BG eNews
November 18, 2020
Notes from Principal Klueppel...
- Nov. 19 - 20: Student Council Gratitude Spirit Week Continues (see details below)
- Nov. 23-27: No School (Non Attendance Days & Thanksgiving Break)
- Nov. 30 - Dec. 18 All D303 students participate in full remote instruction
- Dec. 2: Report Cards are available on HAC
- Dec. 21 - Jan. 4: No School (Winter Break & Teacher Work Day)
- Jan. 18: No School (Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday)
- Jan. 27: Student Picture Day
Angel Tree - Please Respond by 11/20
Dear Bell-Graham Families,
Each year Bell-Graham Student Council collects gifts for children for our local Salvation Army. Not to sound cliche, but this year’s distribution of tags will need to be different. If you would like to support an Angel from our area, please contact Cynthia Hueneke BY FRIDAY 11/20 at her email address cynthia.hueneke@d303.org with your child’s classroom teacher and you will receive an Angel tag, in an envelope, home with your child. If your child is remote and you would like to participate, you will receive an email with your Angel tag attached. There are children from 0-1 years of age to 15 years old and the tag distribution will be random.
All unwrapped gifts should be returned to Bell-Graham with Angel tags attached by December 4th. If you would choose to buy a gift card, they ask that they be in $25 denominations.
Thank you for your support!
Bell-Graham Student Council
Adaptive pause letter from Dr. Pearson and Mr. Manheim
November 16, 2020
Dear District 303 Families,
Since the beginning of the school year, District 303 has been committed to providing our
students with meaningful educational experiences. We are pleased with the way that
we were able to safely bring students and staff members into our buildings while also
engaging our remote learners.
Recently, the Kane County Health Department released information about the uptick in
COVID-19 cases in our community. Their concern stems from the 16.7% positivity rate
countywide across all age groups and also the growth in the number of youth cases to a
total of 628 new positive cases reported to the county for the week ending November
7. In District 303, we have also experienced a rise in cases among both our students
and staff members that mirrors what is happening in our community.
Over the course of the year, we have reminded families that the three learning
modalities we developed were designed so that we could seamlessly move between
them anytime during the 2020-2021 school year, if necessary. Unfortunately, we have
reached a tipping point with substantial community spread.
In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our schools and our community, the Kane
County Health Department has asked all schools in Kane County to take an adaptive
pause and move to full remote learning for a two-week period. At tonight’s Learning and
Teaching Committee meeting, members of the School Board made the decision to
increase the adaptive pause to include the three weeks between Thanksgiving and the
end of winter break. Therefore, all students in District 303 will participate in full
remote instruction from November 30 through December 18.
During this time, students will continue with their assigned classroom teachers. Specific
time schedules will be shared by classroom teachers at the elementary level and
principals at the middle school and high school levels later this week. Meal service will
be provided, and we will share schedules and locations by November 25. If your family
needs assistance with technology, please use this link to access our IT Department help
desk.
It is essential that we all work together to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our
communities with the same determination that has allowed us to successfully open our
schools this fall. We all must follow the necessary CDC guidelines that have worked to
provide a safe environment in our schools: wear a mask, maintain social distance, and
wash your hands.
Our goal is to begin in person instruction, for families who chose that model, at the
beginning of the second semester following the winter break. We are moving ahead
with the planning process using the modality families selected last week. We appreciate
the confidence you have placed in us, and your continued partnership in support of your
children’s education that will enable us to get through this together.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jason Pearson Mr. Nicholas P. Manheim
Superintendent School Board President
Gratitude Spirit Week Continues
PTO News
GIRL SCOUT DONATION DRIVE
The month of November is known as the month of giving thanks and helping others. With that in mind the Girl Scouts from D303 are hosting a Drive-Thru Donation Drive!
The Girl Scouts are supporting 6 organizations within our community. You can choose to bring something for each or something for just one. Some things like leftover Halloween Candy and homemade cards and pictures for the troops are even free!
Spread the word, this is for everyone in our community to participate in. Ask your neighbors, relatives or friends who aren't Girl Scouts. Let's bless these organizations with much needed donations before the holiday season.
SHOP WITH SCRIP
Bell Graham PTO now has another EASY and quick way to fundraise for the school! Just like AmazonSmile and BoxTops, we can earn money for purchases that you already make on a regular basis. Bell Graham PTO now has an account with ShopwithScrip - a very popular tool that many local schools and organizations already use. When you purchase gift cards for teachers, family, friends or even your own family for regular purchases like gas, groceries, and coffee, a portion of the gift card value will be given right back to the BG PTO. It is easy money for our school! Please enroll and download their app “RaiseRight”. BG code is 65AL14E472L57. It is super easy and only takes a moment. With holiday gift giving approaching, please find time to enroll in this easy way to fundraise for BG!
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
PTO Needs Your Help! We are looking for a volunteer to organize and lead a Virtual Book Club! Please contact Kelly Cameron at kellyacameron@yahoo.com OR 630-452-7984 for details.
SCHOOL SPIRIT
Show your school spirit each Friday with your Bell Graham spirit wear!
From the Nurse
GET YOUR FORMS IN!!!!
All Kindergarten, Second grade, or New to Illinois Students need to have an updated dental form on file. Any exam dated 2/15/20 or later can be used. You can have the dentist's office fax the forms to 331-228-2101 or email them to leeanna.anzaldi@d303.org.
3rd graders need to have an updated Health Survey form on file.
You can find both forms on the district website under Health Services. Please call if you have any questions or concerns.
Please call the Health office 331-228-2104 or Email leeanna.anzaldi@d303.org with any questions or concern.
Self Certification by 7:30 AM
Dear BG Families,
In a continuing effort to keep staff and students safe while also keeping arrival quick and efficient, please have your child certified in the computer by 7:30 am. This will ensure that students are not entering the classrooms before they are cleared. Certifying your child is both filling out the online form AND signing their backpack tag. If one or both of these steps are not done your child will be sent to the front of the building to check in. Once there, they will have their temperature taken and a phone call will be made to parents to fill out the online form. When their certification is verified they can enter the building. If you enter the online form after 7:30 am your child may have to go through this verification process before they can enter the building.
Thank you for all of your help and taking the extra steps to ensure everyone's safety.
In-Person & Remote Attendance Line
Bell-Graham Resources
Bell Graham Elementary School
Website: bellgraham.d303.org
Location: 4N505 Fox Mill Blvd St. Charles, IL 60175
Phone: 331-228-2100
Facebook: facebook.com/BellGrahamElementary
Twitter: @BellGrahamD303