Bethel Springs Elementary School
April 15, 2019
Jaguar Color Dash Kick-off Meeting Monday, April 29th at 7:00 PM in BSES Library!
We invite you to attend the official BSES HSA Jaguar Color Dash Kick Off Meeting on Monday, April 29th at 7:00pm in the BSES Library. Come check out the existing Library space, as well as hear from BSES Administrators about their plans to update the Library to keep pace with our 21st century learners! A digital rendering of the revitalized Library will be on display, as well as examples of furniture planned for the future space.
The first 50 attendees will receive Jamba Juice coupons, and all attendees will receive a raffle ticket for a prize drawing at the end of the night!! Prizes to be raffled are a Buffalo Wild Wings sauce three-pack plus free item coupons, a Zoe’s Kitchen insulated cooler filled with sauces, spices and coupons, and a $200 Gift Certificate to Ivory Tree Portraits! We look forward to seeing you on April 29th at 7:00 on the BSES Library!
PSSA Testing Dates for Students in Grades 3, 4, 5
Math: April 29,30
Science (Grade 4 only): May 1, 2
Make-up Dates: April 29-May 3
It is important that students be present in school during testing dates. Thank you.
Take Your Child to Work Day
April 25th is "Take Your Child to Work Day." Children who take the day to be with parents at work will be marked absent, but the absence will be excused. Absences should be reported using the Safe Arrival app as is the usual procedure. While we see the value in this learning and family bonding experience, we find ourselves with a scheduling conflict for our students in grades 3 to 8. April 25th is a PSSA testing day. The state assessment calendar is dictated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. It is important that students be present for the testing. The test make-up window is limited and providing make-up testing for large numbers of students would be very difficult. If your child is in grades 3 to 8, please have him/her attend school on April 25th. Consider another date if you choose to have your child visit your place of work. We ask that you would avoid all dates for PSSA testing listed below:
English/Language Arts: April 24-26
Math: April 29,30
Science (Grade 4 only): May 1, 2
Thank you for your understanding!
End-of-Year Information for Parents of 5th Grade Students!
STAY IN THE LOOP, 5TH GRADE PARENTS!!
Yearbook Questionnaires Needed!! We’re getting there - we’re up to 80% of questionnaires submitted! It will be sad if there's nothing in the text box between your 5th grader's current and baby pictures in the yearbook, so please set a couple of minutes aside to answer the questions in this Google Form: 5th Grade Yearbook - Questionnaire Submissions.
Get to Work on those Time Capsule Submissions!! Last week you should have received information about contributing to the “Class of 2026 Time Capsule.” If you did not, you can print out the INFORMATION here, which includes a request to write a letter to your child and a “Life as a 5th Grader” survey for your 5th grader to fill out. If you did not receive the prelabeled envelope, you can send your letter and survey into school in an envelope marked with your student’s name(s) and “Class of 2026 Time Capsule.” (One envelope per student please.)
Volunteers Needed: The GVMS HSA is looking for a few good volunteers to help out with events next year, especially those specific to 6th graders (aka-this year’s 5th graders). Please check out this FORM to learn what volunteer opportunities are available and to sign up if interested.
All of this info and more as it’s updated can be found on the HSA Website on the 5th Grade Events and Submission Page.
5th Grade Promotion Assembly: Thursday, June 13th 1:30 PM BSES Gym
After Spring Break Visitors Must Present and Scan ID, Such As Driver's License, As New Security Measures Are Implemented in GV Elementary Schools
Dear School Community,
Garnet Valley School District is pleased to announce that we will begin using the Raptor Visitor Management System in all of our schools to strengthen our program of campus safety for students and faculty. Although Raptor is already used at the secondary level, all elementary schools will begin implementation after spring break. Part of keeping students and faculty safe is knowing who is in our buildings at all times, and the Raptor system will allow us to do that. The Raptor system will better allow us to screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools and provide us with a safer environment for our students and staff.
Upon entering a district building, visitors will be asked to present an ID such as a Driver’s License, which can either be scanned or manually entered into the system. If a parent or guardian for any reason does not have a US government-issued ID, the school staff member can use any form of identification and manually enter the person’s name into the Raptor system. The Raptor system will check to ensure that registered sexual offenders are not entering our school campuses without our knowledge. The Raptor system checks the visitor's name and date of birth for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the Raptor system. No other data from the ID is gathered or recorded and the information is not shared with any outside agency. Once entry is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of his/her visit. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork.
The safety of our students is our highest priority and the Raptor visitor management system allows us to quickly identify those that may present a danger to our students. Thank you in advance for your understanding and your support in enhancing the school safety protocols in our district. Especially at the elementary level, our principals will continue to communicate with parents as we implement the system after spring break.
Sincerely,
Dr. Marc Bertrando, Superintendent
Garnet Valley School District
April Fitness Challenge
Trailblazers Club, Camps, and Events
Dear Garnet Valley Families,
With spring migration on the horizon, we are super excited to announce three programs for the upcoming season: BSES Birding Club, GVES Nature Club, and Spring Birding for Adults! Check out specifics of each below:
Programs
Trailblazers Spring Birding for Adults
Learn all about the birds found in our area! Participants will learn how to identify birds by both sight and sound on the BSES Nature Trail. Any level of birding experience welcome, but one should be able to walk on the nature trail for approximately one mile during a session. Binoculars are available for borrow as well! Participants in this course must be at least 18 years of age.
Leaders: Mr. BQ
Location: BSES Nature Trail Entrance
Meets on the Following Wednesdays from 6:00pm – 7:30pm: 5/1, 5/8, 5/15, 5/22
Program Tuition: $40
Check out a flyer for more information and how to register here:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=17fF9i3u7BVbUSqpglukJq9GbRuABprt8
We also have a brand new event for the spring:
Trailblazers Mommy & Me Mother's Day Weekend Bird Walk
Saturday, May 11, 9am – 11am
Join Trailblazers as we celebrate spring migration and Mother's Day at the same time! We will be spending our Saturday morning on the BSES Nature Trail in peak spring migration as we learn about the migrating bird species that visit the nature trail. Be prepared with proper footwear and clothing to walk on the BSES Nature Trail. Also, you can bring your own binoculars or borrow a pair from Trailblazers! Leaders: Mr. BQ
Location: BSES Nature Trail Entrance
Meets on Saturday, May 11th, 2019
Activity Tuition: $15.00 per family
Check out a flyer for more information and how to register here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MIuiVrwEwauBjFYfTeYyoDB1rtk50HCW/view?usp=sharingSummer Camps
Our summer camp offerings are filling up quickly! Here are the dates of all three sessions of camp along with a link to the flyer with more information on each:
Trailblazers Adventure Summer Camp - June 25th-29th, 2019 - 9am-3pm
Trailblazers High Adventure Summer Camp - July 22nd-26th, 2019 - 9am-4pm
Trailblazers High Adventure Summer Camp - August 5th-9th, 2019 - 9am-4pm
Check out the flyer here for more information and how to sign up:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1rf8eziphAMkC8BHpuV0UO0Ki3br4m8FuLooking forward to our most exciting spring yet!
As always, please let me know if you have any questions,
Brian "Mr. BQ" Quindlen, M.Ed.
Bethel Springs Elementary School
5th Grade Teacher
610-579-3040
Get involved with GV Trailblazers!
Summer Camp Opportunities in Garnet Valley!
Below is a link to all camps taking place in the district:
https://www.garnetvalleyschools.com/news/what_s_new/summer_programs
Pictured below are camps taking place at Bethel Springs:
Link to Bethel Springs Weekly Announcements on Website!
School Calendar
https://bses.garnetvalleyschools.com/calendar
The link for the calendar "School Calendar" is in the drop-down menu under "Our School" on the Bethel Springs website.
Please Read These Important Announcements from the BSES HSA!
The BSES HSA hopes that everyone stayed safe during Sunday night’s/Monday morning’s tornado warning - there’s one way to start a Spring Break!! Enjoy your days off!!
GET YOUR YEARBOOKS HERE! By now you should have received your student’s 2018-2019 Yearbook Order Forms - check those bookbags! (And if you cannot locate your flyer, feel free to print out the second page from HERE.) Yearbooks can be purchased for $20 up until Monday, April 29th, and payments can be made via checks written out to BSES HSA or MySchoolBucks. The order form portion of the flyer must be handed into school no matter which payment type you choose; please write your check number or MSB confirmation number on the order form when you submit it.
COMING SOON - TEACHER & STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK! We will be celebrating the fantastic teachers and staff members of Bethel Springs during the week of May 6th through May 10th. Along with the school wide theme of Greece, this year’s Teacher and Staff Appreciation theme will be “Teachers Plant the Seeds of Knowledge.” Below is just a portion of the planned agenda for the week:
Monday, 5/6 - Back to Nature Breakfast (breakfast bars, fruit infused water)
Tuesday, 5/7 - Clean Eating to Start the Day (Yogurt Bar)
Wednesday, 5/8 - Breakfast of Champions (casseroles, breakfast meats, coffee, juice)
Thursday, 5/9 - Appreciation Raffle and Afternoon Energy Boost (snack cart)
Friday, 5/10 - Under the Olive Tree Lunch from Grecian Delight
How You Can Contribute: The Appreciation Raffle will feature GIFT CARDS of any variety or amount that will be raffled off, silent auction style, to teachers and staff. So if you find yourself in your favorite local restaurant or Wawa/Dunkin/Target, think about picking up a gift card that you can contribute to the raffle. (Unused gift cards are definitely welcome too!!) Please send any gift cards into school in an envelope marked with Teacher Appreciation ℅ Derek Lloyd by Monday, May 6th. And be on the lookout for Sign Up Geniuses for contributions the Breakfast of Champions & Yogurt Bar coming soon!
Volunteer Spotlight:
Nature Trail: Thank you to the Diveley Family for taking such great care of the Nature Trail this past week!
Upcoming Dates:
April 15-22 No School - Spring Break
April 23 5th Grade Only - GVMS Course Selection Forms Due
April 29 Jaguar Color Dash Kick-Off Meeting (BSES Library at 7pm)
April 29 Yearbook Orders Due
May 6 Gift Cards Due for Teacher/Staff Appreciation Raffle
May 6-10 Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week
For the most up to date information check the HSA Website: BSES HSA
Follow us on social media-
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bseshsa/
Instagram: @bethel_springs_hsa
Twitter: @bseshsa1
Discover Greece!
This Week's Fact About Greece:
ARCHIVE OF FACTS ABOUT GREECE
GREEK FACT FROM 9-10-18
https://www.smore.com/zjy34GREEK FACT FROM 9-17-18
GREEK FACT FROM 9-24-18
GREEK FACT FROM 10-1-18
GREEK FACT FROM 10-8-18
GREEK FACT FROM 10-15-18
GREEK FACT FROM 10-22-18
GREEK FACT FROM 10-29-18
GREEK FACT FROM 11-5-18
GREEK FACT FROM 11-12-18
GREEK FACT FROM 11-21-18
GREEK FACT FROM 11-26-18
GREEK FACT FROM 12-3-18
GREEK FACT FROM 12-10-18
GREEK FACT FROM 12-17-18
GREEK FACT FROM 12-31-18
GREEK FACT FROM 1-7-19
GREEK FACT FROM 1-14-19
GREEK FACT FROM 1-21-19
GREEK FACT FROM 1-28-19
GREEK FACT FROM 2-4-19
GREEK FACT FROM 2-11-19
GREEK FACT FROM 2-18-19
GREEK FACT FROM 2-25-19
GREEK FACT FROM 3-4-19
GREEK FACT FROM 3-11-19
GREEK FACT FROM 3-18-19
GREEK FACT FROM 3-25-19
GREEK FACT FROM 4-1-19
GRREK FACT FROM 4-8-19
Important Dates Coming Up!
April 15-19 and 22: Spring Break Students return on Tuesday, April 23rd
April 24-May 3: PSSA Testing for Grades 3, 4, 5
Parent Education Opportunities
Community Events
Garnet Valley Celebration of the Arts
The Celebration of the Arts is just around the corner. In fact, it's next month. The students of Garnet Valley have been diligently working in the Visual Arts, Technology, and Family and Consumer Science Departments. The Celebration of the Arts is our opportunity to demonstrate our creativity, talents, and dedication. So please mark your calendars and plan to attend. The opening exhibition is Tuesday, May 7 from 6:00 - 8:30 pm in the HS new gym.
Additional viewing times are:
Tuesday, May 7, daytime from 8am - 6pm
Wednesday, May 8 daytime from 8am - 3pm
Wednesday, May 8 evening from 6:00 - 8:30 pm
Thursday, May 9 daytime from 8am - 3pm.
It’s FREE to the public! We are looking forward to seeing you there!