Bear Bulletin

A heartfelt thank you to all the families who joined us for Wednesday’s Popsicles on the Playground. It was such a joy to meet so many students and caregivers, connect with familiar faces, and see new friendships forming. The warm welcome I received made it clear that we have a special and supportive community at Baker-Butler.

I am also grateful to our amazing assistant principals, teachers, counselors, and staff who came out to join the fun. Your presence helped make the evening even more special for our students and families. I’m so excited for the year ahead and the many opportunities we’ll have to learn, grow, and celebrate together.

Our Open House is a chance for students and families to visit the school, meet teachers and staff, and start building connections before the first day. You can explore classrooms, find your way around the building, drop off supplies, and learn about daily routines. Families can also get important information about transportation, meals, and volunteer opportunities, and connect with our PTO. Most importantly, it’s a time to say hello, ask questions, and start the year feeling confident, informed, and excited! 

To help keep things relaxed and give everyone time to connect, we are inviting families to arrive at different times based on your child’s last name:

• Last names A - G from 12:00 pm to 12:45 pm

• Last names H - P from 1:00 pm to 1:45 pm

• Last names Q - Z from 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm
  
  

If you have children with different last names, please come at the time that works best for your family. Arriving during your group’s time will help reduce parking lot congestion and make it easier for everyone to enjoy the event.

To support student well-being and focus, ACPS has adopted a division-wide Personal Device-Free Education policy for all students in grades K–12. This policy limits the use of personal communication devices, such as cell phones and smartwatches, during the school day, including during class transitions and lunch.

At Baker-Butler students will still use school-issued devices for learning, iPads for PK-2 and laptops for 3-5. During the School Day and on Buses: 

• All devices, including smartphones, smartwatches, earbuds, and headphones, must be turned off and kept out of sight. 

• Smartphones, smart watches, gaming devices, and other technology are not allowed on school buses. 

If a student needs to call home, they can always ask their teacher, who will help them make a call from a school phone.

These rules are in place to help students focus on learning, protect their mental health by reducing distractions, and ensure the safety of everyone during the school day.

To learn more about our cell phone policies and digital citizenship, visit the “For Students” section on our website at www.k12albemarle.org.

By working together, we can make our school a safer and more focused place to learn!