THIS WEEK AT BENNIE

Monday 10/26 — Last Day for Fall Run Club!  3:30-4:00 p.m.

Honor Choir at Arno 3:45-4:45 p.m.

Tuesday 10/27 — Video Filming 9:15-10:30 a.m.

Paw Mart at lunches

1st Grade Math Club 3:30-4:15 p.m.

Wednesday 10/28 — 1st Grade Field Trip to Detroit Zoo

Sports & Fitness Club 3:30-4:15 p.m.

5th Grade Band Rehearsal 3:45-5:00 p.m.

Thursday 10/29 — Fall Art & Music Show at APCA 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Friday 10/30 — Halloween celebrations at school

Magic Show in AM

PBIS Trick or Treat reward

Halloween Parade 2:00 p.m.

Saturday 10/31 — Haunted Library at AP Public Library

LOOKING AHEAD

11/2 — Texas Roadhouse Rolls Fundraiser Due

11/3 — NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

11/4 — Sports & Fitness Club 3:30-4:15 p.m.

5th Grade Band Rehearsal 3:45-5:00 p.m.

11/5 — Marvelous Math Parent Meeting 5:30-6:15 p.m.

PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.

11/11 — Picture Retake Day

11/13 — 4th Grade to WSU Planetarium

End of 1st Quarter

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED

I am asking for your assistance with a few things at Bennie.  If the following requests apply to your family, please take some time this week to review them with your children.  Your support is greatly appreciated!

• Several students are hanging around in the cafeteria after the bell rings and are arriving late to class.  Breakfast begins at 8:05 a.m. and ends at 8:30 a.m.  If your children are planning to eat breakfast at school, please remind them to go directly to the cafeteria upon arrival, to stay focused on eating, then to either return to their line if the bell has not yet rung, or to go directly to class when the bell rings.  Thank you!
• I know that it is often convenient for middle schoolers to come pick up their younger siblings after school.  However, we are struggling with several middle schoolers who are arriving to wait for 30 minutes or more, and while waiting, are using inappropriate language, throwing things, wrestling with one another, and otherwise behaving in disrespectful ways.  If your middle or high schooler is coming to pick up a younger sibling, please reinforce the importance of waiting while modeling respect, responsibility, and safety at all times.  Thank you!

BENNIE VIDEO PROJECT 2015

We are so excited for our partnership with the APHS Leadership class to create a “flash mob” video this Tuesday morning!  Your child has brought home a letter about this video.  The letter is also located here:  flash mob permission slip 

If you have not yet read this letter for information about our video filming, please do so before Tuesday.  Student names will NOT be used in the video.  If you do NOT want your child to participate in the video, which will be posted on our school website and shared with our community, please sign and return the bottom of the slip.  If you would like your child to participate, there is no need to do anything besides help him or her find some Bennie blue and white to wear!

The weather is supposed to be clear and cool on Tuesday morning, so help your Bobcats layer up with warm clothes that show their Bennie pride!

Below are links to two “training” videos that our high school helpers made to help students learn the moves that kids will do in the video.  Students have been practicing with their teachers at school, but any practice that they can also do at home would be fabulous!

We are looking forward to a great video that shows our Bobcat Pride and spirit!

PAW MART

Our Bennie Bobcats love the Paw Mart!  This Tuesday, October 27, is our first Paw Mart of the year!  We are in need of some volunteers to help with the setup and “shopping” for Paw Mart on Tuesday.  If you are able to volunteer, please either call our office at 313-827-1300 or email me at metzger@appublicschools.com  We are looking forward to a fun day of celebrating our respectful, responsible, and safe Bobcats!

HALLOWEEN

This Friday, we will celebrate Halloween at Bennie School!  Our students will enjoy a Halloween Magic Show, brought to us by the PTA in the morning!  This month’s PBIS reward, Trick-or-Treat, will also be Friday morning.  The annual Halloween parade will take place on the sidewalks around Bennie at 2:00 p.m.

Students may wear their costumes all day to school on Friday.  Please remember that costumes must be school appropriate.  No masks or weapons.  If your child’s costume has accessories, please consider leaving those at home, as this day will be very busy, and we would hate for an accessory to be left at school and missing for Saturday’s festivities!

Please contact your child’s teacher for further information about classroom events for Friday!

AP YOUTH BASKETBALL

The Allen Park Parks & Recreation Department and the Allen Park Junior Football Club have teamed up to offer Youth Basketball leagues for students in grades 3-5 and 6-8 this winter.  Registration is due to the Allen Park Community Center by November 16 if your child is interested.  Informational flyers are here:  Allen Park Youth Basketball

PTA NEWS

REMIND APP

If you have not yet done so, please sign up for our Remind text group!  You can receive brief text reminders about important events!  Click here: Join Bennie News Text Group or send a text to 81010 with the message @bennienews

It’s a great week to be a Bennie Bobcat!

BENNIE VIDEO PROJECT 2015

We are so excited for our partnership with the APHS Leadership class to create a “flash mob” video next Tuesday morning!  Your child will bring home a letter about this video in the next few days.  The letter is also located here:  flash mob permission slip 

Please read this letter for information about our video filming.  Student names will NOT be used in the video.  If you do NOT want your child to participate in the video, which will be posted on our school website and shared with our community, please sign and return the bottom of the slip.  If you would like your child to participate, there is no need to do anything besides help him or her find some Bennie blue and white to wear (and a warm coat and hat if it is a cold day)!

Below are links to two “training” videos that our high school helpers made to help students learn the moves that kids will do in the video.  Students have been practicing with their teachers at school, but any practice that they can also do at home would be fabulous!

We are looking forward to a great video that shows our Bobcat Pride and spirit!

THIS WEEK AT BENNIE

Monday 10/19 — First $50 5th Grade camp payment was due 10/16

Run Club 3:30-4:00 p.m.

Honor Choir at Arno 3:45-4:45 p.m.

Tuesday 10/20 — 1st Grade Math Club 3:30-4:15 p.m.

Wednesday 10/21 — Sports & Fitness Club 3:30-4:15 p.m.

5th Grade Band Rehearsal 3:45-5:00 p.m.

RESCHEDULED Fall Garden Cleanup Night 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Thursday 10/22— No special events

Friday 10/23 — No special events

LOOKING AHEAD  

10/26 — Last Day for fall Run Club! 3:30-4:00 p.m.

Honor Choir at Arno 3:45-4:45 p.m.

10/27 — Video Filming in AM

Paw Mart at lunches

1st Grade Math Club 3:30-4:15 p.m.

10/28 — 1st Grade Field Trip to Detroit Zoo

Sports & Fitness Club 3:30-4:15 p.m.

5th Grade Band Rehearsal 3:45-5:00 p.m.

10/29 — Fall Art & Music Show at APCA 5:30-7:00 p.m.

10/30 — Halloween celebrations at school

Magic Show in AM

PBIS Trick or Treat reward

Halloween Parade 2:00 p.m.

Texas Roadhouse Rolls fundraiser due

10/31 — Haunted Library at AP Public Library

RESCHEDULED FALL GARDEN CLEANUP NIGHT

This Wednesday, October 21, is the rescheduled date for Fall Garden Cleanup Night.  We hope to see many of you there!  In order to accurately plan for food, please follow the link below to RSVP if you plan to attend.  Also, please bring a side item or dessert item for the potluck if you will be joining us!  Fall Garden Cleanup RSVP

PTA NEWS

Have you joined our Bennie PTA yet?  If not, please consider doing so!  Your $7.00 membership does not commit you to any meetings or volunteering, but does support many wonderful programs and events for all of our students and families.

The annual Reflections program is underway.  If your child would like to make an entry into the Reflections program, there are several categories to match a variety of interests.  Click the links below for information and the entry form.

Reflections_flyer 2015   Reflections_15-16_StudentEntryForm

TEXAS ROADHOUSE ROLLS FUNDRAISER

Our PTA is sponsoring a fundraiser through the end of the month.  Your child brought home an order form recently.  It’s a great time to stock up on some delicious rolls for the upcoming holidays!  Great news for 5th grade families with students attending camp — $3.00 for each order sold will be donated to your child’s camp account!  Top sellers in each grade will have lunch with Mrs. Metzger!  How fun!

Bread Order Form    Texas Roadhouse Rolls Flyer – single

VIDEO FILMING

Last fall, the APHS Leadership class helped us to film a wonderful video featuring all of our students.  This year’s Leadership class is back on board for another fun video!  We will film the video on Tuesday, October 27 in the morning.  Students are encouraged to wear Bennie blue and white on film day.  Your children have been watching some “training” videos prepared by our high school friends to get them ready for the dance moves we will use.  Ask your child to show you some of the cool moves!

An informational note will come home with other details this week.  If you would NOT like your child to participate in this video, which will be posted on our school website, please fill out and return the form when it comes home this week.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

HALLOWEEN AT BENNIE

Halloween will be celebrated on Friday, October 30, 2015.  This is a FULL DAY of school for students.  Here is some information for you about this day:

• Students may wear costumes to school in the morning.  All costumes must be school-appropriate.  No weapons or masks.  Face paint is ok.  Please consider leaving costume accessories at home, as this is a long day for students, and costume parts get broken or misplaced very easily.
• Our PTA is sponsoring a Halloween Magic Show on Friday morning.  Our magician will perform in two shows for the K-2 and 3-5 grades at the Allen Park Center for the Arts auditorium.
• The monthly PBIS reward of trick-or-treating stations will be held on Friday, October 30, as well.  Students with 0-4 card flips for the month will be invited to participate (same criteria as all monthly PBIS rewards).  Donations of bagged candy are needed for this reward.  If you are able to donate, please send bagged candy with your student to school this week.  THANK YOU!
• Halloween parade will be held at 2:00 p.m.  We are hoping for a beautiful day!  If the weather cooperates, the parade will begin inside the school and come around the playground and down the sidewalk on the west side near the high school, around the front of the building, and in through the east side doors.  We encourage all family members to come watch our parade on the sidewalks around our school!  In the event of rain, we will parade inside.

TRAFFIC HELPERS

Traffic around Bennie has been moving smoothly most mornings.  If you are able to give of your time to help from 8:15-8:30 a.m., we would greatly appreciate it!  Any time is appreciated, so please do not feel like you have to come every day.  More helpers mean that we can manage all intersections and dropoffs easily!

Also, this is a friendly reminder that even if the signs are not out, the traffic expectation is still NO TURNS at Cortland and Winona intersections.  This means no turning right out of the west side lot onto Champaign, no turning right from Champaign into the driveway between Bennie and the high school, and no turning right from Champaign into the east side lot .  A right turn may seem like no big deal, but since that is a major crossing intersection for our walking families, any turning holds up the traffic.  Please remember to do your turning around the block in the neighborhood, and come straight into either dropoff lot!  THANK YOU!

Bennie Traffic Flow 2

MARQUEE NEWS

Although I am very grateful for my teenage daughter who helps me change the news on the marquee in front of our school, I am looking for another volunteer to take over this job.  This requires a little time once or twice a month to put up the new events that are coming up at Bennie.  If you think you would be able to help with this, please contact me by email at metzger@appublicschools.com or 313-827-1300.  I appreciate your consideration!

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS

Our Bennie staff is dedicated to continuous improvement.  We work together annually to create and revise a plan to improve student achievement, as well as to address concerns raised by the staff, parent, and student surveys conducted each year.  Below is an update of the School Improvement efforts at Bennie this year!

• Focus on informational text, particularly in news magazines, nonfiction reading materials, and environmental print
• Focus on a shift in mathematics instruction, incorporating fractions, graphs, and data; using math talk in the classroom, and understanding the process behind mathematical practices
• Incorporating parent support into mathematics instruction through Marvelous Math Parent Nights at 5:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month
• Improved communication between home and school through monthly newsletters (electronic or paper) and progress reports in all grades, as well as the use of communication apps such as Remind or Class Dojo
• Efforts to prioritize and reduce costs for field trips when possible
• Students helping to care for our cafeteria by keeping their spaces clean after eating
• Continuation of improved traffic patterns at dropoff and pickup

Thank you for your continued support of our commitment to continuous improvement at Bennie!

MEDIA NEWSLETTER

You recently received a newsletter update from the Art Studio.  Here is a link to a newsletter from the Media Center, created by Mrs. Woods.  Media Center Website

SOUL PANCAKE — VIDEO FOR FUN

Enjoy this video from the You Tube channel, Soul Pancake.  The series, “The Science of Happiness” has some great videos to watch when you have some time to be inspired and smile!

 It’s a great week to be a Bennie Bobcat!

THIS WEEK’S EVENTS

Monday 10/12 —  Literacy Walk pledges due!

Smencils on sale all week for $1.00 each

Last Call for Family Date Night tickets!

Run Club 3:30-4:00 p.m.

Honor Choir @ Arno 3:45-4:45 p.m.

Tuesday 10/13 — No Special Events

Wednesday 10/14 — Sports & Fitness Club 3:30-4:15 p.m.

5th Grade Band Rehearsal 3:45-5:00 p.m.

Family Date Night at Zap Zone 6:00-7:30 p.m.

Thursday 10/15 — No Special Events

Friday 10/16 — Texas Roadhouse Rolls Fundraiser Kickoff

LOOKING AHEAD

10/19 — Run Club 3:30-4:00 p.m.

Honor Choir at Arno 3:45-4:45 p.m.

10/21 — Sports & Fitness Club 3:30-4:30 p.m.

5th Grade Band Rehearsal 3:45-5:00 p.m.

Fall Garden Cleanup RESCHEDULED 6:00-7:30 p.m.

10/26 — Run Club 3:30-4:00 p.m.

Honor Choir at Arno 3:45-4:45 p.m.

10/27 — PawMart during lunch hours

10/28 — Sports & Fitness Club 3:30-4:30 p.m.

5th Grade Band Rehearsal 3:45-5:00 p.m.

10/29 — Fall District Art & Music Show @ Allen Park Center for the Arts 5:30 p.m.

10/30 — Halloween Magic Show in AM

PBIS Trick or Treat reward

Halloween Parade 2:00 p.m.

Texas Roadhouse Fundraiser Ends

LITERACY WALK PLEDGES DUE

We are so proud of our Bobcats for walking and running so many laps for literacy on October 1st and 2nd!  We are grateful for the many pledges that have already been sent to school.  If you still have pledges from family or friends, please send them with your child on Monday so we may tally up the donations and give you a final report!  Thank you so much for your support of our Literacy Library, which provides resources for teachers to reach students at many different reading levels.

SMENCILS ON SALE

An annual favorite, the Smencil Sale, begins on Monday.  Students may bring money to purchase a Smencil for $1.00.  In case you are not familiar with Smencils, they are scented pencils that are well-loved by students!  The proceeds from this Smencil sale will go to a district-sponsored scholarship that was started in honor of our late Curriculum Director, and former Bennie principal, Bill Holdsworth, who passed away suddenly before school started this year.

FAMILY DATE NIGHT

Our PTA has scheduled this week’s Family Date Night at Zap Zone in an effort to provide an affordable event for families to do together.  Unfortunately, we have not yet received orders for the minimum number of tickets required to hold the event.  If you are still interested in attending Wednesday’s Family Date Night at Zap Zone, please send cash or check made to Bennie PTA to school on Monday.  Tickets may be sold at the door if we reach our minimum by tomorrow evening.  Otherwise, the event will need to be cancelled and rescheduled.  If you have any questions, please email Ysenia Houchins at yhouchins@gmail.com.

TEXAS ROADHOUSE FUNDRAISER

This Friday, a fundraiser sale of Texas Roadhouse rolls will begin.  Our PTA is sponsoring this fundraiser in support of the many wonderful programs listed on their flyer this fall.  In addition, 5th grade students will receive the profit from their sales to be applied to their camp accounts.  These delicious rolls are a great purchase for the upcoming holidays . . . or just a weeknight dinner!  YUM!  Keep your eyes peeled for information about the sale later this week.

SPEAKING OF PTA

Are you a member yet?  Please consider joining our PTA if you have not already done so.  Your membership fee of $7.00 helps support programs and events all year long.  Don’t forget to link your Kroger Rewards and Meijer Community Rewards, clip your Labels for Education, Box Tops, and sign up for the Shoparoo app whether or not you are a PTA member.  The profits from these programs go directly back to our school.

PROGRESS REPORTS

Students in all grades should have taken Progress Reports home over the past several weeks.  Please be sure to review your child’s Progress Report, sign and return, so your child’s teacher knows that you have reviewed this.  This is a great opportunity to ask questions about the progress your child is making at this time.  As I mentioned in the Meet the Teacher welcome presentation, regular progress reporting is one way that our staff plans to improve communication between school and home this year.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

On Friday, our elementary staff from Arno, Bennie, and Lindemann were hard at work here at Bennie creating math assessments to be used as a diagnostic tool in all grades.  By analyzing the data from these classroom assessments, our teaching staff will be better able to meet all learners at their specific level of need.  Mr. Darga & Mr. Zielinski, the principals of Lindemann and Arno, and I  are very proud of our teaching staff and grateful to be working with such dedicated professionals for the benefit of all children.

It’s a great week to be a Bennie Bobcat!  Enjoy the fall weather!

THIS WEEK AT BENNIE

Monday 10/5 — Run Club for students signed up in 1st-5th Grade 3:30-4:00 p.m.

Tuesday 10/6 —  No Special Events

Wednesday 10/7 — Walk or Bike to School Day

STUDENT COUNT DAY

Sports & Fitness Club Begins for students signed up in 4th & 5th Grade 3:30-4:30 p.m.

5th Grade Band Rehearsal 3:45-5:00 p.m.

Thursday 10/8 — No Special Events

Friday 10/9 — NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS — Professional Development for Teachers

LOOKING AHEAD

10/12 — Run Club 3:30-4:00 p.m.

10/14 — 5th Grade Band 3:45-5:00 p.m.

Family Date Night at Zap Zone 6:00-7:30 p.m.

10/16-10/30 — Texas Roadhouse Rolls Fundraiser

10/21 — Fall Garden Cleanup RESCHEDULED DATE 6:00-7:30 p.m.

WALK OR BIKE TO SCHOOL DAY

This Wednesday, October 7, is Walk or Bike to School Day!  This annual event is a fun way to encourage healthy habits!  If your child takes the bus to school, walk with him or her to the bus stop, or park a few blocks away and walk to the stop!  If you live too far to bike or walk, park a few blocks from Bennie and walk or bike the rest of the way!  If your child is in morning Latchkey, park a few blocks away and walk to dropoff!  Staff members and volunteers will be around to place stickers on students who walk or bike on October 7.  The class with the greatest participation will receive a special recognition!

STUDENT COUNT DAY

Student Count Day is also Wednesday, October 7.  Our school funding is determined by the number of students who are enrolled and regularly attending school on this day, and the ten days following.  Thank you for doing your best to send your healthy children to school on time on Wednesday.  Of course, if your child is sick, please use your best judgment and contact our office to report absences, as usual.  Thank you for your support and cooperation!

CANCELLATIONS FROM BENNIE’S BUSY WEEK

Last week, two scheduled events were cancelled for a variety of reasons.  Mark your calendar for the rescheduled Fall Garden Cleanup of October 21 at 6:00 p.m.!  Family Movie Night reschedule date will be shared with you as soon as it is finalized.  Thank you for your understanding with these two rescheduled events!

PTA

If you have not yet joined our Bennie PTA, I encourage you to do so this week.  Your membership of $7.00 makes it possible for our PTA to sponsor wonderful events like last week’s Michigan Science Center Assembly.  Membership does not require you to attend meetings or volunteer for any events, but does show your support for the special things that we all enjoy, that are sponsored by the PTA.  We are currently at 86 members, and this year’s goal is 190 members.  I am confident that our Bennie families can help make this goal a reality!

SIMPLE SUPPORT

Thanks to our PTA, we are connected to several sites and organizations that will give rewards back to our school through simple steps we can take.  If you are not already doing so, please consider saving the following things to help earn money for our school:

Also, there are a few other things you can do while you are out shopping in the community!

Meijer Community Rewards

• Sign up for Meijer Community Rewards  at Meijer Community Rewards
• Click “Join Now” at the bottom
• Sign up for a “Meijer 1 Card”
  • Create an account
  • Under Community Rewards, enter Bennie PTA’s code 853211
• Use your Meijer 1 Card when you shop!

Kroger Community Rewards — over $1000 back to Bennie last year!

• Go to Kroger Community Rewards
• Click “Sign In”
• Either enroll or sign in with your current Kroger Rewards email address
• Use the Bennie PTA code 85380
• Click “Enroll”
• Use your Kroger Rewards card when you shop!

Shoparoo — over $300 back to Bennie last year!

• If you have a Smartphone, download the FREE Shoparoo app!  All you do is shop, then snap a photo of your receipts.  Any personal information can be blacked out from the receipts!
  • Under “Profile” search for Bennie School and link your app to Bennie!

FAMILY DATE NIGHT

Next Wednesday, October 14, is Bennie Family Date Night at Zap Zone.  For $15, your child will receive tickets to 5 venues listed on the flyer below.  60 tickets need to be sold to reserve Zap Zone for this event.  To order tickets, please send cash or check made to Bennie PTA to school in an envelope or bag clearly marked with your child/children’s names, teachers, and number of tickets.  Looking forward to a fun night!  Family Date Night Zap Zone

LITERACY WALK

Although it was windy and cool on Friday, our Bobcats walked around the high school track to the sweet tunes of DJ Mrs. Jones!  A good time was had by all!  If your child was able to secure donations from family or friends to support our Literacy Library, please send them to school with the pledge sheet by this Thursday, October 8. (No school October 9)  Cash or checks made to Bennie Elementary are appreciated in a clearly marked envelope or baggie with your child’s name and teacher!  Walk for literacy pledge sheet October 2 2015

T-SHIRTS STILL AVAILABLE

A limited number of t-shirts are still available in the office!  If you would like a t-shirt for your child, feel free to stop in, or send cash or check (made to Bennie Elementary) with your student.  If you are sending money with your child, please put it in a clearly labeled envelope or baggie with your child’s name and t-shirt size.

Shirts are still available in Youth Small, Youth Medium, Youth Large, and Adult Medium.

Another Bennie Wear sale will come your way in early November, in time for the holidays!

MARVELOUS MATH PARENT NIGHTS

We were honored to welcome Libby Pizzo and David Sword from Wayne RESA for our first Marvelous Math Parent Night last Thursday evening.  Beginning in November, our Bennie staff will present Marvelous Math Parent Nights before each PTA meeting at 5:30 p.m.  These meetings will help parents to develop understanding and strategies about how to support your children with current mathematical practices and curricular standards.  An RSVP will come your way soon before the next Marvelous Math night on November 5 at 5:30 p.m.  Mark your calendar now!

I am working to upload a video of Libby and David’s presentation to share with anyone who was unable to make it!  Stay tuned!!

20 THINGS WE SHOULD SAY MORE OFTEN

Thank you, Kid President, for the reminder!  Thank YOU, Bennie Families, for making our school a wonderful place to work and learn!

Enjoy this week of beautiful weather!  It’s a great week to be a Bennie Bobcat!