We are “popping” into March with numerous events that will keep us busy all month long!  
Ms. Jess is getting us started off with a  March is Reading Month calendar with daily activities.  She has also provided a reading log for students to count the amount of minutes read at home!  Each log is due by the following Wednesday, the class with the most minutes read will win a pizza party in the reading center.  Ms. Jess is also holding a “Design your own Bookmark” contest.  There will be a winner in grades K-2 and 3-5.  the winning bookmarks will be printed off for each student in the school (~460 students!).  Lastly, Ms. Jess will be holding the Book Fair in the media center March 13—17th.  Students will be able to visit the book fair during school hours.  The bookfair will also be open until 7:00pm on March 15 and 16 (Wednesday/Thursday) for families to come in after school hours.

Jeannine Brown
Principal
[email protected]

Jerod Koen
Assistant Principal
[email protected]

As we continue to improve the operations of BES, we ask that any changes in after school plans be communicated to the BES office.  BES administration is instructing staff to place students in line to go home the way parents have previously instructed, and will no longer accept verbal instructions from students.  We are asking parents/guardians to call the BES office at 517-641-6771 to inform staff of changes for after school plans.  Once the office staff is made aware of these changes, notes will be sent to the classroom teacher.

Thank you for your understanding in this change!

Our 5th grade students celebrated their completion of the T.E.A.M. (Teaching, Educating, And Mentoring, or T.E.A.M.) program  with Deputy Barber from the Clinton County Sheriff Department. T.E.A.M. “focuses primarily on a proactive effort to make schools and communities safer, and on promoting responsible citizenship and positive character traits among students in grades K-12 (MDE).”

Thank you Deputy Barber for working with our 5th graders!

All volunteers (parents attending school parties, chaperones, book fair, etc.) must have a current ICHAT on file each school year. If you would like to volunteer please follow the steps below.  Please allow up to 2 weeks for processing.  

Bath elementary will be hosting Kindergarten Round-up on April 19th and 20th at 4:20—5:50 in the cafeteria! This is a time for parents to sign-up their incoming Kindergartener students, meet our wonderful Kindergarten teachers, and ask any questions they may have.  
We are so excited to meet our incoming students and welcome them to the BES family!

Clinton County RESA provides each Clinton County school district with their attendance policy guidelines.  These guidelines state that once a student accumulates 5 and 10 absences, an attendance letter must be sent to parents/guardians of the student.  These letters are meant to serve as a notification and to encourage regular attendance.
With these letters comes many resources that may be provided to help and encourage regular attendance for students and families.  These resources may include a meeting with the building administrative team, counseling/mentoring during the school day, or alternative agencies that the county can provide.

Please note, these attendance letters are meant to provide support to our families.  We understand that illness has been all around us.  We also trust the judgment of our parents—Please continue to use your best judgement when your child is sick.  
Due to the amount of illness going around, we encourage our families to avoid taking vacations during the school year and trying to schedule appointments outside of the school day (when possible).

There has been an unfortunate increase in motorists driving through the school bus “stop” lights and signs.  Bath Elementary School wanted remind motorists what steps and laws have been taken to protect our student bus riders.
 Those who pass stopped school buses may be charged with civil infractions carrying a fine between $100 and $500. Violators may also be required to perform up to 100 hours of community service at a school.

School bus safety tips
Prepare to stop when you see a school bus's yellow lights flashing.
Stop at least 20 feet away from a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing.
Do not resume driving until the school bus’s red lights have stopped flashing and you are certain that there are no children milling around the bus and in or near the traffic lane where you will be driving.
Slow down in and near school and residential areas.
Always observe and comply with the school zone speed limit.
Refrain from distractions such as texting, using a cell phone, eating or grooming while waiting for a stopped school bus – pay attention and stay alert to your surroundings to ensure that there are no children in or near the road where you will be driving.

If you have students that will be absent from school, will be tardy, or have an appointment, please be sure to call the attendance hotline at 641-6771 and follow the prompts to report the absence. We will document the absence and reason each day.
Please note:
3 tardies equate to 1 absence;
For students that are absent for 5 days and 10 days, an attendance letter will be sent home..
If you have difficulties and/or concerns in getting your child(ren) to school, please contact Mrs. Brown or Mr. Koen to provide assistance.

If your student will be late to school or absent, please call the BES office at 641-6771 to give us a heads up and mark the tardy and absence as "excused".
If your child is being picked up early from school, please inform the office ahead of time, if possible. We will call your child to the office and do our best to have them ready. We also ask that the adult picking up has their ID ready to be checked.
When dropping off and picking up, please pull all the way forward maintaining a single lane to ensure student and staff safety.

Bath PTA meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00PM in the BES teacher’s lounge
“Our mission is to link parents, teachers and school leaders.  Together we are so strong.  GO BEES!