Barkley Elementary News
Weekly Updates from Dr. Nic 11-3-23
UPDATES!!
Hello Barkley Families!
I hope you all had a wonderful week! We sure did here at Barkley!
We had so much fun during our spirit week, dressing up to celebrate the fall season! Students had a great time at their fall parties! Thank you to all of those that donated yummy snacks for our students!
Please remember that on Tuesday, November 7, there will be no school for students due to Election Day.
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.
Well Wishes,
Danielle Nicolino, Ed.D.
Principal
Barkley Elementary School
WELL WISHES TO MRS. HYLAND
Mrs. Hyland, one of our 4th Grade Teachers will be leaving us. We are so sad to see her go and wish her the very best! She will be missed by all of us!
We have hired a new teacher, and we are patiently waiting for approval by the board. The start date is schedule for the after Thanksgiving Break. Once approved, I will send out some information about the new hire!
In the interim, please welcome Mrs. Miranda Bradley back to our staff! Mrs. Bradley was a long-term substitute for us last year in fourth grade and we are excited to have her back with us for the next few weeks!
Please join me in welcoming Mrs. Bradley back and if you have any questions, please reach out!
SECOND STEP! Lesson 7!
This week in Second Step: Lesson 7 will be delivered on Wednesday, November 8. We have started a new unit on Emotion Management. See below for information on this unit.
- Emotion Management: Students learn how to identify emotions in themselves and others and apply strategies to manage their emotions.
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: Feeling Disappointed: In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that we can feel disappointed when something we want or expect does not happen. Try This at Home: Remind your child that everyone feels disappointed sometimes. Ask them what they can do to feel better the next time they’re feeling disappointed.
- Grade 3: How Angry? In this week’s lesson, your child will learn words for three degrees of anger: annoyed, angry, and furious. Try This at Home: Ask your child to explain the differences between feeling annoyed, angry, and furious.
- Grade 4: What Is Rethinking?: In this week’s lesson, your child will learn what it means to rethink a situation and how it can help them calm strong emotions. Try This at Home: Tell your child about a time when rethinking a situation, or thinking about it in a different way, helped you feel better. Encourage your child to talk about times in their lives when rethinking could have helped them.
- Grade 5: What Is Stress? In this week’s lesson, your child will identify signs of stress, situations that can cause them to feel stress, and strategies they can use to manage feelings of stress. Try This at Home: Ask your child what their body feels like when they’re stressed and what things cause them to feel stress. Share your own experiences with stress and what you do to manage it.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES
CONFERENCE SIGN UP IS OPEN!
Please see below for information on Parent/Teacher Conferences. Please note that you will sign up for your HOMEROOM teacher for a conference.
As we approach the end of marking period 1, PASD has important dates to note related to report cards and parent-teacher conferences.
Monday, October 23: Parent Teacher Conference Scheduling open in Skyward (6 pm)
- Note the default scheduling option is for an in-person conference.
- If you have a child in elementary school, and you want a virtual or phone conference, please email your child’s teacher.
Directions for scheduling:
1) Log in to Skyward.
2) Click on the “Teacher Conferences” button on the left side of your screen.
3) Click the “All Conferences” tab towards the center of the page.
4) Click the “Select a Time” tab. You will be scheduled with your child's homeroom teacher.
5) Click on “Select” for the timeslot you wish to reserve. Then click Save.
6) A confirmation email will be sent to you.
7) Directions for HS and MS parents to switch to virtual or phone conference
Friday, November 3: End of Marking Period 1
Thursday, November 16: Parent Teacher Conference Scheduling closes in Skyward at 4 pm. By this time, teachers will send a Zoom or Teams link to parents who requested a virtual meeting, or they will call parents at the scheduled conference time. Teachers will use the email or phone number listed in Skyward.
Friday, November 17: Report Cards available in Skyward
Monday, November 20 - Tuesday, November 21: Parent-Teacher Conferences 8:00 am – 7:15 pm (no conferences scheduled from 12:00 noon – 12:45 pm and 4:30 pm – 5:40 pm)
No school for students.
Wednesday, November 22 - Friday, November 24: Schools closed
If you do not have access to Skyward or if you have any questions, please contact your child’s school. We look forward to seeing you in-person or virtually very soon!
Sincerely,
Jessica Kilmetz Ed.D
Assistant Superintendent
BARKLEY SALUTES OUR NATION'S VETERANS!
Barkley Salutes our Nation’s Veterans!
If someone in your family is a veteran, we would love to have them join us on November 13 to be among the honored guests at our Veterans Day assembly! Following the assembly, guests will visit the classrooms to talk to students about their experiences in the armed forces. To sign up your veteran guest, simply complete the form link below. If you prefer a hard copy, students can pick them up from their teacher or our music teacher, Mrs. Dengler.
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
PRETZEL DAY
Thank you for your support!
PMEA 5/6 CHESTER COUNTY BAND FEST!
Treats for Troop Candy Donation!
The Barkley Boys Running Club is collecting Halloween candy to donate to the troops. There will be a collection box at Barkley’s main office. The final day to donate candy will be Wednesday, November 8. Please consider bringing in any candy you may have to support this program. Thank you in advance!
HSA ANNOUNCEMENTS
TEACHER RAFFLE
The annual Teacher Raffle will be held from Nov. 13-17. We need volunteers to help sell tickets in the school lobby from 8:30-9:30 a.m. each morning. Volunteers must be board approved.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0B45A4AF2EABFA7-45587079-teacher#/
BOX TOPS
Box Tops for Education! – Did you know you can support Barkley students every time you grocery shop? No clipping or counting required! Download the Box Tops app at BTFE.com, select Barkley as the school you want to support and then scan your receipts (or upload digital ones) after you shop. It’s that easy! For every receipt scanned in the month of October, Barkley will be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 bonus to the school.
CLUBS/ACTIVITIES
Clubs
NEW CLUB ALERT
CLUBS THIS WEEK
- Boys Running Club
- Math Club - 3rd Grade/4th Grade
- Reading Club - 5th Grade
- New Directions Homework Club
Tuesday
- Crescendo
- Math Club - 5th Grade
- Reading Club - 2nd Grade
- New Directions Homework Club
Wednesday
- Crescendo
- Math Club - 3rd Grade/4th Grade
- Reading Club - 5th Grade
- New Directions Homework Club
Thursday
- Crescendo
- Barkley Mural Arts Club: 4th Grade
- Girls Running Club
- Math Club - 5th Grade
- Reading Club - 2nd Grade
- New Directions Homework Club
Friday
- Crescendo
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Fall Parties: November 3
- End of the Marking Period: November 3
- Election Day/No School: November 7
- Pretzel Day: November 8
- 5th Grade to Paradise Farms: November 10
- Grades Finalized by End of Day: November 15
- 5th Grade Class Picture/Fall Retake: November 16
- Grades Posted in Skyward: November 17
Parent/Teacher Conferences: November 20 & November 21
No School: November 22, November 23 & November 24
Winter Concert - December 14 @ 6:30
Winter Parties - December 22
Winter Break - December 23-January 1
REOCCURING INFORMATION!
DRINKS 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.
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.
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