drinks: We are seeing a lot of our students bringing in different types of drinks to class.
Please be aware that water is the only drink that is allowed in the classroom environment. If a student would like to have another type of drink for lunch, that is fine, but please be sure that your child only has water for their snack time.
Snack Time: Healthy food choices are so important. Barkley encourages that students bring healthy snacks for snack time! Food such as fruits, vegetables, pretzels, crackers are all good examples of healthy snacks for students. Please refrain from your child bringing candy for their snack time.
Birthday Treats: Due to the many students with allergies and food reactions food items to celebrate student birthdays are not permitted. We are requesting that all birthday recognitions be non-food based. No birthday food treats should be sent to school. We do want to acknowledge student birthdays, but encourage parents to do so in other ways. For example, small items such as pencils or stickers for classmates or the donation of a book to the school or classroom library in honor of a child’s birthday would be appropriate. Thank you for honoring and respecting this request.
CAFETERIA SNACKS
Snack Price List
String Cheese…………$.70
Yogurt…………………….$.90
Bug Bites………………..$.70
Chips ……………………..$1.00
Cookie: ………………….$0.65
Poptarts: ……………….$1.00
Ice Cream: ……………..$1.00
Small Water: ……………………..$0.65
Large Water: ……………………..$1.25
PICK UP PATROL
We still have parents not registered for PickUp Patrol. Please be sure that even if your child rides a bus or is an independent walker, that you still register for PUP. Please see directions below.
Barkley Elementary School will be using PickUp Patrol effective at the start of the year to help us better manage our dismissal process. PickUp Patrol saves time for our office staff, reduces classroom interruptions, and most importantly, adds a layer of safety for our students.
If you have still not received the email please contact Dr. Nic on Remind or at nicolinod@pasd.com.
Use the PUP web app for:
ATTENDANCE: Notify the school office when your child will be absent, arriving late or leaving early. If your child has an early dismissal, please try to indicate that in PUP before 10:30AM.
DISMISSAL CHANGES: Submit changes to your child’s regular dismissal plans.
For example:
- Your child normally rides the bus but is getting picked up today.
- Your child usually goes to aftercare but is leaving early for an appointment.
How it works:
Your child's regular dismissal plan is entered into the system. This is called their Default Plan. Then whenever you have a change to the Default Plan, you’ll submit it through the PUP app. When the change is submitted, the school will be notified, and your child’s teacher will relay the change to them.
Getting started:
1. REGISTER: On August 8, 2023, you will receive a registration email with a link to set up your account.
- The web app is free to parents, and you can use it from your smartphone or computer.
- For easy access, follow the instructions in your registration email for how to add it to your phone’s home screen (PUP is not accessed through the app stores).
2. ENTER DEFAULT PLANS: Once you register, log into your PickUp Patrol account no later than August 25, 2023 to confirm your child’s default dismissal plan. It’s important that you complete this step so that we can accurately dismiss your children.
Notes, emails, or phone calls will be accepted for changes for the first week, but starting September 5, 2023, all changes should be submitted through PickUp Patrol.
Thank you for using PUP to make safety a priority and to ensure our dismissal process is efficient for all our students. If you have any questions, please first check the PUP FAQ page. If you still need help, contact us here in the office.
DEPARTMENTALIZATION FOR ALL GRADES
REMIND
We will be using Remind again this year!
All communication will go through Remind only. Download the app today!
You have an important role in communicating with your child's teacher. Remember that during the school day, teachers are working with students and are directed to limit their communication so that they can teach. If your child's teacher does not respond immediately, trust that they will respond within 24 hours.
In addition, our teachers have families too! Evenings are spent much like yours and I have asked the teachers to take this time with their families and catch up on communication the next day.
YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN CHARGE
PARENT VOLUNTEERS
As we prepare for another year of in-person events and activities, we will need parent volunteers. All volunteers will need to be board approved. Please click here to register for board approval. We are planning trips and activities beginning in the fall and look forward to welcoming parent volunteers.
PHANTOM BACKPACKS
TECHNOLOGY
SCHOOL LUNCHES
Free and Reduced cost meals are available for eligible students. If you believe your family is eligible and have not yet applied for the 2023-2024 school year, please visit Free and Reduced Meals - Phoenixville Area School District (pasd.com) to learn more and access the School Café application.
Reminder: if your student was eligible last year, they will continue to be eligible only until October 10, 2023 unless you have received a notice of direct certification or an approved application for 2023-2024 (please check all email folders for determination letters).
If you need assistance completing the application, please contact Alyson Riffey at 484-927-5117/ riffeys@pasd.com or Myra Hernandez at 484-927-5027/ hernandezm@pasd.com. For questions on your application status, please contact Mary Jane Weiss at 484-927-5000 or Weissm@pasd.com.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD'S REPORT CARD
Understanding Your Child's Report Card - Phoenixville Area School District (pasd.com)
BIRTHDAY TREATS
ARRIVAL PROCEDURES
Please be sure to read through our Arrival Procedures. It is extremely important for the safety of our students, staff, and parents, that we following these guidelines.
Please note: Parents are not permitted inside of the gates to the playground. Please allow your child to walk to their designated line or door on their own.
8:40 a.m. - 8:55 a.m.
Students enter the building through the back playground doors. Students who need breakfast report to the dining room. There will be a Grab and Go breakfast again this year. Once students get their breakfast they will report to their homerooms. Students who are not eating breakfast will report to their classroom and wait for directions from their teacher.
Late Arrival
After 8:55 a.m.
Students must be signed in by a parent
Arrival at 8:40 a.m.
Please drop your child(ren) off on Quick Street. Please note: this is a one-way street. You will need to enter through Second Avenue.
Please do not park or exit your vehicle as we need to keep the flow of traffic moving.
For the safety of our students, please do not drive around the car in front of you.
Bus riders who need to purchase breakfast will be released from the bus when the bus arrives to school.
Arrival Locations
All students will enter the building through the Third Avenue playground doors in the morning. 2nd and 3rd grade students arriving between 8:40-8:55 a.m. will enter through door 3A and report directly to their classroom. 4th and 5th grade students arriving between 8:40 – 8:55 a.m. will enter through door 3D and report directly to their classroom and line-up in the hallway.
Late Students
Students arriving after 8:55 a.m. are late. Parents will need to escort their child(ren) to the front entrance and sign their child(ren) in. The attendance clerk will meet you at the front doors.
Important
Students should not be dropped off at school prior to 8:40 a.m. unless they are participating in a before school activity such as band or chorus. There is no supervision available prior to 8:40 a.m., so please do not drop students off before this time. Students should not be dropped off at the main entrance of the building unless they are late or participating in a before school activity such as band or chorus.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Please remember that if you are picking up your child, you must bring your ID. Your child's safety is important to us, and we must be sure you are the individual that is supposed to be picking up your child. Please help us keep your child safe by bring your ID for us to check. Thank you!
- 3:39 p.m. - Dismissal Announcements
- 3:40 p.m. - Independent Walkers are dismissed (students must live within walking distance and have parental permission to walk home independently). Students will exit through the playground doors.
- 3:41 p.m. - 2nd grade parent pickup students will be dismissed. Students with last names beginning with A-M will exit through the front doors and students with last names beginning with N-Z will exit through the Quick Street doors.
- 3:42 p.m. - 3rd grade parent pickup students will be dismissed. Students with last names beginning with A-M will exit through the front doors and students with last names beginning with N-Z will exit through the Quick Street doors.
- 3:43 p.m. - 4th & 5th grade parent pick-up students will be dismissed. Students with last names beginning with A-M will exit through the front doors and students with last names beginning with N-Z will exit through the Quick Street doors.
- 3:44 p.m. - Bus dismissal will begin.
- 3:50 p.m. - Buses will exit school.
- 3:50 p.m. - Students participating in the YMCA after care program and clubs/extra-curricular activities will be dismissed.
* Please note that these are approximate dismissal times
Barkley Elementary School
Email: nicolinod@pasd.com
Website: https://bes.pasd.com/
Location: 320 2nd Avenue, Phoenixville, PA, USA
Phone: 484-927-5300