School Newsletter

PRincipal's Message

See newsletter online HERE.

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

This week our school community has the joy of experiencing many meaningful traditions! Valentine’s Day on February 14th gives our students a chance to practice kindness and appreciation for the friends and adults who brighten their days. On February 15th, we recognize Presidents’ Day and reflect on the leadership of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. February 17th brings the start of the Lunar New Year as we welcome the Year of the Horse, a symbol of energy and good fortune. The following day, February 18, is Ash Wednesday, an important day of reflection for members of the Christian community. That same day marks the beginning of Ramadan, a month of reflection, gratitude, and community for many of our families. Each of these observances is unique, yet they all highlight values we strive to nurture in our school every day—kindness, respect, and responsibility. We are proud to be a place where many traditions are honored and where students learn from one another’s cultures and experiences. Whether your family is exchanging valentines, celebrating a new year, beginning a month of fasting, or observing a day of reflection, we wish you a meaningful season filled with connection and renewal.

Two reminders:

1.  School is closed on Monday in observance of President's Day. See you on Tuesday!

2.  We are hosting an Open House on Wednesday (February 18th) for any students who will be new to us next school year. Come between 4 and 4:30 to see the school building and meet our teachers!

Be sure to scroll all the way down to see upcoming events and opportunities.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

Upcoming Events

February 16, 2026 - No School in honor of Presidents' Day!

February 18, 2026 - Incoming Kindergarten and New Student Open House, 4:00 - 4:30pm (details below)

March 6, 2026 - Kindergarten Conferences! No school for Kindergarten students

NEW FAMILY OPEN HOUSE

If you have a kindergarten student who will be attending Bradford Heights next school year, or you are considering having a student at a charter/private school come back to BH next year, this open house is for you! On Feb 18th, 2026, bring the family between 4pm and 4:30pm to walk around the building and meet our teachers.

Principal's message

1 February 2026

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

Friday's Science Fair was a fantastic! All the participants did a superb job presenting their projects and made it very difficult for the judges! All of the projects will be heading to the Chester County Science Fair in March. Congratulations to James Cameron, Marcus Orilall, Madison Teti, and Scarlett Williams for your fantastic projects! I also want to share that there were several special awards:

Kayleigh Butterhof, Olive Parsons, and Lucy Patterson received "Honorable Mention" awards

Owen Bartosh received an "Honors" award

Colin Beechuk received a "High Honors" award

and Jack Klim received a "Distinguished Honors" award

Job well done to all of our participants!! We look forward to hearing how well you do at the Chester County Science Fair!

Today is the first day of February, which means it is officially Black History Month! This is a time to honor the achievements, resilience, and lasting impact of Black leaders, artists, and innovators. We can use this month to learn, reflect, and continue building a community that values diversity and respect. February also brings Valentine’s Day, reminding us of the power of love and care in our school. Kindness, empathy, and simple acts of connection help create a supportive environment where everyone feels seen and valued. Let’s take this opportunity to show compassion and uplift one another. Use the link below to access the updated version of our BH Student Directory in case you need it for Valentine's Day cards. We made a few more changes since my emails last week.

Our HSA is excited to host a Joe Corbi's pizza fundraiser! Look for information to be on its way to you later this week. The fundraiser will take place the second and third weeks of February so the items can be delivered in March.

5th grade families: our BH Yearbook Committee is looking for your baby pictures to include in the yearbook. Email photos to bhelemyearbook@gmail.com.

Finally, the second session of Intramurals begins this week. 5th grade will again be on Tuesday afternoons and 4th grade on Thursday afternoons. Please remember that the pickup time is at 4:30. If your child participated in the first session of Intramurals they are already signed up for the second session. Please contact Jill Farina (jifarina@dasd.org) if your child will not be participating in the second session.

See below for upcoming events and opportunities. Stay warm!

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

February 12, 2026 - BH HSA meeting, 7pm in the BH Library

February 16, 2026 - No School in honor of Presidents' Day!

February 18, 2026 - Incoming Kindergarten and New Student Open House, 4:00 - 4:30pm (details below)

GOTR Registration is OPEN
Girls on the Run is back at Bradford Heights Elementary for 3rd-5th graders! Girls on the Run goes beyond just physical activity — we foster a positive, educational and inclusive environment where every girl feels seen, heard, and valued. If you’re looking for a program that inspires your girl to be her best self, join our team! Our Spring 2026 season begins 3/2/26 on Mondays & Thursdays 3:45-5:15PM (Participants must be able to attend both Mondays and Thursdays to participate) ending with a culminating 5K run on Saturday, 5/16/26. The Online registration is now open at gotrpa.org! Contact Mrs. Fahnestock at kfahnestock@dasd.org with any questions!

BH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

**Reminder: clearances are required for all volunteers**
Do you love Art? Help Mrs. Kelly by being an Art Room Helper! Use this link to choose times to help: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D45A5A82BA5FB6-59126706-artroom#/

Would you like to volunteer in our library? Use this link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044BAFAD23A5F58-58333313-bhlibrary

Want to help in our cafeteria or at our school store? Take a peek at the February dates and choose a spot! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094CA5A623A3FE3-61806434-bhcafeteria

Game Captains will be back soon - stay tuned!

Upcoming DASD & Community Events

The DASD website is now home to a DASD Bulletin page to promote upcoming DASD and community organization events. These are opportunities for DASD students and families to get involved. Click here to see a full list of events: https://www.dasd.org/about-us/community/community-bulletin-board 

BH Home and School

The Bradford Heights Home and School Association meets on the second Thursday of each month during the school year. All are welcome to attend. Visit our website to see meeting agendas, notes, board members and committee chairs: https://bh.dasd.org/bhresources/bhhsa.

Yearbooks are now available for purchase

Use this link to order your yearbook or place a 5th grade ad: https://www.balfour.com/pennsylvania/downingtown/bradford-heights-elementary-school

25 January 2026

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

What a storm so far! I hope all is well for you wherever you are, but if not, please reach out! At this time, tomorrow is a flexible instruction day (FID), so all instruction is online. DASD and I will communicate if that changes.

Last Thursday, Justin Brown, our Director of Student Relations and School Climate, hosted an assembly on resilience for our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. He shared that resilience is not giving up, even when it is hard. He advised students to ask themselves questions when they feel stuck:

- Did I try my best? (to help us focus on effort rather than just outcome)

- What can I do next? (to encourage problem-solving)

- Who can help me? (to remind us that asking for help is strong, not weak)

- Can I take a deep breath and try again? (to help us practice emotional regulation)

Ask your 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders if they remember those questions or anything else about resilience.

Last Friday's spelling bee was so exciting! Many thanks to all of our students who made it to the championship round! And congratulations to our winner, Joseph Italia! We will be cheering you on at the Chester County Spelling Bee!

Friday night's Pizza Bingo was another success! Our Home and School raised funds and families had a blast winning fantastic prizes. Many thanks to our Pizza Bingo committee, student volunteers, our custodians, and guest BINGO callers Mrs. Sweatman, Ms. Gandert, and Ms. McIvor. You made the night a fun time for all!

Aramark shared that there is a menu change for this week: January 27th will have chicken tenders, not chicken nuggets.

Finally, I wanted to share a tech reminder from our website: "The Securly Home app for parents is a valuable tool to help keep students safer when on their school-issued devices. The parent app has the ability to block sites, like YouTube, and create schedules for when the device is inaccessible to the web, like dinner time and bedtime. The app also displays a real-time view of your child’s activity on their school-issued device. Parents also receive a weekly email from Securly with a snapshot report of that week’s activity. Please review the written directions or video directions to access the parent Securly Home app. If you want to learn more about Securly’s online safety solutions, please visit Securly." If you have not yet started using Securly to monitor and review your child's online activity, this snow storm is a great time to start!

See below for upcoming events and opportunities. Stay warm!

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

UPCOMING EVENTS
 

January 30, 2026 - BH Science Fair

February 12, 2026 - BH HSA meeting, 7pm in the BH Library

February 16, 2026 - No School in honor of Presidents' Day!

DASD Preschool Outreach, January

16 January 2026

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

Monday is Dr. Martin' Luther King, Jr. Day, so this weekend brings a time for us to reflect upon and live out some of the values of Dr. King. Our students are resilient, curios, and kind, just like Dr. King. They are a direct reflection of the support, encouragement, and love they receive at home, and I’m deeply grateful for the partnership we share. Each day brings fresh opportunities for learning, connection, and discovery. Let’s continue to support our children as they tackle challenges, build confidence, and find joy in their accomplishments of any size. Thank you for being such an essential part of our school community. Your commitment makes all the difference, and together, we’re creating a place where every child feels seen, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential.

I also need your help with our Lost and Found collection - it is getting large again and we have only been back two weeks! Please label everything that comes to school (jackets, water bottles, sweatshirts, gloves, hats, lunch boxes...) with a name (first and last). This will help us get those lost items back to their owner most easily.

As a reminder, there is no school on Monday. If you want to send me an update or a photo about how your family spent MLK Day, I would love to see them!

See below for upcoming events and opportunities.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

UPCOMING EVENTS
 

January 19, 2026 - No School in honor of Martin Luther King!

January 22, 2026 - Principal Office Hours, 9:15 - 10:15 at BH. No appointment necessary! Stop by to ask questions, share ideas, or just chat!

January 23, 2026 - BH Pizza Bingo, 6:30pm! Use this link to register: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-pizza-bingo

February 12, 2026 - BH HSA meeting, 7pm in the BH Library

February 16, 2026 - No School in honor of Presidents' Day!

21 December 2025

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

Our spirit week continues for the next two days! Here is the schedule:

·    Maybe a Snowy Monday! (12/22): Get ready, the forecast is calling for snow! Students will decorate the hallways with snowflakes and snow related crafts.

·    Toasty, cozy Tuesday (12/23): Wear toasty, cozy pajamas!

Many thanks to all who retrieved lost items, but our lost and found collection is still huge! Parents and caregivers, you are welcome to come over and take a peek during school hours to claim lost items!

One reminder: DASD schools are closed for winter break from 24 Dec 2024 - 2 Jan 2025. School is back in session on 5 January 2025.

To our families who celebrate Christmas, I wish you a very Merry Christmas. To our families who celebrate Hannukah, Happy Hannukah! To our families who celebrate Kwanzaa, have a happy holiday! To everyone in our Bradford Heights family, please enjoy our Winter Break with a big pile of laughter and fun. I will see you back here on January 5!

See below for upcoming events and opportunities.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

UPCOMING EVENTS

December 24, 2025 - January 2, 2026 - School closed for Winter Recess

January 23, 2026 - BH Pizza Bingo, 6:30pm! Use this link to register: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-pizza-bingo

14 December 2025

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

It has been chilly these last few weeks! I wanted to include a reminder about recess for our new families; this is the information from our DASD Elementary School Handbook:

RECESS
Weather permitting, students are provided with twenty minutes of recess time each day. Recesses are supervised by at least two staff members.
Anytime it is 25 degrees or above (with wind-chill included), the playground is relatively clear, and there is no precipitation, we will have outdoor recess. Children should wear coats, hats, and gloves to go outside during the cold weather.

We will have indoor recess anytime the temperature falls below 25 degrees, actual temperature or with wind-chill. We appreciate the cooperation of parents in sending children dressed properly for the outdoors.

REPORT CARDS
Trimester 1 report cards are published! Take a peek in the Documents section of Infinite Campus to see them. Here are directions if it is helpful:
Elementary Report Cards are now available to print in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Unlike in prior years, K-5 report cards can be accessed in the documents section of the portal rather than the backpack. Here is a brief video with instructions for how to access the documents section of the portal where you can both view and print the report card. If you experience technical difficulties accessing the parent portal, feel free to submit an inquiry with the DASD Service Desk. For a translated version of the report card, please email Ms.Jennifer Donovan (jdonovan@dasd.org) and include your child's first and last name, school of attendance, and grade level.

This week and next are spirit weeks! Here is the schedule:

·    Merry, Merry Monday (12/15): Wear festive headwear and/or socks.

·    Tinsel Tuesday (12/16): Wear silver, white or blue.

·    Warm & Cozy Wednesday (12/17): Wear Festive Sweater and/ or scarf.

·    Tis the Season Thursday (12/18): Wear something that represents a winter holiday that is important to you.

·    Festive flannel and plaid Friday (12/19): Wear anything festive, flannel or plaid.

·    Maybe a Snowy Monday! (12/20): Get ready, the forecast is calling for snow! Students will decorate the hallways with snowflakes and snow related crafts.

·    Toasty, cozy Tuesday (12/23): Wear toasty, cozy pajamas!

Our lost and found collection is huge! We have been encouraging students to retrieve their items, but we welcome parents and caregivers to come over and take a peek as well. Stop by during school hours to claim lost items!

Finally, our annual Pizza Bingo is just around the corner! See below for information and a registration link.

Have a great week! See below for upcoming events and opportunities, including Girls on the Run registration.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

UPCOMING EVENTS

December 24, 2025 - January 2, 2026 - School closed for Winter Recess

January 23, 2026 - BH Pizza Bingo, 6:30pm! Use this link to register: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2026-pizza-bingo

23 November 2025

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

Our Boosterthon Turkey Trot is tomorrow (Monday, November 24th). Parents and caregivers are invited to come cheer on our kids! If you are coming, show your support by wearing a crazy/seasonal hat, bringing a sign, and being a hype spectator/volunteer who cheers on our Bulldogs as they reach their movement goal. Be sure to arrive by 9:45am and head straight to the field in the center of the walking trail. Students will start running at 9:55am. Turkey Trot shirts did go home on Friday! Our Home and School worked really hard to make sure that every student got a shirt. Thank you Home and School!!

Picture retake day is December 3rd. All orders from retake day must be made online. See flyer below.

Our school store is open until December 5th: https://stores.inksoft.com/bradford_heights_elementary_sch/shop/home. If you are hoping for some cool BH gear, take a peek!

Our annual Santa's Workshop is December 6th. Sign up to volunteer and/or attend using the links below.

Schedule reminders: Monday, November 24 is a two hour early dismissal (school ends at 1:35pm). We have no school for students the rest of this week and will see them back here on Monday, December 1st!

Have a great week and a Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate! See below for upcoming events and opportunities.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

UPCOMING EVENTS

16 November 2025

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

Last Thursday we had the So Fun Gameshow assembly and lived up to its name! Students participated in some fun trivia and dance games while learning about kindness, teamwork, and cooperation. Many thanks to our HSA for sponsoring this assembly!!

Our Boosterthon fundraiser is well underway! So far we have learned about curiosity. Next week we will learn about four more character traits. Be sure to ask your kids what they've learned! The fundraiser ends with our Turkey Trot event, which is on Monday, November 24th. Parents and caregivers are invited to come cheer them on! Show your support by wearing a crazy/seasonal hat, bringing a sign, filling the middle of the walking trail, and being a hype spectator/volunteer to cheer on our Bulldogs as they reach their movement goal. Please arrive by 9:45am and head straight to the field in the center of the walking trail. Students will start running at 9:55am.

You should have received communication from your child's teacher/s about parent-teacher conferences. If you have not, please reach out to your teacher!

Finally, our school store is open until December 5th: https://stores.inksoft.com/bradford_heights_elementary_sch/shop/home. If you are hoping for some cool BH gear, take a peek!

Have a great week! See below for upcoming events and opportunities.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

UPCOMING EVENTS

November 24, 2025 - Two hour early dismissal and our Boosterthon Turkey Trot!
Parent teacher conferences are 2-4:30pm, 6-8pm

November 25, 2025 - No school for students, All day Parent Teacher conferences

November 26, 2025 - No school for students, Work Collaboration Day

November 27-28, 2025 - School closed - Thanksgiving break

**There is no December BH HSA meeting

December 6, 2025 - Santa's Workshop (sign up coming soon)

December 10, 2025 - Winter Music Concert

December 24, 2025 - January 2, 2026 - School closed for Winter Recess

January 23, 2026 - BH Pizza Bingo (sign up coming soon)

7 November 2025

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

I am sending out my weekly message early this week because our communication platform is being updated over the weekend. I am looking forward to the upgrades!

Our annual spelling bee is coming soon! Here is a message from our coordinators:

Attention 3rd-5th grade students who love to spell! It is time to start preparing for the 2nd annual Bradford Heights Spelling Bee!! Participation is optional and open to all students who return a signed permission slip to their classroom teacher by Friday, November 21st. One winner from each class will be selected to compete in a BH Final round on stage in front of their fellow bulldogs! Our champion will then go on to participate in the Chester County Spelling Bee in February. Families – look out for permission slips to come home next week. We hope that you will J-O-I-N us!

I also have a message for you from our nurses:

Health Screenings will start taking place in mid-November and will go into February/March. Annual Health Screenings are mandated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; they consist of Height, Weight, Vision, and Hearing (Hearing is for K-3rd grade). Please know that we use discretion when performing weight checks and we may ask your child to remove their shoes.

Thank you for your attention and care 🙂

-Nurse Ashley & Nurse Betsy

It is not too late to submit the PA climate survey! Link is below - thank you in advance for your feedback!

Finally, we have a Home and School meeting next week Thursday. It is at 7pm here at school. Hope to see you there!

Have a great week! See below for upcoming events and opportunities.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

UPCOMING EVENTS

November 13, 2025 - BH Home and School meeting, 7pm

November 24, 2025 - Two hour early dismissal and our Boosterthon Turkey Trot!

·    Parent teacher conferences are 2-4:30pm, 6-8pm

November 25, 2025 - No school for students, All day Parent Teacher conferences

November 26, 2025 - No school for students, Work Collaboration Day

November 27-28, 2025 - School closed - Thanksgiving break

26 October 2025

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

Many thanks to all of the families who attended Friday's Trunk or Treat event! We had such a fun time seeing all your costumes! Thank you to our HSA for organizing and coordinating this event.

It is time for our annual Title 1 family survey! Please take a few minutes to complete this survey about Title 1 services at our school: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5cewk5Q8gKaPffITd1zpMYXu7br0HU6gnLbwPypYQBN7UKg/viewform.

One reminder for parents and caregivers: if you pick up your children here during dismissal, please be mindful of the stop sign at the exit of the parking lot. Buses entering the bus loop have the right of way and we do not want an accident!

This Friday is our annual Halloween parade. I will send an email very soon with all the reminders/directions for the event (parking, pickup, etc).

Have a great week! See below for upcoming events and opportunities, including a message from our HSA about our upcoming Turkey Trot Boosterthon Fun Run.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

See our newsletter online here.

17 October 2025

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

School pictures are ready! To order pictures, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using your student's student ID number. All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card. If needed, picture retake day is December 3rd.

Halloween is in two weeks! Our Halloween parade is outside by our playground at 2:35pm. It is open to parents/caregivers to attend. If your child will be in a costume for our Halloween parade, here our requirements:

·    Bring the costume to school - students will change into costumes at school.

·    To keep everyone safe, students may NOT wear face paint or costume masks. No toy or look-alike weapons or accessories are permitted.

·    Students must wear appropriate shoes for school.

You received an email earlier this week inviting you to take the PA Climate Survey. I use those survey results to identify aspects of our school that are helping students thrive and also where we have opportunities for growth. For example, last year our survey results indicated a need for more proactive and consistent communication. We created space on our website to share the "what to expect" in each grade level and also we are more intentional in regularly sharing information with families. I look forward to your responses to this year's survey! Here is the link and information if you need it again:

·    Parent/Guardian Survey Link: https://tinyurl.com/bdd2pm3u

·    Time: About 3–5 minutes

·    Deadline: Take it anytime between October 16 and November 20

Finally, we have no school on Monday, 20 October 2025 in honor of Diwali. Diwali is a Hindu festival and one of the biggest holidays of the year in India. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (diya or deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects us from spiritual darkness. Diwali, also called Dipawali or Deepavali, is celebrated every autumn, around the new moon between the Hindu months of Asvina and Kartika. The holiday is celebrated on different days every year, because the Hindu religious calendar is a lunar calendar, while the secular calendar used by most civic and national organizations is a solar calendar. Diwali usually falls in October or November. Happy Diwali to all who celebrate!

Have a great three-day weekend! See below for upcoming events and opportunities.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

See our newsletter online here.

October 20, 2025 - Schools closed for Diwali

October 24, 2025 - Trunk or Treat, 5:30 - 7pm; new this year will be the addition of some Literacy-themed cars!

Sign up to attend: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/trunk-or-treat-34

Sign up to host a trunk: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084FAEAE2CA4F85-51511266-bradford#/

October 31, 2025 - BH Halloween parade, 2:30pm

November 4, 2025 - No School for Students; Election Day

12 October 2025

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

Calling all game enthusiasts! For the rest of this month, we are trying out something new: Recess Game Captains! If you are a caregiver with a love of games, we invite you to sign up for a Recess Game Captain spot! Choose a date when you can come to school during recess to teach students how to play something you love. Be creative! Think about the fun times you had playing as a child and what you can bring to this generation. Hopscotch? Double dutch jump rope tricks? Sweet soccer moves? The 5 passes football game? Yo-yos? Red Rover? Use the sign up link below to choose a date to bring some fun!

Have a great week! See below for a message from our school counselor, as well as other upcoming events and opportunities.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

See our Newsletter online HERE.

A Message from Mrs. Addy, School Counselor

Dear Families,

The Bradford Heights School Counseling Program is designed to provide comprehensive care for your students, and part of this includes small counseling groups. These groups bring together students who may be experiencing similar challenges, giving them a safe place to share, learn, and support one another. Each group is guided by the American School Counselor National Standards for Students and helps children grow emotionally while being given the opportunity to share and connect with their peers.

This fall, we are offering a Changing Families small group. A “changing family” may include experiences such as divorce, separation, remarriage, or the ongoing effects of these transitions. Our goal is to provide students with the support they need during these times of adjustment.

The group will run six weeks, meeting once per week beginning in late October. Each session will last 30 minutes and will give students the chance to:

·    Share about their family experiences

·    Learn strategies for processing change

·    Practice healthy coping skills

If enough students are able to participate, two separate groups will be offered: one for grades K-2 and one for grades 3-5. This group is most beneficial for students who have experienced family changes within the past 1-2 years.

If you believe your child(ren) would benefit from this group and would like them to participate, please email Mrs. Addy at Jaddy@dasd.org.

October 10 - 17, 2025 - BH Scholastic Book Fair (students attend during encore)

October 13, 2025 - BH Scholastic Book Fair Family Night, 6-8pm

October 20, 2025 - Schools closed for Diwali

October 24, 2025 - Trunk or Treat, 5:30 - 7pm; new this year will be the addition of some Literacy-themed cars!

Sign up to attend: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/trunk-or-treat-34

Sign up to host a trunk: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084FAEAE2CA4F85-51511266-bradford#/

October 31, 2025 - BH Halloween parade, 2:30pm

November 4, 2025 - No School for Students; Election Day

5 October 2025

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

We are finished with our reading and math benchmark testing so our MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) groups can begin! Student benchmark testing results will be uploaded into Infinite Campus in the very near future and you will get an email about that from our central office.

Also this week is our DASD Mobile Innovation Lab residency! Mrs. Brittany Schwab facilitates the Mobile Innovation Lab for the district. She travels to all ten elementary schools to provide STEM experiences. Our bulldogs in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade will participate in Maker Challenges, collaborating through hands on problem solving skills while working through engineering, programming, circuitry, and robotics! We will have the lab back here again in the Spring.

I have a challenge for you for the month of October: find a new way to read with your child! If you take turns reading with your child, add in funny voices while you read. If you always read to your child, have your child read to you or take turns reading. If you do not yet read with your child, start! If you read but don't talk about the story, add in talking about the story. If you always read in the same location, find a different place to read. Have fun with this and then let us know how it goes. Send me an email to let me know what you tried and how it went!

Calling all Bradford Heights families of Indian descent! We need your help planning for our upcoming Indian Heritage Month assembly! Please contact Radhika Kodeboyina, radhikak9@yahoo.com, if you can help. No specific skills needed, just a willingness to help!

One reminder: This Thursday is Picture Day and our book fair starts Friday.

Have a great week! See below for other upcoming events and opportunities.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

See our newsletter online HERE.

October 9, 2025 - BH Picture day!

October 10 - 17, 2025 - BH Scholastic Book Fair (students attend during encore)

October 13, 2025 - BH Scholastic Book Fair Family Night, 6-8pm

October 20, 2025 - Schools closed for Diwali

October 24, 2025 - Trunk or Treat, 5:30 - 7pm; new this year will be the addition of some Literacy-themed cars! Use this link to sign up to attend and/or to host a trunk: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/trunk-or-treat-34

October 31, 2025 - BH Halloween parade, 2:30pm

Principal's message

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

This week our staff and students wore some very fun eyeglasses in honor of National Eye Health week! We also collected a large bin full of gently used eyeglasses to share with others who need corrective lenses - many thanks for your donations!!

More good news: We are very nearly finished with our reading and math benchmark testing! We use the benchmark assessment results to help us determine the best use of our MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) block of time. Student results will be uploaded into Infinite Campus in the next few weeks and you will get an email when that happens.

Finally, remember that school is closed this Thursday for Yom Kippur.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

See our newsletter online here

October 2, 2025 - Schools Closed for Yom Kippur

October 9, 2025 - BH Picture day!

October 10 - 17, 2025 - BH Scholastic Book Fair (students attend during encore)

October 13, 2025 - BH Scholastic Book Fair Family Night, 6-8pm

October 24, 2025 - Trunk or Treat, 5:30 - 7pm; new this year will be the addition of some Literacy-themed cars!

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

This week, Aramark helped us celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! They provided a LatinX dish

tasting opportunity for our students. So many students said they really enjoyed the Beef Picadillo Plantain Burrito (a burrito filled with seasoned beef, roasted red potato, corn, cheddar cheese and plantain)!

Our Scholastic Book Fair is coming up soon! Our Librarian, Mr. Strathmeyer, has some good news to share. Scroll down below my message to see it.

Monday is the first day of National Eye Health Week! Wear glasses tomorrow (Monday, September 22) to celebrate! Ways to participate:

·    Decorate your own glasses

·    Wear silly glasses

·    Wear non-prescription clear glasses

·    Wear glasses with the lenses removed

Your participation in our school community is always valued, and we appreciate your support in all areas—from celebrating fun events like National Eye Health Week to volunteering your time and talents.

We are incredibly grateful for all of the ways our families partner with and support our school community. By volunteering, supporting events, and sharing your talents, you send students the message that they matter and that we are all working together to support their success. Your involvement enriches our school community, providing students with opportunities to learn, grow, and explore. Ready to volunteer with us? Volunteer opportunities are always listed in each month's newsletter. Here are just a few ways to get involved at Bradford Heights:

Cafeteria volunteer - Come support students from 11am to 1:30pm. This initiative provides a wonderful opportunity for families to engage with the school community and enjoy a lunch with their students. To sign up, use this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094CA5A623A3FE3-58447860-bhcafeteria.

School Store volunteer - With our PBIS system, students earn Bulldog tickets for showing respect to themselves, to each other, and to our school. Help students redeem their Bulldog tickets at our bi-weekly school store. You can sign up for one day or several. Our HSA will review our procedures when you arrive. Use this sign up link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094CA5A623A3FE3-58447860-bhcafeteria.

Art volunteer - Assist Mrs. Kelly organize, hang, and display student artwork to showcase and celebrate student creativity. Sign up link coming soon!

HSA events volunteer - There are so many events throughout the year like Trunk or Treat, Santa's Workshop, Boosterthon fundraiser, and the Scholastic Book Fair! Take a peek at this link to see descriptions and sign up spots for all the committee options for this year: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4EAAAD2BA6FAC16-58054369-bhhome#/.

Library helper - Help Mr. Strathmeyer organize and reshelve books! Use this link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044BAFAD23A5F58-58333313-bhlibrary

Field trip chaperone - Keep a look out information coming from your students’ teachers for upcoming trips. A negative TB test is required for field trip chaperones.

Guest/mystery reader - Watch for information coming from your students’ teachers about specific classroom needs throughout the year.

Classroom helper - Your students’ teachers will share about specific classroom needs throughout the year. Examples include holiday celebrations, classroom or grade level performances, and being a homeroom parent.

Field day volunteer - Help students navigate a station during our annual field day. We send out the sign up in the spring.

Beginning this school year (2025-2026), our elementary schools will no longer offer the WatchD.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) program. We appreciate the many caregivers who have shared their time and energy over the years and recognize the significant impact this program has had on families and our students. Across our ten elementary schools, we have learned that volunteers in our other activities are invaluable to the student body as a whole, so we want to focus our efforts there. We encourage parents to become involved in any of the opportunities listed above or suggest others that might enhance our school.

If you are interested in volunteering at Bradford Heights, please make sure your clearances are up to date. Use this site to see which clearances are required: https://www.dasd.org/about-us/community/volunteer.

Thank you for being such an important part of our school community. We look forward to working together for a great school year!

One quick reminder: DASD schools are closed on Tuesday in observance of Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of the Jewish New Year. To our families who celebrate, we offer warm wishes for a joyful and meaningful holiday!

See below for upcoming events.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

A MESSAGE FROM OUR LIBRARIAN

Hi BH families,

Our 2025 Book Fair is officially less than a month away, and I am excited to share that we are back with our Free Book Coupon! We would like to provide one free book from our book fair to every Bradford Heights child! To get a book, please complete the form below. If you have multiple students at BH, please complete the form for each child.

The Book Fair will be from Friday, October 10th to Friday, October 17th. Your kiddo will shop during their regularly scheduled library class. Our Family Night will take place on Monday, October 13th from 6:00pm-8:00pm.

Free Book Coupon link: https://forms.gle/n6XsxkN3QPU8M5gt8

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks,

Brad Strathmeyer

A MESSAGE FROM OUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR

Dear BH families,

I am trilled to share that this fall, I will be hosting an intern student, Sarah Riley. Sarah will support our BH students through Tier 1 (classroom lessons) and Tier 2 (small group) supports. We will be working hand-in-hand as navigates the role of a school counselor. Please reach out to Mrs. Addy, if you have any questions: JAddy@dasd.org

Here is a note from Sarah:

My name is Sarah Riley, and I am excited to join the Bradford Heights community this year as a School Counseling Intern. I am currently completing my Master’s in Education in School Counseling at Eastern University, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow here under the guidance of Jennifer Addy.

 I come to this role with a background in working closely with children and adolescents in a variety of settings. Over the years, I have served as a nanny, figure skating coach, and mentor to high school students. These experiences have deepened my passion for supporting young people’s social, emotional, and academic growth, and they continue to inspire my journey toward becoming a school counselor.

 Thank you for welcoming me into your school community.

 Warmly,

Sarah Riley

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 22-28, 2025 - National Eye Health Week - Wear glasses on September 22 to celebrate! Decorate your own glasses or wear silly glasses, non-prescription clear glasses, or decommissioned (lenses removed) glasses!

September 23, 2025 - Schools Closed for Rosh Hashanah

October 2, 2025 - Schools Closed for Yom Kippur

October 9, 2025 - BH Picture day!

October 10 - 17, 2025 - BH Scholastic Book Fair (students attend during encore)

October 13, 2025 - BH Scholastic Book Fair Family Night, 6-8pm

October 24, 2025 - Trunk or Treat, 5:30 - 7pm; new this year will be the addition of some Literacy-themed cars!

Principal's message, 14 September 2025

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

Thursday's first Home and School meeting was the highest attended we have ever had! Many thank yous to all who stayed for our meeting. Our Meet and Greet Pizza on the Playground was super fun and it was great to see so many families. Friday's BMX assembly was also exciting! Those cyclists performed some stunning tricks and our students were really impressed. What they did with those bikes was amazing! Thank you to our HSA for sponsoring both of these events!

See below for upcoming events and ways to volunteer.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

See our newsletter online here.

Principal's message

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

Last week we learned what our One School One Book is for this year - we are reading Charlotte's Web by E.B.White! Feel free to talk about the book at home each school night to help us reinforce the magic and wonder of reading! Also last week, I held my first office hours for parents and caregivers. Many thanks to all who came to share ideas, concerns, and support for our BH community!

Mrs. Addy helped our newest bulldogs get to know each other and some veteran bulldogs with a "build-a-bulldog" activity. Many thanks to our HSA for providing the bulldog stuffed animals for our new students!!

This Thursday marks the anniversary of September 11th. To honor and remember the lives lost and the heroes of that day, we will begin the school day with a brief reflection, a moment of silence, and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Thursday evening is our first Home and School meeting this school year. Our annual BH Meet and Greet Pizza on the Playground starts at 6:15 and then the HSA meeting will be afterwards. Use this link to register for the Meet and Greet so we can be sure to have enough pizza: https://forms.gle/b1TC15xjmt1gYsPf8.

On Friday, we are excited to welcome the BMX assembly that was rescheduled from last May. This high-energy event is always a favorite, and we are looking forward to the inspiring message and performance the group brings to our students.

See below for a note from our nurse, our counselor, and also upcoming events.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

Read our newsletter online 

A message from our School Nurse, Ms. McIvor

September is National Self-Care Awareness Month!!! This month aims to promote the importance of prioritizing self-care and raising awareness about the benefits of taking care of one's physical, mental, and emotional well-being. At least once a week in September, starting the week of 9/08, our Certified School Nurse, Ms. McIvor, will guide a short mindful activity or a physical activity in the morning prior to students entering the building. What might this look like?

·    Deep Breathing

·    Meditation or Guided Imagery

·    Ice Breaker Activity with classmates

·    Brain Body Exercise (i.e. 2+2=? and students would give 4 jumping jacks as the answer)

9/22-9/28 is National Eye Health Week!

·    On 9/22, Students and Staff are encouraged to decorate their own glasses OR wear a pair of glasses - you can wear silly glasses, non-prescription clear glasses, or decommissioned (lenses removed) glasses!

·    From 09/22 - 09/28 we will have a donation bin for eyeglasses that are no longer being used outside of the Nurse's Office. Please send in your old glasses! There are many individuals this benefits when trying to obtain corrective lenses.

A message from our School Counselor, Mrs. Addy

Dear Bradford Heights Families,

We are collecting interest in whether families would like their child to take part in a Grief Group run through a local agency, A Haven. We have worked with A Haven in the past and they do a wonderful job working with students to address grief at a developmentally appropriate level. The groups take place during the school day and are free of charge. This could be a good fit for your child if a family member passed away in the past few years and your child is still showing frequent emotionality around their passing or are frequently talking/asking questions about them.

If you are interested or have any questions please email our school counselor, Jen Addy, at JAddy@dasd.org

Sincerely,

Mrs. Addy

Principal's message

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

We have no school on Monday in observance of Labor Day, so I am sending this message early.

What a great first week! Happy student learners, excited staff, and superb weather each day, what more could anyone ask for from a first week of school? Today we held our first assembly. Our old bulldog taught our new bulldog all of our daily expectations, we reviewed BH P.R.I.D.E. (Bradford Heights Personal Responsibility In Daily Effort), and then we cheered our old bulldog off to sunny retirement.

Starting next week Wednesday, we will begin accepting summer work packets. Students can bring completed summer work packets to the office and exchange them for a cool prize!

Scroll down for more upcoming opportunities and events. See you next week!

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

See our newsletter online here

September 1, 2025 - Schools Closed for Labor Day

September 3, 2025 - Principal Office Hours for parents and caregivers; come to our main office between 10:30 - 11:30am

September 11, 2025 - Save the date for our first BH Home and School meeting of this school year!

September 23 , 2025 - Schools Closed for Rosh Hashanah

Principal's message

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

School starts on Monday!! We are so excited to start the best school year yet with you and your family!! Our Back to School nights were like mini-reunions earlier this week; it was so fun getting to see our amazing students and families. Thank you to all who came! Here we grow!

The rest of this email has a LOT of important information about the first day/week of school. Be sure to read on!

A reminder about our School Day Schedule:

·    8:30am - students begin arriving

·    9:00am - Official school start time (students must be in their homeroom at this time)

·    3:35pm - dismissal for all students

Morning Arrival

Arrival begins at 8:30am.

·    Arriving by Bus

o  Busses bring students to the front of the school. No parent/guardian cars are permitted in the bus loop during arrival.

·    Arriving by Car

o  When dropping off, drivers will enter the side parking lot and follow the parking lot around until near the playground entrance. Parents/Guardians need to remain in their cars throughout this process. No parent/guardian cars are permitted in the bus lane during arrival.

o  A staff member will be at the playground entrance to greet students and help them out of the car.

o  Drop offs are only permitted at the playground entrance between 8:30 and 8:55. After 8:55, bring your child to the main entrance so that we can safely welcome them to school.

·    Walkers

o  Families who live close by are welcome to walk their children to school. Students will not be allowed to walk unless escorted by a parent/guardian. Parents/Guardians walking their children to school should follow the same arrival procedures as students being transported by car. Students must be checked in by a staff member.

Afternoon dismissal

Dismissal begins at 3:35 pm.

·    Departing by Bus

o  Busses pick students up from the front of the school. No parent/guardian cars are permitted in the bus loop during dismissal.

·    Departing by Car

o  Drivers should enter the side parking lot and follow the parking lot around until near the playground entrance. Parents/Guardians need to remain in their cars throughout this process; do not park and walk to retrieve your child.

o  Display the 2025-2026 school-issued sign with student name/s in the windshield. If you forgot your sign, call the Main Office ahead of time and bring your driver’s license; 610.269.6021. If you need a new or a second sign, contact the Main Office: bh_attendance@dasd.org; 610.269.6021.

o  Students will be dismissed from their homeroom, exit the Garden Doors, and walk directly to the playground entrance to get into their cars.

o  Staff members will guide students to their cars.

o  Once students are safely in the cars, parents/guardians should exit the parking lot.

o  Parents/Guardians should remain in their cars throughout this process.

·    Walkers

o  Families who live close by are welcome to walk their children home from school. Students will not be allowed to walk home unless escorted by a parent/guardian. Parents/Guardians walking their children home from school should wait with a school-issued name sign outside of the playground entrance until their student is brought to them. Due to allergies and fears, please leave your pets at home.

PickUp Patrol

Now that we have finalized bus assignments, you should have received an email from our Transportation department and can verify/update default dismissal plans in PickUp Patrol. We use PickUp Patrol to help us know how to get students home each day. You should have gotten a message from PickUp Patrol earlier this week and will get a reminder shortly if you have not yet set your default dismissal plan.

We use PickUp Patrol for all student dismissals (early and on time). If you ever need to change your child's dismissal plan or pick up your child early from school, use PickUp Patrol.

How to Register for PickUp Patrol:

·    Registration Email: You received this earlier this week and will get a reminder if needed.

·    Set Default Plans: Once logged in, review/set your child’s Default Plan. This is the normal, regular dismissal plan that they follow on a daily basis.

·    Make Plan Changes: Once registered, report ALL plan changes through PUP. If you have any questions, contact us here in the office at 610-269-6021 or bh_attendance@dasd.org.

What to do now?

·    If you are already registered, you can go straight to the application and update dismissal plans: https://app.pickuppatrol.net/parents.

·    If you have not registered, follow the above directions.

·    If you need help with PUP, instructions can be found HERE. Please reach out to our main office with questions (BH_Attendance@dasd.org).

Pre-order school lunches

·    Parents / Guardians need to pre-order lunch or send students in with a packed lunch each day. Aramark student lunches require an online order by midnight the night before service.

o  Link to order in PaySchools Central: https://www.payschoolscentral.com/

o  If you pack a lunch for your child, please try to pack items that they can open independently (now might be a good time to practice).

Questions related to Food Service? Email: FoodServiceInformation@dasd.org

Medication

if your child requires any prescribed medication during the school day and/or any rescue medications, as needed, please ensure that you are providing the Health Office / School Nurse with recent/updated orders from the health care provider, as well as the medication in its original packaging, to the School Nurse upon the first day of school.

Should you have any additional questions or concerns, please email BHNURSE@DASD.ORG

Finally, we will have our first BH Spirit Day on Friday, Aug 29. Plan to wear your favorite BH shirt or black and gold attire on Friday. See below for additional upcoming events.

See you Monday!!

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

See our Newsletter online here.

August 25, 2025 - First day of school!

August 29, 2025 - BH Spirit Day, wear BH gear or black and gold

September 1, 2025 - Schools Closed for Labor Day

September 3, 2025 - Principal Office Hours, 10:30 - 11:30 at BH

September 11, 2025 - Save the date for our first BH Home and School meeting of this school year!

September 23 , 2025 - Schools Closed for Rosh Hashanah

Principal's message

Good afternoon Bradford Heights,

We are in the home stretch of preparing for your students to return and I have a few more items to share with you. First, please welcome our newest BH staff:

·    John Copeland, Head Custodian

·    Clare Williams, Kindergarten teacher

·    Rachel Albanese, Special Education teacher

Also, by end of day today our homeroom teachers are sending their Back to School presentations/slides. You may have gotten it already if they sent it out early. Our special area teachers also put together some Back to School presentations for you.

·    Use this link to review these slides from our Learning Support Special Education department: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1TzYDrVrs_cR3pwNQ88yPIYkMf0uGdG3HF70vOf8NFM0/edit?slide=id.p#slide=id.p

·    Use this link to review the video from our Encore and Pupil Services teams: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qXINQAVUvJnoKAoZpJi6d-7RNIx0kqS7/view?usp=sharing

·    Use this link to review the slides from our Nurse: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1DdA7hS49bg0YakLtcHNwTgllaYcrrqEuLecWnkHdHwc/edit?usp=sharing

Have a great last week of summer! Scroll down for a few upcoming opportunities.

Your Proud Principal,

Dr. Shipe

See our Newsletter online here.

August 25, 2025 - First day of school!

September 1, 2025 - Schools Closed for Labor Day

September 3, 2025 - Principal Office Hours, 10:30 - 11:30 at BH

September 11, 2025 - Save the date for our first BH Home and School meeting of this school year!

September 23 , 2025 - Schools Closed for Rosh Hashanah