This past Thursday night I had the chance to welcome 140 educators and 14 community partners to Baggett Elementary School for the Green & Healthy Schools 2023-24 Kick-Off Event. Why did they this environmentally-focused education organization choose to hold their event at our school? It's because Baggett is on the cutting edge of engaged, purposeful outdoor learning that is centered around STEAM and Project-Based Learning (PBL). Having the best instructional experiences is a big part of what we are about, but it is not everything that we need to be a highly successful school. We need YOU!!!

Great communities make great schools! You are our community, and we need you. We need you to show up en masse like you did just the other night for our Fall Festival! Wasn't that amazing!! We estimate that we welcomed in nearly 1000 community members that evening, and everyone had so much fun. When else do we need you? We need you during the day? Do you have some time to give one day a week, one hour a day? Whatever time works for you, we need you to come in and connect with our Family Center.

Speaking of our Family Center, they are holding a Volunteer Orientation this week, Tuesday, October 3rd from 12 - 1 PM. Please come in and join us as we lay the foundation for a great year of volunteering. Please contact our Family Center here. Can't join us then? I have another invitation for you.

On October 18th, Cox Enterprises along with Project Learning Garden are coming to Baggett during the school day to video our students harvesting vegetables, making a salad, and enjoying the fruits of their labor. We're looking for parent volunteers to come in and be a part of this wonderful experience for our students. Please join us from 9:30 - 11:30 AM!

Volunteer opportunities abound. Whether you speak English or not, whether you have an hour or a day, we need you! Whether you would like to help out in the Media Center, in the cafeteria, in the Family Center, in the classroom, in the car rider line, out on the soccer field, or in the front office, we need you! Please commit yourself to giving back. Being a part of your child's education at this level, will pay dividends for years to come. Want to find out what's really going on at Baggett. Come in an join us!

Don't have time during the day, but maybe at night? PTA needs you too! Our PTA Executive Board is looking for leaders who can make brochures, take pictures, cover social media, set up for events, talk to others in your language about PTA, and so many more. Connect with our PTA here.

To fulfill our mission to form a nurturing, collaborative community that empowers

• students to dream big and realize their future goals,

• educators to create highly engaging, authentic learning experiences that maximize student potential,

• our families and partners to actively invest in building a supportive community, resulting in a strong foundation for learning.

We need you! Help us to....

Cultivate Community!

Mitch Green

Principal

Baggett Elementary School

Hispanic Heritage Month Continues - 9/15 - 10/15

Book Fair - 9/25 - 10/13

Breast Cancer Awareness Month - October

4th Grade Field Trip - Small Fry Release - 10/4

Pre-K Fall Festival - 10/4

Fall Break - 10/5-10/9

Saturday Fall Intervention - 10/14, 10/21, 10/28

Early Release Conferences - 10/18 & 10/19

Bus Safety Week and Digital Citizenship Week - 10/16-10/20

Red Ribbon Week - 10/23-10/27

Read for the Record - Book Character Dress Up - 10/27

PTA - Trunk or Treat - 10/27

Picture Make Up Day - 11/1

PTA Spirit Night - Sparkles - 11/2

Digital Learning Day - 11/3

During the last week of September, our students had an opportunity to browse for books at the Fall Book Fair. The week prior to and following Fall Break, students will have an opportunity to purchase books. Reading is part of our culture here at Baggett. Building a culture of reading in your home will help your child excel academically. Please invest in your child's education. Say, "YES!" to books!

During our School Council Meeting last week, one of our parents asked about tying our school program to the work of our families. At Baggett, we have seen great results using Freeing Freddie, the Dream Weaver. At Baggett, we run this program on Fridays with every student from K-5th grade. Freeing Freddie is based on the the book Freeing Freddie, the Dream Weaver. The program encourages our students to develop skills and tools that are the foundation for building healthy relationships and a meaningful life. Are you interested in taking a look? Click here for information about the Family Program.

Here is what we focused on in counseling lessons for September!

K: Tree of Choices: feeling and breathing work

1st: Tree of Choices: feeling, breathing and empathy

2nd: I Statements, Feelings Identification

3rd: Problem Solving, Cooperation

4th: Regulating Emotions to Manage Conflict, Respect

5th: Regulating Emotions to Manage Conflict, Digital Citizenship

As we get further along in the school year, here are some attendance reminders! We want our students to be attendance HERO: Here, On time, Ready, Everyday!

Attendance

• Excused absence- personal illness, serious illness or death in family, medical or legal appointments, observed religious holidays.