Benefield Parent Newsletter
December 2019
FINISH STRONG!
Greetings BES Parents & Guardians-
It's hard to believe that in just a few weeks the first half of the 2019-20 school year will be over. I cannot begin to tell you how proud we are at Benefield of the work your child does each and every day.
The excitement of the season often makes it hard for them to focus on learning. I want you to take this opportunity to partner with us by encouraging your child to FINISH STRONG. Like us, our little ones are anxious and ready for the holidays.
As we FINISH STRONG, please help us finish strong by doing the following:
- Reminding your child about the importance of making good choices.
- Ensuring your child arrives on time every day for school, ready to learn.
Parents & Guardians, we are committed to providing bell-to-bell instruction until Thursday, December 20, 3:15 p.m. and look forward to seeing all of our students each day.
Proud to be your principal,
Mrs. Stevens
#teambenefield
Thank you for taking the time to provide helpful feedback via the Parent Perception Surveys. Please return all surveys even if you were not able to complete the survey. You may complete the RBES Perception Surveys via the Parent Portal. Your feedback is valued and greatly appreciated.
UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS
December 5: STEAM Night, 6-8 p.m.
December 7: Breakfast with Santa's Helpers, 9-11
December 9 & 10: Photos with Santa, $5.00
December 12 - 17: District Assessments
December 15: Grading Period Ends
December 19: Winter Concert, 6:00 pm - BES Gym
December 20: Winter Parties*
December 21-January 2: Winter Break
January 12: Report Cards go home
* Celebrations are designated for Benefield Elementary students only. Older and/or younger siblings can not attend celebrations. If you are asked to donate a snack or refreshment, please only send in clear liquids such as Sprite or water. (No red punch or gum, please.)
Digital Learning Days
Gwinnett County Public Schools’ (GCPS) 2019-20 school calendar includes two make up days to address school days missed due to inclement weather. In addition to these days, GCPS also has the option of using Digital Learning Days to make up days missed due to inclement weather. Should a decision be made to cancel school, students, parents, and staff will be notified of the closing and if the day is a Digital Learning Day. Use the following link to read more:
http://publish.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps/home/public/about/eclass/content/eclass-digital-learning-day
Relay for Life T-Shirts are on sale until December 19. To purchase a shirt, please use mypaymentsplus.com
The flu season has begun and Georgia is experiencing higher levels of flu than anticipated for this time of year. Experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend an annual flu vaccine as the first and best way to protect against influenza. And, although the flu shot can't prevent every case of flu, it can protect you from more severe illness. It’s not too late to get a flu shot; so consider getting a shot for yourself and your family members, especially those with asthma and other chronic illnesses. Health officials encourage families to take precautions to limit the spread of illness, including washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home and keeping ill children home when flu-like and other cold symptoms appear.
If your child has flu-like symptoms, please contact your physician or health clinic for recommendations. The flu may last 7-10 days. If your child has a fever, they must be kept home. They must be fever-free for 24 hours without medication prior to returning to school. Please refer to this Healthy Habits link for tips on flu prevention. If you have questions about the flu or flu prevention, you may also contact the Gwinnett County Health Department at 770-339-4260.
We appreciate your efforts in helping us keep our students and staff well and healthy!
MESSAGE FROM THE CLINIC
Thank you for all you do to support Benefield Elementary. The clinic would appreciate any of the following items:
Clinic Wish List
3 oz cups
2 boxes sandwich/snack size zip lock bags
2 boxes of Band Aids (Latex Free)
2 Boxes of Tissues
1 Saline Eye Wash
Scent Free Baby Wipes
Cotton Balls
***Donation of New Undergarments
for Boys & Girls***
K – 2 grades
In the case of inclement weather, tune in to WSB Channel 2 for the latest updates on weather and school closings.
Close the distance and get your child's attention
- If you find yourself yelling instructions repeatedly to get your child to do as you ask, the problem could be the physical distance between you. When giving directions to your child, stop what you're doing and walk over to him. When you get close, you can use eye contact and facial expressions to get his attention. You'll save time…and your vocal cords.
http://niswc.com/15kPC326428
Build your child's powers of mental math
- Here's a way to help your child practice doing addition and subtraction in her head. Start by giving her four single-digit numbers to add together. Pause after you say each number to give her enough time to add. When she can do that, give her four double-digit numbers, also spaced out one at a time. Next, give four numbers all at once. When she's a pro, you can move on to giving her five, six or more numbers.
http://niswc.com/15kQC326428
Learn Math by Baking Holiday Treats
Help your child learn to read recipes (reinforces following step by step instructions and math skills) as you bake. Take your child to the grocery store and teach her to estimate the cost of items, compare prices and weigh produce on the scale. Choose recipes from other countries to explore international holiday customs!