Mountaineer Monthly
December 2022
December Character Trait - Compassion/Empathy
Winter Recess Policy
With the arrival of colder weather, I’d like to take a moment to inform you of our winter recess policy. All students will be participating in a daily 30 minute outdoor recess when the temperature is at least 20 degrees, including wind chill. If staff finds that the weather is uncomfortably cold once they are outside, children will be brought back into the building. As a school, we believe it is very important for students to get outside for exercise and fresh air in order to be ready to learn for the afternoon.
Please make every effort to ensure that students are prepared with the proper clothing for recess. We do have a limited supply of hats and mittens that can be loaned out to students if needed. Our goal is also to make the students responsible for themselves in making sure that they are prepared for school.
Students are required to have boots on in order to play in the snow. For safety reasons, if students are not wearing boots, they can play on an area of the blacktop that has been cleared of snow. We also highly recommend snow pants.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Important Dates to Remember
December 2 - Picture Retake Day
December 6, 13, 20 - Odyssey of the Mind Team Practice
December 6 - After School Enrichment Grades K - 2 (Final session)
December 7, 14 - After School Art Club
December 13 & 14 - PTO Holiday Shop
December 15 - District wide PTO Meeting @ 6:30 PM, Student Ambassador Trip to Berlin Food Pantry 11:30 - 2:00
December 20 - BES physicals for students in grades PK, K, 1,3, and 5
Board of Education Meeting @ 7:15 PM
December 22 - Pajama Day
December 23 - January 2 - Holiday Recess
January 3 - School Reopens
After School Care Begins December 5th
A Kid Can Change the World
Second graders asked an adult to sponsor them for the extra reading they did during the program. During this time, classes learned about the value of farm animals and how they can provide for families. Many students were surprised to learn that animals offer meat, milk, manure, and muscle power for farms.
Donations were collected, and the classes raised $325! The second graders assembled and voted on how the money should be spent. They will send their donation to Heifer International and it will be used to purchase one alpaca and four flocks of chicks for families in need. Students will never have the chance to meet the families that receive the gifts, but they know that they helped change the world.
Be An Attendance HERO
Here are the grade level attendance percentages for the month of November:
Kindergarten - 82.11%
First Grade - 90.75%
Second Grade - 89.93%
Third Grade - 88.91%
Fourth Grade - 88.65%
Fifth Grade - 85.13%
In the event that your child tests positive for Covid, please contact Jean Hammond at 518-658-1500, ext. 3008 in the Health Office. These absences can be made up if your child completes work assigned by the teacher during this absence. Days may only be reclaimed for Covid related absences. Teachers will provide the necessary work via Schoology, Seesaw, or paper/pencil. Remote instruction will not be offered.
Counseling Corner
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bfenMos8riMFmiYzKJMIGuCsPYMAJsewLzXSuSb0wo4/edit?usp=sharing