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Welcome Back to School! August Newsletter

Posted Date: 07/31/26 (11:04 AM)


Bethlehem Elementary Newsletter Template
 

August, 2026

Dear Bethlehem Elementary Families,

Welcome to a brand-new school year! We are excited to officially welcome both our returning and new families to Bethlehem Elementary. Our staff has been hard at work preparing for an amazing year, and we can't wait to see all of our students learning, growing, and thriving together.

This year's theme is Growing Greatness Together. Just like a garden, every child has unique gifts and potential. With encouragement, hard work, and strong partnerships between school and home, we know our students will continue to blossom into confident learners and kind leaders.

At Bethlehem Elementary, we believe every child deserves a safe, supportive, and engaging environment where they can do their very best. Our three school-wide expectations continue to guide everything we do:


  • Be Respectful – Treat others with kindness, empathy, and courtesy.
  • Be Responsible – Make positive choices, work hard, and take ownership of your learning.
  • Be Safe – Help create a secure environment where everyone can learn and grow.

These expectations help us build a school community where every student feels valued, supported, and ready to succeed.

As we begin this school year, we invite you to partner with us. Stay connected through ParentSquare, communicate with your child's teacher, celebrate successes, and encourage your child to do their best each day. When families and schools work together, incredible things happen.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child each day. We are honored to be part of their educational journey and look forward to a year filled with learning, laughter, growth, and unforgettable memories.

Here's to an incredible year of Growing Greatness Together!

With appreciation,

Mrs. Reid & The Bethlehem Elementary Team

Back to School Commitment Night

Please join us on Thursday, August 20 to learn more about your child's teacher, classroom expectations, what your child will be learning this year, and more. Our goal is to have 100% of our families attend one of the sessions. See you then!

Fall Picture Day

Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, August 11. Proofs will be sent home with every student with the options for family orders. Please see the flyer for more information.

Attendance

Our goal this year is to have at least 90% of our students here 90% of the days they are enrolled. Please help us reach this goal by ensuring your child is on time each day (prior to the 7:30 AM bell) and in attendance the entire day (until 2:00 PM). Thank you for partnering with us!

Absences

While we are working to minimize absences, we do know that there are times that students are sick and need to stay home. We do ask that you send in a note to be considered for an excused absence. Please feel free to contact your child's teacher via ParentSquare to let us know why he/she is missing school. You are also welcome to complete this form: BES Attendance Note – Fill out form

Reminder: No Checkouts After 1:30

To keep everyone safe during our afternoon dismissal process, we will not allow student checkouts after 1:30. Thank you for helping us keep our dismissal process running smoothly.

Afternoon Car Riders

We begin dismissal at 2:00, and the process will run a bit longer than normal during the first week or two of school. We promise that it will start running more efficiently and smoothly very soon. Mrs. Duke and her car rider crew appreciate your patience these first couple of weeks.

Student Handbook & Code of Conduct

Please be sure to review the BES and BCSS student handbook and code of conduct. They can be found here. Bethlehem Elementary School - Student Handbook

Once you have reviewed the information, please complete the form found here: Required Notifications for Student Handbooks/ Agendas

Lunch Visitor Policy

Lunch visitor information is outlined in our student handbook, which can be found here: Bethlehem Elementary School - Student Handbook.

We will begin welcoming visitors in September.

Distraction-Free Education

All personal electronic devices must be powered off during bell-to-bell instructional time. This includes cell phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices.

Personal devices must remain secured in students' backpacks throughout the entire school day (including the After School Program).

Students who violate the Barrow County School System’s Distraction‑Free Education mandate will be subject to corrective action.

Progressive discipline steps are outlined in the student handbook and defined in the BCSS Code of Conduct.

BCSS and BES are not responsible for lost, stolen, or broken devices. Rules apply to all personal phones, laptops, Chromebooks, earbuds, tablets, smartwatches, etc. Rules apply from the time students enter the building until they are dismissed for the day (including the After School Program).