Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are excited to welcome you and your child(ren) to a new school year at Berwyn Heights Elementary School! Our dedicated staff has been working hard to ensure this is a year of meaningful growth, learning, and joy. As always, we remain committed to rigorous, data-driven instruction that supports every student’s academic success.
Last year, thanks to your support, we achieved a 6.8% decrease in our chronic absenteeism rate. This year, we will continue our strong focus on improving attendance, building positive relationships, and ensuring that every day counts for your child’s learning.
We’re also excited to share some important staffing updates and improvements for the 2025-2026 school year:
What’s New at BHES?
- We have added an additional English Language Development (ELD) Resource Teacher to better support our multilingual learners. We will now have a dedicated teacher for each grade as well as one additional teacher to support our newcomer population.
- To provide more individualized attention and reduce class sizes, we’ve increased both
3rd and 5th grade to four classes per grade.
- We are also welcoming some wonderful new team members:
○ Ms. Deneen Walker – Assistant Principal
○ Ms. Laura Miles – Part-Time PE Teacher (.5)
○ Ms. Emmeliza Piekarski – 3rd Grade Math/Science/Health
○ Ms. Amanda Ostria – 5th Grade Reading/Social Studies
○ Ms. Nerisa Silva – ELD Resource Teacher
○ Ms. Alexis Cortez – ELD Resource Teacher
We know these changes will help strengthen our instructional programs and ensure your child is et up for a successful school year.
Important Upcoming Dates
- Thursday, August 21 | Scholar Sneak Peek (3:00–5:00 PM)
- Drop off school materials, visit the classroom, and meet your teachers.
- Monday, August 25 | Kindergarten Orientation (10:00–11:00 AM)
- Learn about our Kindergarten program, meet the team, explore the classroom, and drop off supplies.
- Thursday, September 11 | Back to School Night (Tentative, 6:00–8:00 PM)
- Meet your child’s teachers, learn about classroom expectations, and hear about our academic focus.
- Thursday, September 25 | Hello Husky Night (5:00–7:00 PM)
- Join us for a fun evening celebrating our school community!
Reminders for a Strong Start
- Be On Time
- Instruction begins at 9:30 AM. Students arriving after 9:30 are considered late and must be escorted to the office. Breakfast is served in the classroom from 9:15–9:30 AM.
- Stay Connected
- Check ParentVue regularly for grades, attendance, and transportation info.
Communicate with teachers via ClassDojo or email. Need help? Visit the PGCPS website or call the school for assistance.
- Reinforce Learning at Home
- Read with your child nightly and practice basic math facts to support classroom
learning.
- Return All Forms Promptly
- Be sure to return any required forms as soon as possible.
- Update Contact Info
- Ensure your phone number and email are up to date in Synergy to receive important notifications.
- Uniform Policy
- Students must wear navy bottoms and a red or white polo. Sweaters/sweatshirts must be solid red, white, or navy. No crocs, sandals, or open-toed shoes are permitted.
- Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
- Parent drop-off and pick-up take place behind the building. Do not drop off in front, which is reserved for buses and poses a safety risk. Staff supervision begins at 9:15 AM—please do not drop students off earlier.
- Class Assignments
- Homeroom assignments will be shared at the Scholar Sneak Peek on August 21 and posted in Synergy. Staff will be in the cafeteria to welcome families, distribute welcome letters, and help direct you to classrooms.
- School Supply Lists
- Posted on our school website, on ClassDojo, and available in the main office.
Your child’s success is our top priority, and we truly value the partnership we share with you. Together, we can ensure your child has a safe, supportive, and academically challenging year.
We can’t wait to see you soon!
Warm regards,
Ms. Alerich
Principal
