Benefield Family Newsletter
August 14, 2022
Greetings Benefield Parents/Guardians:
Thankfully the 2022-23 school year is off to a good start. We have managed to get our students in, fed, and home safely to you each day. Overall things are going well at Benefield. We have been blessed with 1,180 students who come to school eager and ready to learn each day.
We will conduct our first school-wide lockdown drill on Friday, August 19, 2022. This drill will be conducted in conjunction with our school resource officers (SRO). To prepare your child.... Students arriving late on Friday, August 19, 2022 will not be allowed to enter the building until after the drill has been conducted. To prepare your student please have a family discussion on how to be safe during a hard lock down drill. Here are some talking points for you to discuss with your student:
- During a hard lock down, teachers will secure the classroom to protect students from a threat that is inside of the school building.
- Teachers will provide an area for students to go to inside the classroom to keep them safe. During this time, there will be no talking or movement in the classroom.
- Our school resource officers will be in the building to help us complete the drill.
If you haven’t done so already, please sign up for Remind text messages to receive the most updated information from Benefield. If you have more than one child at Benefield, sign up for the grade level of your youngest child at Benefield. Remind codes are as follows:
PreK text @p-titans to 81010
Kindergarten text@ k-titans to 81010
1st grade text @1-titans to 81010
2nd grade text @2-titans to 81010
3rd grade text @3-titans to 81010
4th grade text @4-titans to 81010
5th grade text @5-titans to 81010
Thank you for your continued support of our students, teachers, and school. It continues to be an honor and privilege to serve as the principal of such an exemplary and student centered learning community.
Honored to serve as your principal,
Mrs. Shonda Gipson Stevens
Principal
https://www.gcpsk12.org/BenefieldES
Please keep reading for more important information.
Schoolwide Curriculum Night
Please join us on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, for our schoolwide Curriculum Night. Curriculum Night is an educational open house by grade, that takes place at the beginning of the school year for parents to receive critical information that will benefit their child's learning throughout the year. At Curriculum Night, you can expect teacher presentations on curriculum.
August 24, 2022
5:30 p.m. ~ ESOL Parent Meeting (Media Center)
5:30 p.m. ~ Gifted Parent Meeting (PLR)
6:00 p.m.~ Curriculum Night
School spiritwear & Kona Ice will be available.
Shine Staff Member
There is a light in all of us. Some are so bright, that they can illuminate pathways, provide guidance, and warm hearts. When someone is supported and celebrated, their light grows intensity. We are united by our mission to make a difference, fueling the success of our children and making GCPS the best it can be. Help us congratulate and celebrate our Family Outreach Liaison and SHINE Staff Member, Ms. Ana Morales. She will be officially recognized by GCPS on August 15, 2022. Together we SHINE!!!
Counselor's Corner
Ms. Julia Muhammad (PreK-1)
Ms. Carsen Harris (2-3)
Ms. Tenesha Caldwell (4-5)
Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run is so much more than running. Their tested curriculum blends physical activity with skill development, enabling girls to adapt to whatever comes their way. Girls on the Run understands the important connection between physical activity and overall emotional health. Trained volunteers guide girls through research-based lessons which creatively integrate movement in a fun and motivating way. By signing your girl up for Girls on the Run, you are giving her the opportunity to connect, grow and learn how to navigate difficult situations.
The fall season registration lottery is open through Tuesday, August 30: https://www.girlsontherunatlanta.org/Program-Registration.
Our team is meeting in person this season. Our meeting days and times are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15- 4:45, beginning the week of September 12. The program is for girls in 3rd through 5th grade.
Girls on the Run fees are on a sliding scale based on household income and household size so that every girl who wants to participate can. The program registration fee is available on a sliding scale from $0 to $225.
For more information and to register, visit https://www.girlsontherunatlanta.org/Program-Registration
The Family Center - Building Partnerships Between School and Home
The Family Center offers parents help and resources they can use to support their child at home. Ms. McBride and Ms. Morales can assist families with questions and resources throughout the school day. Research shows that involving families and communities in their local schools improves children's academic and social success. Therefore, the mission of the Family Center is to impact the academic achievement of each student by creating an environment that strengthens parental involvement and provides resources for parents.
What can the Family Center do for me?
- Build parent capacity
- Volunteer opportunities…We need you!
- Check out books, games, CDs, and more to help your child at home
- Workshops, English classes, and nutrition classes
- Help with school-related paperwork, website activities, MyPaymentsPlus
- Teach me what my child is learning
- Help me communicate with teachers
- Community resources
- Build community involvement
Play 2 Learn
Please join us as we learn to play with Play 2 Learn. We hosted our first class of the school year on, Wednesday, August 10, 2022. Classes are held every Wednesday, from 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Please get in touch with xandria.mcbride@gcpsk12.org or call 770-822-6549.
P2L focuses on building the capacity of parents to be their child’s first teacher as well as providing an opportunity for students to be in a group setting.
Caregivers bring child(ren) (ages birth to five) to a 90-minute session each week. Activities are modeled and facilitated by a certified staff member utilizing best practices for readiness skills in Communication, Language and Literacy, Cognitive Development, Social-Emotional Development, Approaches to Play, and Learning and Motor Skill Development.
Approximately 20 students are in the class and parents remain with the children for the entire session.
Family Engagement Tips
K-2
Create a routine that gets your family ready for the day
The start of a new school year is exciting, but it often means families must make a few adjustments. This year, decide on some basics for your school-year routine. Set a regular time for reading and completing assignments. Create a chart of your child's daily tasks to serve as a reminder until they become habits. Post a calendar and have everyone write down their activities. Then review it each week with your child and plan ahead.
3-5
Show your child that respect makes working together easier
Students and families have important roles to play in making the school a productive learning environment. Promoting respectful behavior is a big one. When it comes to teaching your child about respect, the best way is to demonstrate. Make an effort to be fair, honest, kind, dependable, and polite to your child. Then expect your child to do the same for you and others.
We Need You!
Meet the Teacher Day 2022
Benefield Elementary School
Heather Tack, Assistant Principal
Kelli O'Loughlin, Assistant Principal
Michelle Vendryes, Assistant Principal
Website: https://www.gcpsk12.org/benefieldes