Benninghoven Family Newsletter
November 2019
Vision: A place where everyone pursues their greatness.
Mission: A community coming together for our kids.
November
Nov. 1 PTA Carnival, Lettering Club 3:30- 4:00
Nov. 4 2nd Gr. Tutoring 3:15 - 4:15
Nov. 6 Mathletics @ Benninghoven
Nov. 7 SMNW Area Choral Fest 7:00, Art Club 3:15- 4:00, 2nd Gr. Tutoring 3:15-415
Nov. 11 Veteran's Day Assembly, 2nd Gr. Tutoring 3:15-4:15, Skating Party 6:00- 8:00
Nov. 13 Fall picture retakes
Nov. 14 2nd Gr. Tutoring 3:15-4:15
Nov. 18 2nd Gr. Tutoring 3:15-4:15
Nov. 20 Project Preschool in PE 8:30- 9:00
Nov. 21 Student Council 3:15-4, 2nd Gr. Tutoring 3:15-4:15
Nov. 24 Staff Appreciation - Pies!
Nov. 25- 29 No School all grades
December
Dec. 2 2nd Gr. Tutoring 3:15-4:15
Dec. 4 Mathletics @ Broken Arrow
Dec. 5 2nd Gr. Tutoring 3:15-4:15, Art Club 3:10-4:00
Dec. 6 Spelling Bee Gr. 4-6, TrailRidge Elem. Tour 1:00, Lettering Club 3:10-4
Dec. 9 2nd Gr. Tutoring 3:15-4:15
Dec.10 Choir Caroling 6-7pm
Dec.12 2nd Gr. Tutoring 3:15-4:15 , Student Council 3:15 - 4:15
Dec. 13 4th Gr. Market Day 2:00
Dec.16 2nd. Gr. Tutoring 3:15-4:15
Dec. 19 2nd Gr. Tutoring 3:15-4:15, Choir Holiday Concert
Dec. 20 Staff Appreciation - Holiday Cookies
Dec. 23-Jan. 3 No School all grades
From the Principal
The recent weather has got us all feeling the fall vibes, and maybe even looking ahead to winter. Our Knights staff would like to thank all of you for your participation in our Halloween festivities this week! We appreciate your understanding in regard to updated policies, and your patience as we worked to get everyone in and out of the building in an organized fashion. We are grateful to have so many families that attended our fall parties and ensured that all students had a fun day.
Last week we wrapped up our United Way campaign for the year. Students donated their change in jars labeled with staff member groups, and the groups that raised the most money will be receiving pies in the face! Our first and fourth grade teachers will be receiving pies soon! Thank you for supporting this community cause.
There is a whole lot going on this fall season and we hope to see you here at school when you can make it. Our annual Veteran's Day ceremony is coming up, as well as Mathletics events, musical events, and a Skating Party. Remember that there is no school Nov. 25-29 in observance of Thanksgiving. Even with all the activity and busyness this time of year, we hope you have a little time to think of all the things there are to be grateful for, and know that our Knights team is grateful for your partnership.
Take care everyone,
Dr. Gonser
Follow us on Twitter @BHknights512
Use #uKnighted512 or #Wild4Benninghoven
Golden Ticket Award Winners!
Mustangs & Milkshakes for being leaders!
They used our CARES traits.
Food Service
Nutrition Information
Did you know some ways you can help encourage healthy meals for your student?
- Explore – Encourage your child to try new foods at home and school.
- Encourage breakfast – Breakfast fuels learning. School Breakfast is available at all schools. No advance registration necessary! All students are welcome every day!
- Know the options – Schools offer a variety of selections at meals. Talk with your child about healthy choices.
- Encourage good nutrition – Encourage your child to take and eat the fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat milk offered in school meals.
- Taste for yourself – Take time to visit your child at school and enjoy a nutritious school meal.
- Be a healthy role model – Eat a wide variety of healthy foods with your children.
- Don’t forget – if your child receives free or reduced meals, they are eligible for one breakfast and one lunch per day as part of this benefit. All breakfast and lunch meal choices are available for all students regardless of eligibility status.
Menus
The school breakfast menus, lunch menus, and other nutrition information are available on the district’s website at https://www.smsd.org/about/departments/food-service
We Care, I Can Food Drive
Schools across the district will kick off the Shawnee Mission School District’s “We Care, I Can" food drive this week. The campaign will run Nov. 4 – 8. Contributions to the district wide food drive support the Johnson County Christmas Bureau, which helps local families in need. At Benninghoven, we will have a table by the Knight in the main hall to collect donations. Thanks in advance for any support you are able to provide to this good cause.
From the PTA
Upcoming PTA Events
November 1—Carnival: Our annual fall carnival is Friday, November 1 from 6-8 pm. Join us for food, games, inflatables, a photo booth, the famous haunted hallway, and more! Entry is just $5 for kids and adults are free! Come join in the fun!
November 11—Veteran’s Day: Our annual Veteran's Day reception and assembly will be on Monday, November 11. The reception begins at 8:30 and the assembly is at 9:00. During the week prior, we will hold our candy drive to benefit Operation Gratitude. Students may bring photos of veterans to display on our honor wall, and classes will be working on artwork to decorate our school. All Benninghoven students are encouraged to invite special veterans in their lives - parents, grandparents, friends, neighbors, etc. to our reception and assembly on November 11. Please see the PTA website for more details, ways you can help, and an invitation to be used to invite veterans to celebrate with us.
November 11—Skating Party: Join us at Skate City from 6-8 pm for our second skating party of the year! Our friends from APEX will be joining us, so don't forget to stop by and say hello! We will also be giving away one of Skippy's babies, a Golden Skate trophy, and a big bag-o-candy to the classroom with the highest attendance, so grab a classmate and come on down! Students who bring a canned good item receive a free Pepsi!
November 13—Picture Retakes: Not happy with the pictures that came home? You can get picture retakes! Just return the original picture package to the photographer, and they will produce the same package that was originally ordered using the retake photo. New picture packages will be delivered to the school and will come home with your student.
November 15—5th Grade Science Enrichment: We could still use a few more adults volunteers for the rat dissection. The more adults, the smaller the groups of students, which leads to more hands-on time. You do not need to be an MVP to volunteer for this activity. Sign-up on the PTA website.
November 20—Sneak-a-Peek to Kindergarten: Have a 3-5 year-old at home? They are invited to come to Benninghoven at 8:30 am for a sneak-a-peek to PE. Ms. Kemp will have some fun activities for them to participate in! Please see the RSVP link on the PTA website and share this with friends and neighbors who don’t yet have kids at Benninghoven. We rely on word of mouth to reach future Benninghoven families!
November 22—Staff Appreciation Thanksgiving Pies: Back by popular demand---pies for teachers and staff! Through your generosity, we are able to provide pies to all 70 of our staff members! Homemade or store-bought...it doesn’t matter! ALL are appreciated! Please consider contributing to this holiday tradition at Benninghoven! The Sign-up can be found on the PTA website or the links below.
November Pies https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e49aba92ba5f94-provided9
December Cookies https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0e49aba92ba5f94-staff12
Memberships
There is still time to join your Benninghoven PTA! Memberships are just $9 and are an important way to show your support for and commitment to our school community. You can complete your membership quickly and easily ONLINE through MemberHub. See the link on our PTA website and join today!
Watch D.O.G.S.
WatchDOGS is an initiative of the National Center for Fathering and is aimed at providing positive male role models for students. WatchDOGS are fathers, uncles, grandfathers, and other father figures who spend one or more days volunteering in our school by helping with arrival or dismissal, monitoring in the lunch room, helping in the classroom, working with groups of students, and hanging out at recess. Volunteering as a WatchDOG is a great way to spend time at school with your student! WatchDOGS may volunteer up to once per month per student and may choose either a morning or an afternoon shift. Sign up on the PTA website (click on the WatchDOGS logo at the top.)
Reflections Art Winners
Congratulations to the Reflections Art Winners! Their artwork will go to SMSD on Monday, November 4th for district judging.
- Nella Olberding (K)
- Vera Roos (4th)
- Luke Chalfie (6th)
Certificate of Merit Grace Chalfie (4th)
Directory
News from the Nurse
Illness Policy
Illness while at school
If a student becomes ill at school, they must come to the nurse. A parent/guardian must be contacted before students can leave the building. It is important to keep phone numbers updated so you may be reached in the event of an emergency.
To protect your student and prevent the spread of disease, please keep your student home when any of the following conditions are present:
- Temperature of 100 degrees or greater
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Severe sore throat or pain with swallowing
- Severe headache
- Severe cough
- Undiagnosed rash or skin lesions or sores that are weeping or draining
- Live head lice
- Any suspected or doctor-diagnosed contagious disease
Students may return to school when they have been free from fever (without medication), vomiting, or diarrhea for 24 hours.
Students should be checked by the school nurse after head lice treatment before returning to class.
If in doubt about sending your child to school, contact the school nurse or your child's doctor.
Enfermedad en la escuela
Si un estudiante se enferma en la escuela, debe acudir a la enfermera. Se debe contactar a un padre / tutor antes de que los estudiantes puedan salir del edificio. Es importante mantener los números de teléfono actualizados para que puedan contactarlo en caso de una emergencia.
Para proteger a su estudiante y prevenir la propagación de enfermedades, mantenga a su estudiante en casa cuando se presente alguna de las siguientes condiciones:
- Temperatura de 100 grados o más.
- Vómitos
- Diarrea
- Dolor de garganta severo o dolor al tragar
- Dolor de cabeza intenso
- Tos severa
- Erupción no diagnosticada o lesiones en la piel o llagas que sale liquido o drenando
- Piojos vivos
- Cualquier enfermedad contagiosa sospechada o diagnosticada por el médico.
Los estudiantes pueden regresar a la escuela cuando hayan estado sin fiebre, vómitos o diarrea,(sin medicamentos) durante 24 horas..
Los estudiantes deben ser revisados por la enfermera de la escuela después del tratamiento de piojos antes de regresar a clase.
Si tiene dudas acerca de enviar a su hijo a la escuela, comuníquese con la enfermera de la escuela o con el médico de su hijo.
Updated SMSD Flu Exclusion Requirements
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has updated exclusion requirements for staff and students with influenza (the flu). The period for keeping individuals with the flu out of school (exclusion) has decreased from 7 days to 5 days for influenza cases diagnosed by a physician.
Persons with a case of influenza should stay home for five days from the time the illness begins or until the individual is fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medications, whichever is longer.
For more information about the flu visit: http://www.kdheks.gov/flu/.
Flu prevention measures include:
- Get a flu vaccine
- Practice good handwashing
- Cover your cough with your sleeve
- Do not touch your eyes, nose, mouth throughout the day
- Stay away from those who are ill
SMSD Head Lice Proceedures
Routine screenings for head lice are not conducted. If head lice is identified at school, the nurse will notify the parent/guardian of the need for treatment. The student will be checked by the nurse upon return to school for the presence of live lice. Students will not be allowed to return to school if live lice are present. Students will be checked at regular intervals for up to two weeks until nits are not present or nits are no longer viable/hatching.
Health Insurance Marketplace
The Health Insurance Marketplace is for people who don’t have health coverage. This year, open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace is six weeks - from November 1 through December 15.
The Kansas Assisters Network helps families complete health insurance and social services applications and provides education about health insurance and how to obtain healthcare. They help families apply for Marketplace and Medicaid as well as connect with services in the community. The Kansas Assisters Network will be available to assist families with enrollment at:
Shawnee Mission North
Thursday, November 14, 2019
6 p.m.- 8 p.m.
Interpreters will be available.
Please bring:
- Income information
- Social Security numbers
- Immigration documents
- Birthday information
- Employer phone number
- Username and password if you are enrolling
If you are unable to attend this event you may apply:
Online: https://www.healthcare.gov/
Phone: 1-800-318-2596
Appointment: 913-735-9008
Picture Retakes
If your student wishes to have a retake of their school picture because they didn't like their first image or they missed the original picture day or they are new student, Interstate will be back on November 13 to take pictures again.
If you ordered pictures from the original picture day, Interstate asks that you return the original picture packet back before or on retake day so they can exchange them for the retakes. If you forget, Interstate can still take the retakes, however, you will just get a "second chance proof form" until the original pictures are received by the picture company. You can request a retake picture packet from your teacher or the school office.