The Bear Business Weekly Newsletter
week of November 28, 2023
A message from Ms. Halpin
We have a very exciting (and busy!) 19 days between our breaks! We will have our Campus Spelling Bee, MAP testing, Cogat testing for Kindergarten, our 3rd-5th Fine Arts Night, a Choir concert, our 3rd grade play, Bennett Live, a Holiday sing-along, and Grade Level Winter parties. We are all looking forward to seeing our students shine!
Our school is hosting a food drive for our Bennett Community. Grade levels will put together baskets for families. Please see the flier below from Ms. Thompson to see what we will be collecting.
The Halpins host our Thanksgiving dinner for my side of the family each year. I will be busy next week making our traditional Thanksgiving favorites and homemade crescent rolls.I hope the week brings a slower pace and some time for rest & relaxation! I wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Proud to be a BEAR,
-Kassie Halpin
Principal, Bennett Elementary
Attendance Matters!
Bennett was #1 this month with our daily attendance rates! We appreciate our families for ensuring your students are at school each day! While we are still not at our goal of 97%, we are very close!
When you enter the Bennett office you will also see our new attendance board! This board will provide information on our attendance to our school community and remind us the importance of being at school.
Webinar about Grief
Subject: Grief During the Holidays, Friday, December 01, 2023 Live Interactive Webinar
11:00 AM CST - 12:00 PM CST
https://journeyofhope.ce-go.com/grief-during-the-holidays
Campus Safety
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
Dismissal Options @ Bennett for the 2023-24 school year
Parents/Guardians/Grown-ups may not meet their child on campus and have them meet at the Bike Racks or at the front door. For safety reasons, anyone coming on campus MUST join the parent walk-up line OR be in a vehicle utilizing a designated carpool lane.
Students should NEVER cross Coronado Drive or Round Hill Drive to meet a vehicle. Anyone crossing the street should utilize our designated cross walks.
Staff will not allow students to cross into the parking lot to meet a vehicle.
What if I need to change how my student is going home?
Example: my child is a front carpool rider everyday. Their sibling is ill and I need them to walk home. I would complete the form to notify the school.
Absences, Early Check-outs, and Tardies
New way to submit an absence note!!
If your student attends a doctor appointment, please continue to send in the paper note.
You may continue to send in a paper note to the office in lieu of the GOOGLE FORM.
Grade Level Newsletters
School-Wide Events
Bennett Live! Dates this year
Specials Schedule on Bennett Live! days
Spelling Bee Information
The Classroom Spelling Bees will be held the week of November 6th-10th. The top two finalists from each Classroom Bee will advance to the Bennett Spelling Bee.
The Bennett School Junior Bee (grades 2 & 3) will be held on Monday, December 4th, at 8:15am.
The Bennett School Bee (grades 4 & 5) will be held on Wednesday, December 6th, at 8:15am in the Bennett Cafeteria.
The McKinney ISD Spelling Bee, for the top 2 winners in the Bennett School Bee, will be on Thursday, January 11 at Faubion Middle School. The top winners from the District Bee will advance to the Collin County Bee, with a TBD date and time.
Safety Patrol Schedule
Our safety patrol students will assist with opening vehicle doors and closing them.
week of 11/27 - Team 2
week of 12/4 - Team 1
week of 12/11 - Team 2
week of 12/18 - Team 1
Make-up class
Recurring Weekly Events at Bennett
Choir for 4th & 5th grade students
Begins September 20
Wednesday mornings at 7:15am in the Music Room!Running Club 2nd - 5th grade students
Friday mornings at 7:10am
Meet in the Gym
**we will run inside the gym if there is inclement weather (cold or rain)
upcoming during the next 2 weeks!
REMINDER: we do not have school November 20 - 24 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
November 27 (Monday)
-3rd grade Alpha will not meet until January
- MAP Reading testing (teacher will let you know the day for your student)
- Holiday basket Drive begins - see flier
November 28 (Tuesday)
- MAP Reading testing (teacher will let you know the day for your student)- 8:15 - Bennett Live! (Parents of students receiving an award are invited to attend)
- Chess Wizards @ 3:15pm for registered students - Last One!
November 29 (Wednesday)
- MAP Reading testing (teacher will let you know the day for your student)
- Choir @7:15 for 4th & 5th grade students
November 30 (Thursday)
- MAP Reading testing (teacher will let you know the day for your student)
-1st & 2nd grade ALPHA will not meet until January
-4th & 5th grade Alpha will not meet until January
December 1 (Friday)
- MAP Reading testing (teacher will let you know the day for your student)
- 3rd grade Universal Screener assessment for MISD Gifted & Talented program
- 4th & 5th grade Alpha will not meet until January
- Running Club @ 7:15 for 2nd - 5th grade students
- Fire Drill today - weather permitting
December 4 (Monday)
- 3rd grade ALPHA will not meet until January
- MAP Math testing (teacher will let you know the day for your student)
- Holiday basket drive continues - see flier
- 8:15am - 2nd & 3rd grade spelling bee (parent/guardians of students competing are invited to attend)
December 5 (Tuesday)
- MAP Math testing (teacher will let you know the day for your student)
- Kindergarten CoGAT testing Day 1
- PTO Spirit Night: Jersey Mikes!
December 6 (Wednesday)
- MAP Math testing (teacher will let you know the day for your student)
- Choir @7:15 for 4th & 5th grade students
- 8:15am - 4th & 5th grade spelling bee (parent/guardians of students competing are invited to attend)
- 4th will have specials at 1:20pm today (to accommodate the spelling bee)
- 3rd grade will have specials at 8:15am today (to accommodate the spelling bee)
December 7 (Thursday)
- MAP Math testing (teacher will let you know the day for your student)
- 1st & 2nd grade ALPHA will not meet until January
- 4th & 5th grade ALPHA will not meet until January
- Kindergarten CoGAT testing Day 2
- 4pm-6pm - Special Education job fair @ CEC
- 5:30 - 3rd grade presents "Flakes" in the Bennett cafeteria
- 6:30 - Bennett Choir concert
- 5:30-7:00 - 3rd, 4th, 5th art posted in the hallway for a "come & go gallery walk"
December 8 (Friday)
- MAP Math testing (teacher will let you know the day for your student)
- 4th & 5th grade choir field trip to Retirement home to perform songs from concert
- 4th & 5th grade ALPHA will not meet until January
7:15am - Running Club
Information from the Bennett Cafeteria
November Breakfast Menu
November Lunch Menu
How to Add money to your student's lunch account
Make checks payable to McKinney ISD
Breakfast & Lunch costs
Information from the Bennett Clinic
Information from the Bennett Bear Learning Commons
Information from MISD Library Services
Complete your background check!
A background check can take up to 2 weeks, so you want to have it completed. We will have turn you away from helping on campus, Watch Dog, or a Field Trip if your background has not been completed.
Join the Bennett PTO!
$15 to help pay for class parties!
Order your 23/24 yearbook!
Important Dates for Our Watch Dogs!
WatchDog registration is open for the Fall semester! You may sign up to be a WatchDog until September 11. Once the sign up closes, you will need to wait until the Spring semester for the next opportunity.
WatchDogs will serve for 1/2 day AM or 1/2 day PM.
AM 7:30-11:30am
PM 11:15-3:15pm
MISD Gifted and Talented Information (ALPHA program)
Alpha teacher contact information
Alpha Testing Dates 23/24
Important Information from McKinney ISD
MISD Special Education Job Fair
When: December 7th,2024 from 4-6pm
Where: CEC (South end of the MISD stadium)
MISD will be interview on the spot looking for immediate placements.
Our crossing guards are Ms. Betty and Ms. Cindy!
Previous Editions of the Bear Business Newsletter
week of November 20 - Thanksgiving holiday
About Us
Kassie Halpin, Principal (R)
Dr. Anita Tillson, Assistant Principal (L)
Email: khalpin@mckinneyisd.net
Website: schools.mckinneyisd.net/Bennett
Location: 7760 Coronado Drive, McKinney, TX, USA
Phone: 469-302-5400
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MISDBennett
Twitter: @BennettBears