Benfield Family Newsletter

August 26, 2022

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Greetings Benfield Families!


We had a wonderful day welcoming families to the Sneak-a-Peek on Thursday. Students were so excited to be back in the building, meet their teachers, and reacquaint with their friends. Thank you to everyone who visited yesterday.


I would love to capture "First Day Excitement" and post photos of our Benfield Bulldogs on the Benfield Instagram page. If you take a picture of your child(ren) and would like to share with me for the Instagram account, feel free to email the picture to me.


We are all ready and excited about the school year and cannot wait until Monday.


Sue Myers

Principal

Email: smmyers@aacps.org

School Phone: (410) 222 – 6555

Google Voice: (302) 404 – 6898

Instagram: benfieldesaacps

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Attendance Notification

Attendance Notification

This year, instead of using the attendance link on the school web page, we are asking parents to email their child's homeroom teacher and to Mrs. Gina Wortz in the front office. Gina's email address is gwortz@aacps.org.
Attendance Notification
Healthroom News

Healthroom News

We would like to welcome our new school nurse, Linda Testerman, to Benfield Elementary. Mrs. Testerman will begin later in September.


Mrs. Voisinet will continue to support students as the Health Assistant. She is at Benfield daily.


The Healthroom staff can be reached between 7:40 a.m. - 2:40 p.m. at (410) 222 - 6557.

Healthroom News
Bus Transportation

Bus Transportation

Communication

We are expecting that there will be a few challenges/delays the first few weeks of school, as there are new bus routes and stops. You can expect that buses can be a little early or late to the stop, sometimes as much as 15-20 minutes.


In addition, AACPS will be updating the Transportation Page daily and the information can be accessed by clicking here: AACPS Bus Transportation Page This is where you can find out if a bus route is cancelled for the day. In addition, AACPS will be using Connect-Ed to communicate cancellations.


The staff in the front office will also send communication, via Connect Ed, if a bus is late arriving to school. Sometimes local traffic causes delays that central office transportation is not aware of.


Exceptional Transportation Requests

Exceptional Transportation Request will not be approved/denied until late September. If you made a request for your child, you will need to make other arrangements for transportation.

Bus Transportation
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures for Car Riders

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures for Car Riders

Arrival

7:45 a.m. - 7:59 a.m. (Instruction begins at 8:00 a.m.)


Students should be able to unbuckle and get out of their seats independently. If they are not able to do this, you will need to park in the lot and walk your child to the sidewalk using the crosswalk. Parents / drivers should not get out of the car. All children need to exit the car on the sidewalk side of the road.


In order to ensure a quick arrival for all, your child should be completely ready to exit the car when you pull up. Once your car is between the stop sign (near the front doors) and Discovery Books Bin (near the media center), your child(ren) need to exit the car. Please do not wait until you pull up closer to the front of the building because this holds up others in the line.


Dismissal

2:25 p.m. - 2:35 p.m.


Staff will be handing out a paper with your child's name to put in the window within the first few weeks of school. This will help to speed up the car rider line. If you want to create a sign ahead of time, please do.

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures for Car Riders

Meals - Important Changes

Cost

There is a major change in the cafeteria this year. Students who do not qualify for free/reduced meals will have to pay for their breakfast and lunch. This is a major change as breakfast and lunches were free for all students for the past two years.


Breakfast: $1.50

Lunch: $2.75


Click here to apply for free or reduced meals, pay online, read the menu, and learn other information about School Meals.


Menu Options

Each day there will one hot meal or a cold grab and go to choose from. The cafeteria will not be selling any à la carte items, including milk.


Pin Numbers

All students getting a breakfast or lunch from the cafeteria will need to enter their student ID into the system, even if they are paying with cash. Please be sure they have their number memorized.

New School Hours

Regular Day

Arrival: 7:45 a.m.

Instruction Begins: 8:00 a.m.

Dismissal: 2:25 p.m.

Morning ECI: 8:00 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.

Afternoon ECI: 11:50 a.m. – 2:25 p.m.

* Early Dismissal Cut-off, 2:00 p.m. (early dismissal for a family need)


Two-Hour Early Dismissal

Arrival: 7:45 a.m.

Instruction Begins: 8:00 a.m.

Dismissal: 12:25 p.m.

Morning ECI: 8:00 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.

No Afternoon ECI

* Early Dismissal Cut-off, 12:00 p.m. (early dismissal for a family need)


Two-Hour Late Arrival

Arrival: 9:45 a.m.

Instruction Begins: 10:00 a.m.

Dismissal: 2:25 p.m.

No Morning ECI

Afternoon ECI: 11:50 a.m. – 2:25 p.m.

* Early Dismissal Cut-off, 2:00 p.m. (early dismissal for a family need)

Student Agenda Book

All students in 1st - 5th grades will receive an agenda book. At the front of the agenda, we have information that is useful to parents. A copy of this family guide can be found here. This is especially important for ECI, Prekindergarten, and Kindergarten families because those students do not get an agenda book.

Mark Your Calendars

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PTO Updates

2022-2023 PTO Board

President - Beth Karsner and Elizabeth Somerset

Vice President - Cara O'Brien

Secretary - Blakeley Fitzpatrick

Treasurer-Kevin Camponeschi

Fundraising - Kristy Michel and Katherine Sprinkel

Volunteer Coordinators - Krissy Archer, Bridgette Richburg, Martha Satterfield


Adult Social, October 22nd at Earleigh Heights Fire Company

Our Adult Social Chairs are currently looking for additional committee members to help with this event. If interested, please contact: Jillian Beam at jrbeam128@gmail.com


Looking for Volunteers:

The PTO is currently looking for two key positions for the 5th grade class for the 2022/2023 School Year:


5th Grade Committee Chairperson: Chairperson is responsible for the coordination of the events and coordinating with the team of supporting volunteers. Events at the end of the school year for the 5th grade class. (This position can be co-chaired)

PTO will also be looking for committee volunteers to assist with the planning, set up and execution of various 5th grade events and efforts in support of the promotion and end of the year activities.


School Store Chairperson: Order supplies and staff school store once a week in support of 5th grade ceremonies. Organize volunteers to staff the school store once a week. (This position can be co-chaired).


If interested, please contact Martha Satterfield, PTO Volunteer Coordination at Marthasatterfield@gmail.com.

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