Bennett Bear Business Newsletter
Week of January 18, 2021
Thank You, MISD School Board Member, Lynn Sperry!
Lynn Sperry has served on the McKinney ISD Board of Trustees for 37 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from The Ohio State University and taught public school vocal and instrumental music for grades 1 – 8.
Sperry served 12 years as a Director of the Texas Association of School Boards. She is a graduate of the Texas Association of School Boards Leadership TASB program, “Class of 2000” with the designation of “Master Trustee.”
Sperry feels that her experience in education along with her years of involvement as a parent and current involvement as a grandparent are assets to the MISD School Board.
She is proud to set goals for the district that raise the bar academically and feels that the budget and the increase in student population are ongoing challenges for MISD. Sperry is extremely proud of how the board and district administration have handled bonded indebtedness over the years. The result is a very stable financial future for MISD.
McKinney ISD has the earned reputation of a quality district, and Lynn is very excited to see students representing many different disciplines excel in district, state and national competitions. MISD has truly become an outstanding organization, and she is proud to work with a board of trustees that makes students its priority.
Sperry received the Carey Cox Award – The Outstanding McKinney Citizen 2006. She was awarded the Kim Hoffman Volunteer of the Year for McKinney 1997 (co-recipients Lynn and Neil Sperry).
Sperry’s community involvement includes: Founding and current Board Member Emeritus of McKinney Education Foundation; Board Member, McKinney Baylor Scott and White Hospital; Past President, Avenues Counseling Center Board; Crape Myrtle Trails of McKinney, Board Member; Founding Member and MISD liaison to Serenity High Advisory Board.
Currently, Lynn serves on the Executive Committee of the North Texas Area Association of School Boards.
Her three children attended MISD schools and she is proud that the education they received prepared them for success in college and in their careers. Lynn has seven grandchildren. The oldest is a 2016 graduate of McKinney North High School and the other six are enrolled in four MISD campuses (MNHS, Dowell, Eddins and Webb Elementary). Lynn and her husband Neil own Neil Sperry’s GARDENS. She and her family are members of the first United Methodist Church of McKinney.
K-5th Grade Virtual Classrooms
Our virtual classrooms are for students that meet the following criteria:
1. Parents have selected their child to be a virtual learner for Quarter 1, 2, 3, and/or 4
2. A student tests positive for Covid and is required to quarantine
3. A student is required to be in quarantine as determined by Nurse Tiffany
Therefore, if your child is traveling or not feeling well and will be kept home from school, they will not be jumping on a Zoom link with their grade level virtual teacher(s). Students will be counted absent and provided with their make-up work upon their return to school. Also, be sure to send in their doctor's note or parent note within three days of their return to school.
Thank you for understanding as our teachers continue to work tirelessly to serve our BEARS.
No School for Students & Staff - Monday, January 18th
Welcome Back Visitors & Volunteers - January 19th
Bennett's Arrival & Dismissal Plan
Arrival & Dismissal Map
Important Information from Our Counselor, Christie Thompson
This month, I’m sending a digital guidance lesson that students will do in their classes. The lesson is about our Circle of Control and is a great one to reinforce at home during these times of unrest.
Feeling out of control can be scary, so it’s important for the students to understand that there will always be a number of things that they cannot control, and it’s okay to let those things go and to focus on things they can control.
Warm regards,
Christie
Exciting Information from Our Learning Commons
“Acceptance, understanding, and respect begets peace and is best achieved through education.
Reading promotes connections across cultures to unite all people. Connecting allows people to appreciate the unique qualities that add “spice” to the beautiful melting pot that is our community and shared planet.”
Bennett Elementary students are encouraged to expand their global knowledge by learning about each of the 7 continents and celebrate literacy and diversity by participating in our 2nd annual #ReadYourWorld challenge. This challenge is in honor of Multicultural Children’s Book Day (January 29), World Read Aloud Day (February 2), and NEA’s Read Across America program where students are “encouraged to select books that they can see themselves reflected in, as well as books that allow readers to see a world or character that might be different than them,” (NEA, 2021).
How to participate:
- Read 7 books total (1 book for each of the continents)
- Complete the Digital or Paper Reading Log
- Submit a Digital Reading Log to Mrs. Stallbaumer or return a Paper Reading Log to Mrs. Stallbaumer
Digital “Read Your World” Reading Log (Student’s must access through SSO)
Paper “Reading Your World” Reading Log
Students who complete the challenge will have their name announced on morning announcements and their picture featured in our Reading Hall of Fame.
Students may read print books and eBooks to complete the challenge. The Bennett Library Catalog has many options. When searching the Bennett Library catalog, go to Destiny Discover, scroll to the bottom of the page to Collections. Here you will find “Collections” of books and eBooks for each continent. However, you are not limited to the books that are listed. You may read books from home, in your classroom, and books you check out from the public library. The SORA app is also a great resource for eBooks.
Email Mrs. Stallbaumer at astallbaumer@mckinneyisd.net with any questions.
Mrs. Stallbaumer
Upcoming Events for our BEARS
January Events for our BEARS
January 2020 - McKinney ISD School Board Appreciation Month:
*Thank You MISD School Board Members
*Bennett Elementary will celebrate MISD School Board Member, Lynn Sperry, this month
Monday, January 18th:
Holiday - No School for Students or Staff
Tuesday, January 19th:
*Campus Open to Visitors & Volunteers
*Alpha Resumes this Week
Friday, January 22nd:
PTO Bingo Night - 6:30PM-8:00PM - via Zoom - more details to come
Thursday, January 28th:
100th Day of School - wear 100 items or dress like you are 100 years old
Friday, January 29th:
*Multicultural Children's Book Day - #ReadYourWorld
*Friday Live - 2:15PM - Virtually on Bennett Facebook Page via link
Save the Date - January Friday Live - January 29th - Virtually
MISD Approves 2021-2022 School District Calendar
January Birthdays
January Birthdays
2 - Mason
4 - Kaden, Mrs. Rottinghaus - 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Simmons - 1st grade teacher
6 - Henry, Elijah, Wyatt
7 - Zain, Sofia
8 - Adrianna, Matthew, Brianna
9 - Hudson, Lucas
10 - Eli
12 - Camryn
13 - Alessandra, Cohen, Caleb
14 - Allison, Leslie
15 - Chase, Jaxyn
16 - Jason
17 - Jack
18 - Elias, Ella
19 - Victoria, Mrs. Thompson - Counselor
20 - Alessandra
21 - Grace, Brooklyn, Bea
22 - Hank
23 - Andrew, Jack, Mrs. Luthi - Dyslexia Teacher
25 - Harel, Emileigh
26 - Connor, Carson, Kaselyn
27 - Beau, Weston, Martina
28 - Mrs. Schindler - 3rd Grade Teacher
29 - Jade, Kailani
30 - Mollie Recker - 2nd Grade Teacher
31 - Bliss, Mary Claire, Mrs. Crider - STC Teacher
January Parent Lunch Visitor Sign-Up
January's Breakfast & Lunch Menus
Specials' Team Newsletter for January
McKinney ISD Needs Crossing Guards
Appreciation Days - 2020-2021
Bennett Spirit Days - 2020-2021
McKinney ISD Alpha Program
Interested in Buying a 2020-2021 Yearbook?
Instructions for 5th Grade Yearbook Dedications
As Dedication pages have been turned in, the yearbook company, Tree Ring, offered to set up a link for Bennett Families to upload their dedications directly to the company. This allows parents and families to upload their dedications rather than requiring our Yearbook Chair Volunteers to upload each individual dedication. This will save many hours for our Yearbook Chairs! I apologize for any frustration caused by this last minute change, but I am sure you understand the reason for the change and having families upload their dedications.
Here are the steps to complete the process for creating and uploading your 5th grade dedication page. You will need to use a computer as the features will not work on a cell phone.
Steps to create a dedication page:
- Go to https://www.treering.com/validate?PassCode=1015892276514357
- Create an account
- Click on school name
- Add Child
- Click on Yearbook under school name – you will get a drop down with child’s name
- Click on child’s name
- You will then be on the yearbook page
Here you can:
- Purchase yearbook by adding it to the cart
- Create your 2 free pages, if you desire
- Celebrate a child with an Ad (this is only available to 5th grade students and is at the bottom). Click on Celebrate with ad and add your photos (must be uploaded) and wording to the ad – DO NOT delete the boxes, Edit only
- Confirm the ad
- Submit and pay
On behalf of the Bennett PTO and Bennett Elementary, we appreciate your support for our school! You may contact the Yearbook Volunteer Chairs at bennettbearsptoyearbook@gmail.com or contact TreeRing directly at 1-877-755-TREE.