Berkeley Bulletin
January 14, 2024
Principal's Message
There is NO SCHOOL tomorrow, Monday, January 15.
Keep an eye on the weather this week. Review the inclimate weather section below for more information.
Our next Parent Information Session has been scheduled. The focus of this session will be Child Anxiety and Social/Emotional supports. You will need to RSVP for this event. Please click here for more information or click here to register.
We will have our One School, One Book kickoff this week. Find out more information below.
Please make sure to read the important message below from the school division regarding elementary report cards for the 2024-2025 school year and beyond. Your feedback is needed!
Last Chance: I am currently seeking parent volunteers to help plan and volunteer for our STEAM night that will take place in February. STEAM night is a chance for students and families to engaged in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. If you are interested in supporting this event, please email Mr. Bellis at sbellis@spotsylvania.k12.va.us.
5th Grade Parents: Please make sure to review the Rising 6th Grade Night postcards below. Post Oak Middle School will be hosting on January 23rd.
Mid-year assessments will be taking place in January. Please consider meeting with your student's teacher on our next parent/teacher communication day, February 7. This will be a perfect opportunity to discuss how your student is progressing this school year.
SCPS will be hosting a dressing days event. Our next Dressing Days event will be February 2, 2024 from 5-7 PM at Harrison Road Elementary - SCPS School Social Workers' Dressing Day event provides free clothes and food resources to SCPS families. Snow Make-up day is February 9th. If you would like to donate any lightly worn clothing items for this event, please contact Bonnie Ulrich prior to January 30th to coordinate your donation drop off at the school.
Thank you,
Mr. Bellis
Report Card Parent Survey
Spotsylvania County Public Schools is excited to announce that we are reviewing and updating our elementary standards-based report cards for the fall of 2024. The primary goal is to make the report card more user-friendly and easier to understand your child's progress toward learning targets. We would appreciate a few moments of your time to provide feedback. This survey will be open until Friday, January 19, 2024. Thank you in advance for your help.
English- Parent Report Card Survey
Reading Textbook Adoption
In compliance with the Virginia Literacy Act and SCPS Textbook Selection and Adoption Policy IIAA, Spotsylvania County Public Schools is adopting Elementary (K-5) Language Arts Curriculum Resources for the 2024-25 school year.
All physical texts will be available for review at each elementary school from January 16th through January 26th during regular school business hours. Additional evening review hours will be held at the School Board Meeting Room Lobby, 8020 River Stone Drive, Fredericksburg, VA 22407 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on January 16, 17, 22, and 29.
You can vote for your preference by completing the Community Feedback Form. Community member votes are due by 7:00 PM on January 29, 2024.
The student view from each publisher can be found below. Please click on the words "Student View" and enter the login information.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Into Reading
Username: HMH-ReadingStudent
Password: Password1!
McGraw Hill
Open Court
Username: OCRVirginiaStudent
Password: OCRVirginiaStudent1
Amplify
Core Knowledge Language Arts
Username: s1.spotsylvaniackla@demo.tryamplify.net
Password: Amplify1-spotsylvaniackla
One School, One Book
We are so excited to present to you another year of One School, One Book. This program encourages our entire school family (students, teachers, staff, and administrators) to read the same book over a 2½ week time span. Imagine the impact on students when everyone involved in their school commits to the power of reading!
This week, every Berkeley student in your family will get their own copy of the book to read together with your family. Students will bring home their books, reading schedules and a fun choice board to complete as a family. We hope you will love this year's book as much as we do!
Inclement Weather
Please check out all the different ways you can find out about school closings or delays: https://www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/page/inclement-weather
If you register for Spotsy Alert it will provide immediate notifcations. Spotsylvania County uses this system to provide you with critical information quickly in a variety of situations, such as unexpected road closures, severe weather, missing persons, evacuations of buildings and neighborhoods, and community events.
Register Here: https://member.everbridge.net/453003085614481/login
2 hour delay weather schedule:
Everything starts 2 hours later. The bus pick up time is 2 hours later than the original pick up time. Example, bus pick up is 7:30am normally, then on a 2 hour delay the bus would pick up at 9:30am.
Our school doors open at car rider drop off for students at 10:25am on a 2 hour delay schedule
Attendance
We have just passed the 90th day of school. That means 9 absences is 10% of the school year. Currently, 41 students or 16.1% of the school is chronically absent.
As a school, we must remain under 15%.
Please continue to keep your student(s) attending every day.
I know there have been many illnesses floating around and many students and staff have been out sick. Please send any doctor's notes to the school if your student is absent. Please make sure your student is attending as much as possible so that when they become ill their absences will not be as critical to their overall attendance this school year. Remember just 2 absences a month will make your student chronically absent. Students cannot miss more than 16 days of school.
If your child is sick or there is a family situation in which your child cannot attend school please follow these directions to report the absence:
1. Leave a voicemail at 540-582-5141 ext 1 OR
2. Send an email to berkeleyesattendance@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
All attendance voicemails & emails are are entered as soon as possible.
Reminder that notification of absences that result from family trips or other foreseeable reasons should be submitted by emailing or writing a letter to the principal in advance of the absences. Division policy states that anticipated absences may not be longer than five (5) consecutive school days.
If your student(s) is absent from school it is your responsibility to notify the front office as to why they are absent. Please call the main office or email
Calendar of Events
WIDA Access Test
All English Language Learners (ELLs) in the state of Virginia are required to take an annual test to evaluate their English proficiency. The purpose of the test is to measure the improvement and proficiency of each language domain (Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing) from one year to the next. Your child, if an ELL, will be taking part in this battery of tests. There are four components to the test: Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing. The test will take place during the weeks of January 22rd – March 3rd.
If you have any specific questions or concerns regarding this test, please contact your child’s ESOL teacher or the school testing coordinator at his/her school
Reading Resource
What are some ways to help build your child’s vocabulary (the words they know and use)?
Use gestures and facial expressions to help children make sense of new words.
Talk with children and encourage children to talk with one another. Keep the conversation going by asking questions, making comments and inviting children to think and share their ideas.
Read to children daily, taking time to go over new words
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/help_build_your_young_childs_vocabulary
Counselor's Corner
Please click the image to the right or check the attachment to this newsletter for the latest information from the counselor.
Janet Gardon
School Counselor
Berkeley Elementary School
540-582-5141 ext. 7139
Berkeley PTO
Our PTO is in need of volunteers and new members. The students and staff benefit from the PTO in a variety of ways. They provide spirit day prizes, 5th grade picnic, fall festival, and many staff events throughout the year.
PLEASE consider joining or volunteering for the PTO today! Click this link to help support them.
Here Comes the Bus
Here Comes the Bus! Click here for more information about the new app that can help you track your student's bus. Email hctb@spotsylvania.k12.va.us for assistance with this if needed. You can also call transportation with bus questions at 540-582-5125
Building Receptionist, ext. 1801
Check Current Location of a Bus, ext. 1819
Parent Resource Center
Newcomer Orientation
Are you new to the country and would like more support navigating the school system? Attend our Newcomers Orientation on January 17th at 5:30 at our Parent Resource Center. To RSVP or for more information contact Zénic Alvarez
540-834-2500 ex.1130 or email zalvarez@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Contact Information
Website: https://www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/o/berkeley
Location: 5979 Partlow Road, Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA, USA
Phone: 540-582-5141
Twitter: @berkeleybeavers