Bear Creek Bulletin
March 2023
From the Principal's Desk . . .
I am glad to be back at Bear Creek after my leave. I missed the students and the staff so much. It is hard to believe but we are down to the last Trimester of the school year. We have a lot of great things happening over the last few months of school and they will be exciting times. As always, we appreciate the continued support and open lines of communication between home and school.
Some items of note:
- Each student should be bringing home (either today or tomorrow) a composite class picture of their homeroom. I wanted to make sure families were aware so that you know to ask about it and it does't get lost. Lifetouch provides this complimentary to all students.
- In case you missed it and plan way far ahead, the school board did approve the 2023-2024 school calendar and it does have us starting after fair week. Please use this link to access the approved calendar. District Calendar
Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Mr. Jacques Viau - Principal
Mr. Jason Kingsborough - Assistant Principal
The Spongebob Musical
On Tuesday, February 28, Bear Creek students watched a live preview of the upcoming musical performed by many talented Etown high school students. Below is information about the upcoming shows on March 2, 3, and 4, 2023.
Spring Conferences (March 9 and 10)
The Elizabethtown Area School District's goal is for every student to graduate ready to live, learn, and thrive in a global community. To help us accomplish this mission, we are firm believers that a strong partnership between our parents/guardians and faculty must exist. As such, the District is offering parents of all students the opportunity for a spring check-up conference.
Teachers are scheduling conferences with interested parents/guardians for Thursday, March 09, and Friday, March 10, 2023.
Parents may register and/or edit an existing conference date from Monday, February 27 through Monday, March 06, 2023.
Once the scheduling window has closed, the teacher must be contacted directly to schedule or edit a conference.
If there is a specific concern, teachers or guidance counselors will be contacting you to schedule a conference. We encourage you to attend the conference so we can work together to help your child achieve academic success. For parents who are not contacted about a conference, but are interested in meeting, please schedule a conference using the Online program link below.
Unlike fall conferences, the spring check-up conferences will spend less time reviewing your child's full progress report and more time discussing your child's overall academic health. Because we strive to have each of our students demonstrate proficiency in all grade-level skills identified on the progress report, the spring check-up conferences will emphasize areas for growth. This two-way conversation will include ways in which our school and your family can partner to help assure your son/daughter finishes the school year strongly and that he/she masters the required grade-level skills.
As we all know, it takes a collaborative approach with school and home working together to ensure the greatest success for your child. We are confident that the spring check-up conferences will provide the perfect blend of information on your child's strengths and areas of emerging skills. On behalf of the Elizabethtown Area School District faculty and staff, we are looking forward to working with you as the school year draws to a close. For additional information on spring check-up conferences, contact your child's teacher directly.
To access the ONLINE SCHEDULER, please click either the link labeled >>> ONLINE SCHEDULER <<< or the icon below. A building password is needed to access the Online Scheduler. Passwords are unique to each building and are as follows:
Bainbridge School password: bainbridge
Bear Creek School password: bears
East High Elementary School password: east
Middle School password: middle
High School password: high
Parents may register and/or edit an existing conference date from Monday, February 27 through Monday, March 06, 2023. Once the scheduling window has closed, the teacher must be contacted directly to schedule or edit a conference.
March Spirit Days
Blue and White Day
Monday, March 6
Dress Your Best Day
Thursday, March 9
Green and Gold Day
Friday, March 17
Spring Picture Day
Spring Picture Day @ Bear Creek is Tuesday, March 7.
You can order before picture day by going to mylifetouch.com and use code EVTPGJH4D
Girls on The Run
Girls on the Run is back at Bear Creek this spring! Flyers will be coming home soon. See below.
From the PTO
General Information
The PTO welcomes you to participate in the final 12 weeks of this school year with several fun opportunities!
Join us March 6th at 7pm in the Bear Creek library for our second-to-last PTO meeting. We will be beginning to plan the end of year celebrations and you can learn about all the amazing things going on to make your student’s year end memorable and fun!
- 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
Yearbooks
The YEARBOOK is coming!!! Order your 2022-2023 yearbook by March 30th through this link. Cost is $15.50 and delivery is scheduled for mid May.
The 5th grade student’s families are welcome to contribute a 50 character recognition ad for $5. The ad and information must be submitted online by March 17th and cash or check (made to BC PTO) must be submitted to the office by March 20th. A flyer will be coming home with the link to do this and be posted on our FaceBook page.
Please submit your PICTURES from field trips, class events, etc. to bcyearbookadvisers@gmail.com by March 17th. Thanks, in advance, for contributing to make the yearbook personal and fun!
Spring Conference Meal Needs
The BC PTO will provide a lunch of soup, salad, and chips for Bear Creek teachers during conferences on Friday, March 10. For dessert, we are asking parents who like to bake to provide pies since Pi Day (3.14) is a few days later. In addition, we would like to have parents write general notes of appreciation and support to display in the faculty room for teachers to read when they get their food. If you would like to participate, please use this signup link. This is a wonderful way to encourage our teachers who often hear more negative feedback than positive. Thank you for your support of the Bear Creek PTO and faculty!
Chorus at the Hershey Bears (Friday, March 3)
This Friday night March 3rd come cheer on the Hershey Bears ice hockey team and enjoy the Bear Creek students performing! Tickets available here. Come support the music department!
Hershey Park Tickets
Hershey Park tickets and discounted parking passes are available through the Hersheypark Order Form 2023 through March 31st.
Butter Braids Fundraiser
Butter Braids are coming! Everyone said they wanted a new and different fundraiser, so just in time for Easter and Spring break we will have delicious new options! Order forms will be sent home shortly and orders are due by Monday, March 20th. Pick up will be at Bear Creek starting at 3:30pm on March 30th. (Highly recommend the Italian one stuffed with 4 cheeses and all the dessert ones!)
Upcoming Events and Important Dates
March 3 - Chorus singing National Anthem at Hershey Bears Game
March 6 - Blue and White Day
March 7 - Spring Picture Day
March 9 -
- Dress Your Best Day
- Early Dismissal
- Conferences
March 10 - No School For Students
- Conferences
March 13 - No School (Weather Make up Day)
March 17 - Green and Gold Day
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