Barkley Elementary News
Weekly Updates from Dr. Nic 2-23-24
UPDATES!!
Hello Barkley Families!
We had a great week here at Barkley!
Please be sure to check out below for our upcoming Read Across America Celebration!
There is lots of information this week, so please take some time to read through!
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.
Enjoy the weekend!
Well Wishes,
Danielle Nicolino, Ed.D.
Principal
Barkley Elementary School
READ ACROSS AMERICA WEEK
Starting on March 4, Barkley will be celebrating Read Across America Week: Celebrating a Nation of Diverse Readers! We have a lot of fun activities planned! We will have an all school read aloud, buddy classrooms to read, high school students visiting for a special activity, and a school wide Drop Everything and Read!
We will also have a spirit week!
- Monday -- Books Make Us Brighter: Wear bright colored clothing and accessories.
- Tuesday -Reading is Relaxing! Wear your favorite vacation clothes
- Wednesday -Read My Shirt: Wear a shirt with words on it.
- Thursday - Oh The Places You'll Go With Reading: Wear your favorite college gear, colors from your favorite college, or dress as a famous person.
- Friday - Get Cozy With A Good Book- Wear your PJ's and bring a stuffed animal.
We are so excited to celebrate the importance of reading!
EMERGENCY DRILLS
On Wednesday, February 21, Barkley had our February fire drill. The students did a great job moving quickly and quietly out of the building!
On Monday, February 26, Barkley will be participating in a lockdown drill. During this time district personnel and law enforcement will be there to help us practice safe procedures.
SECOND STEP! Lesson 15!
This week in Second Step: Lesson 15 was delivered on Wednesday, February 21. We started a new unit on Empathy and Kindness. See below for information on this unit. After this Unit we will hold off on our last unit until after state testing. Our next lesson and last Unit will start May 8.
Empathy & Kindness: Students learn how to use empathy to show others kindness, use kindness to make and maintain friendships, identify and demonstrate how perspective-taking skills influence empathy, their relationships, and their own thoughts and actions, and apply their perspective-taking and empathy skills to define and help solve a community problem.
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: Empathy and Kindness: In this week’s lesson, your child will use empathy to come up with a kind act they could do for a person they choose. Try This at Home: Ask your child who they chose to have empathy for and what kind act they decided to do.
- Grade 3: Do Something Kind: In this week’s lesson, your child will show what they know about empathy and kindness by planning kind acts to do for someone they care about. Try This at Home: Ask your child about the kindness coupons they made in class. Ask how they chose the kind acts for each person.
- Grade 4: A New Point of View: In this week’s lesson, your child will practice asking questions to better understand someone’s point of view when it’s harder to empathize. Try This at Home: Discuss with your child the benefits of learning more about the different points of view of people in your family. If there’s a point of view they don’t understand, think of questions together that they can ask to learn more about it.
- Grade 5: Your Solution: In this lesson, your child will choose a solution to a problem in their school community and explain how it meets the wants and needs of the people who are affected by the problem. Try This at Home: Point out a change that has happened in your neighborhood recently that was intended to solve a problem. Ask your child if that change was a good solution, and how they know.
IT'S GETTING CHILLY OUTSIDE
If your child needs a jacket, just let us know and we can help!
Reminder: Cell Phones and Smart Watches
Please remind your children cell phones and smart watches need to be away in backpacks during the school day. If students have them visible and/or are actively using them, the item will be sent to the office to be picked up by the student at the end of the day. Further violations will include parent pick up.
HSA ANNOUNCEMENTS
ALL STAR SHOWCASE!
BOX TOPS
CLUBS/ACTIVITIES
Clubs
CLUBS THIS WEEK
- 3rd Grade Reading Club
- 5th Grade Math Club
- Drama Club - Scenes 4-6
- New Directions Homework Club
Tuesday
- Crescendo
- 2nd Grade Reading Club - AM
- 5th Grade Reading Club
- 3rd & 4th Grade Math Club
- LEGO CLUB
- New Directions Homework Club
Wednesday
- Crescendo
- 3rd Grade Reading Club
- 5th Grade Math Club
- Drama Club - Scenes 1-3
- New Directions Homework Club
Thursday
- Crescendo
- 2nd Grade Reading Club - AM
- 5th Grade Reading Club
- 3rd & 4th Grade Math Club
- D&D Club
- New Directions Homework Club
Friday
- Crescendo
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Read Across America Week - March 4 - March 8
Spring Picture Day - March 6
Pretzel Day - March 13
All Star Showcase Review - March 15 @ 4:00
All Star Showcase - March 22 @ 6:00
Spring Break - March 25 - March 29
End of Marking Period 3 - April 5
Start of Marking Period 4 - April 8
BES Play - April 18
BES Play! -April 19
PASD PD Day - April 23
PSSA ELA -April 24- April 26
PSSA Math - April 30 - May 1
PSSA Science (4th Grade Only) - May 2 - May 3
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