Benfield Family Newsletter

Greetings Benfield Families!

I hope this summer newsletter finds you well, and you have been enjoying a more relaxed pace and fun-filled summer days!

With less than fifty days left before we return to school, I wanted to send an update on summer planning and happenings at Benfield. Included in this newsletter are items of interest to answer questions you may have. As I learn more details about the start of the 2021-2022 school year, I will share in another newsletter.

Summer Hours

The office is open by appointment. If you have a need to come to the school, please call (410) 222 - 6555 to set up a time to visit. The office will be open Monday - Thursday between 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Enrollment

Registration continues to be online. If you know of any children who need to enroll in school, please share this link for online registration: AACPS Registration

School Hours for 2021-2022

The Benfield instructional hours will remain the same, 9:30 a.m. - 3:55 p.m.

I hope you and your family continue to have a happy, safe summer!

Sue Myers

Principal

Email: smmyers@aacps.org

School Phone: (410) 222 – 6555

Google Voice: (302) 404 – 6898

Staffing Update

We have a few new members to our team. Join me in welcoming the following staff to Benfield:

Kristina Woo, Art

Laura Palermo, Kindergarten

Hollie Richards, First Grade

Casey Banks, Nurse

School Supply List

This year, AACPS schools were given additional funds to purchase school supplies for students in an effort to reduce the financial output for families. There will still be additional supplies that we will need parents to purchase. You can find the list here.

Benfield Elementary PTO

Benfield Elementary School has an active PTO and I would encourage you to join and be part of a great organization focused on supporting our Benfield School community.

Information about the PTO can be found on their website by clicking here.

Benfield PTO 2021-2022 Board

President - Marci Flynn

Vice President - Cara O'Brien

Secretary - Jessica Duncan

Fundraising - Beth Karsner and Elizabeth Somerset

Volunteer Coordinators - Krissy Archer, Bridgette Richburg, Martha Satterfield

Chromebook Update

For the upcoming school year, students will keep their chromebook at home as the school will have enough chromebooks accessible for all students. This is great news as the backpack load for our children will be lessened!

Please click here for an important document on caring for the chromebook over the summer.

Moving

Moving

If you are moving this summer please notify the front office. This will help us to prepare the paperwork needed when transferring to another school.

New Student Orientation - Save the Date

We will be hosting a New Student Orientation for children who are new to Benfield on September 2nd at 2:00 p.m. This will include prekindergarten, kindergarten, and 1st - 5th grade students who are new for the 2021-2022 school year as well as students who were new to Benfield during the 2020-2021 school year.

The orientation will be in person and include an overview of Benfield, time for Q&A, and a tour of the school. Following the orientation, we will also be hosting a Sneak a Peek at your Seat for all families.

More detailed information will be emailed to the families later this summer.

School Meals Service

If you are looking for a great lunch and afternoon snack, please visit Benfield Elementary School between 12:00 - 12:30 for a free meal. There are lots of goodies in the bags! You can check out the menu by clicking here: School Meals. The menu is located on the right-hand side of the web page under "What's New."

Good News: Benfield is now a PBIS School !

The AACPS Board of Education desires to have all schools trained to be a PBIS school. This past June, a team of teachers from Benfield were trained, and we will begin the year as a PBIS school. More information will be shared in the family newsletter throughout the year.

What is PBIS?

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a proactive system approach to help parents and school staff create and maintain a safe, supportive, learning environment, promote positive life skills, and recognize positive behaviors so that all children can succeed in school.

What does this mean for Benfield Elementary?

Our students at Benfield Elementary are an amazing group! We will use this training to support the Social Emotional Learning components of our curriculum. In addition, we will focus on recognizing students for positive, respectful behaviors.

Anne Arundel County Public Library Summer Reading Program

If you are looking for something fun to do with your children this summer, consider participating in the Anne Arundel County Summer Reading Program. This is a great way to have fun while reading!

Summer Reading Program

Reading List prekindergarten - 2nd grades

Reading list 3rd - 5th grades