Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! I hope that everyone is well, and with great anticipation, I look forward to seeing you on the first day of school. The first day of school for students is on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. It will be a half-day session. The school staff and I have worked very hard to create an effective and academically enriching climate; conducive to teaching and learning, and we are anxiously anticipating the arrival of students. At Berkeley Terrace Elementary School, we strive to offer all students rigorous learning opportunities to develop academic skills while also providing social-emotional support. Now more than ever, we need parental support via parental engagement in the Parent Academy, PTA, and various after-school events.

Berkeley Terrace will communicate with parents via Class Dojo, Google Classroom, flyers, letters, telephone calls, and the school’s website. You will also receive a calendar each month and full access to your child’s grades and attendance record through the Parent Portal. Please take the time to review the calendar and the Parent Porta, contact teachers or the Main Office with questions, and provide the teachers and secretaries with your email address and phone number. In addition, the Parent/Student Handbook will be posted online. Hard copies will also be made available at the school. It is imperative that you become acclimated with the information in the handbook, and I welcome any questions you may have. The staff and I are here to support the academic and social-emotional development of your children and to answer your questions. We embrace a partnership with you.

It is imperative that your child attends school daily and on time. The School District maintains an attendance policy, which you can review on the District’s website. Uniforms are mandatory! Your child must wear the school uniform, which is a collared sky blue top and navy blue bottom. Please make sure to complete all necessary updating forms, especially the lunch application and the emergency form. In addition to a working and reliable contact number, please provide us with your email address for the new school year. No child will be released unless the person picking up the child is listed on the authorization form, which is entered in the school’s computer database (no exceptions)!! As a reminder, all school visitors can only enter and exit the school building through the MAIN ENTRANCE (no exceptions)!!

Please be reminded, that the guidance counselor, HSSC, and parent coordinator assist the building principal in managing the needs of scholars and parents and are empowered to make decisions related to most issues concerning scholars at BTES. The guidance counselor handles a myriad of services related to academics, scheduling, registration, counseling, special education, and testing. If you are in doubt about which office to contact, calling the main office is always a good place to start. Most questions and concerns can be routinely answered and serviced by the above-noted staff or your child’s teacher.

Lastly, the staff and I are very excited to begin the school year. At Berkeley Terrace, the students are the utmost priority, therefore, the staff and faculty will continue to set high expectations for every student. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. I wish you and your child a successful and productive school year.

Sincerely,
Mr. Wallace
Principal