Bennett Bear Business Newsletter
Week of April 5, 2021
Bennett's Closed Campus to All Visitors & Volunteers for STAAR - April 5-9
STAAR Testing Days & Tips
Important Changes to MISD STAAR Testing
The state of Texas will transition to fully online state assessments by the 2022-23 school year, and McKinney ISD is preparing staff, students and families for this change in two phases.
Phase 1 will take place during the current 2020–2021 school year. Students will take their Math and Science assessments online in the spring of 2021—with the exception of 5th grade Math. (See links below.)
Click here to view the 2020-21 Phase 1 plan for 3rd – 5th Grade.
Click here to view the 2020-21 Phase 1 plan for 6th – 8th Grade.
Click here to view the 2020-21 Phase 1 plan for 9th – 11th Grade.
Phase 2 will take place during the 2021–2022 school year. In Phase 2, students will take Math, Science, Reading Language Arts and Social Studies tests online.
The district will work closely with our MISD campuses to ensure that staff and students are confident with the online testing platform and tools before the Phase 1 online tests this spring (2021). Online learning that has taken place over the past year has provided our students and teachers with experience that will support this transition to online assessment. Please note that students who receive testing accommodations will receive those accommodations in both paper and online formats.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires that state assessments be given in a secure environment, and they cannot be administered remotely. Therefore, all students are encouraged to report to campus on their assigned testing date to take their state assessment(s).
MISD campuses will continue to follow local health guidelines and procedures for social distancing to the extent possible during testing.
Your child’s campus will share more information with you as we approach the testing dates, but if you would like to explore more details about the state assessment changes, please refer to these resources: https://tinyurl.com/MISDtests. If you have questions, please contact your campus principal.
Only 3rd Grade Has Alpha this Week - April 5th-9th
Our BEARS Bring Home their Technology Device & Charger - Friday, April 9th
Asynchronous (At-Home) Learning Day for our BEARS & Teacher Work Day for Staff - Monday, April 12th
McKinney ISD Offering Curbside Grab-and-Go Meals
We are pleased to announce free curbside grab-and-go meals will be available at Finch Elementary on the dates below.
April 12
April 26
Finch Elementary
1205 S. Tennessee St., McKinney, TX 75069
Breakfast 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM (Breakfast pickup will also include that day’s lunch. Parents can instead come just for lunch at lunchtime if desired.)
Lunch 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Pick up in driveway off Graham St.
These meals are free, but parents will need to present either a valid student ID number, student name, or other proof they are picking up for a student 18 years old or younger.
If you have any questions regarding the curbside grab-and-go meal service, please reach out to me!
Jason Vickery
Food Service Director
McKinney ISD
510 Heard Street, McKinney, TX 75069
Desk: 469-302-6365
Our BEARS Return to School & Bring Their Technology Device & Charger Back to School Fully Charged - Tuesday, April 13th
McKinney ISD Early Voting OPENS at Bennett - April 19th-27th
McKinney ISD 2021 Upcoming Elections
April Parent Lunch Visitor Sign Up
April Breakfast Menu
April Lunch Menu
Pack Assorted Colors For Kids - PACK Week - April 19th-23rd
FREE Breakfast & Lunch for All MISD Students for 2020-2021 School Year
Notes from Christie Thompson, Bennett Counselor
Update from Our Learning Commons with Mrs. Stallbaumer
Mrs. Stallbaumer, our campus Media Resource Specialist, has spoken with 2nd-5th grade students about acceptable use of their MISD issued laptop. The goal of this talk was to educate students about safe practices.
Students were reminded that MISD devices are not to be used for personal use, but for school purposes. This includes creating Zoom sessions to hang out with friends, sharing gaming logins and passwords via Google Slides and Docs, using Google Slides and Docs as a way to pass notes or chat during class or at home, and creating shared Google Slides and Docs.
Collaboration on Google Docs and Slides should be for school project purposes under the direction of their teachers and not for personal use. Additionally, please help us make sure that students do not have a personal Gmail on their MISD laptop, as personal accounts cause issues with our testing platforms and content filter.
Should you have questions, please email Mrs. Stallbaumer at astallbaumer@mckinneyisd.net.
Thank you for all your support!
Angie Stallbaumer
Media Resource Specialist
Bennett Elementary-McKinney ISD
469-302-5428
Information from Nurse Tiffany
Specials Team - April Newsletter
Upcoming Events for our BEARS
April Events for our BEARS
Monday, April 5th - Friday, April 9th:
*Closed Campus to ALL Visitors & Volunteers for 4th Grade STAAR Writing
*Assistant Principal Appreciation Week
*National School Librarians Week
*Only 3rd Grade Has Alpha this Week
Monday, April 5th:
*Closed Campus to Visitors & Volunteers
*No 3rd Grade Alpha Today
Tuesday, April 6th:
*Closed Campus to Visitors & Volunteers
*4th Grade STAAR Writing Test
*Librarian Appreciation Day
*No K-2nd Grade Alpha Today
Wednesday, April 7th:
*Closed Campus to Visitors & Volunteers
*4th Grade STAAR Writing Make-Up Day
*3rd Grade Alpha at Webb
*Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
Thursday, April 8th:
*Closed Campus to Visitors & Volunteers
*4th Grade STAAR Writing Make-Up Day
*3rd Grade Alpha at Webb
Friday, April 9th:
*Closed Campus to Visitors & Volunteers
*4th Grade STAAR Writing Make-Up Day
*3rd Grade Alpha at Webb
Saturday, April 10th:
Boyd High School's Environmental Club Trash Off - Wolford Park - 9:00AM-11:00AM
Monday, April 12th:
*Asynchronous Learning At-Home for Students & Teacher Work Day
*Spring MAP Testing Window Opens
Tuesday, April 13th:
PTO Sponsored General Meeting, Board Elections, & Family Game Night - 6:30PM
Friday, April 16th:
PTO Sponsored Variety Show - Virtually - 6:00PM
Saturday, April 17th:
3rd-5th Grade Alpha Make-Up Testing
Monday, April 19th - Friday, April 23rd:
P.AC.K. Week - Pack Assorted Colors For Kids
MISD Bond Election - Early Voting - Monday, April 19th - Tuesday, April 27th:
Monday, April 19th:
*P.A.C.K. Yellow & Orange Foods Day
*Spring MAP Fluency Reading Window Opens for K-2
*Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections - Please Come Vote at Bennett
Tuesday, April 20th:
*P.A.C.K. White, Tan, & Brown Foods Day
*Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections - Please Come Vote at Bennett
Wednesday, April 21st:
*P.A.C.K. Red Foods Day
*Progress Reports Go Home
*Secretary & Administrative Assistants Day
*Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections - Please Come Vote at Bennett
Thursday, April 22nd:
*P.A.C.K. Blue & Purple Foods Day
*Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections - Please Come Vote at Bennett
Friday, April 23rd:
*P.A.C.K. Green Foods Day
*Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections - Please Come Vote at Bennett
Saturday, April 24th:
*Boyd High School's Environmental Club Trash Off - Bonnie Wenk Park - 9:00AM-11:00AM
*Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections - Please Come Vote at Bennett
Sunday, April 25th:
Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections - Please Come Vote at Bennett
Monday, April 26th:
*Bad Weather Make-Up Day
*School Day for Students & Staff
*Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections - Please Come Vote at Bennett
Tuesday, April 27th:
*School Board Driver Appreciation Day
*Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections - Please Come Vote at Bennett
Wednesday, April 28th:
PTO Sponsored Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at Bennett - 10:30AM-1:30PM - During Lunches
Friday, April 30th:
Friday Live - 2:15PM - Virtually
Saturday, May 1st:
MISD Bond Election Day - Please Come Vote at Bennett
April Birthdays
April Birthdays
1 - Vildan
4 - Drew
5 - Haley
6 - Cici, Kaylee
7 - Adam, Cameron, McKenna
8 - Hazel, Claire
9 - Jonah, Alanna
10 - Ms. Bankson - STC Aide
11 - Tristan, Alaina
12 - Cristian
13 - Liam
14 - Evan
15 - JayAna, Lyla, Ella, Mr. Khreish - Resource Teacher
17 - Maili
18 - Kambria, Anna
19 - Kinley, Hailey
20 - Braden
21 - Yazmeen, Beckett
23 - Ithiel
24- Camden
25 - Georgia, Kaleb, Graeson
26 - Helene, Sarah
27 - Zayd, Jaxton, Carly, Benicio, Henry, Mrs. Scheidhauer - Speech Teacher
28 - Kareem, Mrs. Woods - Dyslexia, Mrs. Martin - 4th Grade Teacher, Mrs. Scales - Clerical Aide
29 - Jase, Kendrick, Rylee, Adalynn
30 - Georgia, Connor, Jack, Rhyan
Boyd High School's Environmental Club - Trash Off Events
Appreciation Days - 2020-2021
Bennett Spirit Days
UPDATED MISD School Calendar - 2020-2021
MISD Approves 2021-2022 School District Calendar
Bennett Enrollment Survey - What's Your Plan for the 2021-2022 School Year?
Our Bennett staff is eagerly working to plan for the 2021-2022 school year, and we need your help. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey below. Your time, help, and information will assist us in planning for a successful year for our BEARS.
We need to hear from each Bennett family in order to plan for our campus, as well as follow up with you over the coming months if your plans are uncertain. Please complete the survey link by Saturday, May 1, 2021. If you have multiple students, be sure to list them all on this survey. You will only need to send in one survey per family.
In July, the guardian listed as the primary contact on your student's record will receive an email from noreplyregistration@powerschool.com. This email will contain a unique code and instructions on how to register your student for the upcoming school year.
If you have any questions, please contact our Bennett registrar, Susan Jakobsen, at sjakobsen@mckinneyisd.net or 469-302-5489.