Benefield Parent Newsletter
Titans United: Together We Shine
February 22, 2021
Greetings Benefield Parents,
We hope you each took advantage of the one-on-one time with your child's teacher during Parent Teacher Conferences last week. If you did not get a chance to meet with your child's teacher last week, please reach out to them today to (re)schedule a conference.
Promotion criteria for the 2020-21 school year can be accessed by clicking on the 2020-21 GCPS K-5 Promotion Criteria link below or by referring to the image below. Please review the promotion criteria for your child's specific grade level. If your child is at risk of retention, the Parent Center can help. Our Parent Center is available to offer grade-level specific resources to support all of the grade-level standards. If you would like to schedule a Zoom session, please feel free to email Xandria McBride or contact the Parent Center at 678-518-6981.
We will host our first virtual awards recognition ceremony tomorrow, Tuesday, February 23, 2021, for grades PreK-2 and on Thursday, February 25, 2021, for grades 3-5. This is a by invitation only event that will honor students for their scholastic achievement during the first semester of school. Please join us if you receive an invitation!
Honored to be your principal,
Shonda Stevens
Congrats Science Fair Winners!
1st Place- Umesh Seelal (4th Grade)
2nd Place- Allan Moise (5th Grade)
3rd Place- Ayden Wright (5th Grade)
Congratulations to all of our winners, participants and teachers!
February Calendar of Events
February 22 - Relay For Life Hat Day Pass Sales Begin $1.00
February 22 - $1.00 Donation for Sun Sign With Loved Ones MPP
February 23 - K-2 Award Ceremony, 6 p.m. via Zoom (by invitation only)
February 24 - Curbside Pickup
February 25 - 3-5 Award Ceremony, 6 p.m. via Zoom (by invitation only)
February 26 - Wear Gold (Black Heritage Month)
February 27 - Saturday Intervention, 9:00 a.m.
Week of March 1-6, 2021: Read Across America Week
March 1 - Spring Picture Day
March 2 - Digital Learning Day
March 3 - Curbside Pickup
March 6 - Saturday Intervention, 9:00 a.m.
March 12 - Inclement Weather Makeup Day or School Holiday
March 16 - Digital Learning Day
March 18 - Literacy & Math Night featuring Harry Pottery
March 25 - 3-5 GMAS Parent Night, 6 p.m.
March 27- Saturday Intervention, 9:00 a.m.
Milestones Test Schedule
Spring Picture Day is March 1
In-Person learners will take pictures in the morning by class. Digital learners please use this link to sign up for a time in the afternoon:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d45abaf2da7ffc70-spring
Pre-Order information:
Website: mylifetouch.com
School Name: Benefield Elementary School
Picture Day ID: EVT7XPK2N
Things to Do At Home With Your Children
K-2
Encourage your child's creative side
Children can sometimes express themselves better through movement or artwork than they can in words. To encourage your child's artistic self-expression, provide a variety of materials for art projects. Give her a place to work where it's OK if she makes a mess. Expose her to creative works by others, too. You can visit an art museum's website, and watch virtual plays, concerts, and dance performances.
3-5
No-nag strategies help your child keep track of responsibilities
Nobody likes to be nagged. But kids need to be reminded of their responsibilities once in a while. Here are some no-nag solutions: Teach your child to write tasks on a to-do list in order of importance and cross them off as they are finished. You can also make a job chart that lists responsibilities when they should be done and by whom. Then you can just point to the chart. Or create a "daily reminder box" that family members can check.
Biblionasium
Benefield now has access to Biblionasium, an online platform that allows students to build a bookshelf of favorite books and log their reading. Click here for more information on how to access Biblionasium through the media catalog.
Imagine Math Classroom Contest
February is the month of love – the love of math that is!
We need every student to complete Imagine Math lessons during February. Every Monday in February, we will randomly select five classrooms that average 4+ passed math lessons for the week (Monday-Sunday) and award a $50 e-gift card. Everyone loves gift cards!
The contest is open to all Imagine Math students in PreK-5. Imagine Math classrooms must have 8+ students active each week to enter the contest.
Saturday Intervention for grades 2-5
The purpose of Saturday Intervention is to allow another opportunity for our students to complete missing assignments and for a second opportunity for those needing a second chance on graded work.
Please make sure your child brings his/her device. Students will receive their car rider number during drop-off. Students/staff will be masked and in large work, areas to ensure social distancing.
Future dates:
March 6– Intervention, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
March 27–- Saturday Intervention, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
April 17–- Saturday Intervention, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
May 1–Saturday Intervention, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Please email lydia.fortson@gcpsk12.org, should you have any questions.
Lost and Damaged Chromebooks
Please supervise your children as they use school issued technology to support their learning. Parents will be responsible for reimbursement to the school for damage to school property. This includes lost or damaged books or technology equipment such as Chromebooks.
Titan Water Bottle Sales
Yearbooks
March Book Madness
It's that time of year again for March Book Madness. We will be reading eight books and then voting on our favorites in a bracket style competition. Our titles this year include:
- We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
- I am Enough by Grace Byers
- Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o
- Lift by Minh Le
- Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away by Meg Medina
- Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
- Your Place in The Universe by Jason Chin
- You Matter by Christian Robinson
The first round of voting will begin March 15, 2021.
Safety Reminder
In order to continue safety here at Benefield, please help us at home. As students return to the building, please remember to assess your child each morning for wellness.
Safety continues to be our priority. If your child is exhibiting symptoms, please keep them home and notify the teacher via email. It is important to do a wellness assessment each morning before sending your child to school. Check for temperature and symptoms using the checklist below:
□ Fever (100.4° or higher)
□ Headache
□ Sore throat
□ Cough
□ New loss of taste or smell
□ Fatigue
□ Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
□ Congestion or runny nose
□ Muscle or body aches
□ Nausea or vomiting
□ Diarrhea
When an individual has not tested for COVID-19 and is NOT a close contact to a case. Individuals with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 will likely have at least 2 symptoms of COVID-19 illness listed above, that cannot be explained by another underlying medical condition or at least 1 of the following: Fever 100.4 or higher, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or new loss of taste or smell.
A suspected case is considered to be a positive case until medical clearance is provided by a health care provider or until they have tested negative.
Black History Month in Action!
Benefield Elementary School
Heather Tack, Assistant Principal
Melanie Singleton, Assistant Principal
Kelli O'Loughlin, Assistant Principal
Michelle Vendryes, Assistant Principal
Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/benefieldes