The Berg Bulletin
From the Desk of Principal Lecoe
March is Reading Month and time for elementary schools to celebrate the very reason we come to school…to learn to read! Once we learn to read, we continue to read to learn, to prepare us for our future successes. A variety of activities have been planned for the month of March that include reading fun. Please see the calendar in this newsletter so kids can join in on the fun events. PAC will also be sponsoring a Read-a-Thon during the month of March, in order to raise money for an outdoor electronic sign. Reading minutes will be logged using the Read-a-Thon website. As we continue to set goals and strive to meet them, students will be working on tracking their progress in the classroom to monitor their learning as well.
Spring is the time of year for new beginnings and often ‘spring fever.’ Thank you in advance for your teamwork and cooperation in continuing to keep students focused on doing their best in school, so we can all finish the school year on a strong note that will lead us into next year.
School Contact Information
Principal: Tracy Lecoe
Administrative Assistant: Julie Henderson
Location: 307 3rd Avenue West, Dickinson, ND
Phone: (701) 456-0010
Follow our Facebook Page for the most up-to-date information on school events, and to see what's happening at Berg Elementary. The Berg Elementary School Website has a variety of information that can assist you and your child.
Upcoming School Events
March 1: March is Reading Month -- Dress Like a Dr. Seuss Character or Wear a Dr. Seuss T-Shirt!
March 1: Our Annual Read-a-Thon Begins! (more information below)
March 1: Trimester 2 Report Cards Sent Home w/ Students (check backpacks)
March 8: Intent to Return Form Due
March 11: ND State Assessment Testing Begins for 3-5 Grade (window closes May 3)
March 13-27: SSIS Screener
March 14: Wear Your Favorite Sports Team Shirt or Jersey!
March 14: Kindergarten Kick-Off in Berg Gym, 6:00-7:00 PM (more info below)
March 15: "Passing the Torch" -- Read with a Buddy
March 19: Berg PAC Meeting @ 12:00 in Berg Conference Room and via Zoom
March 21: Dress Like Your Favorite Book Character
March 22: Early Dismissal @ 1:00 PM
March 27: Closing Ceremonies for Reading Month -- Wear Gold, Red, White or Blue
March 28: NO SCHOOL -- Easter Break
March 29: NO SCHOOL -- Easter Break
April 1: NO SCHOOL -- Easter Break
April 2: SCHOOL RESUMES at Normal Time
April 11: 1st Grade Music Concert (more info in Music Notes)
April 27: Early Release @ 1:00 PM
April 29: NO SCHOOL
May 23: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL -- Early Release @ 1:00 PM
Information regarding community events can be found at www.visitdickinson.com/events
🛑 IMPORTANT! NEW STREET CROSSING PROCEDURE 🛑
As we have shared, the crossing procedure when arriving to school and dismissing from school has changed if a student needs to cross 3rd St. Please follow the new crossing procedure to ensure safety for all students and stakeholders. The NDDOT (North Dakota Department of Transportation) will be doing another count of pedestrians crossing at an undetermined date this spring. The hope is that we have enough pedestrians using the cross walk to allow the stop light to remain intact. Thank you for your help and understanding with following this new crosswalk procedure and keeping everyone safe. If you have any questions feel free to call and visit with Mrs. Lecoe or SRO Fridrich.
March is National Reading Month!
Teachers and students love reading month, and we look forward to it every year! Be sure to keep an eye on your child's backpack, as they will be bringing home further information about Berg's Read-a-Thon fundraiser. Parent volunteers are invited to read in their child's classroom all month long. Please get in touch with their teacher to set up a good time to come in. We will also have the DSU wrestlers reading to students during the week of March 10th.
March Read-a-Thon
Berg is holding our annual Read-A-Thon Fundraiser, and it's a fantastic opportunity for your child to raise money while enjoying their favorite books. As a special bonus, any child who sends 10 text messages through their dashboard to promote our fundraiser, will automatically be entered into a nationwide drawing for a magical trip for four to Walt Disney Theme Park. One lucky winner will be drawn from all the Read-A-Thons held during that season. School-level prizes will also be awarded!
Please take a moment to create your student's account, where you can log reading minutes at home, make and view donations, and much more! Reading minutes can be logged starting Friday, March 1!
NDSA Spring Assessment
NDSA will begin Monday, March 11th and run through May 3rd. Third and fifth graders will be taking the assessment for Reading, Writing and Math. Fourth graders will be testing in Math, Reading, Writing and Science. The assessment will be taken on the computer. It will measure school and district progress. Students will be given an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the tools needed to navigate the test. Your child’s teacher will let you know when their specific grade levels will be testing. Attendance on these days, as is with any day, is very important. Headphones are also needed, so please ask your child if they have WORKING headphones at school.
Intent to Return Forms Due March 8
Your child will be bringing home an Intent to Return form with his/her Trimester 2 report card. Please complete both sides of this form in entirety and return to the school by Friday, March 8. This information will allow the school and district to count approximate numbers per classroom for the 2024-25 school year and begin planning accordingly for staffing and classroom space needed. Thank you in-advance for completing the form in a timely manner and returning it by the due date!
Teacher Requests for 2024-2025 School Year
The assigning of students for the 2024-2025 school year will begin at the end of April. We take a great deal of time in assigning students to the appropriate classrooms. We take into consideration the needs of all of our students and decide the best placement based on their learning styles and the teaching styles of teachers. Requests will be taken into consideration but there are no guarantees that those requests will be granted. Teacher requests must be made in writing. Please list your child’s name, the teacher you would like, and the reason for making that request. In order to be considered, all requests need to be turned into the office by March 31st.
Kindergarten Kick-Off
Pre-registration for upcoming 2024-2025 kindergarten students is NOW OPEN ONLINE. Children must be five-years-old, on or before, July 31, 2024 in order to attend kindergarten in 2024-2025. Families requiring technical assistance in the kindergarten registration process may schedule an appointment with Student Services by calling (701) 456-0002.
Counselor Corner with Mr. Ascheman
Happy March! This month we will be taking our relationship skills assessment and beginning our section on careers. We will be learning about many different careers. Students will get to research careers through a program called PAWS in Jobland. I have attached the link below for any parents interested in seeing what this free program is like. If you have any questions feel free to reach out!!
https://www.cfnc.org/education-professionals/paws-in-jobland-resources/
Music Notes with Mrs. Sickler
March is Music in Our Schools month! I will be sharing videos on SeeSaw throughout the month of the wonderful music activities they will be doing during their music class! I am grateful to be teaching in a district that believes in the power of the arts in a child’s growth and development. Music supports reading, math skills, science, and history, and it supports a positive social and emotional growth as well!
Looking ahead to April, the 1st grade will be performing their music program on April 11th at 6:30 p.m. We have already begun preparing our music to share! I invite students to wear spring colors for the performance. More detailed information will be sent home as we grow closer to the performance.
P.E. News with Ms. Stockert
Each grade-level has enjoyed picking their favorite activities this month. Ask your children what they have been up to in gym class and remember to always send them to school with proper gym shoes. This way they can enjoy each activity to its fullest! Pictured to the right is 5th grade enjoying a game of Battleship.
Berg PAC Update
The next Berg Parent Advisory Council meeting will be Tuesday, March 19 @ 12:00 PM in Berg's Conference Room Via Zoom/Face-to Face. A Zoom link will be shared via email the week of the meeting for all parents to join. Parents can attend anytime, so please join us! This is a wonderful opportunity to become involved in planning activities for our Berg students and staff.