February 27 - PTA Multicultural Night
March 3-7 - Family Literacy Week
March 6 - PTA Belmont Books Fundraiser
March 10-14 - PTA Staff Snack Drive
March 11 - Flip Flop Day - follow a Wednesday schedule
March 12 - Early Release @ 11:40am (conferences - follow a Tuesday schedule)
March 19 - Early Release @ 11:40am (conferences)
March 20 - Crossing Guard Appreciation Day
March 26 - Early Release @ 11:40am (conferences - follow a Thursday schedule)
March 27 - Flip Flop Day - follow a Wednesday schedule
Starting on Tuesday, February 25th @ 4PM, parents and guardians will have the opportunity to
sign up for a conference in March. Because of the limited time, there is only one conference per student. There are no special accommodations for separate conferences for individual parents/guardians. Below is information about the dates and types of conferences that will be held on each date. Stay tuned for more detailed information coming soon!
March 12th, from 12:20 PM to 3:00 PM (VIRTUAL)
March 19th, from 12:20 PM to 3:00 PM (VIRTUAL)
March 26th, from 12:20 PM to 3:00 PM (IN-PERSON)
Elementary Report Card have been added to your PlusPortals account. Please log into www.plusportals.com/butler to locate this document under E-Locker tab. Your login is your email address. If you forget your password you can reset it yourself. If you have an issue logging in please email ebuys@belmontschools.net.
For questions about your student's report card, please contact the educators that work with your child.
Illness Reminders
Cold and flu season is in full swing. Respiratory illness is extremely common this time of year. Symptoms can include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nose, and headache among others.
Our current protocol for those that test positive for all respiratory viruses including COVID-19, influenza (Flu) and RSV includes staying home until you have been fever free for 24 hours (less than 100.0 without the use of fever reducing medications) AND until your symptoms have significantly improved overall. Wearing a well fitting mask for 5 days after staying home is also encouraged to help prevent the spread of the virus.
A complete look at the guidance can be found here. If your child has been sick and is still requiring frequent over the counter medications for cough, fever, or other symptoms, they are not well enough to return to school. Please be sure to keep them home until they are able to make it through the day without medication.
Head Lice Information
Head lice LOVE vacations! Head lice are always in the community, and routine inspection of children’s heads by parents is ESSENTIAL to combat the spread. Vacations, holidays, and visits with friends and relatives invite the sustained head contact necessary to share head lice. Regular inspection keeps this from spreading to friends .
Please take a moment at home to check your child’s hair for head lice and their eggs (also called nits). Work under good light, such as the natural sunlight from sitting by a window or going outdoors. If eyesight is a problem, have a magnifying glass on hand. Use a bright light and magnifier as you methodically check your child.
Use a white hair conditioner, and a good lice comb to detect lice or nits. I have more information and written materials regarding this treatment.
Regular checking at home (monthly) dramatically decreases transmission. Please make checking for head lice a part of your routine hygiene just like brushing one’s teeth.
If your child is found to have head lice at school, you will be called and advised to seek treatment. After treatment, have your child check in with the school nurse for a quick exam. No extra precautions are needed at home or in class, as research
Clothing Donations
I am still running very low on size small and medium gently used elastic waist pants. Anyone willing to donate these items to the clinic is much appreciated.
Dental Health Month
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. According to the American Dental Association, promoting healthy oral habits in children is an important step for lifelong health.Children should brush teeth twice daily, clean between teeth daily, eat healthy foods and limit sugary drinks, and visit the dentist twice a year. For more information, visit dental health for children
Lisa Harteveldt BSN, RN
Butler School Nurse
lharteveldt@belmontschools.net
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is pleased to announce that our free Parenting Solutions Library is now available in Spanish. MPY is offering this valuable resource in partnership with Peace at Home Parenting Solutions, a non-profit organization located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Through this partnership, MPY is providing proven resources to help students’ families thrive.
Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. The Parenting Solutions Library is easily accessed using the link on MPY’s home page. No log in or passcode is needed.
The Peace at Home Parenting Solutions Library is a free, valuable resource for PTOs, SEPACs, ELLPACs and other parent-oriented groups. We request your assistance sharing this valuable and free resource through school-based newsletters and school-based organizations. For your convenience, we have created this handout. Please contact MPY Executive Director Margie Daniels at margie@mpyinc.org with questions.
Registration for any student new to Belmont has opened. If you currently have a student in the Belmont Public Schools, you do not need to register them as they are already in our system. If you have an incoming kindergartner or student who will be new to BPS, please see this link for more details.
Did you know that Belmont has a Preschool Program for Belmont children who are 3-5 years old that is located at the Wellington School? They are now accepting applications for September 2025 enrollment! CLICK HERE
All children are welcome to apply regardless of language or ability. The Preschool Program serves students who have learning difficulties and students who are developing typically. Some preschool students are English Learners and may receive support from an ELE teacher. It’s a wonderful program with very skilled teachers and aides.
The Preschool is a part-time program. There are different schedules for a child depending on their age. Tuition for the year depends on the schedule:
To apply now, CLICK HERE. If you already made an account to register another child, use that account. If needed, all the forms can be translated using a button in the corner of the page.
Third grade is the first year students take the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) where they will be participating in two English Language Arts sessions and two Math sessions. The information we gather from these assessments helps the school and district determine what is going well and areas of improvement with curriculum and instruction. More information will be shared later this winter/spring, but please mark your calendar for the dates below to ensure your child will be at school.
ELA - April 7 & 10
Math - May 12 & 15
