Ben-Hem Bobcats

1- CULTURAL ARTS IS BACK!

Did you know that our PTO provides high quality performances for our students throughout the year? Money earned through PTO events and fundraisers allow for characters such as Ruth Bader Ginsberg to visit our fourth grade classrooms and performances like "How to Make Mistakes" with Brett Outchcunis, or Ooch to his friends. He talked about mistakes being a normal part of our life and shared strategies to use when we make one that requires cleaning up. Here are the 5 steps:

• Admit it ("My mistake", double tap your chest over your heart)
• Own it (Pull it in)
• Apologize (Wax on)
• Clean it up (Wax off)
• Forgive yourself (Hug yourself)
• Learn from it (Point to your brain).

Ooch even made a video to help students remember. Here’s what it looks like - https://youtu.be/UPnMnOSJ738

2 - 4TH GRADE PARENTS PLEASE READ: 5TH GRADE COURSE SELECTION REQUIREMENT

Students in 5th grade get to select which performing arts class they would like to take for the year. They take other classes for specials including PE, a full year course, and Art, Library Research Skills, Tech Ed, Instructional Technology, Theater, and Health, which are all trimester-based courses. Students have many options for their music class. Included are several important links to help you decide between our course offerings and answer some frequently asked questions.

• Band at WMS
• Chorus at WMS
• Exploratory Music at WMS
• Orchestra at KMS

The following link is to select whether your child will be participating in band, chorus, general music or orchestra next year. Please be sure to complete all required sections of this form.

• 4th-5th Selection Form

Please complete the selection form by Friday, April 7, 2023. If you have any questions, please reach out to Sue D’Agostino, Vice Principal at Wilson Middle School, at sudagostino@natickps.org.

3 - UNSCENTED BABY WIPE DONATIONS FOR THE ART ROOM

The art room is in need of baby wipe donations. We use these to clean hands and tables. Any brand is welcome but please make sure they are unscented. Donations can be brought to the office. Thank you! - Ms. Curtis

4 - SAFETY REMINDER

We have systems in place to help keep our students safe and they only work when we all follow them. Just a few reminders:

• Please ring in at the front door if you are visiting on campus. Do no follow students or staff in the building if there is a transition.
• Every visitor is required to sign in and out of the building. Please bring your license with you for quicker processing.
• If you have a change in dismissal, please update PickUp Patrol. We use this data to run our dismissal system and keep track of all of our Bobcats.

Thank you in advance for doing your part to keep everyone safe at Ben Hem.

5 - ICYMI: RED SOX MVE - MOST VALUABLE EDUCATOR!

Our PTO has shared an invitation from the Red Sox Community Relations office below. Each year the Red Sox solicit feedback from local communities to help celebrate educators. If you have someone that you would like to nominate, see the flyer and follow the directions. All entries are submitted directly to Red Sox for review and selection.

Stopping the Cycle of Anger: How to Navigate Anxiety and Big Feelings with Calm and Compassion

Thursday, March 23 at 7pm via Zoom -- For parents, caregivers, educators, and community members of all ages

In this talk, author Renee Jain, MA, will offer practical, supportive techniques to address anger and other intense emotions in ourselves, our children and our teens with more understanding and less screaming. She will discuss how to uncover what's underneath these big feelings and how to empower individuals, parents, and children to shift to more positive response patterns. ASL interpretation will be provided at this event. Register and learn more about this FREE online program and more upcoming events at www.SPARKKindness.org

Check out the Ben Hem PTO Facebook page to see what is happening.

Natick Public Schools does not discriminate in employment nor its educational programs, services, and activities based on race, creed, color, age, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, physical and intellectual differences, immigration status, homeless status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Please be aware all electronic communication to and from Natick Public Schools is public record and subject to public disclosure per Massachusetts General Law Chapter 66, Section 10.

• Title I: Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title II
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title VI
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964Title IX
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
• MGL, Ch.76, Section 5: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76, Section 5