BaES Bulldog Bulletin
Issue #18: December 31, 2023
From my family to yours, we hope everyone had a relaxing winter break.
I can't wait to see everyone on Wednesday, January 3, 2024!
Together, We are Barstow!
Mrs. Weisner
One Word
A Great Way to Have Your Best Year Ever
Did you know 9 out of 10 people will fail with your New Years Resolutions? 50% will fail by the end of January. This year, consider something different. Choose ONE WORD that gives you meaning, mission, passion, and purpose. ONE WORD that will help you be your best.
My family started this tradition a few years ago and found it much more rewarding than making resolutions. For me, for this new year, my one word is PRESENT. Being present means being focused and engaged, without being distracted. It is being fully engaged in whatever I'm doing.
Below is a link of Jimmy Page reading One Word for Kids by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, and Jimmy Page.
Winter Wonderland Door Decorating Winners
Mrs. Strain's class
First Place!
Mr. Wolf's class
Mrs. Bronson's class
BaES Family Literacy Night
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 5:30pm-7:00pm
Discover easy ways to help your child with literacy skills at home.
This is a free, drop-in event for the whole family!
Update from Mrs. Washington
Say hello to Xello!
We would like to introduce you to a program Calvert County Public Schools has acquired to help your child prepare for academic, career, and future success.
Xello is an engaging online program that helps students build the skills, knowledge and plans to be future ready. The program uses an investigative, discovery-based learning process. Students better understand themselves, their future career options, and the 21st century skills they’ll need to succeed.
With Xello, your child will:
- Build Self-Knowledge
- Define their interests, skills, preferences, and aspirations so they can explore the opportunities right for them.
- Explore Options: Learn about career possibilities and educational pathways by exploring rich, engaging content and lessons.
- Create a Plan: Your child can create dynamic actionable plans that outline the steps needed to achieve school, career, and life goals.
- Learn & Reassess: Interactive lessons help your child develop age appropriate skills and knowledge for success in school and beyond.
In December, students in grades 3 and 4 were introduced to Xello during Media. The attached letter provides more details about the program and how to access it for all grade-levels. In January, I will begin grade-level assemblies for classroom guidance lessons. Each grade will have a Little Spot lesson (covering frustration, anger, worry, and anxiety).
Update from Nurse Michelle
This time of year, the health room fills up fast. I have a lot of students that are here well over an hour waiting for pick up. Once notified, please have someone in place that can pick up your student within 30 minutes. Please check with family, friends, or neighbors to see if they can be added as an emergency contact.
- Important: Cough drops are considered a medication. We do not need a medication form, but we do need a parent to bring in the cough drops (in original packaging) with a note attached that a student can have them. We can only give them for up to three days and per the packaging recommendations. Students cannot transport cough drops to and from school.
- Trend continues to be Flu, Strep, Covid and RSV (In that order). We have had a lot of students coming to school feeling really bad and being sent home not long after arrival. Please, do not send students in sick and tell them to go see the nurse if they are not better. Keep them home, monitor them and bring them in late if they are feeling better. We are still monitoring cases of communicable disease such as strep, covid, flu and RSV so please remember to email me when a confirmed diagnosis has been received. This information allows us to divert resources to areas that are getting hit the hardest.
- Layer Up- Clothes, Clothes, and More Clothes: Every student, no matter the grade level, should have an extra set of clothes in their backpack. Accidents happen, milk and water get spilled, nosebleeds, mud puddles, wet slides, and bathroom accidents! I have called a lot of parents that have had to leave work this week to bring clothes for their children. Please take time to make sure that your student has a weather appropriate change of clothes with them.
- For our kiddos with frequent nosebleeds, once you kick on the heat, start the saline nasal spray to help prevent dry bleeding noses!
- Lotion applied to wet skin after baths and showers allows the body to retain more moisture and ward off the itchy winter dry skin.
- When your student has a symptom consistent with one of the weekly diagnoses reported, please keep them home and observe them for 24 hours for worsening symptoms.
Parent Notes - Reminders
Non-food ideas for recognizing student birthdays:
- Donate a book to the school library in honor of your child. (This has the added benefit of building up school libraries.)
- Bring in stickers, pencils, fun erasers, or inexpensive toys such as stretchy frogs or plastic tops for the class.
- Donate a plant to beautify the school grounds, such as flowers, bulbs, trees, or bushes.
- Donate a board game to be used for indoor recess or a sturdy jump rope or ball for outdoor games.
- Have a family member come to class to read a story.
- Work with your child's teacher to plan (and possibly fund) a special art project in honor of your child's birthday.
- Send a Birthday Gram
Drama Club
Auditions
Stage crew is asked to draw a picture this year as their audition. Pictures can be turned in to Mrs. Musgrove through email or in-person. Some examples of what the student can draw are as follows: the set design for the show, an airplane, sky with a sun, or costume designs for the Wright Brothers. Due date: January 9th by end of day.
Upcoming Events and Information
CCPS is hosting a mental health awareness workshop for parents on January 16, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. at Northern High School. Please RSVP to: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=yp8tAqNgrEqakMGOUaxSfu3hp0Nen0FAmLTbv8zFz2tUQzRPVEwzTjJHQ0xXTUNYRkw0UkRCRjFVOC4u&origin=QRCode&qrcodeorigin=presentation
Substitute Positions at BaES!
Interested in substitute teaching? Join our team at BaES!
Please email Ms. Stuart if you are interested or have already completed the application process at the CCPS website.
Apply online
Parent Volunteers
We LOVE our Volunteers and couldn't do without YOU!
EVERYONE must reapply for being a volunteer. The system was cleared out and you must reapply each year. Remember, if you want to be a chaperone or work events, you must be approved. If you are an employee of CCPS, you still need to complete the volunteer process for participation in events at school.
Even if you are not sure if you will be able to attend anything, please sign up early. Here’s the CCPS link of info:
CCPS Code of Conduct
All students (grades Pre-Kindergarten to 12th) receive the Code of Student Conduct handbook early in the beginning of the school year. School officials spend time during the first two weeks of school reviewing the information with students and highlighting major changes. Parents should also read this handbook to becomes familiar with the rules and regulations that govern student behavior.
Students are responsible for knowing and understanding the information, including policies and procedures and consequences for violating the conduct code.
No Outside Food Policy
Throughout the year, when there are whole class or grade celebrations, Nurse Parrott will work closely with the teachers to determine safe food items. Detailed requests or directions will be communicated by teachers.
Parent visitors during lunch
If you would like to eat lunch with your child for a special occasion, please email Ms. Totaro, totarom@calvertnet.k12.md.us , Ms. Stuart stuartme@calvertnet.k12.md.us , and your student's teacher at least 24 hours in advance.
In order to eat in the cafeteria with students, you must be an approved volunteer. If you are not an approved volunteer, we can make arrangements for you and your student to each in an alternative space.
No outside food or treats can be brought into the cafeteria.
Surprise Car Riders and Early Pick-Up
If you need to add your student to the surprise car rider list, please email Ms. Totaro, totarom@calvertnet.k12.md.us , Ms. Stuart stuartme@calvertnet.k12.md.us , and your student's teacher by 2:30 pm.
Nondiscrimination Statement
Calvert County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, ancestry or national origin, familial status, marital status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or genetic information in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
- Director of Student Services
- Director of Human Resources
443-550-8000
For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Assessment System at: https://ocrcas.ed.gov or call 1-800-421-3481.
Anti-sexual, Anti-racial and Anti-disability Harassment Statement
Discrimination can manifest itself in behaviors such as bullying, harassment, or intimidation of individuals.
Calvert County Public Schools does not tolerate any form of harassment including, but not limited to, sexual, racial, or disability. Any individual (student, employee, or community member) who believes that he or she has been subjected to any form of harassment is encouraged to report the allegation of harassment. Students, parents, and community members may report allegations of harassment to: Ms. Cecelia Lewis, Director of Student Services, Calvert County Public Schools, 1305 Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Employees may report allegations of harassment to: Mr. Zachary Seawell, Director of Human Resources, Calvert County Public Schools, 1305 Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678.
Calvert County Public Schools is committed to conducting a prompt investigation for any allegation of harassment. If harassment has occurred, the individual will be disciplined promptly. Disciplinary actions for students found to have engaged in any form of harassment may result in suspension or expulsion. Disciplinary actions for employees found to have engaged in any form of harassment may result in suspension or termination.
Calvert County Public Schools encourages all students, parents, employees, and community members to work together to prevent any form of harassment.
For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Assessment System at: https://ocrcas.ed.gov or call 1-800-421-3481.
Calvert County Public Schools Antiracism Statement
Calvert County Public Schools explicitly denounces racism, bullying, discrimination, white supremacy, hate, and racial inequity in any form within our school community. Furthermore, CCPS will not tolerate the values, structures, and behaviors that perpetuate systemic racism.
Each member of the district, individually and collectively, is responsible for creating and nurturing a safe, antiracist learning environment where each student, staff member, and community partner is a respected and valued member of the CCPS community.
Barstow Elementary School
Website: https://baes.calvertnet.k12.md.us/
Location: 295 J W Williams Road, Prince Frederick, MD, USA
Phone: 443-550-9510
Twitter: @BaESCCPS