BES Weekly Update
Issue No. 5
A Note From Principal Paquette
Dear BES Families,
I hope this newsletter finds you all doing well and staying healthy during this sixth week of Digital Teaching and Learning. I am hopeful that Mother Nature will start cooperating soon and spring weather will be here to stay. Keep your fingers crossed!
As we enter our 6th week, I would like to take some time to talk about Chromebook care and maintenance. At this time, our chromebooks are the lifeline to your child’s education. It is the means by which they communicate with their teacher and peers, receive assignments and submit their work. Without our chromebooks our schooling experience would be much different at this time and one that many of us probably would not enjoy as much. We are very fortunate as a district to have these resources to offer our students.
Chromebooks are amazing pieces of technology that can last for years and years, however, they do require care and maintenance in order to function at their best. Our Department of 21st Century Learning is receiving a tremendous amount of repair requests and support for damaged chromebooks. While it is to be expected that we would have increased usage based repair needs during a time when students are on their chromebooks for greater periods of time each day, as a school community, we need to do our best to limit any unnecessary and accidental damage as much as possible. If every parent and caregiver can do their part to help their child care for and maintain their device we can all ensure the greatest longevity for these district provided tools.
Below are our recommendations to help you and your child accomplish this goal. We would ask that you please read through the following list with your child and help them adhere to these each day:
Establish a nightly charging location for your chromebook which is away from pets (so dogs can not chew cords and cats can not urinate on cases, yes this DOES happen).
Keep the chromebook in the district provided case AT ALL TIMES. The case is provided for protection. A chromebook which falls on the floor outside of its case will likely break.
Keep your charging cord in your case so it is not lost or damaged.
Keep your chromebook away from all food and drinks. They do not mix well.
Always transport your chromebook in the case with the case zippered shut. NEVER carry your chromebook in an open case.
Each night, power down your chromebook completely to allow for any necessary updates to occur overnight when it is connected to the charger. Simply closing the case does not power it off.
Establish a location to complete your school work which is away from water and pets.
It is suggested that students do their school work in a common area of the home so that there can be supervision of the device.
At the end of the day, it is suggested that the chromebook not be allowed to remain in a child’s room to reduce the temptation to use the device late into the night.
For any devices which require repair, we ask that you contact the Chromebook repair line at 518.324.3538.
Every effort to help care for these devices to ensure their proper use is greatly appreciated. Together we can help create responsible digital citizens who will benefit from the district’s tools for years to come.
Should you have any questions or needs, please continue to reach out to me via email at paquette.sarah@bcsdk12.org or by phone at 324-2994.
Stay well and stay safe!
Yours in education,
Sarah Paquette
BES Principal
Food Delivery Update
As of April 9th, BCSD staff have put together and delivered 62,626 meals to our students! WOW!
If you are receiving meals at this time, please DO NOT reapply as this only needs to be done once. If there is a change to your numbers or address please email Roxann Barnes at barnes.roann@bcsdk12.org or call 518-563-8685.
We are requesting if at all possible, to please leave a box, a cooler, tote or other container by your door where we can put your food. We encourage you to maintain proper social distancing at all times and not make contact with our drivers.
Reminder: If you need to make changes to your delivery, the cut off time is by 1:00 p.m the day before the delivery.
**UPDATED DELIVERY DATES: Wednesdays, April 22nd, April 29, May 6th and May 13th.
**Deliveries will be made between 7:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
From the Special Education Counseling Corner with Ms. Kim & Ms. Sarah
It is important to be able to say how we are feeling and identify the appropriate emotion (or feeling). During these changing times, it can create certain feelings in all of us. For adults to be able to effectively help children, it is important that children are able to identify their feelings. The following videos focus on identifying feelings and the specific feeling of anxiety (or worries). Additionally, there are helpful links and resources for parents to help children with anxiety. We hope you enjoy the videos!
Guess the Feelings - try to have your child guess the feeling before the video tells you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOkyKyVFnSs
Dave Matthews and Grover sing about feelings - here is another great video that talks about feelings and why it is important to be able to say the way we feel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po5lHYJJQfw
Telly and Zach Braff are Anxious - this video is a good introduction to the word/feeling “anxious”. In these ever-changing times, anxiety seems to be a common feeling for a lot of people (children and adults alike).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDFEW3eAIlg
Here is a worksheet to use when checking-in with your child on how they’re feeling. This will help start the dialogue with you and your child!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g8K6a-Z2xf9CoCFY54cZ3oOG3ydiuZgr/view?ts=5e9633a2
The following is a list of potential providers and services offered in Clinton County:
Behavioral Health Services North (BHSN)
(518) 563-8000
Accepts Medicaid
Center for Neurobehavioral Health
(518) 564-3369
Clinton County Mental Health
http://www.clintoncountygov.com/Departments/MHAS/MHClinic.html
Accepts Medicaid
The following are helpful websites for parents to help their child with anxiety:
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
Kids Health
Today’s Parent Article
Worry Wise Kids by Tamar Chansky
Ms. Lamontagne Shares Counseling Tips for Families
Counseling Week
Each day next week, students and staff at BES are invited to dress up on the themed days in honor of counseling week. We encourage you to take pictures and send them to teachers to be featured in an upcoming newsletter. Remember to use #BCSDEaglePride when posting to social media!
PK 3 with Mrs. Teri & Mrs. Bell
On Friday, students in Mrs. Teri and Mrs. Bell's class had the option to share their pets through Meet with their classmates.
Fun in Mrs. Muller's PK4 Class!
On Friday, students in Mrs. Muller's class were asked to help their families out around the house. Here are some pis of the students and the tasks they chose to help with.
Kindergarten with Ms. Healy
Students in Ms. Healy's class participate in Show and Tell through a recent Meet.
Jaxon
Alex
Alayna
Kindergarten with Mrs. Villemaire
Kindergartener, Cole Yelle is practicing his numbers using sprinkles!
Mrs. Coryer's Class
Everyday Mrs. Coryer's class takes a virtual field trip. They have have visited Disney, a doughnut factory, SeaWorld, The Crayola Factory, a dinosaur exhibit, a zoo, the rainforest, The White House and The Statue of Liberty. This activity is one of their favorites!
First Grade with Ms. Matott
In Ms. Matott's class, first graders were challenged to complete an April BINGO this week. There were lots of learning opportunities for the kids to choose from. Check out their pics below to see what they picked!
Rylan
Parker
Leigha
Dean
Carter
Carter chose to read with a dog.
Ava
Ava found some worms in a garden.
Carter encourages everyone to get outside and...
First Grade with Mr. Mays
Mr. Mays and Kayden are checking in on each other while waiting for classmates to join during a recent Google Meet.
First Grade with Mrs. O'Connell
Get Outside!
Addison and Bentley are enjoying a nature walk. While on their walk, they were learning about roots.
Be Helpful!
Kayden chose to help a family member for his bingo board this week by putting dishes away with his Mimi. Kayden is such a helpful kiddo!
First Grade with Miss Raville
Isabella
Ian
Ruby
Below, Avery is working on a Fundations lesson with Miss Raville.
Fun in Ms. O'Connor's Class
Having Fun in BAZ!
Students participated in different BAZ activities throughout the week. They did the "Whip Cream Challenge," "Face Cookie Challenge" and they even made Moon Sand! Check out their video!
Second Grade with Mrs. Eilers
Students were assigned to watch a video to learn how to use a cup as a drum beat. Then, they were asked to write about their experience. Was is challenging or easy? Was it fun?
This is Blayne Giddings, who not only learned how to do it but she practiced and then challenged herself to add the lyrics in while playing. Way to Go, Blayne! Nice Job!
Second Grade with Mrs. Hynes
Second graders have been reading biographies of important women in history during their guided reading groups with Mrs. Hynes. Students were asked to create Google Slides to describe an important woman in history.
You can view their slides below:
Sally:
Mia:
Kellen:
Mrs. Hynes' class has been reading Charlotte's Web every night through Google Meet.
Second Grade with Mrs. LaPier
BAZ Fun!
Fun Dough Recipe
(Please DO NOT EAT the Fun Dough!)
Ingredients:
½ cup flour
¼ cup salt
¼ cup water
¾ teaspoon vegetable oil
Directions:
Pour water into mixing bowl
Add flour, salt, and oil
Stir well
Roll it, shape it, play with it!
NOTE: You may have to add a little extra flour to make the mixture less sticky.
Jayce (above) shares his Origami Dog and Katie (below) shares her Origami Frog they made during BAZ.
Show & Tell!
Mrs. LaPier's class shared their show and tell stories during a recent Google Meet. Students shared a French Toast Recipe (with 5 eggs and LOTS and LOTS of cinnamon and milk), pets (cats, guinea pig, dog), remote control cars, shells, a guitar and so much more!
Third Grade with Mrs. Bassett
Cecelia Miller and her teacher, Mrs. Bassett are doing a one on one Google Meet to help her navigate some websites. Cecelia put her Chromebook in "present mode" and Mrs. Bassett walked her through the navigation process. They finished just in time, right before Cecelia's Chromebook battery died! Good work, Cecelia.
Field Trip!
Guest Visitor
Math
Pictured below: Mrs. Bassett's class showing some love during a recent Google Meet.
Third Grade with Mrs. Mieles and Mrs. Boire
Math Fun!
Here, Elijah Hamilton works on his Math lesson through Google Meet with his teachers, Mrs. Mieles and Mrs. Boire. He is using fraction tiles to help him solve the questions.
Fun Friday!
During this week's Fun Friday, students played Spring BINGO and completed activities and class assignments.
Evan
Evan made paper plate horseshoes and homemade play dough.
Hailey D.
Hailey made a “junk” project and created a doll
Riley
Riley did the indoor scavenger hunt and learned how to draw a shark.
Hailey W.
McKenzie
Hailey D.
Mrs. Knight's Class
Students have been very busy in Mrs. Knight's Google Classroom. They have been working diligently on learning multiplication facts and continuing to read. The class started a new read aloud, reading "The Magic Finger," by Ronald Dahl. Students have also participate in their classroom's version of Fun Fridays. Mrs. Knight's class enjoys playing games together such as "Hangman" and "Would You Rather?" Mrs. Knight's class is pictured below during one of their Google Meets. Mrs. Kim is also present.
Fourth Grade with Mr. Crucetti
During Google Meets with Mr. Crucetti, students have been participating in a question and answer session about my recorded lessons and I do a read aloud. This week they are reading, The Rookie Bookie. The book is about a middle school boy who loves money and business so he starts a gambling business on NFL Games. Students also got to "bring your pet to school" day for one meet.
Mrs. Drasye's Fourth Grade Class
Yoga with Ms. Lamontagne
Students in Mrs. Drasye's class participated in online Yoga with Ms. Lamontagne. Yoga poses physically help to enhance flexibility, strength, coordination and body awareness. By doing yoga, kids concentration and sense of calmness and relaxation improves. With all that's going on in our world today and the uncertainty of what's to come, yoga is a great "calming" tool for our students. And the best part....they get to see one of their favorite staff members, Ms. Lamontagne and have some fun!
Rainbow Scavenger Hunt
Feeding the World!
Students in Mrs. Drasye's class practice their vocabulary words and feed the world at the same time! https://freerice.com/ is a website put together from the World Food Programme. Students are asked the meaning of a word and for every meaning they get correct, 10 grains of rice gets donated to help assist families and children in need around the world!
Student Teacher
Mr. Stein, a student teacher in Mrs. Drasye's class says good-bye to the class through Google Meet. Good Luck with your future endeavors, Mr. Stein!
BAZ with Mrs. Drasye
This week, fourth graders are learning about magic with Mrs. Drasye. She will teach them how to do five simple magic tricks at home! Let's see how many fourth graders can WOW their families!
Below, Mark amazes us with his magic. Check it out!
Mrs. Gelwicks' Fourth Grade Class
Origami Cranes
Mrs. Gelwicks' class participated in a Google Meet to learn how to make Origami Cranes. It was quite the challenge but her class persevered and were able to make them! A few students are pictured below with their finished creation.
Lapbook Project: Featuring Ryan D.
Students in Mrs. Gelwicks' class were asked to complete a book report. They were asked to chose a piece of fiction they wished to read and worked on each of the report pieces for a display to share with others. Ryan's book report was showcased during the class's Google Meet on Wednesday.
You can view his report by clicking on the video below.
Below, Lillian Giroux a fourth grader in Mrs. Gelwicks' class pays her a little visit to show and tell her how much she is missed!
Virtual Field Trip Slideshow
Mrs. Gelwicks' class put together a slideshow of their recent field trip to the San Diego Zoo. You can view their slideshow by clicking the link below:
Math with Ms. Donahue
As a warm up to my math lessons, I have created digital flashcards to practice math facts. The students race to type in their answers. It is good old fun classroom competition- digitally! Ms. Donahue is pictured below. Her class is on the Chromebook to the left answering the flashcard on her computer to the right.
Fifth Grade with Mrs. LaCroix
Fifth graders in Mrs. LaCroix's Science class have been doing scavenger hunts in their environments, proving that science is everywhere! Here are some of the things that the students discovered.
Peyton
Peyton took a picture of rocks in a stream as an example of matter that is solid and sinks in water.
Julianna
Julianna took a picture of lilies growing near her house as an example of healthy soil supporting a plant.
Carter
Carter's example of a mixture of two substances. He chose oil and water.
Carson
Carson's example of an object in motion: a picture of a bird flying in his backyard.
Elizabeth
Above is a pile of fire wood her family uses to make bonfires and fires in their fireplace. This is an example of a natural resource.
Owen
This is a picture of a brook in his backyard. It is an example of water in liquid form.
Music with Ms. Wilson
During Mrs. Wilson's Music Google Meets, students in PK through first grades are singing and dancing. Students in second to fourth grades have been dancing. Students in fifth grade have been bucket drumming.
Students enrolled in band have been continuing their lessons online through Google Meets.
PE Classes with Coach Carter
Art with Mrs. Wooster
Tyler shares his display of artwork. All of his artwork was created through virtual art classes with Mrs. Wooster. Great work, Tyler!
Yearbook Orders
There is still time to order your yearbook! If you are interested in ordering a yearbook, please send your child's information (first and last name, their grade, and their teacher's name) with the $12 payment to:
Beekmantown Elementary School
37 Eagle Way
West Chazy, NY 12992
*The PTO is purchasing yearbooks for all fifth graders.
April is Autism Awareness Month
Happy Birthday to Our April Eagles!
Sophiea Duncan, Kohen Trombley, Aiden Vaughan, Sonya Conklin, Emma Moran
Elizabeth Burnham, Ryder Facteau, Jackson Gates, Brody Poupore, Payne Provost
Chase Devins, Zolah Parker, Owen Russell, Kinsley Winnicki, Julianna Blair
Kellen Muller, Alexendra Roberts, Chloe Steady, Ivan Atwood, Ava Bushey
Dylan Geppner, Ford Nephew, Milo Aylsworth, Charlotte Dickinson, Kaylee Matott
Brooke Nephew, Rowan Winnicki, Mattie Davenport, Carson LaDue, Jahara DelCastillo
Julia Simpson, Eli Duso, Bristol Provost, Lily Blazina, Bryce Clausen
Logan Dominy, Tyler Sand, Tristan Basto, Ben LaFave, Troy Finley & Sadie Martin.
Eagle Pride Shout Outs!
- Jayden, Caydence and Hannah for completing all of their Springtime BINGO activities! Great work!! ~Ms. Donahue
- James and Aria for consistently showing up to the Google Class Meets and doing their best on their classwork. ~Mrs. O'Connor
- Mrs. Gelwicks, who on a daily basis goes above and beyond. Not only in the classroom setting but she has been able to engage and keep every single student moving forward and succeeding during distance learning!! ~The Gadway Family
- Fiona, who just completed multiplication in Xtra Math and received a certificate for her hard work! Congratulations Fiona!! ~Mrs. Gelwicks
- Mrs. Eilers class for all being LIVE with me for Social Studies and completing EVERY assignment for the day! WooHoo. So proud of you 2nd Graders! Love, Mrs. Eilers
Positivity Project at BES
#otherpeoplematter@BES
How Can You Reach Us?
Parents, we know this is an uncertain time and we want you to know we are here for you! If you have any questions feel free to email us or give us a call!
Office:
Sarah Paquette - paquette.sarah@bcsdk12.org
Candace Jock - jock.candace@bcsdk12.org
Danielle Thew - thew.danielle@bcsdk12.org
Counseling:
Sarah Titherington - titherington.sarah@bcsdk12.org
Michele Lamontagne - lamontagne.michele@bcsdk12.org
Kim Bean - bean.kim@bcsdk12.org
Follow us on Facebook or check out our school web page:
www.facebook.com/beekmantownelementaryschoolgroup
Email: jock.candace@bcsdk12.org
Website: bes.bcsdk12.org
Location: 37 Eagle Way, West Chazy, NY 12992
Phone: 518-563-8035
Facebook: facebook.com/beekmantownelementaryschool