Bennett Bear Business Newsletter
Week of August 30, 2021
RESPECT - Bennett's Character Trait for the Month of September
Check Out This Week's Grade Level Newsletters
Kindergarten's Weekly Newsletter
1st Grade's Weekly Newsletter
2nd Grade's Weekly Newsletter
3rd Grade's Weekly Newsletter
4th Grade's Weekly Newsletter
5th Grade's Weekly Newsletter
Specials' Weekly Newsletter
Bennett's One & Only Fundraiser with Big Kahuna is Going on NOW
Bennett's Big Kahuna Parent Letter
Big Kahuna Offers Online Items
Big Kahuna Monster Party Limo Ride
Thank You for Helping Us Fundraise to Support, Improve, Enrich, & Engage our BEARS
As of Friday, our BEARS have raised a total of $9,634.90!
Safety Patrol Begins THIS WEEK - Team 1 Will Assist with Arrival & Dismissal This Week
Safety Patrol Schedule - 2021-2022
It's Kindergarten Color Week #2 - Monday, August 30 - Friday, September 3rd
MISD to Provide FREE Breakfast & Lunch to ALL Students Again this Year
August Breakfast Menu
August Lunch Menu
September Breakfast Menu
September Lunch Menu
Support Our BEARS - Quick & Easy Ways When You Shop
Since Bear Buddies help create a culture of inclusion that values each individual at Bennett, EVERY student at Bennett is getting the opportunity to serve this year! I conducted Bear Buddy training during morning announcements and provided an extension that teachers could do during their classroom Morning Meetings.
If your student was absent or just wants a “refresher”, the videos we watched for Bear Buddy Training are here: https://mrsthompsonliveskind.weebly.com/bear-buddies.html
Bear Buddies:
- Are role models and adhere to the Bear Creed.
- Exhibit monthly character traits and weekly manners & adorn the school with posters.
- Are friendly and like to make new friends and include others.
- Give new students tours of the school & help everyone feel welcomed.
- Invite new students to eat lunch with you and play with them at recess.
- Monitor the yellow bench at recess and invite kids sitting there to play.
- Talk about friendship, kindness, empathy, and other topics during their classroom Morning Meetings.
Warm regards,
Christie N. Thompson
School Counselor
504 Campus Coordinator
469.302.5437/5438
Visit my website
or Twitter account!
The Emergency Broadband Benefit
The Emergency Broadband Benefit will provide a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
The Emergency Broadband Benefit is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.
Who Is Eligible for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program?
A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:
* Qualifies for the Lifeline program;
* Receives benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, or did so in the 2019-2020 school year;
* Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
* Experienced a substantial loss of income since February 29, 2020 and the household had a total income in 2020 below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or
* Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating providers' existing low-income or COVID-19 program.
Clinic News from Nurse Tiffany
From Nurse Tiffany - September is Hydrocephalus Recognition Month in Texas
NEW MISD Covid 19 Isolation Protocols
New MISD Isolation Protocols
Step 1: When a student, who is on campus, has displayed symptoms of COVID-19, such as a fever, coughing, shortness of breath, etc., the school nurse will provide a clinical assessment to determine if and when a student needs to be sent home. Students who are ill will be separated from their peers and should be picked up within one hour.
Step 2: The campus nurse will speak with the parent/guardian regarding quarantine and isolation needed for their symptomatic student. The student who has symptoms of COVID-19, may return to campus after 10 days have passed from symptom onset AND symptoms resolved AND at least 24 hours have passed with no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medication. The student may return to campus before the end of the 10 day period only IF a note from a health care provider is received by and discussed with the campus nurse prior to the student returning to campus.
Step 3: The campus nurse will follow up with the student throughout the quarantine and isolation period.
Step 4: If the parent of the student reports to the campus nurse that the student was tested for COVID-19 and is now lab confirmed positive, the steps for “ Students Who Report That They are Lab-Confirmed Positive for COVID-19” will be followed.
Students Who Report That They Are Lab-Confirmed Positive for COVID-19
Step 1: When a student has been lab-confirmed positive for COVID-19, the school nurse and teacher should be notified of their illness and should remain home for 10 days from the date of testing.
Step 2: The student who had the lab-confirmed COVID-19 positive test result, may return to campus after 10 days have passed from the date the positive test was performed AND symptoms resolved AND at least 24 hours have passed with no fever, without the use of fever-reducing medication.
Step 3: The campus nurse will follow up with the lab confirmed COVID-19 positive student throughout the quarantine and isolation period.
Step 4: MISD will follow Texas Education Agency and Collin County Health Department guidance for reporting lab positive confirmed COVID-19 cases.
NEW MISD Covid Protocols
Effective 8/2/2021, all existing protocols will be replaced with the following information. We will continue to monitor and adjust our protocols based on any updated information from Collin County Health Department, Texas DSHS, Texas Education Agency and CDC.
- All staff, visitors and students (with parental assistance) should monitor for symptoms of illness prior to campus arrival.
- CDC Guidance (including those fully vaccinated) recommends to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission. Schools in Texas, including McKinney ISD, may highly recommend but may not require masks.
- Campuses will work to ensure no student is treated differently as a result of their choice to wear a mask or not wear a mask.
- Visitors will be allowed on campus according to standard visiting rules.
- Social distancing will be maintained when feasible.
- Staff and students will continue to be expected to wash their hands frequently throughout the day.
- Parents and employees will continue to be required to report confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 to campus administration or their supervisor, but this information will no longer be tracked on the District COVID-19 Dashboard.
- Staff and students with symptoms of COVID 19 (until ruled out) OR a confirmed case of COVID-19 must quarantine for 10 days from the date of symptom onset or positive test if no symptoms.
- Staff will not conduct close contact reviews and students/staff will not be required to quarantine for exposure.
- Current MISD COVID-19 numbers may be accessed through TEA at https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus/schools/texas-education-agency/
- Current Collin County/City of McKinney numbers may be found at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/8a63b1622bea4d65b28658f2101b5392
OPTIONAL READING PROGRAMS
While our goal is to encourage students to develop a love of reading over reading for a reward, we do offer many different reading programs that have small incentives.
Current reading programs:
Texas 2X2 Books for K-2nd grade
Texas Nominated Bluebonnet Books for 3rd-5th grade
These books are available in the Bennett Learning Commons, but may also be read online. Sora is a great app, to which MISD students have online access. The public library also carries these books, as they know MISD heavily promotes these reading lists. Information went home with all students during Bennett Blast Off or the first week of school. You may also find the information, 2X2 coloring sheet, and the Bluebonnet Book Review Form on our Bennett Learning Commons Google Site, http://gg.gg/bennettlc.
-Mrs. Stallbaumer & Mrs. Perkins
Running Club for 2nd-5th Grade BEARS - Begins Friday, September 10th
Upcoming Events for our BEARS
August Events:
Sunday, August 29th:
PTO Sponsored Jeremiah's Italian Ice Spirit Night
Monday, August 30th:
*Kindergarten Color ORANGE Day
*2nd-5th Grade Bear Feet Running Club Signed Guidelines due to Coach Cusack
Tuesday, August 31st:
Kindergarten Color BLACK Day
September Events:
Wednesday, September 1:
Kindergarten Color PINK Day
Thursday, September 2nd:
Kindergarten Color PURPLE Day
Friday, September 3rd:
*Kindergarten Wear Your FAVORITE Color Day
*PTO Sponsored Principal's Coffee - POSTPONED Until Visitors & Volunteers back in the building
Friday, September 10th:
2nd-5th Grade Bear Feet Running Club Begins - 7:30AM-7:50AM - Put belongings in gym & head outside
Tuesday, September 14th:
PTO General Meeting & Bike & Safety Rally - 6:30PM
Wednesday, September 15th:
Progress Reports go home with 1st-5th grade BEARS
Week of Monday, September 20-24
College Week
Monday, September 20th:
*MAP Window Opens for K-5th
*MClass Window Opens for K-2
Tuesday, September 21st:
National IT Professional Day
Wednesday, September 22nd:
PTO Sponsored Jersey Mike's Spirit Night
Friday, September 24th:
*September Friday Live - 2:15PM - As of Today, Virtual - Pre-Recorded & Link Sent to Parents
*Wear Bennett spirit wear attire
Saturday, September 25th:
Crape Myrtle Run - details on flyer
Tuesday, September 28th:
Picture Day
Wednesday, September 29th:
Special Olympics Bowling Competition
Thursday, September 30th:
1st & 2nd Grade Alpha (GT) Referrals Due
PTO Sponsored Spirit Nights - Save the Dates
Save the Date - Crape Myrtle Run - Saturday, September 25th
BEARS Celebrating a Birthday in August & September
1 - Durham, Paulina
2 - AnaBelle
4 - Elinor, Oliver, Bryson
5 - Ethan, Ayden, Gerry, Saesha
6 - Sally, Johah, Tyler, Emory
7 - Sara, Thomas
8 - Nicolas, Akshaj, La'miya
9 - Julian, Nolan, Mrs. Lane - secretary
11 - Z'narriehh
12 - Bond, Matteo
13 - Kacey
16 - Jules, Caleb
17 - Lela, Kingston
18 - Eliana
19 - Daniel
20 - Isabella, Mrs. Fahsholtz - 5th grade teacher
21 - Mrs. Gore - 4th grade teacher
22 - Charity
23 - Kevin, Juliette, Jonas
24 - Lovella, Brooklyn, Mrs. Blazek - kindergarten teacher
25 - Haley, Jason, Allison
26 - Hensley
27 - Kaden
28 - Gabriella, Mrs. Androlowicz - STC aide, Mrs. Leiker - 3rd grade teacher
30 - Ahiyan, Hailey, Vivian
September Birthdays:
1 - Stella, James, Amir
2 - Grace
3 - Faizan, Ava
4 - Mia
5 - Ryan, Ms. O'Connell - STC Teacher
7 - Colton, Caleb, Cooper
8 - Lillie
9 - Benjamin, Paige Henry, Vanessa, Anna
10 - Carlene, Isla, Austin
12 - Kenzie
13 - Kate
14 - Cameron, Grant, Jerome
15 - Sebastian, Carson, Isaac, Sienna
17 - Soha, Ms. Vera - 2nd Grade Teacher
18 - Alyssa
19 - Glenn
20 - Lily, Scarlett
21 - Riley, Zachary, Ms. White - 5th Grade Teacher
22 - Dominic, Austin
23 - Mallory, Mckenlee, Micah
25 - Timothy
26 - David
27 - Madison
28 - Adam, Ava
29 - U S
30 - Annie, Chance, Marco, Anthony
Tickets, Tickets Everywhere - Our BEARS are Earning Tickets to Win this Stuffed Animal
Students will write their name on the back of their ticket and return it to school. Tickets will be turned in to the front office and kept in a big yellow lego container.
Every Friday, Ms. Halpin and I will draw FIVE tickets on live Morning Announcements. Those five ticket winners will come to the front office and pick a prize out of the treasure box. Then, Ms. Halpin and I will add those five tickets back into the big yellow lego container with all the other tickets.
Finally, each month when we come together as a school family at our Friday Live school assembly, we will have a drawing to see who's lucky ticket is drawn. If your child's lucky ticket is drawn, they get to KEEP the stuffed animal forever.
Each month, we will have a new special stuffed animal our BEARS will be earning tickets to WIN. Good luck, BEARS!
1st-5th Grade Alpha is Underway for our BEARS
Monday’s – Alpha Day for Bennett’s 1st Grade, 2nd Grade & 3rd Grade Students
- 8:00-9:00 Bennett’s 2nd Grade Alpha students meet with Lisa Crates in the Bennett Science Lab
- 8:35AM Bennett’s 3rd Grade Alpha students load the bus and travel to Webb Elementary
- 9:00-10:00 Bennett’s 1st Grade Alpha students meet with Lisa Crates in the Bennett Science Lab
Thursday & Friday’s – Alpha Days for Bennett’s 4th & 5th Grade Students
- 8:40AM Bennett’s 4th & 5th Grade Alpha students load the bus and travel to Webb
1: The World Technology Changes for our BEARS
1:The World
Elementary Changes for 2021-22
McKinney ISD elementary campuses are committed to providing the best possible instructional experiences for our students in ways that both engage and empower them. Part of this commitment to high-level instruction includes access to technology tools for teaching and learning in the classroom. During the 2020-21 school year the district expanded our 1:The World laptop initiative to include students in grades 3-12. All students in these grade levels were provided with a MacBook Air computer that traveled to and from school on a daily basis. The laptops were checked out to individual students with the understanding that these devices would move with your child from grade level to grade level each year and would serve as their primary tool for technology use at school throughout their career in MISD.
In an effort to consistently reflect on best practices for our youngest learners with technology the decision has been made to modify the 1:The World program at elementary. Students will continue to have access to a personal device for learning at school, however, they will no longer travel to and from school. Student devices will be stored in the classroom for use as necessary, but parents should not be expecting them to return home each night as was our previous practice. We believe that elementary students will have opportunities to grow in their understanding of how to be quality and responsible users of technology by practicing within their school environment. As they leave us for 6th grade, their personal laptop will travel with them for use in middle school and at home. Any incidents with laptops from the 2020-21 school year will be removed from your child’s inventory record and annual usage fees will no longer be charged for any elementary student. Students may continue to customize their personal MISD device with a cover of their choice or school-appropriate stickers etc. and all devices will be stored in locked cabinets while not in use.
What is the classroom standard for technology access in McKinney ISD’s PK-5 classrooms?
PK-1: Class set of iPads managed by MISD’s technology department
2nd grade: class sets of laptop computers stored in carts
Grades 3-5: Individual laptops checked out to students that will move from grade level to grade level on a 5-year refresh plan. Devices will be stored in classroom carts but will not travel from school to home
What changes are being implemented this year?
In order to grow students in their understanding of digital citizenship, internet safety, and responsible use of technology, laptops will be checked out to individual elementary students in grades 3-5, however, they will not travel to and from school until students arrive in middle school in the 6th grade. Last year, students in 4th and 5th grade took their devices home each day. This year, students in grades 3-5 will NOT travel to and from school with their individual laptops. All student devices at elementary will be stored in classrooms in charging carts to be used during the school day only.
Annual laptop fees are no longer required
Why did the model for technology access at elementary schools change, specifically for students in 4th, and 5th grade?
The decision was made to reset and adjust expectations for our elementary students using 1:1 technology in order to provide “training wheels” for elementary students. MISD district leadership believes that 1:1 instructional technology will be best leveraged by ensuring our youngest users have the opportunity to grow in their understanding of using technology responsibly and safely while supported by their teachers in a blended learning classroom.