Paw Print
Belmont Elementary: A PAWSitive Place to Learn!
BE diFfErEnT
Short version: It's good to get comfortable with different. It's a little skill called flexibility...or you might prefer flexible thinking. It absolutely doesn't mean that you have to change your mind to match mine, or anyone else's. It means that we figure out about what we think and why and understand that we've got thoughts, feelings, and beliefs and so does everyone else. And that sometimes those thoughts, feelings, and beliefs do change as we grow and experience new things, and sometimes they hold true forever. Okay, that wasn't exactly short. One more thing here...sometimes things are different than we expect them to be. We either fall apart or find a way to be resilient and adapt. We miss an awful lot of good when we get stuck instead of learning how to go with the flow.
Back story: Our number one school goal is that students will be confident and ready to learn. Here's what I've learned in thirty-six years in education...people, even young children, who feel confident, know themselves well and are comfortable with who they are, which allows them to be open to acknowledging and accepting others for who they are. They don't worry about being different. They know that some kids are smarter, but that doesn't make them dumb. Some kids are faster, but that doesn't make them slow. Some kids have more friends, but that doesn't make them unworthy of friendship. Some kids' parents have more money, but that doesn't make them more important. Some kids have different hair, different clothes, different skin, speak different languages, have two houses, have no houses, have abilities, or disabilities, or brains that make everything different. But. Every. Child. Is. Capable. And. Worthy. When we learn who we are and learn to believe that we are enough, able to grow into whatever we want, then confidence just happens.
So now what: We're going to spend time celebrating all that we are! We're going to look in the mirror and find out all of the very best parts of ourselves and honor who we are and how we got to be that way. YOU parents are a BIG part of that sweet equation that you call your child! Throw in some growth mindset and remember that we are all capable of getting better at anything with practice...and that it's okay if we aren't the best at everything, because we can still celebrate our friends who ARE just like they'll celebrate us when we shine!
Then, we'll learn how to look through the window to learn about others! What a gift it is to live in a community so rich in culture and opportunity. in our building alone, there are so many stories just waiting to be discovered. One of our very first Second Step skills is empathy. It's learning how to look at life situations from someone else's point of view. In simplest form, it's thinking about how others feel. I LOVE how well children put empathy skills into play with each other. Children are naturally thoughtful and forgiving. They are curious and engaging and eager to learn. So we will! About everything and anything we can see through our windows.
Shortest Version: Celebrate YOU, and then learn about something new. It's okay to BE diFfErEnT!
Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!
Congratulations to:
- Ellie Acosta who will be playing an instrument of her choice FREE for an entire year thanks to Blues to Bach Music!
- Drew Kisner will be treating his family to PIZZA courtesy of Pizza Shoppe!
- Cameron Rockey and Jaxsen Gustafson will celebrate the new year with a Dogpile in their yards!!
- Brayden Burgette will take his family out for a MOVIE at B&B Theaters!
The only prizes left are the great relationships you can build getting to know your neighbors and your child's new classmates, but it's still an awesome plan to get your family listed in the Belmont PTO Student Directory. Just click that link right below this article and make it happen! The password for the 21-22 directory was included in the email that included this newsletter. DO NOT POST OR SHARE IT WITH ANYONE WHO IS NOT A BELMONT BULLDOG PARENT, PLEASE!!
Note: We are not allowed to pass out party invites at school unless every child in the class is invited. Every. Child. Please do not ask us to share contact information, because we can't do that either. This is your chance to make sure you're in the loop!
USD 232 Making a Difference Award Nominee...Mrs. Tina Rainbolt!
We are excited to share with you that Tina Rainbolt, past Early Childhood Teacher and new Elementary Resource Teacher, was nominated for the USD 232 Making a Difference Award for the month of May!
We're so lucky to call her teammate! Thank you, Mrs. Rainbolt, for sharing your heart with our community, our school, our team, and most importantly, our students.
The USD 232 Make a Different Award is sponsored by the Great American Bank! The nomination window is currently OPEN for the 2021-22 school year. With the new school year starting mid-August, we will be receiving nominations through the end of September with the winner being presented in early October. We encourage you to complete the form linked below for ANY USD 232 staff member that has made a difference in your lives.
New nominations are reviewed monthly so persons can submit a form on a monthly basis for your deserving nominee.
You'll Have the BEST Seat in YOUR House!
One step at a time, we are working our way back to normal! This year, we are planning for grade level music programs for first through fifth grades, which will be presented during the school day for staff and students only. BUT, here's the exciting part for families! We will record the school performance to share with parents. You will be able to gather your entire family together, WITH your sweet Bulldog, to watch the show over and over again. That's the plan! It's not normal, but it's not bad, either! Read below for a few points from the district music team.
Dear Families,
The school district’s Elementary Music Team would like to share information about this year's music performances to help with planning. In an effort to return to as much normalcy as possible, while prioritizing student and staff safety, we will use the following guidelines:
- We will prepare grade level programs in music class and combine those classes in the gym for their scheduled performances.
- In lieu of evening performances, a school-day performance will be recorded and shared with families.
- In-person audiences will be limited to staff and students.
- Information about the 4th and 5th grade choir will be shared with families soon.
- Procedures for choir performances will be the same as grade level programs.
Thank you so much for your support of your child's music education in USD 232.
Sincerely,
USD 232 Elementary Music Staff and our very own Mrs. Martin
Tentative School Day Performance Dates:
3rd grade - October 28th
4th grade - November 18th
Choir (4th/5th) - December 2nd
2nd grade - February 3rd
1st grade - March 10th
5th grade - May 5th
Coming Up at BE:
August 23 General PTO Meeting, 6:30pm Zoom Link Passcode: BEPTO
September 6 No School, Labor Day
September TBD Bulldog Dash!!!
September 22 Late Arrival- 2 hour delayed start- lunch served!
September 29 Early Dismissal at 12:10- No lunch served
September 29 & 30 Conferences
September 30 & October 1 No School
Visit the BE Online Calendar of Events (by clicking on the button below) for a more complete list of activities!
Nice Work Out There!
PARENTS! Keep up the great work in the loops! We've already made great progress in just TWO days! Thanks so much for reading this newsletter....and for mentioning to all of your BE BFFs that they really need to read the newsletter, too....because it really helps me, help you, which helps me help everyone else, too. So thanks! Truly!
Just a few tidbits:
- K & 1st graders, families with K & 1st graders, and students participating in school breakfast should use the FRONT LOOP in the morning. Use BOTH lanes (just like Chick-Fil-A) and we'll get you to the drop off sidewalk about 5 or 6 at a time. This helps us to get cars off of the street! Stay out of the far right lane as you turn in off of Belmont Drive as that's for the back loop drivers.
- 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th graders should use the BACK LOOP. Just use the right lane as you turn in off of Belmont Drive. There should be plenty of room back there in the morning without using the double lane, so stay in one line, but I'll keep an eye on it. If the gate is closed, that means that you're running a bit on the late side and your child will need to enter through the front door in case they need a tardy pass.
- STUDENTS NEED TO ARRIVE TO SCHOOL AT THE CORRECT TIME! That's between 8:30 and 8:40 a.m. The only exception could be students entering at 8:25 to go directly to breakfast, or for before-school activities such as choir or PAWS Leadership Team later in the year. Arriving too early isn't safe or fair to either your child or school staff. I'm quite confident that you have already worked out the logistics for your children, and thank you for your attention to expectations.
Either before or after school:
- If you need to cross traffic to get to the front from the south or the back from the north- be patient and signal (like seriously....I think if you tap your turn signal for the way you want to go after you make it into the driveway, it'll help us get you in the right lane without blocking the other traffic.
- PLEASE STOP STOPPING in the middle of a through lane when you're turning into the lot. We don't actually own rights to this entire section of Belmont Drive like we used to before the street opened up. We're happy to have neighbors now, and must leave open lanes both north and south........and if someone looks like they're trying to drive straight through there, they probably really are. Please let them! We promise not to lock your child out of school in the morning, nor refuse to let them come home at the end of the day if you have to wait a tad longer for a clear space to open up before you can safely turn in. Promise. Patience is pretty cool.
- Speaking of patience, all of the kindergarteners will get more confident getting out of their car in the morning and listening for their name to be called for their car after school. The natural speed of things will improve over the next couple of weeks. Thanks for trusting us with your children!
Thank you for helping us to take care of each other, by first taking good care of ourselves.
I LOVE LoGiStiCs and I'm Sure that YOU Also LOVE to Know How to DO What YOU Need to DO!
We are SO VERY EXCITED to welcome our students back to the building! As parents, other than knowing that your child is happy and learning during the school day, next in importance is often knowing how to safely get your kids TO school and then how to get them back FROM school.
Lucky for you, we are providing this sUpEr LoNg list of helpful information to help your first day, and every day go well at Belmont! We'll also provide visuals (like the one below) to help!
- OFFICE HOURS are 7:45-4:30 p.m. but there are no kidsitters employed here, so please do not drop off your children prior to 8:30 a.m. when the building opens to students (the only exception is 8:25 breakfast program) and make sure that they are collected prior to 4:00 p.m. at the end of the day.
- All ELEMENTARY students should be dropped off between 8:30 and 8:40 a.m. Students will find it difficult to make it to their lockers and be in their desks ready to learn by 8:45 if they arrive later than 8:40 to school. Students who are tardy to class not only disrupt the classroom routine, but more importantly, begin their day already behind and frazzled.
- KINDERGARTEN and 1st GRADE STUDENTS (and family groups or carpools that include kindergarten or 1st grade students) should be dropped off in the FRONT LOOP- see visual guide below. Students should stay in their cars until staff arrive to assist.
- 2nd GRADE THROUGH 5th GRADE STUDENTS should be dropped off in the BACK LOOP- see visual guide below. Students should stay in their cars until staff arrive to assist.
- LATE TO ARRIVE STUDENTS (8:40 a.m. or later) should be dropped off in the front loop.
- Special circumstances may require an alternate drop-off and/or pick-up site for some students- don't be crabby if you see something happening that is different than this plan...it's most likely just a different plan for a very good reason.
- BREAKFAST is served from 8:25-8:45 in the cafeteria. Students may go directly to the cafeteria to eat prior to going to their classroom. This is not a social time, but meant to efficiently provide nourishment to participating students prior to their school day.
- BUS STOP INFORMATION is located in Skyward in your Family Access Account. Click here for How to Find Bus Route Information in Family Access.
- HELMETS are expected for bike and scooter riders and permission from parents should be on file in the office. Bikes and scooters should be walked on the school grounds.
- GOLF CARTS are not street legal and therefore should not be utilized as transportation in the car loops. Sorry. I know they're fun.
- The SPEED LIMIT on Belmont Drive is 25, but 20 is PLENTY. Please watch our for our kids on the streets and sidewalks. When students enter a crosswalk, it is the law to stop for them. Drive slowly and watch closely. Oh, and please put your cell phone down. Kids are only kids for such a short time. Enjoy them.
- PLEASE, help us to be good neighbors by NOT blocking or turning around in driveways of residents near the school. That's just not cool. You might also pay attention if a neighbor is trying to enter or exit their own driveway. Pay it forward!
- TRANSPORTATION CHANGES should be communicated to the office either by calling 913-667-1810 or by emailing smccann@usd232.org, jdearwester@usd232.org and your child's teacher. All changes should be made at least 45 minutes prior to dismissal.
See! I told you we'd help you out! If you have questions, don't hesitate to call or email to ask!
2021-2022 Lunch Schedule
11:25-11:52 1st Grade
11:55-12:22 3rd Grade
12:05-12:32 2nd Grade
12:35-1:02 4th Grade
12:45-1:15 5th Grade
*Student lunches are FREE for the 2021-2022 school year!
**We do not have space for lunchtime visitors this year. Thanks for understanding.
Belmont Elementary Site Council 21-22
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You'll find us at:
Email: phargrove@usd232.org
Website: be.usd232.org
Location: 5805 Belmont Drive, Shawnee, KS 66226, United States
Phone: (913)667-1810
Twitter: @BEBulldogs