The Best of Bennet
January 2023
A note from our Principal:
Happy 2023 Bennet!
We are so excited for the new year! Kicking us off on the right foot, I am thrilled to announce this year’s recipients of the Manchester’s 38th Annual Martin Luther King Award!
The theme for this year’s celebration was selected by the Youth Commission and is based on the following quote by Dr. King:
“You know a lot of people don’t love themselves. And they go through life with deep and haunting emotional conflicts. So the length of life means that you must love yourself. And you know what loving yourself also means? It means that you’ve got to accept yourself.”
Congratulations to Zahara Afolabi, Michaela Cannada, Sara Duzan, and Kiarra Poteau! These fantastic sixth graders will be honored at the Martin Luther King Celebration on Tuesday evening at Manchester High School.
Bundle up,
Megan Thompson
Interim Principal
Join us in wishing Mr. Chella all the best!
Hi Bennet Families!
As you are aware, I will not be returning to Bennet Academy. It is with a heavy heart that I leave this great school and community. While I am excited for my new role [as an HR administrator in another district], I will always cherish my time in Manchester.
Thank you to all the students and families I have worked with over the years! You have all been so wonderful!
You are all in great hands with the administrative team at Bennet. Thanks again!
With appreciation!
Joe Chella
When should I keep my child home?
- Has your unvaccinated child had close contact with a known COVID positive person? Shown symptoms consistent with COVID?
- Has your child had a fever over 100* within the last 24 hours?
- Has your child been vomiting or had diarrhea in the last 24 hours?
If you answered YES to any of the above, please keep your child home and report the absence and reason on the attenance line.
Picking up early?? Here's the scoop!
- Please call ahead 5-10 minutes so we may locate your cub.
- Please come BEFORE 2:15 (before 12:45 on Wednesdays).
- Ring the Franklin doorbell (that is the main entrance that faces Main Street) and have your ID ready.
- If the time is prior to 2:15 (12:45) you may pull right up to the front door...after those hours please find parking in a designated spot or on the road as the front drive will have minibuses and special programs pickup.
FAMILY CIRCLE - One on one time with your daughter!
Beginning Wednesday, January 18 - (Formerly Mother/Daughter)
TIME: 5:30-7:30 Free one daughter/ 1 guardian
SPACE IS LIMITED REGISTRATION IS NECESSARY
Please Contact Tasha at 860-647-5215 or email at tweston@manchesterct.go
Returning and new students - are you interested?
If your child already particpates this is notice of the groups reconvening. If your child did not particpate in the fall and is interested, please reach out to the Youth Services Staff Member listed below.
GIRL'S CIRCLE - Monday, January 23 - Tasha Weston, Youth Services 860-647-5215
BOY'S COUNCIL - Monday, January 23 6th Graders - Shakir Leacock, Youth Services 860 647-5223
JOURNEY - Tuesdays: January 17 on. Do you love nature, being outside, making books birdhouses and bat -houses? Call Poppy, Youth Services 860 647-5213
Winter Activity Fun with Ms. Wollert
Does your child participate in after school clubs on Monday or Tuesday?
If your child already qualifies for the bus, they are also offered a late bus on Mondays and Tuesdays. The bus typically leaves Bennet after parent pickup, about 4:30. This bus does NOT stop at regular bus stops. Please click the bus to the right to see the attached list and talk to your child about how to walk home from the late bus stop (which may be up to a mile from home).
If you prefer to pick your child up from activities, we ask that you park on Wells Street and pick up at 4:15 at the Franklin front door.
More bus info...
Where is my child's bus?? You can now see the GPS for your student's bus! To set up the app so you can track your child's bus, please use the district code NH34.
Only students that qualify for a bus may ride that bus. If you need your student to get off a different stop on their regular bus, please send in a note with the details and we will followup with you and provide a pass for your child. Unfortunately, we are unable to authorize students to ride buses they are not assigned to, so no going home with a friend on another bus.
Bus behavior - please review with your student the importance of sitting in your seat and using quiet voices while the bus is moving. No eating is allowed on the bus. Bus behaviors will be dealt with swiftly and may include assigned seating, bus suspensions, or other disciplinary actions.
English Language Learners Update
English Language Learners have been working on crafting personal narratives in their ELA classes. The ELL staff supports them by providing vocabulary and sentence starter ideas for their narratives as well as help with proofreading and editing. So many of the stories we’ve seen are a nice reflection of their past experiences!
During January and February, each ELL student will take the LAS Links assessment. This test measures English language proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing. The students will have to be pulled from a few classes during the testing window as it is a lengthy assessment. Please reach out to Susan Redman or Helen Delacruz with any questions.
A message about happiness from Social Worker - Cheri Cavanna:
It's a new year - 2023 - The Year to BE HAPPY!
Although there will be struggles and difficult emotions, happiness is a choice - despite your situation there's always something (even if it's little) to be happy about. Every situation is not meant to drag you down, it's an opportunity to learn. So today turn your obstacles into stepping stones.
Calendar Highlights
- Early Dismissal Wednesdays through June 7 - 1:15 pm
- Martin Luther King Day January 16 - NO SCHOOL
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Martin Luther King was all about the Beloved Community, a community in which everyone is cared for, absent of poverty, hunger and hate. On Monday, and everyday, let's all work together to create a beloved community!
Here are five defining characteristics of the beloved community: (Martin Luther King)
1. Given our shared desire to be peaceful, happy, and safe, the beloved community described a practical, realistic, and achievable society.
2. In the beloved community, conflict still exists, but it is resolved peacefully, nonviolently, and without hostility, ill will, or resentment.
3. In the beloved community, we appreciate and recognize the inherent worth and value of all people, animals, and ecosystems.
4. In the beloved community, we are motivated by kindness, compassion, and love for all life. We work cooperatively to peacefully end hunger, prejudice, poverty, homelessness, environmental destruction, factory farming, and violence and injustice of all kinds.
5. In the beloved community, the means we use to create change are just as kind and compassionate as the ends we seek. Our commitment to unconditional and all-inclusive kindness and goodwill allows the beloved community to become what Dr. King called "an engine of reconciliation."
We are BETTER TOGETHER!
What's for lunch?
January Menu ~ Reminder - Breakfast and lunch are provided at no charge this year!
Don't forget!
Sending your child to school with a water bottle (marked with their name) saves many trips to the water fountain. Please water only - no flavored drinks as they bring bugs.
Nut policy
There are no nut products allowed in classrooms. There are nut-free tables in the cafeteria, so a PBJ is okay for lunch!
Baby it's cold outside!
Please be sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. We go outside nearly every day, whether to walk across campus or take a break in the courtyard. If your student needs gloves, a hat, scarf or winter coat please reach out and we wil help!
Here's all the info you need!
Has someone made you smile? Helped you out? Gone above & beyond?
Shout them out here!! Everyone needs a lift once in a while and now it's your turn to lift someone else up...tell us how someone made your day a little brighter. You can shout out a student, staff member or even a parent!
Security Guard Brett Walsh wants to give a huge shout out to Mike Silver, Charity Korb, and Jessica Walsh. Any issues that come up with students that security needs to bring up to the next level they handle it with care and compassion. It's a great team to work for and they make our job 10x easier! Throughout the day Mr. Walsh interacts with hundreds of kids and they all say how much they like talking and spending time with this team and how they always fix the problems they might be having.
Ms. Brown's 6th grade class is always quiet and polite in the hallways.
Nurse's Corner
Do you need to drop off new medications for your student? Please be sure you have the Authorization for Administration of Medicine by School Personnel signed by your doctor first. Nurses cannot administer medication without written doctor's orders.
Bennet School Nurses,
Penny Parent & Carrie Bowman
860-647-3582 (phone)
860-647-6348 (fax)
ATTENTION GRADE 6 PARENTS!!
Your student will be required to have a physical dated January 2022 or later, and proof of tdap and meningococcal vaccines in order to be cleared medically for 7th grade. If they have not already had a physical during that time frame that you have submitted to the nurse, please schedule one. It is not too early!! You can request your doctor fax the paperwork to us at 860-647-6348.
Please do not wait until summer to get this done as that is often too late to get in for an appointment prior to the start of school. You do not want your child missing their first days at a new school, or having to run around for last minute vaccines at the end of summer. Questions can be directed to Christie Michaud at 860-647-0559 or cmichaud@mpspride.org.
Christie Michaud, BSN RN
Manchester Public Schools
District Compliance Nurse
ATTENDANCE LINE
Please remember to call the attendence line before 8am @860-647-3583 if your child will be absent. Please leave your child's name, ID #, and a detailed reason for the absence (ie., fever, cough, etc.) If your child's absence is COVID related please also call the nurse @ 860-647-3582. Absences are considered unexcused if you do not report the reason.
Volunteers Needed!
Do you want to be more involved in your child's school? Join the PTSA!!
- Connect with Bennet staff, students and families.
- Build a sense of community!
- Spread JOY!
Please email b47koles@mpspride.org to learn more or to join!
News from the office:
- Picking up early? Please call ahead and have your ID ready on arrival.
- Technology assistance needed? Call or text 860-682-0607.
- Moving? Please contact the Registrar, Heidi Turner, to find out what you need to provide to update your info: b39hturn@mpspride.org or 860-647-8275
- New phone # or email? That is another reason to contact Mrs. Turner! We need to keep this info updated so you don't miss alerts, but also in case your child has an emergency!
From the Security Team:
Please be aware, as you drive through our drop off/pick up area, that students are everywhere! Students should be dropped off in designated areas. Please do not let your child exit the car on Wells Street and there is absolutely no parking or meeting students at CVS.
To enter the drop off/pick up area please enter School Street from Spruce Street and follow the traffic, exiting onto Wells Street. Staff members are stationed throughout the Bennet Campus to help. Students should be ready to exit on the building side of the vehicle for safety.
Special Programs famiies and mini buses are the only vehicles allowed to pull in front of the Franklin Building for drop-off or pick-up. No other vehicles will be allowed to access that driveway before 8:15 am or after 2:30 pm.
Late students (past 8:15) will be dropped off at the front door, ring the bell to be let in, and given a tardy pass before heading to class. Parents do not accompany late students. If the tardy is due to a doctor's appointment, please get a note from the doctor's office and the tardy will be excused.
Is there something you would like to see in the newsletter this year?
Please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Berman (cberman@mpspride.org) if you have something you think the Bennet Community would like to know about or if you have pictures or shout-outs to share. We can't promise it will make it into the newsletter, but we will make every effort to incorporate newsworthy items.
Fax-860-647-3577