Hello Baltz Families!

Thursday, March 9th is Math Night. Thank you for sending in your reservations. Reservations are now closed. You will receive a confirmation by Tuesday this week.

Mark your calendars, there is no school on Friday March 10th for students. It is a Professional Development Day for staff.

We had so much Fun celebrating reading last week during Read Across America Week.

Did you know that reading with your child is one of the best ways to increase their vocabulary and success in school!

Days for Specials- Students should wear sneakers for the day when they have Phys. Ed.

Monday = Day 1

Tuesday = Day 2

Wednesday = Day 3

Thursday = Day 4

Friday = No School

Important Upcoming Dates

• Link to the Year-Long Calendar at a Glance.
  

Reminder: Please come through the car line if you are driving to pick your child up from school. Also, please drive slowly when you are near the school.

Please help me to welcome our new school nurse, Ms. Rachel Clark! We are excited to have her on board as the newest Baltz Bear! She is available to answer any health related questions about your students. To reach her please call the main office or email her at Rachel.Clark@redclay.k12.de.us . We are also working on getting her connected to Class Dojo so she can message as well.

Welcome Nurse Clark!

Get ready for the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge (KHC)! This year, our school will be learning about staying strong in body and mind, we’ll get moving with fun activities, meet kids with special hearts and raise funds for the health of all hearts. Plus, they’ll feel good for doing good!

You can get your family involved in the Challenge at home by downloading the Kids Heart Challenge App or visiting heart.org/KHC to register today and earn your own BE THE TORCH WRISTBAND so you can help light the way!

Once you've registered, start Finn’s Mission and complete the challenges. As a family you can help to create a community of lifesavers by learning the lifesaving steps of Hands-Only CPR. It’s quick, easy, and fun! Learn more about Finn and his special challenge HERE.

The Donation collection Window is now through March 24th!

Thank you for keeping more hearts beating strong!

The Red Clay Consolidated School District would like to make you aware of the following.

During the first half of the school year the State of Delaware may have switched Medicaid plans for some families without their knowledge. Due to this change some services are being denied.

If you have been enrolled in Delaware First Health (aka-Centene) and would like to switch back to your previous managed care organization, you have until April 1, 2023. You can contact the Health Benefit Manager (HBM) at 1-800-996-9969. This hotline has faced a significant call volume in recent weeks.

If you want to make sure the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services has your most up-to-date information, you can call the Medicaid Change Report Center at 302-571-4900. Delaware Medicaid recipients can also update their contact information at assist.dhss.delaware.gov

https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news

• Important Upcoming Dates

  • March 9th - 5:30 pm- Math Night! Reservations Required! Dinner and lots of Giveaways!
  • March 10th - No School for Students- Professional Day for Staff
  • March 30 - End of Marking Period
  • March 30 - PTA Books and Bingo
  • March 31st - Grading Day- No School for Students

Recurring Reminders below. Scroll down past the General Reminders. There is a lot of information included that you will need for the upcoming weeks.

Some General Reminders:

• The doors open and car line begins to unload at 8:45 sharp. There is no supervision for children before this time.
• School begins at 9 am. Students who arrive after this time are tardy. Please have your students arrive on time.
• All students are eligible to receive free breakfast and Lunch at Baltz.
• If you are driving to Baltz, you should join the car line. No parents should park on adjoining streets and walk over to drop off/pick up children. Families must join the car line if you are arriving at Baltz to pickup/drop off by car.
• If your child's dismissal routine is different for a day, please call the office and dojo the teacher so that your child will be dismissed in the correct location for pickup.

Click here to refer to updated protocols regarding COVID.

Updated Isolation and Exposure Guidance

The doors open at 8:45 each day. The front doors open for walkers and bus riders to enter the building and the car line begins moving each day at 8:45 am, sharp. There is NO SUPERVISION for students before 8:45am. For the safety of all, students should not arrive on campus until 8:45am. Students will have the opportunity for Grab and Go breakfast and to be in their classroom for the start of instruction at 9 am. It is so important that students are in their classroom for the start of instruction.

Arrival:

• Bus Riders will de-board the bus in the front circle and enter the front doors.
• Walkers will come to the front door to enter the building.
• Parents of Car Riders will enter the car line on the district side of the building to drop off your child(ren) in the back lot. Please have your child ready to exit the passenger side of the car. Staff will be present to open the doors and assist students as they get out of the car.

Our parking lot is very busy in the morning. Parents will not be allowed to enter the parking lot in the morning to drop off children, all cars should come through Car Line. Parking nearby and walking over is not permitted. These routines are designed to keep everyone safe.

Dismissal:

In order to provide safety for all of our students, we have a closed campus beginning at 3:15. No students will be released for early dismissal after 3:15 unless it has been pre-arranged with the office.

Our dismissal will begin at 3:40 p.m. At Dismissal:

• Family members who are meeting walkers should meet them by the gated area near the little playground.
• Parents who arrive by car should join the car line. Parking nearby and walking over is not permitted.
• For parents of children picking up by car, please stay in your car and enter the car line on the district side of the building.
• Bus riders will be escorted to the bus by staff members.

View the link for other suggested supplies for each grade. These are optional.

There is no charge for breakfast or lunch for Baltz students. Additionally, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable snacks will be provided to all students twice a week. Other snacks may be available for students to purchase during lunches.

Menus can be accessed on this link.

This year students in grades K, 1 and 2 will have access to Chromebooks for learning in their classrooms while students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will bring their devices back and forth from home to school.

Signed Technology Agreements and Insurance Payments will be required for students in grades 3, 4, and 5, only.

Once the agreement and payments have been received, Chromebooks will be distributed to students. It is important that your child charges their Chromebook at home each night and then brings it back to school the next day.

Agreements will be available during the Meet and Greet and during the first week of school.

Links to the Agreements are included below for your convenience, if you'd like to print/sign/return to the office.

Online forms for the Technology Agreement will be:

Click here to access English (only for students in grades 3-5)

Click here to access Spanish (only for students in grades 3-5)

Paper Forms

Click here to access the English Technology Agreement (only for students in grades 3-5)

Click here to access the Spanish Technology Agreement (only for students in grades 3-5)

Payment Directions- cash/check payable to the school. Credit Card payments available online.

English Directions for online payments for Tech Insurance ($20 for students in grades 3-5)

Spanish Directions for online payments for Tech Insurance ($20 for students in grades 3-5)

• Remind your student to wear their badges daily to scan onto the bus as they board in the mornings and the afternoons.
• Would you like to track the location of your child's bus? Sign up for the free Where's the Bus App!
  

Visit www.WheresTheBus.com.

1. Click Create Account
2. Select Red Clay School District (DE) from the school drop-down list.
3. Add the student info (Last Name and Student ID) for the student you want to signup
4. Finish the account set up by entering your email and creating a password