1 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10 - PICTURE RETAKE DAY

Coffee Pond will be here next Thursday for picture retakes. If your child was not here on our original day, they will be photographed. We are sending home forms for students that are new to Ben Hem since we had our photos done. If you wish to have the picture retaken, please send in the originals you received and email your child's teacher so that we are sure to take their picture. Sometimes our Bobcats forget.

2 - REMINDER: CLINIC SCREENING INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

All health screenings conducted in schools are required by Massachusetts Law. Screenings at Ben-Hem will begin in early November and will be ongoing throughout the school year.

Vision Screening : Vision screening is conducted for all grades K – 4. The nurse will send a referral to parents if a follow up appointment is needed with their physician.

Hearing Screening: Hearing screening is conducted for all grades K - 3. The nurse will send a referral to parents if a follow up appointment is needed with their physician.

Growth Development Screening: Height and weight screenings are conducted for students in grades 1 and 4.

Parents and legal guardians have the opportunity to request, in writing, that their child not participate in the screenings. The request must be written each year if you do not want your child to participate. Please send this letter via email or hard copy to the attention of the BenHem School Nurses: BenHemnurses@natickps.org.

3 - NO SCHOOL - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 VETERAN'S DAY

Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11. It's a holiday honoring men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces, on the anniversary of the end of World War I.

4 - EARLY RELEASE DAY FOR PARENT CONFERENCES - WEDNESDAY, NOV 16

November 16th is the next early release day to host parent conferences. Ms. Kelly will be greeting parents in the hall for those that attend in person. Please sign in and take a visitor sticker.

5 - NOVEMBER IS STRESS AWARENESS MONTH

This article from the Mayo Clinic provides us with some ideas to effectively address stress in children at school and at home. On a daily basis, Ben Hem implements many of these techniques with the support of Everyday Speech (our new social-emotional learning curriculum) and supplemental material and activities developed by teachers.

Mindfulness is an efficient way to teach your child how to manage stress. Mindfulness is often associated with meditation but there are many different ways to practice mindfulness. Developing self-care habits will help our students well into their adulthood. Here are a few resources/activities that you can do/use at home with your child/children.

Interested in more information about stress in children? Please follow this link

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

Did you know our PTO creates a school directory each year to share contact information with families that OPT-IN to the directory. Complete this form with information you want shared to be included in the 2022-2023 School Directory. This is voluntary and only information included will be published.

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