Benson News

Hello Benson Families!

I am excited to announce our new Attendance Badges that our students are excited to earn! Please see the criteria below for more details on how your child can earn a monthly attendance badge.

Criteria:

• Zero unexcused absences
• Zero unexcused tardies
• No more than one excused absence

Please help your child meet this criteria each month.

#BensonBears #WeAllBelong

Sincerely,

Dr. Spangler

Benson Principal

Monday, September 2: NO SCHOOL | LABOR DAY

Wednesday, September 18: Kona Ice

Thursday, September 12: School Site Council Meeting @ 2:45pm (Rm. 10)

Friday, September 13: English Language Advisory Committee Meeting @ 8:30am (Rm. 10)

Week of September 16 - September 20: Fall Book Fair (more info coming soon)

Wednesday, September 25: TPSF Celebration of Schools @ 5pm/LMA (see flyer below)

Benson is hiring for a Community Liaison!

Our current community liaison, Cynthia Illagor, accepted a position as a preschool teacher. Please congratulate her when you see her. She will still be helping support our office a couple of afternoons for the next week or so. If you or anyone you know are interested in applying, please go to Edjoin.org and see job posting #84-24-25 for more information and to submit an application.

Please see our No Food Birthday Policy attached below.

Dear Parents,
The Benson School Site Council (SSC) is now accepting nominations for parent members on the SSC. This is a two-year term, September – May.

The School Site Council serves the students and the school by:
· Developing the School Plan with teachers and support staff
· Implementing the Plan, putting it into effect for student learning
· Evaluating the Plan to see if it is helping all students
· Verifying & assuring expenditures in the School Plan are used to improve academic performance of all pupils.

Parent members of the SSC are expected to:
· Attend the meetings- 9/12, 11/7, 2/6, 4/24
· Actively participate in SSC responsibilities
· Represent parents in the neighborhood and community
· Become knowledgeable about the School Plan through training provided

Please complete the nomination form below by 8/30 if you are interested in being a member.

Each year, parents must complete a Student Data Confirmation for each child. This is done through your Aeries Parent Portal and is best done on a laptop or desktop rather than a mobile device. You can access your Aeries Parent Portal through the Tustin Unified School District website on the Families & Community page.

**Computers will be available in the front office for those who need assistance with completing Data Confirmation.

Parent Portal - Tustin Unified School District

Be sure to:

• Parents, set your notification preferences to "General & Emergency" or you will not get the weekly eNewsletter. *Other contacts can be set to "Emergency Only."
• Provide a minimum of 3 emergency contacts (including parents).
• Make sure you submit and provide an e-signature or your data confirmation will not be complete.
• Complete BEFORE the first day of school (8/14/24).

Benson is a uniform school. Student uniform choices include:

• Top: red, white, blue (light or navy), or grey with or without a collar, no logos

• Bottom: navy blue, khaki, or blue jeans without rips - pants, shorts, skirts or jumper

• NEW THIS YEAR! Spirit Wear/Bear Wear is allowed ANY DAY of the week! Show Benson PRIDE by wearing BENSON spirit shirts

Target Cat & Jack uniforms are currently on SALE!

*IMPORTANT*

Gates open at 7:50am for all students TK-5th grade. Students may not arrive prior to 7:50am as there is NO SUPERVISION.

Click HERE to find a list of suggested school supplies by grade level. Returning students should bring their TUSD-issued iPads (fully charged!) daily. TK, Kinder and new students will be issued an iPad within the first month of school. As a reminder, these lists are suggestions by the teachers. Materials are available in classrooms for student use as well.

*We HIGHLY ENCOURAGE students to bring a reusable water bottle daily- especially in the heat!

Have you downloaded the Parent Square app? The app allows you to stay connected with Tustin Unified School District and Benson Elementary. Families can also access from the web using Aeries email or phone #. Stay connected with Benson school news this year!

Benson continues to be a safety-first campus, meaning only students and staff are permitted on campus before, after, and during school hours. Volunteers and parents/family members visiting campus for events such as meetings or awards assemblies are also welcome on campus but must sign in through the office and obtain a visitor's badge.

TK- 5th may enter through the front or back gates and navigate to the quad to find and stand in their classroom's line. Gates will open at 7:50 for students. Please note, that beginning 8/14, only students will be allowed to enter campus. All others need to check-in at the front office if they need to come on campus. TK & K parents will be allowed to walk their children to their line for the first week of school only.

As always, Staff will be available to help guide students to their class and learn our before-school routines!

THANK YOU for helping to keep our campus and children safe!

Parents/guardians picking up students in grades TK: Please park your car on the street and walk to the TK gate to pick up your child.

Parents/guardians picking up students in grades K-5: Please drive through the car line and wait for your student to be sent to your car at the front of the school. Please do not exit your vehicle in the car line.

FRONT PARKING LOT

• K-5 Students may be dropped off in the car line by the open gate.
• Do not allow your child to walk through the parking lot except in the crosswalk or exit the car before reaching the front of the school.

*IMPORTANT: HAVE A PLAN!!!

PLEASE take the time to discuss your after-school plan with your child BEFORE the start of school. Establish this ahead of time, make sure your child completely understands and ask these questions:

• Does your child to go to after-school care? Where do they go?
• Which GATE (front or back) should your child go out?
• WHO is picking up your child?

Once you establish your plan, PLEASE let your child's teacher know where your child should go. This helps to eliminate confusion at dismissal time.

As always, we ask that parents and families adhere to all traffic regulations, signs, and the direction of staff, as well as practicing PATIENCE and SAFETY when dropping off and picking up students.

Thank you!

It is important that students arrive on time each day, ready to learn! This includes being well-nourished and well-rested.

NUTRITION/ FOOD

• The Tustin Unified School District has announced its policy to serve nutritious meals every school day under the National School Lunch Seamless Summer and Afternoon Snack Programs. The USDA Food and Nutrition Services extended meal service flexibilities that enable school districts to provide free meals to all students.

• Breakfast is available for students during their RECESS time each day.
• Students may bring their own lunch/snack. If you elect to bring food from home, please ensure that it is nutritious. Keep in mind that students may NOT bring soda or candy.

SLEEP/ REST

• A good night's sleep is crucial to ensure that students are ready for school and have the stamina to shift back to our full-day learning schedule!
• Work now to establish a consistent bedtime routine for the school year.
• The CDC recommends that school-age children (ages 6-12) get 9-12 hours of sleep per night.

All students interested will be offered FREE breakfast at their morning recess and a FREE lunch at their scheduled lunch time.

It's a must-read to know what is happening at Benson!

Every Sunday Dr. Spangler sends out Benson News. This is your way to read about everything coming up at school and see some pictures from the previous week. Be sure to look it over!

Connect with the school by following us on social media!

Instagram: @BensonBears

Twitter: @BensonBears1

2024-2025 Hashtag: #BensonBears #WeAllBelong

Hello, my name is Jaclyn Spangler and I am honored to be the principal of Benson Elementary School. I love being a Benson Bear and I look forward to meeting all of our new and returning Benson families very soon.

I grew up in Orange and I am married with two young children (Jameson 8, and Blakely 4). We are a very active family and love to travel.

I have worked in Tustin Unified for the past sixteen years. My roles in Tustin have included teaching positions, Digital Learning Coach, and Assistant Principal. I completed my undergraduate degree at Vanguard University, my Master's Degree from Concordia University, and my Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership from The University of Southern California.

I am excited and eager to continue to partner with the teachers, staff, and parents at Benson Elementary School. I look forward to getting to know the community, building relationships, and helping to provide students with exciting learning opportunities.

Email: jspangler@tustin.k12.ca.us
Website: https://www.tustin.k12.ca.us/benson
Phone: 714-730-7531