DATES TO REMEMBER

★Black History Month★National Grapefruit Month★Dental Health Month

Feb. 3rd-Feb. 28thSTUCO Fill the Bus

Tuesday, Feb. 25thMooyah/Cherry Berry

Friday, Feb. 28thFun Run• K/1st - 9:00 a.m.• 2nd/3rd - 10:00 a.m.• 4th/5th - 11:00 a.m.6th Grade Course Requests are due

Saturday, Mar. 1st3rd Grade Alpha Testing

March 3rd-7thNational School Breakfast Week

Tuesday, Mar. 4th• PTO General Meeting 5:30

p.m.• Open House 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Friday, Mar. 7thBennett Student Enrollment Survey Due

March 10-14 Spring Break

Monday, Mar. 17th4th 9 Weeks Begins

Wednesday, Mar. 19thReport Cards

FEBRUARY 25, 2014

!!!!!!!!

Join us to celebrate learning at the

Bennett Open House

Tuesday, March 4th 6-7pm

Come and Go

PTO GENERAL MEETING

Tuesday, March 4th @ 5:30 p.m.

2 iPod Shuffles will be given away!

Come & cast your vote on the use of Fun Run

Fundraising proceeds.

Purchase)your)Yearbook)at:)h1ps://ybpay.lifetouch.com))))Benne1)School)Code:)5052014)

Don’t&miss&out…order&your&&2013/2014&Benne7&Yearbook&TODAY!!&

&

The&deadline&to&order&is&&Friday&3/28&to&order&your&yearbook&in&advance!!&

For)assistance)or)quesEons)please)contact)Denise)Westling)cdwestling@a1.net)

STAFF BIRTHDAYS

Mrs. Barnes, Special Ed. Teacher - Feb. 25th

Mrs. Reinhard, Kindergarten Teacher - Mar. 3rd

Mrs. Higigns, 3rd Grade Teacher - Mar. 5th

Mrs. Ordieres, Registrar - Mar. 12th

Mrs. Sanders, Secretary - Mar. 13th

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Ronald McDonald House

3rd Grade Service Project: Citizenship Third grade is still collecting the tabs from your aluminum cans. The proceeds from these tabs will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House. Send yours in today!

Bennett STUCO Fill the Bus

Fill the Bus Donations will be going on through the entire month of February. Please help out our community and donate new school supplies including: pens, pencils, notebook paper, color paper, color pencils, crayons, markers, erasers, expo markers, notebooks, backpacks, lunch-boxes, and binders. McKinney High will be picking up all Bennett donations on February 28th!  Student Council appreciates your support.

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Breakfast is Served!!

Come enjoy a delicious breakfast in the Bennett Cafeteria!

Wednesday, Feb. 26th - Cinnamon Rolls

Thursday, Feb. 27th - Breakfast Pizza

Friday, Feb. 28th - Scrambled Eggs & Bacon with Toast

National School Breakfast Week

March 3rd– 7th

Fill Your Glass Challenge

To participate students simply need to eat breakfast during the week of March 3rd-7th. When they purchase a breakfast they will be given a sticker to be placed on the poster for their grade level to fill the glass. The grade level with the fullest glass at the end of the week will

win a party with Blue Bell Frozen Yogurt Cups.

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News from Nurse Sherri

PAGE 5

www.CoreEssentialValues.com

FEBRUARY, Manatee/BlueCourtesy—showing others respect by using good manners.

Car Time – Song: “A Little Respect” - This song is easily downloadable in the Core Essentials store at http://www.coreessentials.org/shop-1/schools/core/songs-1.html for just $1.39 a song!

Open Wide – JUST FOR FUN: Whistle a song and have everyone guess what the song is.

DISCUSSION STARTER:Did you know every culture has different ways of showing respect? And what is considered courteous in one culture might actually be offensive in another! For example, in the United States, people whistle to express happiness, but in many European countries, whistling is seen as an aggressive and negative sound. And in the U.S., people might laugh if you bowed when meeting someone instead of shaking their hand, but in many Asian countries, people bow when greeting someone. These differences may seem silly, but when you take the time to learn what someone con-siders to be ‘good manners’, you’re showing them how important you think they are.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Rest – K-2: Mary Louise Loses Her Manners by: Diane Cuneo; One morning, after some particularly shocking--but awfully funny--breakfast behavior, Mary Louise realizes that she has lost her manners. I’ve paid so little attention to them, she thinks, that they’ve up and run away! She has no choice but to begin a search mission.From a neighborhood restaurant to a doctor’s office, past a hot dog vendor then a street musician, and even into the library, Mary Louise tries to find her manners. Instead she ends up making more trouble everyplace she goes. Have her manners deserted her forever?

3-5: Dude, That’s Rude! by: Pamela Espeland; Kids today need manners more than ever, and Dude, That’s Rude! makes it fun and easy to get some. Full-color cartoons and kid-friendly text teach the basics of polite behavior in

Words to use and P.U. Words to avoid, why their family deserves their best manners, and the essentials of e-tiquette (politeness online). It seems like light reading, but it’s serious stuff: Manners are major social skills, and this book gives kids a great start.

Experience: Great news! Our principle is coming to YOUR house for dinner! (Ok… maybe that’s not entirely true). One night this month, just pretend our principle is coming over for dinner. Set the table. Lower the lights. Find some relaxing music. And practice using your very best manners to show respect! See if everyone can follow the guidelines below or make a fun game by giving everyone five beads (buttons, pieces of candy, tokens, etc.). Who-ever catches a family member breaking a guideline gets to take one of his or her beads. The person with the most beads at the end of dinner gets to choose dessert!

PAGE 6

Head Start (HS) - Early Head Start (EHS) - Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) Early Application Event for the 2014-2015 School Year

Greer Annex (back parking lot entrance) 510 Heard Street, McKinney 75069

Monday, March 3 to Thursday, March 6 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

HS / EHS Child Enrollment Qualifications:

Head Start: Child must be 3 or 4 years old on or before September 1st, 2014 Early Head Start: Pregnant women and children birth to 34 months of age.

• Family must be income eligible • Pregnant or parenting teen enrolled in MISD • Child may have an identified disability • Family is homeless • Foster child • Bus transportation is available (Head Start only)

Proof of Income:

• Tax form 1040 or W-2(s) - 4 most recent pay stubs • If self-employed – previous 12 month’s income • TANF, SSI, Social Security, Child Support

.

Pre-K Child Enrollment Qualifications: Child must be 4 years old BY September 1st, 2014

• Child may be non-English or limited English speaking (we will test on site)

• Family must be income eligible • Family is homeless • Foster child • Active military duty (specific guidelines apply)

Proof of Income:

• Most recent AND consecutive pay stubs (for the last month and a half) for every working adult in the house. If you receive Food Stamps, TANF or Unemployment Benefits, please bring documentation showing your case is still current (you don’t need to bring pay stubs in this case). When applicable, bring Foster Care, Guardianship, and/or CPS paperwork. If parent is in active military duty, please bring documentation.

Head Start: (469) 302-2412 / 2413 / 2414 / 2415 Early Head Start: (469) 302-2432 / 2433 / 2434 Pre-K: (469) 302-2400

Beginning February 28th: Applications for Pre-K and Head Start programs can be obtained at Lawson ECS, 500 Dowell St., McKinney, 75071, or download Head Start/Early Head Start applications from Lawson ECS website at:

www.schools.mckinneyisd.net/lawson/

Please bring the following documents:

• Child’s birth certificate or Passport • Social security card • Child’s up-to-date shot record • Medicaid, CHIPS or insurance card • Most current proof of residency within McKinney ISD

(MUST be utility bill, NO phone, cell phone or cable bills and under parent/guardian’s name)

• Annual ARD/ IEP/IFSP (if applicable)

PAGE 7

PTO NEWSSpring Bennett PTO Newsletter

There is a lot of fun to be had at Bennett Elementary this Spring! We have our Fun Run, Spring Break, Yearbook orders and …..It is Election Season!! Be watching for PTO

Board Nomination forms to come home in your child’s Tuesday Folder. If you are interested in joining our fabulous PTO Board, please return a completed form to the

front office! We would love to have you join in on the fun and help keep Bennett Elementary “The Best School in McKinney!”

Shea Redden, PTO President

FEBRUARY

February 28 – Bennett PTO Sponsored FUN RUN!!!! Sign up to volunteer at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0E4DA5A729A13-boosterthon

§ Kinder/1st Grade Run 9:00§ 2nd/3rd Grade Run 10:00§ 4th/5th Grade Run 11:00

MARCH

March 4 – Bennett General PTO Meeting . 5:30 p.m. Bennett CafeteriaThe Bennett PTO will be having a general meeting prior to Open House to vote on how to use the Boosterthon Fun Run fundraising money. All children, with parents attending this meeting will be entered into a drawing for a drawing to win an Apple iPod Shuffle. You must be present to win!

March 10-14 – SPRING BREAK!!!!

March 25 – Cherry Berry & Mooyah NightEnjoy dinner out with your family and raise money for Bennett Elementary! Make sure you let your cashier know that you are a Bennett Bear!!!

March 28 – DEADLINE: Don’t miss out...order your 2013/2014 Bennett Yearbook TODAY!

Purchase your yearbook at https://ybpay.lifetouch.com Bennett School Code: 5052014

APRIL

April 15 – Bennett General PTO Meeting . 6:30 p.m. Bennett CafeteriaThe Bennett PTO will be having a general meeting and voting for the BOARD ELECTIONS for the 2014-2015 school year. There will be a Parent Presentation regarding the topic “Juvenile Fire Starters” from the McKinney Fire Department.

April 22 – Cherry Berry & Mooyah NightEnjoy dinner out with your family and raise money for Bennett Elementary! Make sure you let your cashier know that you are a Bennett Bear!!!

PAGE 8

Bennett General PTO Meeting &

iPod Shuffle Giveaway

We invite all of our PTO Members to attend a meeting on

Tuesday, March 4th, at 5:30 p.m.

!Join us prior to the Open House. We will vote !

on how to use our Fun Run fundraising money. !

All children, with parents attending this meeting, !will be entered into a drawing to win 1 of 2 !

Apple IPod SHUFFLES we will be!giving away that night!!

!**PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN**

!

Child’s Name:___________________________________!

Child’s Grade/Teacher:____________________________!You must be present at the time of the drawing that will take place directly after the PTO meeting on 3/4/14 to win.!

PAGE 9

BENNETT NIGHT AT

MOOYAH & CHERRY BERRY!

February 25, 2014

Bring your family and friends and join us at

Mooyah and Cherry Berry located at Custer and 380.

**Percentage of Proceeds Goes Back To The School!**

PAGE 10

Bennett%Elementary%PTO%

2013314%Fundraiser!%%

We’re%raising%funds%for%technology.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!%The%Boosterthon%Fun%Run%program%is%a%healthy%alternative%to%traditional%product%sales%that%raises%much3needed%funds%for%our%school%and%many%others%across%America.%The%Boosterthon%program%also%promotes%

three%specific%values%during%the%fun3filled%experience:%%Fitness,%Leadership,%and%Character.%

This%year’s%character%theme%is%CAMP%HIGH%FIVE,%and%it’s%all%about%FRIENDSHIP!!But!not!just!developing!the!friendships!students!already!have;!it’s!about!viewing!EVERYONE!as!a!friend,!no!matter!who!they!are,!or!how!different!they!may!first!appear!to!be.%

%

%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%!!

%%%%%

!

Every!student!participates!in!the!Fun!Run,!regardless!of!pledges!raised,!and!receives!a!daily!character!sticker!and!access!to!Boosterthon!character!resources.!!Enter!your!pledges!at!FUNRUN.COM.!!Each!student!has!his/her!own!safe!and!secure!Boosterthon!Fun!Run!webpage!to!log!in!pledges!and!watch!character!videos.!!Sponsors!will!also!have!the!ability!to!pay!their!pledges!online.!!The!Boosterthon!Fun!Run!team!spends!300!hours!organizing!the!event,!freeing!up!our!teachers!and!administrators!to!focus!on!education!`!

How%Can%You%Support%Bennett%Elementary%PTO?%

%

More%information%will%come%home%with%your%child%prior%to%the%event.%This%is%the%major%fundraising%event%for%the%year!%Thanks%in%advance%for%supporting%

Bennett%Elementary%PTO.%

Friends…)Respect%Others!Don’t%Bully!Shout%Out%Strengths!Stick%Together%Show%Sportsmanship%

Boosterthon%Fun%Run%Basics!

The!event!will!kick!off!with!a!30Mminute!schoolMwide!Pep!Rally!on!February!19th!at!2:00!and!conclude!on!February!28th!with!the!Boosterthon!Fun!Run!event.!

Students!will!be!getting!pledges!towards!the!number!of!laps!they!will!run!at!the!!Boosterthon!Fun!Run.!Students%will%run%between%30335%laps.%35%is%the%lap%max.!

• Connect!your!child!to!sponsors—friends!&!family—who!can!give!a!pledge.!!(phone,!eMmail,!Facebook,!Twitter,!etc.)!

• Come!and!cheer!on!your!child!at!the!Boosterthon!Fun!Run!on!February%28th!!• Go!to!www.boosterthon.com!to!learn!more!about!the!Boosterthon!Fun!Run!or!connect!at!

www.facebook.com/boosterthon!

PAGE 11

The$Boosterthon$Fun$Run$is$back!$!

Get$ready$for$some$fun!!!$!

!$

Fun$Run$Pep$Rally$<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<$Wednesday$Feb.19th$at$2:00$(Parents!are!encouraged!to!come!and!join!in!the!fun!to!kick!off!the!event!)!!

Fun$Run$Event$<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<$$Friday$Feb.$28th$(Families!are!invited!to!come!and!cheer!on!your!student(s)…!more!information!will!be!coming!soon!about!time!and!place!)!

!

PAGE 12

Bennett PTO Officer Positions President)

The$president$will$preside$over$all$meetings$of$the$Bennett$PTO.$The$president$will$coordinate$and$oversee$duties$of$the$Officers$and$Committee$directors.$

Vice)President)

The$vice$president$will$fulfill$duties$of$the$president$in$the$absence$of$the$president.$$The$vice$president$will$coordinate$and$oversee$various$committees$such$as$Teacher$Appreciation$and$Directories.$$

Secretary)

The$secretary$will$record$meeting$minutes,$maintain$records$and$provide$them$to$the$PTO.$$The$secretary$will$assist$with$the$PTO$calendar.$$

Treasurer(s))

The$treasurer$will$have$custody$of$the$funds$for$the$PTO.$$The$treasurer$will$keep$a$full$and$accurate$account$of$all$financial$records$of$the$PTO.$$The$treasurer$will$present$monthly$updates$and$financial$records$at$board$meetings.$

Parliamentarian)

The$parliamentarian$will$maintain$and$update$the$PTO$Bylaws.$The$parliamentarian$is$an$impartial$party$that$votes$in$the$case$of$a$tie$on$Bennett$PTO$matters.$$

Fundraising)Director(s))

The$fundraising$director(s)$will$coordinate$two$key$fundraisers$per$year.$The$director$will$also$oversee$box$tops,$restaurant$events$and$other$monthly$fundraising$efforts.$$

Volunteer)Director(s))

The$volunteer$director$will$oversee$the$recruitment$and$placement$of$volunteers$for$PTO$events.$$The$volunteer$director$will$act$as$a$liaison$between$the$Bennett$Watch$D.O.G.S.$program$and$the$PTO$Board.$$

Social)Director)(s))

The$social$director$will$oversee$and$promote$activities$that$include$(but$are$not$limited$to)$Family$Dance,$Bingo,$Variety$Show,$Bear$Breakfast.$$

Publicity)and)Communications)Director)

The$director$will$oversee$the$communications$between$the$PTO$Board$and$the$school.$$The$director$will$assist$with$the$newsletter,$maintain$the$website$and$assist$with$the$Yearbook.$$

Historian(s))

The$historian$acts$as$a$custodian$of$all$PTO$related$records$and$material$that$represent$the$activities$at$Bennett.$$The$historian$will$archive$and$compile$documents$and$photographs$for$public$viewing.$$

Spirit)Wear)Director(s))

The$spirit$wear$director$will$design$and$order$spirit$wear$for$Bennett$Elementary.$$The$director$will$coordinate$events$to$make$spirit$wear$available$for$purchase.$$$

PAGE 13

Bennett PTO Board Candidate Form

The$PTO$Election$Committee$is$now$accepting$nominations$for$next$year’s$board.$Please$nominate$people$who$you$feel$are$qualified$and$willing$to$serve$on$the$

Board$of$the$PTO.$***Self%nominations-are-welcome-and-strongly-encouraged.***!

!Elections!will!be!held!during!our!General!PTO!meeting!on!April!15th,!2014.!

Please$return$this$form$to$the$PTO$Box$in$the$school$office.$Email$BennettBpto@hotmail.com$with$any$questions.$

The$Bennett$Parent$Teacher$Organization$(PTO)$is$an$organization$whose$purpose$is$to$strengthen,$enhance$and$encourage$the$educational$and$social$environment$of$Bennett$Elementary.$Its$goals$are$to$support$the$school$curriculum$with$opportunities$for$parents,$teachers$and$students$to$learn,$socialize,$communicate$and$grow.$$The$PTO$Board$acts$as$a$unified$team$to$accomplish$these$goals.$$$

(See$the$attached$sheets$for$descriptions$of$each$position.$$Positions$with$(s)$may$be$shared$between$2$people$working$together.)$

Please$write$your$name$next$to$the$position$you$desire.$

President$ $Vice$President$ $Secretary$ $

Treasurer(s)$ $Parliamentarian$ $

Volunteer$Director(s)$ $Social$Director(s)$ $

Publicity$and$Communication$Director(s)$ $Historian(s)$ $

Spirit$Wear$Director(s)$ $$

Name:$ $ _______________________________________________________$

Children/Grade:______________________________________________________$

Phone:$ $ _______________________________________________________$

Email:$ $ _______________________________________________________$

Goals:$ $ (What$you$would$like$to$accomplish$by$joining$the$Bennett$PTO$Board)$

$ $ ______________________________________________________________________$

______________________________________________________________________$

PAGE 14

Coming Soon to a Cafeteria Near you…

The Bennett Elementary

Variety Show!!May 5th, 2014

We are forming our

Variety Show Committee!!and we want!

YOU! Stage “hands,” Audition Assistants, Photography,

Decorations, Script writing, etc.

Please return to the front office by February 28th, 2014

Name: ________________________

Email: ________________________

Phone: ________________________

*Email Bennettvolunteers@hotmail.com with

questions

PAGE 15

Bennett Bears Box Tops Challenge

Scooters & Sundaes

There is a March 1st deadlinefor our school to submit ourBox Tops in order to earn moneyfor the 2013/2014 school year.

All Box Tops need to be turned inno later than Friday, February 28th.

Please turn your Box Tops into your child’s teacher. They will be collectedweekly on Fridays.

WIN * WIN * WIN * WIN * WIN * WIN * WIN * WIN

The grade with the most Box Tops collected will winA Technology Day!

The class with the most Box Tops collected will winA Sundae/Scooter Racing Party!

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©General Mills

SHOW YOUR SCHOOL YOU CARE WITH A BOUQUET OF BOX TOPS!

Thank you for helping! Every Box Top you collect is worth 10¢ for your school. To see more ways to earn cash for your school, go to btfe.com!