Bennington High School Newsletter
September 2024
Thank you to the parents and caregivers of students at Bennington High School. The support, patience, and commitment from home helps the 2024-25 school year get off to a successful start. Getting our students back into the daily routine of school requires cooperation from everyone involved, so on behalf of the BHS staff thank you – we appreciate and respect the efforts you are making for the kids.
Academic supports are up and running for all students at BHS – Morning study centers are open for Science, Math, and English from 7:00 am to 7:45am (more information can be found on the next page), PM Study Center is available Monday-Thursday from 3:20 to 4:00 pm in room 140. Additionally, students can utilize Flex Scheduler to request academic assistance from specific teachers during Advisory Period which is held on Tuesday and Thursday each week. The first Saturday School is scheduled for September 14. Students who need to make up assignments, retake exams, or need a quiet setting to work with teacher assistance can attend the Saturday School sessions.
Student attendance is a primary focus for the BHS administration during the 2024-25 school year. We are hoping to increase our daily student attendance rate to 96% and are asking for parents and caregivers to encourage students to be in school as much as possible throughout the school year – this includes scheduling family vacations, appointments, trips, and travel outside of the school day or over scheduled breaks in the school calendar. BHS sends attendance letters to parents when a student has missed eight, fifteen, or twenty days of school. Mrs. Karen Hohman is the BHS secretary who monitors daily attendance for students and is the primary contact for parents who contact BHS regarding an absence for their student. Attendance codes and explanations can be found on page 6 of the BHS Handbook.
Homecoming week is scheduled for September 9-13, with the Homecoming Dance taking place at BHS on Saturday, September 14. Student Senate coordinates the week which includes Spirit Days, a Pep Rally, and Fireworks after the football game on Friday, September 13. The Homecoming Court will be recognized after the Friday football game along with the coronation of the king and queen. Tickets will be open for purchase to BHS students during Homecoming Week via an online system. Outside date forms will require administrative approval prior to the purchase of a ticket for the dance.
Once we reconvene for school after Labor Day, students will go over thirty days straight with learning and instruction. The six-week stretch goes by quickly and leads up to the end of the first quarter of the 2024-25 school year. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to check the NEBSIS portal for updates on student grades, attendance, and tardies. Quarter grades at BHS function as a checkpoint for the semester and students with a GPA meeting established criteria will be recognized on the Honor Roll. The best perspective a parent or caregiver can gain on their child’s progress or struggles is from the classroom teacher. Please consider contacting BHS staff members with questions about your child’s academic performance throughout the year. The BHS staff will be professional and courteous with responses on how students can improve their grade along with important assignments students need to complete for the course.
Thanks again for a solid start to the 2024-25 school year.
Dr. Greg Lamberty
Student safety remains a top priority for the BHS staff and administration. The following drills will be conducted by BHS during the month of September. If BHS enters a lockdown, lockout, class hold, or building evacuation, parents and caregivers will be communicated with in a timely manner once accurate facts can be provided to the interested and involved parties.
Fire: Students will practice monthly drills to safely exit the building. Maps are posted by the exit of each room to direct the staff and students.
Severe Weather: Drills are practiced once per semester. Students will move to the designated weather shelter and stay put for up to 15 minutes. Maps are posted in each classroom. Our weather shelters are the locker rooms, wrestling room, and reinforced classrooms through the building.
Building Evacuation: Bennington Middle School is the evacuation site for BHS. BHS will have access to the gyms at BMS if inclement weather is a factor / concern.
Bus Evacuations: BHS will coordinate bus evacuation with the transportation department during the 1st quarter of the school year. Athletic teams will also conduct a bus evacuation drill prior to departing for one their scheduled road contests.
Reunification: Bennington Middle School is the reunification site for BHS. BMS be used in a situation in which our building in the same manner as the Evacuation Drill with students being released to parents on site at BMS.
Building Hold(s): Students remain in the classroom until the “All clear” is announced. Teaching and learning go on as normal – no students are allowed in the hallways. This procedure is used when a person in the building experiences a medical episode or requires emergency medical attention.
Lockdown: A Lockdown is used when it is unsafe for our students to be in the hallway and/or an intruder is in the building. We would not use a Lockdown for an unsafe situation outside of the building, only those occurring the inside building.
Lockout: A Lockout is used when there is an unsafe but not life-threatening situation in the hallways, or, we wanted to keep someone out of our building. A Lockout is also utilized when we want to keep students out of the hallways. This allows students and staff to continue their normal routines in the classrooms.
Important Dates in September
September 2: Labor Day – NO SCHOOL
September 11: Early Release – 12:00 pm DISMISSAL
September 9 – 13: Homecoming Week – sponsored by Student Senate
September 14: Homecoming Dance at BHS.
**1st Semester Finals: December 18 to 20, 2024.
** Graduation is Sunday, May 18, 2024, at 2:00 pm at Bennington High School.
Fall 2024 Morning Study Center Information
All Study Centers are open from 7:00 am to 7:45 am
Quiet Study Environment
Make-up Assignments
Retake Exams
Get Feedback, suggestions, and ask questions on coursework.
Study and review for assessments, presentations, and major assignments.
** All BHS teachers are onsite and available to assist students at 7:45 am prior to the school day. Teachers who are not coaching are available to students until 3:45 pm after school is dismissed.
HOME VARSITY CONTESTS IN SEPTEMBER
Home Varsity Football (7pm kickoffs)
September 13th v. Hastings (Homecoming Week)
September 27th v. Gretna
Home Volleyball Matches
September 17th v. Platteview and Bellevue West (JV @4:30, 6:30, Varsity @430, 630)
September 23rd v. Elkhorn (JV, and Res @ 5:30; Varsity @ 6:30)
September 30th v. Skutt (9th, Res, JV @ 4:30, 5:30, 6:30)
Home Softball Games
September 3rd v. Mercy (Varsity at 6:00pm)
September 6th v. Elkhorn (Res at 4:30pm)
September 9th v. Elkhorn (JV at 5pm & Varsity at 6:30pm)
September 10th v. Wahoo (JV at 5pm and Varsity at 6:30pm)
September 16th v. Norris (Res DH at 5:00pm)
September 19th v. Gretna East (Res DH at 4:30pm)
September 20th v. Millard West (Res DH at 4:30pm)
September 23rd v. Blair (Res DH at 4:30pm)
September 26th v. Norris (JV at 5pm and Varsity at 6:30pm) – Senior / Parent Night
Girls Golf Invitational on Wednesday September 18th at The Knolls Golf Course in Omaha.
Cross Country Invitational on Thursday September 19th at Bennington High School. Senior / Parent Night will follow in the Auditorium Commons
The Homecoming Football Game will be held on September 13th at 7pm vs. Hastings. The Dance will occur on September 14th from 8-11pm. The dance will be held at Bennington High School.
Attention Parents / Caretakers of Seniors
In the past, some athletes who have committed to compete in their activity at the college level have wished to sign their commitment paperwork at BHS in front of invited teammates and family. This year, we will be holding these signings in signing day ‘windows’ around the college signing periods. Signings will take place in the Aux Gym before school OR in the Activities Entrance after school during the following windows:
November 11 – 15
December 2 – 6
February 3 – 7
April 14 – 17
If your athlete would like to sign at BHS, please reach out to the Activities Office and schedule a time during one of these windows. For more information about dates and Athletic Letters of Intent, please head here: http://www.nationalletter.org/signingDates/future.html
Activity Card Prices: $35 for Students, $75 for Adults, $180 for Family (Parents & BPS students grades K-12). Cards are available in the BHS Front Office during school hours – cards can also be purchased online: https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain.action?clientKey=&requestAction=home
ADMISSION PRICES TO VARSITY CONTESTS: $7 for Adults & $5 for Students
HIGH SCHOOL LOWER LEVEL: $4 for Adults & $1 for Students
** Lower level contests held in conjunction with Varsity contests are $7 & $5.
There is a no re-admission rule in effect for ALL high school and middle school students at BHS and BMS events. Once you leave you cannot return to the event.
K-5 Students should be accompanied by their parent / guardian at Bennington High School events. Administration may ask that unaccompanied elementary students be picked up by a parent or guardian from an event.
Visit http://www.easternmidconference.org for team and schedule updates.
Booster Club Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday September 4th at 5:30pm in the BHS Library. For more information on the Bennington Athletic Boosters: http://benningtonboosterclub.com/
Booster Club memberships can be purchased online at: https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain.action?clientKey=&requestAction=home
Casey Zelfel is the Activities Secretary. She is in her 8th year as the Activities Secretary at BHS. Casey can be reached at czelfel@bennps.org OR 402-238-2447.
Eastern Midlands Conference Schools are Bennington, Blair, Gretna, Gretna East, Elkhorn, Elkhorn North, Hastings, Lincoln Northwest, Lincoln Standing Bear, Norris, & Waverly.
The Nebraska Schools Activities Association (NSAA) is the governing body for scholastic sports in our state. The Executive Director of the NSAA is Jennifer Schwartz – for more information on the NSAA please visit their website: https://nsaahome.org/
Please urge any athletes and guardians of athletes who are entering the district to contact the Activities Office to confirm NSAA eligibility.
Without a change of domicile, all new Bennington transfer students in grades 10-12 need to be on the NSAA’s May 1st list to be eligible for first semester competition the following school year. Please contact the Activities Office if you have questions.
Reminder that physicals and NSAA consent forms must be on file for student-athletes to participate in their sport of choice.
BHS SCHOOL COUNSELING ANNOUNCEMENTS
September 2024
School Counseling Team:
Jennifer Smith | A-G
Mandy Boesch| H-N
Lisa Bade | O-Z
Angie Shadle | School Counseling Administrative Assistant
Upcoming Events at BHS:
Military Recruiter visits:
September 10th: Marines lunch visit
September 12th: Army lunch visit
September 19th: Army National Guard lunch visit
September 24th: Marines lunch visit
College Rep visits:
All college rep visits are held in the counseling office. Students, please use Naviance to register to attend the rep visits: Sign in to your Naviance account, and select “Colleges” from the menu at the top of the page. Then select “College Visits” and “Register Now” for any college rep visits you would like to attend.
September 2nd: Nebraska Wesleyan University, 9:00-10:00 a.m.
September 19th: Vanderbilt University, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
September 17th: Doane University, 9:00-10:00 a.m.
September 19th: Vanderbilt University, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
College Awareness Events (not affiliated with BHS)
Construction Career Exploration Day at Metro Community College, September 20th, 9:00-2:00 pm: An opportunity for high school students to get hands-on exposure to various construction, diesel, fire science (recently added to our event), and utility line programs. Registration Link: https://forms.office.com/r/vJF5caBdcr
Senior Saturday at Peru State College, September 21st, 9:00-11:30 am: High school seniors are invited to visit the campus, meet with the admissions team, and receive a tour from a current Peru State student. Register at www.peru.edu/visit
Seniors: To-Do List for Fall
Turn in your completed and signed Consent to Release Records form. These can be picked up from the counseling office. The counseling office must have this on file before sending your transcripts to colleges and other post-secondary institutions.
Apply to your top college choices.
Create a Federal Student Aid (FSA ID) account at studentaid.gov. Your parent will also need an FSA ID if you are a dependent student. This can be done right away; you do not need to wait for the FAFSA to open to complete this.
Complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov as soon as possible after it opens on December 1st. You must complete the FAFSA to be considered for federal, state, and college-based financial aid. Check out Education Quest for tools, tips, and demos for completing the FAFSA. After submitting the FAFSA, check your email for the FAFSA submission summary and any verification requests.
Testing - Information and Dates
ACT 2024-2025 - March 25, 2025:
All full-time Bennington High School juniors will take the ACT at BHS on March 25, 2025. There is no need to register for this test and there is no fee for this test. Watch for more information about the ACT and the On To College ACT prep sessions in upcoming months.
ASVAB Exam:
ANY 10th, 11th, or 12th-grade student interested in joining the military can take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery exam (ASVAB) on Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 at BHS. If interested in taking the exam, see Mrs. Smith in the Counseling Office and/or sign up using this Google Form.
2024-2025 ACT National Test Dates:
Bennington High School code number for the ACT & SAT: 280240
Visit https://my.act.org/account/signin?location=https://my.act.org to register for the ACT. If you received accommodations on the ACT at Bennington High School, be sure to select the option for accommodations when you register for the test.
2024-2025 SAT I and SAT II Test Dates:
Visit https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register to register for the SAT.
AM STUDY CENTER DEPARTMENT LOCATIONS
** Study Centers run from 7:00 am to 7:45 am in the designated rooms below. No appointments are needed.
ENGLISH
Monday: Ludwig A242
Tuesday: Johnson A237
Wednesday: Ginal A236
Thursday: Remington A235/Jewett A231
Friday: Tompkins A233
MATH
Monday: Berggren G213
Tuesday: Holt G207
Wednesday: Carder G206
Thursday: Burgers G115
Friday: Stender G109
SCIENCE
Monday: Higgins G121
Tuesday: Ott A141
Wednesday: Schumm A249
Thursday: Higgins G121
Friday: Welker A241
Saturday School-1st Semester Dates
*Students can retake or makeup assessments or complete missing work.
September 14th (8-10 am)
September 28th (8-10 am)
October 12th (8-12)
October 26th (8-12)
November 9th (8-12)
November 23rd (8-12)
December 7th (8-12)
December 14th (8-12)
A Note from the 9-12 Graduation Sponsor
Hello! My name is Nikki Guynan! I serve all students throughout their 9th-12th grade years here at BHS. My primary role is to help students through the 3C and LB399 graduation requirements in addition to planning and executing graduation day for our Seniors!
LB399 Requirement:
In 2019, the Nebraska Legislature adopted LB 399, a law requiring all Nebraska schools to incorporate an additional Civics requirement in order for students to graduate. According to the legislature, the goal of this law is to “ensure that Nebraska’s schools will continue to prepare students to be competent and responsible citizens who engage in public debate knowledgeably and in a civil manner.” Districts were given three suggested options to fulfill this requirement: 1) civics/naturalization test, 2) paper/project on an important American historical figure, or 3) attendance of a public meeting. The option selected by the Bennington School Board was to have students attend a public meeting and write a subsequent reflection. *The most commonly attended meeting is the School Board meetings that take place throughout the year!
3C’s Requirement:
The 3Cs stand for Communication, Career, and Community. You can fulfill this requirement in a number of ways. You only have to do one of these to graduate.
Option 1- Professional Communications Students who take Professional Communications fulfill this requirement by passing the semester-long course. No additional paperwork is needed.
Option 2- EXPLORE Career Post Students can fulfill this requirement by completing a Career Post through www.OmahaExploring.org Students who wish to use this option to meet this requirement must register and pay (if payment is required) for the course, attend all scheduled meetings, and fill out all appropriate paperwork. Career Post offerings vary in length, cost and activity and commitment level. Students are responsible for understanding and meeting the requirements of any OmahaExploring.org post for which they register. Upcoming posts can be viewed and students may register at www.omahaexploring.org. Students must fill out the Explore Post Attendance Form and turn it in within one month of the conclusion of their experience.
Option 3- Service Hours Students can meet the requirement by completing 50 hours of applicable community service and turning in the paperwork. Service hours must be with a scheduled nonprofit organization. Students are responsible for seeking out appropriate opportunities and turning the paperwork in on time. Failure to do so could mean hours are not counted. If a student does not know if their event would count, they should contact Mrs. Guynan. Students who choose to complete 150 hours will earn the Silver Cord to wear at graduation. Please read the Service Guidelines to learn more.
Where can I locate forms and more information?
1) Go to www.benningtonschools.org
Click: Bennington High School
Click: Students
Click: Graduation Requirements
2) Stop by Mrs. Guynan’s room before or after school (A148) across from the library or visit Mrs. Guynan in the library during 4th or 5th period! 3) Check your Graduation Google Classroom for “live” announcements!
SENIORS: This month we will take care of:
1) ordering caps and gowns-check Google Classroom
2) Song, color, flower, etc selections-Check Google Classroom
Notice of Non-Discrimination
The Bennington Public School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race, color, religion, veteran status, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, or other protected status in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Students: Mr. Dan Bombeck, Director of Student Services, 11620 North 156th Street, P.O. Box 309, Bennington, NE 68007 (402) 238-3044 (dbombeck@bennps.org). Employees and Others: Dr. Matt Blomenkamp, Assistant Superintendent 11620 North 156th Street, P.O. Box 309, Bennington, NE 68007 (402) 238-3044 (mblomenkamp@bennps.org). Complaints or concerns involving discrimination or needs for accommodation or access should be addressed to the appropriate Coordinator. For further information about anti-discrimination laws and regulations, or to file a complaint of discrimination with the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education (OCR), please contact the OCR at 601 East 12th Street, Room 353, Kansas City, MO 64106, (800) 368-1019 (voice), Fax (816) 426-3686, (800) 537-7697 (telecommunications device for the deaf), or ocr.kansascity@ed.gov.
Title IX
The Bennington Public School District is committed to offering employment and educational opportunity to its employees and students in a climate free of discrimination. Accordingly, unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation of any kind by District employees, including, co-workers, non-employees (such as volunteers), third parties and others is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated.