Bulldog Paw Prints
Week Ending April 6, 2023
Raptor System
Upon entering a district building, visitors will be asked to present photo identification, such as a Driver’s License, which can either be scanned or manually entered into the system. If a parent or guardian for any reason does not have a US government-issued ID, the school staff member can use any form of identification and manually enter the person’s name into the Raptor system. The Raptor system will check to ensure that registered sexual offenders are not entering our school campuses without our knowledge. The Raptor system checks the visitor's name and date of birth for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the Raptor system. No other data from the ID is gathered or recorded and the information is not shared with any outside agency. Once entry is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of his/her visit. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork.
The safety of our students is our highest priority and the Raptor visitor management system allows us to quickly identify those that may present a danger to our students. Thank you in advance for your understanding and your support in enhancing the school safety protocols in our district. We appreciate your patience as our office staff works to implement this new protocol.
Learn Not to Burn (Update)
As part of the program, students are asked to create a plan to escape their home in the event of a fire by practicing E.D.I.T.H. (Exit Drills In The Home). Students draw a diagram of the home and plan two ways out of every room. They make sure there is a working smoke alarm outside each sleeping area (and one in each bedroom), and the locations are included in the diagram. They make sure that everyone in the home can lock and unlock doors and windows, and they ensure that there is a safe way to exit the home if there are multiple levels.
The plans/diagrams are submitted to the fire department once completed, and a very small pool of plans are selected as top-notch. Kyla, one of our third grade students, was selected this year.
As a result of this, Kyla will enjoy breakfast with some of our firefighters, and she will be given a ride to school in one of our fire trucks. This is scheduled for this coming Thursday, April 13, and all students and staff will be outside to welcome her (and the DGFD) at 8:30 that morning!
Gr. 5 Biography Research Reports
Lunchtime Book Club
Chess Club
Gr. 6 Families
It is hard to believe that we are already talking about Middle School! We are so excited to partner with you as your students begin to attend Herrick or O’Neill Middle School starting August 2023!
We wanted to send you a Save the Date for Tuesday, May 9th from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM at your student’s middle school. We have attached the flyer below for your reference.
As we move through the rest of the school year, we will be sending out other communication to help support and provide guidance through this transition to middle school. This includes Sneak Preview, Gym Uniforms, and student schedules!
Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR)
Our first two days of testing have gone really well, and students are working hard, taking their time, and displaying resilience. Thank you for supporting and encouraging your child!
Our testing will continue in the next week, and we will begin the assessment make-up process for students who missed one or more sessions.
BELLE AIRE WILL BE TESTING AS A GRS. 3-6 GROUP ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:
April 10, 12:30 p.m.
April 11, 10:00 a.m.
April 12, 10:00 a.m.
April 13, 10:00 a.m.
District 58 Author Fest. (repeat item)
Dusti will be visiting the 5th graders at Belle Aire, Fairmount, Kingsley, Lester, Pierce Downer, and Whittier.
The community is invited to meet Dusti at a Book Signing held at Anderson’s Bookshop, 5112 Main Street from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Dusti Bowling grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, where, as her family will tell you, she always had her nose in a book. Dusti currently lives in Eagar, Arizona with her husband, three daughters, and a bunch of farm animals. She will share with students her inspiration for her middle grade novels including Insignificant and Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus, 24 Hours in Nowhere, The Canyon’s Edge, and Across the Desert. Dusti's books have been honored numerous times with medals and awards including the Sakura Medal, and a Golden Kite Honor, as well as being named best books of the year by the Chicago Public Library, A Mighty Girl, and many more.
www.dustibowling.com, @dustibowling, @58foundation, #AuthorFest, #AuthorFest58, #DG58AuthorFest2023
Dusti will be visiting the 5th graders at Belle Aire on the morning of Thursday, April 27
www.facebook.com/AuthorFestD58PTA, @authorfestd58pta
David Biedrzycki
We welcome David Biedrzycki for his first Author Fest visit to District 58!
David will be visiting the 1st and 3rd graders at Belle Aire, El Sierra, Kingsley, HIghland, Hillcrest, and Pierce Downer.
The community is invited to meet David at a Book Signing held at Anderson’s Bookshop, 5112 Main Street from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
David has always loved to draw. Thanks to an early lesson from his older brother Bob and practice, practice, practice, he was pronounced an awesome artist at the age of 4. While he always strived to be the best artist he could be, he did not want to lead the life of an artist and pursued work as an illustrator which developed into writing the stories he illustrated. David married his best friend Kathy and lives with three kids in Medfield, Massachusetts. David’s presentations are energetic, humorous, and give insights to the creative process that students don’t get from just reading the stories. He will feature just four of his many picture books including SumoKitty, SumoPuppy, Invasion of the Unicorns, and Bear Alert.
www.davidbiedrzycki.com, @DavidBiedrzycki, www.instagram.com/artofdave1, www.facebook.com/david.biedrzycki,, @58foundation, #AuthorFest, #AuthorFest58, #DG58AuthorFest2023
David will be visiting the 1st and 3rd graders at Belle Aire on the afternoon of Friday, April 28
Mark Your Calendars
Monday, April 10: 2:00 dismissal, Belle Aire Flag Salute (Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 p.m.)
Tuesday, April 11: Gr. 1 Field Trip; NO SPANISH CLASS
Wednesday, April 12: Northside Orchestra Concert (Grs. 4 & 6, Herrick at 7:00 p.m.)
Thursday, April 13: Lunchtime Book Club (Grs. 5 & 6), Young Authors (after school); Kindness Club (Grs. 3-6, after school); Chess Club (after school); Northside Orchestra Concert (Gr. 5, Herrick at 7:00 p.m.)
Friday, April 14: Book and Puzzle Exchange (during the school day); PTA Hot Lunch (for those who ordered)
=-=-=
May 2: Belle Aire Open House (6:00 - 7:30 p.m.)
May 9: PTA Meeting (7:00 p.m. at Belle Aire)
May 19: Belle Aire Variety Show (5:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Herrick)
May 29: NO SCHOOL
May 31: Grs. 1 & 2 Music Performance ( 6:00 p.m. at Belle Aire)