Thomas M. Balliet Elementary School

August 2021

 

Dear Balliet Families:

 

Welcome back to our returning Balliet families and welcome to our new Balliet families! Let us continue our partnership to support the work that is before us all on behalf of our amazing students! I am proud of our Balliet families for all efforts that were made to continue to engage our students in their learning. Our Balliet team is energized and ready to continue the work of providing your child with quality teaching and learning experiences focused on three priorities: developing a sense of belonging, monitoring student learning, and ensuring strong, grade-level instruction. We will continue with our Balliet mission which is to engage, inspire and educate every student! Our vision- “Children are our greatest Educators”.

 

This year we will be using a philosophy called “Learning Acceleration” to address unfinished learning due to the pandemic. Educators will use diagnostics to identify the specific content a student needs support with and teach the prerequisite skills for them to access the content.

Educators will continue to deliver differentiated, engaging instruction utilizing technology, student choice, and collaboration. Solid core instruction with “just in time scaffolding” will build the pathway to recovery.  Students will receive all core academic instruction by their homeroom teacher. This year we will continue to offer Art and Music! We will also be offering computer science.

 

We need your help to accomplish this mission! Please see the following bulleted items.

• Fill out the parent Emergency Form to update information: It will be sent home on the first day of school. Fill out and return all additional forms sent home.
• Please review, sign and return the School-Parent Compact. (included in this letter)  
• Make sure your child attends school on time 8:30-3:30 daily dressed in uniform.  
• Communicate with your child’s teachers weekly to support student success!
• Log in to Schoology weekly for communication with teacher and see student progress.

 

 

There will be many opportunities during the school year for families to get involved in our school community. We look forward to having you being a part of as many of these events as possible!  We also invite you to be a part of the Balliet PTO. Let’s keep parent engagement going! Please speak to our Parent Facilitator, Mrs. Matrow, or the PTO President, Christy Webster to see how you can get involved.

 

Explicitly teaching our Balliet Core Values of Bee Kind.. Bee Safe.. Bee Smart.. supports all of us in making our vision a reality. At the end of this letter, you will find the PBIS Matrix with definitions of our Core Values & Expectations for the school. We ask that you review these with your child prior to remote school starting and help us reinforce them throughout the school year. All Balliet Staff will positively reinforce Beehive expectations by giving students Balliet Bucks when they see students exhibiting their core values.

 

Below you will find your child’s classroom assignment and important reminders!

 

• Our first day of school for Grades 1-5 is Monday, August 30, 2021. Kindergarten begins on Tuesday, September 7th and Preschool begins on Wednesday, September 8th.
• Stepping Up to Kindergarten: Thursday, September 2 @2:00 PM. Kindergarten families please join us for a Meet & Greet with your child’s teacher and classmates. Please note that this event will be held in addition to the Early Screening sessions held during the week of August 30^th-September 3^rd.
• Balliet Meet the Teacher Night-Parent Orientation- September 9- Grades 1-5
• Picture Day- TBD
• I encourage you to view our school web page via the Springfield Public Schools website for information and events. Go to springfieldpublicschools.com, select Thomas M. Balliet, view tabs across the top on the blue bar.  
• You can also view us on Facebook- Balliet Facebook
• The monthly school calendar will be sent home monthly with students. It will also be posted on the website. It will provide information on school activities, events, and other important dates. The Balliet Family Newsletter from the Parent Facilitator will also be sent home and posted.
• Check out our school sign, located in the front of the building, for important dates as well.

 

Your son/daughter will be entering                      grade.

Their homeroom teacher is                                            in room                      .

School-Parent Compact   *Please review the School-Parent Compact below. Sign, date and return to your child’s teacher. Thank you!

Student Agreement                                                                        Student Name:  ___________________________________________

 

I know my education is important to me.  It will help me become a better person.  I know my parents want to help me, but I need to be responsible for my learning.  Therefore, I agree to:

• Attend school daily and punctually.
• Be responsible for my own behavior.
• Be on my best behavior and always try my best on my schoolwork.
• Come to school each day prepared to learn.
• Read and study daily.
• Complete and return homework assignments.
• Follow the Balliet CORE Values which are “Bee Kind” “Bee Safe” “Bee Smart”. These are defined in the packet.
• Follow the Balliet School-wide Expectations which are outlined in the packet.

Parent /Guardian/Caregiver

 

My child’s success in school is important to me.  I understand that my participation in my child’s education will impact his/her achievement and attitude.  I agree to encourage my child and to carry out the following responsibilities to the best of my ability:

• Make sure my child gets adequate rest to be prepared for school.
• Ensure that my child attends school daily and is punctual.
• Reinforce and monitor my child’s efforts to study and complete homework assignments.
• Provide necessary tools for learning, a quiet time and space for study and homework.
• Read to my child or encourage my child to read.
• Be available to my child for questions, review, and guidance.
• Stay aware of my child’s progress and communicate with my child’s teachers.
• Attend parent/teacher conferences, volunteer in school/classroom and attend school events.
• Support the Balliet School Core Values & District Code of Conduct and Discipline Policies.

 

Teacher

 

Every student’s achievement is important to me.  I understand my role as a teacher and model in creating a positive school experience.  I agree to support my students and carry out the following responsibilities to the best of my ability:

• Provide students and parents at Balliet Elementary School course outline, which includes a curriculum description, performance, behavioral expectations, and grading guidelines.
• Be aware and responsive to individual student’s needs.
• Provide appropriate homework assignments to support student learning.
• Provide opportunities for parents to volunteer in school/classroom.
• Implement Balliet School Core Values/PBIS, classroom behavioral expectations and consequences & Balliet “BEST” Protocols.
• Communicate regularly with student and parent/guardian to provide information regarding student’s performance and achievement. (See Monitor Sheet & Balliet Happy Grams)

Principal

 

Student progress, successful school performance and achievement at Balliet Elementary School are the results of collaborative efforts made by parents, teachers, and students.  I agree to support this effort and carry out the following responsibilities to the best of my ability:

• Provide leadership and an environment that provides high-quality curriculum and instruction, in a supportive and effective learning environment to help students meet the State Academic Standards.

 

I have read the School-Parent Compact and understand that families, entire school staff, and students share responsibility for improved student academic achievement.

                                                                    Parent/Guardian Signature _______________________________Date ______________________

 

Balliet Arrival Procedures

** NO student can be dropped off at school before 8:30 a.m. There is NO supervision. ** School doors open at 8:30 a.m. Breakfast will continue to be served in the classrooms. All students will line up at their grade level/classroom cone. Grades K-2 line up on the left side of the building (staff parking lot side) and grades 3-5 will line up on the right side of the building between the school and church parking lot. Teachers will then escort their students into the building.  Please make sure that students arrive on time so that learning can begin promptly at 8:50 a.m. Students who are consistently tardy (after 8:50 a.m.) or absent will be notified by parent facilitator and/or adjustment counselor to set up a family meeting with principal.

 

Balliet First Day of School Arrival Procedures

First day of school arrival procedures will be the same as above arrival procedures.

 

Parking & Car Line Drop Off

If you transport your child to school, please drop them off in the car line in front of the school or in the parking lot across the street from the church (next to the church rectory). The crossing guards will be able to cross them safely when you follow this practice. No parking or drop off is allowed in the staff parking lot next to the school or in front of the church rectory across from the car line. Dropping students off in the middle of the street or in the staff parking lot is dangerous for both children and drivers. Also remember that the area in front of the school is a “no idle” zone.

 

Balliet Dismissal Procedures
The school day ends at 3:30 p.m. Students will be lined up at their grade level cone. Please pick up your student at the cone. Please use designated crosswalks when crossing the street. Parking can be a challenge given the large number of pick-ups at one time. We ask that all parents please park in designated spaces and be extra careful when exiting the parking lot. Please keep an eye out for students and families who may be walking in the parking lot. ENTER the parking lot near the church rectory and EXIT the parking lot near the store side.

 

Unless there is an emergency, there will be NO individual student dismissals after 3:00 p.m.  Limit early pick-ups so your child receives a full day of instruction. It is disruptive to the student and class. We understand there are emergencies, but if you know you are going to pick your child up prior to 3:00 p.m. please inform the teacher beforehand.

 

If your child takes a bus to school, please visit the Springfield Public School website (www.sps.springfieldpublicschools.com) to find out all transportation information.

All students are expected to be picked up promptly at dismissal time. Any student not participating in an afterschool program, that is not picked up at this time will be asked to walk home, if listed as a walker, or transported to the Rebecca Johnson Holding Center.

 

Parent and Visitor Procedures

 

• Ring bell at the front door. Wait for response and assistance.  
• Entry into the building will be limited for continued safety of staff and students.
• If approved to enter the building, visitors MUST check in at the front office, follow visitor management check in process, and obtain a visitor ID badge.

 

We look forward to working in partnership with you and our students to achieve our goals this year. If you have any questions, please contact me at the school.

 

Principal Montano

 

 

 

 

“Bee Kind”- considerate, generous and considerate

 

“Bee Safe”- protected from harm, not exposed to danger or risk

 

“Bee Smart”- show intelligence, capable of independent action