BG Summer Welcome eNews

Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year. This summer has flown by and it seems hard to believe that we will be welcoming students into the building in a few short weeks. I always love the first day of school when students arrive with their new backpacks and school supplies with a mixture of trepidation and excitement on their faces. It’s an exciting and emotional day for you parents too. Some of you are dropping off your oldest for their first day of kindergarten and some of you are dropping off your youngest for their last year of elementary school. There will be tears, both from parents and children, and that’s OK. Thank you for trusting the BG Staff to take care of your children.

I am entering my sixth year as principal at Bell-Graham and my tenth year in D303. Over these years I have witnessed hundreds of children walk through the doors of BG ready to learn, ready to make lasting friendships, and ready to grow in ways they never knew were possible. From the moment your children walk through our doors on Monday Aug. 14, to the day they get “Clapped Out” as a 5th grader, they will be forever changed by the impact the BG staff, other BG students, and the BG parent community has had on them. They will know, without a doubt, they are loved, cared for, special, seen, heard, valued, and capable of incredible things because they were a BG Bobcat.

As the principal of Bell-Graham I am tremendously proud of my staff. I am proud of their day to day hard work, their dedication to their students, and all the learning they do to improve their craft. Last year the staff took time to really focus on creating a sense of identity for ourselves. We talked about what it meant to do this important work of teaching. We shared what we needed from one another in order to do our jobs to the best of our ability. We sat and had powerful conversations around our beliefs about teaching. I am beyond proud of the results of these conversations. I believe it is important for you to know WHO we are, WHAT we believe in, and HOW we will be role models for your children.

Throughout the 2022-2023 school year the BG staff engaged in productive discussions that resulted in the creation of a Vision, a Mission statement, and a set of Core Values that serve to define our identity and purpose. The Core Values are how the staff has agreed to be in relationship with one another.

Vision: Each Student Will Have the Skills Needed to Participate in Grade Level Work (academic, social, emotional).

• This vision comes from my own personal belief that ALL students CAN. I am firmly rooted in my belief that all students need to be given the opportunity to participate. I believe in my core that every student has something to learn and something to contribute.

Mission: As a community we foster a culture that values and celebrates the whole child by empowering collaborators, risk-takers, and problem solvers.

• This is our WHY & HOW. This stems from our collective belief in all students. We value our students. We celebrate their successes and growth. We provide them with opportunities to be collaborators, risk-takers, and problem solvers.

Core Values:

1. Trust: Trust is assuming competency and feeling safe in professional relationships.

2. Collaboration: Working together to achieve a common goal by relying on, supporting, and challenging one another

3. Integrity: Holding oneself accountable for your actions and words.
   

New Staff/Positions

This year Bell-Graham will welcome a few new staff members:

• Jamie Hadzima: 1st grade

• Danielle Hellend: 1st grade

• Erin Rizzi: 3rd grade

• Heather Long: Resource Teacher

• Kassie McDowell: Resource Teacher

• Michelle Milewski: OT

• Karly Brunner: Empower

• Perry Welch: Part-time PE (Tuesday)

• :Part-time PE (Wednesday)

• David Basich: Part-time Music (Monday)

• Courtney Wagner: Part-time Empower (Friday)

Home Access Center (HAC) will open for parents to view their children’s teacher on Friday, Aug. 4. This is also where you will view your child’s report card each trimester. If you need assistance accessing your HAC account please call the office. 331-228-2100

How to create a login

District 303 is pleased to offer VersaTrans e-Link as a tool for viewing the latest bus route information for students. Parents may login to e-Link using their student's ID number. You can view your child’s ID number in HAC.

Supply Drop Off will be held on Thursday Aug. 10, from 4-6pm. All students and their families are invited to attend. This year it will be a “drop in” event, meaning, families may come to BG to drop off school supplies when it is convenient for their schedule between the hours of 4-6pm. All families are asked to enter and exit the building through the front main doors. An internal building map will be available at the front doors to help you locate your child’s classroom.

If you are unable to attend Supply Drop Off, simply have your child bring their school supplies with them on the first day of school, Monday Aug. 14.

1st Day of School:

I am excited to host everyone on the back playground to kick off our school year. All students and staff will gather starting at 7:45am to participate in a whole school Welcome Back to School event. Parents are welcome to join us as well. Students who ride the bus to school will be ushered off their bus and to the playground. Students who walk or ride their bikes to school should go through the front doors and head directly to the playground to find their class. Students who will be car riders should exit their cars, go through the front doors, and head to the playground as well. Parents who are able to join us should park in the lot, or on the berm if the lot is full, and walk around to the back.

Teachers will be waiting on the playground to greet their students at their class line (ex: 1D, 2G, 3M, etc). Look for your class sign. Mrs. Klueppel will begin her welcome address around 8am. Shortly after the welcome, Mrs. Klueppel will call each grade level to proceed into the school to begin their first day. Parents will not be permitted into the building once students begin coming into the school.

1st Day of School Inclement Weather Plan:

In the event of inclement weather on the first day of school, students will enter the school and go directly to their classrooms. We will not gather as a school for a Welcome message.

Students are in attendance from 8am-3pm. Doors open at 7:45am. Students may not exit their cars until 7:45 am or until morning supervisors are visible.

Early Release:

One Wednesday per month, students will have an early release and dismissal will occur at 2:10pm. Please refer to the district website and future BG eNews for Early Release dates. They are also listed on the district calendar below.

ARRIVAL

In the morning, buses will unload in the bus circle. No cars are permitted in the bus circle. If your child is a car rider, we ask that you utilize the drop off lane. Parents are discouraged from parking and walking their children up to the school. Students will be expected to safely walk on the sidewalks from their drop off spot (whether they are exiting a car or walking from the bike racks) to the front of school. Staff will be stationed along the sidewalk and in the front of the building to assist students as needed.

All students should arrive between 7:45- 8:00 and will enter the building through the front doors. Doors open for arrival at 7:45 am. Please do not drop your child off or let your child out of the vehicle prior to this time. In the event students arrive after 8:00 am, parents will need to walk their child up to the front entrance to sign their child in.

DISMISSAL

Buses will be loading in the front of school in the bus circle again this year. Therefore, the bus circle will not be available for parking at dismissal.

Parents who are picking up their children (car riders) are asked to not get out of their cars at the front of the school. This includes parking in the lot and getting out. We do not want additional adults waiting on the sidewalks. Students will be supervised in the car line by staff members until they get into their cars.

Bell-Graham has a Visor Tag System for car riders. Families are provided a Visor Tag with their name on it. This tag is to be displayed on your passenger visor, visible to BG staff as you pull through the pick-up line. Visor Tags will be given to all families within the first week of school. If you need additional visor tags please let the front office know. The use of the visor tag helps to expedite our car pick-up line, as it allows staff members to get the students ready as the cars arrive.

If a child is a walker/biker/scooter and meeting an adult to walk home, the designated walker meeting spot is the bike racks near Carl Sandburg Road and Fox Mill Blvd. Parents will not be permitted to walk up to the front of school for dismissal.

Kindergarten and First Grade students will be provided backpack tags. If you still have your backpack tags from previous years that you will no longer be using, please feel free to return any extra backpack tags to the Front Office.

CUSD 303 uses PushCoin for all financial transactions including registration fees. Parents can add money to their student's "Wallet" to be used to purchase food for lunch, or to purchase items from the webstore like: field trips, summer camps, community events and to make donations.

https://district.d303.org/tools/pushcoin

The elementary and middle schools food service vendor is OrganicLife.

2023-2024 Lunch & Breakfast Meal Prices

Monthly online menus will be available on the website.

Families who are new to Bell-Graham are invited to participate in the New Family Breakfast on Friday Aug. 25, at 9am, hosted by the BG PTO. Coffee and donuts will be served and information will be shared about how to become an active member of the PTO and BG. Families with small children are permitted to bring their small children as well.

Absences should be called in by 7:45 AM if your child will be absent for any portion of the day. The number is 331-228-2100 and has voicemail. You can call during the evening or overnight and leave a message. Please leave your child’s name, their teacher's name and the reason why your child is out. If they are ill, please indicate their symptoms. You are also welcome to email absence information to Kristin Cloy in the main office.

Prearranged Absence Form:

Prearranged absence forms are to be used for absences known in advance such as a planned vacation.

Student picture day is August 28th.

MEDICAL FORMS

If your child requires medication or any action plans, your child will need physician orders and action plans for the school year. Forms can be found under health services on the D303 site or linked directly here:

MEDICATION AUTHORIZATION

ASTHMA

LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIES

DIABETES

Students entering into kindergarten or 2nd grade will need a dental examination and form completed within 18 months of May 15th, 2024. A vision examination and physical with up to date immunizations are also required for incoming kindergarten students. 3rd grade students need an updated health survey.

DENTAL FORM

VISION FORM

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

HEALTH SURVEY

These forms can be submitted to the main office or emailed to the school nurse at bel-nurses@d303.org. Please reach out if you have any questions. The health office direct line is 331-228-2104.

Thank you!

Kerisa Martini Espinosa, RN

LeeAnna Anzaldi,MSN, RN, PEL-ILSN

Parents, please send any communication, including health forms, to bel-nurses@d303.org to ensure that all of our Bell Graham nurses receive this important information pertaining to your student(s)

ONE SCHOOL, ONE BOOK SUMMER MOVIE - 8/2

Join us for a free viewing of Charlotte‘s Web at the Arcada Theater in downtown St. Charles! Concessions will be available for purchase. Doors open at 9:30. Movie starts at 10:30.

NEW FAMILY WELCOME BREAKFAST - 8/25

Families who are new to Bell Graham are invited to breakfast on Friday, August 25th at 9:00 a.m., hosted by the BG PTO. Coffee and breakfast items will be served and information will be shared about how to become an active member of the PTO and BG. Small children are welcome as well.

PTO DUES

Please don't forget to pay your PTO Dues on PushCoin. PTO Dues are $25 per FAMILY. These

dues help fund so many of the programs that the PTO sponsors throughout the year. Paying your PTO dues also grants you access to DirectorySpot. Thank you for your support!

WEBSITE

For additional information on the PTO please visit our website or our Bell Graham Elementary PTO Facebook page.

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Any questions or comments? Please contact our PTO President Kate Bennett at kate.bennett82@yahoo.com or 630.461.7606.

Our PTO will be sponsoring a Back to School Picnic for all families on Thursday, September 7th from 5:30-7:30. Several fun family activities will be available for you to participate in. Look for more details in upcoming eNews. We look forward to seeing you all there to celebrate the new school year!

Weekly Communication via eNews will be sent on Friday afternoons at 3pm. Within this communication you will find information directly related to the school, important dates, and information from the PTO. Specific information about our child’s classroom will come directly from your child’s teacher.

2023-24 Elementary School Handbook

Electronic Devices in School

Phones/Smart Watches
Students are extended the privilege of possessing phones/smartwatches on school grounds; however, their use is limited to after-school dismissal and non-school days. These devices must be in the off position, or not used once the student arrives on campus until the end of the school day.

We are happy to report that we will have a therapy dog visiting us Monday-Friday mornings this year. Returning students are familiar with Koda the Campton Hills police dog, Charlie the St. Charles police dog and Willow who visited us frequently last year.

We had great success with our therapy dogs last year. Please reach out to Dr. Dieckman or Julianna Harmon if you have any questions.

Mrs. Amy Klueppel - Principal

Website: bellgraham.d303.org
Location: 4N505 Fox Mill Blvd St. Charles, IL 60175
Phone: 331-228-2100
Facebook: facebook.com/BellGrahamElementary
Twitter: @BellGrahamD303