Bear Creek Bulletin
November 2022
From the Principal's Desk . . .
November is at our doorstep and we have a great start to the school year. We are almost finished with the 1st trimester (November 18). That means we are almost 1/3 of the way through the school year. Please see below for some important information and updates.
Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Mr. Jacques Viau - Principal
Mr. Jason Kingsborough - Assistant Principal
November Spirit Days
Friday, November 11
Friday, November 18
Tuesday, November 22
Bear Creek Picture Retake Day
From the PTO
- The PTO is excited to launch a google form for connecting parents and guardians to opportunities with students, teachers and the school community! Please use this link to get started.
- The Bear Creek PTO recently remodeled our website and welcomes you to check it out here!
- We hope every student is enjoying their FREE BOOK from the book fair! Thank you to all those who came in to volunteer and huge thanks to Emily Sirinides and April Herres who steer the Book Fair committee and make the magic happen!
- Coffee is the November fundraiser! Just in time for the holidays you can order Lancaster County Coffee Roasters selections and support your students, teachers, and staff. Please see this link to fill out an order form ( or request a paper one) and send it in with payment by November 11th. Orders will be ready for pickup on or about December 8th.
- Our Teacher Appreciation committee is looking for ideas, input, and assistance. Please join us for a meeting at Bear Creek on Monday, November 7th at 3:35 pm. We are so thankful for the teachers and staff and the committee is excited to get more people involved in supporting them. You can also use this link to get connected.
- The next PTO meeting is Monday, November 7th in the Bear Creek IMC at 7 pm. We would love to have you join us! Want to know what else is going on with the Bear Creek PTO, check out the Events page.
Follow Bear Creek on Social Media
Twitter: @bearcreekpto
Facebook: Bear Creek School PTO
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
November 2 - No School for Students
November 11 - Spirit Day - Veteran's Day
November 16 - Picture Retake Day
November 18 - Spirit Day - Tie-Dye Day
November 22 - Spirit Day - Multiple's Day
November 23 - 28 - Thanksgiving Holiday Recess
December 8 -
- Early Dismissal
- Conferences
December 9 -
- No School for Students
- Conferences
Information Below is Repeated from Previous Bulletins
Transportation Updates
- Walking Path - Please be aware that staff members are on the Walking Path starting at 8:25 am. Students getting dropped off at the Walking Path prior to that time will not have adult supervision. They still have enough time to get to school and not be late if they are dropped off at 8:25 am.
- Car Riders - The curb where car riders get dropped off and picked up has been painted BLUE. When dropping your child off in the morning, they can get out of the vehicle along the blue curb.
Meals at School
Metz Culinary Management is our Food Services provider for the district. I have provided some information below about meals at school.
Information about Food Services at Elizabethtown Area SD is available using the following link (https://www.etownschools.org/Page/323).
Menu and Meal Prices - (Click here)
***Starting October 3, all Elizabethtown Area School District students will be eligible for one complimentary breakfast daily, regardless of a family's ability to pay. The District will charge full price for second breakfasts and a la carte snacks. Please note this state-sponsored program only includes breakfast. School lunches will continue to be offered at the regular price or the free or reduced price for those students enrolled in the Free and Reduced Price Meal program.
The complimentary breakfast program will run through the end of the 2022-2023 school year.
Breakfast and lunch menus for each school are available here.
If you have any additional questions, please contact Alison Kreider at 717-367-1521 ext 21060 or email alison_kreider@etownschools.org.
Attendance Information
- Families should email bc_attendance@etownschools.org.
If you are planning an extended trip please complete our Educational Trip Request Form for preplanned educational trips.
Community Portal Updates and Student Data Verification Form
The Elizabethtown Area School District has added the 2022-2023 Student Data Verification Form to the Community Portal. This form allows parents/guardians to electronically verify and update important information for your child, including critical emergency contact information. Additionally, each year, parents/guardians must submit the following online forms that can also be accessed from your Community Portal account: (Click here for more information)
- Parent/Student Handbook Acknowledgement Form
- Medical Permission and First Aid Form
- Military Family Survey
If you do not have a Community Portal Account, visit the EASD website at www.etownschools.org and navigate to the EASD Community Portal page by clicking on the A+ GRADE PORTAL icon in the top left corner of the website. You will be redirected to the Community Portal page, where you will find step-by-step instructions and tip sheets showing how to create the account.
District Wide Yearly Updates
Under various state and federal laws, as well as board-approved district policy, the Elizabethtown Area School District is required annually to share various notifications with parents and guardians that relate to different elements of our operations. We are communicating these notices electronically. In addition, we publish this electronic handbook to reduce the cost of printing a combined total of over 40,000 pages for all our students in addition to the countless staff hours to print the forms.
The Elizabethtown Area School District trusts that you appreciate its attempt to be fiscally responsible and at the same time transparent in our communication that is user-friendly to our families. We feel this online system of communication accomplishes both goals. If you do not have access to the Internet and need a paper packet sent home with your children or if you have questions about the District’s annual notifications, feel free to contact Troy Portser, Director of School and Community Information for the Elizabethtown Area School District, by phone at (717) 367-1521, ext. 10024 or by email at troy_portser@etownschools.org.
Community Portal
There are several items of importance on the Community Portal. The Community Portal is a connection to our Student Information System and a place online where families can access information, such as report cards, attendance, and other student information.
- For information on how to create your Community Portal account click here.
School Gate Guardian - Visitor Management System
When you come to Bear Creek, or any other building in the district, you will notice a red kiosk in the vestibule. This is our visitor management system.
The software will help us identify approved guardians so you can be assured we are placing your children in the proper hands. Another feature this new system offers is the protection of a child from a spouse with any type of custodial issue. Be it partial custody or no custody, if you provide our district with the proper court documents and the identity of the spouse, the software will alert district personnel of an attempted, non-authorized visit.
Ultimately, the system will print you a visitor badge that we ask you to wear throughout your visit to our school. As you leave our facility, we request you to leave through the main office to return your badge so we can scan you out of the system. This is just another step to ensure everyone's safety at our buildings.
Bear Creek School
We are growing together as a safe school community, where we persevere, feel loved, and love learning.
Email: jacques_viau@etownschools.org
Website: www.etownschools.org
Location: Bear Creek Elementary School, Sheaffer Road, Elizabethtown, PA, USA
Phone: 717-367-0210
Twitter: @BearCreekEtown