Bear Creek Bulletin
December 2022
From the Principal's Desk . . .
December is here! We have some exciting events happening in December. They include conferences with teachers, concerts showcasing our talented musicians, and the PTO-sponsored Holiday Shoppe. Information about these upcoming events can be found below.
Our students are showing us the many ways they are leaders and our staff is doing a tremendous job bringing out the best in our students. Please continue to work with us as we navigate through the school year. Everyone is more successful when we work together.
Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Mr. Jacques Viau - Principal
Mr. Jason Kingsborough - Assistant Principal
December Spirit Days
Ugly Holiday Sweater Day
Monday, December 19
WInter Wonderland Day (Blue and White)
Tuesday, December 20
Holiday Accessories Day
Wednesday, December 21
Candy Cane Day (Red and White)
Thursday, December 22
PJ Day (no stuffed animals please)
Friday, December 23
Junior Achievement (Volunteers still needed)
Classroom Volunteer Opportunity!
We need volunteers to present Junior Achievement programs at Bear Creek. For as little as an hour a week, you can make a difference in the lives of young people in your community. JA programs provide important life skills through hands-on educational activities focusing on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness. Everything you need is provided along with easy-to-follow instructions.
We currently need volunteers in the following classrooms:
- 3rd grade- Mrs. Mellinger and Mrs. Roberto
Click below to learn more and sign up at the bottom of page 5. Assignments will be on a first come first served basis. Also, you can email me at jbadger@jascpa.org for more information.
Junior Achievement Classroom Programs Overview
Joanne Badger | Clearance Coordinator/Program Manager
Junior Achievement of South Central PA
610 South George Street | York, PA 17401
717-843-8028 | jbadger@jascpa.org
Bear Creek PTO Holiday Shoppe
Dates - Wednesday, December 14, and Thursday, December 15
Times - 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Bear Creek Science Lab
The PTO is looking for volunteers to help with this event. If you would like to help please use the folllowng link to sign up. (Holiday Shoppe Volunteer Sign Up)
From the PTO
Food Drive Help
Help is still needed for tomorrow (Friday, Dec 2nd) to sort Food Drive Donations and Create Boxes for families. You can sign up Here . Clearances are not needed and volunteers are welcome anytime between 9am and 12pm.
Staff Appreciation Help
Hello Bear Creek Parents!
With your assistance, the Bear Creek PTO Staff Appreciation Committee will be providing dinner for the staff during parent teacher conferences on Thursday, December 8th.
We'll be offering a build your own burrito/burrito bowl/taco salad experience. We are looking for help with set up, clean up, and donations of items. If you are able to help, please bring your perishable donations to the office by 3pm on Thursday, 12/8. Nonperishable items can be brought to the office during the week, beginning Monday, 12/5. The teachers are so appreciative of these meals and look forward to them each year! Thank you so much for your assistance in putting them together!
**Important to note: if you are bringing a crockpot, it will be ready for pick-up in the office by 12:00 pm on Friday, 12/9.**
Use this link to sign up - Conference Meal Help Sign Up
Holiday Shoppe Help
If you are interested in helping with our Holiday Shoppe there are multiple volunteer opportunities below.
December 12th & 13th Holiday Shoppe Set Up - Sign up Here
December 14th & 15th - 5:30pm – 8:30pm Holiday Shoppe Open for Students - Sign up to help Here
December 16th – Holiday Shoppe Tear Down - Sign up Here
We would greatly appreciate your donations of wrapping paper, tissue paper, bags, ribbons and bows for the Holiday Shoppe. Donations can be sent in with students until December 8th, or brought in to conferences by parents on both December 8th and 9th.
General Information
The PTO wishes everyone a very happy, healthy and safe holiday and hope you make plans to join us Monday, January 9th at 6:30pm for our first meeting of 2023!
- Want to know what else is going on with the Bear Creek PTO, check out the Events page.
Follow Bear Creek on Social Media
Twitter: @bearcreekpto
Facebook: Bear Creek School PTO
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
December 1 - Winter Orchestra & Chorus Concert @ 7:00 pm (BC Cafeteria)
December 8 -
- Early Dismissal
- Conferences
December 9 -
- No School for Students
- Conferences
December 13 - Winter Band Concert @ 7:00 pm (BC Cafeteria)
December 14 and 15 - Bear Creek PTO Holiday Shoppe (5:30 - 8:30 pm)
December 19 - 23 - Various Spirit Days
December 23 - Early Dismissal
December 24 - January 1 - Winter Recess
Information Below is Repeated from Previous Bulletins
Transportation Updates
- Walking Path - Please be aware that staff members are on the Walking Path starting at 8:25 am. Students getting dropped off at the Walking Path prior to that time will not have adult supervision. They still have enough time to get to school and not be late if they are dropped off at 8:25 am.
- Car Riders - The curb where car riders get dropped off and picked up has been painted BLUE. When dropping your child off in the morning, they can get out of the vehicle along the blue curb.
Meals at School
Metz Culinary Management is our Food Services provider for the district. I have provided some information below about meals at school.
Information about Food Services at Elizabethtown Area SD is available using the following link (https://www.etownschools.org/Page/323).
Menu and Meal Prices - (Click here)
***Starting October 3, all Elizabethtown Area School District students will be eligible for one complimentary breakfast daily, regardless of a family's ability to pay. The District will charge full price for second breakfasts and a la carte snacks. Please note this state-sponsored program only includes breakfast. School lunches will continue to be offered at the regular price or the free or reduced price for those students enrolled in the Free and Reduced Price Meal program.
The complimentary breakfast program will run through the end of the 2022-2023 school year.
Breakfast and lunch menus for each school are available here.
If you have any additional questions, please contact Alison Kreider at 717-367-1521 ext 21060 or email alison_kreider@etownschools.org.
Attendance Information
- Families should email bc_attendance@etownschools.org.
If you are planning an extended trip please complete our Educational Trip Request Form for preplanned educational trips.
Community Portal Updates and Student Data Verification Form
The Elizabethtown Area School District has added the 2022-2023 Student Data Verification Form to the Community Portal. This form allows parents/guardians to electronically verify and update important information for your child, including critical emergency contact information. Additionally, each year, parents/guardians must submit the following online forms that can also be accessed from your Community Portal account: (Click here for more information)
- Parent/Student Handbook Acknowledgement Form
- Medical Permission and First Aid Form
- Military Family Survey
If you do not have a Community Portal Account, visit the EASD website at www.etownschools.org and navigate to the EASD Community Portal page by clicking on the A+ GRADE PORTAL icon in the top left corner of the website. You will be redirected to the Community Portal page, where you will find step-by-step instructions and tip sheets showing how to create the account.
District Wide Yearly Updates
Under various state and federal laws, as well as board-approved district policy, the Elizabethtown Area School District is required annually to share various notifications with parents and guardians that relate to different elements of our operations. We are communicating these notices electronically. In addition, we publish this electronic handbook to reduce the cost of printing a combined total of over 40,000 pages for all our students in addition to the countless staff hours to print the forms.
The Elizabethtown Area School District trusts that you appreciate its attempt to be fiscally responsible and at the same time transparent in our communication that is user-friendly to our families. We feel this online system of communication accomplishes both goals. If you do not have access to the Internet and need a paper packet sent home with your children or if you have questions about the District’s annual notifications, feel free to contact Troy Portser, Director of School and Community Information for the Elizabethtown Area School District, by phone at (717) 367-1521, ext. 10024 or by email at troy_portser@etownschools.org.
Community Portal
There are several items of importance on the Community Portal. The Community Portal is a connection to our Student Information System and a place online where families can access information, such as report cards, attendance, and other student information.
- For information on how to create your Community Portal account click here.
School Gate Guardian - Visitor Management System
When you come to Bear Creek, or any other building in the district, you will notice a red kiosk in the vestibule. This is our visitor management system.
The software will help us identify approved guardians so you can be assured we are placing your children in the proper hands. Another feature this new system offers is the protection of a child from a spouse with any type of custodial issue. Be it partial custody or no custody, if you provide our district with the proper court documents and the identity of the spouse, the software will alert district personnel of an attempted, non-authorized visit.
Ultimately, the system will print you a visitor badge that we ask you to wear throughout your visit to our school. As you leave our facility, we request you to leave through the main office to return your badge so we can scan you out of the system. This is just another step to ensure everyone's safety at our buildings.
Bear Creek School
We are growing together as a safe school community, where we persevere, feel loved, and love learning.
Email: jacques_viau@etownschools.org
Website: www.etownschools.org
Location: Bear Creek Elementary School, Sheaffer Road, Elizabethtown, PA, USA
Phone: 717-367-0210
Twitter: @BearCreekEtown