Keystone Newsletter #17
Dear Keystone Families,
Welcome back and welcome to 2024! I hope everyone had a wonderful, fun-filled, and relaxing winter break!
During the month of January our learners will be taking various mid-year assessments. These assessments will allow our teachers and school teams to analyze our learners growth and progress. The results of the data will assist to modify and provide various interventions and supports, through our MTSS process. For more information in regards to MTSS, please see further down in the newsletter.
My this new year bring everyone good health, good luck, and much joy!
Respectfully,
Mrs. Smith-Herman
Important Dates to Remember
✏️Every Tuesday✏️
Smencil Sales ($1.25 each)
🥨Every Thursday🥨
Pre-Order Pretzels
👕Every Friday👕
Wear Paw Shirts
Martin Luther King Day
January 15th
No School- Offices Closed
Professional Development in PM- 1:15pm Dismissal for Students
January 24th
Progress Reports- K-5
📝January 29th✏️
Looking Ahead
PSSA Testing at Keystone Elementary School
ELA- April 22nd, 24th, and 26th- Grades 3, 4, 5
Math- April 30th and May 1st- Grades 3, 4, 5
Science- May 2nd and May 3rd- Grade 4 Only
👕Field Day⚽
Thursday, June 6th- AM- K/1
Thursday, June 6th- PM- 2/3
Friday, June 7th- AM- 4/5
Rain Dates: June 10th and/or 11th
Keystone Staff Member Spotlight
Taylor Gulick
Position: Intensive K AS
Years at Bristol Township School District: 2 years with Bristol Township (plus I did my student teaching with the district). Additional teaching experience within a different school district.
Strengths:
-Cultivating positive relations with students and families.
-Allowing for students the opportunity to try new things and accommodating as necessary.
-Encouraging others to work to their best of their abilities and seeing students for what they are; amazing kids!
Pets: 3 dogs! Pitbulls! Chevy, Denali, and Widow!
Hobbies: Reading, Biking, Going for walks
Favorite Color(s): Blue and Yellow
Favorite Snack: Pub Mix Crackers
Favorite Sports' Team: GO BIRDS!
Fun Facts:
1. I'm the first person on both sides of my family to graduate college and hold a Master's Degree!
2. I have 3 nephews, Walter (12), Richie (8), and Johnathan (1), and 2 nieces; Cecilia (2), Millie (2 months).
3. I wear fun earrings!
Gail Nevel
Position: Personal Care Assistant
Years at Bristol Township School District: 22 years
Strengths: Taking care of my grandkids and my job.
Pets: Dog name Rocky
Hobbies: Camping and Traveling
Favorite Color(s): Red
Favorite Snack: Potato chips
Favorite Sports' Team: Eagles and Phillies
Deirdre Stokes
Position: paraprofessional
Years at Bristol Township School District:15 years
Strengths: Being there when needed, caring and kind.
Pets: I have one dog (Ruby)
Hobbies: I like do crafts and reading.
Favorite Color(s): Red
Favorite Snack: Peanut chews
Favorite Sports' Team: Phillies and Eagles and Flyers
Fun Facts:
1. I have been married for 24 years.
2. I have 2 children.
3. I have one dog.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
Fresh fruits an vegetables are sampled at school on Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Fridays.
The students in grades K-5 had the opportunity to sample red cabbage, pink grapefruit, and and white carrots, the week before everyone went on winter break.
Many thanks and gratitude to the students and staff in room A208 and A112 for continuing to providing the delivery of the fresh fruits and vegetables to the classrooms at Keystone Elementary School. You are all doing a fantastic job and we are very appreciative! Thanks!
January Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Calendar
January Videos/Stories
Social Emotional Learning Tip of the Week
Winter Craft Idea
Heritage Conservancy
Dismissal Plans
In order to maintain the safety of all our learners, we are asking that families alert teachers, in writing, for any transportation/dismissal plan changes prior to 9am each morning.
We do understand that emergencies may arise throughout the day that requires a change to a child's dismissal plan for that particular day. For those situations, please make sure you are alerting the office staff as soon as possible, so they can communicate the change to the teachers as soon as possible.
We thank you for your support in helping us ensure the safety and wellbeing of each of our learners.
Snack and Birthday Celebration Policy
To ensure the safety and well being of our students, as per the District Wellness Policy, no outside foods may be brought in by students for classroom parties or birthday celebrations. Shared snacks are not permitted in district schools.
If you would like to send something in to celebrate your child's birthday or for a classroom party, you may send in non food items such as stickers, pencils, play dough etc.
MTSS: Information for Parents
What is MTSS?
A Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) integrates all students. It is a process that provides high-quality, research-based instruction targeted to learner needs. Needs are identified by monitoring students’ progress. Adjustments to instruction and interventions are based on students’ performance and rate of success. MTSS promotes a well integrated system, connecting general, gifted, and special education with intervention and enrichment services. MTSS provides high-quality, standards-based instruction and intervention that is matched to students’ academic, social and behavioral needs.
Key Principles of MTSS
•Early intervention
•Multi-tiered model of service delivery that provides a continuum of support
•Instruction matched learners’ needs
•Progress monitoring data collected regularly to ensure effectiveness of instruction
•Research-based interventions and instruction
•Interventions implemented consistently and correctly
•Parent involvement is encouraged throughout the child’s educational journey
Potential Benefits of MTSS
•Improved education for ALL students
•Provides at-risk students with support earlier rather than later
•Progress monitoring data yields relevant, easily understood information
•Facilitates collaboration among educators, families and community-members
23-24 Weather Emergency Information
nk to Elementary Remote Learning Overview: (Click here)
For additional information please visit https://www.bristoltwpsd.org/cms/one.aspx?portalId=377235&pageId=51110003
Title 1 Teachers
Mrs. Stacy Cooke
stacy.cooke@bristoltwpsd.org
Mrs. Aimee Ramos
aimee.ramos@bristoltwpsd.org
What is Title I?
Title I is a project funded by the federal government under the Every Child Succeeds Act. The purpose of this Act is to provide all children with fair and equitable opportunity to succeed and close achievement gaps. Money is allocated by the federal government and distributed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to the Bristol Township School. District.
Title I funding is based on a complex formula. These funds are allocated to the states who in turn allocate a portion of that money to the individual school districts within each state. The school district’s share is based on the economic need within a school area, that is, by the number of low income families living there. In our district the number of free and reduced lunch students is used to determine the economic need of a particular school.
Helpful Links and Resources
Report Form for Complaints of Harassment/Bullying/Cyber-Bullying
Mr. Pierce- Anti-Bullying Climate Specialist
Email: steve.pierce@bristoltwpsd.org.
Breakfast and Lunch Menus- January
We encourage each student and staff member to wear their Keystone Paw Shirts every Friday.
Support Keystone's SWPBIS program by purchasing a soft pretzel. Each soft pretzel will cost $1 each. Students will be asked to preorder their pretzel each Thursday, for a pretzel delivery to take place on Fridays.
Office Staff
School Principal: Mr. Mark Wilicki
Email: mark.wilicki@bristoltwpsd.org
Assistant Principal: Crystal Smith-Herman
Email: crystal.smith-herman@bristoltwpsd.org
Special Education Supervisor: Jessica Kelch
Email: jessica.kelch@bristoltwpsd.org
Principal's Secretary: Mrs. Marianne Mensinger
Email: marianne.mensinger@bristoltwpsd.org
Assistant Principal's Secretary: Mrs. Donna Meehan
Email: donna.meehan@bristoltwpsd.org
School phone: 267-599-2470
School fax: 215-788-1041