Bennett Bear Business Newsletter
Week of March 29, 2021
McKinney ISD Bad Weather Days - Update
McKinney ISD will seek waivers from the Texas Education Agency for instructional days impacted by the recent winter storm. It is anticipated that these waivers will be granted. At this time, McKinney ISD is expected to only have to make up one Bad Weather Day. The district will follow the tradition of utilizing the second Bad Weather Day first on April 26. The first Bad Weather Day, April 2, is Good Friday and will continue to be a staff and student holiday assuming we do not have any additional days canceled as a result of inclement weather.
April 2 – Staff and Student Holiday (unless we experience additional bad weather and cancel school)
April 26 – Bad Weather Make-Up Day (regular school day)
We will continue to provide updates throughout this spring on events impacted by COVID and the recent inclement weather. We appreciate your ongoing support.
Our Bennett PTO Wants YOU
Join Our Bennett PTO Board for 2021-2022 - Nomination Forms Due Tuesday, March 30th
Technology Safety Update from Bennett Learning Commons
Last week, Mrs. Stallbaumer, our campus Media Resource Specialist, spoke with 2nd-5th grade students about acceptable use of their MISD issued laptop. The goal of this talk was to educate students about safe practices.
Students were reminded that MISD devices are not to be used for personal use, but for school purposes. This includes creating Zoom sessions to hang out with friends, sharing gaming logins and passwords via Google Slides and Docs, using Google Slides and Docs as a way to pass notes or chat during class or at home, and creating shared Google Slides and Docs.
Collaboration on Google Docs and Slides should be for school project purposes under the direction of their teachers and not for personal use. Additionally, please help us make sure that students do not have a personal Gmail on their MISD laptop, as personal accounts cause issues with our testing platforms and content filter.
Should you have questions, please email Mrs. Stallbaumer at astallbaumer@mckinneyisd.net.
Thank you for all your support!
Bennett's Closed Campus to All Visitors & Volunteers for STAAR - April 5-9
STAAR Testing Days & Tips
McKinney ISD Early Voting OPENS at Bennett - April 19th-27th
McKinney ISD 2021 Upcoming Elections
Dear Amazing Bennett Parents,
McKinney ISD is holding an important election this spring that contains four ballot items that will impact every student in the district. The link below provides complete information and FAQs about each of the election items. We encourage you to learn about each item and to cast your vote!
Click here to learn more about the MISD 2021 Election!
Sincerely,
MISD Communications
MISD Attendance Credit Election Information
MISD Tax Rate Election Information
MISD School Building Bond Election Information
MISD Technology Bond Information
Important Changes to MISD STAAR Testing
The state of Texas will transition to fully online state assessments by the 2022-23 school year, and McKinney ISD is preparing staff, students and families for this change in two phases.
Phase 1 will take place during the current 2020–2021 school year. Students will take their Math and Science assessments online in the spring of 2021—with the exception of 5th grade Math. (See links below.)
Click here to view the 2020-21 Phase 1 plan for 3rd – 5th Grade.
Click here to view the 2020-21 Phase 1 plan for 6th – 8th Grade.
Click here to view the 2020-21 Phase 1 plan for 9th – 11th Grade.
Phase 2 will take place during the 2021–2022 school year. In Phase 2, students will take Math, Science, Reading Language Arts and Social Studies tests online.
The district will work closely with our MISD campuses to ensure that staff and students are confident with the online testing platform and tools before the Phase 1 online tests this spring (2021). Online learning that has taken place over the past year has provided our students and teachers with experience that will support this transition to online assessment. Please note that students who receive testing accommodations will receive those accommodations in both paper and online formats.
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires that state assessments be given in a secure environment, and they cannot be administered remotely. Therefore, all students are encouraged to report to campus on their assigned testing date to take their state assessment(s).
MISD campuses will continue to follow local health guidelines and procedures for social distancing to the extent possible during testing.
Your child’s campus will share more information with you as we approach the testing dates, but if you would like to explore more details about the state assessment changes, please refer to these resources: https://tinyurl.com/MISDtests. If you have questions, please contact your campus principal.
Sincerely,
McKinney ISD
UPDATED MISD School Calendar - 2020-2021
Bennett Enrollment Survey - What's Your Plan for the 2021-2022 School Year?
Our Bennett staff is eagerly working to plan for the 2021-2022 school year, and we need your help. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey below. Your time, help, and information will assist us in planning for a successful year for our BEARS.
We need to hear from each Bennett family in order to plan for our campus, as well as follow up with you over the coming months if your plans are uncertain. Please complete the survey link by Saturday, May 1, 2021. If you have multiple students, be sure to list them all on this survey. You will only need to send in one survey per family.
In July, the guardian listed as the primary contact on your student's record will receive an email from noreplyregistration@powerschool.com. This email will contain a unique code and instructions on how to register your student for the upcoming school year.
If you have any questions, please contact our Bennett registrar, Susan Jakobsen, at sjakobsen@mckinneyisd.net or 469-302-5489.
Proud to be a BEAR,
Bennett Staff
March Parent Lunch Visitor Sign Up
March Breakfast Menu
March Lunch Menu
Notes from Christie Thompson, Bennett Counselor
Information from Nurse Tiffany
Pack Assorted Colors For Kids - PACK Week
Specials Team - April Newsletter
April Parent Lunch Visitor Sign Up
April Breakfast Menu
April Lunch Menu
FREE Breakfast & Lunch for All MISD Students for 2020-2021 School Year
Upcoming Events for our BEARS
March Events for our BEARS
Monday, March 29th:
Creed Lunch - 10:30AM
Tuesday, March 30th:
PTO Board Nomination Forms Due for 2021-2022
April Events for our BEARS
Thursday, April 1st:
PTO Yearbook Cost Increases to $40 + Tax
Friday, April 2nd:
*Staff & Student Holiday
*NO School for Students & Staff
*World Autism Awareness Day
Monday, April 5th - Friday, April 9th:
*Closed Campus to ALL Visitors & Volunteers for 4th Grade STAAR Writing
*Assistant Principal Appreciation Week
*National School Librarians Week
Monday, April 5th:
*No 3rd Grade Alpha Today
*Closed Campus to Visitors & Volunteers
Tuesday, April 6th:
*4th Grade STAAR Writing Test
*Closed Campus to Visitors & Volunteers
*Librarian Appreciation Day
Wednesday, April 7th:
*Closed Campus to Visitors & Volunteers
*4th Grade STAAR Writing Make-Up Day
*3rd Grade Alpha
*Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
Thursday, April 8th:
*Closed Campus to Visitors & Volunteers
*4th Grade STAAR Writing Make-Up Day
*3rd Grade Alpha
Friday, April 9th:
*Closed Campus to Visitors & Volunteers
*4th Grade STAAR Writing Make-Up Day
*3rd Grade Alpha
Monday, April 12th:
*Asynchronous Learning At-Home for Students & Teacher Work Day
*Spring MAP Testing Window Opens
Tuesday, April 13th:
PTO Sponsored General Meeting, Board Elections, & Family Game Night - 6:30PM
Friday, April 16th:
PTO Sponsored Variety Show - Virtually - 6:00PM
Saturday, April 17th:
3rd-5th Grade Alpha Make-Up Testing
Monday, April 19th - Friday, April 23rd:
P.AC.K. Week - Pack Assorted Colors For Kids
MISD Bond Election - Early Voting - Monday, April 19th - Tuesday, April 27th:
Monday, April 19th:
*P.A.C.K. Yellow & Orange Foods Day
*Spring MAP Fluency Reading Window Opens for K-2
*Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections
Tuesday, April 20th:
*P.A.C.K. White, Tan, & Brown Foods Day
*Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections
Wednesday, April 21st:
*P.A.C.K. Red Foods Day
*Progress Reports Go Home
*Secretary & Administrative Assistants Day
*Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections
Thursday, April 22nd:
*P.A.C.K. Blue & Purple Foods Day
*Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections
Friday, April 23rd:
*P.A.C.K. Green Foods Day
*Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections
Saturday, April 24th:
Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections
Sunday, April 25th:
Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections
Monday, April 26th:
*Bad Weather Make-Up Day
*School Day for Students & Staff
*Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections
Tuesday, April 27th:
*School Board Driver Appreciation Day
*Early Voting Open for MISD Bond Elections
Wednesday, April 28th:
PTO Sponsored Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at Bennett - 10:30AM-1:30PM - During Lunches
Friday, April 30th:
Friday Live - 2:15PM - Virtually
MISD Approves 2021-2022 School District Calendar
March & April Birthdays
March Birthdays
30 - June
31 - Isaiah, JJ
April Birthdays
1 - Vildan
4 - Drew
5 - Haley
6 - Cici, Kaylee
7 - Adam, Cameron, McKenna
8 - Hazel, Claire
9 - Jonah, Alanna
10 - Ms. Bankson - STC Aide
11 - Tristan, Alaina
12 - Cristian
13 - Liam
14 - Evan
15 - JayAna, Lyla, Ella, Mr. Khreish - Resource Teacher
17 - Maili
18 - Kambria, Anna
19 - Kinley, Hailey
20 - Braden
21 - Yazmeen, Beckett
23 - Ithiel
24- Camden
25 - Georgia, Kaleb, Graeson
26 - Helene, Sarah
27 - Zayd, Jaxton, Carly, Benicio, Henry, Mrs. Scheidhauer - Speech Teacher
28 - Kareem, Mrs. Woods - Dyslexia, Mrs. Martin - 4th Grade Teacher, Mrs. Scales - Clerical Aide
29 - Jase, Kendrick, Rylee, Adalynn
30 - Georgia, Connor, Jack, Rhyan