New Parent Orientation August 24, 2012
What We’ll Cover • Who’s Who at Bethke • Administrative Staff • Teachers • Support Staff • Clubs • PTO • Events Throughout the Year • Everyday Life at Bethke • Keeping Bethke Great • Nice to Know
Who’s Who at Bethke • Administration Office • Ann Alfonso: Principal • Jill Brase: School Secretary and Health Tech • Nancy Gray: Office Manager
Who’s Who at Bethke • Kindergarten • Jennifer Busselman • Julie Kalvels • Alison Ricks • Tracy Taylor • 1st Grade • Julie Gerken • Julie Beaven • Michelle Haselby • Megan Sobeck • 2nd Grade • CarieAslor • Susan Fitzpatrick • Erin Bledsoe • 3rd Grade • Jamie Drage • Ashley Gauthier • Laura Nierode • Kathleen Tindall
Who’s Who at Bethke • 4th Grade • Sarah Bruhn • Jay Gallagher • Monet Hause • Kirsten Wilson • 5th Grade • Stacy Gunstream • Kristara Kehl • Lisa Rossi • Specials Teachers • SharylHazzard: Art • Allison Adams: Music • Terri Keyworth: Physical Education • Judith Baechle: Media Center • Brad Flickinger: Technology
Who’s Who at Bethke • Support Staff • Michelle Glaser and Carla Hewitt: Literacy, Gifted and Talented, Enrichment • Jennifer Busselman: Math Interventionist • Christie McPhail: School Counselor • Kelli Schultz: Integrated Services • Tom Lockman: Custodian • Sara Beth Kuhlman: Cafeteria Manager
Who’s Who at Bethke Look for sign-up sheets at Back-to-School Night and in your child’s Friday Folder • Clubs • Spanish – Office • Odyssey of the Mind – Mrs. Kalvels • LEGO Robotics – Mr. Flickinger • Chess Club – Office • Choir, Grades 3rd-5th – Mrs. Adams • Art Club – Mrs. Hazzard • Student Council – Mrs. Bruhn and Mrs. Gunstream • Kids Care Club – Mrs. Tindall • Homework Help – coming soon
Who’s Who at Bethke Look for sign-up sheets at Back-to-School Night and in your child’s Friday Folder • Clubs • School Store – Ms. Taylor • Science Matters – Office • K-BOB Morning News, Grades 3rd-5th – Mr. Flickinger • Environmental Club – Mr. Gallagher • Yearbook • School Newspaper • Movie Making – Mr. Flickinger • Bobcat Book Challenge, Grades 2-5
Who’s Who at Bethke • PTO Board • President: Tara Wangen tara.wangen@gmail.com • Immediate Past President: Beth Florin bcflorin@aol.com • Vice President: Jessica Van Thorre jess.vanthorre@gmail.com • Secretary: Don Nohavec don.nohavec@gmail.com • Treasurer: Tami Armstrong loveyandlivvy@comcast.net • Assistant Treasurer: Alex Lynch alex@westernheritage.com • Volunteer Co-Coordinators : • Elaine Poulin poulin.bauerle@gmail.com • Beth Milliken bmilliken@q.com
Who’s Who at Bethke Parents are invited to join PTO Committees to help plan activities and events Contact the coordinator for more information • PTO Committees • Bethke and Student Activities • AssembliesMichelle Gebhart rmgebhart@comcast.net • Copy RoomHeather Dahmerexpressyourself1@q.com • Edukit Coordinator Kim Ross kross@skybeam.com • Friday Folder Coordinator Tara Wangen tara.wangen@gmail.com • Social Coordinators Elissa Noble elissanoble@gmail.com • Staff Appreciation Amy Aschenbrenner amyaschenbrenner@msn.com
Who’s Who at Bethke Parents are invited to join PTO Committees to help plan activities and events Contact the coordinator for more information • PTO Committees (Continued) • Supporting Bethke • Affinity Jessica Van Thorre jess.vanthorre@gmail.com • Book Fair Coordinators Andrea Yeager acyeager10@gmail.com Alexis Morris alexismorris@q.com • Box Tops Kristi Johnson-Smith kristianne333@hotmail.com • Original Art Dena Redmond denared@hotmail.com • Elaine Poulin poulin.bauerle@gmail.com • Golf Tournament Aaron Pearson aaron@aaronpearson.com • Script PTO Board • Pledge PTO Board
Bethke Events • Fall • Back to School Night – Tuesday, August 28, 5-7pm • Teachers provide overview of grade level curriculum • Each hour is an identical presentation • Wellness Day– Friday, September 7th • Fall Social – Friday, October 12th • Halloween Parade – October 31th • Kids wear their costume to school, bring clothes to change into • Parents can watch the parade outside on the playground • Book Fair – November 12th – 16th • Thanksgiving Luncheon – November 16th • Parents purchase lunch tickets in advance of luncheon • Or, can bring in your own lunch • Tip: Arrive 30 minutes early and wait in line for your child !
Bethke Events • Winter • Spelling Bee (4/5 Grade) – Jan 18th at 2pm • Parents are welcome to attend • District spelling bee – Feb. 13 • Invention Convention (5th Grade) – March 7th • “Spring” Break – March 18th– March 22th
Bethke Events • Spring • Scooter Club • Before and after school • Students earn prizes based on the number of completed laps • Book Fair – April 22th -26th • Spring Social – April 26th • Technology Showcase – May 2nd • Eco Week – May 15th- 17th • Field Day – May 24th • Parents can observe the fun and games, or join for picnic lunch
Bethke Events • Coffee Talks • Held throughout the Year by grade • Chance to talk to Ann Alfonso about what is going well, what suggestions you have • Conferences • Fall – sign up at Back to School Night • Spring • Anytime you have questions/concerns
Bethke Events: Music • Monthly Concerts • 5th Grade Program---October 25th/26th • 4th Grade Program---November 15th/16th • 2nd Grade Program---December 11th/12th • Holiday Program---December 11th/12th • 1st Grade Program---February 7th/ 8th • 3rd Grade Program---April 25th/26th • Spring Choir Concert—May 9th • Kindergarten Celebration—May 30th • 5th Grade Promotion—May 31st
Everyday Life at Bethke • How You Can Get Information • Friday Folders • Send folder back to school on Monday morning! • Update Emails from Ann Alfonso, PTO Board • Make sure to provide your email address • Monthly Bethke Newsletter • Weekly / Bi-Weekly Teacher Newsletters • Bethke Website (www.bethkeelementary.com) • Follow Bethke on Facebook/Twitter • (See instructions on following page for Facebook)
Everyday Life at Bethke • How You Can Get Information (continued) • How to Follow Bethke on Facebook • If not currently a member, requires that you join Facebook • Search for “Bethke Elementary”, Go to Bethke Facebook Page • Click on the “Like” Button • This allows updates to be posted on your Wall • This does NOT befriend all the people that follow Bethke
Everyday Life at Bethke • How You Can Get Information (continued) • Listen to Daily K-Bob Show • Subscribe on iTunes • Watch Student and Classroom Videos • http://www.schooltube.com/user/bethkeelementary • http://www.youtube.com/user/bethkeelementary • Ask! • Administrative Staff, Classroom Coordinators • PTO Officers, Other Parents
Everyday Life at Bethke • Food • Send 1-2 snacks to school with your child; water bottle • Lunch • There is a ‘peanut free’ table for students with allergies • Cafeteria menu published monthly • Included with Bethke Newsletter and Posted on website • Pay for lunch • Use Student Snapshot (Parent Portal) on PSD website • Can set a low balance reminder; funds added before 9:00 am reflect that day • Can view your student’s cafeteria usage • Or, bring cash / check to the Cafeteria Manager • You will need your child’s student ID (see front office if you don’t know it) • A blue Bobcat stamp means your child has two lunches left • Cafeteria is FULL, eating in the hallways is not allowed
Everyday Life at Bethke • Food (continued) • Students have recess immediately prior to lunch • You can watch them on the playground • Schedule: • K: Recess at 11:10; Lunch at 11:35-12:00 • 1: Recess at 11:20; Lunch at 11:45-12:10 • 2: Recess at 11:40; Lunch at 12:05-12:30 • 3: Recess at 11:50; Lunch at 12:10-12:35 • 4: Recess at 12:05; Lunch at 12:30-12:55 • 5: Recess at 12:15; Lunch at 12:40 -1:05
Everyday Life at Bethke • Bethke Wellness Policy • Happy Birthday, Let’s Move • Classroom Parties • Balanced treats vs healthy • Food must be store bought • Nothing homemade
Everyday Life at Bethke • Drop Off and Pick Up • Use right lane only • Stay in your car • If your child needs help entering or exiting the car, park your car in a parking space and then help them • Use the red curb as your guide • When arriving, pull up as far as you can by the red curb • The furthest point is beyond the crosswalk • Only let students in/out of car if you are at the red curb • Leave promptly after loading students • Don’t wait to watch them walk to the playground • Do not park by the red line. Timnath will ticket cars in the red zone.
Everyday Life at Bethke • When Parking . . . • Park in a parking spot • Don’t “idle” in the middle of the lot • When crossing the road, ensure you use the white cross walk • Do not park by the red line. Timnath is starting to ticket cars. • Need to Change Pick Up Process? • Contact Jill Brase • Send note to school; contact school early in the day • Bus Passes required if a friend is coming home with your child
Everyday Life at Bethke • Arriving Late • If you know student will be arriving late, notify the school in advance if possible (leave a message on attendance line) • When arrive at school, student will need to sign in at the front office and receive a pass • Leaving Early • If possible, notify the school in advance • Send in a note or contact front office • Parent or guardian will need to sign-out student • Absences • Contact School via phone or e-mail • Attendance line: 488-4301 • email: jbrase@psdschools.org
Everyday Life at Bethke • Medicine • Provide medication(s) to Jill Brase • Inhalers • Allergy pens • Over-the-counter meds (Claritin, Tylenol, etc) • Prescription medications • Requires a signed form from the child's Doctor • States that the child does require the medication • Jill Brase can provide form for Doctor to sign
How Parents Help Keep Bethke Great
Participate in Pledge • Primary Fundraising Vehicle for Bethke • No “Door-to-Door” Sales • No requests to buy magazines, popcorn, wrapping paper • Parents Asked to Make Annual Contribution • Aiming for 100% Participation • Suggested Contribution: $100 per Student • But Do the Amount that Makes Sense for Your Economic Situation • Any Amount is Helpful to the School
Participate in Pledge • The PTO Pledge pays for: • Field Trips - $8400 ($1400/grade) • Student Enrichment - $3000 • Classroom Stipends and Grants - $9800 • $200 Stipends Given to Each Teacher (prizes, supplies) • Past Grants Covered Digital USB Microscopes, 2011 Colorado Children Book Award Nominees for Library, Books for enhancing Core Curriculum, Flip Videos • Assemblies, Staff Appreciation, Social Events • Please pay by check made out to Bethke PTO • You can make a one time donation or monthly installments
Volunteer at the School Help at School-Wide Events Participate on a Committee Volunteer With Your Classroom Complete List Available on Web PTO Socials Book Fairs Field Day Centers Parties Field Trips Staff Appreciation • To Volunteer, • Need to Register with PSD • Parents, grandparents, and other relatives can volunteer • Sign In at Computer Each Time You Come In • Wear Your Name Badge
Google Docs • A great tool • Used by Classroom Coordinators and Volunteer Coordinators • Facilitates sign ups for volunteer opportunities like social events, classroom parties, and donation requests • It is easy to use and helps prevent multiple emails • How to Use it • Go to docs.google.com • Existing Users: Login to account • New Users: Click on “Create an Account Now” (It’s Free) • Click on the google doc link that is provided in email • This will take you to a schedule (table) • Sign up by typing your name in the appropriate cell within the table • The auto save feature indicates if it has saved since you made changes
Capture Money Spent in the Community • Support Bethke in Your Everyday Life • Purchase Scrip (Gift) Cards • King Sooper’s has rechargeable cards. • Collect Box Tops, Morning Fresh Dairy Caps, Juice Pouches • Put in bag, mark with student and teacher’s name, and put in container located inside the main entrance to Bethke • Participate in the Affinity Programs • Restaurants • Product Sales at a discount • Activities • Participate in the Golf Tournament (June)
Nice to Know • Teacher Gifts • Classroom Coordinator may facilitate end of year gift • Parents may choose whether to participate • School Directory • Includes phone, email, and address • Published by PTO • For the use of Bethke parents only • May choose what information to include
What’s Important at Bethke • Honor All Learners • Character Traits at Bethke • Kindness • Responsibility • Respect • Integrity
Questions?
