Mrs. Lee's Kindergarten Class

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First Day of school is Wednesday September 7, 2022

Please scroll down for our Lee Kindergarten PowerPoint,

Kindergarten Supply List,

Welcome Letter from our principal, Dr. Baxter

Berkeley Elementary School Office (973) 680-8540

351 Bloomfield Avenue Fax (973) 743-0307

Bloomfield, NJ 07003

Natashia Baxter, Ed.D.

Principal

August 29, 2022

Dear Berkeley Parents,

Welcome to 2022-23!

Welcome Back Berkeley Family,

I am excited to welcome you to the 2022-2023 school year! I hope you had a wonderful summer. I also hope you are relaxed, recharged and ready to start a new school year. I am so delighted that you are part of our amazing learning community. I welcome and value your positive energy and dedication to excellence in education, and I look forward to working with you and your children. All signs point to another responsive and productive school year. Our skilled and devoted staff has been planning and preparing for our young scholars. Our hardworking and conscientious custodians have spent the entire summer thoroughly cleaning the facility. We are indeed a joyous and caring community with the common goals of nurturing responsible, creative students while promoting high-level learning.

New Staff

Each year brings positive change. This includes a few additions to our staff. We are delighted to welcome Ms. Chunteau Abney to the first grade team. Ms. Christina Sansone and Ms. Amber Smith to the 4th grade team. Ms. Jody Montague will join the LLD team. Additionally, Nurse Baiann Hweidi has returned to support students with all their medical needs.

Facilities Update

If you drove past the school or utilized our outdoor playing spaces this summer, you may have noticed numerous maintenance and construction projects. First, we had a complete makeover to our multi media room. Our hallways are color coordinated to ensure easy transition in and around the building. Our gymnasium, lunch rooms, and classrooms have received a fresh coat of paint to brighten the school at large.

Student Placement

A great deal of time, effort and thought has gone into the process of student placement for the 2022-2023 school year. Careful consideration was given to input from staff and families as well as student learning styles. Classrooms have been balanced academically and socially. Our class lists are structured to provide equitable class sizes at each grade level. Moving students is difficult without causing imbalances and inequities. Thank you so much for being positive with your child and helping him or her understand that it is impossible to place all students with a preferred best friend or teacher. ALL of our staff works hard to make school a positive experience for ALL students. Thank you for understanding that it can take a few weeks for a child to acclimate to a new grade, peer group, and teacher.

Walkers

Safety is our number one priority. If your child walks to or from school it is our expectation that they use the sidewalks at all times. Cross roads with caution. Upon arrival at school, wait at their designated grade level spot to enter the building timely. Finally, at the end of each day students are expected to leave school property timely.

Parents Drop Off/ Pick Up

It is equally important that we ensure that both staff and students can have access to the building timely. Therefore, please do not park in any staff parking spots at any times. Use extreme caution in and around the building. Further, do not double park on Berkeley Place to ensure traffic flow can remain consistent during drop off and pick up each day.

Transportation

Bus information is mailed out in late August to each residence with pick up times. Students must obey all bus safety rules~ stay seated, seatbelt on, respectful and following all driver/aid directives. Students who do not receive bus assignments are not permitted to use the school bus. Consequences for inappropriate bus behavior may include detention and bus suspension. Questions? Email Kevin Palmer, Director of Transportation kpalmer@bloomfield.k12.nj.us

Lunch

The Federal Government lunch waiver expired June 30th, 2022. In order to be approved for free/reduced lunch, you must fill out an application here. All students are welcome to purchase the daily hot lunch and have a variety of additional choices like sandwiches, salads, yogurt parfaits, etc. Students who bring home lunch should note there are no reheating devices available for student usage.

Communication

How do you get information? Every Thursday, Berkeley will send out our virtual backpack . It is organized in a fashion that the most critical information is shared first, coupled with the school calendar and the events for the upcoming week. This is your “one stop shop” to stay informed about the happenings of our community. The Berkeley School Website is a place to go to pull static information, facts about the school that could be important for a family at any point of the year., for example, the bell schedule, the school calendar, and the family handbook. Another way to receive personalized information and be engaged in conversations related to the Berkeley community is to attend monthly HSA meetings which will begin in October virtually. Berkeley School is a dynamic community, if you want to be involved and don’t know how, ask. We can connect you to a cause, action, or person that will help you, the families of Berkeley, be connected to our community. Follow Berkeley on Twitter @BerkeleyDrB. Should you have specific questions or concerns, email your child’s teacher or email/call the school counselor or CST case manager.

First day of school- Wednesday, September 7th.

The first day of school brings on so many emotions, which include excitement and even possibly nervousness. While the teachers and staff are excited to meet their students and start a new school year, we understand that some parents and students may be worried about what to expect on the first day of school. Below you will find some information to help you navigate the first day of school.

Morning/Drop Off

• This year Berkeley School will open its doors on Wednesday, September 7th.

• All students should arrive between 8:20 am and 8:30 am.

• Kindergarten students will line up in the front of the school on the grass. Teacher lines will be clearly marked with their room numbers. Parents will not be allowed to walk students into the school with the teachers.

• Students in Grades 1st, 3rd and 6th should line up on the playground by Exit 2. Teacher lines will be clearly marked with their room numbers by the corresponding grade level.

• Students in Grades 2nd, 4th, and 5th should line up on the playground by Exit 4. Teacher lines will be clearly marked with their room numbers by the corresponding grade level.

• At 8:30 classroom teachers will arrive to greet students and escort them into the building.

• If you are a returning student and do not remember your class placement (classroom teacher), please note that there will be a staff member in Spirit Wear available to assist you at both the Bloomfield Ave playground entrance and Berkeley Place entrance.

• All new students should report to the playground, marked by balloons, for assistance.

Breakfast After the Bell

• All students will receive a free breakfast each day.

• Students who are bussed and in kindergarten, will be served within their classrooms.

• Students in grades 1-6 will be picked up from their designated door at 8:30 am and escorted to breakfast.

• All breakfast choices are nut free.

• Free breakfast will start on Wednesday, September 7th.

End of Day Procedures

• Students are dismissed at 3:20. Parking can be difficult, so please arrive earlier to find a place to park.

• Kindergarten students are dismissed from the Multi-purpose room doors (Bloomfield Ave, near the staff parking lot). Each teacher will dismiss from one of the three doors.

• Students are dismissed from the doors they entered through in the morning. Please plan to meet your child at their designated door.

• If your child is being picked up by someone other than a parent, please send a note to their teacher with the name of the person and a number where you may be reached.

• Late pick ups will remain on the playground in one central location.

We, the staff of Berkeley School look forward to a very successful and productive year. I am so excited to welcome you all back! If you are in need of any assistance, please do not hesitate to call at 973-680-8540 or you can email me at nbaxter@bloomfield.k12.nj.us. I will be holding parent teacher orientations on Thursday, September 8th for parents of students in grades 1st-3rd @ 5:30pm and parents of students in grades 4th-6th at 6:30pm. I always say that one of the greatest characteristics of the Berkeley learning community is the genuine care and compassion shared between staff, students, and parents. This year we are focused on the theme "We are One" as we are all partners in this work. Additionally, we are committed to making this year better than ever as we Reflect, Renew, and Re Engage for the 2022-2023 school year! As always, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you and I thank you for all you do!

Educationally Yours,

Dr. Baxter