Baltz Back to School Information
August 8, 2022
Welcome to the 22-23 School Year!
Welcome to the new year at Baltz Elementary. We are so excited to launch the new year and counting down the days until the Brilliant Bears will Blast Off to New Adventures in Learning!
Over the summer we have had a few changes. Mr. Aaron Wright, new Assistant Principal, has joined Mrs. Kristen Palma (Asst. Principal) and Ms. Amy O'Neill (Principal) on the Administrative Team. Mr. Wright is joining us from Skyline where he served as Student Advisor for the last few years.
Mrs. Palma will be out for the first marking period as she welcomed her new baby last week! Welcome to Baby Boy Palma! His big brother has been super excited about his arrival.
There have been some changes in staffing and everyone is excitedly planning for a great new year. There are some new faces who will be joining the familiar staff members to build a great new team.
All of the staff here at Baltz is looking forward to fostering an environment to help our Baltz Brilliant Bears to develop academically, socially, and emotionally. We will work with our students to meet the school-wide expectations to Be Kind, Be Safe, Be On-Task.
Please be sure to read all the way to the bottom of this message. There is a lot of information included that you will need for the upcoming school year.
View this newsletter in other languages. Ver este boletÃn en otros idiomas.
This Week- Supply Giveaway! August 10th from 1-3 pm.
Register Now for the Monthly Library Meet Up on 8/18
Register for the August Monthly Meet Up
Thu, Aug 18, 2022, 01:00 PM
Austin D Baltz Elementary School, Spruce Avenue, Wilmington, DE, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Welcome Back - Meet and Greet Event - August 25th from 3:30-5:30 pm
Please join us on Thursday August 25th from 3:30-5:30 pm. At this event, students and families will have a chance to "Take a Peek" at the classroom, meet the teacher, and learn about exciting upcoming events. Tours inside the building will happen between 3:30 and 4:45. Sweet Josphine's and the Dream Center will have their food trucks here. Most food will be free for students. There will be some food items for sale for family members. There will be lots of information shared and games to play! We can't wait to see you.
The First Days of School
For all students in grades 1-5 the first day of school is Monday August 29th. There will be staff on duty to guide students to their homerooms. Families are asked to say good-bye before their students enter the building. Unless you are walking with your child to school, students who are arriving in cars should come through the car line (even if it is just for the first day). Students will attend school 8/29 through 9/1 during the first week.
Kindergarten students have a different schedule for the first week, they will have a split schedule.
- There is no school on Friday September 2nd or Monday September 5th (Labor Day).
- The doors open at 8:45am and dismissal begins at 3:40pm each day.
Special Notes for Kindergarten Families
Split Week: Students with last names A-L attend on 8/29 and 8/30 and students with last names M-Z attend on 8/31 and 9/1
Kindergarten students will have a split schedule during the first week. Students with last names from A-L will come on Monday and Tuesday (8/29 and 8/30). Students with last names M-Z will come on Wednesday and Thursday (8/31 and 9/1).
It is recommended that you send your child with a name tag including dismissal transportation (Walker, Car Rider, Bus Rider) throughout the first week of school.
All Kindergarten students will attend school on Tuesday 9/6.
Kindergarten students must be met by an adult at their assigned bus stop. Any bus rider who does not have an adult meet him/her will be returned to school.
The School Day
School Day is 9:00- 3:40. Doors open at 8:45 am. Dismissal begins at 3:40 pm.
The doors open at 8:45 each day. The front doors open for walkers and bus riders to enter the building and the car line begins moving each day at 8:45 am, sharp. There is NO SUPERVISION for students before 8:45am. For the safety of all, students should not arrive on campus until 8:45am. Students will have the opportunity for Grab and Go breakfast and to be in their classroom for the start of instruction at 9 am. It is so important that students are in their classroom for the start of instruction.
Arrival:
- Bus Riders will de-board the bus in the front circle and enter the front doors.
- Walkers will come to the front door to enter the building.
- Parents of Car Riders will enter the car line on the district side of the building to drop off your child(ren) in the back lot. Please have your child ready to exit the passenger side of the car. Staff will be present to open the doors and assist students as they get out of the car.
Our parking lot is very busy in the morning. Parents will not be allowed to enter the parking lot in the morning to drop off children, all cars should come through Car Line. These routines are designed to keep everyone safe.
Dismissal:
In order to provide safety for all of our students, we have a closed campus beginning at 3:15. No students will be released for early dismissal after 3:15 unless it has been pre-arranged with the office.
Our dismissal will begin at 3:40 p.m. At Dismissal:
- Family members who are meeting walkers should meet them by the gated area near the little playground.
- For parents of children picking up by car, please stay in your car and enter the car line on the district side of the building. Your family will be given a number for the car line either at our Meet and Greet or during the first week of school. Please display that number on the dashboard during dismissal.
- Bus riders will be escorted to the bus by staff members.
Dress Code and Supplies for School
Please send your child with a bookbag and pencils.
View the link for other suggested supplies for each grade. These are optional.
We do not require uniforms but do have Dress Code Guidelines
Breakfast and Lunch
There is no charge for breakfast or lunch for Baltz students. Additionally, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable snacks will be provided to all students twice a week. Other snacks may be available for students to purchase during lunches.
Chromebooks for Learning
K-2 students will have chromebooks in school. Students in 3-5 will take them from home to school.
This year students in grades K, 1 and 2 will have access to Chromebooks for learning in their classrooms while students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will bring their devices back and forth from home to school.
Signed Technology Agreements and Insurance Payments will be required for students in grades 3, 4, and 5, only.
Once the agreement and payments have been received, Chromebooks will be distributed to students. It is important that your child charges their Chromebook at home each night and then brings it back to school the next day.
Agreements will be available during the Meet and Greet and during the first week of school.
Links to the Agreements are included below for your convenience, if you'd like to print/sign/return to the office.
Online forms for the Technology Agreement will be available soon on this link.
Paper Forms
Click here to access the English Technology Agreement (only for students in grades 3-5)
Click here to access the Spanish Technology Agreement (only for students in grades 3-5)
Payment Directions- cash/check payable to the school. Credit Card payments available online.
English Directions for online payments for Tech Insurance ($20 for students in grades 3-5)
Spanish Directions for online payments for Tech Insurance ($20 for students in grades 3-5)
Transportation Information will be sent out to families during the week of 8/22
Bus Riders will be administered ID badges to scan as they board/de-board
Please encourage your child to wear their badge each day as they get onto the bus. Having their badge ready on their lanyard will help students to scan and board quickly and safely.
Please discuss safety on the bus with your child.
Riders need to:
- Follow all directions from their driver & sit in assigned seats.
- Talk in quiet voices to those around them.
- Sit in the seat with their bookbags on their laps and their "back against the back and their bottom on the bottom" of the seat.
Would you like to track the location of your child's bus? Sign up for the free Where's the Bus App!
Visit www.WheresTheBus.com.
- Click Create Account
- Select Red Clay School District (DE) from the school drop-down list.
- Add the student info (Last Name and Student ID) for the student you want to signup
- Finish the account set up by entering your email and creating a password
August 25th at 3:30-5:30 - The Meet and Greet Event
August 29th - first day for all students in grades 1-5
August 29-September 1st- Split Week for Kindergarten (A-L attend on Monday- Tuesday and M-Z attend on Wed. and Thursday)
September 2nd- No School
September 5th- No School- Labor Day
September 13th- No School- Staff Inservice Day
September 26th- No School - Rosh Hashanah
September 27th- Back to School Night -6-8 pm.- Visit the classroom- Find out about our curriculum and your child's classroom!
Click below to see the year's calendar at a glance.