Asa Packer News

Please see below for this week's news.

Reminders for next week:

School is closed on Monday.

Note: We ask for parents to not let the students play on the straw bales at drop off and dismissal. We're using these as part of our day and some bales are already getting destroyed. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Weather permitting, we are planning our Halloween Parade for the morning of October 28th. We will be walking at approximately 9:20. We will continue walking the same route we used last year.

We will be walking in the Bethlehem Halloween Parade on October 30th. Our school's theme of our favorite toys or games. Please complete the form below if you're willing to walk with us.

Please complete this form below if you would like to join Asa Packer at the Bethlehem Halloween Parade.

October 2022

Dear Parents/Guardians,

This school year, several schools in the Bethlehem Area School District, including Asa Packer, will continue to participate in a brief, universal screening program that looks for behavioral, emotional, and motivational strengths and weaknesses. All students in the selected schools will complete brief screening forms during one class period on one occasion during regularly scheduled school activities. This screening has been approved by the Bethlehem Area School District.

Assessing the behavioral and emotional functioning of children and adolescents can be an effective tool in promoting student success. Academic problems, motivational struggles, and social difficulties can be the result of underlying behavioral and emotional challenges. When caught early, these difficulties can be addressed effectively before causing more serious problems.

Participation or refusal to participate will not affect your child’s grades. All information collected will be kept confidential. We hope that you will allow your child to participate, as the district will use this data to address the needs of your own child, as well as to design programs to address the needs of the school and district as a whole. These efforts are part of our continual goal of promoting safe, effective, and healthy schools for all students.

The administration at your child’s school will receive the results of the screening. If your child is demonstrating risk for challenges that could have an impact on school performance, he or she may receive an additional assessment to better understand the nature of the difficulties reported. If this is the case, you will be informed before any further assessments or interventions are conducted, developed, or implemented.

If you do not want your child to complete these screening surveys, or if you have additional questions regarding the screening program, please contact Mr. Horvath or Ms. Birster by next Friday, October 14th.

Reminder: Student Absence excuses may be emailed directly to the address below.

asapackerattendance@basdschools.org

1- Thank you to the parents that joined us for our first PTA meeting of the year last night! It was great to see so many new faces!

2- Today at 4PM is our first Puma Party of the year. All students must be accompanied by an adult and no children will be dismissed straight to the playground. Bring a drink and snack and enjoy fun games and art with your classmates!

3- October 11th, 13th and 14th is the return of the Scholastic Book Fair! Please consider signing up for an ewallet(see the easy directions on the attached flyer) for convenient and cashless shopping!

4- Volunteer opportunities: We are looking for volunteers to take a 30 minute shift in opening the doors for parents on Parent Visitation day.The signup genius link for this is: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090c44afab2ea7fe3-door

5- The PTA is still accepting volunteers to assist students in shopping at the book fair. If you are interested in volunteering please contact asapackerpta@gmail.org

6- Our next play/dine and donate is at Oasis on October 14th-15th. Take a break from cooking and/or play a round of mini golf! A portion of all sales goes to the Asa Packer PTA.

Received Free and Reduced Lunch in the Past?

Unless you received a letter from dining services about your qualification, you need to reapply every year. The deadline to apply is October 12, 2022. Online Application Link (click here)

Questions? Please call Dining Services: 610-861-8135

This edition of the BASD eNews features the Air Products Diversity in Education Award winners, our highlighted student at East Hills Middle School, staff member for the Parents as Teachers Program, and a 2018 Freedom High School graduate. Also included is a link to activities in the school, community, youth sporting events, scouting, try-outs and sign-ups. I hope you enjoy this edition of the BASD eNews.

Parents need to complete the COVID google form. Parents can access the COVID google form on our BASD website and then click "The COVID REPORTING TOOL FOR PARENTS"

Once this COVID google form has been completed the district receives a notification. The district will treat that notification as a non-cummulative absence until the 5 day mandatory period is over or if not symptom free at that point, any additional days until they are symptom free and without a fever for 24 hours.

If the student case is not recorded through the Google Form, they are accountable to the procedures outlined in attendance policy #204.

• Cars are not allowed in the bus lane.
• You may park along Kenwood Drive or in designated parking spaces to walk your children to the door.
• Students and parents must use the crosswalks at all times.
• Do not leave your child(ren) unattended outside the school, before or after school hours.
• Follow posted signs. They will be enforced.
• No pets are allowed on school property.

• Send in a written note for any dismissal changes.
• Any last minute dismissal changes after school begins must be communicated to Mrs. Cressman in the office (610-865-0660).
• Do not email or Dojo dismissal changes after 9 a.m.
• If a change occurs during/close to dismissal time, please enter the office to meet your student. Students will not be dismissed verbally at any dismissal door.

Any questions pertaining to transportation should be directed to that particular office. Information regarding district transportation for the 2022-2023 school year will be mailed to your home directly from the Transportation Office shortly. The Transportation Department can be reached at 610-861-0360.

• Teachers will communicate to guardians about their “Quiet hours” procedures.
  
• Teachers will respond to emails/messages within 24 hours during the work week.
• Weekend/holiday messages will be responded to by the end of the next school day.

Email: jchorvath@basdschools.org
Website: https://basdwpweb.beth.k12.pa.us/asapacker/
Location: 1650 Kenwood Drive, Bethlehem, PA, USA
Phone: 610-865-0660
Twitter: @AsaPackerBASD