The Benton Blurb

News from Your Principal

Dear Parents,

Spring has Sprung! It's such a busy season with MAP testing for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. We wrapped that up this week and start our spring diagnostic test with iReady next week. This is important information that will tell us how much your student has grown this year. I know we will see great growth in both reading and math.

Next week, we celebrate our amazing teachers and all they do for Benton Students. Please take a minute to browse the flier below and take moment to appreciate your child's teacher.

Be sure to check the important dates at the bottom of our newsletter so you catch all the end of year events. There is also some important information about boundary changes for elementary schools that might effect Benton and information about summer construction!

Wishing you well,

Sarah Sicht

Conscious Discipline

School is almost out for summer. Some children can experience anxiety and stress by abrupt changes in routines and schedules. Dr. Anne Hoff, Certified Conscious Discipline Instructor teaches that “the brain is pattern-seeking and survival-oriented. In practical application, this means that anxiety will lessen when the brain can detect a pattern.”

Adults can help children manage change by establishing routines and creating schedules – even at home! Here are some suggestions to help your family get started:

Before school is out, schedule a family meeting to talk about what home is going to look like once school is out. Discuss things like when is bedtime, or wake up, who will walk and feed the dog, what clothes to wear, who gets the first turn on Xbox…
Every day, hold a brief morning meeting where each person picks one thing they will commit to that day to help the family. A commitment can be as simple as, “I commit to smiling 5 times today.”
Create a chore list of small things around the house children can help with. Teaching a child that home is a place for everyone gives them a sense of security, encourages responsibility and helps develop pride and ownership.
If you work outside the home, post a picture of what the clock looks like when it’s time for you to be home. This gives a child the message that their adult will not be away for long.
At the end of the day, check in with one another and see how everyone did with their commitments and responsibilities. Celebrate both successes and oops (other opportunities to practice skill).

Here’s to the end of another great school year, and a smooth transition into summer.

Until next time!

Cathy Cox, Home School Communicator

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Attendance Matters!

Please help us keep our attendance above 80%! Our goal is 81% by the end of the year!

Field Day 2024

Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!

signupgenius.com

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Attendance Area Changes

Dear CPS Families:

On April 17, the Board of Education approved phase I changes to incorporate the Russell Boulevard Elementary School addition into the school district. Those changes will be implemented in Fall of 2025.

Work now continues on the next two phases of the attendance area changes to incorporate a new elementary school in south Columbia and to address pockets of growth in our community.

As part of the process, a presentation, options to review and consider, as well as an address locator are now available. Additionally, the Board of Education and the district are seeking your feedback on the draft options via a survey linked below.

Presentation
Narrated Presentation
Options Packet (Maps)
Attendance Area Locator
Survey Open until May 12 at 5:30 p.m. A summary of survey results will be shared with the public prior to the Board of Education’s decision.

The most effective way to provide feedback on attendance area changes is to complete the survey. However, comments may also be provided to the Board of Education by completing a comment form (linked). You will not receive a response to the message. However, please know the Board has received your submission.

Open House events will be held next week related to phases II and III of the attendance area change process. Please see the schedule below for an Open House event near you.

Attendance Area Changes Open Houses

Phase II and Phase III Changes

May 7

9-11 a.m. Aslin Administration Building

4-7 p.m. Hickman High School Commons

May 8

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Aslin Administration Building

4-7 p.m. Rock Bridge High School Cafeteria

May 9

10 a.m. Virtual Open House (link available closer to the event)

1-3 p.m. Aslin Administration Building

4-7 p.m. Battle High School Media Center

** All open houses are come and go as desired

Additional information on the attendance area change process is available on the district's website at: https://www.cpsk12.org/attendance-area-changes

Click here for News from our Specialist Team!

Summer Construction

We are excited to have a lot of work done at Benton over the summer. They will begin work on our secured entry, which includes a small office addition! We are also having new tile flooring put down in the hallways and cafeteria/gym. Our student bathrooms are being remodel with new flooring, stalls, and handwashing stations. We are so excited for this refresh. The flooring and bathrooms will be done by the time students return in the fall, and the office addition should be done by this time next year. So exciting!!!