Titan-Up Weekly
January 29, 2016
The precursor to Black History Month was created in 1926 in the United States, when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week of February to be "Negro History Week." This week was chosen because it coincided with the birthday of Abraham Lincoln on February 12 and of Frederick Douglass on February 14, both of which dates Black communities had celebrated together since the late 19th century.
The expansion of Negro History Week to Black History Month was first proposed by the leaders of the Black United Students at Kent State University in February 1969. The first celebration of the Black History Month took place at Kent State one year later, in February 1970. In 1976 as part of the United States Bicentennial, the informal expansion of Negro History Week to Black History Month was officially recognized by the U.S. government. President Gerald Ford spoke in regards to this, urging Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history."
Upcoming Calendar of Events
Monday, February 1
Faculty Book Study Club, 7:30 - 8:00 a.m., J. Robinson's Room, Ms. Bronkema
Severe Weather Tornado Drill, 9 - 10:00 a.m., Mr. Knight
Parent English Class, 9:00 - 12:00 a.m., Trailer 3669, Ms. McNally
Compact Training during Planning, Ms. Cross in ILT classrooms
Picture with the Principal, Front Lobby, 2:30 - 3:00 p.m., Mr. Knight
RBES due by 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 2
Collaboration Tuesday, 7:30 a.m.
4th & 5th Grade Book Club Meeting, Media Center, 11:30 - 12:30 p.m., Ms. Robbins
eCLASS Meeting with Stacy McKibbens during Planning, Media Center
Picture with the Principal, Front Lobby, 2:30 - 3:00 p.m., Mr. Knight
ELT Planning, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., Ms. Ashimi, PLR
GCPS New Teacher Mentor Session, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., ISC
Wednesday, February 3
Art Club, 7:30 - 8:15, Ms. Mills
Step Team, 7:30 - 8:20, Cafe', Ms. Randolph
Mr. Gaul's Math Club, 7:30 - 8:15 a.m., PLR, Ms. Ashimi
3rd Grade Intramurals, 7:30 - 8:45 a.m., Gym, Ms. Schlenker & Mr. Howard
Literacy Vertical Team Meeting, 7:45 - 8:10 a.m., PLR, Ms. Ashimi
Ms. Gilfillan's class to Special Olympics Bowling, 9:30 - 12:30
Parent English Class, 9:00 - 12:00 p.m., Trailer 3669, Ms. McNally
Alford Elementary Teachers Visit, K & 4th Grade Classrooms, All Day, Ms. Henfeld
Lego Club in Ms. Park's Room, 3:30 - 4:45, Ms. Osborne
ELT Planning, 3:30 - 5:30 pm., Ms. Ashimi, PLR
Reading Recovery Clinical Training Class, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 4
Collaboration Thursday, 7:30 a.m.
3rd Grade In-School Field Trip - Georgia Power Heat Unit, 9:30 - 1:30, Media Center
DHS Mentoring, 2:30 - 3:15 p.m., Cafe', Ms. Bronkema
Reading Recovery BTG Session, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, February 5
Benefield Singers Rehearsal, 7:45 - 8:45 a.m., Music Room, Ms. Kingston
Titan Leaders Meeting 9:10 a.m., Front Office Conference Room
Girl Scouts, Cafe', 3:15 - 5:30 p.m.
Midterm Reports go home
Book Fair begins, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 pm., Media Center, Ms. Robbins
Advance Notice Calendar of Events
Book Fair
Faculty Book Study Club, 7:30 - 8:00 a.m., J. Robinson's Room, Ms. Bronkema
Peer Leaders Meeting, 7:40 - 8:10 a.m., Media Center, Ms. Bronkema
Parent English Class, 9:00 - 12:00 p.m., Trailer 3669, Ms. McNally
Reading Recovery Awareness Session, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 9
Book Fair
Access for EL's, Grades 1 - 5
Collaboration Tuesday, 7:30 a.m.
Valentine's Day Luncheon, 10:30 a.m - 12:30 p.m., Grades K & 3
4th & 5th Grade Book Club Meeting, Media Center, 11:30 - 12:30 p.m., Ms. Robbins
Literacy Night Planning, 3:45 - 4:15 p.m., Media Center Conference Room, Ms. Henfield
ELT, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., Ms. Ashimi
Wednesday, February 10
Book Fair
Art Club, 7:30 - 8:15, Ms. Mills
Step Team, 7:30 - 8:20, Cafe', Ms. Randolph
Mr. Gaul's Math Club, 7:30 - 8:15 a.m., PLR, Ms. Ashimi
3rd Grade Intramurals, 7:30 - 8:45 a.m., Gym, Ms. Schlenker & Mr. Howard
Valentine's Day Luncheon, 10:30 a.m - 12:30 p.m., Grades 4 & 5
Parent English Class, 9:00 - 12:00 p.m., Trailer 3669, Ms. McNally
ELT, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., Ms. Ashimi
Science Club in Mr. Sweat's Room, 3:30 - 5:00 pm.m, Ms. Osborne
Reading Recovery Clinical Training Class, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, February 11
Book Fair
Junior Achievement Day for Grades 3 - 5, 9:00 - 11:45 a.m., Ms. Thomas-Lee
Valentine's Day Luncheon, 10:30 a.m - 12:30 p.m., Grades 1 & 2
DHS Mentoring, 2:30 - 3:15 p.m., Cafe', Ms. Bronkema
Reading Recovery BTG Session, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, February 12
Benefield Singers Rehearsal, 7:45 - 8:45 a.m., Music Room, Ms. Kingston
Titan Leaders Meeting 9:10 a.m., Front Office Conference Room
Book Fair ends at 6:00 p.m.
Sweetheart Dance sponsored by PTA, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Cafe'
The following BES staff members were recognized by their colleagues for having IT!
The Teachers that presented at the " Titan Up" workshops have IT! Your dedication and commitment to our families is commendable.
Mrs. Stevens has IT! For being understanding and flexible with staff members last Friday who needed to leave early due to hazardous road conditions.
Laura Faulkner has IT! The Book Club information you shared with grade level was fabulous! Thanks for always being a team player!
Susan DeReimer has IT! For always supporting second grade with your ideas as well as behaviors...especially during important observations! You Rock!
Ms. Velie and Ms. DeGrace have IT! Thanks for supporting STORI time!
Ms. Brannick has IT! Thanks for a smooth IEP meeting- your dedication to your students really shows!
Ms. Osborne has IT! Thanks for a great observation day during HOST! You and your students are awesome!
Ms. Hansford has IT! Thanks for organizing the field trip for 3rd grade!
Ms. Ashimi has IT! For always being available and willing to help everyone! :)
Ms. Mastenbrook has IT! She worked with PTA member leaders to get all their flyers and posters made, printed, and delivered.
Gretchen Hansford has IT! For arranging our 3rd grade field trip to the Aurora Theatre.
Beth Osborne has IT! For being an excellent HOST teacher and answering all of our questions.
Mike Thomas has IT! For arranging the 3rd grade Amber experiment including delivering all of the supplies and cutting up carrot slices for over 200 students.
Benita Alandu has IT! For helping us organize our field trip forms.
Ms. Hansford has IT! For organizing a great field trip to end our unit on Fairy Tale Adaptations! It was awesome!
Ms. Collins and her students have IT! They did a wonderful job modeling what a book club looks like in second grade!
Our Reading Recovery Fairies, Ms. Wooding, Ms. Merriman and Ms. Arduino have IT! They make magic happen down at the end of the second grade hall! With the wave of their wands and the very best instructional practices, not only do they make a dramatic difference for students, they are sure to put smiles on the faces of all who walk through their door. THANK YOU!
HOST teachers have IT! Thank you to the teachers and students in these classrooms for helping build and sustain a learning environment that sets the state for innovative practices in all BES classrooms! THANK YOU for your willingness to serve!
Michael Eugene has IT! He is always smiling, singing, or whistling. He does his job with pride and really lifts my mood when I am feeling down. He is an inspiration to all; that smiling is contagious!
Mrs. Culberson has IT! She is always so pleasant and helpful. Carter, Milburn, and Lowry wanted everyone to know what a gem we have in the Media Center. Thank you Mrs. Culberson!
Mrs. Lisa Vales has IT! She has been an absolute "trooper" in supporting students in their learning. She desires to know the curriculum and seeks ways to improve students' learning by utilizing Quality Plus Teaching Strategies. In addition to helping students, she uses her knowledge of managing classes to support teachers. I give a big shout out to Mrs. Lisa Vales!
Keep Calm & Celebrate Birthdays:
Fairistine Baker - 4
Contacia Cross - 11
Kristen Haley - 18
Marcus Knight - 22
Carolyn Addison - 23
Tammy Simmonds - 28
A Message from PTA -
Greetings Benefield Teachers,
Over the last few weeks information has been sent home with your students regarding Benefield's PTA. The PTA executive board is working hard to establish itself at Benefield and make our presence known to our students, teachers, and parents. As the PTA Co-President, I will admit, we need to do a better job at communicating with our teachers. We not only want to make sure we're informing you about upcoming events the PTA is sponsoring, but we also want every teacher and parent to become a member and advocate of the PTA.
Currently, we are holding a school wide membership drive that started Monday, January 25 and will run until Friday, February 5. The class with the highest percentage in membership will receive a pizza party. To track the progress of the drive we've created thermometers which are located on the wall in the main hallway leading to the front of the school. Our hope is that a competition among the classes will drive the students to go home and persuade their parents to join the PTA. For the membership drive, we have sent home membership forms for parents to complete and return to school with their $8/membership.
The PTA is also sponsoring a Valentine's dance titled the "Family Sweetheart Ball" on Friday, February 12 from 6-8 at Benefield (look for posters around school). The Valentine's dance fliers will be sent out Friday January 29 and Friday February 5. These fliers will have a coupon at the bottom for those parents who would like to pre-pay their admission to the dance.
Since the money will be coming to school by way of the students, we are asking the teachers to collect the money. By Friday, January 29 the PTA will place 2 envelopes in each teachers mailbox. One envelope will be labeled Membership Drive and the other Valentine's dance. For any membership forms received, we are asking that you put forms and money in the membership envelope. The same should happen for the Valentine's envelope. In the mailroom next to the mailbox slots will be a locked box with a slot at the top where you will be able to drop your envelopes off. When you come in the next morning you will find the envelopes in your mailboxes again.
On February 15 the PTA executive board will be in attendance at the staff meeting. We are excited to meet as many teachers as possible and to be able to tell you face to face the goals and expectations that we have set for ourselves as a PTA. We will also be taking memberships at that time as well (only $4).
We are excited about the remainder of this year and we're already looking forward to the 2016-2017 school year. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding with us as we progress and make our presence known at Benefield and in the community. Again, we look forward to meeting you all!
Best Regards,
Kira Hamilton
Benefield PTA Co-President