Bear Bulletin
Week of September 5
Let the countdown begin!
As we head into fall, that means it is time for one of the most exciting events at Ballentine Elementary School! Any child who has been at BES for a few years can tell you all about the Boosterthon Fun Run!
Boosterthon is our main fundraiser for the year and all money raised will be used to fund the annual PTO budget. It is through this budget that our wonderful PTO is able to give back over $30,000 to BES annually through supports such as teacher allotments for classroom supplies and extras, student incentives, staff thank-yous, and professional development - just to name a few! Our PTO also funded the wonderful outdoor games on the bus loop that were added last year.
Boosterthon, however, is far more than a fundraiser. While they do help us meet the needs of our school financially, they also provide valuable character lessons of respect, good behavior, and good citizenship while also incorporating physical fitness and healthy choices. This is one of the primary reasons we have selected Boosterthon over other fundraising means.
The culminating Boosterthon Fun Run has established itself as one of the highlights of the school year, enjoyed by students, faculty and parents. Every child, whether they raise money or not, receives a Boosterthon t-shirt and has the opportunity to participate in the Fun Run, so everyone is included in the fun!
Please keep a look out for more information. The kick off for Boosterthon will be September 22. We appreciate your support and all you do for BES!
For your calendar
- Monday, Sept 5 - Labor Day, all D5 schools and offices closed, student and staff holiday
- Wednesday, Sept 7- 4th & 5th gr Math MAP test
- Thursday, Sept 8 - 2nd & 3rd gr Math MAP test
- Friday, Sept 9 - 1st gr Math MAP test
- Tuesday, Sept 20 - Picture Day!
- Thursday, Sept 22 - Early Release Day - dismissal at 11:40
How's it going?
Important Daily Reminders
Please be sure your child's Chromebook is charged nightly so it comes to school everyday fully charged. Lost chargers can be replaced by Mrs. Price in the media center.
Send an empty water bottle with your child daily. (This is a way to safeguard your child's computer.) We will fill water bottles at school.
Please make sure your child knows how s/he gets home each day. If it is the bus, they need to know their bus number. If they are a car rider, they need to know their car tag number. This will significantly help expedite the car line.
If there is a change in transportation, you must call the front office by 2:00. Please do not email the teacher as many don’t check email until after the school day ends.
- If you need to pick your child up early from school, we recommend doing so by 1:45pm as the carline tends to fill up and it will be difficult to access the parking lot until the carline starts moving during dismissal.
- For those students who bring lunch from home: Please make sure your child is able to open all items independently. While Lunchables and yogurt sticks are convenient and easy to pack, most younger students are unable to open them. Please practice opening these items at home or repackage them into baggies that students can open independently. ***If your child needs a carton of milk to go with their lunch, the cost is $.50. See below for information on how to add money to your child's lunch account.
Forgot a snack? Need a snack?
Depending on when your child’s lunch is, the morning or afternoon stretch can be long!
No worries - we have your child covered! S/He just needs to let their teacher know and one will be provided. Available snacks will vary, so if your child is a selective eater, has dietary needs, or parents prefer to select their child’s snack, bringing one from home may be the preferred option for your family.
25 WAYS TO ASK YOUR KIDS “SO HOW WAS SCHOOL TODAY?” WITHOUT ASKING THEM “SO HOW WAS SCHOOL TODAY?”
#1. What was the best thing that happened at school today? (What was the worst thing that happened at school today?)
#2. Tell me something that made you laugh today.
#3. If you could choose who would you like to sit by in class? (Who would you NOT want to sit by in class? Why?)
#4. Where is the coolest place at the school?
#5. Tell me a weird word that you heard today. (Or something weird that someone said.)
#6. If I called your teacher tonight, what would she tell me about you?
#7. How did you help somebody today?
#8. How did somebody help you today?
#9. Tell me one thing that you learned today.
#10. When were you the happiest today?
#11. When were you bored today?
#12. If an alien spaceship came to your class and beamed up someone who would you want them to take?
#13. Who would you like to play with at recess that you’ve never played with before?
#14. Tell me something good that happened today.
#15. What word did your teacher say most today?
#16. What do you think you should do/learn more of at school?
#17. What do you think you should do/learn less of at school?
#18. Who in your class do you think you could be nicer to?
#19. Where do you play the most at recess?
#20. Who is the funniest person in your class? Why is he/she so funny?
#21. What was your favorite part of lunch?
#22. If you got to be the teacher tomorrow what would you do?
#23. Is there anyone in your class that needs a time out?
#24. If you could switch seats with anyone in the class, who would you trade with? Why?
#25. Tell me about three different times you used your pencil today at school.
Important Cafeteria Information for 2022-2023
Just as a reminder, the national waiver that USDA had in place for 2021-2022 for all students to receive free meals has expired. Students will no longer receive free meals at school.
Effective for the 2022-2023 school year, meal pricing is as follows:
**Student Meals:
Breakfast $1.50
Lunch $2.85.
Reduced Pay Breakfast $0.30
Reduced Pay Lunch $0.40.
**Adult Meal Pricing:
Breakfast $3.15
Lunch $4.90
We encourage all households to complete a Free and Reduced Meal Application through www.lunchapplication.com. The online system allows your students' application to be processed as quickly as possible.
To avoid a negative balance, please make sure you either send in money for your child’s account or add it through the online portal. To set up an account for your child or to make a payment online please register your student/students at K12PaymentCenter.com. You will be asked to put in their student ID #. If you do not know this number, please contact our Registrar, Mrs. Spell, at 476-4500.
Parents/Guardians will be notified weekly if their child has a negative balance.
If you have questions about your child’s balance, please call Mrs. Gause, Asst Manager for the BES Cafeteria, at 803-476-4508.
Student breakfast: $1.50
Student lunch: $2.85
Picture of the Week
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BallentineElem
Twitter - @BallentineElem
Tech Tips
- The District Issued Device Agreement (DIDA) has important information and probably answers most questions regarding our 1:1 devices.
- The Instructional Technology website also has many resources for parents, teachers and students.
- Cases are REQUIRED to be on student devices. Students that bring damaged/broken devices to the tech desk without a case will be charged for the damages.
How to Reach Us
Front Office - 803-476-4500
School Nurse - 803-476-4509
Cafeteria - 803-476-4508
School Counselor - 803-476-4534
Library - 803-476-4518
Parent input and feedback are always appreciated as we work through new routines and procedures. Whether through a phone call or an email, we welcome your thoughts and ideas. The Administrative Team at BES is always available to help in any way we can! You can contact us by calling the main office at 476-4500 or emailing us directly.
Principal Robin Bright rbright@lexrich5.org
Assistant Principal Zach Keister zkeister@lexrich5.org
Assistant Administrator Allison Babb ababb@lexrich5.org
Follow us on social media as well!
Facebook @BallentineElementarySchool
Twitter @BallentineElem
Student breakfast: $1.50
Student lunch: $2.85
Community Sponsors
Our Mission…
The mission of Ballentine Elementary School is to join together community, staff, students, and families to ensure that all students are provided a world-class, rigorous education.
Our Vision…
In partnership with the community, staff, students, and families, Ballentine Elementary School will exemplify excellence in education in a positive, safe and nurturing environment in order to prepare our students to be fully participating citizens and leaders. We will foster the development of creative thinking, encourage curiosity and problem solving, promote respect for individual differences and uphold high ethical standards.