
BES Parent/Guardian Newsletter
April 28, 2022
"NEW" News
PSSA UPDATE FOR FAMILIES OF GRADES 3, 4 AND/OR 5
End of Year Events
Yes, we are welcoming families to some of these events - - more details to come.
May 13 -- CATA Bus Visit
May 18 -- 4th (AM) 5th (all day) Visit CPI
May 18 -- In-person Kindergarten Registration (by appointment - evening)
May 24 -- 5th to Middle School
May 25 and 26 -- 4th Wax Museum
May 31 -- Spring Band and Orchestra Concert
June 1 -- Field Day 3,4,5
June 1 -- In-person Kindergarten Registration (by appointment - evening)
June 2 -- Field Day K,1,2
June 2 -- 5th Camp K
June 3 -- Field Day Rain Makeup
June 3 -- Senior Walk
June 7 -- 5th Picnic
June 8 -- Spikes Field Trip
June 9 -- Last Day of School
Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week starts May 2!!!
Next week is teacher and staff appreciation week. Please send an extra kind word to the staff of BES - - they are the most amazing group of caring individuals!
Ask your child to participate.....fun spirit days for Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week
- Marvelous Superhero Teacher Monday - Dress up as your favorite superhero or wear some superhero gear
- Teachers in the Trenches Tuesday - Wear camo to support our Teachers and staff's hard work and dedication
- Support Teacher Wellness Wednesday - Wear comfy clothes and have a day to relax
- Thanks for helping us reach our goals Thursday - Wear your favorite sports team gear!
- Our Teachers Color Our World Friday - Wear your teacher's favorite color!! K-Purple, 1-Blue, 2-Green, 3-Yellow, 4-Orange, 5-Red, Teachers-Pink, Staff-Black or White
A special spirit day for June 3...
June 3 - BES Senior Walk Spirit Day - Wear BES gear or Red and White to help celebrate our graduating seniors!
Safety Updates
ALICE Drills
In case your child/student mentions something…
The state requires us to hold Emergency Drills in addition to Fire Drills throughout the year. ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) Drills are the district’s required Armed Intruder drills for staff and students. These drills are held approx. every few months. We use a children’s book, I’m Not Scared, I’m Prepared by Julia Cook to talk about these drills, prepare our students and practice.
************************
"OLD NEWS"
Field Day Volunteers
Thank you for your patience - - - the below form is fixed and ready!
If you have completed the below process from the March newsletter, please fill out the link here for you to sign up to officially volunteer for Field Day.
https://forms.gle/Ea6SaMjGWjPGn6yp8******************************************************************************************
Previously sent field day info for your reference:
If you are interested in volunteering, please go to the below link to complete the volunteer approval process.
We wanted you to have this info as early as possible so you could complete the volunteer process since we have been unable to offer this since the pandemic.
Also, there will be a form or info coming from Mr. Bates that would be a sign-up to help out with field day on top of completing this official paperwork.
6/1/22 IS GRADES 345
6/2/22 IS GRADES K12
RAIN MAKEUP DAY 6/3
A HUGE THANK YOU TO MR. BATES FOR CHAIRING THIS SPECIAL EVENT!!!!
BES SPIRIT DAYS
April 29 - We rocked the first week of PSSA testing. Wear 80’s rocker gear or dress like your favorite rock star!
School-Wide Field Trip at State College Spikes
Below here is the permission slip which we will need to be returned to the classroom teacher by 4/28/22 so we can adequately plan. I will attach this to the email here as well.
If you do not want your child/student to attend, that is no problem. Please let the classroom teacher know this and we will make alternate plans at BES for these students on this day.
5th Grade Field Trip
From Our Nurse, Mrs. Griel:
Dental Screenings
The Bellefonte Area School District dentist will be conducting the state-mandated dental screenings on April 20, 2022, at all schools. Any student in K, 3, 7 who has not turned in a private dental exam report will be screened by the school dentist. The dentist visually examines teeth, no treatment or cleanings are available. A report will be sent home if abnormal findings are noted asking for the student to be seen by a private dentist. Please contact your school nurse with any questions or concerns.
Rachel Griel at rgriel@basd.net for Middle, Bellefonte Elementary and Marion Walker Schools
Getting Ready for Summer: Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium that is transmitted to humans from a bite of an infected deer tick (the black-legged tick). It is very common in Pennsylvania. One in two adult deer ticks in Pennsylvania is infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease. There are over 10,000 cases of Lyme disease every year in Pennsylvania alone.
When the ticks are in the nymph stage they are the size of a poppy seed making them very difficult to see. So often people do not even know they have been bitten. Nymph ticks are present from May through July. Adult ticks are a bit larger and are present throughout the fall months.
The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to prevent tick bites.
Use insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone per package instructions
Treat shoes, clothing, and gear with 0.5% permethrin per package instructions
Shower as soon as possible after being outside
Check for ticks daily
Avoid walking in tall brush or leaves
If a tick is discovered, remove it immediately. Ticks need to be attached for more than 36 hours to spread Lyme disease. There is no need to save the tick or send it for testing. Even if the tick is positive for Lyme disease it does not mean a person will become infected. Also, treatment should begin before test results come back.
To remove a tick:
Use tweezers and grab it as close to the skin as possible
Gently pull straight up. Do not twist
Clean the area with soap at water or rubbing alcohol
Contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible during normal business hours for recommendations and treatment if necessary. Be sure to tell them the size of the tick (measure it with a ruler), how long you think the tick was attached, and if the tick is engorged.
Also contact your healthcare provider if you have signs or symptoms of Lyme disease which include:
Early symptoms (one to three months)
Bullseye rash (erythema migrans) - can appear up to 30 days after tick bite
Fatigue
Fever and chills
Headache
Joint pain
Swollen lymph nodes
Late Symptoms (after three months)
Arthritis symptoms
Nerve pain
Meningitis symptoms
Cardiac symptoms
Memory or concentration problems
Please contact your school nurse, Rachel Griel, rgirel@basd.net, if you have any questions about Lyme disease and how to stay safe and healthy this spring and summer.
References
(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.train.org/pa/course/1087944/?activeTab=resources
Stevenson, D., Hoang, A., Schmoock, N., & Parsh, B. (2021). Lyme neuroborreliosis. Nursing, 51(12), 60-62. doi:10.1097/01.nurse.0000800120.06684.f7
Tick Diseases. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/Vectorborne Diseases/Pages/Tick Diseases.aspx#education
PSSA DATES
PSSA Testing Window 2021-2022
Assessment Dates Grades
English Language Arts April 25-29, 2022 Grades 3-8
Mathematics, Science and Make-ups May 2-13, 2022 Grades 3-8
**Science is grade 4 only**
AM Drop-off on the Blacktop
Weis 4 School Program
BES Superheroes in Training
Our School-Wide Rules
Be Safe * Be Respectful * Be Kind * Be Here and Be Ready
Mr. Michael Baughman, Vice-Principal
Mrs. Janelle Reese, School Counselor
Miss Maria McClatchey, Social Worker