Bennington South Middle School

There were a lot of great things happening at BSMS during the month of November! We had our second achievement celebration for students, recognition of our first Learn-Grow-Lead award winners, hosted the district's Veterans Day program, and our winter sports season began. We have many upcoming activities in the month of December, so please take time to look through the newsletter for specific dates and times.

During the week of December 4th, students will be completing NSCAS Growth testing in their Math and English classes on December 5th, 7th, and 8th. Our next early dismissal is Wednesday, November 6th at 11:50am. Hexter 3 grading ends on December 21st. Please take the time to look over grades with your child to help them end Hexter 3 on a positive note. The homework calendar is updated weekly on our website for parents and students to review.

On December 21st, students will be dismissed at 11:50am. In addition, we will be donating any remaining lost and found items on December 21st. Please talk with your student about checking the lost and found tables for any missing items. Winter break goes from December 22nd to January 2nd. The second semester will start on Wednesday, January 3 for students.

We look forward to finishing up a great first semester!

Lucas Apfelbeck

Principal

6 - Early Dismissal, 11:50am

11 - Board of Education Meeting, 6pm

21 - End of Hexter 3 / Early Dismissal, 11:50am

12/22-1/2 - Winter Break

Hexter 1 - Aug 16 - Sept 26

Hexter 2 - Sept 27 - Nov 7

Hexter 3 - Nov 8 - Dec 21

Hexter 4 - Jan 3 - Feb 20

Hexter 5 - Feb 21 - April 11

Hexter 6 - April 12- May 24

(MS grading periods are every 6 weeks)

6th Grade Social Studies had a guest speaker for Veterans Day

Lt. Colonel Doug Kibbe

A-10 Pilot 21 Years Air Force

Lions International Peace Poster Contest is an international contest that encourages children, ages 11 to 13, to creatively express what peace means to them. The 2023-2024 contest theme is "Dare to Dream." This contest allows students to share their unique images of peace with others, so that we may all have greater tolerance and international understanding.

The following students were finalists and winners of the 6th Grade Social Studies Lions Club Peace Poster Competition for 2023 from Bennington South Middle School.

1st Place

George Dennis $100

Runner Up

Meklit Tekle $50

Ellie Gaas $50

BSMS Finalist

Madeleine Gregalunas

Molly Girthoffer

Brooklynn Oswalt

• Art Club
• Book Club
• Cooking Club
• Diversity Club
• Fitness Club
• Game Club
• Jazz Band
• Marimba Ensemble
• Math Club
• Science Club
• Service Club
• Student Senate
• Writing Club
• Yearbook

Here is a link to our clubs calendar!

BOYS BASKETBALL 🏀

GIRLS WRESTLING 🤼‍♀️

Girls Basketball and Boys Wrestling will begin after winter break!

As a reminder, our extracurricular activity schedule and club offerings can be found on our school website. Admission for MS athletics is $3 for adults and $2 for students. Activity passes are accepted and can be purchased on myschoolbucks.

All 7th and 8th grade students wanting to participate in the sport activities at BSMS will need to complete and submit:

1) Sports Physical (dated after May 1st) and

2) NSAA Parent Consent form

Copy of the forms are on the schools website under BSMS. Click on Parents then Documents. The forms are also available below.

• Parents/guardians should have received an email notification that will include their login/password information during the middle of July.
• Review each student's informational records, and click SUBMIT once all information is updated.
• Please complete as soon as possible
• If any of the information you reviewed now...changes during the school year, please return to this Verification option to update your student's records. Once submitted, the building secretary will be notified via email of your submitted changes.

We appreciate your help in keeping your student's records updated and accurate at all times.

The Free and Reduced Meal applications are now available for the 2022-23 school year. Applications need to be filled out every school year. Each family only needs to complete one application for their entire family.

New this Year! Complete the Application in Student Verification

As you are completing the student verification information online, you can now complete the Free and Reduced meal application at the same time.

For assistance on how to apply online or to obtain a printed copy of the application, please call the District Office at 402-238-3044.

Middle School

• Breakfast - $1.80
• Lunch - $2.95

Reduced

• Breakfast - $0.30
• Lunch - $0.40

A la Carte

• Milk - $0.55

The school year is getting ready to start! Please take this time to check your students’ meal account balances online through MySchoolBucks.com. If their balance is negative, you can securely fund their account using your credit/debit card or an e-check. You also have the option to set up AutoPay, which will automatically fund their account when the balance drops below an amount you specify.

Don’t have an account yet? Visit MySchoolBucks.com to sign up today! If you need assistance, you can find helpful how-to videos and answers to commonly asked questions by visiting MySchoolBucks.com. Or, you can contact MySchoolBucks directly by logging into your account to start a chat conversation or give them a call at (855) 832-5226.

For all other questions, please contact Bennington Nutrition Services at 402-238-3044.

• If your student would need to miss a day or part of a day from school for any reason, a parent or guardian MUST contact BSMS attendance/health secretary, Mrs. Anne Marie Vanecek at avanecek@bennps.org or call us at 402-238-3079 at extension 6202 and include the reason for the absence.
• If your student needs to leave in the middle of the day, a parent or guardian MUST come in and sign out their student in the office, prior to leaving the building. The student can ask the office staff for an ADMIT SLIP so teachers can document any missing assignments during the student’s absence.
• Tardies are assigned if a student enters the build past 8:00 am. A tardy slip will be given by the front office staff, then the student reports to class. The doors will be locked and all visitors can only access the building through the front desk security.

The following rules apply to the use and application of ALL medications at BSMS....

• Prescription Medication: The student’s parents/guardians MUST provide the school office with a written order by a physician or PA of the prescription stating the type, amount, route for the medication. Parents/guardians also need to sign and complete the Medication Authorization form (printed from the school website or at the front office) permitting the use of medication. All prescription medications MUST be transported to the office staff by the parents/ guardians of the student.

• Non-prescription medication: Parents/guardians MUST complete the same Medication Authorization form from the school as that form gives the office personnel permission to give the medication to your student. ALL medication must be in the original container and not be past the expiration date.

All students will wait outside until the doors unlock at 7:40 am each morning. Please dress appropriately while waiting in the colder temperatures. If the temperatures drop below 20 degrees or colder (actual NOT feels like), our administration will open the doors sooner.

School Closings and Delays

Bennington Public Schools can notify you three different ways:

School Messenger

Radio - KFAB am 1110 or KKAR am 1290

Television - KMTV 3, WOWT 6, KETV 7

Ph # 402-238-3079 ----- Fax # 402-243-0712

Principal - Mr. Lucas Apfelbeck

Asst.Principal & Athletic Director - Mrs. Erika Hiemstra

Administrative Assistant - Mrs. Sara Marxsen

Attendance & Health office assistant - Mrs. Anne Marie Vanecek

Counselors: Mrs. Jackie Muller and Mrs. Amy Sather

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.