Bennett Bear Business

Week of September 16, 2019

Dear Amazing Bennett Families,

We are looking forward to another great week with our Bennett Bears. Time is passing by with lightening speed and it is hard to believe we are starting our fifth full week of school. Our Bears are off to a great school year making friends, learning routines, building relationships, and our Bennett Bears absolutely LOVE school.

Thank you parents for sharing your precious children with us every day! Your continued support and partnership is appreciated. We will see YOU at school.

Proud to be a Bear,

Amy Holderman

NEW - Bennett's Best Award Recipients of the Week

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NEW - Bennett's Best Award

This year, our "Campus Improvement Tactic Team 5: Staff Recognition & Positive Work Environment" has created a new staff recognition award for Bennett staff." This Tactic Team will promote a positive school culture amongst our Bennett staff by increasing staff recognition and leading our Sunshine Committee.

This week, Tactic Team 5 is celebrating and recognize

two Bennett staff members for going above and beyond to serve our school and promoting a positive school culture at the BEST school in McKinney!

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Ann Sanders - Bennett's Best Recipient

Congratulations, Ann! Mrs. Sanders is the secretary at Bennett Elementary. She has been in education for 36 years.

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Natalie White - Bennett's Best Recipient

Congratulations, Natalie! Mrs. White is a 5th grade Math & Science teacher. She has been in education for 18 years.

Bennett Elementary's Campus Improvement Plan - Executive Summary

Last Friday at our PTO sponsored Principal's Coffee, Mrs. Halpin and I shared our Bennett Campus Improvement Plan Executive Summary. This Summary is completed at the start of each school year as a reflection of our Campus Profile, Key Findings Related to Assessment Data, Areas of Instructional Improvement, and Actions to Improve Student Performance.

Campus Improvement Tactic Teams - Parents Welcome to Join

Calling all parents! If you would like to serve on a Campus Improvement Tactic Team, please send me an email with your information and the Tactic Team you would like to serve on. Information about each Tactic Team and Meeting days/times are included on the green flyer below.

Bennett Elementary Budget 2019-2020

Below is our campus budget for the 2019-2020 school year. We are fortunate to receive these funds to support student learning and achievement.

Big Kahuna Principal Fundraiser is Under Way - Orders Due Wednesday, September 25th

We are raising money for:

Student Recognition Awards - Bear of the Month, Creed Award, Birthday, Perfect Attendance, No Early Check-Outs, No Tardies, Choir, Tech Crew, End of Year Certificates
Staff Recognition Awards - Birthdays, 100 Hour Professional Development Club, Luncheons, Staff Shirt, Snacks/Drinks for Meetings, Teacher Appreciation
Resources & Materials in our Professional Library for Parents & Staff
Staff Development for Staff - Speakers, Materials, Conferences
Flexible Seating for Classrooms
Headphones
Flexible Seating Tables for Primary Classrooms
Safety Items - Cones, Walkies, Megaphones, Vests
Supplies for Jingle Bell Run in December - Bells, Necklaces, Hot Chocolate
Miscellaneous School Supplies & Materials for Classroom Use

Information from Nurse Martin

Here we are in September, and the mosquitos are still going strong. Below are a few reminders from the Texas Department of Health to prevent mosquito bites:

· Use an approved insect repellent every time you go outside. Approved repellents include those that contain DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR3535. Follow the instructions on the label.

· Regularly drain standing water, including water that collects in empty cans, tires, buckets, clogged rain gutters and saucers under potted plants. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water.

· Wear long sleeves and pants when outside. With the summer heat, an alternative may be to opt for longer shorts, plus socks and tennis shoes instead of sandals.

· Avoid being outside or take extra precautions at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

· Use air conditioning or make sure there are screens on all doors and windows to keep mosquitoes from entering the home.

Stephanie Martin, BSN, RN

Bennett Elementary Clinic

stmartin@mckinneyisd.net

469-302-5407

Take a look at September's Guidance Lessons

COUNSELOR'S CORNER

mrsthompsonliveskind.weebly.com

McKinney ISD Free & Reduced Lunch Program

Each year, parents need to reapply to the Free and Reduced Program for that school year. State regulations allow for a grace period for the first 30 days of school, which keeps the students in the same free or reduced category they were in the previous year to allow time to submit a new application. That grace period ends this year on September 27th. At that time, any student who has not had an application submitted by their parents will no longer have their meal benefit until a new application is processed. We’d very much like to encourage online applications, as they are less prone to error and processing delays.

Parents can quickly and easily fill out an online application at www.mckinneyisd.schoollunchapp.com, although if a paper application is more desirable, those are also available in the Bennett office. Those who have received a notification of benefits or who have already submitted an application do NOT need to apply again. The online portal is the best way to apply, as it is the most accurate and fastest for us to process.

McKinney ISD has already sent an email to ALL parent/guardians (doing so allowed us to avoid overt identification of any students) reminding them about the grace period and how to apply to the program if they want to (we cannot force any parent to fill out an application).

If you have any questions, please contact Pilar Gilabert-Barrera at the Child Nutrition office. We can be reached at 469-302-6364.

Sincerely,

Food Service Department

Student T-Shirt Size Needed

PTO is requesting our help in getting t-shirt sizes for all our students. Please use the link below to provide us with your child's t-shirt size by Friday, September 20th. If you have already submitted your child's t-shirt size to your child's teacher, please disregard.

T-Shirt Link:

https://forms.gle/bTBkcCaPmgfzceYk9