Welcome to Bloomingdale!

Welcome Bloomingdale Students and Families!

      It is my honor and a pleasure to welcome you to the 2024 – 2025 school year! I hope you all have had a relaxing and fun summer break. I am extremely proud to serve as the Principal of this amazing school and to support the students and families of Bloomingdale School! Our school theme this year is Together We Achieve!  This new school year brings the promise of a renewed dedication, focus, and energy to the mission of teaching and learning. With that said, the Bloomingdale Staff is ready to kick this year off!  

I would like to introduce myself and give you some of my background.  I currently live in Gabriels, NY with my husband, Bob, and our son, Benjamin, who is a sophomore at the University of Vermont.  This will be my 25th year in education.  I started my career in special education in Lake Placid and Malone and I have since worked 23 years in the SLCSD school district in kindergarten, first grade, a first/second grade combined class, and as the Dean of Students at Petrova Elementary School.  Last year was my first year here at Bloomingdale, and it was an incredible year of getting to know our amazing students, staff,  and families.

I would like to welcome all of our new families, whether you are joining us from another school or are about to start your Kindergarten adventure with us!  We have 17 new kindergarten students and their families joining our Bloomingdale family this year!  We are excited to share all that Bloomingdale has to offer with you and believe you will soon feel that Bloomingdale is a special place for all children. Our teachers, support staff, and families are ready to welcome you!

The dedicated staff at Bloomingdale has been working tirelessly to set up classrooms, evaluate our instructional models, engage in professional learning opportunities, and update class routines and expectations.  Our teachers are eager to learn with their new students and begin this year’s journey with them. We will work together to create a solid foundation for our students so that they have the opportunity to become self-directed learners, collaborative teammates, critical thinkers, and responsible citizens. 

Please be sure to check Parent Square often and frequently.  This will be the primary form of communication for our staff and families. This year, we have posted our yearly permission slips digitally, so please fill those out as soon as possible!  We will be posting reminders for the following week every Thursday.  Monthly newsletters will also be a wonderful way to keep up to date. 

I encourage your student(s) to join and participate in the district's 21st Century CCLC learning opportunities through after school programming, family field trips, and family events.  The QR code to enroll for this year's programming is located on our website's main page.  Once you enroll for this year, your student can participate in any of the programming that is offered and available.  There will be an enrollment table at the Bloomingdale Open House, so please enroll using the new online enrollment form!  All 21st Century opportunities will be posted via Parent Square.

I look forward to the start of the new school year and to continuing our mission of providing your children with an effective and engaging educational experience. As always, we will look to our families to be positive partners in this year’s journey. Attendance is KEY!  We want your student at school.  Please try to schedule appointments and family trips outside of the school day.  Everyday that is missed, is crucial instructional time.  As always, if your student is ill, we appreciate you letting us know, and for them to return as quickly as possible. Our Bloomingdale Senior Typist is Emily Gibson (bd-office@slcs.org).  She would be the best person to contact for attendance or a change in dismissal plans.  If there is a change in dismissal plans, we would appreciate knowing prior to 12:00 p.m. if possible.  We appreciate your support.

As always, my door is open and our team welcomes your input. Please feel free to contact me via email at the address below or call to make an appointment to speak with me to discuss any ideas you feel will make this the best year yet!  I hope to meet you at our Open House on September 3rd from 5-6 p.m.

Here's to a wonderful school year!

Sincerely,

Katie Laba

Katie Laba

Principal

Bloomingdale Elementary School
labakat@slcs.org

518-891-3198